PTSA Newsletter 2010-11
Vol. 12, No. 2, Oct. 2010
President’s Letter
Principal’s Message
Hopefully your middle
schooler has settled into the
new school year at Tilden.
It’s hard to believe that we are
already past the halfway point Susan Verner
of the first marking period.
From my visits to the school, it looks
like the year is off to a great start, both
during the school day and after school.
There are many kids extending their day
at Tilden with sports and other activities.
The sixth graders are back from Outdoor Ed, and it sounds like a good time
was had by all. The eighth graders are
already beginning their transition to high
school. And the seventh graders await
their turn to rule the school.
Speaking of high school, our first PTSA
meeting this year is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct.
12 in the Media Center.
Our program will feature the ins and
outs of high school credit courses in middle school. Denise Greene from the Office
of School Performance for Montgomery
County Public Schools will be on hand to
explain the awarding of high school credit
for courses taken in middle school and to
answer your questions.
The program will be followed by our
business meeting where we will vote on
our 2010-11 budget. We hope you will
plan to attend.
I’d like to acknowledge some of our
PTSA volunteers for their efforts this
month. Last Monday, the Tilden staff was
(Continued on page 4)
I am sure that with the
arrival of October you all
have noticed we are already moving quickly towards the end of the first Jennifer Baker
quarter of our school year.
Apparently, time does not march by,
but rather zooms by at an alarmingly
swift pace.
I guess it is just the nature of raising
and educating children. One day you
are leading them by the hand to kindergarten and hugging them goodbye,
then the next thing you know they are
in middle school studying Shakespeare.
The pace at which time seems to
move is not so much a reflection of time
passing, but rather a statement of how
busy our lives and the lives of our children really are in today’s heavily scheduled world.
Between school events, sports, after
school activities, weekend obligations
and whatever else piled on our plates,
the days seem to be over in a blur.
However, each year I am consistently
amazed at how well the kids adapt to
change and the steady pace of progress.
(Continued on page 3)
—--————————————————
PTSA Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m.
Media Center
High School Credit for Middle School
Courses
Vote on the 2010-11 PTSA Budget
2
PTSA Briefs
PTSA Officers 2010-11
President:
Susan Verner
[email protected]
Vice Presidents:
Suzanne Mozayeni
[email protected]
Barbara Ferry
[email protected]
Treasurer:
Cate Hammaker
[email protected]
Secretary:
Debbie Kobernick
[email protected]
MCCPTA Delegates:
Dave Dennison
[email protected]
Laura Bonetta
[email protected]
Newsletter Editors:
Cynthia Suen
[email protected]
Jonathan Salant
[email protected]
301-984-5942
301-984-4025
301-962-6390
301-770-3048
301-770-0044
301-987-0070
PTSA Listserv. Be sure to receive important e-mails from the school, the PTSA
and the parent community by joining the
PTSA listserv. Here’s how to join:
1. Send a blank message to:
[email protected]
2. Send a message to Susan Wyderko, egroup moderator. Provide your name and
your connection to Tilden so that your subscription may be validated.
3. Register at http://groups.yahoo.com/
group/tilden to be able to post messages.
When you go to that page, you will be
prompted to create an ID and password.
301-946-6883
301-530-4690
301-770-3813
Newsletter Deadlines. All copy is due to
the editors by the following dates for that
month’s issue: Nov. 5, Dec. 10, Jan. 7,
Feb. 4, Mar. 4, Apr. 7, and May 6. There is
no newsletter in June.
Student Government Association Holds Clothing, Food Drives
The SGA has been very busy this year. We are currently holding several drives,
which include a clothing drive and a canned and dry food collection. Both of these
drives will continue through mid November. If you would like to donate please bring
all donations to Ms. Tucker in room A133.
The elections are approaching. She students in sixth grade will be voting for their
representative, vice president and president. Seventh grades will vote for a grade representative, vice president and president. The eighth graders will be voting for vice
president and president. Good luck to all our candidates in this first round of voting.
We encourage all students to get involved in SGA. SGA is a wonderful way to meet
other students, earn community service hours and get involved in your school and
community. All are welcome and encouraged to join.
