PTSA Newsletter 2010-11
Vol. 12, No. 4, Dec. 2010
President’s Letter
Principal’s Message
I hope you and your family
had a wonderful Thanksgiving
break. Now we are in the
whirlwind holiday season.
With that in mind, we hope Susan Verner
you’ll join us for a different kind of PTSA
meeting on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 6:30
pm in the Media Center. This month, instead of a formal meeting, we will gather
for an informal dessert reception. I hope
you can join us.
In the spirit of giving to those less fortunate during the holiday season, we will be
collecting for the Linkages to Learning
drive for children’s toys and gift cards at
the reception. (See page 4)
Looking back, last month’s PTSA Program on Facebook for Middle Schoolers
was very well attended and informative.
Thanks to Tilden parent Andrew Ship for
presenting so much information to keep
parents informed and in the loop on what
our middle schoolers are doing online.
If you were not able to attend but would
like the handouts, please let me know.
The bottom line in cybersecurity seems to
be that our children should understand
that potentially everything posted online
may be seen by anyone, and things on
the Internet may be there forever.
I’d like to thank Debbie Labonski and
her crew for planning the staff dinner in
November, and for providing snacks each
month for the Tilden staff meetings. The
staff really appreciates this support from
the PTSA.
(Continued on page 3)
December is always a
time of anticipation and excitement.
At Tilden, we welcomed
December with a visit from Jennifer Baker
every other middle school in the county.
Our school was selected to showcase
exemplary teaching practices in our cotaught classes. The Middle School Special Education Institute, located here at
Tilden, began this school year.
Although it has been very challenging
for our staff and students to organize and
host visitors for an entire week in October and the first week in December, it
has also been rewarding.
We have received excellent feedback
from our visitors, thus validating that our
teachers are doing phenomenal work
with students. After spending time in
classrooms, one visitor said to me, “You
know videotaping a lesson In one of your
(Continued on page 3)
PTSA Meeting
Thursday, Dec. 16, 6:30 pm
(note special day and time)
Media Center
Holiday Dessert Reception
Please join us for this informal gathering
before the Winter Concert.
In the spirit of giving to those less fortunate during the holiday season, please
bring a toy or gift card for the Linkages
to Learning program
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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
240-274-2088
301-770-3048
301-770-0044
301-987-0070
301-946-6883
301-530-4690
301-770-3813
Student Government Association
The SGA has been working hard. Our
first dance was a success.
We have held a canned food and clothing drive, and are currently raising funds to
buy local homeless hats, scarves and
gloves.
We are very proud of the students and
staff as they pull together to help out those
in need.
Our next dance will take place Jan. 7
from 7-9 pm. The cost of the dance is
$5. Students can purchase snacks, pizza
and soft drinks. We need chaperones;
please contact us if interested.
The officers have attended Montgomery
County Junior Council meetings this
year. This is a great way for students to
meet other students in the county.
—Amy Domingos (Tucker),
Michelle Cassels
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Upcoming Meetings. Join us at our regular PTSA meetings on Jan. 11 and Feb. 8,
when we will be having parenting programs presented by NIH and the Parent
Encouragement Program on important topics to parents of middle schoolers.
For January’s meeting, our speaker will
be Erin D. Berman, Ph.D from NIH/NIMH.
Stress and anxiety are common feelings
that children and adolescents experience
on a daily basis.
Common life experiences such as school
transitions, grades and making friends can
be sources of anxiety for many children.
Dr. Berman’s brief presentation will focus
on identifying problematic anxiety and
share some tips on how to manage anxiety
and stress during the middle school years.
Holiday Highlight. Please join us on
Thursday, Dec. 16, at 6:30 pm in the Media Center for a holiday dessert reception. The Winter Concert starts at 7 pm so
those attending the concert can stop by for
a holiday cookie on their way.
If you are able, please bring a toy or gift
for our PTSA Linkages to Learning gift
drive. (See page 4) There will be a collection box in the Media Center.
Race to Nowhere. Through the sponsorship of the PTSAs of Walter Johnson, Tilden and other schools in our cluster, the
film “Race to Nowhere” will be shown
March 3 free of charge at Walter Johnson
High School.
