Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
March 14- March 18
Dear Silver Creek Families
Happy daylight savings time. Although we lose an hour, we gain more sunlight. Spring is on its way. Looking forward to another great week of school for our Huskies!
As you may know, the Board of Education voted on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, to make wearing masks in schools optional, effective immediately. As a school, we expect our students and staff to respect individual decisions about mask-wearing. We understand that some may feel comfortable with this change, while others may not. As a school community, we will continue to model Empathy towards others and demonstrate acceptance of mask choices. We remain committed to the safety of our staff and students and will continue to implement safety and health practices to mitigate potential health risks.
COVID-19 Reporting/Information: Please use this reporting FORM, if your child does test positive for COVID-19. You may review Silver Creek Middle School's reported COVID-19 cases here. Here is the most recent MCPS Community Update (3/10). This highlights important information related to masks optional decision, COVID take home kits, COVID testing, and the Anti-Racist Audit.
The sections marked with an * have been updated with new information OR is a new section in the newsletter. Please make sure to review. As always, thank you for your continued partnership.
Let's make it a great week Huskies!
*SCMS & PTSA Clothing Drive
Clothing and toiletries can be dropped off at SCMS on the first floor outside of the front office and across from the cafeteria in the marked cardboard boxes. We will be hosting another drive in the upcoming weeks. Thank you so much for your generosity and support of our fellow Huskies!
*Behavioral Expectations
I am very proud of our students at Silver Creek and feel very fortunate to serve such amazing staff and students. With that said, there are some situations where our students are not fully embodying our school's core values of Empathy and respect. Last week in class, a student made a poor decision that resulted in a verbal and physical altercation. Fortunately, all students are safe.
Although this is not reflective of our students at Silver Creek, it serves as an opportunity to reiterate to all students appropriate behavioral expectations. You may read the communication to families of that class below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RWoc9iYtsYqxlwEUgfptAllrhXhmC8Sk/view?usp=sharing
We recognize that students will make mistakes and often don't think of the potential consequences of their actions. As a school, we use these instances as learning opportunities. Our goal is to be proactive in teaching our kids the tools and strategies to make good decisions. Administration will be speaking with students during PE classes to reiterate safety expectations, problem solving strategies, bystander intervention, and what it means to demonstrate Empathy. We will also underscore the forbidden use of cell phones to record others.
As we continue to partner together, thank you for speaking with your child about ways to seek adults and how they can help support as a bystander when situations like this arise. We also ask that you please speak to your child about the cell phone policy. Students are not permitted to record others and airdrop images/recordings. This has become a persistent problem and is absolutely unacceptable. If we become aware of this, we will confiscate the student's phone and contact parents.
*SGA Spirit Week: March 14-March 18
SGA will be hosting Spirit Week this week, March 14 - 18. Here are the days:
Monday: PJ Day - roll out of bed and wear your pajamas to school.
Tuesday: Sports Team Day - represent your favorite team.
Wednesday: Decades Day - Wear your favorite 00s, 90s, 80s, 70s, or 60s styles.
Thursday: Green Day - it's not easy being green.
Friday: Husky Day- 8th grade will wear blue, 7th grade will wear silver or grey, and 6th grade will wear white.
We hope you have fun, and we look forward to seeing your school spirit!
*Silver Creek News- Morning Announcements!
Did you miss the latest Husky news. You may access the link below from Thursday, March 10, 2022 to hear upcoming news & events.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lh07JmWAeGLRuSOdJSjTFKxbRbHzNaud/view?usp=sharing
*Choose Respect PSA: All students please vote!
All MCPS secondary students are eligible to vote for the annual Choose Respect Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest. Contestants had to submit a video that either illustrated a type of dating violence, bystander intervention, or an example of a healthy relationship.
The Choose Respect PSA View and Vote experience is between Monday, March 14, 2022, and Friday, March 25, 2022. These are five 1-minute videos for students to watch and then vote on for their favorite. Students, please take a look at the top 5 videos, and vote for your favorite at https://bit.ly/videocontest22 before Friday, March 25, 2022. It will take about 5-10 minutes to view and vote. These PSAs were made by fellow MCPS students, and your vote will help determine the winner of this fan favorite voting contest who will be awarded $500!
