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/
Strawberry Knoll News
STRAWBERRY KNOLL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 12, 2012
Just a Few Words
Let me begin by thanking those of you that joined us for this past Monday’s
“Open House.” It’s always a delight for the children to welcome guests into
their classrooms, and my genuine pride for our parents and guardians to witness great teaching. Even though the weather has changed, our commitment
to engaging all students in their learning remains constant.
Please join me in thanking our cadre of P.T.A. volunteers that helped make
this fall’s book fair fabulous. The book fair evidenced your continued support
of reading, a necessary life-long skill, and served as a meaningful prelude to
last evening’s “Literacy Knight!”
Today’s “Knoll News,” presents a variety of newsworthy articles. Our school
psychologist, Mr. Matt Kamins, offers an article that will let you know how our
staff will work this year to support students in their Social Emotional Learning
(SEL). Learn more about this year’s new report card and words of advice from
our Mrs. Forman, reading specialist, and Mrs. Schoenfelder., staff development teacher. If you are a Quail Valley resident, you will certainly want to
read my short article about changes planned to clear the overgrown meadow
behind our soccer field.
I want to remind you of an upcoming event, a remembrance celebration for
Mrs. Karolick. Though gone, she left us unforgettable memories. Join us as
we remember “Mrs. Kare-a-lot” next Thursday, October 18, 2012, in our school
gym from 7:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Please let others in the community know
about next Thursday’s program.
Finally, I ask for your help with afternoon dismissal. The change in weather
has resulted in an increasing number of folks requesting to come into the
building, particularly past 2:45 p.m. We certainly understand students may
need to leave early for a variety of reasons. However, if there is no need for
your child(ren) to leave early, we ask you wait outdoors until students exit the
building. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding. As is
the Strawberry Knoll way, we’ll post a friendly reminder on our front doors.
Happy autumn!
E. Frank Kaplan
Proud Principal
Social Emotional Learning
It has been proven that happy students learn, socially adjusted students excel at making and keeping friends
and mental wellness protects us when we feel stressed or anxious. Visitors to our school remark that Strawberry Knoll students appear happy, healthy and learning. That did not happen by accident. In fact we are making a
concerted effort to focus on social emotional learning (SEL).
What is Social and Emotional Learning?
SEL is a process for helping children and even adults develop the fundamental skills for life effectiveness. SEL
teaches the skills we all need to handle ourselves, our relationships, and our work, effectively and ethically.
These skills include recognizing and managing our emotions, developing caring and concern for others, establishing positive relationships, making responsible decisions, and handling challenging situations constructively and
ethically.
They are the skills that allow children to calm themselves when angry, make friends, resolve conflicts respectfully, and make ethical and safe choices.
Teaching SEL skills helps create and maintain safe, caring learning environments.
Are there SEL competencies?
The Collaborative for Academic, Social & Emotional Learning (CASEL) identified five core groups of social and
emotional competencies:
Self-awareness—accurately assessing one’s feelings, interests, values, and strengths; maintaining a wellgrounded sense of self-confidence
Self-management—regulating one’s emotions to handle stress, control impulses, and persevere in overcoming
obstacles; setting and monitoring progress toward personal and academic goals; expressing emotions appropriately
Social awareness—being able to take the perspective of and empathize with others; recognizing and appreciating individual and group similarities and differences; recognizing and using family, school, and community resources
Relationship skills—establishing and maintaining healthy and rewarding relationships based on cooperation; resisting inappropriate social pressure; preventing, managing, and resolving interpersonal conflict; seeking help
when needed
Responsible decision-making—making decisions based on consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns,
appropriate social norms, respect for others, and likely consequences of various actions; applying decisionmaking skills to academic and social situations; contributing to the well-being of one’s school and community
How are SEL competencies being developed and reinforced every day at Strawberry Knoll ES?
Each class is implementing a comprehensive developmentally sound social skills curriculum
Each class has developed and is implementing a Behavior Matrix to reinforce positive pro-social behavior and
catch kids being good and being productive
School counseling lessons are readily available for individuals and groups targeting perseverance, empathy, resilience, and managing stress and disappointment
Collaborative problem solving teams meet regularly at grade level and school level to focus on helping students or
teachers meet challenges to learning and eliminate obstacles to success
Students are recognized for spontaneous acts of civility
-Matt Kamins
School Psychologist
Mrs. Karolick’s Celebration of Life at Strawberry Knoll Elementary
Strawberry Knoll Elementary School will host a special remembrance program to celebrate the life of our school’s beloved attendance secretary, Mrs. Karen Karolick on
Thursday, October 18, 2012 starting at 7:30 p.m. in the gym. Included in the remembrance celebration will be the official renaming of the school’s main office as the “KareA-Lot” office. Mrs. Karolick left lasting impressions upon all that interacted with her
during her 23 years of service with Montgomery County Public Schools, and dedication to
Strawberry Knoll. All Strawberry Knoll families and friends of the Karolick family are
invited to attend the upcoming program.
