Strawberry Knoll News
STRAWBERRY KNOLL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
November 12, 2010
18820 Strawberry Knoll Road
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879
E. Frank Kaplan, Principal
Rosemary Ford, Assistant Principal
Web Site Address—http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/
strawberryknolles/
Mathematics at the Knoll
How well is your child doing in mathematics? Many of you had a chance during
this past week’s parent-teacher conference to hear how your child is progressing.
We certainly want for you to keep track of your child’s math progress throughout
the remainder of this year. If your child is in second, third, fourth, or fifth grade,
you can expect to receive a letter before the beginning of each math unit letting
you know what your child will learn. Contained in the letter are useful tips including websites you can access as you become familiar with the concepts covered and
assist your child with homework. As you learned, we keep score of your child’s
math skill development and concept attainment by reviewing his/her classwork and
homework, engaging your student in math-talk and expanding his/her math vocabulary, and also by administering formative assessments. All kindergarten
through fifth grade teachers give formative assessments. The formative assessments are like small quizzes. The formative assessment results provide teachers
with quick snapshots that when analyzed are used to modify instruction and reteach in a flexible, fluent fashion. Your child’s formative assessment results will
be available for your review throughout each unit of math instruction.
Additionally, each second through fifth grade student upon completing a math unit
receives a math unit assessment print-out. All assessment print-outs contain a sample assessment report. The sample assessment report provides examples of unit
assessment items. As those of you who have children in kindergarten and first
grade know, their teachers are implementing the Elementary Integrated Curriculum, commonly called, the EIC. Although parent communication tools are not yet
available, our kindergarten and first grade teachers talked to parents about this
year’s math at Back to School Night and most recently during this past week’s
conferences.
Remember, no question is too small to ask when it comes to your child’s learning.
If you need clarification with the formative assessment information sent home with
your child, contact his/her teacher. For additional information regarding the elementary school math curriculum, feel free to contact our school’s staff development teacher, Mrs. Schoenfelder.
Special Point of Interest:
Si usted quiere tener las noticias del
Knoll en espanol por favor llame
Senora Stevens 301-840-7112.
Students Attend Town Hall Meeting
We were pleased to hold our first town hall meeting
this past Wednesday. Our gym truly took on the look
and feel of celebratory community get together, and
rightly so! Guests’ cameras clicked and applause
echoed in the gym as students were recognized for
making the Honor Roll. Classes were also acknowledged for being recipients of the Red Knight, Fine
Dining, and Gold Sneaker awards. We look forward
to hosting our next Town Hall Meeting on Thursday,
February 3, 2011 in the gym at 9:30 a.m.
Access Control System (ACS) is Operational
How quickly can you open a door? It appears as if
the problem we experienced with our ACS was related to a timing mechanism that only gave guests
one second to open the ACS designated front door.
We will certainly learn together as you push the button to alert the main office and wait for our message
to enter the building. Please remember to report to
our main office where we can welcome and assist
you!
Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Update
The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Board of Education hosted two CIP meetings this past
Wednesday and Thursday. Board members heard testimonies presented by civic leaders and P.T.A. cluster
presidents. This meeting was important to our school
for two reasons. First, our school’s student enrollment
is projected to total 635 students by the 2015-2016
school year. This will be when this year’s kindergarten
class is in fifth grade and given the capacity of our
building to adequately accommodate 451 students,
place us at 184 students over capacity. Superintendent,
Dr. Weast has recommended to the board that in response to our anticipated growth in student enrollment,
a feasibility study be done to determine the cost and
scope for a classroom addition.
Second, those that testified to the board on our cluster’s behalf reiterated the importance of forging ahead
with the construction of the new Gaithersburg High
School. Deemed as a modernization project, the site
work would be completed by August 2014. In order
for the modernization to be completed on schedule,
county and state funding must be provided as recommended in this year’s CIP. We will certainly keep you
informed about the progress of the feasibility study
Thanks, Ms. Patelunas!
recommended for our school and the building of a new
We were most fortunate to have Ms. Patelunas as a
long-term substitute teacher for second grade teacher, Gaithersburg High School. Indeed, the future is now!
Mrs. Rucker. Mrs. Rucker will return to school following the Thanksgiving break. Thanks, Ms. Patelunas!
“Knoll News” Takes a Break
Our next edition of the “Knoll News” will be available on-line December 10, 2010. Needless to say, we’re
pleased to provide you with this publication, and appreciate the number of visits current and future Strawberry
Knoll families make to our homepage!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Students will attend a half day of school on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 and be dismissed at12:35 p.m.
We already know some of our SKES families will beat the holiday rush before then. Our staff wishes you all
the best as you gather with family and friends. We have much to give thanks when it
comes to our school. Most importantly, we thank you for entrusting the education
and care of your children to us.
Safe travels to each and all. We look forward to our
students’ return on Monday, November 29, 2010.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Keeping Score- Part Two
As educators, we are often asked, “What are you doing to help those students who aren’t getting it?” As mentioned in Keeping Score Parts One and Two, the staff at SKES is doing a great deal to help all students succeed and meet grade level benchmarks. In this part of “Keeping Score” you will learn about the instructional
practices we have in place for our highly able students. Here at the Knoll we meet each students’ needs
through a variety of instructional strategies. This includes guided reading specifically designed for each student’s instructional level. Along with guided reading, teachers use differentiated reading programs, such as
Junior Great Books and William and Mary, to challenge highly able students. Junior Great Books is a inquiry
based reading program that requires students to ask questions, defend their opinions, as well as support ideas
with evidence from the text. William and Mary is a literature based program that require students read and respond to a variety of above grade level text to enhance their reading, writing and critical thinking skills. It is
our goal to challenge every student, every day, always aiming to move them to the next level. Mrs. FormanReading Specialist.
Fine Dining at the Knoll
What have you heard about the fine dining experience offered to a select group of diners at the Knoll? Mrs.
Ford, assistant principal, is pleased to announce our most recent fine-diners participants. They are first grade
students in Mrs. Doyle’s, Mrs. Marzano’s, Mrs. O’leary’s, and Mrs. Thomas’s classes. Each class earned 15
stickers for consistently showing good listening skills, especially during lunchroom announcements. All
classes have a chance to achieve this special lunchroom status for one lunch period based upon the number of
stickers earned. Fine diners are allowed to eat on the stage at special tables decorated with table-clothes and
set with special flatware. The chairs are even bedecked with hand-sewn red and black chair covers.
Congratulations to our first graders! We look forward to having more classes earn this year’s esteemed recognition for their stellar cafeteria etiquette and keen listening skills.
Parent/Child Reunification Form
Please return the Parent/Child Reunification (PCR) Authorization for Release
of Student form that was sent home
with your child Friday, November 12,
2010. In the event of an Emergency/
Crisis that requires the school to release the students using parent/child
reunification protocols we would need
the information that permits the release
of your child to specific individuals.
IMPORTANT DATES
November 24
November 25, 26
December 9
December 16
December 20
12:35 p.m. Early Dismissal Day
HOLIDAY—Thanksgiving
10:00 a.m. Makeup Picture Day
6:30 p.m. International Night
7:00 p.m. PTA Meeting
2:00 p.m. Instrumental Music
Assembly (Grades 3, 4, and 5)
7:30 p.m. Grade 4 and 5
Parents Invited
December 24—January 2
Winter Break