Friday, February 3, 2017
Linda M. Jones, Principal
Kimberly A. Thompson, Assistant Principal
The Principal’s Message for
Stonegate Families
Stonegate Elementary School
14811 Notley Road
THE STONEGATE SPLASH
A MESSAGE FROM MRS. JONES
Dear Families,
The second marking period has come to end. I am very proud of the progress that all of the students are making. Thank you for all that you do to
support student learning. Students are working very hard and engaged in
their learning.
February is a short month but a very busy one. Please mark your calendar
for all the events that we scheduled for this month.
Safety for students is our number one priority. Please help us keep all of
our students safe by being mindful during drop off and pick up times.
Important Dates:

Feb. 3 : PTA Neon / Glow
Dance 6:30—8:30
Pick up and Drop off can be a stressful time for families. We understand
that there are schedules to keep and meetings to get to. We must work
together to slow down and remember that the safety of all students
in our community comes first!

Please remember:


Feb. 8-10: SGA Valentine’s
Day Sale
Feb. 9: Fifth Grade Parent
Meeting, 4:00

SLOW DOWN

Eyes up for the crossing guard. She is there to ensure all
children and adults are safe.


Slowly enter and exit the kiss & ride lane. We use a single lane for
traffic closest to the curb; do not attempt to bypass the curb drop-off
line by using the 2nd lane.


When dropping students off via the kiss & ride lane, please pull to
the top of the circle by the sign “Student Drop-off Begins Here.”


Do NOT block the road or ask your child to enter/exit your car unless
you are pulled up to a curb.

Make way for busses. Do not block the flow of traffic or park in areas
the block busses from entering and exiting the parking lot.


I look forward to your continued support with partnering with us to
keep students safe and remaining respectful when confronted with a traffic/safety concern.
Respectfully,
Linda M. Jones
Feb. 15: HGC online testing select gr. 3 students, 10:15
Feb. 16 : White Oak Middle
School Parent Night, 6:30, White
Oak
Feb. 17: Fifth Grade Fundraiser, Pop Up Play
Feb. 20 : Holiday - Presidents’
Day
Feb. 21: Club pictures, 9:1510:30, APR

Feb. 24 Family Science Night,
6:00-8:00 p.m.

Feb. 27-March 3 Book Fair
and Read-a-thon

Feb. 28: Black History
Celebration, 9:30 and 6:30

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Feb 7: PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
March 2 Read Across
America Day
SAFETY CONCERN—DROP OFF & PICK UP
Have You Joined The PTA?
It’s not too late; you can
still join the PTA today and
become a member of an organization that works for
our children at the national,
state, and local levels. The
PTA is instrumental in
planning activities for parents, teachers, and students
and serves as an organized
voice to the School Board to
express our views. Questions?
Please contact:
Please contact the Membership Committee Chair Kend r a
H a r r i s
a t :
stonegatepta.membership@
gmail.com
SIGN UP TODAY!
MCPS currently communicates emergency or system
wide changes through various media, including the
MCPS website, MCPS ITV
Channel 34, QuickNotes
email service, Twitter, a recorded emergency information
telephone line, and local media outlets. Alert MCPS adds
the ability to communicate via
text messages delivered to
electronic devices such as cell
phones and personal data
assistants. This service provides messages in English and
Spanish. You can subscribe to
Alert MCPS by signing on to
the Alert Montgomery website
at
https://
alert.montgomerycountymd.
gov.
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Pick up and Drop off can be a stressful time for families. We understand that there are schedules to keep and meetings to get to. We must work together to slow down and remember
that the safety of all students in our community comes first!
Please remember:

SLOW DOWN

Eyes up for the crossing guard. She is there to ensure all children and adults are safe.

Slowly enter and exit the kiss & ride lane. We use a single lane for traffic closest to the
curb; do not attempt to bypass the curb drop-off line by using the 2nd lane.

When dropping students off via the kiss & ride lane, please pull to the top of the circle by
the sign “Student Drop-off Begins Here.”