*Message from MCPS: Anti-Racist Audit Survey:
Families, MCPS needs your help to better understand how our schools and the school district are doing in ongoing work to address racial and systemic barriers in MCPS. We encourage you to fill out this survey before March 31. You can use your mobile device or computer. Learn more about the MCPS Antiracist Audit here. The survey is anonymous and available in seven languages.
Family letter in all languages
English / español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ
*Bell Schedule for this Week
As a reminder, Husky connect time on Mondays and Tuesdays will provide an opportunity for students to work on assignments; students will have an additional day of the week (Wednesday- Friday) for a study hall period during their Husky Connect Homeroom. This is an opportunity for students to work on any assignments and/or work with their assigned homeroom teacher for any support. Students will still have outside time one of the days ( Wednesday-Friday) and will participate in either an MYP lesson or No Place for Hate lesson the other day.
*Spring Testing: MISA Testing is this week.
The MISA (Science MCAP) will occur this week for our 8th grade students ONLY on March 15 and March 16 from 8:15-10:03 a.m. Communication was sent on Friday, March 11 to all 8th grade students and parents via email with their child's test location and test examiner. Please click here to view the schedule. Students must arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. Also, please ensure students have a charged chromebook for testing.
The table below highlights the dates of our spring testing. You may Click here for more information on the MCAP assessment.
All information and logistics about each assessment will be communicated out to families as the testing dates near. If you have any questions about testing, please contact Mr. David O'Shell, assistant principal, at David_O'Shell@mcpsmd.org
March Book Madness
It's week two of MARCH BOOK MADNESS in the Library Media Center. Our winners have advanced, and we now have four book battles and we need our Husky readers to determine those winners!
Please see our LMC Website HERE for all details, including our bracket, book preview trailers, and voting form. Do you have to read ALL the books to play along? Absolutely not! We have short previews available for every book, so everyone can join in. And be sure to stop in and borrow some March Madness books.
Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program
The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) remains committed to sharing information and resources about mental health topics that could potentially impact students.
All students in Grade 6 through 12 will participate in the Signs of Suicide® (SOS®) Prevention Program. The SOS lessons will go through your child’s English/ESOL class between March 21 - April 7. Here is the schedule. Students will also receive handouts that include the Act to Save a Life student newsletter and a list of school, local, and national resources that are available on mental health needs. Please find the parent letter located below:
Resources can be found here:
Guidelines for reporting suicide threats seen on social media:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E4Azac3K5u3uBzOEuotnb92k6vMrSS5lJ-niljvhNzo/edit
Talking to kids about suicide -
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16Yi-KuP2Fn9dSMn3W6yWJtGqZSMtNFgS/view?usp=sharing
Link to asynchronous parent training videos-
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kgdlOZPk4nFvjSQLFu798McWuR8Vg1fHvXh8SwMX0bg/edit
*Girls Running Club
Silver Creek Middle School will have a Girls Running Club starting soon. If you are interested, please sign up using the link below and additional information will be sent to interested participants via email.
If you have any questions, you may contact Ms. Tara Whitney at Tara_A_Whitney@mcpsmd.org
ExtraCurricular Activities
Good news! Spectator limitations are now at 50% of facility capacity for all indoor extracurricular events. You may also refer to the Return to RAISE Athletics newsletter.
We have re-started our afterschool, in-person extracurricular and co-curricular activity programs. As a reminder, in order to ensure that all participants are healthy and to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all participants are required to complete the rapid test provided by the school and submit the results using the form below.
Students & families should self-report test results to MCPS using the form below:
MCPS COVID-19 Reporting Form (English)
MCPS COVID-19 Reporting Form (Spanish)
You may view the following slides that provide information on the process of testing and reporting.
Please click here to view the SCMS After School Activities and Brochure.
You may read the most recent MCPS communication here.