The first all school dance is Friday, Nov. 5. Tickets will be $4 the week before the
dance and $5 at the door. Save some money and purchase tickets in advance.
Parents, we need chaperones. If you are interested in chaperoning this or any of our
dances, please contact Ms. Tucker . Pizza and snacks are provided for chaperones
and your child attends for free. Snacks and beverages will be sold at the dance for the
students. We are looking forward to a great year.
—Amy Tucker and Michelle Cassels
2
3
Principal’s Message
(Continued from page 1)
First quarter is a time of adjustment for
many of our students, but I believe the
kids have adjusted nicely and are doing a
great job.
We have a terrific crew this year. Outdoor Education was absolutely fabulous
and the sixth grade students rose to the
occasion beautifully.
Outdoor Education in September seems
almost too early in the school year for
such a huge project, but in reality, it is a
great time to hold the event. It helps the
new sixth-grade class, who come together from many different schools and
parts of the world, really get to know each
other and bond as a group.
Our students, despite record-setting
rain, experienced courses outside and
learned a lot about how things in the great
outdoors work.
They had lessons in stream study, orienteering, teambuilding and predator/
prey. All courses are designed to help
students develop an understanding
through actual experience of different aspects of the outdoor environment.
The kids also helped set up for meals,
did a community service project and assisted in keeping their cabins sparkling
clean. It was a full three days and our Tilden crew, both teachers and students
were great.
You may wonder what is going on with
our seventh- and eighth-grade students.
Believe it or not ,our eighth-grade counselor, Ms. Hammie-Bonner, is already going in to talk to all eighth-grade students
about high school.
Impossible as it may seem this is the
time of the year where our eighth-grade
students begin to look towards high
school and any special programs for
which they may be interested in applying.
3
In January, the Walter Johnson High
School counselors will come to speak to
our eighth grade about registering.
Our sixth– and seventh-grade students
are looking forward to their November trip
to the zoo. It is always a wonderful trip
and a great day spent outside.
The whole school is anticipating our first
dance of the year on Nov. 5 and looking
forward to a wonderful time. Along with
dancing, the kids also will be able to play
in the game room and eat snacks to keep
them energized for the evening.
As you can see, we have our usual full
agenda here at Tilden. As the days zip by
we hope we are providing our young people with a full school experience that will
help them grow, learn and achieve their
dreams.
As always, we truly appreciate the continued support from the Tilden community. Our teamwork is an important key to
student success.
Oscar Wilde once said, ―Success is a
science; if you have the conditions, you
get the result.’’
With our teamwork, caring educators
and desire to help all students achieve, I
know the conditions at Tilden are right for
success.
—Jennifer Baker
Tortilla Triumph
Thanks to Becky Hutton for organizing
our first restaurant night at California Tortilla, and thanks to the families and staff
members who purchased dinner.
So nice to have an easy answer to that
nagging question: What's for dinner?
The event raised $171.36 for the PTSA.
and its programs in support of Tilden.
4
PTSA Calendar of Events 2010-11
Tue., Oct. 12, 7 pm: PTSA Meeting – High School in Middle School
Tue., Nov. 9, 7 pm: PTSA Meeting – Middle Schoolers and Facebook
Dec. 7-9: Scholastic Book Fair
Thu., Dec. 16, 6:30 pm: Holiday Reception Before Winter Concert at WJ
Tue., Jan. 11, 7 pm: PTSA Meeting – Parenting Program
Thu., Jan. 20, 7 pm: PTSA Cluster Meeting at Tilden
Tue., Feb. 8, 7 pm: PTSA Meeting Parenting Program
Fri., Feb. 25, 7 pm: PTSA-Sponsored Charity Basketball Game
Tue., Mar. 8, 7 pm: PTSA Meeting – Business Meeting, appoint nominating committee
Fri., Mar. 11, 7 pm: International Night
Fri, Apr. 15: Career Day (tentative)
Tue., Apr. 12, 7 pm: PTSA Meeting – Business Meeting, approve wish list
Tue., May 10, 7 pm: PTSA Meeting – Program: Transition to Walter Johnson HS
Fri., June 10, 5:30 pm: Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony and Dance
President’s Message (continued from page 1)
treated to snacks at their monthly staff meeting by the PTSA. Many thanks to committee chair Debbie Labonski for organizing and delivering great snacks each month at
these meetings.
