AT SLIGO MIDDLE SCHOOL,
WE EXPECT THE BEST!
HOME OF THE STALLIONS
2014 - 2015
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. ERIC WILSON
MAIN OFFICE: 301-649-8121
COUNSELING OFFICE: 301-649-8129
FAX: 301-649-8145
ON THE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.MONTGOMERYSCHOOLSMD.ORG/SCHOOLS/SLIGOMS
BE
1
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
2
Daily Schedule
2015-2016
“A” Lunch
Lunch
10:58– 11:26
Pd. 4
11:30 – 11:58
Pd. 5
12:02 – 12:30
“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
Lunch
Pd. 4
11:09 – 11:40
11:09 – 11:55
46 min
Pd. 4
11:44 – 12:30
Lunch
Pd. 5
46 min
11:59 – 12:30
11:59 – 12:45
46 min
Pd. 5
12:34 – 1:20
Lunch
46 min
12:49 – 1:20
Pd. 6
1:24 – 2:10
46 min
Pd. 7
2:14 - 3:00
46 min
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
3
“A” Lunch
H AVE A P ROBLEM ?
WHERE TO START:
COMMUNITY SERVICES:
When you have a problem, take time to review the  Abused Persons Program
decision-making model below:
240 – 777 – 4195
 Alanon /Alateen
1. Identify the problem.
202 – 966 – 9115
2. Generate alternatives.
 Alcoholics Anonymous
3. Evaluate alternatives.
202 – 966 – 9115
4. Choose the best
 Children’s Help Center/Suspected Child
alternative.
Abuse
240 – 777 – 4417
5. Make plans and act on
 Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery
your decision.
County (CRCMC)
6. Check it out. How did
301 – 652 – 0717
it work?
 Crisis Center, Montgomery County
240 – 777 – 4000
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP:
 www.montgomerycountymd.gov/
1. Teachers
Provides a quick guide to community online
2. Homework buddy
resources, 24 hour telephone or walk-in crisis
3. Counselors: Ms.
counseling, crisis stabilization, and help in
Fletcher and Ms.Stith
obtaining services for individuals and families
4. Team leader
in a situational or mental health crisis
5. Parent
 Crisis Center/Sexual Assault
6. Friend
240 – 777 – 4357
7. Peer tutor
 Crisis Hotline
8. Homework Hotline –
301 – 738 – 2255
301 – 279 – 3234
 Disease Control Center/AIDS Hotline
9. Sligo web site
800 – 232 – 4636
www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/sligoms
 Lifeline Suicide Prevention
10. Edline
800 – 273 – 8255
www.edline.net/InterstitialLogin.page
 Maternity and Family Planning
11. Health Room: Ms. Qubeka and
240 – 777 – 3120
Ms. Buckley
 Mental Health Abuse for Adults
12. Mr. Wilson, Principal
240 – 777 – 1770
13. Ms. Finkbinder, Assistant Principal
 Operation Runaway/Psychiatric Hospital
14. Mr. Lear, Assistant School Administrator
301 – 251 – 4545
15. Conflict Resolution Center in the
 Sexually Transmitted Diseases
counseling office
240 – 777 – 1760
16. Bullying Report
 YMCA Youth & Family Services
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departm
301 – 229 – 1347
ents/forms/pdf/230-35.pdf
 Youth Hotline
17. MCPS School Bus Transportation
301 – 738 – 9697
301 – 840 – 8130
 Lifeline Suicide Prevention
Randolph Depot
800 – 273 – 8255
301 – 929 – 6906
18. MCPS web site
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
4
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.
5
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 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. All
students must have a pass to come during school hours (7:55-2:40).
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/
6
Sligo Middle School
GRADING AND REPORTING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2014-2015
Grading Rationale

Teachers communicate achievement standards to students,
plan instruction to meet learning goals, provide timely
feedback to students on their performance, and offer
additional opportunities for students to learn and
demonstrate learning.

Teachers collect evidence of individual student learning,
using a variety of methods over time.

School staff will communicate course-specific procedures
in writing to students and parents.
Grades

Teachers will assign grades to reflect individual
achievement of a learning goal or standard.

Teachers will establish consistent grading and reporting
practices in course-alike classes.
Report Card Grades Recorded as:
A Outstanding level of performance (89.5-100%)
B High level of performance (79.5-89.4%)
C Acceptable level of performance (69.5-79.4%)
D Minimal level of performance (59.5-69.4%)
E Unacceptable level of performance (0-59.4%)
I Incomplete quarter grade. Work must be completed within
two weeks of the end of the previous marking period.