Tickets will be available on-line on a first
come-first serve basis. Watch the Tilden
listserv for more on this event.
Newsletter Deadlines. All copy is due to
the editors by the following dates for that
month’s issue: Jan. 7, Feb. 4, Mar. 4, Apr.
7, and May 6. No newsletter in June.
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Principal’s Message
President’s Letter
(Continued from page 1)
classrooms would be like an advertisement as to why one should become a
teacher.”
I considered that comment one of the
best testimonials and highest compliments I have ever heard about our
school. I am always telling folks what
great things happen at Tilden, but to hear
it from a visitor experiencing our school
for the first time was truly validating.
As you know, there are many opportunities throughout the year for parents to
visit and see the great things our students
and teachers do here at school.
December is an especially good time to
come see our students in action. Our winter concert, which highlights both instrumental and choral performances, will be
held on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 7 pm.
Come at 6:30 pm and join us in the Media
Center for a PTSA reception. I hope to
see you there.
Finally, our entire eighth-grade class will
be going the Air and Space Museum on
Dec. 22 to see the Hubble spacecraft
IMAX movie in 3D. I know our eighthgrade class will gain a lot from the experience, which is tied directly into their science curriculum. The kids are excited.
As you can see, our December has
been very busy. Although it is a short
month with the vacation at the end, we
always find a way to make the most of our
time. Before we left for Thanksgiving
break, I told our teachers that this year I
was going to give thanks for our staff and
all they do for children each day.
For December, I am also giving thanks
for our wonderful extended community
here at Tilden. I wish all of our families
the very best this holiday season and a
very Happy New Year.
—Jennifer Baker
(Continued from page 1)
Also, thanks to those parents who chaperoned the first school dance, and to
Anne Ackerman and Sharon Gross for
setting up the game room there.
Though we had some equipment problems and need to replace a few things,
thanks to Barbara Ferry, the kids in the
game room had plenty to keep them
busy, and the pizza sold by the PTSA volunteers was eaten.
A huge thanks to Suzanne Fanaroff,
Barbara Ferry, Lisa Moss, Suzanne Mozayeni and Christine Schapiro and their
committee for running a fabulous Scholastic Book Fair Dec. 7-9. This is a very
big time commitment and we are grateful
for their generosity. The students love
visiting the fair, and it is great to see their
enthusiasm as they shop.
As 2011 approaches, and you consider
making a new set of resolutions, we hope
you will resolve to participate in at least
one PTSA activity in 2011. In the meantime, all the best to you and your family
during this holiday season, and in the new
year.
—Susan Verner
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM THE PTSA
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PTSA Calendar of Events 2010-11
Thu., Dec. 16, 6:30 pm: Holiday Reception Before Winter Concert
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
Helping the Less Fortunate: Give to Linkages to Learning
This holiday season, the Tilden PTSA will be supporting the Linkages to Learning
holiday gift and toy drive for underprivileged children. This is an especially tough year
for many in the community. If you are able, your donation of a toy or gift card for a
child living in poverty would be greatly appreciated.
Linkages to Learning is a collaboration of the Montgomery County Department of
Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Public Schools and other nonprofit
organizations, providing services at 28 school sites to “at risk” children and their families to improve their performance in school, at home and in the community.
Kensington Wheaton Youth Services (KWYS) is part of the Linkages to Learning program and serves 460 families facing significant socioeconomic challenges including
poverty. Over 45 percent of these families in the neighborhoods served by KWYS meet
the poverty guidelines for the federal free-and-reduced-meal program.
Suggested gift items include gift certificates for malls, record stores, book stores and
clothing stores; Visa, Mastercard or American Express gift cards; watches; craft kits or
models; hair accessories, CD or MP3 players, stationery sets; clothing; makeup and
grooming sets; coats and jackets; sports items and inexpensive jewelry. Presents for
adolescents are the greatest need.
To assure equity for families, Linkages requests donors spend no more than $40 per
child. Parents are especially overjoyed with donations of store gift cards so they may
select a special gift for their child or teen. Unwrapped gifts and donations of wrapping
paper allow parents to know what the gifts are and have an active role in preparing for
their family holiday.
