North Chevy Chase Elementary School
3700 Jones Bridge Road
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
October Principal’s Post October 14, 2015 Please Note, No School on the following date: h ­ ​
October 16​
MSEA Convention Parents, As we move into the fall and the leaves begin to change color, our students have successfully transitioned into their new grades and are engrossed in their academics. As I make my way through classrooms, our students are engaged in exciting lessons that keep them motivated and teachers are challenging students to continually learn and perform at higher levels. I want to thank all our parents who were able to make it out for Open House. I hope you left with a good understanding of what takes place in the classroom and an enthusiasm for all that lies ahead for them! Remember, if you ever have questions; please contact your child’s teacher. With our second month of school comes the starting time for our school volunteers. As our classroom routines have been solidified, please know parents are welcome into our building and classrooms. However, it is requested that if you wish to visit classrooms, please inform the teacher in advance of the visit. This is in compliance with MCPS regulations. When visiting, please respect the learning environment and confidentiality of student performance within the classroom. Remember, this is not a time to conference with the teacher. If a parent­teacher conference is desired, please contact the teacher to arrange a mutually convenient time. We appreciate your cooperation and support. Don’t forget to sign in and receive your volunteer hours! Enjoy the weekend! Sincerely, Renee” D Wallace­Stevens October is National Bullying Prevention Month North Chevy Chase Elementary is a peaceful and friendly learning environment where bullying, harassment, or intimidation will not be tolerated. All students, parents, or staff members are encouraged to report any act of bullying, harassment or intimidation. This can be done by emailing or calling the teacher, the guidance counselor, Mrs. Leahy­Jones, or Ms. Wallace­Stevens, principal. Since there is a difference between age­related behaviors and bullying, when an issue arises, the administrator along with the school counselor investigates the incident. Parent reporting forms are available in the office as well as on the MCPS website. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/depa rtments/forms/230-35.shtm
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Halloween is coming​
! In keeping with school tradition, we will be celebrating the fall with our annual parade and classroom th​
parties on Friday, October 30​
. Students will change into their costumes at 2:00 pm. The parade will begin at 2:15 pm. The parade should last approx. 15 so class parties will be from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Parents, please choose a costume that is appropriate for your child. It should fit and not impede movement. Please do not send masks to school and do not choose a costume which is gory. We do not allow any weapons as part of costume even if the weapons are plastic. Parties will be arranged by Room Parents under the guidance and consultation with the classroom teacher. For students who do not celebrate Halloween, we are happy to offer an alternate activity during this time. Please let your child’s teacher know if you would not like your child to participate in the parade and party. Spotlight on Success
Student of the Week ­ ​
Each week teachers at all grade levels, as well as the specialists, select a student as Student of the Week. Students are recognized on the morning announcements for their leadership, determination, responsibility, hard work, or overall good citizenship.​
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At the end of the month all students who were awarded Student of the Week are invited to have lunch with the principal. Please look at the showcase in the front hallway of the school and the television in the main hallway for a picture and write up of those students. Students selected for the month of September were: September 14th September 21st September 28th Grade 3 ­ Kimora Jackson
Julian Pinard
Anne Daraja Grade 4 – Jeffrey Olsen
Emely Rivera­Cruz
Sydney Mitchell Grade 5 – Sadhana Gupta­Pateriya Adham Korayem
Kyra Spry Grade 6 ­ Chole Cox
Jakob Silver
Emmanuel Mbah Specialist ­ Lila Ben­Yehuda
Teacher ­ Mr. Mark Karver
Masara Busette­Rank Mr. Jason Sprankle
Mr. Chad Mack Nut Allergies​
: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! We have many students who attend North Chevy Chase with Anaphylaxis reactions to peanuts and peanut butter products. Students ​
may eat peanuts and peanut products at lunch because we are able to control student contact with peanut products by having Peanut Free tables for students to sit. Parents, please be mindful of allergies when providing treats for class parties. ​
As a school community, it is important to be sensitive to the needs of all children and to do our best to ensure the safety and health of all. Thank you for your consideration! Please Mark Your Calendar October ­ 16 – MSEA Convention; Schools closed for teachers and students 20 – Bus Evacuation Drill 22 – Principal’s Coffee (Fifth Grade Parents) 9:30 a.m. 28 – PTA Board Meeting 7:00 pm 29 –Principal’s Coffee (sixth Grade Parents) 9:30 a.m. 30­ Halloween Party and Parade 2:15– 3:30 p.m.; First Marking Period end November 2 ­​