Also, the Copy Team is up and running in the Tilden office. Many thanks to committee chair Gabrielle Roth for organizing this, and to our parent volunteers.
In addition, thanks go to our Restaurant Night chair Becky Hutton for organizing our
California Tortilla night last Tuesday. Look for another restaurant night in the spring.
Be sure to check out the new Tilden Spirit Wear on sale until Oct. 12. Thanks to Leona
Hiraoka for spearheading this effort. Order forms are available on the Tilden website
and in this issue.
The 2010-11 Tilden Directory has gone to print and should be distributed before the
end of October. Thanks to Lisa Cirillo for putting the directory together and to Dee
Lichtenstein for securing advertising to defray the printing costs.
And, many thanks to Gabrielle Roth and Jenn Rabin, our membership chairs, for running a very successful Fall Membership Campaign and Direct Appeal.
If you haven’t joined the PTSA yet and/or donated to the Direct Appeal, it is not too
late. Simply fill out the membership form in this newsletter and return it to school with
your check.
How are we doing with the Direct Appeal? To date, we have raised over $8,000 in
donations and we have raised over $5,000 in membership dues. We thank each and
every donor/member for their donations, which already exceed our fundraising effort
last year, and our expectation for this year. A list of donors appears in this issue.
We should be in great shape this year to fund all the programs, activities and events
supported by PTSA funds.
—Susan Verner
4
5
Student Service Learning (SSL) Notes
Give a Little Time…Make a Big Difference
SSL: Enhances Academic Learning.
All SSL activities must be documented on MCPS Form 560-51, Student Service
Learning Activity Verification and turned in to the school SSL coordinator, Ms. Stasko
in room A 138, according to timelines.
Students should keep copies of all SSL documents that they turn into the school or
community representatives.
Organizations and opportunities not listed at www.mcpsssl.org must be preapproved using MCPS Form 560-50, Request for SSL Preapproval.
Students may address hunger and homelessness in Montgomery County by preparing bag lunches and dinners in their homes for delivery to homeless facilities. This is
an exception to the guideline that all service must occur in a public place. Check out
the details at the Questions and Answers section at www.mcpsssl.org.
Stay aware of ways to become involved in the Montgomery County Community Service Day this month.
—Jane Stasko
Magnet School Meetings Scheduled for This Month
MCPS is holding several upcoming Parent and Student Information Meetings for its
ninth through 12th grade high school magnet and special programs.
The High School Magnet/Special Application Programs provide rigorous and engaging programs in Humanities, Communication Arts, Ecology, Math, Science, Computer
Science, International Baccalaureate, Technology, Leadership Training, and Visual
Arts. Admission to these programs is competitive. Students submit an application,
teacher recommendations, and grades, and may take special testing.
All of these programs are open to Tilden Middle School students,.
Monday, Oct. 11 at Poolesville HS: Global Ecology House:
5 p.m.: Last names beginning A-M. 7 p.m.: Last names beginning N-Z.
Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Montgomery Blair HS, at 7 p.m. :
Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet
Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Richard Montgomery HS, 7 p.m.:
International Baccalaureate.
In addition, students from all HS clusters can apply to the Visual Arts Center at Albert Einstein High School or to the Thomas Edison High School of Technology. Please call for an appointment to receive information for those centers.
The application form deadline for all programs is Monday, Nov. 8.
To learn more about these programs, and addresses to all meeting, please visit
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/enrichedinnovative/events/
high.aspx#magnet
—Michelle Gluck, Chair, MCCPTA Gifted Child Subcommittee
5
6
Special Education Institute
Tilden Middle School will be implementing a very important program this year
called the Middle School Special Education Institute.
The vision of this program is to continue
to develop teachers at Tilden to become
experts on how to teach students with disabilities in multiple ways.
Teachers at Tilden and MCPS overall
are being offered courses through Towson University to focus on teacher practices that will be successful for students
with disabilities.
Two Tilden teachers are actually teaching the courses for Towson. What a great
opportunity for our teachers and students.