Do NOT block the road or ask your child to enter/exit your car unless you are pulled up to a
curb.
MARKING PERIOD 2 REPORT CARDS
All students will receive a report card on Wednesday, February 8th.
Kindergarten report cards will share information about a student’s progress
during the first semester (marking periods 1 and 2).
Please visit the following website to learn more about how to read your child’s
report card: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/grading/reportcards.aspx
Any questions related to grading and reporting can be directed to Stefanie Bollock, Stonegate’s Staff Development Teacher and Grading and Reporting Representative at 301-989-5668 or [email protected].
ACCESS FOR ELL’S ASSESSMENT
If your child is an ESOL student, we are currently in the
testing window for the ACCESS for ELLs assessment. ACCESS
for ELLs 2.0 is a secure large-scale English language proficiency
assessment administered to Kindergarten through 12th grade
students who have been identified as English language learners
(ELLs). This assessment is administered every year in early
January. The testing window extends until March 3rd. Attendance is very important during this time. For more info about
this assessment please visit the WIDA website, or contact Julie Corrado at [email protected].
GIANT FUNDRAISER
If you shop at Giant Food Stores you can help support activities and resources at
Stonegate Elementary. We currently have 14 families linked to our account. Add your
card or ask a friend, this is money donated from Giant to help our school. Just scan your
card at checkout—No extra work needed!
To participate:
Visit www.giantfood.com/aplus and scroll down to the center of the page to select
REGISTER YOUR CARD from the red box on the right marked FOR CUSTOMERS;
or, Call the A+ School Rewards Hotline at 1-877-275-2758 for assistance;
or
Email the A+ Hotline. Please include the last name associated with your GIANT CARD,
your 12-digit GIANT CARD number and our school name and school ID number (00883)
or the name, city and state in which the school is located to:
[email protected].
Let’s take advantage of this amazing opportunity to fundraise for
Stonegate students!!!
SAVE THE DATE FOR FAMILY SCIENCE
Mark your calendars! Family Science Night will be held on Friday,
February 24th from 6 to 8 p.m.!
This year’s theme is “Amazing Animals!” Bring the family and explore how
the animal world uses biology, physics, chemistry, psychology and math to
survive and thrive!
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Core Values
February 2017
The Neon Glow Winter Dance and Silent Auction will be held at White
Oak Middle School TONIGHT February 3, 2017, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30
p.m! Put your dancing shoes on and join as we whip, nae nae, running man,
and dab the night away! New this year, we are holding the Silent Auction
during the dance! Come and bid on some of the amazing Silent Auction offerings including:
Mission Statement
Stonegate's mission as
a caring community is
to foster the growth of
life-long learners by
communicating high
expectations and
standards through respect, flexibility, and
collaboration.
Vision Statement
The Stonegate Community will be committed to a multicultural learning environment that motivates
and supports all learners to achieve their
greatest potential. We
will collaborate respectfully to develop a
standard of excellence
that promotes high
expectations for all.
learners.
Movie date with the principal
PE Teacher for a ½ day
Reserved seating for 5th grade promotion
Baskets donated by grade level
Photography Session
Pizza Party with teachers
Yoga Classes
Golf Outing
Many more!
Funds raised by the Stonegate PTA support cultural arts assemblies, online
learning platforms, building beautification, Science Fair and Family Science
Night, the Spelling Bee, and several community building activities, such as,
Multicultural Heritage Night, the Back to School Picnic, and the Winter
Dance. We appreciate your support! A big thanks in advance to Tracey Linck,
Jessica McFadden, Maggie Conley, Melissa Labriola, and Colleen Markwood
for your efforts with the Neon Glow Dance and Silent Auction!
Thanks…
Brian Doyle spent the day at school with the Watch DOGS! Thanks for supporting our students.
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Thank you to all of the families who joined us at California Tortilla for the
PTA fundraiser! We packed the restaurant and had a successful event! Thanks
to Melissa Labriola and Maggie Conley for coordinating!
PTA Continued…
Looking forward…
The PTA General Membership meeting is Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the
Media Center. Join us!
Family Science Night is Friday, February 24th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This is a handson evening full of experiments and fun! This year’s theme is “Amazing Animals”.
