April 22, 2024 Dolphin Digest – TPES PTA Weekly Newsletter

In this issue: 
1. THANK YOU to Making Book Fair a Huge Success
2. Parent Input for Next Year’s Class
3. TPES Recognized as a Maryland Green School 
4. Second Grade Musical, “Dinosaurs and More”: Thursday, April 24, 7pm @ TPMS
5. National Take Your Child to Work Day: Thursday, April 25
6. LAST CHANCE! Cheer on D.C. United and Support TPES PTA: Saturday, April 27, 7:30pm 

7. TPES/PBES Rainbow Club: April 28, 12-2pm @ Loft Collective
8. Incoming Kindergarten “Parents Only” Registration and Tour: May 2 and May 3
9. Seeking Kindergarten Parents to Participate in Panel for Incoming K Families
10. Seeking Gifts/Donations for Teacher Appreciation Raffle: May 6-10
11. TPES vs. PBES Soccer Game: May 9, 6:15pm
12. Anacostia Watershed Cleanup: May 11th, 1-4pm
13. Calling All Parents and Guardians – Field Day is Coming: May 13, 15, 16
14. TPES Art Show: Thursday, May 23
15. Career Day Volunteers Needed: May 29, 2024
16. Incoming Kindergarten Parent Meeting: May 30, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
17. Upcoming TPES Events 
1. THANK YOU to Making Book Fair a Huge Success
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make our first book fair with an independent book store a HUGE SUCCESS! Special thanks to Claire Dean, Lesley Perry, Amy Swift, and Ms. Anderson! Final tallies still being calculated but we grossed over $14K!
 
2. Parent Input for Next Year’s Class

Please use the attached form to tell the school about your child’s learning style and needs. The form is an opportunity to provide input into your child’s class placement for the 2024-2025 school year. This spring, TPES staff will begin the process of developing classes for next year. This work will continue into the summer. The school’s goal is to make the best student-teacher match possible and staff will use the information in this form to help guide their work.

3. TPES Recognized as a Maryland Green School
Congratulations! TPES has been recognized as a Maryland Green School! The Maryland Green School award represents a school-wide commitment to environmental literacy that includes staff, students, and the community. Your efforts make a difference today and in the future! Thank you all so much for your continued support keeping TPES green!! (And to Ms. Archuletta for spearheading this effort!)

4. Second Grade Musical, “Dinosaurs and More”: Thursday, April 24, 7pm @ TPMS
The second grade students will be performing their musical “Dinosaurs and More” this Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at Takoma Park Middle School. All are welcome to come see our children transformed into dinosaurs.

5. National Take Your Child to Work Day: Thursday, April 25

If you will be taking your child/children to work with you, please provide a note or email Mrs. Hottel-Cox at Anne_M_Hottel-Cox@mcpsmd.org, our attendance secretary, prior to the absence from school and it will be excused.

6. LAST CHANCE! Cheer on D.C. United and Support TPES PTA: Saturday, April 27, 7:30pm 
Come cheer on D.C. United on MCPS Night as they take on the Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30pm. TPES will have its own section. A portion of the ticket sales go to support the TPES PTA so we can continue to offer support to the school. Tickets for the TPES section can be purchased here:  https://fevo-enterprise.com/Takomapark5  Go D.C. United and TPES Dolphins!

7. TPES/PBES Rainbow Club: April 28, 12-2pm @ Loft Collective
The joint TPES/PBES Rainbow Club is having our spring meet-up on April 28th from 12-2 at The Loft. Email rainbowclubtkpk@gmail.com for more information.

8. Incoming Kindergarten “Parents Only” Registration and Tour: May 2 and May 3

TPES will host “parent only” registration days on May 2nd, and May 3rd . The registration will include a paperwork/enrollment check, parent interview, and tour of the building. Please contact Mrs. Hottel-Cox via email (Anne_M_Hottel-Cox@mcpsmd.org) to schedule your registration. For information regarding kindergarten enrollment for the 2024-25 school year, including important documents needed to register,please visit the MCPS website (https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/enroll/kindergarten/). 

