The Paw Print
Week of April 15, 2019
Updates from Mrs. Murphy
Spring Break is almost here! We know it is shorter than normal, but we hope that all of our families have a restful break. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Tuesday, April 23rd.
Over Spring Break we will be doing some spring cleaning. Items left behind in the lost & found will be donated. Please be sure to check the lost and found before Wednesday, April 17th!
We will begin our state testing (Maryland Comprehensive Testing Program) immediately upon returning from Spring Break. Students have worked hard all year to prepare for these assessments. Students in grades 3 through 5 will take 3 units of English Language Arts and 4 units of Math assessment.
Please review the calendar below to see testing dates and times for your student(s) to ensure that your child(ren) are present for all assessment units. Thank you very much in advance for your assistance in making this a smooth testing season.
Thank You
Our first copy of The Wildcat Times went home with students last week. We have some very talented students! A huge thank you to Erika Schwartz and Sheherbano Burki for sponsoring this after-school club.
Thank you to all students that contributed to our Pennies for Patients drive. We raised $1408.77 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! A big thank you to Ms. Riggsbee and our SGA officers for overseeing this drive.
Countywide Art Fair
Administrative Professionals Week
Thurgood Marshall, Jr. Visits 4th & 5th Grade
Mrs. Russell, our Math 4/5 and Math 5/6 teacher, has planned an opportunity for Thurgood Marshall, Jr. to visit with 4th & 5th grade students on April 16th. His background is shared below. We look forward to his visit.
He will visit with 4th graders from 1:20-2:30 p.m. and 5th graders from 2:35-3:40 p.m.
Thurgood “Goodie” Marshall, Jr., a prominent Washington attorney who has served in all three branches of the federal government, is the son of the late legendary Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall Sr. who earlier in his law practice had argued a case before the Supreme Court making racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Thurgood Jr., age 62, recognized by numerous respected publications as one of Washington’s top lawyers, is a partner with the Washington law firm of Morgan Lewis where he provides counsel to clients in a variety of areas including ethical compliance, corporate governance, and legislative strategies. Many years prior to commencing private law practice he had served as a clerk to federal judge Barrington Parker. He then moved to Capitol Hill where he served as counsel to a number of Senate committees, a position that led him to become deputy counsel to Vice President Gore. From 1997 to 2001 he served as Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary in the Clinton White House.
Changes in plans and attendance emails
Kindergarten Orientation
Will Your Child Be Attending Seven Locks In The Fall?
Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day
School System Updates
2019 Special Education Parent Involvement Survey
Parents or guardians of children receiving special education and related services are asked to complete the 2019 Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey over the next few weeks. The information you provide will help guide the state’s efforts in improving special education and related services in public schools. The survey is anonymous and can be completed online. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, May 17. Visit www.mdparentsurvey.com/ to complete the survey.
Parent Information Meetings on Boundary Analysis Scheduled
Earlier this year, the Montgomery County Board of Education adopted a resolution asking the superintendent of schools to utilize external consultants to conduct an in-depth review and analysis of how existing school and cluster boundaries support or impede the effective use of school facilities in MCPS. To help gather input from the community regarding the scope of work for the consultants, the framework for the assessment of the district’s school and cluster boundaries, and how the consultants will focus their efforts and analysis, MCPS is hosting four regional community conversations.
These conversations will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the following date:
· Tuesday, April 23: Walter Johnson High School, 6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda
(Please note: No specific boundary recommendations are under consideration. The purpose of the conversations is to obtain feedback to inform the work of the consultants.)
To help us prepare for the event, please RSVP at mcpsweb.wufoo.com/forms/boundary-assessment-community-conversation/.
If you are unable to attend, but would like to offer feedback, you can provide input online at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/boundary-analysis/.
Learn About the Equity Accountability Model at Upcoming Community Meetings
Members of the community are invited to join staff from the MCPS Office of School Support and Improvement during a series of community meetings to learn about the MCPS Equity Accountability Model and other strategies the district is using to monitor and report student achievement. The meetings will take place on:
· Wednesday, April 24
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Paint Branch High School
Watkins Mill High School
Montgomery Blair High School
· Monday, May 13, 2019
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Rockville High School
Quince Orchard High School
Springbrook High School
For more information and to RSVP, visit mcpsweb.wufoo.com/forms/equity-accountability-modelcommunity-meetings/.
Special Education Summit Set for April 27
MCPS parents/guardians, staff, and community members are invited to the sixth annual Special Education Summit, Leading the Way Today, Partnering for a Better Tomorrow. The summit will take place from 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at Quince Orchard High School, 15800 Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg.
The keynote speaker is Lisa Dieker, Ph.D., Pegasus Professor and Lockheed Martin Eminent Scholar Chair, University of Central Florida, College of Community Innovation and Education. Dieker holds a Ph.D. in special education and curriculum and instruction from the University of Illinois.
There is no cost to attend the event, which is open to parents/guardians, educators and community partners. Childcare, a light breakfast, and interpretation services are provided. More information is available at: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/events/.
Prekindergarten/Head Start Registration Under Way
Parents/guardians who want to register their child for an MCPS prekindergarten or Head Start class for the 2019–2020 school year can do so starting March 1. Children must be four years old on or before September 1, 2019, and families must be income-eligible to apply. For more information about eligibility guidelines, location and times of community registrations, or required documents to complete an application, please call 240-740-4530.
Elementary Immersion Programs
Applications for elementary school language immersion programs in MCPS are now available. The application deadline for the 2019–2020 school year is Friday, April 26, 2019. Elementary school language immersion programs begin in kindergarten and are offered in Chinese, French, and Spanish. For more information about elementary immersion programs and to download the Immersion Interest Form, visit the Special Programs website: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/immersion. Forms are also available at elementary schools.
Important Dates
4/16 - Report card distribution
4/16 - Thurgood Marshall, Jr. visit for Grades 4 and 5
4/17-4/22 - Spring Break
4/23 - MCAP (PARCC) Testing - Grade 3 in the morning; Grade 4 in the afternoon
4/24 - MCAP (PARCC) Testing - Grade 3 in the morning; Grade 4 in the afternoon
4/25 - Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
4/26 - PTA Plant Sale Pick Up
4/26 - Wildcats Jam
4/29 - MCAP (PARCC) Testing - Grade 3 in the morning; Grade 4 in the afternoon
4/30 - MCAP (PARCC) Testing - Grade 4 in the morning; Grade 3 in the afternoon.
4/30 - Thank you to Grade 2 parents for providing lunch to staff today
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