The Book Fair is coming! We will be open from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Monday, February
27th through Friday, March 3rd. We will also be open for evening hours on Friday, February 24th during Family Science Night and Tuesday, February 28th during the Black History
Month Celebration! We need your help! Contact Janet Paldao at [email protected] to volunteer.
The Read-a-Thon begins Monday, February 27th and last for two weeks. Look for more
information soon about how to sign up!
Please contact me with any suggestions, questions, or concerns at
[email protected].
Jennifer Willis
Stonegate PTA President
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ESOL PARENT NIGHT
Attention all ESOL Families: Please join us for Stonegate’ s first ever ESOL Parent Night on Wednesday
April 27th, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. You will learn about the ESOL program here at Stonegate, meet other
ESOL families, learn how to help your child at home, and enjoy a pizza dinner on us. We hope to see you
there!
SGA NEWS
SGA Valentine’s Day Sale
The SGA will be having their annual Valentine’s Day fundraiser beginning in
the second week of February. A flier will be sent home ahead of time with the
items we will offer for sale, and the exact dates of our sale. A bit of a twist this
year is that we will be selling items in the mornings before school begins. Watch for your flier!!
KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION
We will host our annual Kindergarten Orientation on FRIDAY, April 28th, from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. for
families with students who will be 5 years old ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2017. A letter with additional information is currently being developed and will be sent home within the next few weeks. Kindergarten Orientation focuses on creating a stress-free, informal experience for parents and incoming students.
During orientation, parents will have an opportunity to meet teachers, complete registration, and learn
briefly about the kindergarten program. Students will have an opportunity to work on kindergarten related
tasks and to meet other incoming peers. Classes WILL BE cancelled for current kindergarten students
in order to accommodate the orientation day. Please make arrangements for your kindergarten student that day.
Please note that Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK) applications will also be accepted for children who
will be five years of age between September 2 and October 15, 2017. According to MCPS policy, considera-
tion will NOT be given for children with birthdates beyond October 15. There will be NO appeal process for children with birthdates beyond the October 15 window.
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EMERGENCY CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS
How are the decisions made to close school, delay openings or close early?
Closure of Schools: When schools are closed, all school and community activities
are canceled, including athletic practices and events. Private day care providers in
schools may elect to stay open if the administrative offices are open. In extreme conditions, the administrative offices may be closed.
Delayed Openings: If schools are closed or delayed, the announcement is made no
later than 5:00 a.m. (or the night before if possible). Schools may open two hours
late, and all operations, including bus transportation, are delayed by two hours from
the regular schedule. Stonegate doors would open at 10:40 a.m.
Quick Reference to
Frequently Called
Numbers
Child Find
(programs for children w/disabilities)
301-929-2224
West Farm Bus Depot
301-879-1065
Early Childhood Education
(Pre K-2nd) 301-2300691
Food and Nutrition
Services
301-840-8170
General Info
(MCPS Call Center)
301-309-6277
Hispanic Hotline
301-230-3073
Homework Hotline
(Channel 52)
301-279-3234
Weather Info
(Late opening/early
closings)
301-279-3673
Early Dismissal: If schools are closing early, the announcements are made by 11:00
a.m. Schools may be closed 2.5 hours early, and all operations affecting dismissal of
students, including bus transportation, will be activated 2.5 hours earlier than the
regular school closing time. Stonegate would dismiss at 12:55 p.m.
DRESSING FOR THE WEATHER
During the winter months we never know what the weather may bring. When it is
32 degrees or warmer students will have outdoor recess. We not only take into
account the actual temperature, but also the wind chill. Please be sure your child is
dressing appropriately for the weather. Children should bring jackets, gloves,
scarves, and hats to ensure they are warm. Thank you for your support as we continue through these unpredictable winter months.
