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Kaitlin Caruso

October 2025 Monthly PTA Meeting Minutes

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October 2025 Monthly PTA Meeting Minutes

Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)

Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES)

Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Meeting

Tuesday, October 7, 2025: 6:30-8p 

In person (at TPES) and virtual

 

Spanish Translator: 

Amharic Translator: 

Meeting was recorded

Slides

Welcome and Introductions

Delianny Brammer, President, TPES PTA & 

Mari Quenemoen, President, PBES PTA

  • This is our first in person meeting since 2020
  • We welcome feedback about the hybrid meeting format

Partner Spotlight

Delianny Brammer, President, TPES PTA

  • Childcare for families attending in person tonight is being sponsored by WP Buffs
  • WP Buffs provides 24/7 maintenance and support for WordPress websites — offering reliable service for serious site owners and white-label management for agencies and freelancers.
  • We’re proud to share that this business is owned by one of our very own TPES parents, Joe Howard. Thank you for supporting our community!

PTA Meetings

Delianny Brammer, President, TPES PTA

  • PTA meetings take place the first Tuesday of the month 
  • We are aiming for two in-person PTA meetings this year (tonight and Feb 3, 2026)
  • When not in person, meetings are virtual starting at 8p

Accomplishments this month

Delianny Brammer, President, TPES PTA

In the past month, the TPES/PBES PTA has:

  • Organized & offered a wide range of afterschool enrichment options
  • Launched Working Groups to support specific needs around immigration issues
  • Arranged for childcare at Back-to-School Nights and this event, so as many families as possible can attend
  • Reimbursed teachers for classroom supplies
  • Hosted Teacher Appreciation Lunch 

Coming up next month

Delianny Brammer, President, TPES PTA

In the next month, the TPES/PBES PTA will:

  • Coordinate Hispanic Heritage Month Events
  • Organize the annual book fair to raise money for the Media Center (PBES)
  • Collect basic items for health room
  • Continue to connect parents/families with helpful resources
  • StoryShip Assembly @ TPES, interactive dinosaur adventure

Upcoming School Closures

Delianny Brammer, President, TPES PTA

  • Oct 17: Professional Development Day, no school for students
  • Oct 20: Non-Instructional Day, no school for students/teachers
  • Nov 3: Grading/Planning Day, no school for students
  • Nov 24-25: Early Release (school ends at 1:20p)
  • Nov 26-28: Schools closed

TPES Announcements 

Ken Scudder, TPES PTA VP of Communications

  • Big Read for Hispanic Heritage Month (Wed 10/14)
  • Dolphin Drive (Nov)
  • Can access google cal on TPES PTA website (https://tpespta.net/)
  • Join your student’s class WhatsApp for caregivers

TPES Treasurer’s Report 

Germaine Dunn, TPES Treasurer

  • As of June 30, wrapped up SY with 22k
    • For month of June, brought in $900 in income, spent $4900 paying for school programs, staff support and appreciation
  • We had a strong year financially: brought in $31,200
    • Top fundraisers were Readathon, Dolphin Drive, Book Fair
  • On spending side: invested $36k back in community
  • Currently for FY25-26:
    • Oct. 3 balance: $15,700 
    • Jul-Oct: brought in $4000 in revenue
      • Membership dues
      • Dolphin gear
      • Donations
    • Spending so far this year:
      • Spent $10,700 for classroom supplies for 28 teachers
      • Paid for back to school picnic
      • Purchased Dolphin gear for upcoming fundraisers
    • Dolphin Drive + Readathon will give big boost in income
    • Anticipate future spending on:
      • Funds on staff support, programming, community events
      • Ended last year in a solid position
  • Overall, off to a good start this year

TPES PTA Volunteer Needs

Delianny Brammer, TPES President

  • Interpretation coordinator
    • A lot of work to coordinate with her and set up translation
  • Event coordinator 
    • Movie night: AV, popcorn, RSVPs
    • If you know someone willing, please let us know

TPES Communication Channels

Delianny Brammer, TPES President

PBES Announcements

Mari Quenemoen, PBES PTA President

  • Monday Oct 13 is open house
    • Can go to one of two sessions or both
    • 9:45-10:45
    • 2:30-3:30
    • Fun way to sit in back of your student’s classroom and observe
  • Scholastic Book Fair: Oct 21-27
    • Sign up to volunteer
    • See PTA emails for links to e-wallets

