AT SLIGO MIDDLE SCHOOL,
WE EXPECT THE BEST!
HOME OF THE STALLIONS
2015 - 2016
We promote Rigor by doing our BEST to
exhibit Sligo's Rs:
Respect
Responsibility
Relationships
Safety
1401 DENNIS AVENUE
SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 20902
PRINCIPAL: MR. CARY DIMMICK
MAIN OFFICE: 301-649-8121
COUNSELING OFFICE: 301-649-8129
FAX: 301-649-8145
ON THE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.MONTGOMERYSCHOOLSMD.ORG/SCHOOLS/SLIGOMS
Welcome to 8th Grade
This is a fun and exciting time for your child as he/she
matriculates through the academic year. This parent guide serves as a
catalyst to answer important questions as you guide your child's growth
this school term. It is filled with useful resources and information that
will keep you informed and guide decisions.
Our focus for this year is to set the stage for student transitions. This
has become a focal point not only for Sligo, but a theme that is resonating
through the county. We want to guide our 8 th graders to grow
academically and socially as they prepare for high school. As you know,
8th grade is a pivotal time in your child's academic career and essentially
determines the blueprint for future coursework in their freshman year.
It is very important that students take academic ownership in their studies
as it relates to semester exams, summative assessments, Map-R/Map-M,
and finally PARCC testing.
It is our hope that this guide brings a wealth of knowledge to
your fingertips as you begin this year's journey. We look forward to
bridging the gap in your child's needs by working together and
building a cohesive partnership with all stakeholders.
Partners in Education,
Team Leaders: Cheletra Tutt & Eugene Godoy
2015-2016 School Calendar
August 31
September 7
September 14
September 15
September 23
September 25
October 2
October 16
October 30
November 2
November 11-12
November 12
November 25
November 26-27
December 24-January 1
January 8
January 14 -22
January 22
January 18
January 25
February 3
February 15
February 26
March 23
March 24
March 25 - April 1
April 14
April 26
May 30
June 3
June 10-17
June 17
June 20
June 27
First day of school for students
MCPS—Labor Day Offices and schools closed
No School for Students and Teachers
Back to School Night
No School for Students and Teachers
Student Service Learning Hours Due for Summer Work
Early release K-12. Planning/grades-Dismissal after lunch.
No School for Students and Teachers
First marking period ends
MCPS - No School for Students. Teachers' Professional
Day
Early release K-8. Parent conferences. Dismissal after
lunch.
Report Card Distribution
MCPS - Early release day for students
MCPS—Thanksgiving, Offices and schools closed.
Winter break, No school for students and teachers.
Student Service Learning Hours Due for Semester 1 Work
Final Exam Week
Second marking period ends
MCPS—Martin L. King, Jr. Day, Offices and schools
closed.
MCPS - Professional day for teachers - no school for
students
Report Card Distribution
MCPS - President's Day - offices and schools closed
MCPS - Early release day for all students
Third marking periods ends
Professional day for teachers, No school for students.