HIGHLY GIFTED CENTER TESTING
The Highly Gifted Center class will be coming to Stonegate next
year! This program has been held at Drew for our students for many
years, but during the 2017-2018 school year, we will house the 4th grade
program at Stonegate. Students already at Drew this year will continue
their program there next year. Testing for consideration for our 4th grade
HGC class will take place here at Stonegate on February 15th beginning
at 10:15 a.m. Those students being considered have been notified by
MCPS.
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February is Black History Month in which we celebrate African-Americans’ achievements and contributions to
the country. Although some chapters of the national story are famous — such as the one centered on Jackie
Robinson’s debut as the first black Major League Baseball player — others are less well-known:
1. Black History Month started in 1926. The observance was proposed by Carter Godwin Woodson, an author
and historian, as Negro History Week. It expanded in the 1970’s.
2. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded in 1909. It’s now considered
“the nation’s oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil-rights organization,” according to
its website.
3. The U.S. isn’t the only country to celebrate Black History Month. Canada also observes it in February, while
the U.K. recognizes it in October.
4. There are more than 45 million African-Americans living in the U.S., according to Census Bureau data. That’s
about 15 percent of the nation's population.
5. There are more than 2 million black veterans.
6. By 2060, the black population is forecast to make up almost 18 percent of the U.S. population.
7. The first black NBA player was Earl Lloyd in 1950. He played for the Washington Capitals and was inducted
into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame more than half a century later, in 2003.
8. African-Americans were responsible for the invention of 3D graphics, blood banks, gas masks, potato chips
and Super Soaker water guns, according to HowStuffWorks and the Atlanta Black Star.
9. One out of every four cowboys in the 1800s was black, CNN reported.
10. The 114th Congress, the current one, is the most diverse ever. Forty-six House and Senate members are black,
according to the Pew Research Center.
11. The first black U.S. senator was Hiram Revels in 1870. The day he officially joined Congress, “visitors in the
Senate galleries burst into applause as ... [he] entered the chamber to take his oath of office,” according to the
Senate website.
12. Former president, Barack Obama, wrote that as the nation observes Black History Month, “we recognize
these champions of justice and the sacrifices they made to bring us to this point, we honor the contributions of
African-Americans since our country’s beginning, and we recommit to reaching for a day when no person is
judged by anything but the content of their character.”
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MAKING MATH FUN AT HOME
DreamBox
Please don’t forget to have your child log into DreamBox at home, our online math program that helps all students
achieve math proficiency. All students access it at school, but please consider having your student use DreamBox at
home. Go to https://play.dreambox.com/login/fb94/stonegatee, click on your child’s classroom, and then on your child’s
username. Questions can be directed to your child’s teacher.
Fact Fluency
Did you know that encouraging procedural fluency with math facts enables students to develop better reasoning? Below
are expected fluency benchmarks for students in grades Kindergarten – Third Grade and specific strategies you can focus
on at home to ensure attainment of these benchmarks. Note: It is expected that all 4th- and 5th-grade students have memorized all multiplication and division facts within 100 by the time they exit 3rd grade.
Kindergarten:
Goal: Addition and Subtraction F luency for F acts within 5
Strategy: Play the simple game, “I Have…I Need” by telling your kindergarten student an amount within 5 that you
have and that you need 5. Your child should then tell you what amount is needed to make 5. Encourage your child to
use his/her fingers if he/she needs help visualizing numbers that make 5. For example, “I have 3 and I need 5. How
many more do I need?”
1st Grade:
Goal: Addition and Subtraction F luency for F acts within 10
Strategy: Play the simple game, “Magic Numbers.” Tell your child that there are magic pairs of numbers that make 10.
Name a number and have your child tell you the magic number that completes the pair to make 10. For example, “What
is the magic number that makes 10 with 7? Answer: 3.
2nd Grade:
Goal: Addition and Subtraction F luency for F acts within 20
Strategy: Begin with the “Magic Numbers” game listed for 1st graders to ensure that your child has mastered all facts
