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
November 9, 2012
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Students will be dismissed at 12:35 p.m. next Monday, November 12, and Tuesday, November 13, 2012, so teachers may confer with parents. If you signed
up for a conference, your child should have given you a confirmation slip including the date/time of conference. Given the many conferences our teachers will hold, not only on our early dismissal days, but throughout conference
week, we ask you respect your child’s teacher’s conference schedule. Parentteacher conferences help provide both you and your child’s teacher time to
discuss your child’s strengths, weaknesses as well as next steps. No matter
your child’s age, parent-teachers conferences are important!
All children learn in different ways. They have their unique personalities and
own work habits. To help our students learn new knowledge and skills, teachers need to know as much as they can about each child’s likes and dislikes. No
one knows more about these things than you. Teachers need your help to do a
first-class job. Together, you can help “our” child experience continued success!
See you at Dogfish Grille!
Our great P.T.A. will sponsor a delicious fundraiser for Strawberry Knoll families on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. Have lunch or dinner at the Dogfish
Grille in Gaithersburg. Fifteen percent of the day’s sales will go directly to
our school’s P.T.A! As you already know, our P.T.A. supports Strawberry Knoll
in many ways including student scholarships for fieldtrips, books for classroom libraries, the Kare-A-Lot office and courtyard garden and currently a
“Sunshine for Sandy” collection to be donated to the American Red Cross for
aid in the relief of those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. We look forward to
seeing you at Dogfish Grille!
Fall Festival Planned
Although next week is somewhat abbreviated for our students
with two half-days scheduled on Monday and Tuesday, our P.T.A.
made the coming week full. So after dining at Dogfish Grille on Tuesday,
bring the family back to the Knoll on Thursday, November 15, 2012, starting
at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. This year’s fall festival will include a cake walk,
face painting, temporary tattoos, fun fall-themed crafts and games. Fall
snacks and other treats will be offered at the concession tables. Tickets
will be on sale the night of the festival. Tickets will be $0.25 each or 5 for
$1 . Come and enjoy the fun!
Principal’s Coffee
All are welcome to attend our first Principal’s Coffee on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 in
the Media Center, 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Mr. Kaplan will share newsworthy information during the first portion of the coffee and then chat about any questions/suggestions you may
have about the Knoll and MCPS. Coffee and tea will be provided!
Neighbor to Neighbor
MCPS has launched a new community engagement initiative called “Neighbor to Neighbor”. The Neighbor to
Neighbor project provides you with the resources to host and moderate a self-guided, small-group discussion on
important topics in MCPS. The goal of this project is to provide feedback to the school system about issues that
are important to you. These discussions may be held during a variety of times and places, such as during a PTA or
other parent meeting, in a community member’s home, or as part of a civic or community organization meeting.
The first discussion will center on what the MCPS community values in the MCPS operating budget. The Neighbor to Neighbor website includes an online toolkit that serves as a step-by-step guide. It includes a short video
and documents that provide an overview of the operating budget. It can be accessed at
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/neighbor-to-neighbor/.
Vecino a Vecino
MCPS ha lanzado su nueva iniciativa para participación de la comunidad, llamada "Vecino a Vecino". El proyecto de
Vecino a Vecino le proporciona recursos para que usted organice y modere una conversación en grupo pequeño
guiada por usted acerca de temas importantes en MCPS. El objetivo de este proyecto es proveer comentarios/
sugerencias al sistema escolar acerca de temas que son de importancia para usted. Estas conversaciones pueden
realizarse en distintos momentos y lugares, como ser durante una reunión de la asociación de padres y maestros
(PTA, por sus siglas en inglés) u otro tipo de reunión de padres, en la casa de un miembro de la comunidad, o como
parte de una reunión en una organización cívica o comunitaria. La primera conversación se centrará en lo que la
comunidad de MCPS valora en el presupuesto operativo de MCPS. La página de Internet de Vecino a Vecino
incluye una serie de herramientas en línea que sirven como una guía paso a paso. Se incluye un video corto y
documentos que proveen un panorama del presupuesto operativo. Se puede obtener acceso ingresando a
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/neighbor-to-neighbor/.
Community Conversation with the Board of Education (English and Spanish)
Community Conversation with the Board of Education
The Montgomery County Board of Education would like to hear from you concerning the values that should guide
the school system. Parents, staff, students and community members are invited to participate in a Community
Conversation with the Board of Education on Wednesday, November 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the Richard Montgomery
High School cafeteria. Foreign language interpretation and child care will be available. For additional information and to register for the event, call 301-279-3617 or visit the Board of Education website at
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/.
