The Dolphin’s
Tale
The bi-weekly principal’s newsletter of Travilah Elementary School
Susan J. Shenk, Principal
October 2, 2015
Issue #3
October
2
3
6
8
12
14
15
16
19
20
21
27
28
30
Early Release – Grading and Planning for teachers
Interims sent
6:30pm
Cluster Night at the Wootton HS football game!
9:00 – 1:00pm PTA Beautification Day
7:00pm
Technology Presentation at PTA by staff
7:30 – 8:30pm PTA Meeting – Media Center
10:00 – 1:30pm Kindergarten to Green Meadows Farm
9:40 – 11:10am Columbus Day – Parent Visitation Day
Individual Student Pictures
Grade 1 – Mad Science “Earthworks”
7:00pm
PTA Movie Night
No School – Maryland State Teachers Convention
10:00am
Bus Evacuation Drill
Grade 5 to Mt. Vernon
4:00 – 6:30pm Evening Family Portrait Night
Grades 1 and 2 to Butler’s Orchard
7:00 – 8:00pm Parent’s Guide to using Math Manipulatives–Staff Presentation
Grade 5 to Strathmore
2:15pm
Halloween Parade and Parties
First Marking Period ends
Flyer Distribution Day
1:20pm
November
Native American Month
2
3
7:00-8:00pm
9-13
11
9:40am
11 & 12 1:20pm
12
19
20
24
25
1:20pm
26-27
No School for students – Professional Day for staff
Second Marking Period begins
PTA Meeting – Media Center
Book Fair
Veteran’s Day celebration
Early Release Days – Parent Conferences
Report Cards Distributed
Grade 2 Mad Science “Earthworks”
Grade 4 to St. Mary’s City
Vision and Hearing Screen – Kdg. and Grade 1 and Rescreens
Early Release – Thanksgiving
Holiday – Thanksgiving No School
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
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
OPEN HOUSE – PARENT VISITATION DAY – Our annual parent visitation day, when parents can come and
witness first-hand what is happening in his/her child’s classroom, will be Monday, October 12, 2015 from 9:40 –
11:10am. All parents are invited and encouraged to visit their children’s classrooms between 9:40 – 11:10am. Please
leave younger siblings at home and cell phones on silent so that the instruction of our students is not distracted.
Remember to sign in and out under your child’s teacher’s name on the sheets posted in the front hall and get a
visitor’s sticker. We look forward to sharing the morning with you!
TECHNOLOGY PRESENTATION BY STAFF AT PTA MEETING - Staff members representing Travilah’s
Parent Outreach Committee invite parents to attend a 30 minute presentation prior to the October 6 th PTA meeting
from 7:00 – 7:30. We will be sharing information about Google Apps for Education & educational online resources
for both primary and upper grades. The resources can be used both at home and at school. We look forward to seeing
you there!
BUS ASSIGNMENTS – Students are to ride their assigned bus daily. If there is a need for a child to ride a different
bus because of an unusual day care situation, please send a note to Mrs. Shenk for approval. Once approved, the
note will also be given to the bus driver. Many of the buses are filled to capacity. Therefore, please make these
requests only as an emergency. Requests for riding a bus because of a “play date” will not be approved. If a child is
going home with a friend in car pool, a note is needed from the parent. Thank you for helping us make sure our
children get home safely.
PLANNING FOR HALLOWEEN – As we have children as young as 3 in our school, should you be purchasing a
Halloween costume/masks for your child, please know that scary masks cannot be worn at school and no pretend
weapons are allowed. Thank you!
ENTRANCE TO THE SCHOOL - As many of you are aware, we continue to have our security system in place.
When you come to the school, you must push the red button located on the column to the right of the doors. We will
then unlock the door for you. You have five seconds to pull the door open.  If you take longer than five seconds,
push the red button a second time and we will try again. Once in the foyer, please push the handicapped button to
enter the office. Please do not ask a staff member if you can follow him/her into the building. Thank you for helping
us keep our school safe.
KIDS COLLEGE - Montgomery College Youth Programs offers Kids College with after school and Saturday
courses for students in grades 1 – 10 held on the Rockville and Germantown campuses. This program consists of
enrichment and advancement courses that cover a wide range of topics including science, math, art, engineering, study
skills, writing, etiquette, and technology. Classes begin in October. Classes fill quickly, so register NOW! For
additional brochures or registration information, contact YOUTH PROGRAMS at 240-567-7264 or 240-567-7917 or
access brochure online at: http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce/youthkidscollege.html
PLAYGROUND SUPERSTARS – Weeks of September 9-25, 2015 are:
Grade 5: Charles Makobongo, Liam Graham, Jessica Winson, Hope Safai, Abbey Dexter, Katie Kringel,
Tommy Arata, Sarayu Eadala, Karen Potts
Grade 4: Coby Pinto, Zealand Cushing, Omid Motamedi, Kaito Dozie-Obele, Yousef Yaqub, Michael Purring,
Emerson Noble, Sammy Somwaru
Grade 3: David Wang, Darren Chen, Kent Zhang, Alex Foster, A.J. Shiflett, Jack Kerns, Bethany Vande Krol,
Ali Abdullah, Alara Erkan, Nathan Sanchez, Jack Edell, Tyler Coapstick, Naomi Negussie, Isaac Pipes
Grade 2: Krish Balkee, Maia Hendriksson, N’Tony Kalala, Taran Vijay, Mackenzie Noble, Blake Briskman,
Roshali Abeywarna, Lily Congdon, Michelle Liu
Grade 1: Jayden Ahn, Lucas Kim, Katie Graham, Nathan Leitan, Erin Shiflett, Diane Liu
Kindergarten: Menna Negussie
P.E. CLASS OF THE WEEK – Week of September 21, 2015 Congratulations to Mrs. Foley’s class!
P.E. STUDENT OF THE WEEK – Week of September 21, 2015 Congratulations to Jake Sodertrom in
Mrs. Belkhodja’s PEP Tues. / Thurs. PM class!
P.E. CLASS OF THE WEEK – Week of September 28, 2015 Congratulations to Mrs. Egan’s class!
P.E. STUDENT OF THE WEEK – Week of September 28, 2015 Congratulations to Ashrita Khetan in
Mrs. Koval’s class!
SPECIAL DOLPHIN TALES THANK YOU TO:
 Adela Firoozfar and Venus Fallah for organizing our Back to School Picnic and bringing so many new
activities!
 Nadia Kamangar and Kevin Faroughi who ran the cotton candy machine all night and Jessica Somwaru
for selling Travilahwear!
 Bar-T for donating the cotton candy and popcorn machines and supplying us with the great DJ.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I have read the newsletter and would like to make the following comments or ask the question stated below:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________
Phone: _____________________________
Student’s name: _________________________________