Originally delivered on 2/16/2021 9:46 am

SUBJECT: SCES PTA Post Feb. 15 - 19

PTAPostHeader
Week of Feb. 15-19

Important Upcoming Dates:

Feb. 20PTA Vote on Bylaws @ Noon
Feb. 22SCES Antiracism Parent Connection Meeting
Feb. 24SCES Town Hall @ 7 PM
Feb. 25Coffee with Mr. Rand @ 8:15 AM
Feb. 26Deadline for changes to in-person/virtual school choice
March 3PTA Meeting @ 8 PM
March 8No school
March 9-10Asynchronous learning (no teacher support)  

This is a weekly e-newsletter compiled by the SCES PTA to share current and upcoming school events and other information important to our school community. Please subscribe directly under your profile on the PTA website and encourage all SCES families to sign up. If you have questions, contact communications@scespta.org.

The PTA Post is online here: https://scespta.membershiptoolkit.com/pta-post-newsletter

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Para leer el boletin, de click con el boton derecho del raton (mouse). Elija "traducir" seleccionando "espanol". Use el navegador the internet Google Chrome o MIcrosof Edge.  

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Pour lire la newsletter en français, ouvrez-la à l'aide du navigateur Internet Chrome ou Microsoft Edge. Faites un clic droit et choisissez "Traduire" puis sélectionnez le français.  

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።berarÄ« werek’etuni be’āmarinya lemanibebi ye Chrome yebeyinemerebi āsashi bemet’ek’emi yikifetuti ፡፡ bek’enyi t’ek’i yadirigu ina “terigumi” ni merit’ewi kezÄ«ya āmarinyani yimiret’u።    

በራሪ ወረቀቱን በአማርኛ ለማንበብ የ Chrome የበይነመረብ አሳሽ በመጠቀም ይክፈቱት ፡፡ በቀኝ ጠቅ ያድርጉ እና “ተርጉም” ን መርጠው ከዚያ አማርኛን ይምረጡ  

A belated Happy Valentine's Day from your SCES PTA board. 

Love you guys! (I hear Mr. Brinson's voice in my head when I say that. Anyone who has listened to - or better yet, participated in - virtual gym classes with Mr. B has probably heard his uniquely enthusiastic voice telling their kids this very thing. The man is a treasure.)  

As school reopening information emerges, here are some important dates to add to your calendar:


Wednesday, February 24

7 PMSCES Town Hall

Thursday, February 25

8:15 AMCoffee with Mr. Rand
Friday, February 26
Deadline for changes to virtual
vs. in-person school choice

Wednesday, March 38 PM
PTA Meeting - Mr. Rand to share final plans


Monday, March 15

Return to in-person school, four days a week, for students in K-2nd grade who chose to return to the building. 3rd graders to alternate weeks in-person (if this was your choice) and virtual. More information later this week re: the plan for 4th-5th graders.


Members of the PTA board are asking Mr. Rand and Seth Adams (Director of the Department of Facilities Management for MCPS) some very specific, detailed questions regarding the school's HVAC system. We're also pushing for SCES's comprehensive plan and an opportunity to ask questions as soon as possible.

Let us know your concerns and we'll compile them prior to the Town Hall meeting next week: communications@scespta.org  

Stay tuned for more information here, on the SCES listserv, and from Mr. Rand.  

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PS, In case you didn't see it, here is the MCPS Spring Recovery Guide, which includes an outline of what parents, students and staff can expect for in-person and virtual learning experiences and a timeline. This is not specific to SCES.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2020-2021/Community-Update-20210209.html

Young boy with colorful hair signs a Valentine's Day card for his teacher
Young boy in colorful jacket and mask signs a Valentine's Day card for his teacher

Two students from Ms. June's 5th grade class sign her Valentine's Day card at an outdoor, socially distanced class celebration last week.

SCES PTA Bylaws

The SCES PTA Bylaws need to be submitted for their three-year renewal by the end of February 2021. Please contact president@scespta.org with any comments you may have. The proposed bylaws are on our website here: https://scespta.membershiptoolkit.com/assets/00951/Documents/By-Laws/SCESPTA-bylaws2018.pdf. 

We will hold a socially-distanced, outdoor vote on Saturday, Feb. 20 at noon in the SCES car circle. We need a quorum of at least 10 active PTA members, so if you're available to stop by for a quick hello and a distanced vote next Saturday, please join us in the car circle. 

