18820 Strawberry Knoll Road
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879
E. Frank Kaplan, Principal
Rosemary Ford, Assistant Principal
Strawberry Knoll News
MCPS
October 14, 2011
Web Site Address—
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/strawberryknolles/
Seven Week Stride
Can you believe we completed our seventh week of school? While our fourth grade
students had the great opportunity to apply their scientific thinking skills during
their visit to the Smith Center, our fifth grade students broadened their understanding of music during their visit to Strathmore! Our after-school programs including ESOL Club, All for 1 Sports, Inc., Overtime Athletics, FLES Chinese, Kids
are Scientists Too (KAST,) Young Rembrandts, Mad Science, FLES Spanish Intro.,
and Yoga for Students are in session. The students are learning and having fun!
We certainly dedicate ourselves to teaching and learning as some of you saw firsthand during ―Open House,‖ ―Literacy Knight,‖ and our P.T.A. sponsored book fair.
When you have a chance, please click on this year’s Baldrige Guided School Improvement Plan (BGSIP.) The BGSIP is a working document we use to ensure our students
demonstrate continued growth in the following: Literacy, Mathematics, Technology, and Social Skills.
Literacy: Students will demonstrate proficiency in comprehending text and following the writing process.
Mathematics: Students will demonstrate proficiency in analyzing and applying
mathematical knowledge to solve problems.
Technology: Students will demonstrate proficiency in Standards Three and Four of
the Maryland Technology Literacy Standards.
Social Skills: Students will demonstrate proficiency in applying appropriate social
responses to classroom and school situations.
Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s) consisting of staff and parents met this
past week to review each area’s goal and related action plans. For example, our Social Skills PLC determined that teachers will engage students in age appropriate
social skills lessons the third Thursday of each month, based upon student/class
need starting next Thursday, October 20, 2011. Our Technology PLC discussed how,
with your help, we can enhance the technology we already have and increase the
types of technology available for students through various fund-raisers, grant proposals, and even student contests!
We are pleased to have several of our parents as active PLC participants. There’s
always room for more parent involvement. If you would like to join us for our next
round of PLC’s, please contact Mrs. Forman- Literacy, Mrs. Schoenfelder- Mathematics, Mr. Larson- Technology or Mrs. Williams- Social Skills.
Enjoy today’s edition of the ―Knoll News.‖ As you will see, we have lots to do between now and the end of the first marking period, Friday, October 28, 2011. Wow!
Students Attend Saturday School.
Did you know the George B. Thomas Learning Academy offers Saturday classes for students at Gaithersburg
Middle School? We wish to acknowledge Adonis , Maria, Roniel, Geffrey, Jamila, Katelyn, Leslie,
Mahelate, Hazel, Reid, Logan, Jehlani, Savannah, Jahbari, Genesis, Juan, Karemon, Myles, Omar, and Leul for
their participation in Saturday School. If you would like to know more about the George B. Thomas Learning
Academy, please go to
http://www.saturdayschool.org/programs/.
Superintendent’s Book Club
Dr. Starr will conduct three book clubs over the course of the year, beginning with the first session in late October, followed by sessions in January and April. Dr. Starr will select books that will inform the community of
his educational philosophy and further their understanding of his approach to managing MCPS. The first book
Dr. Starr has chosen is Carol Dweck’s book, ―Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.‖ The clubs will be conducted at CESC and live via webinar to allow people to participate from their homes, if they wish.
Lock Down, Shelter in Place and Evacuation Drills
Safety and security remain a top priority at the Knoll. Students and staff have already participated in two fire
drills. Students, staff and visitors will soon participate in two of three other important safety drills—Shelter
in Place and Lock Down.
A Shelter in Place is called when it is necessary to secure a specific area of the building. Other reasons for
calling a Shelter in Place would be due a serious situation in the community or the severity of a weather condition such as a tornado warning. While under a Shelter in Place, students are under the direct supervision of
school staff. Additionally, students and staff in our portable classrooms will enter the building and report to a
nearby classroom.
