Strawberry Knoll News
STRAWBERRY KNOLL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 11, 2013
18820 Strawberry Knoll Road
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879
E. Frank Kaplan, Principal
Rosemary Ford, Assistant Principal
Web Site Address—http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/
strawberryknolles/
Our School Improvement Plan- A Blueprint in Motion
Fresh ideas lead to new beginnings in all we do. Consider how you and your children prepared for the new school year. As the calendar dates drew ever-closer
to the first day of school, you ensured your children had the necessary school
supplies. For you, our parents/guardians of Kindergarten students, you reminded your children how the Knoll would now become their new home away from
home, a special place where the children would learn. Regardless of your children’s current grade assignment(s), you sent them to us in August with the
great expectation we would develop our Noble Knights as competent readers,
writers, mathematicians, scientists, historians, and the most caring of citizens.
Indeed, we, the Strawberry Knoll staff are obligated and truly privileged to
meet your expectation.
We continue to use the School Improvement Plan (SIP) as a “working” document.
This year’s SIP, as in previous years includes our school’s goals related to student learning in the following: mathematics, reading, and social emotional development. While our students continue to show growth in reading, math data
show our students need to improve their math problem-solving skills. Although
some of our students approach math word problems with confidence and noticeable “stick-with-it-ness,” others show a lack of resilience. So, we will this year,
teach our students strategies and techniques to improve their perseverance.
Mr. Kamins, school psychologist has included an article that provides ways in
which you can increase your children’s perseverance.
Please remember, next Monday, October 14, 2013 is “Open House.” Join us for
a brief P.T.A. meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by my “Principal’s Coffee.” I look forward to speaking with you about our School Improvement Plan,
the MCPS Strategic Planning Framework, and answering any questions you may
have. Our “Open House” will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. I hope you
have a chance to see how well our students collaborate with one another. Just
as we have our SIP, our students have also established their learning goals for
this first marking period. Clearly, it is the relevance and rigor of the content
we teach and the relationships we have with you and our students that will lead
to promising results!
E. Frank Kaplan
Proud Principal
Honor Roll Change
We have traditionally recognized Honor Roll students based upon achieving a 3.5 grade point average or higher.
Although third grade students received the “new” standards-based progress report last year, we developed our
school’s own criteria for acknowledging third grade Honor Roll students. However, as third through fifth grade
students will receive progress reports premised upon standards-based grading, we will not recognize Honor Roll
students.
Our decision not to identify Honor Roll recipients according to traditional letter grades is aligned with the new
standards-based grading. Students will, throughout the year, be measured according to their proficiency on
specific learning goals connected with standards. Indeed it is our expectation that each Noble Knight meets
the grade-level standard by demonstrating proficiency. The standards-based grading cannot be transcribed
into letter grades. If so, students who at the end of this marking period were noted as “in progress toward
meeting the grade level standard,” might, according to the traditional report card be deemed as a “D-student.”
As you may recall from last month’s “Back to School Night” our commitment is to ensure you are fully aware of
your child’s on-going learning according to either being proficient ( exceptional at grade level standard, or meets
the grade level standard by demonstrating proficiency of the concepts taught) or not yet proficient (in progress
toward meeting grade level standard, or making minimal progress toward meeting grade level standard.)
We know our decision to forgo Honor Roll recognition breaks from a long-standing Strawberry Knoll tradition.
So, our third, fourth, and fifth grade team leaders will meet with Mr. Kaplan to explore other ways we can recognize students for their hard work and effort. Updated information will be included in our next “Knoll News.”
Needless to say, we certainly look forward to recognizing students at our next Town Hall Meeting on Monday,
November 11, 2013 beginning at 9:30 a.m., in the gym.
Fall Weather Brings Opportunities for Outdoor Fun
Now that the hot summer-like weather is behind us and fall has returned, it is time to explore outdoor fun with
friends and family. Mr. Matesa and Mr. Palmer, our physical education teachers, suggest our Strawberry Knoll
families spend time together jogging, playing soccer, jumping rope, or taking walks and exploring nature.
A good rule of thumb whenever engaging in any activity, including raking leaves, is to pace oneself
“just-right.” Engaging in this fall’s fitness -fun will build endurance and improve cardio-respiratory system.
Our two teachers suggest, “Exercise diligently enough to make you tired, but not fully exhausted!”