Teachers will notify parents and students when a student is
receiving an "I" for the marking period.
Teachers will determine grades using a variety of
assessment methods.
Learning Skills
Teachers will use the following codes to report Learning Skills
to students and parents. These codes are not based on
percentages.
C Consistently
O Often
S Sometimes
R Rarely
NI Not enough information
Classwork and Homework

Teachers will distinguish with students the differences
between homework for practice and homework as
assessment.

Classwork and homework for practice is not part of the
academic grade. It may be included when evaluating
learning skills.

Classwork and homework may be graded when it is
assigned to show that skills have been learned.
Due Dates and Deadlines

Teachers will determine the due date and deadline for an
assignment. The due date and deadline may be the same as
determined by the discretion of the teacher.

If an assignment is late, the assignment grade will be
dropped by no more than ten percent.

Teachers will follow IEPs and 504 plans for students with
disabilities or those identified as limited in English.

Students have the responsibility to make up work
regardless of the reasons for absence. For unlawful
absences, teachers may deny credit for missed assignments
or assessments. Individual teachers will have a consistent
policy regarding accepting missed work from unexcused
absences, in his/her classes.

Teachers have the responsibility to assist students in
making up missed class work when absences are excused.
Reporting

Teachers will post a minimum of one grade a week per
class.

Work submitted by the deadline, demonstrating effort, will
be recorded as 50% of the point value.

Work not attempted and submitted by the deadline will be
recorded as a zero.

Teachers will give students the opportunity to have a
minimum of three formative assessments and one
summative assessment by interim grades and three
additional formative and one summative assessment by
final grades.

Cohorts will align concepts taught and post those concepts
in Grade Book.

If teachers include homework as a percentage of students'
total grade, teachers will record at least three homework
assignments per marking period.

Teachers will consider the value of an assignment as it
measures proficiency and assign point values.

Teachers are prohibited from awarding extra credit and/or
bonus points.
A “Z” represents a missing assignment that may still be
submitted by the assignment deadline.
An “X” represents an excused assignment that does not factor
in the overall grade.
Re-teaching/Reassessing

Course-alike
teachers
will
determine
which
tasks/assessments can be reassessed, and students may
have at least one additional opportunity to show learning in
different formats after re-teaching.