PBES PTA Announcements

Cara Tallo, PBES PTA Executive VP 

  • PBES PTA Volunteers needed
    • Readathon (Jan-Mar)
    • GeoBowl planning team (Jan-Mar)
    • Black History Night (Feb)
    • Volunteer to establish a WhatsApp group in Amharic

PBES Treasurer’s Report 

Dan Proudfoot, PBES PTA Treasurer

  • $30k is generally expected in both income and expenses
    • We carried a balance into this year so we are in good shape
  • So far, $2,800 brought in this year
    • Mainly through PBES PTA website
    • Readathon and other fundraising events coming up
  • Expenses
    • Reimbursed teachers for supplies
    • Paid for childcare at back to school night
    • Staff appreciation and purchasing gear

Slide 16: Communication Channels

Cara Tallo, PBES PTA Executive VP 

  • This year, concerns about sharing contact info broadly
    • Having folks opt in to share contact info with class parent
    • Amie will put that link in the chat but will send out so all families can sign up
    • She’ll work with class parents to make sure they have contact info for their class only
  • PBES PTA Communications Channels
  • School Communications Channels
    • ParentSquare: newsletters and other important communications from PBES and MCPS. This replaces Remind.

Immigration Awareness: Connecting with Resources
Mr. Weertz and Dr. Gadsden

    • The elephant in the room/nation is immigration enforcement and everything that comes with that; every day hearing stories in the news that are alarming for all of us.
    • Want to summarize how we got to where we are, the work we’re doing with school safety around this, and connect families with resources so you know what we’re trying to do
      • We value and prioritize talking to families. It’s more important than ever to start talking and asking questions. Let’s make phone calls, ask questions, see what we can find out
      • Families we talked to had really raw, authentic experiences that sprung us into action
      • Our values are showing through
      • Food insecurity: families not going to grocery store
      • Having real, raw experiences
      • We started a working group: how can we take the knowledge we have and leverage that into supporting families?
    • What would we do if there’s something going on around the school and we’re not sure what it is?
      • Our school has been working closely with some community members who are very knowledgeable about immigration enforcement activities in TKPK. “Tell me what I need to know as a school leader – what do we need to know, look out for?”
      • They’ve had very honest and open conversations with us about what we should be looking for, see in the community
      • Push us to think about what we would do
      • Erin Martin called me (TPES MS) – something’s going on up the street, want to make you aware. We stay in touch as school leaders – we know if it impacts MS children, it will impact ES children.
      • If we see something that looks off, and we’re unsure of a situation, if it’s setting off red flags, law enforcement activity, immediately secure the building, get school affiliated persons into the building
      • Just as if local grocery store had a robbery, how do we secure the building, make sure everyone is accounted for, go from there.
    • If in a situation where some sort of law enforcement came to the building, very specific MCPS protocols we would follow
      • If law enforcement comes, they ask for administrator, we collect a warrant, submit warrant to OGC, ask law enforcement to step out of the building and wait outside, then follow guidance of OGC about our next steps
      • We’re keeping an eye out at arrival, dismissal, in communication with community groups who are much more knowledgeable, provide us with necessary information so we can make intentional decisions that keep kids and families safe
      • Being vague but we want to communicate we’re aware of the situation, are in touch with those who are knowledgeable, being intentional 
      • If an officer comes, before we can talk about anything, present us with a warrant, legal paperwork. We would send that immediately to OGC and follow their guidance.
    • Main thing I want to convey: we are being intentional, we are in communication, we are taking it seriously.
      • Wish we weren’t here, wish staff weren’t scanning the neighborhood as letting your child out of the car
      • We’re always trying to keep one eye here, make sure kids are safe
  • Q: Can you clarify what happens if officers approach a school bus?
      • School buses are the same as MCPS property
      • Officers cannot board school buses
      • Must not only have a warrant, must be a judicial warrant to enter the premises
      • Expectation is that they not come to the school or board buses
      • Don’t have the right to board school buses
  • Q: Are you sharing any of this with students?
      • Dr. G: TPES is not sharing this with students
      • Mr. Weertz: At PBES it’s situational, not happening broadly with students but having specific convos w/ specific students about their situation fairly regularly, as needed by the child. 
        • A lot of what I’m hearing from kids/families is that the school is perceived as the safest place. I have kids who have come to me: Mr Weertz, I love to come to school, play soccer, I don’t get to do that on the weekends anymore.
        • If you have a curious kid at PBES, tell them to come to Mr. Weertz.
  • Q: What is the emotional support for staff?
      • PBES: Open and honest communication is the first thing
        • These are the convos we have to have
        • Biggest support for staff: open and private convos as necessary
        • There are staff members who are personally impacted as well
        • What do you need? How can we help?
        • Sometimes tangible things we can do, sometimes not sure but we’re here to help 
      • TPES: Trainings on what to do when a situation arises
        • For those directly impacted, we are supportive
  • Q: If we as parents/community members see something we want to communicate, how should we do that?
    • Timing matters. If immediate (e.g., during arrival/dismissal), call the school. They’ll notify an administrator.
    • If there’s something that does not pose an immediate threat to school safety, but you hear something (e.g., a kid in my child’s class needs a supportive adult), start with the principal or counselor.