MCPS - Spring Break - schools and offices closed
Report Card Distribution
MCPS Primary Election Day Offices and schools closed
MCPS - Memorial Day - offices and schools closed
Student Service Learning Hours Due for Semester 2 Work
Final Exam Week
MCPS - Last day of school for students. Early release day
for teachers
Professional day for teachers
All Report Cards Mailed
Daily Schedule 2015-2016
“A” Lunch
“B” Lunch
“C” Lunch
BEST
8:15 – 8:35
20 min
Pd. 1
8:39 – 9:25
46 min
Pd. 2
9:29 – 10:15
46 min
Pd. 3
10:19 – 11:05
46 min
th
8 Grade Lunch
Pd. 4
11:09 – 11:40
11:09 – 11:55
46 min
Pd. 4
11:44 – 12:30
7th Grade Lunch
Pd. 5
46 min
11:59 – 12:30
11:59 – 12:45
46 min
Pd. 5
th
12:34 – 1:20
6 Grade Lunch
46 min
12:49 – 1:20
Pd. 6
1:24 – 2:10
46 min
Pd. 7
2:14 - 3:00
46 min
“A” Lunch
Lunch
10:58– 11:26
Pd. 4
11:30 – 11:58
Pd. 5
12:02 – 12:30
Early Release
“B” Lunch
“C” Lunch
Pd. 1
8:15 – 8:46
Pd. 2
8:50 – 9:18
Pd. 3
9:22 – 9:50
Pd. 6
9:54 – 10:22
Pd. 7
10:26 – 10:54
Pd. 4
Pd. 4
10:58– 11:26
10:58– 11:26
Lunch
Pd. 5
11:30 – 11:58
11:30 – 11:58
Pd. 5
Lunch
12:02 – 12:30
12:02 – 12:30
Two Hour Delay
“B” Lunch
“C” Lunch
Pd. 1
10:15 – 10:48
Pd. 2
10:52 – 11:24
Pd. 3
11:28 – 12:00
Lunch
Pd. 4
Pd. 4
12:04 – 12:36
12:04 – 12:36
12:04 – 12:36
Pd. 4
Lunch
Pd. 5
12:40 – 1:12
12:40 – 1:12
12:40 – 1:12
Pd. 5
Pd. 5
Lunch
1:16 – 1:48
1:16 – 1:48
1:16 – 1:48
Pd. 6
1:52 - 2:24
Pd. 7
2:28 – 3:00
“A” Lunch
H AVE A P ROBLEM ?
WHERE TO START:
When you have a problem, take time to review the
decision-making model below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Identify the problem.
Generate alternatives.
Evaluate alternatives.
Choose the best
alternative.
5. Make plans and act on
your decision.
6. Check it out. How did
it work?
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP:
1. Teachers
2. Homework buddy
3. Counselors:
Ms. Silva
Ms.Slotkowski
Ms. Stith
4. Team leader
5. Parent
6. Friend
7. Peer tutor
8. Homework Hotline –
301 – 279 – 3234
9. Sligo web site
www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/sligoms
10. Edline
www.edline.net/InterstitialLogin.page
11. Health Room: Ms. Qubeka and
Ms. Buckley
12. Mr. Wilson, Principal
13. Ms. Finkbinder, Assistant Principal
14. Mr. Lear, Assistant School Administrator
15. Conflict Resolution Center in the
counseling office
16. Bullying Report
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departm
ents/forms/pdf/230-35.pdf
17. MCPS School Bus Transportation
301 – 840 – 8130
Randolph Depot
301 – 929 – 6906
18. MCPS web site
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
COMMUNITY SERVICES:
 Abused Persons Program
240 – 777 – 4195
 Alanon /Alateen
202 – 966 – 9115
 Alcoholics Anonymous
202 – 966 – 9115
 Children’s Help Center/Suspected Child
Abuse
240 – 777 – 4417
 Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery
County (CRCMC)
301 – 652 – 0717
 Crisis Center, Montgomery County
240 – 777 – 4000
 www.montgomerycountymd.gov/
Provides a quick guide to community online
resources, 24 hour telephone or walk-in crisis
counseling, crisis stabilization, and help in
obtaining services for individuals and families
in a situational or mental health crisis
 Crisis Center/Sexual Assault
240 – 777 – 4357
 Crisis Hotline
301 – 738 – 2255
 Disease Control Center/AIDS Hotline
800 – 232 – 4636
 Lifeline Suicide Prevention
800 – 273 – 8255
 Maternity and Family Planning
240 – 777 – 3120
 Mental Health Abuse for Adults
240 – 777 – 1770
 Operation Runaway/Psychiatric Hospital
301 – 251 – 4545
 Sexually Transmitted Diseases
240 – 777 – 1760
 YMCA Youth & Family Services
301 – 229 – 1347
 Youth Hotline
301 – 738 – 9697
 Lifeline Suicide Prevention
800 – 273 – 8255
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STUDENT TROUBLESHOOTING QUICK GUIDE
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HAVE A PASS WHEN YOU ARE IN THE HALLWAYS
Problem?