As a part of the requirement for the
MSSEI, all middle schools in MCPS will
visit Tilden twice throughout the year to
observe classrooms.
The first week of visits will occur during
the week of Oct. 18-22. The second visits
will occur during the week of Nov. 29Dec. 3.
Other schools will observe teaching
practices in our classrooms to replicate at
their schools to support student achievement. This indeed will be a great learning
opportunity that our teachers and students will continue to benefit from.
If you would like to learn more about the
MSSEI, please use this link:
MCPS TV ―Take Ten‖ –Middle School
Special Education Institute
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/
departments/itv/Take10/Take10-04.shtm
—Monifa B. McKnight
Just the FACS
Family and Consumer Sciences has
gotten off to a great start. All the students have been researching, choosing,
preparing and analyzing some wonderful
and nutritious recipes.
The sixth-grade class recently prepared homemade crepes. The room
smelled and looked like a authentic
French café.
We will soon be getting into more meal
planning as the semester continues. Nutrition and healthy choices are researched and studied as well.
The seventh-grade students had a
great time making tacos. They have
been very excited about recipe selection
and group independence in the lab.
As the quarter progresses, we will be
getting into more difficult recipes and
food choices. Financial budgeting and
literacy has and will be an ongoing lesson throughout the semester.
I am looking forward to the progress
and skill enhancement of the students as
their cooking skill progress.
The eighth-grade students have been
very enthusiastic in class. They have
selected and created many new dishes,
and will continue to prepare more detailed recipes.
Financial literacy and personal budgeting strategies have been introduced and
will continue throughout the semester.
FACS is a great class to interact with
others, learn independence, communication, financial literacy, nutrition and many
other useful life long skills.
All students are welcome and encouraged to sign up. Please do not hesitate
to contact Ms. Tucker if you have any
questions.
—Amy Tucker
6
7
PE Is Back in the Swing
Tilden PE is back in full swing. We had
a fabulous start with lockers and uniforms
given out quicker than ever.
This allowed students to participate in
some fun fitness activities the first week
of school. Including capture the flag, matt
ball, juggling, organized choice day, pacing practice for our mile run, kickball and
introduction to their first organized sport
units.
Another new first this year is that the
book store has graciously agreed to take
over selling our PE uniforms. Your child
may purchase extra shorts and shirts any
day before school or during MAP.
Reminder: PE shorts are $8.50 and
shirts are $5.50. A check is preferred.
The PE staff will still be selling our optional sweatpants and hooded sweatshirts
before school or before PE class time.
To purchase sweatsm we need a check
or exact change only. We cannot give
change. The sweatpants are $20 and
hooded sweatshirts are $25.
By the time you read this, your child will
have finished participating in two separate
mile runs. We refer to the mile run as the
―Tilden Fun Run.‖
The run is a mile long cross-country
course. The students pace themselves
up and down a hill and on black top as
well as grass surfaces. Our Tilden runners are some of the fastest in the county.
We now have a chart at the entrance to
the locker room showing times of every
student in each grade’s level.
In addition this year we have a special
place to recognize all of our Tilden runners who excel by finishing the mile in under eight minutes, a very fast pace.
However, our goal is to have each student at Tilden be able to run the mile in
what is referred to as a ―Healthy Zone‖ by
7
―The Fitness Gram‖ - a program the
county adopted three years ago to help
give parents and students better feedback and standards on fitness scores.
The health zone standards for middle
school boys are: age 10, 9:00-11:30;
age 11 , 8:30-11.00; age 12, 8:0010:30; age 13, 7:30-10:00; age 14, 7:00
-9:30.
The standards for our middle school
girls are: age 10, 9:30-12:30; age 11,
9:00-12:00; age 12, 9:00-12:00; age 13,
9:00-11:30. Ask your children for their
times.
Also, your child has had the opportunity to learn specific throwing, catching,
striking, and footwork techniques by
participating in units focusing on lacrosse, flag football, street hockey, badminton or tennis.
Other benefits of participation in these
units are learning rules, game strategies, teamwork, and cooperation.
This year, the PE teachers have all
been pleased with the effort and cooperation of all our wonderful Tilden students.