Toward an Antiracist SCES 3rd-5th Grade Student/Parent Survey

If you haven't already, please fill out the school climate survey below and have your 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders do the same.  

This survey is the product of the process that started almost exactly a year ago, when a diverse group of 30+ parents met (in person!) and developed a workplan to help make progress along an antiracist continuum. The Data Committee spent a ton of time putting together a comprehensive, statistically rigorous survey that will inform the priorities of school administration, faculty/staff, and this parent advocacy group.  

Here are the links to the surveys:  

Parents:https://american.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77Etx83F9rEK9Xn

Password: Sligo20  

Students (Grades 3 to 5):https://american.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0kCF8bO0nvptr01

Password: Sligo20  

If you have any questions, or if you would like to get involved in the anti-racism group, please email toward-antiracist-sces@googlegroups.com.  

Antiracism Parent Connection Group - Feb. 22 @ 8 PM

Topics to discuss:  

  • Guidance to PTA re School Resource Officer removal (see below for more information)
  • Implications of return to school  

Countywide data shows significant differences in who is opting to return to school vs stay virtual. We'll discuss the implications and any related action items.

Meeting Zoom link:   

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89717901347?pwd=Z0U5TTFnT2tzMEw2bExFLzhqYU1yUT09

SRO Learning Session & Resolution

The Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA) has requested input from member PTAs on a proposed resolution about School Resource Officers (SROs). These are police officers that are currently assigned to duty at high schools and some middle schools; these are in addition to MCPS personnel at schools that are assigned security duties. There are too many student arrests and those arrests are disproportionately of students of color. An SRO resolution is before the MCCPTA and our PTA should review the materials and proposed resolution so we can participate in the discussion. Some questions to be discussed:  

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MRGfy6znTkC7RUmw-B0QzaOYecrc-qmHnW41Bx3RahU/edit  


MCCPTA Engage is offering a Learning Session about School Resource Officers on Saturday, February 20 from 10 AM - 11:30 AM.  

Sign up:  bit.ly/EngageFeb2021  

This not a debate, but rather a discussion of ideas and information, so our communities can make informed votes as resolutions/legislation moves forward.

We need YOU to make this Spring Special!
  • The GeoBowl planning committee hopes to hold this popular annual event in May 2021. Email events@scespta.org to support planning and preparation for the GeoBowl.  
  • World Culture Day is in the very early stages of planning. We have a committee leader and are looking for additional volunteers to help make an event happen sometime in April. It would be a Zoom based assembly. Email events@scespta.org if you’re interested in helping.  
  • SCES PTA seeks a Teacher Appreciation Committee chair. Contact communications@scespta.org if interested.  
  • A volunteer spot for a SCES community member to serve as rep to the MCCPTA Gifted Child Committee is also available. If you're interested, please contact president@scespta.org.
Looking for Easy Ways to Support our School?

Several opportunities to earn $ for SCES include the Harris Teeter TIE program https://www.harristeeter.com/tie/school-earnings and Coco Cola Give https://us.coca-cola.com/give/schools/. You can also select Sligo Creek Elementary School as your AmazonSmile (https://smile.amazon.com/) beneficiary and download the BoxTops app to your phone. More information follows:  


Sign Up for AmazonSmile:  

1. http://smile.amazon.com

2. Sign in with your Amazon.com credentials.

3. Choose Sligo Creek Elementary School as your charity of choice.

4. Add a bookmark for http://smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.

Turn on AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app:

1. Open the App and find 'Settings' in the main menu.

2. Tap on 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile in the App.  

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Scan Receipts for BOX TOPS  

1. Download the BOX TOP$ for Education App  

2. Select Sligo Creek Elementary School (zip code 20910).  

3. Look for the BOX TOP$ logo when shopping.  

4. Scan your grocery receipts within 14 days of purchasing.

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Coca-Cola Give  

Through Coca-Cola Give, you can support SCES by donating your codes. SCES can use donated funds for extra-curricular activities including sports, technology, art and/or school supplies within our school. Search for Sligo Creek Elementary School at https://us.coca-cola.com/give/schools/. Scan code from your phone or enter code manually.  

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Harris Teeter  

Let the cashier know during check-out that you’d like to link SCES's account number (# 2010) to your Harris Teeter VIC card OR visit www.harristeeter.com to link your VIC card online. Once the account number (2010) is linked, every time you shop 5% of your Harris Teeter brand purchases will be contributed to our PTA.

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