I have a stomachache/headache/cut
on my knee.
I left my lunch at home/have no
lunch money.
My dog ate my homework!
I left my homework at home/in the
car/on the bus.
Someone hurt me/hurt my feelings
or pushed me.
I think my teacher doesn’t like me.
I can’t open my locker or it’s
jammed.
Something weird happened on the
bus.
I left my oboe on the bus.
I lost something in school.
Still can’t find it?
Someone stole something from me.
I don’t have time to go to my locker
after school. I leave my backpack in
the hall to save time. My BFF & I
share everything, including lockers.
I want to go home on my friend’s
bus.
I missed my bus.
I want to hang out with my friends
in back of the school after the bell
rings.
I want to take the After School
Activity Bus.
Solution! Where to go/who to see.
Get a pass and go right to the Health Room.
Get a pass and go to the Main Office.
Talk to your teacher.
Talk to your teacher.
Get a pass and go to the Counseling Office or Main
Office and tell someone.
Get a pass and go to the Counseling Office.
Go to Mr. Scott, Mr. Richard, or the Main Office.
Go to Counseling, Main Office, Mr. Scott, or Mr.
Richard.
Go to the Main Office to call the Bus Depot.
Check every classroom you have been to, check in the
lost & found in cafeteria, and the Main Office.
Go to the Main Office.
Go to the Main Office, Mr. Scott, or Mr. Richard.
DON’T! Backpacks seem to develop little legs. Someone
might play a prank and move it. It may be taken to the
Main Office. Do not share lockers. Ever. Do not give
your locker combo to any other student.
The student requesting to ride a different bus must bring
a note signed by a parent, That morning, take the note to
the Main Office before period 1 for a signature of
approval . There are no guarantees to get on the bus –
it’s up to the bus driver.
Call home from the Main Office. You may not stay here
unsupervised after school. If you go to Homework Club,
or another club, then you may take the Activity Bus
home. YOU MAY NOT WANDER AROUND THE SCHOOL!
You may take the Activity Bus after going to an after
school activity.
You may not take the Activity Bus if you’re not in a
supervised Sligo activity.
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Sligo Media Center Information
The Media Center staff is here to assist you in the media center and hope that you
will visit before and after school as well as during lunch. The media center is open
from 8:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., Monday through Friday. All students must have a
pass to come during school hours (8:15-3:00).
Instruction & Research Assistance
Classes coming to the media center receive instruction on ways to research.
In addition to working with you during class time, we provide individual assistance before school, during lunch periods,
and during BEST. Students can also join the Sligo Homework Club which meets in the media center on Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons.
Checking-Out Books
Students may check out up to four books. Additional books can be checked out with the media specialist's permission.
Books circulate for two weeks and can be renewed.
Reference materials may not be checked out.
Magazines may be checked out for one week.
If you have overdue books you will not be permitted to check out more books until the overdue materials are returned,
renewed, or paid for in full.
Donations
Book donations are gladly accepted. Please consider donating your gently used middle school level books to the Sligo
media center.
MCPS Databases
Students should visit the MCPS web site for additional resources and homework help:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/students/homework.aspx
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/itv/HHL/
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Welcome to Edline!
Congratulations! Your school has signed up to use Edline. Edline is an easy way for you to keep-up-to-date online. Once
you have activated your account, and your school has posted information, you can use Edline to:
Check your child's latest grades
Receive email alerts when new grades are
posted
Receive emails with school or class
information
See what homework is not turned in and
read notes from your child's teachers
View team and club activities
Verify attendance
View your Combined Calendar to see all
the events from the school calendar and
your child's own classes and activities
automatically collected and personalized
And much more
How to Set Up your Edline Account
To begin using your Edline account right now, just follow these easy steps:
1. Make sure you have your personal Edline Activation Code that your child received at school.
2. Go to your school's website. Click the Sign In option from the menu bar. Click the Sign Up link, under
New to Edline? https://www.edline.net
3. Fill in your Activation Code. There is one parent code for each child. If you receive several parent
codes because you have several children, enter each parent code one after the other. Then you can view
all your children's information from the same login account. If you happen to receive the same code for
the same child twice you do not have to enter it again. If you want two separate accounts for the same
child then please contact the Edline Super User at school.
