THE CLARKSBURG CHEETAH
Week of
January 11, 2016
THIS WEEK:
Mon., Jan. 11
Fri., Jan. 15
School Patrol Meeting, 12:45-1:15 p.m.
Rocky Hill Middle School Staff to meet with 5th Grade students, 9:30-10:15 a.m.
A LOOK AHEAD:
Mon., Jan. 18
Wed., Jan. 20
Fri., Jan. 22
Holiday – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, No School for Staff and Students
Rocky Hill MS Incoming 6th Grade Parent Meeting, 7:00-8:00 p.m. at RHMS
End of the 2nd Marking Period
Dear Clarksburg Elementary School Parents/Guardians,
I hope that everybody had a great weekend. I would like to announce that I did have a winning Power Ball
ticket. I won $4.00 because I picked the Power Ball Number. I chose not to retire. I did reinvest the money in
two tickets with hopes of becoming a billionaire later this week.
The Clarksburg Elementary School PTA requests that you complete a very brief survey to gauge interest in a
before school Mad Science program. You can access the survey by clicking on the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CESMS .
Please see the additional information below to learn about more of the exciting things that we are doing and the
Montgomery County Public School system is offering. Contact the office if you have any questions or
concerns.
Sincerely,
Carl Bencal
Principal
1
Golden PEM (Persistence, Effort and Motivation) Awards
This year, part of our School Improvement Plan focus is on helping students to increase their levels of
persistence, effort, and motivation in relation to their learning. To highlight students’ achievement in this area,
each week, two students from every class will be awarded The Golden PEM Award. Teachers will choose the
Golden PEM Award winners based on the students’ consistent performance throughout the week related to their
persistence, effort, and motivation in the classroom setting. Recipients of the award will take home a Golden
PEM Certificate as well as have their names listed in the Principal’s Weekly Parent Bulletin.
Teacher
Student
Student
Hammack
Parker
Faizan
Hillmuth
Samanyu
Logan
St. Clair
Ben
Ashely
Hoilman
Brandon
Sivia
Carpio
Michael
Adekoyo
Chung
Aidan
Emely
Gamble
Caleb
Lena
Ennis
Hannah
Vedadrish
Walsh
Da’Shira
Brenten
Howard
Niajha
Brooklyn
Moyer
Kelly
Nancy
Dryman
Sean
Mythili
Ouska
Kumar
Jacob
2
PTA – Mad Science Interest Survey
For several years the Clarksburg Elementary School PTA has arranged for Mad Science to conduct after-school
programs at the school. To gauge interest in a before-school Mad Science program, the PTA created a very brief
survey which may be accessed at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CESMS . Please take the time to respond
to the survey at your earliest convenience.
Volunteers Needed in the Media Center
The library is in search of volunteers, adults or students in need of service learning hours, who are able to help
shelve our books. Our students are avid readers and books are constantly being checked in and out. We can
work with your schedule and availability. Training will be provided. If you are interested in volunteering,
please contact Mrs. Daria Taylor at [email protected] or call the school. Thank you so much!
A Special Donation
We received a very special donation of tennis shoes from a local, charitable organization. If your family is in
need of any shoes, please contact the school office at 301-353-8060 to reserve your pair. Thank you.
Gender
Girls
Girls
Girls
Girls
Girls
Girls
Girls
Girls
Boys
Boys
Boys
Boys
Boys
Boys
Boys
Boys
Size
13
13
3
3
3
3½
4½
6
Toddler 7
12
12 ½
13
1
3
3
6
3
You are cordially invited to attend the…
ROCKY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL
INCOMING 6TH GRADE PARENT MEETING
Wednesday, January 20th
7:00pm – 8:00pm
Rocky Hill Middle School Cafeteria
Meet the Rocky Hill Middle School Leadership, 6th Grade Team and Counseling
Learn about our school vision and rotating schedule
Hear about expectations and requirements including:
Our 6th Grade Team and Expectations
The myMCPS Parent Portal
6th Grade Orientation
Summer Reading and Outdoor Education
Our After School Programs and Transportation
Hear from our counselors about 6th grade articulation and transition
Questions? Please call Rocky Hill Middle School at 301-353-8282
All information presented will be available on our website following the presentation
4
THE FY 2017 OPERATING BUDGET—
A CALL TO ACTION TO FUND OUR FUTURE
CREATING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE STUDENT SUCCESS—that’s the strategy driving Interim
Superintendent Larry A. Bowers’ recommended FY 2017 Operating Budget. With a budget increase of 4.5 percent to fund
the same level of services for more than 2,500 additional students, the FY 2017 Operating Budget recommendation
includes investments to improve students’ literacy and math skills; build the cultural proficiency of staff; foster stronger
partnerships with the community and our families to support students; and better organize the district to ensure every
student is prepared for college and careers.
