The Paw Print
Week of December 9, 2019
Updates from Mrs. Murphy and Mr. Ajamian
As we visit classrooms, it is clear that our students are engaged and working very hard. It is very exciting to see their enthusiasm. We are looking forward to a few more weeks of focused learning before a much deserved break for all!
As we get closer to the holidays, we want to remind our families that our school gift policy is aligned with the Montgomery County Public Schools Ethics Policy (can be accessed through the MCPS website). Staff members may receive unsolicited gifts from students and families, and a gift from an individual student or one family can be received with a value of $20 or less. A series of unsolicited gifts to a staff member from one student/family cannot exceed $100 for the school year.
As the weather gets colder, please remind children to bring coats, gloves, hats, and scarves to school for outdoor recess time. We have outdoor recess if the temperature is 25 degrees or above, with the wind chill factored in. Also, if your child comes home missing some of these items, please stop by the school and check our lost and found, as our lost and found inventory is already growing at an exponential rate! Unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity at the end of the first semester.
Thank you!
Thank you to Rebecca Adler Miserendino and Diana Owen for all of their work with Reflections. The theme was "Look Within". Nine works were submitted: 7 visual arts, 1 video, and 1 literary work. Thank you to Mrs. Torrey and Mrs. McFate who were judges for the event. Congratulations to all of our students who participated: Mila Haghighiyan, Jessica Tang, Caitlyn Min, Elina Min, Caroline Thorpe, Ariana Matteo, Ayden Nasvaderani, Neil Luthra, Alana Uhl, and Neveh Shekel.
Staffing Update
Attendance and Changes of Plans Notes
Student Portraits are now online!
SCHOOL SYSTEM UPDATES
Districtwide Boundary Analysis Meetings
The MCPS Districtwide Boundary Analysis is an initiative designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of Montgomery County Public School boundaries by analyzing factors such as:
- School facility utilization and capacity
- Student demographics
- School assignment
- Travel patterns
This initiative will result in an analytical assessment and a summary of the community engagement process. It will not make recommendations on potential boundary revisions.
As part of this assessment, a series of regional public meetings will be held in six locations around the county in December and January. All residents of Montgomery County are invited to attend to learn more about the Boundary Analysis process and give feedback on opportunities and challenges with our public schools. Each meeting will have the same format and content.
The dates and locations of the meetings are as follows:
· December 11 at Julius West Middle School
· December 14 at White Oak Middle Oak
· January 7 at Walter Johnson High School
· January 11 at Montgomery Blair High School
· January 14 at Northwest High School
Virtual Conversation on New Curriculum Available Online
If you missed the Thursday, November 14 virtual conversation and presentation on the new curriculum, the entire presentation is available on the Curriculum Implementation webpage at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/curriculum-implementation.aspx. The presentation discussed curriculum implementation, key highlights, and available resources and supports for parents/guardians. It focused on both the new elementary and new secondary curricula.
The webpage includes other information, such as a list of Cohort One schools and video overviews of the StudySync, LearnZillion, Eureka Math, and Benchmark Advance curricula.
Board of Education Seeking Comment on Three Policies
The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking comment on three policies—Policy JEE, Student Transfers; Policy BOA, Legal Services, and Policy IGS, Educational Technology.
Visit this webpage to read the draft policies and to offer comment.
Comments on Policy JEE are due by Sunday, December 15, 2019. Comments on Policy BOA and Policy IGS are due by Sunday, January 12, 2020.
The Board is proposing amendments to Board Policy JEE, Student Transfers, and is seeking public comment on the amendments.
Draft Policy BOA, Legal Services, reaffirms the right of the Board of Education to retain attorneys for advice and representation in legal matters and sets forth a comprehensive plan for the efficient and effective management of legal services.
Draft Policy IGS, Educational Technology, reaffirms the Board's commitment to equitable access and opportunity for all students and staff to use technology to communicate, collaborate, create and innovate safely and responsibly in support of teaching and learning.
December 10 Open House Set for Skilled Trades Professionals
The Office of Human Resources and Development (OHRD) is hosting an open house for skilled professionals interested in teaching their trades to MCPS students.
The open house will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, at Thomas Edison High School of Technology, 12501 Dalewood Drive in Silver Spring. The snow date is Thursday, December 12.
OHRD is recruiting skilled professionals in these specific areas: automotive technology; healthcare professions; cybersecurity; construction management; architecture; construction electricity; carpentry; Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC); plumbing; and law enforcement and leadership.
Attendees will learn about the system’s career readiness programs, tour the Edison facility, and speak with current trades teachers and hiring staff.
Maryland Report Card
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has released the results of the 2019 Accountability System, the Maryland Report Card for every school in the state of Maryland. The report card for Montgomery County Public Schools can be found at
reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/ReportCards/ReportCardSchool/1/E/1/15/XXXX.
The Maryland Report Card is designed to evaluate school success in several ways, measuring state test results in English Language Arts and math; postsecondary readiness; progress of English learners in achieving English language proficiency; graduation rate; and students with access to and earning credit for a well-rounded curriculum. While the Maryland Report Card does provide important information about our schools, it provides a limited view of the progress of our more than 165,000 students.
To better understand how our schools are serving all of our students, MCPS has developed an Equity Accountability Model that provides a more detailed and focused report of school success. The Equity Accountability Model uses multiple and frequent measures of students’ progress to determine if a school is meeting the needs of all students, with a special emphasis on reducing and eliminating disparities in student achievement. Learn more at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/evidence-of-learning-framework/equity-accountability-model.aspx.
Join the MCPS Family Engagement Advisory Team
Parents, guardians, and members of the community are invited to apply to be a part of the newly formed MCPS Family Engagement Advisory Team. The purpose of the Family Engagement Advisory Team is to provide opportunities for MCPS families to learn about and provide input and feedback on the district’s programs and initiatives.
MCPS is committed to improving students’ school experience and academic success and ensuring equitable learning opportunities by engaging families in decision-making and program review. The Family Engagement Advisory Team will meet at least seven times during the school year and members will be required to serve a two-year term.
Applications are due by Friday, December 13. Applications are available at each school, by calling the Division of Student, Family and School Services at 240-740-4620, or online at news.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Family-Engagement-Advisory-Team-Application.pdf.
Winter Weather: Stay Informed
Winter weather is coming soon. MCPS offers numerous ways for parents to learn about school closures, delayed openings, and early dismissals due to inclement weather.
- AlertMCPS: Subscribe to AlertMCPS
- Receive text messages or emails from MCPS during weather-related emergencies and other major events that impact school system operations. Parents can also sign up to receive alerts specific to their child’s school.
- MCPS homepage: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
- MCPS cable channels: Comcast 34, Verizon 36 or RCN 89
- Recorded information: 301-279-3673
- Ask MCPS: 240-740-3000
- Staff takes calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish.
- Twitter: twitter.com/mcps
- Local radio and TV stations
- Please make sure emergency contact information on file at your child’s school is up to date.
Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/sources.aspx for more information on how to receive MCPS emergency information.
Important Dates
12/9 - 4th Grade In-School Field Trip (Woodland Indian Experience)
12/9 - 5th Grade In-School Field Trip (STEM Program)
12/12 - 5th Grade Chorus performs at Pageant of Peace, 5:00 p.m.
12/23 - 1/1 - Winter Break
Seven Locks Elementary School
Email: Megan_H_Murphy@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/sevenlockses/
Location: 9500 Seven Locks Road, Bethesda, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-0940
Twitter: @SLESPrincipal