After School Activities & Intramural Sports
After school activities will run through May 16 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays only. The activities will meet on one of the three days from 3:15-4:30 pm. A list of activities can be found in our After School Brochure which is linked below. The link will also take you to a google registration form to be used to sign up for an after school activity. Registering for an activity will be on-going. After school buses are available and will depart by 4:30 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Students must be given a bus pass from their after school sponsor to ride the bus. After school Activity Brochure & Registration Form: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/silver-creek-parent-handbook/after-school-activities
Any questions related to after school activities, please contact Dr. Matthew Okun@Matthew_Okun@mcpsmd.org
INTRAMURAL SPORTS
Designed to promote participation in sports to all eligible middle school students of all grade levels. There are no try-outs, and students do not need experience to participate. Intramurals take place after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays from 3:05-4:30. Students are required to turn in a signed “Covid” packet to participate. Students can get this packet from their PE/Health teacher, or from this link.
Mr. Bingaman is the intramural coordinator. Sample sports can include: basketball, football, soccer, badminton, tennis, volleyball, cross country, dance, weight training, track and field, kickball, capture the flag, etc. Any questions, please reach out to Mr. Bingaman at Ryan_H_Bingaman@mcpsmd.org.
Middle School Athletics Program: Spring Season
All physicals must include the COVID-19 supplemental information, attached to the pre-participation physical (MCPS Form SR-8). In addition, students must complete their second shot or submit an approved exemption no later than February 22, 2022, before a student-athlete can participate. Proof of vaccination must be ready for online submission via the ParentVue Portal, prior to tryouts/practices. Spring sports tryouts/practices begin March 8, 2022.
Any questions, please contact Ms. Tara Whitney, Athletic Coordinator, at Tara_A_Whitney@mcpsmd.org.
COVID Pool Testing
One significant mitigation tactic Montgomery County Public Schools will use this fall is random COVID-19 screening tests for students. A random sample of students grades 6-8 who have a parent consent form on file will be selected to be tested.
Silver Creek is scheduled for COVID screen testing every Tuesday for those students who have consented to test. The vendor will communicate results to schools within 24-48 hours. Families will be contacted if there is a positive result.
Please read the process outlined from MCPS below:
Celebrate Women's History Month: March 1-March 31
Student Service Learning (SSL) opportunities
Any questions about SSL, please contact Ms. Renee Hill at Renee_S_Hill@mcpsmd.org
Academic Supports for Students
SCMS Mathematics Tutoring
Does your child need help in math? Do they want to work with a current BCC high school student?
If so, you may sign up for tutoring on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays from 3:20-4:20 pm every week. After school activity buses will be available on each of the three days.
If interested, please fill out the Tutoring Interest form to express your interest. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Okun at matthew_okun@mcpsmd.org
New Free, On-Demand Online/Virtual Tutoring Available for All Students, K-12
Tutoring - Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, MD (montgomeryschoolsmd.org)
MCPS: George B Thomas Saturday School
The George B. Thomas Sr. Learning Academy, Inc. is pleased to offer academic support and/or acceleration on the 6th day of learning (Saturday mornings). Certified teachers are available to support your child with mitigating learning disruption.
Class sessions begin at 8:30 am each Saturday with a motivational session. To register, please see flyer here:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/mainstory/published/2018/2018-08/Program%20Flyer%20English%2018-19%20Final.pdf
The cost for Saturday School is $85. The cost for students who receive free and reduced meals is $40. This cost covers the entire school year through May and registration is open all year.
PARENT RESOURCES
Principal's Coffee
We are excited about our monthly principal coffees this school year. This is a great time to hear about school-wide happenings and events related to students' academic and social well being. Principal Coffee's will move back to a hybrid model beginning in March, 2022. This means we will provide an in-person option and virtual option.
Our next principal coffee is scheduled for Thursday, March 31 from 8:30-9:15 am. If you missed the February principal coffee, you can find the recording located in the parent handbook.
As always, if you are interested in attending, please use the GOOGLE FORM to ask any questions you would like addressed at the coffee.
Counselor News & Updates
The March newsletter is out and it is all about careers! Check it out on the counseling website - the tab is NEWSLETTERS
Check out what's new on the Counseling Website.
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/scmsmcpscounseling/school-counseling-team
Camp Erin for grieving students ages
6-17 will take place May 13-15 2022. It is free. Please visit the counseling website under parent resources to see the flyers.
The deadline for applying is Friday April 29th.
More details and the application form are on our website https://www.caringmatters.org/camp-erin
Please contact our Camp Director, Eva Cowen with questions. evac@caringmatters.org
Parent Handbook
Did you miss the parent grade-level town hall meetings? You may access meeting recordings in the parent handbook. Please locate the parent handbook on our website. All the information you need is located here for your convenience.
