March 27, 2015
18820 Strawberry Knoll Road
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879
E. Frank Kaplan, Principal
Elise Burgess, Principal Intern
School Number: 301-840-7112 , Fax Number: 301-840-7114
Web Site Address—http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/
Next Year’s Staffing Allocation Includes Change
We received our preliminary staffing allocation for the coming school year.
The good news is we’ve retained much of this current school year’s allocation
Strawberry Knoll News
STRAWBERRY KNOLL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
and will add a fourth section of fifth grade along with a Pre-School Education
Program (PEP) class next school year. The unfortunate news, however, is that
our special education resource teacher allocation was decreased. As always, we
will use the instructional staff assigned to ensure our children receive a highquality education.
We also want to let you know our computer lab will be dismantled at the end of
this year and used as an art room next year. This is because our request for
an additional portable classroom was recently denied as a result of next year’s
operating budget and the high cost to house a portable classroom. Again, we
will use the space we have, including our six portable classrooms to provide welcoming learning environments for our Noble Knights!
Strawberry Knoll Hosts Summer School
Our school will serve as an Extended School Year (ESY) summer school site for students enrolled in the autism program.
This means our Knoll will be filled with the sounds of staff and
students because we are a “cool school!”
Join Us for Our Next Town Hall
Meeting
We invite you to join us for our next
Town Hall meeting on Thursday,
April 2, 2015 starting at 10:00 a.m. in
the gym. Our Noble Knights will be
presented with the “Student of
Character” awards of: Fairness andTrustworthiness. Grade level classes
will also earn the Red Knight award if
they met their class goal of Red
Knights for the marking period.
If classes earned 20 or more Red
Knights, they will also earn the coveted Gold Knight.
Congratulations, PARCC Testtakers!
We commend our third, fourth, and
fifth grade students for their diligence and perseverance during our
recent administration of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for
College and Careers, also known as,
PARCC. As you may already know, the
new PARCC assessments measure
problem solving skills that students
need to be successful in college and
careers. If you happen to have any
questions about PARCC, feel free to
ask your child’s teacher. Mr. Kaplan
Talent Abounds Among Noble Knights
Our P.T.A. looks forward to hosting its seventh annual
talent show on Friday, April 17, 2015 starting at 7:00
p.m. in the gym. This year’s act and performances will
leave you impressed. Talent extends beyond the
stage. Thanks to Mrs. Brogden for coordinating this
event.
Spring Break
April 3, —April 10, 2015
No school for Students and
Teachers
UPCOMING REMINDERS
April 2
10:00 a.m. Town Hall Meeting—Gym
April 3—10 Spring Break—No School for Students and Teachers
April 14
Grade 5, MSA Science
Report Cards Sent Home
April 15
Grade 5, MSA Science
April 16
Grade 5, MSA Science
April 17
Grade 5, MSA Science
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Talent Show – Gym
April 20
10:30 a.m. – Grade 5 ELA—PARCC
April 21
9:00 a.m. - Grade 4 ELA– PARCC
April 22
10:30 a.m.- Grade 5 Mathematics—PARCC
April 24—30 P.T.A. Spring Book Fair
April 24
9:30 a.m. – Grade 4—PARCC
April 27
10:30 a.m. – Grade 3 Mathematics- PARCC
April 28
9:00 a.m. – Grade 4 Mathematics- PARCC
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. P.T.A. Pancake DinApril 29
10:30 a.m. – Grade 5 MathematicsApril 30
9:00 a.m. – Grade 3 Mathematics—PARCC
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 5th Grade to D.C.
May 1
9:30 a.m. – Grade 3 ELA—PARCC
ner
PARCC
Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart
Thank you parents, teachers, and students, who helped, volunteered, participated, and raised donations to support The American Heart Association. This year’s event was a great success with more
students participating than ever! Four-hundred-sixty Noble Knights participated this year! Twohundred-three students donated at least one dollar!!
All students participated in the heart-healthy activities. During the fundraising campaign. Equally important, students increased their knowledge about The American Heart Association and how physical
activity can prevent heart disease and stroke. Our students collected donations for “Jump Rope for
Heart” and “Hoops for Heart,” that last year totaled $5,000.00. This year’s donations totaled $9,300.95. Our top two students raised over $400 each.
Students that collected donations will receive their
or May. Remember, we intend to surpass our goal
pation, and amount of donations next year. Finally,
tenth annual “Pie in the Face” fun for our top ten
the most donations. This year’s event is scheduled
2015.
prizes in late April
of student particiwe will host our
students that raised
for Friday, June 5,
Thank you for all of your support!
The Maryland Summer Centers for Gifted and Talented Students
The Maryland Summer Centers for Gifted and Talented Students is celebrating its 48th year this summer. Program available for Gifted and Talented students/advanced learners from grades 3 through 12 this year. Subject
areas include Ecosystem Education, Engineering and Robot Design, Fine and Performing Arts, Creative Writing,
Physics of Wind and Solar Power, Space Engineering and Robotics, as well as Biotechnology and Forensic Science.
Some Centers offer a residential experience and others are held during the day only. ALL Centers offer partial
or full financial assistance! Minorities and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
For more information and to begin the NEW ONLINE APPLICATION process, please visit the Center website
at : www.marylandpublicschools.org/summercenters. Applications should be completed byApril 17. Applications
will be reviewed STARTING April 17, but the application period ends when the Center is filled. Also note that
the Center for the Fine and
Performing Arts at Salisbury
University has a, April 10th
deadline (as AUDITIONS) must
be scheduled. Please see
the site for details and dates of
auditions).