Strawberry Knoll News
STRAWBERRY KNOLL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
March 15, 2013
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/
Spring Forward!
Spring has returned. We set our clocks forward, tested our smoke alarms
and checked our carbon monoxide detectors. Many of us even recommitted
ourselves to January’s resolutions. The extra daylight affords us time to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. Spring provides us a season filled
with great anticipation; holiday celebrations, weddings, baseball, graduations,
and the final quarter of this school year.
We continue to take pride in the many gains our students have made these
past three marking periods. This is the time of school year when we see a
blossoming of students’ problem solving skills and application of critical concepts. We are in our stride. There’s momentum among student learning as
evidenced in Miss Polk’s second grade class. They recently published their
first class newspaper, edited by Belen, Benny, Ryan and Wesley. Mrs. Shafie’s
fifth grade students participated in the annual School Energy and Recycling
Team (SERT) poster contest competition. Zory’s poster was selected as our
school’s winning entry.
Join us as we commend our third through fifth grade students for their diligence and persistence during these past two weeks of the Maryland School
Assessment (MSA.) The MSA is an important snapshot of our teaching and
student learning. As you already know, our teachers check for student understanding daily. Rest assured gauging student learning extends beyond testing
our students. Just like you as parents, it’s important for us to ask open-ended
questions that challenge students to take a stance. Student work samples and
portfolios are authentic representations of students learning as well. This is
why we invite all of our Strawberry Knoll families to join us for our annual Literacy Highlights with Noble Knights next Friday, March 22, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
We certainly hope you can participate in next Friday afternoon’s fun.
Spring’s arrival also catapults us into planning for the 2013-2014 school year.
Staffing allocations are based upon program need and student enrollment.
Although our Art, Music, and Physical Education teacher allocations were reduced by a half-day for each subject, we gained an additional classroom teacher position for next year. Please take time to complete the Plans for Next
Year sheet included in today’s newsletter. We want to make sure our school is
adequately staffed for our silver anniversary!
Enjoy the upcoming spring-break. School will be closed for students and staff
Monday, March 25, 2013 through the following Monday, April 1, 2013. Please
note school will be closed for students on Tuesday, April 2, 2013. School will
be open for staff as we work on report cards and prepare for the final quarter. Yes, it’s springtime.
“Literacy Highlights with Noble Knights”
Our students have worked diligently this year to achieve some remarkable reading and writing
goals. Please join us at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2013 for our annual “Literacy Highlights
with Noble Knights” celebration. Students are excited to show off their hard work by showcasing their reading and writing accomplishments. Parents, grandparents,
aunts, uncles, siblings, and other family members are invited to join us for this special event. Invitations will be sent home during the week of March 19, 2013, please RSVP your child’s teacher
indicating if you are able to attend. We hope to see you!
Talent Abounds Among Noble Knights
Our P.T.A. looks forward to hosting its fifth annual talent
show on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 starting at 6:30 p.m.
in the gym. This year’s act and performances will leave you
impressed. Talent extends beyond the stage. New to this
year’s show will be a gallery of paintings, drawings,
sewing's, home made crafts, and Lego-structures students
are welcome to bring and display.
If you would like to learn more
about our upcoming Talent Show,
please contact Mrs. Thomas,
P.T.A. co-president at
[email protected].
SPRING BREAK
March 23—April 1, 2013
No School for Students
and Teachers
Promethean Boards Are Coming!
We are pleased to announce plans are underway
for us to receive Promethean Boards next month.
Tentative dates for installation of these long
awaited boards are the weeks of
April 8—April
21, 2013.
Our staff is
thrilled!
Professional Day
for Teachers
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
No School for Students
Upcoming Dates and Events
March 25 – April 1
April 2
April 10
April 11
April 12
April 15
April 18
Spring Break
Professional Day- No School for Students
Strathmore Concert - Grades 3 – 5 Gym
Spring Portraits and Class Pictures – Gym
10:30 – 12:00 noon Head Start to Fire Department
8:00 a.m. Volunteer Tea
9:00 a.m. Town Hall Meeting
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. GMS Open House for
5th Grade Students and Parents
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Pancake Dinner
9:15 a.m. Bus Evacuation
Strawberry Knoll
Elementary School
Literacy Highlights
with Noble Knights
You are cordially invited to attend our “Literacy
Highlights with Noble Knights” celebration on
Friday, March 22, 2013 starting at 2:00 pm.
Students will share highlights of their reading
and writing accomplishments for the year.
_____ I will attend “Literacy Highlights with Noble
Knights.”
_____ I am unable to attend “Literacy Highlights with
Noble Knights.”
Student Name ______________
Teacher ______________
Plans for Next Year
We are in the process of creating next year’s classroom assignments. As we plan
for the coming school year we need to know if any of our students, other than
fifth graders, will be leaving Strawberry Knoll. Additionally, if you have recently
moved or plan to relocate out of our attendance area we need to know.
Please complete the form below and return it to the school office by Thursday,
May 30, 2013.
Our Child(ren)
_________________________
________________________
New Address
Present
Present
Present
Present
Grade ___
Grade ___
Grade ___
Grade ___
___________________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
New School
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Address of
New School________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Approximate Date of Move ____________________________________