Archive for category: Health & Wellness

You are here: / / Health & Wellness

Screen time & Chromebook update from TPES

, ,

Just a quick update here that’s recently come to the PTA from Principal Hayden after our most recent PTA meeting in which we discussed screen time and Chromebook usage in the classroom.

  • MCPS Principals (including Principal Hayden) had a conversation with MCPS leadership about parent concerns during Administrator Professional Learning with MCPS last month. Over the summer, the Maryland Board of Education called for a K-8 screen time review (“will be presented to the Board by March 2027,” no results have been published as of October 12, 2026). Principals across MoCo have not received official guidance yet.
  • Principal Hayden realizes that MCPS can be slow when it comes to taking action and is prepared for TPES itself to identify places to reduce screen time, especially in cases that it’s not directly related to instruction or curriculum.
  • TPES’ leadership plans to continue discussing screen time and Chromebook use with the ILT Team (grade-wide leads, etc).
  • Principal Hayden acknowledges a need to make some adjustments now while MCPS is conducting the review and determining district wide next steps. In the meantime, she is prepared to develop a common-sense general TPES screen policy. The goal is to present this to TPES families by late-October, early-November. Once guidance from MCPS has been provided, this policy will be adapted to reflect that guidance.
  • Parents and caregivers are encouraged to email teachers directly to ask specific questions about screentime and Chromebook usage in that classroom OR to schedule a time to come into class and see Smart Board use, Chromebook use, the Boost curriculum, etc at work in-person.

If you’re interested in being part of an unofficial parent advisory group on this topic, please join for an informal meet up this Sunday, October 18, 8-9PM @ Olive Lounge to connect, share experiences/concerns, and talk about ways to support advocacy efforts happening across MCPS. See the announcement for this meet up in the TPES WhatsApp community or on our listserv.

/by

TPES’ public comments regarding in-school screen time

,

Before our first PTA meeting of the year, many questions were submitted about screen-time at TPES.

While we ran out of time during the meeting to tackle these questions, the school has responded to these inquiries in this Dolphin Digest.

As a primary school, TPES places an intentional focus on hands-on, multi-sensory learning. We share your commitment to ensuring that digital devices serve as purposeful tools rather than passive distractions. I want to acknowledge that our curriculum does have numerous technology components such as instructional slides and videos that are used along with teacher led instruction and read alouds, or video clips that provide context around concepts being taught; however, we emphasize direct teacher-led instruction, collaborative engagement, and physical learning materials.

Direct device use such as Chromebooks are intended to supplement instruction in very limited windows; such as required diagnostic assessments or short, focused station rotations for skills practice, while the vast majority of core instruction remains paper, book, and teacher-led or through collaborative engagement.

As MCPS conducts its comprehensive technology review in response to the Board of Education’s recent resolution, our leadership team and teachers will continue evaluating classroom technology practices. To maintain equity and effective classroom management, our school utilizes the district mandated curriculum rather than providing individualized default “no-technology” learning tracks for individual students or classes. However, we are actively working with our teachers to ensure daily screen time remains limited and aligned with the developmental needs of our young learners.

If you have further questions or didn’t feel like your question was answered fully, don’t hesitate to continue the conversation in WhatsApp!

P.S. Psssst… if you’ve read this far, react in WhatsApp with the ‘laptop’ emoji 💻

/by

2021 Winter Coat and Gear Drive

,

With the cold weather upon us, the TPES PTA and Small Things Matter are collecting new and gently worn warm jackets, hats and gloves for families in need in Takoma Park. These donations will be especially important this year, as many families will choose to continue with outdoor lunch for their children.

Donations can be dropped off from November 1st until November 11th in the collection boxes in the TPES atrium. Donations are also welcome at PBES, the TPSS Co-op and Main Street Pearl. Please make sure that the used clothing is in dignity condition and clean. All sizes are needed!

Coats will be distributed on Thursday, November 11 at TPES and PBES after school from 3:50-4:50 PM and on Tuesday, November 23 at the back of the TPSS Co-op from 4:00-6:00 PM.

/by

TPES COVID Protocols: Sept. 23, 2001

,
I am very pleased to share this resource with you. We know that the protocol for quarantine and testing has been confusing; we’ve all received so much information and updates that it’s hard to keep track. Our hope is that this document clarifies some of this. It won’t answer every question, but it’s a start! The testing resources were gleaned from existing sources and put in one document.

Click here for a Spanish version of the document.

Click here for an Amharic version of the document.

Also linked here is information and Q&A from the county.

A special thanks to our PTA Exec. Secretary, Dianne Kirsch, who worked her graphic design magic, and to our Delegate, Rebecca Shaeffer, for the inspiration and info.

In community,

Joyce McDonough (Clara / 2nd – Clark)

TPES PTA Exec. VP

/by

Key Dates for Fall 2020

IMPORTANT DATES:

– “MyMCPS Classroom” Training 

Wednesday, August 19 at 7pm: new & kindergarten families

Thursday, August 20 at 7pm: all returning families

(please see email from Dr. Gadsden or post on our https://groups.io/g/tpespta list for more information)

– Kindergarten Back To School Night 
Thursday, 8/27 at 7pm (Zoom info TBA)
– Virtual Open House for all TPES students
Friday, August 28 from 3pm to 4pm
– 1st & 2nd grade Back To School Night
Wednesday, 9/2 at 7pm (Zoom info TBA)
– Joint PTA Meeting for TPES & PBES
Tuesday, September 1 at 7pm
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 827 5571 6748
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,82755716748# US (Germantown)
+13126266799,,82755716748# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 827 5571 6748
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k5bBaHyu0
/by

Technological Support for New and Returning Families: Zoom meetings on August 19 and August 20

Technological Support

Whether you are a new or returning family to Takoma Park Elementary and/or Piney Branch Elementary, we hope you’ll join us for a Zoom meeting with parent Stacy Kosko to review the MYMCPS Classroom online platform and some ways it will be used this year. We’re offering two trainings based on level of need.

