January 25, 2016

THE CLARKSBURG CHEETAH
Week of
January 25, 2016
THIS WEEK:
Mon., Jan. 25
No School for Students - Professional Day for Teachers
A LOOK AHEAD:
Wed., Feb. 3
Report Card Distribution
Fri., Feb. 5
Class and Group Pictures
Dear Clarksburg Elementary School Parents/Guardians,
It snowed. I hope that everybody enjoyed the historic event and remains safe and warm. As you already know,
we will not have school on Tuesday because of the impact from the snow. Please keep your eyes and ears open
for additional delays or cancelations from MCPS. I will send out a Remind text once I find out any information.
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
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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
Ava
Nicole
Hillmuth
Amogh
Layla
St. Clair
Jack
Alex
Hoilman
Jada
William
Carpio
Samuel
Samanyu
Chung
Sophie
Aaron
Gamble
Isabella
Pranav
Ennis
Walter
Vedadrish
Walsh
Briana
Emma
Howard
Autumn
Soham
Moyer
Kurt
Aaliyah
Dryman
Ananya
Taylan
Ouska
Kayla
Christian
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Clarksburg Elementary Text Reminders for Parents!
Remind is a free, safe, and simple messaging tool that helps schools share important updates and reminders with
students and parents. Visit remind.com to learn more. To receive messages from Mr. Bencal via text, text
@ke76c to 81010. You can opt-out of messages at anytime by replying, 'unsubscribe @ke76c'. Trouble using
81010? Try texting @ke76c to (240) 493-8299 instead. To receive messages via email, send an email to
[email protected]. To unsubscribe, reply with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line.
Student Transfer Application Season Scheduled from
February 1 through April 1, 2016
ROCKVILLE, Maryland—Montgomery County parents/guardians who wish to request a Change of School
Assignment (COSA) for their children from their home school may begin the process during the upcoming transfer
season—February 1 through April 1, 2016.
Except for students in the Northeast Consortium (NEC), Downcounty Consortium (DCC), and Middle School
Magnet Consortium (MSMC) areas, students in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) are assigned to a
school on the basis of their place of residence or their Individualized Education Program (IEP) and are expected to
attend their home school. Assignment changes for students from one school to another are permitted under the
following limited circumstances:
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Younger sibling wanting to attend the school of an older sibling in the regular/general program, if the older
sibling will be attending the requested school the following school year, absent a boundary change;
A continuation in a feeder pattern from middle to high school, except when affected by boundary change,
application program acceptance, or Consortium Choice guidelines;
When a family moves within Montgomery County, preference to remain in the original school will be
considered to complete the current school year only;
A documented, unique hardship situation.
The transfer process begins in the home school, where parents/guardians may request the Change of School
Assignment (COSA) Information Booklet that contains the COSA form, describes the process, and provides useful
information. The COSA booklet is available in schools and online at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/transfers.
The booklet will be available in both English and Spanish. Exempt countywide programs that do not fall under the
transfer guidelines are listed in the information booklet.
There is a different process to access the elementary language immersion programs. Full information and copies of
the elementary Immersion Interest Form are available at all elementary schools and online at
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms.
For information about assignments for students residing in the NEC, DCC, or MSMC areas, please contact the
Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services at 301-592-2040 or visit the website at
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/schoolchoice.
For more information about the transfer process, parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the principal at their home
school. Non-English speaking students and parents/guardians who may require assistance may contact ASK MCPS to get
the information they need by telephone at 301-309-MCPS (6277). Telephone operators who speak English and Spanish
are available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Parents who speak languages other than English or
Spanish who call the ASK MCPS telephone line and identify their language will have their questions answered
through a telephone interpreter.
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Hearing and Vision Screening
In accordance with the Maryland State Law students in Montgomery County Public Schools are screened for
possible vision and hearing problems. Trained hearing and vision screeners will be screening Clarksburg ES
students who are in Kindergarten, students who are new to Maryland and classroom teacher referrals (based on
observed vision/hearing concerns in the classroom) on February 5, 2016.
Students who do not pass the initial screening will be rescreened on March 10. Parents/Guardians will be
notified by mail if the student does not pass the second screening after this date.
If your child is already under care for a hearing or vision concern, or you do not wish your child to be screened
at school, please notify the school nurse in writing by February 3, 2016. If your child is under care please send
the results from their most recent hearing/vision report. The results will be placed in the student’s health file.
If your child wears glasses or contacts he/she should wear them every day and bring them to the screening.
Box Top Collection Drive
Ms. Ouska’s class has already turned in 1116 Box Tops in January! All together, the school has collected 3074
Box Tops. At 10¢ each, that’s $307.40. Can we raise $500 by February 12?
Box Tops may be taped or glued in groups of ten on the collection sheets or simply placed in an envelope or
baggie. Be sure to check that the Box Tops are not expired and that the expiration dates are not cut off. Please
do not attach Bonus Box Tops to the collection sheets. They must be submitted separately.
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Tape or glue unexpired Box Tops to this collection sheet. Do NOT staple!
Return to school by February 12. Each Box Top is worth 10¢.
Bonus certificates should not be attached to this sheet –please submit them
separately.
Help your class be the top Box Top collector in the school!
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Student name ________________________
Grade ____ Teacher ___________________
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Student name ________________________
Grade ____ Teacher ___________________
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