Originally delivered on 3/7/2022 1:30 pm

SUBJECT: SCES PTA Post March 7 - 11

PTAPostHeader
Week of March 7 - 11

Important Upcoming Dates:

March 8SCES Antiracism Committee Meeting
March 10PEP Parenting Webinar 
March 11Early Release Day
March 24Early Release Day
March 25SCES World Culture Day
April 1Early Release (no longer a day off for students)
April 11-18Spring Break

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. Previous issues of the newsletter are available on the PTA website 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   

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

Minutes from PTA Meetings are posted online here:

https://scespta.membershiptoolkit.com/PTA_Meetings

Antiracism Committee Meeting March 8 at 8.30 PM

The SCES Antiracism Committee monthly meeting will take place this Tuesday, March 8 at 8:30 PM via the following link:  

https://jhjhm.zoom.us/j/5704293332   

We have two upcoming events to discuss and are seeking volunteers to help with both:  

1. Book Challenge: Charles Guedenet is leading this effort and will need volunteers to help execute.  

2. World Culture Day: parent volunteers are needed during the school day on March 25, and to create a "world map" activity whereby every student could pin/mark regions of the world with which they identify.  

Please think about what you're able to commit to. You can email Ellen Mowry (ellen.mowry@gmail.com) or let us know at the meeting. 

World Culture Day Poster Contest
  • What: Poster Competition: Celebrating the Countries and Cultures of SCES
  • When: Contest ends March 15  
  • Who: 4th and 5th Grade students  

Participating students should clearly write their name, grade, and homeroom teacher on the back of their poster and drop off the completed poster at the main office by 2 pm on Tuesday, March 15.  

All posters will be displayed around school starting the week of March 21 as part of our school's World Culture Day celebration, and one winner from each grade level will receive a gift certificate prize. 

Reset Your Parenting: From Pandemic Mode to a New Normal

The SCES Wellness Committee is pleased to bring you this Parenting Webinar hosted and presented by the Parent Encouragement Program   

Thursday, March 10, 2022  |  8 PM - 9 PM   

Bring your questions, as this will be an interactive discussion!

COVID surges and shifts in guidance have disrupted family life for two years. Parents and families are working on finding that reset button to re-establish routines, limits, and collaboration in the home. During all the “muddling through,” we may have set some new habits and routines, for good or not-so-good, that we want to revisit.

As we once again emerge from the limitations, how do we help our children feel a new sense of confidence, hope, and motivation? What can parents do to reestablish structure with kids and foster their independence?

Learn specific strategies to:

  • Focus on connecting with our children to support their resilience
  • Re-examine and re-establish routines and limits collaboratively
  • Resolve conflict when it arises


Zoom information:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88169755954?pwd=NHpHNnRxSXZwbUZtRUdmMnJzMWFNdz09  

Meeting ID: 881 6975 5954  

Passcode: 924531  

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,88169755954# US (Washington DC)


If you can't make it on Thursday, this presentation will be recorded and available to the SCES community, along with the slides. 

Image of full grocery bag
Grocery Gift Card Collection

Last week, we asked for help providing SCES families facing food insecurity with the resources they need prior to Spring Break. We mentioned the need to collect 70 grocery gift cards by Friday, April 1.  

In one day, you donated 40 gift cards; we now have 66 total. Thank you, you amazing people. What a caring community we have here at SCES.    

If you can help provide one of those last few grocery cards needed, please donate a $25 gift card (or a gift card in any amount) from grocery stores such as Safeway, Giant, Costco, or Target. Place the card(s) in an envelope and drop them off on school days--clearly marked to the attention of Ms. Check--or mail them to:      

   Sligo Creek Elementary School, Attn: Jessica Check  

   500 Schuyler Rd  

   Silver Spring, MD 20910

    

You can also send funds via Venmo or Zelle directly to Laura Fruge:   

Venmo: @Laura-Fruge     

Zelle: 202-256-4874   

Laura will purchase grocery gift cards to share (receipts provided upon request).  

Grocery gift cards are distributed to families once in the fall and once in the spring, and as-needed throughout the school year.  

If you or your family can benefit from a gift card, please contact Ms. Check at Jessica_Check@mcpsmd.org or Mme. Johnston at Jeanne_K_Johnston@mcpsmd.org.  

Thank you for contributing in so many ways to our community!

Assistance for Friendly Garden Apartment Families

Following the explosion, fire, and collapse of a building at the Friendly Garden apartment complex last week, there are a number of organizations collecting aid for affected families:  

  • Rock Creek Forest Elementary, where several of the affected families have students, will accept gift cards, clothing, and non-perishable food items. Please deliver donations to the front office; gift cards should be in envelopes labeled “â„… Friendly Garden Apartments.”  
  • Montgomery Housing Partners' Making Home Possible is accepting online donations.https://mhpartners.org/help-families-affected-by-lyttonsville-rd-fire/  
Outdoor Classroom Cleanup a HUGE Success

Thanks to everyone who joined us on a gorgeous Saturday to work on the SCES/SSIMS Outdoor Classroom. It was a joy to see so many (more than 100 volunteers!) contributing to the cleanup of our outdoor learning space.

A big thanks to the teachers and administrators from both schools who came out: Ms. Nesmith, Ms. Lertora, Mr. Solomon, Ms. Zimmerman, and Mr. Espinal, all of whom helped to make the day a great success. 

People enjoyed the day so much that they asked when our next Outdoor Classroom workday will be!  There is always more to be done if we have people to organize the work. If you’d like to be involved in the Outdoor Classroom, please contact Debbie Boger at debbie.boger@gmail.com to be added to the Outdoor Classroom email list. 

Staff LOVE the Lounge Snacks! Pie Day Coming Up...

The PTA continues to stock the staff lounge every Monday with snacks and drinks donated by our lovely community. 

The snacks go FAST and are much appreciated. We recently heard that a new teacher chose SCES over another school in part because they heard how supportive the PTA at SCES has been. So let’s keep it going! 

Pie Day is coming up next Monday. 

Also…we know it’s Girl Scout cookie season! A first-grade Girl Scout talked her mom into buying some cookies from her to donate to the staff lounge this week (see pic). We love that generosity and entrepreneurial spirit! Feel free to sign up to bring “sweet treats” in future weeks, Girl Scout families.  

Check out the sign-up sheet here:  

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

Drop off info is in the sign-up, or reach out to Katie Ryan (katevdk@gmail.com) or Tracie Siddiqui (traciesiddiqui@gmail.com) to coordinate an alternative. 


In case you've never seen the snack train arriving at SCES, here's a fun visual. No wonder Katie and Tracie are so strong!  

Katie pulling a wagon loaded to the brim with staff lounge treats
Girl Scout cookies donated to SCES Staff Lounge
Seeking PTA Board Member Nominations

We have a number of openings on the SCES PTA board for the 2022-23 School Year, including President, Vice-President, and Treasurer.

Please see the PTA website for job descriptions: 

https://scespta.membershiptoolkit.com/about-the-sces-pta

Contact any board member for more information.

Latest from MCPS

Things to Know (Friday, March 4)  

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2021-2022/Community-Update-20220304b34985.html 


What You Need to Know if Masks Become Optional in MCPS (Friday, March 4)

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2021-2022/Community-Update-20220304-final.html  


County and MCPS COVID Vaccine Partnership: 

To find a clinic that is convenient for you, visit https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/Coronavirus/Vaccinations/ and make your appointment today!  

Easy Ways to Support SCES

SCES has received more than $500 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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