It is the most wonderful time of the year - back to school!
Though it is exciting, back to school can also be overwhelming, especially for those new to the Sligo community. Here are a few notes we hope you find helpful.
School Supplies
The official Sligo Creek ES school supply list, broken down by grade, can be found at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ACi0Wwr8FwLQZpV4ernJGIvrDgWA00kyQf2JJu4M2Ks/edit
Back-to-School Fair at Wheaton Westfield Mall: Saturday 8/27 from 10-1
All MCPS students and their families are invited to kick off the new school year at the Back-to-School Fair. The event is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn about the school system and county programs and services, while enjoying family-friendly activities, entertainment, a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic and more. More information at:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/community-engagement/fair/
Back to School Night- Kindergarten Only: Thursday 8/25 from 6:30-7:30
SCES is hosting a back to school night for all incoming kindergarteners at the school! We are so excited for all of our new families! Childcare will be provided for school age children only. Infants and toddlers are welcome to stay with their caregivers.
Sneak Peak Open House: Friday 8/26 from 2:30-3:15
SCES is hosting a sneak peek of Sligo Creek. Students and parents are welcome to visit their classroom and become reacquainted or acquainted with the school. There will be a juggler/balloon artist and popsicles/ice cream will be shared for students to enjoy!
Grade Level Communications
Many parents/guardians have established grade level Slack groups or similar channels to facilitate communications. A list of those groups can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hqeJhh0YNcJgF0oz3-iEG1gsoSwk8CTqhgcA68vljJg/edit#gid=467678328
Car Circle
We know everyone is eager to efficiently and safely get their kids to school and timely on to work or other appointments. For safety, neighborhood relations, efficiency, and fairness, the following protocols exist for arrival (and dismissal):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wk-HX-rYmyQvXyyLRuNUrjDOEvvpypsPCf6shuWWows/edit?fbclid=IwAR0OXXP11cxRgpSuDxwg_qgmvwZoMF9S6Tc8djEllD2BE6O3MyNBV_FMfak
Busses
The bus routes for SCES have been posted by MCPS and can be found at:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/transportation/busroutes/02517bus.pdf
MCPS notes that some bus routes may change. Additionally, some routes may experience service delays due to staffing and the need for multiple runs. Updates regarding delays and uncovered routes will be communicated on a daily basis by schools and available on the MCPS website at https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/
Major platforms you need an account for with MCPS for elementary school
1. ParentVUE: how to access grades and a route for emailing teachers. It is also vital that you have the correct email address with ParentVUE so the school can reach you with communications, which come from NoReply Synergy or Blackboard.
2. Canvas/MyMCPSClassroom — separate from ParentVUE, but you must access it through your ParentVUE account. It gives alerts about assignments and grades — and you can see a bit more into what’s due in each classroom. This is for those who want a deeper dive into what is going on for their students and perhaps an earlier heads up about how things are going in the classroom.
3.AlertMCPS: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/alertmcps.aspx This provides information about school closures or other emergencies.
4. School Cash Online: https://www.schoolcashonline.com — all school financial obligations outside of cafeteria meals.
5. My School Bucks — https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home This year, meals (lunch and breakfast) will not be universally free. If you are not a FARMS family (free or reduced price meals based on economic circumstances), and your student wants to buy lunch in school, they will need a mybucks account with money in it.
Additional Resources
The MCPS Fall 2022 School Reopening guide is available at:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/reopening/MSDE-Fall2022-ReopeningGuide.pdf
In case you didn't receive it, Principal Nesmith's first 22-23 Salamander newsletter can be found at:
https://www.smore.com/1qpum