The reassessment grade replaces the original grade.
7
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.
8
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’
9
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.
10
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
Content Specialists
Mr. Brian Brewer
Ms. Thea Mitchell-Anderson
Ms. Lora Monroe
Ms. Khin Wone
Ms. Nina Taylor-Rubin
Ms. Inge Chichester
Ms. Joan Robertson
Counselor
6
Mr. Graham Lear
Ms. Anne Fletcher
7
Ms. Marion Finkbinder A-L
Ms. Terri Stith
Mr. Graham Lear M-Z
8
Ms. Marion Finkbinder
Ms. Terri Stith A-L
Ms. Anne Fletcher M-Z
Team Leaders
Ms. Robena Collins
Ms. Joan Shane
Mr. John Butler
Ms. Niambi Wills
Mr. Eugene Godoy
Ms. Cheletra Tutt
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…………………………………………………… 18 ─ 22
Discipline Policy……………………………………………. 23 ─ 31
11
Sligo Middle School Teachers and Course Subjects – 2014-2015
Teacher
Michael Anderson
Science 6
Teacher
Katie Kelel
Christian Biancaniello Adv. World Studies 7
Bang Nguyen
Steven Bak
Brian Brewer
John Butler
Christina CampoAbdoun
Inge Chichester
Special Educator
PE and Health 6 & 7
English 7
Technology and Digital Art
Beverly Parks
Laura Peregoy
Emily Powell
Kara Quesenberry
Adv. World Studies 6
Florence Rickford
Robena Collins
Anthony Colosimo
Kate Connolly
Math 6
Radio Hour and Chorus 6,7, & 8
ESOL and Reading 7 & 8
Joan Robertson
Joan Shane
Terri Stith
Belinda Drayton
Reading 6 and Related Studies 7
&8
PE 6,7,8
French 1A
Read 180 and Reading 6
6th & 8th Grade Guidance
Counselor
SCB
Christine Suh
Course
Adv. US History and Adv.
World Studies 6
Spanish 1A/B, Spanish 1B,
Spanish 2A/B
Writing Lab, Adv. English 8,
English 8
Spanish 1A, Spanish 2A/B,
Hon.Spanish 3A/B
ESOL and Academic
Language
Instrumental Music Teacher
Adv. World Studies 6 & 7
Science 6 & 8
English 7, 8, and Adv.
English 8
English 6, Adv. English 6,
Read 180
Special Ed. RTSE
IM 6 & IM 8
7th & 8th Grade Guidance
Counselor
Art and Related Studies 6
Aisha Artis
Special Educator
Kimberly Maffeo
Joann Attles
Special Educator
Julie Benner
PE and Health 6, 7, & 8
Thea MitchellAnderson
Lora Monroe
Yvette Sullivan
Nina Taylor-Rubin
Janice Trone
Cheletra Tutt
PE 6,7,8
Science 8
English 6 and Adv. English 6
US History 8
Mike Endler
Rosa Fakhrai
Claire Fenton
Anne Fletcher
Beth Foster
Eugenio Godoy
Course
Jennifer Hsieh
Algebra 1, Algebra Prep and
Support
Special Educator and Intensive
Reading
Math 6 & 7
Beatel Kassahun
Science 7
Justin Hoben
Joyce Venson-Yates Special Educator and
Resource Class
Lauren Walker
SCB
Niambi Wills
Science 7 and Math 7
Khin Wone
Algebra 1 and Honors
Geometry A/B
Speech Pathologist
Louise Zingeser
12
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…………………………………………………..18-22
Discipline Policy………………………………………….23-27
Electronic devices………………………………………...28
Dress code………………………………………………...28
Sixth Grade Organizational Binder
To encourage all sixth grade students’ organization, every sixth grader has been asked to carry a
two to two and a half inch binder to all classes. The binder contains a section for each class and
a folder for any papers that need to go home for your review. If there is anything that needs to
be returned please place it in the folder.
Binders will be maintained Wednesdays during BEST. Sixth grade BEST teachers will support
students as they go through their binders and organize them for the week.
13
The Outdoor Education Grade 6 Residential Program
Sixth graders at each middle school in MCPS participate in a three-day, two-night residential outdoor
environmental education program. While in residence, students study various aspects of the local environment
as they participate in outdoor investigations that are directly connected to the grade six curriculum and the
MSDE environmental education standards. Students are accompanied by their teachers, who, in collaboration
with an OEEP staff member, provide instruction and supervision during their stay.
Sites and Accommodations
Depending on how many of our student body commit to going and scheduling, we will visit one of three
environmental education sites for our program.
Curriculum
During our stay, students will participate in a variety of lessons and activities that support the Montgomery
County Public Schools curriculum. Instruction focuses on environmental studies and science, while integrating
math, reading, world studies, and physical education. Each school determines its own instructional schedule and
classes. Generally, students will participate in four to five of the lessons listed below as well as evening
activities. Classes are led by staff from the school and the outdoor environmental educator.
Lesson Options
Students investigate the complex interactions within the local
watershed and work in groups to assess the health of a nearby
stream or pond.
Working in groups, students conduct a field survey of the
Exploring the
Watershed Using Map surrounding forest and riparian buffers in the local watershed
using maps and compasses for navigation.
and Compass
Students will collect data to determine the presence and health of
Survivor: Earth
water in the geosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere.
Students explore the predator-prey relationships that animals
Predator/Prey
exhibit in our local ecosystem by participating in an outdoor
Relationships
simulation.
Working in groups, students use dichotomous keys to identify the
Tree Identification
tree species and use GPS units to navigate to the marked trees.
Using GPS
Stream/Pond
Investigation
Patterns of Settlement Working in groups, students collect environmental and
geographic data to decide which location has the best settlement
potential by using GPS units to navigate to several assigned
locations.
Confidence Course
Students participate in a series of mentally and physically
challenging team and individual events designed to strengthen
teamwork, cooperation and self-esteem.
14
Student Service
Learning (SSL)
Students participate in an environmental SSL lesson during the
outdoor environmental education program. Topics for the
stewardship lessons include habitat improvement, energy
conservation, and protecting natural resources.
Evening Activities
Instruction does not end when the sun goes down! After dinner
students participate in various outdoor and indoor activities
determined by the school.
15