that make 10. Then, use the strategy of “Making 10” to practice all addition facts greater than 10 within 20.
For example, 9+7 can be solved by decomposing 7 into 6 and 1. Give 1 to 9 to make 10. Then, the problem becomes 10+6, which is much easier to solve.
Finally, use the strategy of “Going Through 10” to practice all subtraction facts with 20.
For example, 13-7 can be solved by decomposing 7 into 3 and 4 and subtracting 3 from 13 to get 10. Then, subtract
4 from 10 to reach 6.
3rd Grade:
Goal: Multiplication and Division Fluency for F acts within 100
Strategy: F ocus on one set of facts at the same time. Make sure your son or daughter has mastered all facts through
10 with that number. For example, if you select 5, ensure that your child has memorized the following facts: 5x0, 5x1,
5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5, 5x6, 5x7, 5x8, 5x9, and 5x10. Include related division facts as well: 50÷5; 40÷8, etc.
Important
note: Facts are typically mastered in this order and, thus, should be practiced in this order as well: 0s, 1s, 2s,
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5s, 10s, 4s, 8s, 9s, 3s, 6s, 7s.
NUTS AND BOLTS
Attention Parents:
We are in need of volunteers for recess and donations of kickballs, jump ropes, and basketballs. Please contact Dr. Thompson at (301) 989-5668 if you are interested in donating
equipment or volunteering. Any time you can provide would be appreciated! In addition, we
would appreciate any donations of new or gently used but greatly loved games that you may have
around your home to use for indoor recess. The students especially enjoy the following games and
they are great for indoor recess play: Uno, Yahtzee, Chess, Trouble, Sorry, Connect Four, and Memory. We
would also appreciate donations of puzzles and building blocks of any size. Please send your donations to the school office. As always, thank you for your support!
Saturday School is Underway!
Saturday School offers tutoring and mentoring in reading/language arts, mathematics, and test-taking
skills for students in grades 1-12 that reside in Montgomery County. It takes place Saturday mornings
from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at 12 high school centers. There is fast and easy registration online for the
2016/2017 school year. Follow this link to the Saturday School Registration page: http://
www.saturdayschool.org/programs/enroll.shtm.
Lost and Found
Please label your child’s clothing with their first and last name. We have a
large number of lost and found items without labels.
Homework Hotline Live
Ask teachers for help Mondays from 6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. and Tuesday-Thursdays 4:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. on
MCPS TV's Homework Hotline Live (HHL). Watch teachers here as they work with you to solve homework problems. To ask your question: From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, call 301-2793234 (STILL THE BEST--talk directly with a teacher). Tweet Us @AskHHL, Text HHL 724-4275445, send an E-mail to [email protected], or post a message on the HHL Facebook wall.
Homework Hotline Live has been helping students for 30 years. It is a service of Montgomery County
(Maryland) Public Schools. In addition to this website, HHL can be viewed in Montgomery County on
cable TV (Comcast 34, Verizon FIOS 36, RCN 89).
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MCPS NEWS
Deadline to Submit Change of School Assignment Applications is April 3
Parents/guardians who wish to request a Change of School Assignment (COSA) for their child from their
home school can submit an application until April 3, 2017. The transfer process begins in the home school,
where parents and guardians may pick up an information booklet that contains the COSA form, describes the
process, and provides useful information. The COSA booklet is available in schools and online:
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/transfers/. Contact the principal at your home school if you have any
questions about the transfer process. Language assistance for non-English speaking parents and guardians is
available by calling ASK MCPS at
301-309-MCPS (6277).
Fecha límite para Enviar el Cambio de Escuela Local a Otra Escuela es el 3 de Abril
Aquellos padres que deseen solicitar un cambio para sus hijos desde su escuela local a otra escuela (Change
of School Assignment–COSA) pueden pueden aplicar hasta el 3 de abril, 2017. El proceso de transferencia
comienza en la escuela local, donde padres y guardianes pueden obtener una copia del folleto de información
que contiene el formulario de COSA, describe el proceso, y provee información útil. El folleto COSA está
disponible en las escuelas y en línea:www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/transfers/ Comuníquese con el