REMINDER—Elementary Centers for the Highly Gifted (HGC)
Applications for the Elementary Centers for the Highly Gifted (HGC) were recently mailed directly to all parents of Grade 3 students. 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 Friday, November 8, 2013 to:
HGC Application
Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services
117 Kemp Mill Road
Silver Spring, Maryland 20902
For further information, please contact Mrs. Ford, assistant principal.
Perseverance and Persistence Lead to Goal Attainment— Mr. Kamins, School Psychologist
More often than not parents and teachers can point to one activity, event, project, or situation in which a child
exhibits perseverance (often referred to as grit or tenacity). Whether it is completing a school project, focusing relentlessly on a video game, persistently texting a friend, insistently coaxing mom for a cookie before dinner, or reading a book without regard to time (like at bedtime). Wouldn’t it be nice if we could capture that directness and teach our kids to value it and implement it consistently?
Perseverance is a trait that enables success or triggers drive under the most difficult circumstances. When
learning a new task, skill or behavior, initial attempts at competence are often met with failure. Sticking with it
(persisting through adversity) positively impacts learning time by increasing time on task. When you work on any
objective, your enthusiasm to accomplish the goal may fluctuate. Sometimes you’ll feel inspired; sometimes you
won’t. It’s not your enthusiasm that will produce results — it’s your action. Perseverance allows you to keep taking positive steps even when you don’t feel enthused to do so.
Moreover, persistence is self-rewarding. As you get closer to your goal, your efforts are rewarded because you
are learning and reaching small approximations of the eventual goal! For example, a student that struggles, but
regularly practices reading and charts their reading progress will continue to persist as their performance improves. Then internal motivation kicks in, influencing tackling harder reading activities – sometimes independent
of school – because their success is now self-fulfilling.
Helen Keller, in spite of multiple disabilities, persisted and became an accomplished author, activist, and lecturer. However, that is only part of the story – her teacher Anne Sullivan persisted with Helen’s instruction in
spite of Helen’s early and extreme resistance. She stuck with it and learned the key to unlock Helen’s potential.
Other examples of perseverance: Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first television job because she was “unfit
for TV.” Jerry Seinfeld was booed off the stage the first time he tried to deliver a comedy routine. The manager of the Grand Old Opry fired Elvis Presley after his first performance, suggesting he “go back to driving a
truck.” Dr. Seuss was rejected many times before publishers accepted his first book. Michael Jordan got cut
from his eighth grade basketball team (he persevered and we know how that worked out!) Perseverance helped
build Microsoft and Apple, the railroad system across our country, put a man on the moon, allowed the Gulf
Coast and East Coast to begin to recover from devastating hurricanes, got women the vote in the United States,
and facilitated civil rights legislation.
So what can teachers and parents do to teach, encourage, and monitor perseverance? Recommendations are as
follows:
 Practice persistence with things that the student currently finds enjoyable. Capture the approaches they
used to reach their expectations and ask how those same approaches could be applied to things that the student finds less enjoyable (or avoids entirely).
 Overtly teach perseverance, grit, and tenacity by providing real life examples, sharing social stories, or creating opportunities for skill rehearsal in small student-student and student-to-staff groups (or parent- student at home).
 Model perseverance. Show how one can set out to master something and move through setbacks to do so.
Talk about feelings and approaches as you do it. "I tried it this way. That didn't work. Now I am going to try
it that way. I don't give up easily."









Have high, but achievable, expectations for success and hold to high standards.
When remedial support is necessary, provided it in ways that do not feel punitive or interfere with opportunities to engage in other interest-driven activities.
Capture what the student did when rewarding effort and behavior (e.g., “the time you spent on that task
and the effort you put in is why you did so well.” “…are there other situations where you can do the same
thing.”).
Design student performance so as not to undermine perceptions of competence and future expectations.
Evaluations (when evaluation is necessary) should be based on clearly defined criteria, provide specific and
useful feedback, and be varied to give students opportunities to demonstrate competence in different ways.
Reward persistence. Recognize it and point it out. Applaud when they don't give up, even when what they
won't give up is their argument with you. That doesn't mean you give in to the argument. It means you recognize their persistence and find a win/win solution that works for both of you.
