The Dolphin’s
Tale
The bi-weekly principal’s newsletter of Travilah Elementary School
Susan J. Shenk, Principal
December 18, 2015
Issue #8
December
23
Mr. Gillenwater’s Jingle Bells through the Halls
Last day prior to Winter Break – Full day of school!
4
5
7:00 – 8:00pm
13
14-15
15
18
18 – 29
20
7:00 – 8:30pm
22
25
27
2:00 – 3:00pm
29
School Resumes!
PTA meeting – Staff presentation on “Testing”
Cultural Arts presentation – Flow Circus
Read-A-Thon Kickoff
Grade 1 Mad Science – Living Things
Dr. Martin Luther King Day – schools and offices closed
School-wide Read-a-Thon
Read-a-Thon Pajama Party
2nd Marking Period ends
No school for students – Professional Day
School-wide Spelling Bee
Grade 5 to Frost M.S. – Band Concert
January 2016
February
2
3
7:00 – 8:00pm
5
12
15
18
19
23
24
25
26
7:00 – 8:30pm
2:15pm
1:20pm
PTA meeting – Media Center
Lunar New Year celebration – Year of the Monkey
Report Cards distributed
Club, group, and candid photos taken
Bingo Night – AP Room
Valentine’s Day parties
President’s Day – schools and offices closed
Grade 5 – Poet in Residence
Jump Rope for Heart
STEM Fair set up
STEM Fair
Grade 5 – Poet in Residence
Early Release – Grading and Reporting
Visit our website! http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/travilahes/
School Phone: 301-840-7153
School Attendance Line: 301-670-8223
School Fax: 301-670-8230
Visit the PTA website! http://www.travilahpta.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! – Next Wednesday, December 23rd is the last day before winter break. We return on
Monday, January 4, 2016. I wish each of you a Happy Holiday season. May you enjoy time with your family and
friends. This is the time of year we reflect on the past and look forward to the future. Each time I walk through the
building and go into the classrooms, I see your children focused, engaged, and learning. It is evident that they truly
enjoy the relationships that they have established with their peers and their teachers. We are so fortunate to all be a
part of this wonderful school community. As always, thank you for your support. I am looking forward to 2016 so
that we can continue to strive for excellence and move forward with our success. I wish you all a wonderful holiday
season and a healthy and happy new year.
PRINCIPAL’S WRITING WALL – Each week students’ writing is displayed on the Principal’s Writing Wall. All
students will be featured at least once during the year. The following students’ work was highlighted during the week
of December 7, 2015.
Grade 5: Ms. Clarke’s class – Tommy Arata, Chris Castelli, Angelina Hermosilla-Roman, Rory Kerns,
Ben Kleinman, Natalia Millard, Laura Hernandez, Alex Negussie, Jelissa Ngako, Dhanya Philipose, Leah Pratt,
Christian Vande Krol
Mrs. Egan’s class – Max Choi, Kiryan Velasquez Cruz, Alec Fleischer, Naba Syed, Katie Bowman, Rebecca Katz,
Calvin Hanway, Ivan Wang, Katie Kringel, Abby Dexter, Grace Liu, Lily Edell
Mrs. Singal’s class – Nathanael Ma, Ashley Denner, Shayyan Ahmed, Tiffany Ke, Pratyusha Mandal, Ella Lizondo,
Jessica Song, Michelle Hsiung, Mills Littlefield, Saanvi Parepally, Ishani Tyagi, Esha Patel, Hailey Ahn,
Lauren Meyer, Allison Yu, Julianne Yao, Saatchi Barochia, Will Greene
Grade 2: Mrs. Facine’s class – Lilian Congdon, Maryam Mohebi, Ellery Kringel, Aava Nikakhtar, Taran Vijay,
Jason Liang
Ms. Bock’s class – Milan Lawrence, Amy Sangborisut, Talha Jafri, Ellen Ming, Jack Yan, Noemi Iano-Stockton,
Eva Rotberg, Lily Semnani
Mrs. Newcomer’s class – Christine Jeon, Nicole Khizder, Charles Xu, Krish Balkee, Isabel Guo, Sherry Lin
MCPS TEACHER/STAFF GIFT POLICY – The holiday season in upon us and we have many thoughtful,
generous parents who want to acknowledge our staff. MCPS’s Ethics Policy for Employees
[http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/bbb.pdf] notes that gifts from individuals “may
not exceed $20 in value for one occasion or $100 in value over a series for a calendar year.” Gifts to staff are not
expected nor solicited, however we recognize and appreciate the desire to celebrate our staff for their dedication and
hard work. Please be aware of the ethics policy as you consider your recognition plans over the holidays and beyond.
TESTING PRESENTATION – Do you have questions about which state, county and local school tests are given,
what grades are they administered, and how teachers use these results when planning their instruction? Please join us
at the January PTA meeting on Tuesday, January 5th at 7:00pm to hear our very own Travilah staff present this
important information on Testing in MCPS Elementary Schools.
MRS. GANGA SINGH IS RETIRING! – Mrs. Singh, who is our Cafeteria Assistant, will be retiring as of January
8, 2016. Not only has “Ms. Ganga” served the Travilah Elementary School community for many years, but she has
also worked at Bar-T, guiding and caring for children before and after school. Mrs. Singh has dedicated her time and
love to our school. We will certainly miss her smiling face and positive, caring attitude. I know you join me in
sending best wishes and much happiness to Mrs. Singh in her well-deserved retirement!
