January 21, 2011
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/
It’s Half-Time
Strawberry Knoll News
STRAWBERRY KNOLL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
We’ve completed the first semester.! With the Superbowl looming, one could
say that we’ve had two awesome quarters. We’re leading! In order for us to
maintain our lead throughout the coming quarters, we’ll need a good offense and
a strong defense. Let’s be mindful of penalties…we don’t want any!
As we continue into this new semester, please help the Knoll and make sure that
our children arrive on time. Teachers escort their students from outdoors and
into the building at 8:40 a.m., weather permitting. Our opening bell rings at
8:50 a.m. regardless of weather conditions. This marks the official beginning of
our day. Hence it’s important that all students are seated in their classrooms
by 8:50 a.m.
For our students continued safety to school, we kindly ask that all tardy students be accompanied by a parent/guardian into the building. The office staff
will register those students who arrive after 8:50 a.m. Students are marked
tardy, given passes, and then sent to their classrooms.
If you happen to have any questions about our student-arrival game plan, call us.
It’s critical that we impress upon our students the importance of coming to
school on time. Remember, regardless of the team that wins the Superbowl, all
of us belong to the best, Strawberry Knoll Elementary School!
Goooooooooooooooooooo Knights!!!
Using the Report Card as a Tool
Students will bring home their report cards next Wednesday, February 2,
2011. The report card contains snapshots of your child’s learning. Please take
time to review your child’s report card with him/her. Join us as we encourage
our students to work hard this new quarter. Indeed, when used in the correct
manner, the report card can provide our children with the right attitude about
learning at the Knoll!
Mark Your Calendars
Please mark your calendars for two important tests, the MSA and the TN2.
Third, fourth and fifth grade students will take the MSA March 7 th through
March 23rd. Second grade students will take the TN2 April 4th through the
8th. We kindly ask that you not schedule any dental/medical appointments during the school day for your children. It’s critical that all children come to
school on time, ready do their best! If you have any questions about the MSA
and/or the TN2, please feel free to contact Mrs. Ford.
SAFEWAY—10% Goes Back to Schools Program
Stop and Think
The staff at SKES will continue to teach “Stop and Think” social skills lessons to our students throughout the
remainder of the year. For the month of January the following Social Skills were taught:
Autism/PEP: Following Directions
Head Start: Asking for Help
Kindergarten: Asking for Help
First Grade: Listening, Following Directions and Accepting Consequences
Second Grade: Dealing with Teasing
Third Grade: Asking for Help, Bullying
Fourth Grade: Dealing with Teasing
Fifth Grade: Self-Control
The purpose of the “Stop and Think” program is to help students become more appropriately engaged in social
situations by instructing and modeling choice making skills. This in turn will empower students to resolve conflicts
and problem solve in an appropriate manner. In September, students learned and/or reviewed the basic language
of the “Stop and Think” program. The “Stop and Think” steps are:

“I need to stop and think.
 “ What are my choices?”
 “I am going to make a good choice.”
 “ Just do it. “
 “ Good job! “
You too can use the “Stop and Think” language at home with your child.
Student Transfer Application Season Scheduled From February 1 through April 2
Montgomery County parents who wish to request a change in school assignment for their children from their home
school may begin the process during the current transfer season, which will be held from February 1 through
April 1, 2011.
Except for students in the Northeast Consortium (NEC), Downcounty Consortium (DCC), and Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC) areas, students in the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) are assigned to a school
on the basis of their place of residence or their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and are expected to attend
their home school. Assignment changes of students from one school to another are permitted under the following
limited circumstances:
·
An older sibling in the requested school
·
A continuation in a feeder pattern from middle to high school, except when affected by boundary
changes
·
A documented hardship situation
The transfer process begins in the home school, where parents may request an assignment change form and the
Change of School Assignment Information Booklet that describes the process and provides useful information.
Assignment change forms, which are contained in the information booklets, will be available in schools beginning
the first week of February and on the school system Web site at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org shortly thereafter. The booklet will be available in both English and Spanish. Special programs that do not fall under the transfer guidelines are listed in the information booklet. Should there be more requests for language immersion programs than space available, a random, computer generated lottery will be conducted. Every effort will be made to
notify parents of the assignment decision by May 15, 2011.
For information about assignments for students residing in the NEC, DCC, or MSMC areas, please contact the
Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services at 301-592-2040 or visit the website at http://
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/schoolchoice .
For more information about the transfer process, parents are asked to contact the principal at their home
school. Non-English speaking students and parents who may require assistance may contact ASK MCPS to get the
information they need by telephone at 301-309-MCPS (6277). Telephone operators who speak English and Spanish are available 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Parents who speak languages other than English
or Spanish who call the ASK MCPS telephone line and identify their language will have their questions answered
through a telephone interpreter.
The Keys for Reading Program
The Frederick Keys are offering the Keys for Reading Program for the 15th year in a
row. Participants of the Keys for Reading Program can earn a free ticket to attend
the Saturday, April 16, 2011 game at 2:00 pm with a parade beginning at 1:30 pm. The
Keys for Reading Program requires that each participant read four books at an appropriate reading level over a two-month period. Students will take home a bright orange
bookmark to record their book titles, along with an informational flyer about purchasing additional discount tickets. Completed bookmarks are due back to teachers by
Friday, March 4, 2011. Free student tickets will arrive around March 29, 2011. If
you have questions about this program, please contact your child’s teacher or Jen Forman, Reading Specialist.
Special Point of Interest:
Si usted quiere tener las
noticias del Knoll en espanol por favor llame Senora
Stevens 301-840-7112.
Join us on Thursday, February 3, 2011
for our rescheduled International Night
and February’s PTA meeting.