We see our experienced students
helping less experienced students in the
activities with wonderful results.
We
are all very proud and thankful of our
great student body.
As always if you have any questions
please email your child’s teacher.
-- Tricia O’Reilly
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission is sponsoring a nationwide carbon monoxide safety poster
contest for children in grades 6, 7, and
8 to help raise awareness about the
dangers of CO in the home.
Information can be found at http://
challenge.gov/CPSC/30-postercontest-on-carbon-monoxide-safety
8
Huge Thanks to the Following Tilden Families for
their Generous Donations to our Direct Appeal
Timberwolves
$250-$499
Grymes
Kobernick
Liden
Lindsay
Profit
Verner
Friends of Tilden
$100-$249
Angell
Bing
Bonetta- Misteli
Chen
Cirillo
Dettelbach
Doring
Dunn
Fan
Ferguson
Flomerfelt
Flyer
Guber
Hedge
Hiraoka
Hsueh
Jacobson
Katsura
Kazemzadeh
Kinzer
Kuritzky
Maguire
Mayhew
Miller
Morris-Flores
8
Nardella
O'Donnell
Orsak
Piff
Roth
Rubinovitz
Runci
Selya
Ship
Spak
Tilkin
Williamson
Supporters Up to $99
Alderson
Armstrong
Bader
Baker
Bassin
Batwinis
Beede
Bosse
Calhoun
Campbell
Corsetty
Cotter
Degala
Ellett
Elsberg
England
Fanaroff
Ferry
Fredman
Gendelman
Green
Harper
Harrison-Peters
He
Hickey
Hochberg
Horikawa
Kaeser
Kane
Kang
Kato
Landgren
Lange
Lichtenstein
McKay
Metzman
Morris
Nugent
Phillips
Pierpaoli
Pozezynski
Reid
Resnick
Sabet
Salant
Sanchez
Schelp
Schmader
Shahmirzadi
Shatkay
Strauss
Vasilyev
Wang
Whitehouse
Wyderko
9
No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any
pleasure so lasting.
~ Lady M. W. Montague
Books for Reluctant Readers
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz –
Fourteen-year-old Alex discovers that
his deceased uncle and guardian was
not a bank employee, but a spy. He is
soon blackmailed into joining the Special Ops division of the British Intelligence Service.
Grossology by Sylvia Branzei – With topics such as snot, vomit, and diarrhea,
who wouldn’t be interested?
Weasel by Cynthia C. DeFelice – When
his family falls prey to a ruthless villain,
Nathan seeks revenge.
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – Set
in postapocalyptic United States where
citizens are forced to watch the televised broadcast of 24 participants
forced to eliminate their competitors.
(For mature readers.)
The Clique by Lisi Harrison – Girls enjoy
reading about middle school cliques
and quickly get hooked on this series.
(Also available in Spanish.)
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix – In a futuristic society
where the government controls all aspects of life, Luke must hide in his family’s attic because he is the third-born
child in a society that only allows two
children per family.
9
HS MAGNET PROGRAMS
To an exceptional degree, does
your child…
Show curiosity about how things work or
have a questioning attitude?
Demonstrate initiative and intellectual curiosity?
Have an ability to learn at a faster rate?
Have an unusual understanding and use of
language?
Have strong critical and creative thinking
abilities?
Have an ability to see relationships and detect patterns?
For more information visit
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
/curriculum/specialprograms .
,
Summer Reading Regression?
Is your child performing at a lower
level on the MAP-R than he/she did
in the spring? It could be that he/
she did not read sufficiently over
the summer. Remember, all students are expected to read at least
30 minutes daily for at least 25
books, or book equivalents, ,
2010-2011
TILDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Direct Appeal & Membership Campaign WHAT IS DIRECT APPEAL (DA)?
DIRECT APPEAL REPLACES THE SALE OF PRODUCTS THAT ONLY RETURN A SMALL PROFIT TO THE SCHOOL. The Direct Appeal
program asks that each family make a donation to the PTSA instead of having several fundraisers during the year. In a
Direct Appeal Campaign, 100% of your donation will benefit Tilden. And, 100% of your donation is tax deductible.
