January 11, 2008
A Message From Mrs. Starr
This week I am reminded of how fortunate we are to have such wonderful volunteers. For weeks now, our students and parents have been preparing for our annual talent show. Talent Show Coordinator for this fabulous event this year is Kelly Lozano. I look forward to seeing you on Friday, January 18th at Damascus High School for a thriller of a talent show!
This week also marked the beginning of the lunch time Junior Great Books grade level sessions. Each grade level is being facilitated by parent volunteers. A special thank you to Katherine Wells for organizing this wonderful learning opportunity for our children. This is one of very few schools in MCPS where the PTA
assumes the responsibility of providing this experience to students in a school.
Thanks to all of you who do so much for our children each and every day.
Message from Mr. Domergue, Principal of Damascus High School
Damascus High School recently completed a very successful visit from the Middle States Association. We have been working on Accreditation for Growth (AFG) for the past 18 months and our hard work paid off. In an oral report that was shared on Friday, November 9, our AFG visitors recommended “full accreditation.” They were very impressed with DHS and called DHS an "incredible institution”. “The school’s offerings are among the best that the Validation Team members have encountered. All students at Damascus High School have the opportunity to excel in many areas.”
As part of their visit, the Validation Team met with students, staff, parents and our community superintendent and performance director. They observed classes, ate lunch in the café, and toured our facility. The Validation team “commends Damascus High school for its dedication to student achievement and for its focus on academic excellence”. This student achievement is due to the focus and treatment students receive when they begin their education in our cluster elementary and middle schools.
They also cited our “overwhelming hospitality” and said that our students are appreciative of staff efforts. The actual written report will not be completed until a later date. I look forward to sharing more information with you in the near future.
I am also pleased to announce that DHS finished a very successful first quarter. Fifty-five percent of our students made the Honor Roll. Only 8.5 % of our students were coded as ineligible. This ineligibility rate was the 5th best overall in MCPS, and we had the lowest percentage rate in MCPS for ineligibility among African American students. Student grades were higher than they have been in several years. Our students, staff, and the Damascus community have all been working very hard.
Thanks for all your support in preparing our Damascus students for high school!
Robert Domergue, Principal
Deadline for Group Picture Orders is Tuesday
Group and classroom pictures were taken yesterday. If you did not order portraits, it is not too late. Blanton Studios will be picking up late orders from the office on Tuesday.
Thank you
Thank you to Dee Santorelli, Suzanne Elbaum, and Martha Jackson for helping with Hearing and Vision Screening on Monday.
3rd Grade Learns About Internet Safety
Today all 3rd Graders were provided to learn about Internet Safety from John J. McCarthy, State’s Attorney and Scott Elwood also from that office. The information was presented in a highly effective manner using a power point in cartoon form. There was a great deal of interaction between the facilitator (s) and the audience. Thanks to LuAnn Rosenthal, parent of 3rd grader, Ryan, for making the arrangements for this important and timely presentation to our students. We hope that he can come back and talk to our 4th and 5th graders. Parents of 3rd graders, please have your students share what they talked about today in this presentation.
Holiday – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, January 21
Professional Day for teachers – No school for students Tuesday, January 22
Flyer Distribution Days
The next flyer distribution day is Wednesday, January 23, 2008.
The last flyer distribution day will be April 9, 2008
Woodfield Welcomes the Keys for Reading Program!
Once again, Woodfield will participate in the Keys for Reading program! Beginning January 8, 2008, students were given an official bookmark to fill in the names of four books read in a two month period. The bookmark should be signed by a parent and returned to school in exchange for a free general admission ticket to the Frederick Keys baseball game on Saturday, April 5 @ 2:00 pm. We had 150 students participate last year and we won the banner contest of all the schools in MCPS that participated! Two Frederick Keys baseball players came to Woodfield as a result to celebrate our participation and motivation for reading. Our goal is for every child to participate in the program this year! The Keyote mascot visited students on January 4th during their lunch periods to encourage participation and kick off the program. Go Woodfield readers!