4. Click Activate This Code once you have entered all codes.
5. Follow the remaining steps to create your Edline Screen Name and Password. When asked if you
already have an account, click New Account if this is your first time using Edline. If you already have
an Edline account, click Combine Accounts to add this child to your existing account.
6. It is recommended to provide an email address to get automatic grade and assignment updates. An
email address will also help you if you forget your Screen Name or Password.
7. On the last account activation page, print the Edline Student or Parent Guide so you can make the most
of Edline. After this, you no longer need your Activation Code - you will always use your Screen
Name and Password to access Edline. Don't share this information with anyone!
Whenever you login to Edline, click on your child's name in the My Edline menu.
You will then see shortcuts to his or her classes, activities, calendar and reports. Be sure to click the Help button and
read or print the Edline Student or Parent Guide to take advantage of Edline features.
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Edline Instructions for Students and Parents
1. Log in to Edline. Your Edline home page will look like this : (will say 'Sligo Middle School' at the top)
2. To access all of your classes
assignments in one place, mouse
over
the 'My Content' section and click on
'Combined
Calendar'
3. You should be able to see all of your assignments for all classes on your 'Combined Calendar' page. There
are several ways to get more information about your assignments:
SPECIAL NOTE: Parents will have to select their student in the pull-down menu
At top Center in order to see their student's assignments calendar
If you click on an assignment in
the calendar, it will either:
A. Take you to a screen that has
the assignment title and
description, with start and due
dates in brackets.
or
B. If a teacher attached a file,
such as a handout, study notes,
powerpoint presentation, etc. - it
should open up another window
showing the attached file.
If you hover the mouse over the
assignment, a yellow box
will pop up showing you
more details the teacher may
have provided.
If you click on "List Items" it will list all
the assignments for that month. Click
on "Done" to go back to the main page.
If you see "More >" there are more assignments for that that day. Click on "more" to see the complete list of assignments for that day.
Click on 'View'
to see more
information
about a
particular
assignment.
Click on 'Done' in
order to return to your
'Combined Calendar'.
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1
0
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4. To access your Grade Reports:
To access grade reports, mouse over the My Content area and select 'Private Reports.' This will bring up a
new screen that should have all of your grade reports for your classes, along with the date the report was
updated.
5. Other Features on your Edline home page:
To access
individual
classes web
pages, select a
class by putting
your mouse
over the
'Classes and
Shortcuts'
menu. Be sure
you are
viewing as
your student.
Sometimes
teachers may post
links or other info
on
their page such
as website
links, handouts
Media Center's
online database
password page
for research
And you can
click on the
link to the
school website
Contact [email protected] if you need an activation code or login/password help.
PLEASE NOTE: It is the student's responsibility to write down their homework and assignments in their agenda
book as posted in the classroom. The agenda book is meant to be a student's primary task management tool. Edline is
only a secondary support for students to manage their assignments.
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PROTOCOL FOR RESOLVING MATTERS OF CONCERN
If you have a concern about a class, please contact the teacher first. If the issue is not resolved at that level,
please contact the Content Specialist for the department. The next level of support will be the grade level
administrator. (See charts below.) If issues are not resolved at any of these levels, contact the principal. Please
contact counselors for scheduling parent conferences with the team, class schedule issues, or other counseling
matters. For matters involving your child that are not related to teachers or counselors, or specific classes, please
contact the grade level administrator first. If the issue cannot be resolved at that level, contact the principal. The
Content Specialists, grade level administrators, and counselors are as follows:
Department
PE/Health/Tech. Ed.