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/silver-creek-parent-handbook/home
Message from PTSA
As you know, members of our Silver Creek Middle School community suffered immeasurable loss with the explosion and subsequent fire that occurred at the Friendly Gardens Apartments while our children were at school. Approximately 25 Silver Creek families were displaced from their homes due to the buildings that burned and the adjacent buildings that residents had to evacuate due to smoke and other dangerous conditions. Many are likely to return to their homes soon, while others lost everything.
Please read the message from PTSA and information on how to donate HERE.
Yearbook Sales: Hurry, sales End Soon!
Yearbook sales are ending soon! Go to https://yearbookforever.com/schools/silver_creek_middle_school_buy_yearbook_363047/pXKC6AW3mqyz55m7Lkx7RTml to order your yearbook now. Prices are now $35, and there a limited number of copies left. Be sure to order one ASAP before they run out!
You can use https://snap.yearbookforever.com/snap/index.html#/upload/1-3AQWI9 to upload and submit your own photos for the yearbook. Be sure to follow the instructions before uploading any pictures. Access code- huskies
Please email sean_p_brennan@mcpsmd.org with any questions!
Cell Phone Use
The use of cell phones in the school has become a large distraction for our students. We will continue to reinforce our cell phone expectations that it must be out of sight during instructional time. Beginning Quarter 2, aligned with MCPS regulations, all personal mobile devices must be turned off and away at the start of school. Students may use their cell phones before school, at lunch, and after school ONLY. They should not have their cell phones out during transition times.
The absence of mobile devices will allow teachers to continue to create a conducive learning environment with fewer distractions for our students as well as lessen behavioral infractions related to cell phone use during hallway transitions and other learning spaces. If students are not able to follow the cell phone policy, consequences will be given based on the Student Code of Conduct.
Requesting a student transcript and/or records
Parents, if you are interesting in requesting a transcript and/or records for your child, please use the google form link. Please note that this google form is also necessary for students applying to private schools. Also, please do not email individual staff members to request a transcript and/or school records. Individual teachers should only be emailed for a recommendation.
If you have any questions, contact our registrar, Mrs. Michelle Lambert-Williamson at michelle_c_lambert-williamson@mcpsmd.org
MCPS Management Plan for Inclement Weather or Other Emergencies
Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation
Ways to Report: English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1areawDK08nMCq-2z3wW0PctPntog0eVX/view?usp=sharingSpanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVC11h8vBYrzL1yyJgMYLRyE-SLmbDFg/view?usp=sharing
*Important Dates to Remember
March 15 & March 16- MISA (Science MCAP) for 8th grade ONLY
March 24- Early Release for students
March 31- End of Quarter 3; Principal's Coffee
*April 1- Early Release for students
April 11-April 18-Spring Break- No School for students and staff; Offices Closed.
*Recently updated
Student Absence or Quarantine
If a student is going to be absent, the parent/guardian is asked to call the attendance line at 240-740-2201 the morning of the absence. In your message, please include the information listed below:
1. Parent/Guardian name
2. Full name of your student (First & Last); student ID#
3. Date(s)of absence
4. Reason for absence
If you have any questions regarding attendance procedures, parents may email a note to Ms. Pamela Carroll-Sykes, attendance secretary, at Pamela_M_Carroll-sykes@mcpsmd.org.
Please note: If a student needs to quarantine/isolate for 5 days due to a COVID 19 direct exposure or positive test, Silver Creek Middle School has established a plan for the virtual continuity of learning. A letter with the student's virtual continuity of learning plan will be communicated to families whose child has been identified to quarantine.
Important Contacts
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/staff/directory/
Silver Creek Middle School
Principal: Dr. Tiffany N. Awkard
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Kimberly Heidler
Assistant Principal: Mr. David O'Shell
School Hours: 7:30 am- 4:00 pm
Main Office: 240-740-2200
Registration & Counseling: 240-740-2211
Attendance Line: 240-740-2201
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/
Location: 3701 Saul Road, Kensington, MD, USA
Phone: 240 740 2200
Twitter: @SCMSDrAwkard