9. Seeking Kindergarten Parents to Participate in Panel for Incoming K Families
The PTA is looking for 3-5 volunteers to join us at our May 7th PTA meeting, from 7-8pm, for a panel discussion for rising K families. We’ll be hosting three separate Zoom breakout rooms (1) rising 3rd grade families, 2) rising 6th grade families, 3) rising K families). If you can help, please email Joyce McDonough at communications@tpespta.net.
10. Seeking Gifts/Donations for Teacher Appreciation Raffle: May 6-10
The PTA is seeking gifts to be raffled off to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10. Some ideas include giving time for pet sitting, a homemade casserole, your favorite cookie recipe, gift cards, gift certificates, etc.  Gifts in any amount are appreciated and welcomed! Please reach out to Betsy to let her know what you can contribute: esthergarcete@gmail.com
11. TPES vs. PBES Soccer Game: May 9, 6:15pm
The details for the event are below, but what we need to make this game possible are…PLAYERS! Whether you are a seasoned player or have never kicked a soccer ball, we welcome you to sign up for a fun evening of exercise and friendly competition! If you are interested in playing, please fill out your name on this Google Sheet(make sure to look at the tabs at the bottom to sign up for the right school). The team captains and their emails are listed below, so please feel free to reach out to either Nick or Becca with any questions you have. If you don’t want to play, but still want to be involved, we are looking for volunteers to help organize a bake sale and to help with logistics on the day of (as well as a referee!). Please reach out to president@tpespta.net if you are interested in volunteering in one of these ways. And if you’re not playing or volunteering, we encourage you and your family to come out to watch the game…the kids will be so excited to see their teachers in action!What: Friendly soccer game of TPES Staff and Parents vs. PBES Staff and Parents
Date: May 9th, 2024 (Rain date: May 23, 2024)
Location: Washington Adventist University Field
Time:
5:45 PM – Players arrive for warm-up
6:15 PM – Game Begins
7:00 PM – Dance party on the field for childrenDinner: Pizza will be served for $1 a slice, as well as water and juice. Pizza supply will be limited, so come on the early side if you want to grab some for dinner!
Cost: There is NO fee to attend, but if your family is inclined, there will be a $5 suggested donation to help cover costs and fundraise for the PTAs of both schools.Team Captains:
TPES: Nick Dean (nickdean10@gmail.com)
PBES: Becca Jones-Albertus (beccaj@gmail.com)
*If you are playing for TPES, please wear a white shirt. If you are playing for PBES, please wear a dark blue or black shirt.

12. Anacostia Watershed Cleanup: May 11th, 1-4pm
The students and families of TPES are invited to help pick up litter and plant native plants on May 11th, 1-4pm at the TPES school grounds and the areas surrounding in the Anacostia Watershed

13. Calling All Parents and Guardians – Field Day is Coming: May 13, 15, 16
Field Day is coming for all grade levels in May. We need many parent volunteers to have a successful experience for our children. A Signup Genius link will be sent out next week for parents to sign up to help and have fun with our kiddos. The dates are as follows:

Kindergarten- May 13th, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Rain date-May 20th, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
First Grade- May 15th, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Rain date-May 22nd, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Second Grade- May 16th, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Rain date-May, 23rd, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

14. TPES Art Show: Thursday, May 23

 Our school Art Show is May 23rd! The Art Show Team is seeking parent volunteers to help hang art in our halls from May 13th through May 22nd! Keep an eye out for our sign-up sheet coming out soon from Ms. Kelley.

15. Career Day Volunteers Needed: May 29, 2024

No matter what you do – banker, nurse, architect, dentist, police officer, lawyer, military, computer engineer, bus driver, or doctor – the children can learn about the world of work from you! So, if you, a relative, a neighbor, or a friend has a job that you love to talk about and share with others, being a Career Day speaker would be a perfect fit!

Volunteering does not guarantee that you will be called on to present. We will do our best to make sure we get a wide variety of careers to showcase to our students. If you are selected, you are committing to stay the entire morning session and present to 3 different classes. Each presentation will last 30 minutes (20 minutes of talking, 10 minutes of Q&A with students).

If you are interested in being a Career Day speaker or know someone who might be, please complete the interest form before April 26, 2024!
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Althofer at Max_P_Althofer@mcpsmd.org or Mrs. Ampofo at Charlotte_Ampofo@mcpsmd.org.

16. Incoming Kindergarten Parent Meeting: May 30, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
The staff of Takoma Park Elementary School will host an incoming kindergarten parent meeting on May 30, 2024. The meeting will be held virtually and will include interpreters for Spanish and Amharic.

17. Upcoming TPES Events 

April 24, 7pm: Second Grade Musical @ TPMS
April 25: National Take Your Child to Work Day
April 27, 7:30pm: DC United Game Fundraiser
April 28, 12-2pm: Rainbow Club @ The Loft
May 2-3: Incoming Kindergarten “Parents Only” Registration and Tour
May 6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7: May PTA Meeting
May 9, 6:15pm: TPES vs. PBES Soccer Game
May 11th, 1-4pm: Anacostia Watershed Cleanup @ TPES
May 13, 15, 16: Field Day
May 23: TPES Art Show
May 29: Career Day
May 30, 7pm: Incoming Kindergarten Parent Meeting
 
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