There will be a box in the main office designated for the PTSA Holiday Gift
Drive. We will be collecting until Friday, Dec. 17.
Thank you in advance for you generosity, and all the best this holiday season.
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Student Service Learning (SSL) Notes
Give a Little Time…Make a Big Difference
SSL Promotes Responsible Action
Verification of service performed during the first semester can be turned in throughout the semester but the deadline for turning in documentation to the SSL coordinator,
Ms. Stasko, room A 138 of service performed during the first semester by Jan. 7.
Students find meaningful service-learning opportunities that result from direct action
with recipients. Activities such as serving food at a soup kitchen, tutoring a child, and
playing the piano for residents of a hospital are examples of direct action.
Consider qualifying for MCPS SSL award programs. The Superintendent’s SSL
Award recognizes students who meet the SSL graduation requirement while in middle
school. The Certificate of Meritorious Service recognizes graduating seniors who have
documented 260 or more hours of service. Students must qualify for these awards by
the first Friday in April.
High school students may earn SSL hours in select elective courses. Check the
MCPS Course Bulletin for classes that award SSL hours following full participation in
the SSL activities and successful completion of the course.
All SSL opportunities must be supervised by adults representing nonprofit, tax exempt organizations. For-profit nursing homes and assisted-living facilities are the only
exceptions to the nonprofit rule.
—Jane Stasko
Family and Consumer Sciences Trying Variety of Recipes
The sixth-grade FACS students have been working hard as we enter into the baking
lab. We are creating new recipes as we explore nutritional values and a healthy
diet. As we reach the end of the semester the students will focus on more independent recipe selection and modification. FACS is a wonderful way to meet new friends,
work together as a group as well as gain independence for the future.
The seventh-grade classes have really been getting into more difficult recipe selections, I am quite impressed by the gourmet dishes that have been prepared in
class. Financial literacy has been introduced as we have begun check writing practices and electronic banking. The students are looking forward to more advanced recipes as we wind down the semester.
The eighth graders have been quite creative when choosing their own recipes. The
students have been preparing a lot of foods from different countries which is a great
jump off as we get into the cultures and cuisines unit. Countries will be selected and
researched and we will prepare foods from all the different countries. This is a great
opportunity to try a variety of foods.
If you are interested in FACS and would like to learn more, you can contact me at
school at anytime, all students are encouraged to experience and learn skills for their
future.
—Amy Domingos (Tucker)
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A book is a present you can open again and
again.
Do You Want Your Child
to Read?
We know that reading and literacy are
keys to academic success and that children learn by watching their parents or
guardians. Let your child see that reading and literacy are important to you.
Model the Reading Habit
When your child does his or her
required daily reading, join him or her.
Pick up a book, magazine, newspaper
or work related papers and read at the
same time. (You deserve a break too.)
Take Books Everywhere
Everyone spends time waiting in a
doctor’s office, at a sports game, or
even at the movie theater. Keep a book
or magazine for you and your child
with you at all times. You’d be amazed
at how much reading you can do in
snippets of time.
Visit the Library Regularly
The library has more than books.
Plan a visit with a different purpose
each time: browsing magazines, checking out the DVDs or music, attending a
special event, or buying used books at
one of their special sales.
Buy Books or Magazines as Presents
When giving children gifts, select a
book on topics of their interests.
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Attention Problems?
Does your child have difficulty staying
on task? Does he or she interrupt others as they’re speaking? Does she or
he have difficulty attending? It could
be due to excess screen viewing.
That’s not just television and video
games, but also computer screen
time. Students who had more than
two contact hours of screen time daily
were nearly twice as likely to experience attention problems. So, limit your
child’s total daily screen time and do
something together. Check the July
issue of Pediatrics to find out more.
GIVE THE GIFT OF
LITERACY
Consider giving your child a magazine subscription as a gift this year.
Popular magazines for middle school
students include:
—Sports Illustrated Kids
—Kids Discover
—National Geographic Kids
Additional topics and ideas can be
found at http://www.parentschoice.org/award.cfm?
thePage=magazine&p_code=p_per