PTA FUNDRAISER - Travilah Elementary School is inviting you to participate in a unique fundraiser to “Pave the
Way” for our students. Leave a lasting legacy by purchasing a paver to be permanently displayed and remembered
forever. Each paver that you sponsor may honor you, your student, a teacher or staff member, former student, a family
member, friend, local business or anyone! The pavers will be etched with your custom inscription and placed within
the landscaping around the circle, in front of our school.
All of the proceeds from this fundraiser will go to our PTA.
Please submit orders before Friday, April 15, 2016 for spring 2016 installation.
For more information please visit the PTA website or contact:
Erinn Foster at 301-370-4502 or mail to: [email protected]
JOB OPPORTUNITY – We have a great job opportunity. Are you interested in working for two hours a day? We
are looking for a cafeteria helper beginning in January. If you are interested, or know someone who may be
interested, please contact Mrs. Shenk.
YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST - We need your help in designing our Travilah Yearbook cover! The contest is
open to all students in all grades. Forms are available outside of Mrs. Barrett’s and Mrs. Ham’s rooms for your
student to pick up. The form has all the contest details and must be signed by parents and attached to the drawing.
All forms and art work must be turned in by Friday, February 12. Let the drawing begin!
PTA TREASURER – The 2015-2016 school year's PTA Treasurer needed to step down due to personal
circumstances. The prior school year's Treasurer, Sonal Shah, has agreed to step back in to help keep the PTA
running on an interim basis. The PTA would like to find a permanent treasurer by January that can commit to be
available for the rest of the school year and could be available next year as this is a very difficult position to fill each
year. The treasurer position is critical for our PTA to exist. The role requires maintaining all accounting, filing and
submitting taxes, communicating in a timely manner with many parent volunteers for disbursement and
reimbursement requests, executing banking transactions in a timely manner, building and tracking budgets, and
serving as the source of knowledge for financial rules. A background in accounting or bookkeeping along with good
outreach and communication skills is important for this role. If you are interested please contact Beth Ann Edell at
travilah.pta,president or (202) 436-1709 or Sonal Shah at [email protected]. They will work with
you to provide training, arrange for the required MCCPTA financial training, and help you transition into this
rewarding and important role.
WOOTTON CHEER CLINIC - The Wootton Varsity Cheer team will be holding a cheer clinic on Wednesday,
January 27th from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Thursday, January 28th from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm in the Wootton High
School Cafeteria. Participants will learn age appropriate cheer routines which will include a cheer, dance, jumps and
age appropriate supervised stunting. Participants will have the opportunity to perform alongside the Wootton Cheer
team at the Varsity Wootton Girls Basketball game verses Wheaton on Friday, January 29th during half-time. The cost
is $45 per participant and includes a t-shirt, dinner on January 27th and a snack on January 28th. All are welcome; no
cheer experience necessary!! For more information or to register, please email Coach Stephanie Labbe at
[email protected]. Please note, to attend, you must register by mailing the registration form and
payment no later than January 13th.
PLAYGROUND SUPERSTARS – Weeks of November 23, 2015 and December 7, 2015 are:
Grade 5: Charles Makobongo, Lunah Schleret, Michelle Hsiung, Chrisitian Vande Krol, Allison Yu, Selena He,
Saatchi Barochia, Zara Okudo, Calvin Hanway, Becca Katz, Jessica Winson, Esha Patel, Angelina Helfman
Grade 4: Coby Pinto, Natasha Thamungruxsat, Zealand Cushing, Omid Motamedi, Shinnah Ganeshan,
Michael Purring
Grade 3: Paige Euler, A.J. Shiflett, Joey Song, Bethany Vande Krol, David Wang, Kent Zhang, Jack Edell
Grade 2: Maryam Mohebi, Max Iano-Stockton, Mackenzie Noble, Roshali Abeywarna
Grade 1: Linda Wang, Erin Shiflett, Jashwin Fernandes, Katie Graham, Erin Eo, Nathan Leitan, Jayden Ahn,
Quinn Lam-Vu,
Kindergarten: Max Dates, Jai Hurd, Brynn Congdon, Cynthia Yu
P.E. CLASS OF THE WEEK – Week of December 7, 2015 Congratulations to Mrs. Singal’s class!
P.E. STUDENT OF THE WEEK – Week of December 7, 2015 Congratulations to Emerson Noble in in
Mrs. Knoblach’s class!
P.E. CLASS OF THE WEEK – Week of December 14, 2015 Congratulations to Ms. Knoblach’s class!
P.E. STUDENT OF THE WEEK – Week of December 14, 2015 Congratulations to Aiden Hurd in
Ms. Bock’s class!
SPECIAL DOLPHIN TALES THANK YOU TO:
 Carolyn and Peter Briskman for donating the laptop for the staff to use for book inventory!
 Archana Mohale for organizing our fabulous World Culture Night!
 Kris Sellman for updating our school sign and for designing and making the beautiful bulletin board outside
the Media Center!!
 Yoonie Min for being the “Copy Queen” and for helping the staff with photocopying!
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