INTERNATIONAL NIGHT
If you would like to co-host the following country tables, or represent another country, please contact Rika
Mitrik via e-mail: [email protected] or phone: 301-869-0275. We are especially in need of performers. Please get your kids involved in preparation and presentation. International Night is a great way for
the students to learn and be proud of their heritage.
China by Xu family and McClure family
El Salvador by Alvarez and Page families
Guatemala by Andrade family
India by Bhatia family
Japan by Komatsu and Mitrik families
Mexico by FLES teacher
Nigeria by Orduh family
Peru by Alvarez family
USA (with emphasis on southern states) by Elias family
The PTA meeting will be held in the media center
at 6:30 PM, with International Night
being held from 7 – 8:30 PM
in the cafeteria.
Join us on Thursday, February 3, 2011
for our rescheduled International Night
Love Your Heart!
Plans will soon be underway for next month’s Valentine’s Day parties scheduled for February 14th
at 2:00 p.m. If you plan to send in Valentine’s Day
cards and/or goodies for the festivities, please
remember to have something for every child in
the class. MCPS recommends that all food/candy
items NOT be homemade. Store-bought items
provide teachers with a list of ingredients for
students with special dietary needs/allergies. It
also ensures proper packaging and handling to
avoid food-borne illness. Your cooperation is most
appreciated! If your child does not celebrate the
holiday, please inform your child’s teacher. Alternative activities will be planned during party time.
IMPORTANT DATES
February 2
February 3
February 7, 8
February 9
February 14
February 17
February 21
February 24
February 24
February 25
February 25
Report Cards Home
6:30 p.m. PTA Meeting
7:00—8:30 p.m. PTA Sponsored
International Night
Hearing and Vision Screening
(Kindergarten and First Grade)
Practice MSA—5th Grade
2:00 p.m. Valentine’s Day Parties
7:00 p.m. Math “Knight”
HOLIDAY—President’s Day
9:30 a.m.—1:45 p.m. 5th Grade
to Kingsley Environmental
Center
1:30—2:45 p.m. 4th Grade Wax Museum
9:30 a.m.—1:45 p.m. 5th Grade
to Kingsley Environmental
Center
Jump Rope For Heart
10:30—11:20 a.m. 2nd and 3rd grades
1:20—2:05 p.m. K and 1st grades
Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart
February is heart healthy month. During this month the students in grades pre-k through third will work on
jumping rope individually and in groups. This will prepare them for the annual American Heart Association’s “Jump
Rope for Heart” fundraiser. Also, the fourth and fifth grades will develop their dribbling, passing, and shooting
skills for basketball. This will help our upper grade students prepare for the American Heart Association’s
“Hoops for Heart” fundraiser. Friday February 25 th, 2010 is the last day for students to turn in their “Jump
Rope or Hoops for Hearts” envelopes and permission slip. All noble knights will have an opportunity to participate
February 25, 2011 as long as we receive their permission slip. As a community students, parents, and teachers
are helping the American Heart Association as well as helping themselves to stay fit and healthy. Continue to
promote heart-healthy activities with your children. Enjoy the outdoors with them by walking, jogging, jump roping, running and bike riding to name a few. Mr. Matesa, Mr. Palmer, and Mrs. Johnson, our physical education
teachers thank the school community for helping us raise donations for the American Heart Association.
WAYS TO MAKE 11
How many ways can you make 11? We would like to recognize all our noble knights who participated in this activity.
Deja Snowden and Sibani Nachadalingam deserve special recognition.
Deja found 554 ways to make 11 while Sibani came up with 718 different ways. Hats off to all our students:
Ryleigh Waters
Leul Solomon
Grace Harvey
Hazel Barillas
Jonathan Trepowski
Erica Aguilar
Aidan Cole
Casey Cole
Anjali Sharma
Erica Loc
Nelson Diaz
Adam Pauly
Brian Lee
Caio Dasilva
Deja Snowden (554 ways!)
Kayla Currie
Morgan Brogden
Nathan Goh
Sibani Nachadalingam (718 ways!)
FAMILY MATH NIGHT
COMING SOON
Literacy Night may be over, but Family
Math Night is just around the corner!
WHO: All SKES students and their
families
WHEN: Thursday, February 17,
6:30 to 8:00 PM
(Come and go as your schedule allows.)
WHERE: SKES All-Purpose Room,
Computer Lab, Atrium
So mark your calendars now, and watch
for more details in the PTA Newsletter
and the next
Knoll News.
MATH-A-THON
Strawberry Knoll has scheduled a Math-a-Thon kick off assembly for Friday, January 28, 2011. Math-a-Thon is a
free-education-based program for grades K-8 that benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The program
is designed to complement our existing curriculum, while teaching students the importance of helping others.
Every child that participates will receive a Math-a-Thon Funbook. Each Funbook level meets national standard requirements that will help students practice and prepare for standardized testing. Our students will be bringing
home a sponsor form and permission slip which should be returned to school by Friday, February 4, 2011. The
Funbooks will be distributed on Monday, February 7, 2011 and all donations should be returned to school by Friday, February 28, 2011.
Strawberry Knoll has scheduled a Math-a-Thon kick off assembly for Friday, January 28, 2011. Math-a-Thon is a free-educationbased program for grades K-8 that benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The program is designed to complement your existing curriculum, while teaching students the importance of helping others.
Every child that participates will receive a Math-a-Thon Funbook. Each Funbook level meets national standard requirements that
will help your students practice and prepare for standardized testing.
Our students will be bringing home a sponsor form and permission slip which should be returned to school by Friday, February 4,
2011. The Funbooks will be distributed on Monday, February 7, 2011 and all donations should be returned to school by Friday, February 28, 2011.