PTA Support Efforts 

April Cockerham, PBES PTA VP of Communications

  • PBES/TPES Immigration Working Group – work in progress
    • Help staff, teachers, counselors on front lines
    • They’re hearing heartbreaking stories
    • It’s not in their job description and no one is really trained for this
  • Important to know that TPES through Ms. Paz has Spanish language WhatsApp group; just started getting that rolled out through counselor at PBES
  • Raising awareness of the many available resources in this community
    • Pro bono legal services and legal funds
    • ELD department supporting guardianship and passport assistance
  • We are connecting families to aid 
    • Right now we have 10 families in an acute situation, doing grocery deliveries to home
    • Connecting families to a local nonprofit, Educare
      • Ongoing convos w/ them about using PBES as a dropoff spot where families could come pick up food items as opposed to a large food bank
    • To help with acute financial hardship situations, please donate to MoCoIRC’s GoFundMe database
  • Volunteer opportunities

 

Q+A

  • Q: Book Fair – TPES or PBES?
      • That one is for PBES (TPES will be at a later date)
      • Community Night (when book fair is open to the whole community, not just PBES families) is Thursday 10/23, 4:30-7:30p 
  • Q: Any updates with PBES renovation?
      • Mr. Weertz: My understanding – allegedly Oct 13 Superintendent Taylor will make his recommendation. We’re all sitting and waiting eagerly. 
  • Q: Can you clarify the new MCPS fingerprinting policy?
      • Dr. G: Parents chaperoning field trips are expected to be fingerprinted at their own cost ($65 in Rockville)
        • This creates an equity issue, especially in light of shutdowns and layoffs
        • Some people may not have resources to get to Rockville or pay $65
        • I’m raising that issue and moving it forward
        • Often community pressure and voice is louder than mine
        • I agree w/ having people fingerprinted and background checked, but don’t want barriers 
      • Can probably take it up with MCCPTA
  • Q: What will happen to zoo field trips if gov remains shut down?
      • Dr. G: We can’t go to zoo if zoo is closed
        • Will talk to kindergarten team about a different field trip
  • Q: What is the school’s stance on mandated reporting (e.g., to CPS) when kids are experiencing things like food insecurity as a result of what’s happening in gov?
    • Dr. G: We protect our kids. We give out food on a regular basis. We make resources available. We know which families are impacted and we work to support them. During COVID, you didn’t have to go to the grocery store if you lived in TKPK. You could feed your family – all those things available in this three block radius. Our schools were distribution sites, Tommy’s Pantry on Sligo.
  • If any other questions related to immigration supports, please email April at aprilacockerham@gmail.com
Kaitlin Caruso

September 2025 PTA Meeting Minutes

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September 2025 Monthly PTA Meeting Minutes

9/4/2025 4:21 pm

 

Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)

Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES)

Parent & Teacher Meeting (PTA)

Tuesday, September 2, 2025: 8 – 9pm

 

 

Spanish Translator: Isadora Quintana

Amharic Translator: Tewobsta G* – technical issues prevented Amharic Translation from happening live.