Although the budget does not restore cuts from previous years or request additional resources that many in our community
believe are needed, Mr. Bowers’ budget is based on the need to change the way the budget has been funded for the past
eight years. Funding the budget since 2009 at or below the minimal funding Maintenance of Effort level has resulted in
class size increases, reduced essential professional development, and left students with fewer supports and interventions
than they need to be successful. It will take time to increase the level of investment in our schools that is needed, but we
must begin to solidify the foundation for the future in FY 2017. WE CANNOT WAIT.
To build a future of success for our students we must Fund our Future.
The first step in funding the future is having sufficient resources to continue providing the same level of services for a
growing number of students. Next, we need to invest in the outstanding women and men who serve our students each day.
Then there are inflationary and other cost increases that every organization faces. MCPS has made extraordinary efforts to
find efficiencies in every area to keep these cost increases to a minimum. In addition, this budget includes $5.7 million in
savings and reductions that fund targeted enhancements to strengthen the district’s foundation in alignment with MCPS’
Strategic Priorities.
OVERALL, MR. BOWERS’ RECOMMENDATION INCLUDES:
 Enrollment growth/new schools and
additional space
 Inflation, rate changes, and other
increases
 Benefit cost increases for current
employees/retirees
 Negotiated agreements for employee
salary increases
 Strategic enhancements (see page 2)
 Savings
 Budget Increase
$22.7 million
$1.5 million
$26.4 million
$55.3 million
$2.8 million
–$5.7 million
$103 million
The budget recommendation also requests the Montgomery County Council to restore $24 million in one-time funding
used for the FY 2016 budget and an additional $7.9 million to pay for teacher pension costs that have been shifted from
the state to the county. With these two items, the budget increase is $134.9 million—5.8 percent.
STRATEGIC ENHANCEMENTS
Given the fiscal realities and the need to prepare the district to be able to invest in future years when resources may be
more available, Mr. Bowers is recommending $2.8 million in targeted, strategic enhancements to improve student
achievement and close the achievement gap. All of the enhancements are aligned to the district’s five Strategic Priorities
and District Implementation Plan. The enhancements include both new and realigned resources for maximum efficiency
and effectiveness and fall into Strategic Priority Focus Areas—
5
FOCUS ON EQUITY AND CULTURAL PROFICIENCY
 Create greater focus on cultural proficiency of staff within every school and office
 Align Study Circles team with the Equity Initiatives Unit
 Increase the number of equity specialists to provide more intensive support to schools
 Provide training and support to schools on restorative practices
FOCUS ON LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS
 Increase professional development investment to support math and literacy
 Realign math resources to support greater differentiation and acceleration, meeting the needs of Grades 4 and 5
students in their home schools
 Provide greater support to elementary math teachers
 Expand summer school programs through the Children’s Opportunity Fund
 Enhance dual language programs
 Enhance literacy skills of ESOL students
FOCUS ON CAREER READINESS
 Enhance career pathways options and grow enrollment in programs
 Expand career exposure activities and engage employers to provide work-based learning activities
 Expand SEPA program to serve more students and provide a full-day program
 Implement courses/experiences for 12th graders to ensure college/career readiness
FOCUS ON PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT
 Organize all student services and family and parent engagement in one office to ensure alignment of work and
support for families
 Increase number of parent community coordinators in schools
 Expand the ACES program to additional schools
 Identify partnerships to expand extended learning opportunities, increase participation of underrepresented
students in STEM fields, and support additional college readiness programs
 Elevate the work of forging new—and strengthening existing—district partnerships by incorporating work into
the Office of the Superintendent
FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESULTS
 Enhance assessment strategy to improve student outcomes
 Provide greater focus on accountability and results by reassigning Shared Accountability to the Office of the
Superintendent
FOCUS ON HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
 Accelerate efforts to improve and diversify workforce
 Expand “grow our own” Student to Educator Pathway (STEP) program with scholarships
6