Conversacion de la Comunidad con Board of Education
Montgomery County Board of Education quisiera saber su opinión con respecto a los valores que deberían guiar al
sistema escolar. Se invita a los padres, al personal, a los estudiantes y a los miembros de la comunidad a que participen en una Conversación de la Comunidad con Board of Education, el miércoles, 14 de noviembre, a las 7:00
p.m., en la cafetería de Richard Montgomery High School. La inscripción para el evento comenzará a mediados de
octubre. Habrá interpretación de idiomas y cuidado infantil disponible. Para información adicional y para in-
Student Absences
Please remember: State regulations require us to have a written
note when your child is absent. Please call the
school and leave a message on the answering
machine or email the teacher and Mrs. Wai Mei
On ([email protected]), attendance
secretary to let us know when your child will not
attend school.
Tardiness School starts at 8:50 a.m. and children are
Students Attend Town Hall Meeting
Our first Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for
Lost and Found Rack Grows
This past week’s weather reminds us about fall’s arrival. If
your child is missing a coat, jacket, gloves, mittens, sweatshirts, etc., please check our Lost and Found rack outside of
the Kare-A-Lot Office when you stop by
for your parent-teacher conference. All
items not claimed by Friday, November 16,
2012 will be donated to charity.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in
the gym. Students will be acknowledged for
making the Honor Roll. Classes will also be recognized for the Red Knight, Fine Dining, and
“AAMP” (Art, Music, P.E.) awards. Equally important, individual students from each class will
marked late if they enter after that time. Children miss critical instructions and organization for the day when they are
late. This can impact the rest of their day. Please
make every effort to send children to school on
time and plan to keep afternoon appointments to a
minimum. Teachers plan instruction until the end
of the day.
receive recognition for the “Character Counts !“
award. We look forward to seeing our guests
and families next Wednesday!
Thanksgiving Well-Wishes
Thanksgiving is a special holiday for many different reasons. It is a time when I reflect not only on my individual blessings, but also upon my life- to see ALL things for which I am thankful. My reflection allows me to ponder my personal and professional life. They are indeed interwoven.
I want to thank the Strawberry Knoll staff, students, and you, our families for all you do daily to take care of
one another. I am the luckiest principal to serve such a caring community.
Your generosity and volunteerism to our children is appreciated. Your partnership with our school and productive working relationship and friendship
with me makes my job the best!
Please accept my sincerest of wishes for a happy Thanksgiving. Take time to
reflect upon your life and consider the blessings you have. If you plan to
leave the metro area for Thanksgiving, safe travels. If there’s a relationship that needs to be mended due to a misunderstanding, take time this
Thanksgiving to rebuild the broken fence. As always, continue to create
memories with your families and friends. Use the upcoming holiday to rest,
relax, and reconnect! E. Frank Kaplan, Proud Principal
Health Room News:
Parents of students in PEP, Kindergarten and First Grade students:
If you have received a lead certificate from the Health Room, please complete the form and return it as soon
as possible.
The Health Room is in need of donated pants and underwear to lend students when needed. If you can help
with our request, please bring your donations to the Health Room.
Upcoming Dates and Events
November 12, 13 12:35 p.m. Early Dismissal Day Parent/ Teacher Conferences
November 14
9:00 a.m. Principal’s Coffee—Media Center
10:00 a.m. Town Hall Meeting
November 15
7:00 p.m. 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
December 4
7:00 p.m. PTA Meeting
December 20
1:45—2:45 p.m. Instrumental Winter Music Assembly
7:30—8:30 p.m. Instrumental Winter Music Assembly
December 21
2:00 p.m. All School Sing-A-Long
December 24—31 Winter Break
Report of Student Progress Update
We thank those of you that participated in this past Wednesday morning’s chat about the new standards-based
report card. As Mrs. Schoenfelder, staff development teacher shared, next week’s report card is a document
teachers will use with parents to discuss student report of progress.
For additional information about the new kindergarten—third grade report of progress you may touch base
with your child’s teacher, Mrs. Forman/Mrs. Schoenfelder our teaching and learning representatives, and/or
visit the following sites.
A Parent’s Guide to Curriculum 2012-2013
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/elementary/guides.aspx
Curriculum 2.0 Website
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/2.0/