Help with transitions. Kids who are persistent usually have a harder time with transitions than other
kids. Minimize the number of transitions in their day. Build them into routines so they expect them to happen. Connect back before you ask the child to make a transition
Practice stopping. Kids who are persistent often can't stop themselves. They often need help to let something go.
Practice makes perfect. Many kids worry that they aren't good enough, which makes them give up easily.
Help your child understand that no one becomes accomplished overnight. All experts have worked for years
to accomplish excellence in their field. Encourage effort and practice, more than accomplishment.
Offer emotional support. If your child wants to stop three weeks into the soccer, listen to why. Maybe it
just isn't what she/he thought it would be and would rather do coin collecting than soccer. That's fine;
part of finding our desire is by trial and error.
Fridays Are More than Flamingos at the
Knoll!
Our Noble Knights are proud to show their school
pride. Thus, each Friday, staff and students wear
their school spirit-wear. During the school’s 25 year
history, styles of sorts have evolved. This year’s line
of spirit-wear is among the best! Staff and students
who choose not to always wear their spirit-wear opt to
dress in the Knoll’s school colors? Do you know what
they are? We’ll include the answer to this question
and other important facts about the Knoll in our next
publication.
Halloween Parade and Parties Planned
We kindly ask students not to include any costume accessories that resemble weapons. We also ask students not to dress in costumes that portray violence
or are excessively frightening. Students who intend
to participate in this year’s Halloween Parade are expected to come to school dressed in their everyday
clothes and not in their Halloween costumes. Students will have ample time before this month’s parade
to dress into their costumes.
If you do not wish for your child to participate in this
year’s Halloween festivities, please contact your
child’s teacher by either email or a
handwritten note. An alternate activity
will be planned for those students not
permitted to participate in the parade
and party.
Our annual parade will begin at 2:00 p.m. Due to limited parking, we suggest you park your vehicles along
Strawberry Knoll Road. Students will return to their
homerooms following our school-wide parade. We look
forward to seeing you on Thursday, October 31, 2013!
NAACP Parent Council Hosts Annual “Welcome Back” Program
Hello SKES family. My name is Jonathan Thomas and I am your 2013-2014 NAACP Parent Representative. On
September 30, 2013, the NAACP Parent Counsel and Montgomery County Public Schools hosted their annual KickOff event at Richard Montgomery High School. The event featured a keynote speaker and experts in the area of
promoting minority and student achievement. There was also a Community Resource Fair highlighting various community services and resources for all attendees. Keynote Speaker Dr. Mona Mourshed gave an enlightening
presentation on how most improved schools from around the world continue to make extraordinary gains in
achievement. Attendees also had the opportunity to attend various breakout sessions to hear from panels of experts on various topics. Principal Kaplan and I were fortunate to attend the session on Social/Emotional Learning
Approaches with Minority Students where panelist provided insightful information. It is my pleasure to serve as
your NAACP Parent Representative and am looking forward to a great year. If you have any questions or concerns
please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
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 Friday, November 1, 2013, 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 Montgomery County Public Schools elementary schools will host a flu clinic on either Monday, November 11, or
Tuesday, November 12, 2013, following early dismissal of students on those days.
The clinic at Strawberry Knoll Elementary will take place on Monday, November 11, 2013 at 12:45 p.m. by appointment only. Call Mrs. Beiter at 301-840-7195.
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
Both the injectable seasonal flu vaccine and nasal spray 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 also may be available from your health care provider.
Fall Holidays and Events
October 14
October 16
October 18
October 30
October 31
November 1
November 11
November 12
November 20
November 27
November 28, 29
8:30 a.m.—9:30 a.m. P.T.A. Meeting and Principal’s Coffee Media Center
Open House—Columbus Day
10:00 a.m. Head Start Parent Meeting
State Conference for Teachers –
No School for Staff and Students
October 29 P.T.A Fundraiser Pickup
Individual Picture Day
2:00 p.m. Halloween Parade/Parties
First Marking Period Ends
Professional Day for Teachers – No School for Students
8:45 a.m.—9:30 a.m.—P.T.A. Meeting
9:30 a.m. Town Hall Meeting
12:35 p.m. Early Dismissal Day
Parent/Teacher Conferences
12:35 p.m. Early Dismissal Day
Parent/Teacher Conferences
7:00 p.m. PTA Fall Festival
12:35 p.m. Early Release Day for Students and Staff
HOLIDAY – Thanksgiving