Originally delivered on 1/10/2022 3:10 pm

SUBJECT: SCES PTA Post Jan. 10 - Jan. 14

PTAPostHeader
Week of Jan. 10 - Jan. 14

Important Upcoming Dates:

Jan. 12Early Release 
Jan. 17MLK Day  - No School
Jan. 24End of quarter - No School
Feb. 1Professional Day - No School (subject to change if needed due to emergency closures)

This is a weekly e-newsletter compiled by the Sligo Creek Elementary School (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. We encourage all SCES families to sign up. If you have questions, contact communications@scespta.org.

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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   

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

Rapid Test Kits Come Home Today

As shared in Ms. Newsmith's newsletter, all SCES Students are slated to receive rapid test kits today. Parents are asked to help students administer these tests at home and to submit whether their child has tested positive or negative using the MCPS COVID-19 Reporting Form. (You may also call SCES if you are not able to submit the information electronically.) 

Please report all results, both positive and negative, when using the rapid test kits distributed in schools by this Friday, January 14. Please also continue to report all positive test results for students and staff that come from tests not provided by the school system. Any student who tests positive will be required to isolate for 10 days from the date of the positive test, or 10 days from the onset of symptoms, whichever is earlier. 

Instructions in English | Spanish  

Quick Video Tutorial English | Spanish    


Distribution will take place in 3 ways:

1) Student backpack on Monday, Jan 10 (for students present in school).  

Teachers will provide each student with a COVID-19 test kit to be placed in their backpacks at the end of the day. COVID-19 test kits will be provided to students who are dismissed early.  

2) Parent pickup on Tuesday, Jan 11 for students who are absent on Monday and are not in school on Tuesday. Location: Car circle from 9:30 am-10:30 am.    

3) Students enrolled in MCPS Virtual Learning (not quarantine zoom room) should contact the school directly to arrange to pick up COVID-19 test kits. Please call the main office at 240-740-2800.  

Additional Rapid Test Kit Resource

Starting today, you can pick up rapid test kits at one of 19 Montgomery County Public Library branches.  

Bring proof of residency. Examples include a Driver’s license, ID, or a bill that shows you are a resident of Montgomery County.  

Residents can get two kits per person per visit.  

If you are in line 30 minutes before the scheduled end of distribution hours, you will get kits. Site attendants will be monitoring lines.  

https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/testing/rapid-tests.html?fbclid=IwAR1C_OutzKSSL3gb5C8S3YsCma_fKOrGibn6fJ3XgGV1glEaCMvYpNowXiQ

MCPS COVID Response

The most recent MCPS Community Update (Jan. 9): 

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2021-2022/Community-Update-20220109-final.html     

Please continue to share your concerns and different viewpoints with the MCPS Board of Education (https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/members/). Perhaps this will introduce some diversity and flexibility into our leaders' decision-making.  

In the meantime, as parents/caregivers, there are a few things we can do. 

  • If your child is showing symptoms that could be associated with COVID, whether they are vaccinated or not, please keep them home and have them tested for COVID BEFORE returning to school.  
  • If your child tests positive for COVID, regardless of vaccination status or symptoms, keep them home for 10 calendar days and consult with school administration before returning to school.  
  • Test your student right away for COVID using the at-home test that will be sent home with your child tonday.  Please click here for Ms. Nesmith's communication regarding testing kits. 
  • Report your student's test results, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, using this quick Google form.  Results are compiled by MCPS, reported to local schools, and will be used to make decisions about in-person learning.  Complete this form every time you test and report results accurately.  
  • Sign your child up for the "Say Yes To The Test" program at school, for rapid and random testing. Results are reported directly to parents and MCPS. There is no cost to participate. Use this link to sign up.  

Please note that decisions about school closures, including individual school closures, are made directly by MCPS Central Office and not by SCES administration.

The continual adjustments and uncertainties during this pandemic are frustrating and stressful, to say the least. We hope the coming days will bring some much-needed certainty.

