Welcome Back, Mrs. O! Below please find this week’s Principal’s Spotlight for the week of December 9th. You can also download a PDF here .
Week of Dec. 9
Mon., Dec. 9 SGA Toy Drive continues through Friday
InView assessments for new students in Gr. 3-5
Gr. 3 Brownies, 3:30 pm
Tues., Dec. 10 InView assessments for new students in Gr. 3-5
Gr. 2 Brownies, 3:30 pm, rm. 124
Guitar, 3:30-4:30, rm. 165
Basketball, 3:30-4:45 pm, gym
Wed., Dec. 11 Intermediate French, 8:00 am, rm. 223
Beginning French, 8:00 am, rm. 240
Spanish Intro, 8:15 am, rm. 212
InView assessments for new students in Gr. 3-5
Gr. 5 Juniors, 3:30 pm, rm. 148
OM Giraffes, 3:30 pm, rm. 154
Thur., Dec. 12 Beginning Chinese, 3:30-4:30 pm, rm. 218
Clay Creations, 3:30-4:30 pm, rm. 163
Fri., Dec. 13 Last day for SGA Toy Drive
Intermediate Spanish, 8:00 am, 239
OM, 3:30 pm, Media Center
A Look Ahead
Dec. 17 Winter Chorus Concert, 7:00 pm, APR
Dec. 23-Jan. 1 School closed for winter break and holidays
- The SGA is asking for donations of new, unwrapped toys for their Toy Drive, December 2 through December 13. The greatest need is for toys appropriate for children ages preschool through middle school. Toys will go to local families. Students should bring their donations to their classrooms.
- Attention parents of Gr. 3-5 students who are new to MCPS, InView is a cognitive abilities test that helps us make instructional recommendations and Gifted and Talented identification decisions. Students in Grades 3-5 who are new to MCPS will be tested on December 9 through December 11. Parents of new students have been notified by mail. To prepare for the test make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast, comes to school rested and on time. Questions, contact Ms. Hall-Bell, Assistant Principal.
- MCPS offers foreign language immersion programs at selected elementary schools throughout the county. Selection for the 2014-2015 school year is done by lottery. Parents who are interested in entering their students in the foreign language immersion lottery process may submit an interest form between February 1 and April 4, 2014. Information about the lottery process, the foreign language immersion programs and the interest form are at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms . Completed forms should be returned by U.S. mail to DCCAPS, Spring Mill Field Office, 11721 Kemp Mill Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20902, hand carried, or faxed to 301-649-8155 no later than April 4, 2014. Please do not send forms to Bells Mill.
- Our students’ photography, literature and visual arts entries to the National PTA Reflections Arts Competition are on display in the main hallway through December 12. This year’s theme is Believe, Dream, Inspire. Categories included dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. When you are in the building please take some time to view the works of our creative and talented students. Winners will be announced next week. Thank you to Steffi Heideman, PTA Reflections Chair.
- Congratulations to Grade 2 students for their museum show. Parents, students and teachers enjoyed seeing the many rare and interesting artifacts that were on display.
- If you are considering holiday gifts for teachers, please keep in mind that, according to the Montgomery County Board of Education revised Ethics Policy, employees may not accept gifts that exceed $20 in value, which is a decrease from the $25 previously allowed. An alternative way to honor a teacher is a tax deductible donation to the Bells Mill Bear Hug fund which helps families right in our community. You can send in a check made payable to Bells Mill Bear Hug Fund and specify the name of the teacher you wish to honor. Teachers receive a special card notifying them of your donation, and you receive a receipt for tax purposes.
- Superintendent Joshua Starr is recommending that MCPS consider changing school start and end times, also known as bell times. MCPS would like to hear from you. Upcoming forums are as follows:
–Monday, December 16: Richard Montgomery HS, 250 Richard Montgomery Dr., Rockville
-Monday, January 6: Seneca Valley HS, 19401 Crystal Rock Dr., Germantown
–Monday, February 10: Montgomery Blair HS, 51 University Blvd., East, Silver Spring
Free child care (ages 4 and older) and interpretation services will be provided. For information about the bell times proposal and ways you can provide input, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org, search “bell times.”
Thank you for being partners in your child’s education.