director de su escuela local si tiene alguna pregunta sobre el proceso de transferencia. Los padres y
guardianes que no hablen inglés pueden obtener ayuda llamando a Pregunte a MCPS (ASK
MCPS), teléfono 301-309-MCPS (6277).
Summer Opportunities Fair (English)
Don’t Miss the Summer Opportunities Fair!
Parents can explore a multitude of summer opportunities for school-age children at a fair on Wednesday,
February 8. Local and regional providers will be available to talk about summer camps, programs, and activities. During the fair, parents can meet program staff, pick up applications, and get information on financial
assistance. The fair will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. Register for the fair at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/
parentacademyregister.aspx.
Special Education Survey (English and Spanish)
MSDE Special Education Parent Involvement Survey
Parents/guardians of children receiving special education and related services should have received by mail
the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey from the Maryland State Department of Education. Please fill out the survey and return it in the postage paid envelope or complete it online at
www.mdparentsurvey.com. The survey results will help guide the state’s efforts to improve special education
and related services in public schools. The deadline for completing the survey is Monday, May 1.
Encuesta Sobre la Participación de los Padres en Educación Especial de MSDE
Los padres de estudiantes que reciben educación especial y servicios relacionados deben haber recibido por
correo la Encuesta sobre la Participación de los Padres en la Educación Especial de Maryland del
Departamento de Educación del Estado de Maryland. Por favor complete la encuesta y regrésela en el sobre
pre-pagado o complétela en línea en www.mdparentsurvey.com. Los resultados de la encuesta servirán para
guiar los esfuerzos del estado para mejorar la educación especial y los servicios relacionados en las escuelas
11 El plazo límite para completar la encuesta es el lunes, 1ro de mayo.
públicas.
MCPS NEWS (CONTINUED…)
Provide Input at Upcoming County Education Budget Meetings (English and Spanish)
Upcoming County Education Budget Meetings
Five Education Budget Meetings presented by Montgomery County Councilmember Craig
Rice, Superintendent of Schools Jack R. Smith, and Montgomery College President DeRionne
Pollard, are scheduled for February and March. Find out how budget decisions are made, what
the county is doing today to get ready for FY 2018 and beyond, and the opportunities residents
have to influence budget decisions. The meetings will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the
following locations:
February 15, Nor thwest High School, 13501 Richter Far m Road, Ger mantown
March 8, Montgomer y Blair High School, 51 Univer sity Boulevar d East, Silver Spr ing
March 15, Montgomer y College (Takoma Par k/Silver Spr ing Campus), Cather ine F.
Scott Building Room 211, 7600 Takoma Avenue, Takoma Park
March 22, Walter J ohnson High School, 6400 Rock Spr ing Dr ive, Bethesda
March 29, Richar d Montgomer y High School, 250 Richar d Montgomer y Dr ive, Rockville
The County Executive will announce his Recommended FY 2018 Operating Budget on
March 15. In April, the County Council will hold public hearings and approve the operating
budget at the end of May.
Próximas Reuniones sobre el Presupuesto para la Educación
Cinco Reuniones sobre el Presupuesto para la Educación, presentadas por el Concejal del
Condado de Montgomery Craig Rice, el Superintendente Jack Smith, y la Presidenta de
Montgomery College DeRionne Pollard, están programadas para febrero y marzo. Infórmese
sobre cómo se toman las decisiones presupuestarias, lo que el condado está haciendo hoy para
prepararse para el Año Fiscal 2018 y más adelante, y las oportunidades que los residentes
tienen para influenciar las decisiones presupuestarias. Las reuniones tendrán lugar de 6:30 a
8:30 p.m., en los siguientes lugares:
15 de febrero, Nor thwest High School, 13501 Richter Far m Road, Ger mantown
8 de marzo, Montgomer y Blair High School, 51 Univer sity Boulevar d East, Silver Spr ing
15 de marzo, Montgomer y College (Campus de Takoma Par k/Silver Spr ing), Cather ine
F. Scott Building, Room 211, 7600 Takoma Avenue, Takoma Park
22 de marzo, Walter J ohnson High School, 6400 Rock Spr ing Dr ive, Bethesda
29 de marzo, Richar d Montgomer y High School, 250 Richar d Montgomer y Dr ive, Rockville
El Ejecutivo del Condado anunciará el 15 de marzo su Presupuesto Operativo Recomendado
para el Año Fiscal 2018. En abril, el Concejo del Condado llevará a cabo audiencias públicas,
y a fines de mayo aprobará el presupuesto operativo.
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