SCES Bus Routes Impacted by Driver Shortage

As Ms. Nesmith shared last night, the bus driver shortage has impacted bus routes throughout the county. Below you will find the routes that are impacted in our school community.  

AM and PM unavailable: 

Route 6996, Route 6103, Route 6106, Route 6121  

PM unavailable: 

Route 6981 

MCPS plans to communicate updates on this page: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/transportation/. 

The initial list for each day will be posted by 7:00 pm on the prior evening; however, there may be additions each morning.  

Cartoon image of pile of board games, including Life, Yahtzee, Scrabble, Monopoly and Clue
Game Drive for Indoor Recess

The PTA introduced a game drive last month to provide our teachers and classrooms with additional indoor recess activities for the students. It appears that over the last several years the supplies have significantly dwindled.

We have put together a wish list with games/puzzles/crafts for indoor recess/classroom use and we are grateful to any families that wish to contribute!  

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1FZL07CTKOGQ8?ref_=wl_share    

If you have something to donate (including used items in good condition), please drop them off at either:

Emily Bleimund's house

9204 Watson Rd

Silver Spring, MD 20910

or

Rick Bacon's house

612 Potomac Ave

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Both have bins on the front porch so feel free to stop by at any time. We're collecting donations through Wednesday, January 12.

Goodbye and Thank You to Ms. Hegerich

We learned on Friday that it was our guidance counselor Ms. Hegerich’s last day at Sligo Creek. Katie Ryan is putting together a little package to send her. If you would like to include a card or note, Katie would be happy to include it and make sure it gets to her. Please email her at katevdk@gmail.com to coordinate. 

Our understanding is that a new guidance counselor will be starting very soon.

PTA Executive Vice President Needed

Our PTA has an immediate opening for the position of Executive Vice President.  

The job description follows:  

Executive Vice President  

The Executive Vice President assists the President(s) as needed. Their main function is to ensure succession planning for the position of President. Ideally, this person will run for President in the next possible election, but doing so is not required.  

Responsibilities include:  

• Assist the PTA President(s) and become familiar with the administrative, budget, and liaison responsibilities of the President.  

• Attend monthly Board meetings.  

• Work closely with VPs of Communication and Academic Affairs.  

• Collaborate with the VP of Events and Fundraising.  

• Assist with recruiting volunteers for the various PTA committees and events.  


Please consider whether you might contribute to the school in this way, and reach out to one of us if you have any questions or are interested in the position.  

president@scespta.org  (Rick Bacon)  

treasurer@scespta.org  (Laura Fruge)  

communications@scespta.org (Brenna Thibault)  

events@scespta.org  (Jennifer Meyer)  

Image of microwave cart in Staff Lounge with
Photo of baskets of fruit and box of croissants in Staff Lounge at SCES
Stock the Staff Lounge

Please consider signing up to show our hard-working staff lots of love in January! Homemade cookies or any other treats are very welcome and thoroughly appreciated (as in, gone within the hour!). Please wrap for individual takeaways.  

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/4090949a5ad2fa3f58-stock  

The Teacher Appreciation Committee prefers that items are dropped off or mailed to Katie's house. Please contact Katie for the address at katevdk@gmail.com.  

Thanks,

PTA Teacher Appreciation Committee  

Katie Ryan & Tracie Siddiqui 

Easy Ways to Support SCES


SCES has received nearly $300 from AmazonSmile so far this year. Please turn on AmazonSmile and point your donations toward SCES!  

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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Mabel's Labels  

If you find yourself needing some personalized name labels, please consider supporting this fundraiser, and the PTA will earn 20% from your purchase! Your labels will ship to your house for free. They're great for lunch boxes, backpacks, clothes, shoes -- you name it!  

To purchase, go to campaigns.mabelslabels.com and search for "Sligo Creek ES PTA." 

This fundraiser will run continuously, so it will be there whenever you have a labeling need.

AmazonSmile, BoxTops, CocaCola GIVE and Harris Teeter logos
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