English
Foreign Language/Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Special Education
Grade Level
Administrator
6
Ms. Marion Finkbinder
7
Mr. Graham Lear
8
Content Specialists
Mr. Brian Brewer
Ms. Thea Mitchell-Anderson
Ms. Lora Monroe
Ms. Joan Shane
Ms. Nina Taylor-Rubin
Ms. Inge Chichester Ms.
Joan Robertson
Counselor
Ms. Stith A - Mc
TBD - Me - Z
Ms. Mary Slotkowski ESOL/METS
TBD
Ms. Mary Slotkowski ESOL/METS
Ms. Marion Finkbinder A-L Ms.DStith
TB
Mr. Graham Lear M-Z
Team Leaders
Mr. Ron Harris
Ms. Laura Corvelli
Mr. John Butler
Mr. Randy Gruber
Mr. Eugene Godoy
Ms. Cheletra Tutt
Ms. Mary Slotkowski ESOL/METS
Additional Pages of Interest in Your Students Agenda Book
Your child's agenda book contains important information. Please take some time to read through the agenda
book. It will be used to record assignments every day.
Setting up your paper ..11
Writing expectations12 ─ 16
Sligo's Rs 19 ─ 23
Code of Conduct. 24 ─ 31
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Sligo Teachers with 8th Grade Classes - 2015-2016
Teacher
Benner, Julie
Colosimo, Anthony
Connolly, Kate
Drayton, Belinda
Endler, Mike
Godoy, Eugene
Hoben, Justin
Hsieh, Jennifer
Kelel, Katie
Course
Health Education
Chorus
Reading
Related Studies
PE
Algebra 1, Algebra Prep
Intensive Reading and
Resource
H. Geometry, Algebra 1,
Math Resource
Advance English
Maffeo, Kimberly Spanish Language
Mitchell-Anderson, English
Thea
Monroe, Lora
Spanish Language
Nguyen, Bang
ESOL
Parks, Beverly
Concert Band
Suh, Christine
Specialty Art
Sullivan, Yvette
PE
Taylor-Rubin, Nina Science
Tutt, Cheletra
US History
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Marking Periods/Semester Exams Time Table
1st Marking Period Ends
2nd Marking Period Ends
1st Semester Exams
3rd Marking Period Ends
2nd Semester Exams
4th Marking Period Ends
October 30, 2015
January 22, 2016
January 14 - 22, 2016
March 23, 2016
June 10 - 17, 2016
June 17, 2016
Looking Ahead to High School
When students are applying to the various Down County Consortium Academies, the high schools will use the
following criteria in assisting to make their entrance and placement decisions:
1. Measure of Academic Progress - Reading/Math (MAP-R/MAP-M).
2. Completion of high school courses in middle school (ex. Algebra/H Geometry/ Adv. English/Spanish). 3.
Teacher recommendations. 4. PARCC test scores.
Honor Roll
Students are able to achieve honor roll at the end of each quarter. Honor roll is based on the following criteria:
- A student must have a 3.0 Grade Point Average or higher
- A student can have only one C and no D or E grades
Student Grade Eligibility
8th Grade students are eligible to participate in intra-school athletics. In order to
participate they must be eligible. Eligibility is based on the following criteria:
- A student must have at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA)
- A student cannot have more than one E
MCPS School Wide Athletics
Fall Sports
Cross Country
Softball
Winter Sport
Basketball
Spring Sport
Soccer
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8th Grade Field Trips
Event
National Constitution Center
Cost $80
King's Dominion Field trip
Cost $95
Dinner dance
Cost $20
Promotional Exercises
Date
TBD
June 8, 2016
June 10, 2016
June 16, 2016
**Parents/Guardians: Other important documents related to Sligo's Rs and our Code of
Conduct can be found in the front pages of your child's SAB and on our website.
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