Student Book Exchange
Start saving your gently used books for the 3rd Annual Student Book Exchange. We will start collecting books January 14th – 25th. All of the students will have an opportunity to choose a “new” used book January 29th – February 1st. Donations of gently used books appropriate for kindergarteners through fifth graders are greatly appreciated. If you are interested in helping, please contact Andi Carbonell at andreamcarbonell@aol.com.
Winter is Here
Winter is here!! Please remember to have your child dress warmly for outdoor recess. During recess, all students are reminded to tuck their scarves into their jackets to prevent a serious injury during recess! Also, if possible, please label your children’s clothing. Many items fill our lost and found bin located in the AP room and if there is a name in them we can return them to their owner.
Curriculum Night at Woodfield – January 30 and January 31
Please place on your home calendars now! – Curriculum Night at Woodfield:
Grades K-2 Wednesday, January 30th and Grades 3 - 5 Thursday, January 31st - 7:00 p.m.
This special night was scheduled as a result of the parent survey taken on Back To School Night in September. Parents stated that they wanted more time to learn about the curriculum. On the nights listed above, teachers on each grade level will be sharing important information about the Reading Language Arts curriculum in a forty-five minute session and the math curriculum for that grade level in another 45 minute presentation. They will be giving you important ideas and strategies as to how you can support your children at home and answer all questions. As the event date approaches, RSVPs will be sent home to prepare for the number of parents who plan to attend. Let’s make this night as important as Back To School Night!
Science Fair Parent Information Night
Have you talked to your child about the science fair? Want to know more about it? Come to an informative meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 to learn more about this special event. This will be followed by the February PTA meeting which will begin at 7:00 p.m. Contact Ms. Tress Potter or Mrs. Deb Krizman with any questions.
Attention 5th Grade Parents- Incoming Sixth Grade Parent Meeting at Baker
The articulation process for incoming sixth graders to Baker Middle School for next year has started! Please note that a Parent Meeting will be held for incoming sixth grade parents on February 7th at 7 p.m. The snow date is February 20th.
A Special Opportunity for You to Nominate a Special Person or Program!
MCCPTA- 2007 -2008 Special Education Committee is looking for nominations of outstanding contributions to the success of students with special needs by parents, educators, students, and programs. Each year the MCCPTA –Special Education Committee holds a ceremony in the spring to honor parents, educators, students, and programs who have contributed to the success of students with special needs in MVPS during the school year. This ceremony will be held on May 5th. Please see Dawn West, school administrative secretary, for nomination forms and criteria. Any parent, administrator, educator, or student can submit nominations. Nominations including a completed nominations form, a nominating statement along with supporting statements should be forwarded to the MCCPTA office, MCCPTA, 20906 Gaither Road (Suite 204), Rockville, MD 20850; (301) 208-0111 (VOICE); (301) 208-2003 (fax). Nominations must be received to MCCPTA no later than March 7, 2008. For additional information or forms contact Jennifer Zaranis, (301)503-4087 or Jennifer.Zaranis@verizon.net.
G&T Corner:
Summer in January!!
The Gifted and Talented Association of Montgomery County, Inc.would like to invite your PTA to a
summer programs fair on Thursday, the17th of January, at Key MS @ Tilden Holding Center.
Parkland Middle School @
Tilden Holding Center
6300 Tilden Lane, Rockville
January 17, 2008
7:00 to 8:30 P.M.
Children Welcome!