How can you help? Make a donation - ANY amount donated will be greatly appreciated. Many corporations offer
“matching fund” programs. Ask at your office — and double your donation!
Why? • 100% of your Direct Appeal contribution will benefit your children. • You and your child will NOT be asked
by the PTSA to sell anything. And, independent school fundraising is being phased out at Tilden • 100% of your
Direct Appeal contribution will be tax deductible. Money raised through Direct Appeal helps ALL STUDENTS.
WHY JOIN THE PTSA IF I HAVE ALREADY MADE A CONTRIBUTION TO
DIRECT APPEAL?
The PTSA sponsors the Direct Appeal campaign, but Membership & Donation are not “one-in-the-same.” The PTSA is a
national organization that requires participating schools, parents, teachers, and/or students to join or become “members.”
PTSA is an Advocacy organization — empowering parents & communities to make a difference in our children’s lives.
What are membership dues? At Tilden, the cost to become a member is $25.00 for an individual or $35.00 for a family
membership (2 adults).
What’s the difference between joining the PTSA and making a contribution to the Direct Appeal Campaign? Joining
the PTSA means that you have voting privileges during the membership year on important budget and program issues.
Direct Appeal, on the other hand, is a campaign to raise funds for various school improvements, educational programs,
etc., in lieu of fundraising activities.
Are there other benefits for joining the PTSA? Yes. PTSA membership entitles you to a number of resources accessible
at www.PTA.org, including an on-line subscription to Our Children magazine, The PTA Parent online newsletter, and
discounts & promotional items.
Can I write one check for both my PTSA membership and the Direct Appeal Campaign? Yes. For example, if you
decide to join the PTSA as an individual member ($25.00) and make a donation to Direct Appeal ($100.00), you can write
one check for $125.00.
How does the PTSA spend the money I donate through Direct Appeal or with my PTSA membership donation?
Donations are used to help fund these programs and more: Student Directory • International Night • School
Beautification• Cultural Arts Programs • Newsletter • Eighth Grade Celebration • Geography Bee • Career Day • Staff
Appreciation • After School Activities • Parent Programs •Family Movie Night •Staff Instructional Fund• Teacher Wish
List Items • WJ Prom Breakfast • Webster Fund For Teacher Support
MAKING A DA CONTRIBUTION AND JOINING THE PTSA - HERE’S HOW
TMS DIRECT APPEAL CONTRIBUTION
PTSA MEMBERSHIP FORM*
Mail or drop off completed form on the back to Tilden MS PTSA, 11211 Old Georgetown Road,
Rockville, MD 20852.
(Please print!)
Student Name________________________________________________
Grade__________
Student Name________________________________________________
Grade__________
Student Name________________________________________________
Grade__________
Parent/Guardian Name (#1) ___________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name (#2)____________________________________________________________________
Phone# 1 _______________________________ (H/W/C) Phone #2 __________________________ (H/W/C)
Street Address______________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip _____________________________________________________________________________
First Member E-mail
Second Member E-mail
**VERY IMPORTANT**
We would like to recognize your support by thanking you in one or more of the following ways: Newsletter, PTSA
Bulletin Board, TMS Website, etc. Please indicate only if you WOULD NOT like to be recognized.
_____ No, I would prefer not to be recognized as a contributor to the Direct Appeal Campaign.
ITEM
Direct Appeal Campaign Contribution
Tilden Supporters - up to $99 Timberwolves - $250 - $499
Friends of Tilden - $100 - $249 Wolf Pack - $500 or more
PTSA Membership ($25)
Member Name #1 _____________________________________
PTSA Membership – 2nd membership ($10)
Member Name #2______________________________________
EXTRA DIRECTORY ($5 EACH)
$ AMOUNT ENCLOSED
Direct
Appeal
$ _______________
PTSA #1
$ _______________
PTSA #2
$ _______________
$ __________________
$ _______________
$ ________________
TOTAL AMOUNT OF CASH OR CHECK (MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO TMS PTSA –CHECK #
__________________)
*Mail or drop off completed form and check to Tilden MS PTSA, 11211 Old Georgetown Road,
Rockville, MD 20852.