Wednesday, August 19 at 7pm: new & kindergarten families

Thursday, August 20 at 7pm: all returning families

Topic: New Families “MyMCPS Classroom” Training

Time: Aug 19, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://umd.zoom.us/j/93193383681

Meeting ID: 931 9338 3681

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,93193383681# US (Germantown)

+19294362866,,93193383681# US (New York)

Dial by your location

+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 931 9338 3681

Find your local number: https://umd.zoom.us/u/aDo9ICHxF

Topic: Returning families “MyMCPS Classroom” training

Time: Aug 20, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://umd.zoom.us/j/97032959874

Meeting ID: 970 3295 9874

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,97032959874# US (Germantown)

+13126266799,,97032959874# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 970 3295 9874

Find your local number: https://umd.zoom.us/u/ac8uYUOuU8

_._,_._,_
/by

Building Family Connections for the 2020-2021 School Year

Family Connection

– The PTA would like to give parents the opportunity to connect with one another for the sake of learning pods, child care, and sharing resources during the pandemic.  To accompany the lists that were shared by the school, the PTA has created temporary Google Sheets for each grade level so that parents can enter basic contact information in order to communicate with other parents in their child’s classroom.

– From now until 9/1, we’re hoping you’ll help us spread the word about these google sheets where parents can share information, if they choose. This will be especially helpful for kindergarten and new families as they begin to build connections within their neighborhood and community.

– If your child has been assigned 1st grade, room 4, click on the 1st Grade link below and along the bottom of the sheet you can find tabs identifying each room. Find your child’s room and enter in the information if you wish to reach out to other parents in the room. We hope this will be a starting point for parents to possibly coordinate learning pods, child care, etc., during the coming school year.

 

Once students are assigned to a teacher and classroom parents are established, we will close these lists. These sheets will be available until Tuesday, September 1.

Classroom groupings (without teacher) from Dr. Gadsden:

Kindergarten Classes

 

First Grade Classes

 

Second Grade Classes

 

Google sheets for sharing family information with peers

/by

A message from Ms. Paz about login and password information…

Greetings;

Many parents are reaching out to me, trying to get the log in and password for their children.

Log in is the student’s ID number.  Passwords are going to be distribute

at a later time, before school starts.

If you need your child’s ID number, feel free to email me directly at;

Johanna_A_Paz@mcpsmd.org or text to; 301 910-6145.

Once I know when the passwords are available, I will send a notification.

Thanks…and please be safe.

Stay well!

Joy

Johanna A. Paz,

Administrative Secretary to

Dr. Zadia T. Gadsden,

Principal

Takoma Park Elementary School

7511 Holly Avenue

Takoma Park, Maryland 20912

240 740-0980

/by

Order school supply kits through the PTA for 2020-2021

TPES Community –
The PTA’s school supply sale is now available through August 1, 2020! For new TPES families, every year the PTA works with a vendor to make grade required school supplies available for sale. It’s a convenient way to get supply shopping done and the sales provide a financial boost for the PTA. While we do not know how the upcoming school year will start, we made the decision to move forward with the traditional sale because it gives parents and guardians the option to purchase next year’s supplies entirely from home – a convenience that is important right now.
To purchase school supplies please visit: www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks
 
The TPES “code” is TAK008. K kits are selling for $26, First grade kits are selling for $29 and Second grade kits are selling at $45. The costs of the kits are determined based on the school’s grade level supply requirements.
The PTA has made the decision not to distribute supplies in-person this year because of the uncertainty about access to school buildings in August. All school supplies purchased through the sale will be delivered directly to the address of your choice by August 17th. There is a shipping fee. As in the past, you can purchase a donation kit to give to TPES for distribution to students who need supplies.
We know this is an uncertain time for all of us. We hope everyone is staying healthy and safe.

 

If you have any questions about the sale please reach out to us directly.
Thank you –
Sasha Johnson
(outgoing PTA VP Fundraising)
—
Becca Jones Albertus
PTA Membership Secretary
/by

Online resources to support learning, activity, and mental health

Whether you’re looking for kid-focused yoga videos, a link to watch Mo Willems teach your child to draw a pigeon, or strategies for balancing the whole family’s needs at this time, the internet can help! Here are a number of sites that have pulled together some of the best resources available online:

The Washington Post has put together a pretty exhaustive list of resources in areas ranging from “Reading” to “Mental Wellness” to “Physical Activity” to “Theater and Dance.” Each link has a short description, and there are hundreds of options, generally separated by target age range.

For some additional curated resources, as well as guidance on how to manage family stress and how to talk to children of different ages about the new coronavirus, check out this page from the University of Maryland’s Department of Family Science.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has created this site with basic information on SARS-COV-2, and if you scroll to the end you will see links to articles like “Getting Children Outside While Social Distancing” or “Cloth Face Coverings for Children” that may answer many of your questions about how to best keep your kids both sane and safe at this time.

/by
Select Language »