Note: For the 2024-2025 school year, the PTA Board members don't plan on posting quite as frequently as previous boards. However, we hope you enjoy these archived posts as a way to explore previous PTA work and programming!

Introducing the 2024-2025 SCES PTA Board Members

9/13/2024 10:19 pm

Those who were able to join us for last night's PTA Meeting met some vibrant candidates for next year's board. I'm delighted to say that the following community members have been voted in, and I'm VERY excited for SCES!

2024-25 CO-PRESIDENTS

ChristineFamily

Christine Reklaitis

Christine moved to Silver Spring shortly before her daughter started kindergarten and this year is mother to a third grader and new kindergartener. Having lived in several cities, Christine now loves the community that Sligo Creek Elementary School provides. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she works in film/TV script development and also coaches gymnastics locally. She loves traveling with her family and enjoys hearing about new places to visit!

Rosarie (Ro) Tucci

Ro lives in Silver Spring—just around the corner from Sligo Creek Elementary School—with her husband, Larri and twin daughters, Lorelei and Sierra (entering third grade in 2024-25 in the Academy). She works on peacebuilding and democracy/human rights—particularly civic engagement and mobilization—around the world and more recently, in the U.S. She enjoys traveling with her family, especially learning about history and culture and finding ways to build community and social engagement.

2024-25 Executive Vice President

Oma Akuya

Oma is a Silver Spring native and lives in the area with her loving family. Her son (a rising 1st grader) is currently in the academy at Sligo Creek with hopes of participating in the French Immersion Program next school year. Oma is committed to maintaining spaces of diversity, equity, and inclusion that support student rights, family partnerships, and enrich learning opportunities. Oma and her family enjoy traveling, trying new foods, and a good adventure!

2024-25 SECRETARY

Patrick Uduebor

Patrick, also a Silver Spring native, is new to the PTA world and very interested in adding diversity to the program with male figures and people of color. Patrick loves sports and traveling with his family. He and his son Kingsley are avid gamers and love to play games together. Patrick is excited to be a part of this growing community!

Our Executive VP and Secretary were a team prior to joining the board!

2024-25 TREASURER

KrissyFam Krissy Rice

Krissy grew up in Silver Spring long ago, before there was Whole Foods and the ice rink. Today, her family loves going to downtown Silver Spring, visiting all the playgrounds around town, and going for walks with their dog, Lana. Her husband, Pete, is a frequent volunteer for SCES PTA events and her son Bennett loves to break dance. Krissy has worked for several non-profits and small businesses providing administrative and program support.

2024-25 EVENTS & FUNDRAISING CO-PRESIDENTS

GargiFam Gargi Parikh

Gargi and her husband, Anand, are parents to Khelan, a 3rd grader in the French immersion program, and Dev, a 6th grader at SSIMS. Gargi is a dietitian with a private practice. She grew up in California and loves to spend time hiking, cooking (when it’s not rushed) and spending time with family and friends.

Gladys Chi

Gladys lives in Silver Spring with her loving family and kids, Nathaniel and Gisele. Gisele (rising 3rd grader) attends Sligo Creek in the French Immersion program and Nathaniel is preparing to start the CAP magnet program at Blair High School this fall. Gladys graduated from John Hopkins University and works locally as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is a native of Cameroon, where she grew up and loves everything about Africa. She enjoys dancing to Afrobeat, running, sports, cooking up gourmet meals, and spending time with loved ones!

2024-25 COMMUNICATIONS & MEMBERSHIP CO-PRESIDENTS

Helen Rubeiz

Helen and her husband Josh have two children, Gabriel (rising 5th grader) and Elias (rising 2nd grader) in the French Immersion program. Helen has worked for several non-profit organizations supporting international education and economic development. She loves the outdoors, travel, discovering new places, and spending time with family and friends.

Justine Lassman

Coming soon

2024-25 ACADEMIC AFFAIRS CO-PRESIDENTS

Dawn Naser

Coming soon

Justin Prud'homme

Justin and his wife Katey (on the Stride Committee) live in Kensington with their two boys, Tristan - a rising 2nd grader in the French immersion program - and younger brother Dylan. Justin is originally from the island of Mauritius, and has worked on public affairs in the field of international development for the past 14 years.

5/8/2024 7:52 am

"Notes from the Heart" Friday

Here are a few prompts that Ashley Briefel and I created (with thanks to Carmina Galvez for checking/correcting my French translations!) for "Notes from the Heart" Friday. In case your kiddo is like mine and freezes up when presented with a blank sheet of paper and asked to write something, here are some options for note writing in English and French.

We'll have printed copies of these at the table by the media center on Friday, but in case you have a home printer and would like to write them with your student in advance, here you go! Thanks for sharing your Notes from the Heart on Friday. It's been a challenging year for some of our staff and they'd love to hear from you and your student(s) about what went well.

5/2/2024 10:27 am

StaffAppreciationWeek2024

4/8/2024 12:14 pm

Get excited to see the 2023-2024 year in review! This year's book will capture more Salamander smiles and memories of our beloved SCES events than ever before.

The PTA is accepting online orders for the Sligo Creek Elementary School Yearbook. The cost to purchase a yearbook is $28.00. The last day to purchase a yearbook is FRIDAY, April 26, 2024.

The PTA will ensure that all 5th graders receive a yearbook. Orders do not need to be placed for 5th graders, but donations to help offset costs are appreciated.

Order Your Yearbook Here!

12/6/2023 12:03 pm

Mark your calendars for an exciting PTA presentation on Monday, January 8 at 7 PM in the SCES gymnasium.

JasmineBradshawJan8

12/6/2023 11:01 am

We had a fantastic time crafting a banned book display, dancing with Kalon Hayward (thank you to Gladys Chi for arranging Kalon's visit!), and wrapping the evening with a bit of PTA business and discussion.

12/4/2023 8:40 pm

It's time for the SCES Book Fair!!!

The Book Fair featuring Scholastic and Bonjour Books is right around the corner!! The Book Fair is December 11-15 from 9:30-3:30 and on December 12th will be open from 6-8pm with a night for adults to come shop and buy. Our goal is to make sure all the students can get books and provide a huge selection of books that celebrate diversity and inclusion. Parents are welcome to come and shop throughout the day during the Book Fair.

The children will be able to purchase books at any point during the week. They will have an opportunity to visit the book fair with their class throughout the week.

Scholastic books can be paid for by cash, credit card, check, or e-wallet. We are encouraging families to set up e-wallets for scholastic books. This is the easiest way for your child to not have to carry cash and be able to purchase what they would like.
Bonjour Books will be providing books in French for our students. To pay for these books, you can only use cash or credit card.

Volunteer: We are still looking for volunteers to help with all aspects of the book fair, from setting up to take down, running registers and helping students select books. It is a lot of fun to help the children chose and enjoy their books. Please sign up using the Sign up Genius if you are able to help. You do not need to sign up for a slot, just sign into the main office. If you have any questions, please contact bookfair@scespta.org

SSL Hours: If you have a 6th grader or above that can help out at night and would love to earn SSL Hours, please contact bookfair@scespta.org

9/28/2023 11:00 pm

SalamanderStride2023Logo

The Salamander Stride is a non-competitive Fun Run that encourages physical activity and celebrates our students. It is a volunteer-planned community event where parents, guardians, and family members join staff to cheer our students on.

Every student who is able to stride, roll, walk, or run participates in the way they are able, and every dollar raised goes to fund the support and enrichment of staff and students at Sligo Creek Elementary School.