A Lock Down exercise is called in the event that someone near or in the school poses a threat to students and
staff. During a Lock Down , instruction stops. The school is in complete lock-down. Teachers and staff lock
their doors, draw the window blinds and account for all students. Students remain quiet and wait for further
instructions.
An Evacuation is necessary if the emergency makes it more dangerous to stay in the building than to leave, then
we must evacuate. Our school evacuates the Quail Valley Community Pool. If necessary the students would be
bussed to Forest Oak Middle School.
Please take time to discuss the Lock Down, Shelter in Place and Evacuation procedures with your children. If
you happen to have any questions about our safety drills, feel free to contact with Mr. Kaplan or Mrs. Ford. As
always we thank you for your continued involvement and support!
Have You Scheduled Your November Parent-Teacher
Conference?
Slots are filling for next month’s, parent-teacher conferences. Students will be dismissed at
12:35 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, and Friday, November 11, 2011. Teachers will then confer
with parents soon after the students leave. If you did not already schedule a conference with
your child’s teacher, please contact him/her. Equally, important, if you need to reschedule your
conference, contact your child’s teacher. Let’s strive to have 100 percent participation in next
month’s conferences!
Halloween Parade and Parties Planned for Friday, October 28, 2011
We will host our annual Halloween parade on Friday, October 28, 2011, on the upper
field near the tennis courts at 2:00 p.m. Classroom parties will occur following the parade. As always, we respect our Strawberry Knoll families’ beliefs. If you do not wish
for your child to participate in this year’s Halloween parade and party, please send a
note to your child’s teacher. We will have an alternate activity planned and lead by
staff members.
We kindly remind those students who will participate to remain mindful of their costume choices. Make-believe weapons are not permitted. Also, costumes that may
frighten other children are not allowed. If you have any questions about plans for this year’s Halloween at the
Knoll, please contact our assistant principal, Mrs. Ford.
Congratulations Character Counts! Poster Contest Participants and Winners!
Our school was one of 12 schools that participated in the City of Gaithersburg poster contest. We applaud
those noble knights that entered their posters. Congratulations to Jehlani Thomas fifth grade poster contest
winner and Dzidzornu Kumazah fifth grade honorable mention winner.
An awards ceremony will be held next Thursday, October 20, 2011 from 6:00—7:00 p.m. at the Casey Community Center, 810 South Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD from 6:30 p.m.—8:00 p.m. All winning and honorable
mention students and their families are invited to next Wednesday evening’s ceremony.
Flu Mist Reminder
Special(DHHS)
Point of Interest:
The Montgomery County Department of Health and human Services
will conduct a free flu vaccine clinic
on November 10, 2011, for students enrolled at Strawberry Knoll
Elementary
School,
from
Si usted
quiere tener
las noticias
del Knoll
en espanol
poratfavor
12:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. To sign up for an appointment, please call
the health
room
301-840-7195 or email
llame Senora Stevens [email protected].
7112.
Special Point of Interest:
Special Point of Interest:
Si usted quiere tener las noticias
Si usted quiere tener las noticias
del Knoll en espanol por favor
del Knoll en espanol por favor
llame Senora Stevens
llame Senora Stevens 301-840301-840-7112.
Upcoming Dates
October 20
Individual Pictures
October 21
State Conference for Teachers –
No School for Staff and Students
October 27
9:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m. First Grade to Adventure Theater
October 28
First Marking Period Ends
9:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m. Kindergarten and
Primary Autism Class to Sharp Farm
2:00 p.m. Halloween Parade/Parties
October 31
Professional Day for Teachers – No School for Students
November 1
P.T.A. Meeting
November 10, 11
12:35 p.m. Early Dismissal Days
Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 11
9:00 a.m. Town Hall Meeting - Gym
November 17
7:00—8:30 p.m. P.T.A. /Fall Festival
November 22
Head Start to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital
November 23
12:35 p.m. Early Release Day
November 24, 25
HOLIDAY – Thanksgiving
November 30
10:00 a.m. Makeup Picture Day