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Professional Day No school for students 3 – Second Marking Period begins 5 – Vision and Hearing Screening 11 ­12 – Student Fall Pictures; Early Release Day Parent Conferences 16 – 25 – Sixth Grade Artist in Residence 18 _ PTA Board Meeting 7:00 p.m. 25 – Early Release Day 26 ­27 Holiday Schools and Offices Closed December 8 – Fourth Grade Field Trip Newseum 9 – Winter Concert BCC 7:00 p.m. 10 – Technology Night Hour of Code 24 – January 3 Winter Break Sign Up for the 2015 School­Based Flu Vaccine Clinics Flu season is upon us. There are simple steps you and your child can take to stay healthy and help prevent the flu. That includes getting a yearly flu vaccine. The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will conduct free nasal spray flu vaccine clinics (FluMist) in November for children 18 and under at many MCPS schools. On Monday, November 2, 2015, flu clinics will be held at John F. Kennedy, Richard Montgomery, and Seneca Valley high schools from 9 a.m. to noon. No classes will be held on that day because it is a professional day for teachers. These clinics will be open to any school­aged child. All MCPS elementary schools will host a flu clinic on either Wednesday, November 11, or Thursday, November 12, 2015, following early dismissal of students on those days. All clinics are free, but registration is required due to limited vaccine supplies. For more information, visit the DHHS website at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/flu or call 311. Inscríbase para las Clínicas de Vacunación Contra la Gripe en las Escuelas 2015 La temporada de gripe está encima de nosotros. Hay pasos simples que usted y su hijo pueden tomar para mantenerse saludable y ayudar a prevenir la gripe. Eso incluye recibir una vacuna anual contra la gripe. El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (DHHS) del Condado de Montgomery ofrecerá clínicas gratuitas con vacunas contra la gripe en atomizador nasal (FluMist) en noviembre para menores de 18 años en muchas escuelas de MCPS. El lunes, 2 de noviembre 2015, se realizarán clínicas contra la gripe en John F. Kennedy, Richard Montgomery, y Seneca Valley High School de 9 a.m. hasta el mediodía. Ese día no hay clases porque es un día profesional de los maestros. Estas clínicas estarán abiertas a todos los niños en edad escolar. Todas las escuelas elementales de MCPS tendrán una clínica contra la gripe el miércoles, 11 de noviembre, o el jueves, 12 de noviembre 2015, debido a la salida temprana de los estudiantes en esos días. Todas las clínicas son gratis, pero se requiere inscripción debido a la limitación de suministros de vacunas. Para obtener más información, visite el sitio de internet de DHHS en www.montgomerycountymd.gov/resident/flu.html o llame al 311. Middle School Magnet Programs The application materials for the middle school magnet programs at Takoma
Park Middle School and Eastern Middle School will be available online by
October at ​
www.montgomeryschoolmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms
These are exciting opportunities for interesting and challenging experiences in
middle school. The program at Takoma Park Middle School focuses on math,
science, and computer science. The program at Eastern Middle School focuses
on humanities and communication arts. Some important dates to remember:
October 19, 2015 7:00 p.m. Takoma Park Magnet meeting at Takoma Park MS
October 1, 2015 Eastern Magnet meeting at Eastern MS
5:00 p.m. Last names A-M
7:00 p.m. Last names N-Z
Friday, November 6, 2015 Application deadline, postmarked or delivered
Please also visit ​
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/msmagnet ​
for information
about the Middle School Magnet Consortium programs at Argyle Middle School,
Loiederman Middle School, and Park-land Middle School. ​
The ​
Choice Form ​
is
due November 6, 2015​
. Information meetings and Open Houses are as follows:
Wednesday, October 28, 2015 7:00 p.m. Parkland Magnet Middle School for Aerospace
Technology Open House
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 7:00 p.m. Argyle Magnet Middle School for Digital Design and
Development Open House
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 7:00 p.m. A. Mario Loiederman Magnet Middle School for the
Creative and Performing Arts Open House
MCPS Voices on Final Exams and Assessment Strategy In response to school and community interest in reducing testing and increasing instructional time, MCPS is revising its assessment strategy. This new assessment strategy includes a plan to eliminate all two­hour semester final exams in high school courses beginning in 2016–2017, restoring at least two weeks of instructional time throughout the school year. These exams would be replaced with centrally developed marking period assessments, which can be given during regular class periods. Be sure to check out “MCPS Voices,” a new MCPS website with short videos featuring administrators, teachers, and students answering specific questions about the need for a change in the assessment strategy and the benefits of using marking period assessments. You can watch the videos at www.montgomeryscholsmd.org, search “MCPS Voices”. In addition, there is still time to provide comments on the potential changes to Policy IKA and to the options for calculating semester grades. All comments must be submitted by Monday, October 19. More information is available on the MCPS website. Voces de MCPS sobre Exámenes Finales y Estrategia de Evaluación En respuesta al interés de la escuela y de la comunidad en reducir los exámenes y aumentar​
el tiempo de instrucción, ​
MCPS está revisando su estrategia de evaluación. Esta nueva estrategia de evaluación incluye un plan para eliminar todos los exámenes semestrales de dos horas en los cursos de la escuela secundaria a partir del año escolar 2016 ­ 2017, recuperando al menos dos semanas de tiempo de instrucción durante el año escolar. Estos exámenes serian remplazados por evaluaciones de periodo centralmente desarrolladas que pueden ser administradas durante el transcurso de la clase regular. Asegúrese de revisar "Voces de MCPS", un nuevo sitio de internet de MCPS con videos cortos que presentan a administradores, maestros y estudiantes respondiendo a preguntas específicas acerca de la necesidad de un cambio en la estrategia de evaluación y los beneficios del uso de las evaluaciones de periodo de calificaciones. Usted puede ver los vídeos en www.montgomeryscholsmd.org, busque "MCPS Voices". Además, todavía hay tiempo para compartir sus comentarios/sugerencias sobre los posibles cambios en la Política IKA y las opciones para el cálculo de las calificaciones del semestre. Todos los comentarios deben enviarse antes del lunes, 19 de octubre. Para mayor información, por favor refiérase al sitio de internet de MCPS.