Please see below for Mrs. O’s Spotlight for the week of May 5. You can also click here for a PDF.
Week of May 5
Mon., May 5
3D game Design, 3:30-4:30, rm. 219
Claymation, 3:30-4:30, rm. 163
Tues., May 6 Art Escapades, 3:30-4:30 pm, rm. 163
Guitar, 3:30-4:30, rm. 165
Chess, 3:30-4:45 pm, Media Center
PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm
Wed., May 7 Beginning French, 8:00 am (last session)
Chess, 3:30-4:45 pm, Media Center
Thur., May 8 Big Learning Science for Gr. K-2 in rm. 150
Big Learning Science for Gr. 3-5 in rm. 148
Art Escapades, 3:30-4:30 pm, rm. 163
Adventure Theater, 3:30-4:30 pm, rm. 128
Tae Kwon Do, 3:30-4:30, gym
I9 Soccer, 3:30-4:30 pm
Chorus Concert, 7:00 pm, APR
Fri., May 9 Wear your school colors!
Intermediate Spanish, 8:00 am, rm. 239 (last session)
PlayWell TEKnologies Legos, 3:30-5:00 pm, rm. 163
Scrabble, 3:30-4:45 pm, Media Center
A Look Ahead
May 13 Patrol Picnic, 9:30 am-1:30 pm
May 15 Field Day
May 19-23 Geography Bowl for Gr. 3-5
- Spots are still available for Camp Bells Mill for our students entering Grades 1-5 and Kinder-Camp for students entering Kindergarten. Camp will be held July 7-25, 8:30 am to noon. The cost is $450 for 15 half-day sessions. There are opportunities for tuition reduction based on income eligibility. Our own great teachers will offer fun activities in science, technology, arts and crafts, and physical education. Visit the Bells Mill home page for registration forms.
- Attention volunteers, all Bells Mill volunteers are invited to our annual Volunteer Breakfast on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, 8:30-9:15 am, in the staff lounge. Each year we take this opportunity to show our appreciation for all you do. If you have helped in the classroom, monitored recess, chaperoned a field trip, tutored a child, or helped in any way, please be our guest. Send RSVP forms to the main office or call 301-469-1046.
- Congratulations to Gr. 4 students for a wonderful Poetry Night. We enjoyed the imaginative and creative works of our aspiring poets. Thank you to the PTA for funding our Poet-In-Residence program.
- Thank you and congratulations to our incredible PTA that was recognized at the annual MCCPTA dinner this week. We have the recognition of being the elementary school in MCPS with the largest membership in absolute terms. In addition we also were recognized as the Most Engaged PTA. This is for the greatest ratio of PTA members to students. We greatly appreciate and value the involvement of our community in the education of our children.
- The spring season of the MCPS Parent Academy has begun. The Parent Academy helps equip parents with the tips and tools they need to help their children succeed. All of the workshops are free and are held at schools and locations throughout the county. Don’t miss sessions on college entrance exams, effective parenting strategies, cybersafety and social media. Childcare and interpretation services are provided.
Visit http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/workshops.aspx .
- Attention, Gr. 5 parents, Cabin John MS will offer an Extended Year Program (EYP) this summer for incoming 6th grade students:
- Investigations into Mathematics is designed to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of the IM curriculum.
- Focus on Algebra is for 5th graders who will be going into 8th grade Algebra.
Both classes cost $75 and will run daily from 7:45 AM to 11:30 AM, July 7 through July 25. All classes are held at Cabin John and will be taught by Cabin John teachers. Buses are provided. The classes are very popular and fill up quickly. For more information/registration please visit http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/cabinjohnms/news/news.aspx?id=361700
- Attention parents of students receiving special education services, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is conducting a Special Education Parent Involvement Survey of all parents/guardians of children receiving special education and related services. To complete the survey please visit http://www.mdparentsurvey.com .
- Field Day will be on Thursday, May 15, 9:30-11:45 AM (rain date is May 28). It is important that your children dress appropriately for outdoor physical activities. This means wearing loose clothing, athletic shoes and sun block. We encourage students to bring a water bottle that they can refill at the water fountain.
- Churchill Boys Soccer offers spring youth clinics for boys in grades 1–5. Train with the varsity soccer team and coach. All skill levels are welcome. Clinics are offered on Friday, May 30, and Friday, June 6. Cost is $40 per clinic, or $70 for both. Email Lisa Drexler at [email protected]and include child’s name, grade, position, school, home address and phone number.
- Join the MCPS Educational Foundation for a night of fun and entertainment at one of three “Are You Up to the 5th Grade Challenge?” events in May. The events will test local celebrity contestants on their knowledge of 5th Grade facts. Students from dozens of MCPS elementary schools will be participating. Proceeds will directly support the mission of the MCPS Educational Foundation, which provides grants, programs, and scholarships that improve educational opportunities for MCPS students. The “5th Grade Challenge” events will be held:
Tuesday, May 6, 7 p.m., at BlackRock Center For the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown,
Tuesday, May 13, 7 p.m., at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road in Silver Spring
Wednesday, May 21, 7 p.m., at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, at Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Drive in Rockville.
- MCPS is seeking public input on Policy CNE: Facility Improvements That Are Not Funded with Montgomery County Revenues, which guides facility improvements that are paid for through contributions. The Board of Education’s Policy Management Committee is scheduled to review the policy during the 2014-2015 school year, and public input will be an important part of the process in determining what changes will be considered. The MCPS Division of Long-range Planning will hold three community meetings to gather public input. The dates and locations of the meetings are:
Monday, May 5, at Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown
Wednesday, May 7, at Springbrook High School, 201 Valley Brook Drive in Silver Spring
Thursday, May 8, at Winston Churchill High School, 11300 Gainsborough Road in Potomac
All meetings will be held in the school media center from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/cne.pdf.
- MCPS is a partner in the 2014 Gaithersburg Book Festival (GBF) on Saturday, May 17, on the grounds of Gaithersburg City Hall. The GBF has a great lineup of authors and activities for children of all ages. Several members of the MCPS community will be conducting readings at the festival and there will be many programs, workshops, and activities in the Children’s Village that are designed to promote interest in reading and writing. MCPS will also have a booth at the event with news and information about the district and staff members who can answer your questions. For more information about the GBF, visit gaithersburgbookfestival.org/.
- MCPS parents, staff and community members are invited to the Special Education Summit, Leading the Way Today, Partnering for a Better Tomorrow. The summit will take place on Saturday, May 17, 8:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Rockville HS, 2100 Baltimore Rd., Rockville, and will feature resources and workshops for families of students with disabilities. To register for the summit, visit www.mcpsparentacademy.org or call 301-517-5940. The summit is free. Childcare, a light breakfast, and box lunches will be provided.
- Huayuan Chinese Academy will offer a FREE exciting 3-week summer program June 30-July 18, at Gaithersburg Elementary School. Participants will learn Chinese language and culture integrated with science subjects. Students do not need to have any background or previous experiences with Chinese. Visit http://www.hychinese.org/startalk/startalk.html .
Thank you for being partners in your child’s education.