Halloween Parade and Parties Planned for
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
We will host our annual Halloween parade on
Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 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.
Highly Gifted Center
Applications for the elementary Highly Gifted Centers
(HGC) were recently mailed directly to all parents/
guardians of third grade students in Montgomery County
Public Schools (MCPS). This is a reminder that if you
are interested in having your child considered for the
HGC, you must complete the application and return it
by November 2, 2012 to:
HGC Application
Division of Consortia Choice and
Application Program Services
11721 Kemp Mill Road
Silver Spring, MD 20902
CONGRATULATIONS Ms. Bensman!
Ms. Bensman was married on Saturday,
October 6, 2012 and is now officially
Mrs. Kitts. Congratulations to Mrs.
Heidi and Mr. Brian Kitts on their marriage.
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 Monday, November 12, 2012 and Tuesday, November 13, 2012. 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!
Curriculum 2.0 Standard-based Report Cards
We appreciated meeting with parents this past week at the PTA meeting and then again at a special Open House
meeting this past week. Some of the information shared included information about the new report card. Curriculum 2.0 Standards-based report cards give parents more information about what, and how, students are learning. It is a comprehensive system that aligns instruction and assessment to standards. The standards are aligned
with internationally driven Common Core State Standards. The system measures student academic progress toward grade-level expectations through multiple and varied opportunities. The progress report card aligns grades
to standards that provide meaningful information about student achievement and progress. For more information
on the new report card in grades K-3 please visit the MCPS website http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/
grading/report-cards.aspx
or contact us. We’d be happy to meet with you.
Mrs. Forman [email protected]
Mrs. Schoenfelder [email protected]
Grades 1-3 Proficiency Targets
Kindergarten Proficiency Targets
Overgrown Meadow Becomes Safety Concern
Can you believe Strawberry Knoll is 24 years old? Much has happened since our
school opened in 1988. One noticeable change is the condition of what once was a
manageable meadow that surrounds our soccer field and adjoins the properties of our
Quail Valley neighbors. The meadow is overgrown and become in some areas a dumping ground.
As a result of concerns brought to us by Quail Valley’s property manager, MCPS will begin to clear the meadow
later this month. Given the extent of work necessary to clear the area, work will be done in three phases.
Once completed, a much cleaner buffer will exist between our neighbors’ backyards and soccer field. The cleanup project will extend from the area near Mr. Larson’s portable all the way to the path leading from the Knoll to
Quail Valley. If you happen to have any questions about the upcoming project, feel free to contact Mr. Kaplan.
Fall Holidays and Events
October 15
SERT Energy Assembly 9:30 a.m. K-2, 10:20 a.m. 3-5
October 17
11:10 a.m.—1:50 p.m. 5th Grade to the Strathmore Hall
October 18
Individual Pictures
Mrs. Karolick’s Remembrance Service
October 19
State Conference for Teachers – No School for Staff and Students
October 22, 23
Hearing and Vision Screening
October 25
2:15—6:30 p.m. Fundraiser Pizzas Delivered—Atrium
October 31
2:00 p.m. Halloween Parade/Parties
November 2
First Marking Period Ends
November 5
Professional Day for Teachers – No School for Students
November 6
HOLIDAY – Election Day
November 8
9:00 a.m. Curriculum 2.0 Parent Informational Meeting
November 12, 13 12:35 p.m. Early Dismissal Day Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 14
10:00 a.m. Town Hall Meeting
November 15
PTA Fall Festival
November 21
12:35 p.m. Early Release Day
November 22, 23 HOLIDAY – Thanksgiving
November 30
10:00 a.m. Makeup Picture Day
School-Based Seasonal Flu Vaccine Clinics Coming Soon
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will conduct free, nasal spray flu vaccine
(FluMist) clinics in November for children 18 and under.
On Monday, November 5, flu clinics will be held at John F. Kennedy, Richard Montgomery, and Seneca Valley high
schools from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. These clinics will be open to any school-aged child.
All MCPS elementary schools will host a flu clinic on either Monday, November 12, or Tuesday, November 13, following
early dismissal of students on those days.
The clinic at Strawberry Knoll Elementary will take place on November 12, 2012 at 12:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Notification letters will be provided to students in early October. All clinics are free, but registration is required due to
limited vaccine supplies.
For more information about the upcoming clinics and the FluMist, visit the following websites:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/flu/
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/flu
The injectable seasonal flu vaccine will be available, at no charge, at other DHHS flu clinics at various locations in the
county, October through December. Visit http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/flu or call 311 for county locations. The
Flu vaccine may also be available from your health care provider.
Clínicas de Otoño para la vacuna de la gripe
La vacuna de la gripe del aerosol nasal será ofrecida en las clínicas de
la escuela este Otoño!
5 de noviembre de 2012
John F. Kennedy High School
Richard Montgomery High School
Seneca Valley High School
12 y 13 de noviembre de 2012
En las Escuelas primarias
Para los estudiantes matriculados en la escuela
Para más información visite:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/flu
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/flu