Summer Enrichment & Job Opportunities
Snow Date: January 24, 2008
MCPS Gifted and Talented information website:
http://www.mccpta.com/gt.html
2008 Important Dates
Mon., Jan. 14 – Fri., Jan. 25 Collection for PTA Student Book Exchange
Thursday, January 17 Talent Show Dress Rehearsal @ Damascus High School
Friday, January 18 Talent Show @ Damascus High School
Friday, January 18 2nd Marking period ends
Monday, January 21 Holiday – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 22 Professional Day for teachers – No school for students
Wednesday, January 23 Flyer Distribution Day
Wed., January 23 – Friday, Feb. 15 MAP R Winter Window for grades 3, 4, 5
Tues., Jan. 29 – Friday, Feb. 1 Students Choose Books – PTA Student Book Exchange
Wednesday, January 30 Report cards distributed
Wednesday, January 30 K – 2 Curriculum Night 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 31 3 – 5 Curriculum Night 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 1 African American Heritage Month
Tuesday, February 5 2nd Grade in School Field Trip – Mad Science
Tuesday, February 5 Science Fair Parent Information Night 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 5 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 7 Parent Meeting for Incoming 6th Graders – 7 p.m. Baker
Monday, February 11 Hearing and Vision Rescreening (K, 4, and new students)
Tuesday, February 12 Holiday – Presidential primary election
Wednesday, February 13 Hilary Hyland – Author Visit
Thursday, February 14 Valentine’s Day
Monday, February 18 Holiday – Presidents Day
Tuesday, February 19 DHS and ES choral concert @ DHS
Wednesday, February 20 Snow date for Parent Meeting for Incoming 6th Graders
Thursday, February 21 Science Expo
Friday, February 21 A.M. Cultural Arts – Billy B. - Song and Dance Man
Wednesday, February 27 Early Release Day – 12:35 p.m.
Tuesday, March 4 Spring Portraits
Tuesday, March 4 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 13 Donuts for Dads
Friday, March 14 Donuts for Dads
Monday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day
Tuesday, March 18 Science Expo (note date change)
Friday, March 21 – Monday, March 24 Holidays – Easter (Note: Passover begins at sundown 4/19)
Tuesday, March 25 – Friday, March 28 Spring break – No school for students and teachers
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30 Autism Awareness Month
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30 Arab American Heritage Month
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30 Month of the Young Child Celebration
Tuesday, April 1 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 1 – Friday, April 11 MSA Testing Window grades 3, 4, 5 (Math & Reading)
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 2 MSA Reading Grades 3 and 4
Thursday, April 3 – Friday, April 4 MSA Reading Grade 5
Saturday, April 5 Frederick Keys for Reading Baseball Game – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8 – Wednesday, April 9 MSA Mathematics Grades 3 and 4
Thursday, April 10 – Friday, April 11 MSA Mathematics Grade 5
Friday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 16 MSA Make-up Window grades 3, 4, 5 (Math & Reading)
Monday, April 14 – Friday, April 18 Staff Appreciation Week
Thursday, April 17 Kindergarten Orientation – No School for Kindergarten
Friday, April 18 Kindergarten Orientation – No School for Kindergarten
Monday, April 21 – Friday, May 16 LAS Links (ESOL Testing) Grades K- 5
Tuesday, April 22 – Friday, May 16 MAP R Spring Window for grades 3, 4, 5
Thursday, April 24 Take Your Child to Work Day
Friday, April 25 PTA International Night
Friday, April 25 A.M. Cultural Arts – Nada Brahma – World Music
Monday, April 28 – Friday, May 2 Terra Nova testing – Grade 2
Tuesday, April 29 4th Grade In School Field Trip – In Space
Tuesday, April 29 – Tuesday, May 13 MSA Testing grades 3, 4, 5 (Science)
Thursday, May 1 – Sunday, May 31 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Thursday, May 1 5th Grade Picture – 1:45 p.m.
Friday, May 2 Field Day Grades 3, 4, 5
Tuesday, May 6 3rd Grade Field Trip - Baltimore Museum
Tuesday, May 6 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7 5th Grade to Strathmore Concert
Thursday, May 8 Muffins for Moms
Friday, May 9 Muffins for Moms
Friday, May 9 Field Day Grades K, 1, 2
Friday, May 16 Rain date for Field Day K, 1, 2
Saturday, May 17 School Beautification Day 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Monday, May 19 – Friday, May 23 Spring Book Fair
Thursday, May 22 Woodfield Art Show
Friday, May 23 Rain date for Field Day Grades 3, 4, 5
Monday, May 26 Holiday – Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 27 4th & 5th Gr. Band, Strings, & Chorus Concert
Wednesday, June 11 5th Grade Promotion
Thursday, June 12 Last day of school for students – Dismissal 12:35 p.m.
Friday, June 13 Professional day for teachers
Saturday, June 14 Flag Day
Thursday, June 19 Report cards mailed
Tuesday, August 26 First Day of School
Note: Dates that have been added this week are in bold.