Meeting was recorded

 

TPES Introduction

Delianny Brammer, TPES PTA President, provided an introduction to the TPES PTA

  • TPES holds PTA meetings jointly with PBES. This is due to the fact that the two schools work closely together and want to stay connected.  It also supports those parents that have children in both schools.
  • TPES PTA Executive Team consists of:
    • Delianna Brammer, President
    • Naomi Gohn, Executive Vice President
    • Germaine Dunn, Treasurer
    • Kenn Scudder, VP of Communications
    • Kate Sullivan Frades, Membership Secretary
    • Erin Nichols, Vice President Membership
    • Joseph Herschhorn Howard, Vice President Fundraising
    • Christina Davis, Executive Secretary

 

PBES Introduction

Mari Quenemoen, PBES PTA President,and Cara Tallo, EVP, provided an introduction to the PBES PTA

  • Looking at all channels to make sure all families can be involved with translation, etc.
  • PBES PTA Board consists of:
    • Mari Quenemoen, President
    • Cara Tallo, Executive Vice President
    • Dan Proudfoot, Treasurer
    • Christine Smith, Secretary
    • Lesley Perry, VP of Membership
    • April Cockerham and Ingrid Gardiner, Co-VPs of Fundraising
    • Charlotte Noss, VP of Communications
    • Erin Mohan, VP of Equity
    • Paul Donowitz and Kuna Tavalin, Advocacy Representative (MCCPTA)

 

What is the PTA?

  • A volunteer-led organization that connects parents, teachers, and the school community

 

What does the PTA do…?

  • Work and raise funds in order to:
    • Meet needs beyond school capacity
    • Create connection for students and parents
    • Build a strong, inclusive family
  • For students (this looks different for each school, but in general):
    • Fund recess equipment, library updates, and school spirit items like field trip shirts
    • Provide classroom supplies, books, and technology to enhance learning
    • Organize school-wide events like book fairs, cultural heritage nights, and family nights
    • Offer scholarships and vouchers for activities
  • For schools and teachers:
    • Schedule and coordinate all afterschool activities
      • Scholarship activities to make sure all can participate
    • Coordinate annual book fair to raise money for the Media Center (school library)
    • Fulfill teacher wish lists for classroom supplies
    • Host appreciation events to recognize teachers and staff
  • For families:
    • Deploy donation dollars to ensure opportunities for all students, by:
      • Afterschool scholarships
      • Book fair vouchers for families in need
      • Language translation for events
    • Curate parent resources through PTA newsletters and specialized guest speakers
    • Offer a variety of donation and volunteer opportunities

 

Get involved in your PTA:

 

TPES Announcements

Ken Scudder, TPES PTA VP of Communications

https://groups.io/g/tpespta – TPES Listserv Signup

  • Back to School Picnic – Wednesday, Sept 3
    • 5:30–7:30 PM on the playground. Bring dinner, enjoy PTA treats, and connect with families. Bring a blanket to sit on.
  • Family Meet & Greet – Monday, Sept 15 @ People’s Book
  • Fall Picture Days – Sept 16 & 17
    • Dress up, smile big! Photo days by homeroom – more details will be shared closer to the date.
  • PTA Google Calendar – Ongoing
  • Bus Routes – Ongoing
    • Check 2025–26 routes by scanning this QR code on screen
  • Class WhatsApp Groups – Ongoing
    • Join your class directory & group: https://tinyurl.com/TPESdirectory2025

 

Upcoming School Closures

  • September
    • Tuesday, Sept 23 – Non-Instructional Day (No school for students and teachers)
    • Friday, Sept 26 – Early Release Day for students
  • October
    • Thursday, Oct 2 – Non-Instructional Day (No school for students and teachers)
    • Friday, Oct 17 – Professional Development Day (No school for students)

 

TPES Communication Channels

Delianny Brammer, TPES President

  • PTA Channels
  • School Channels
    • Remind (will sunset in December)
    • ParentSquare (new official platform). If you can not find your invitation from August, reach out to the school office for assistance.
  • MCPS Channels

 

PBES Announcements and Upcoming Closures

Charlotte Noss, PBES VP Communications

  • Ways to get involved:
    • (1) Join PTA as an official member
    • Other Announcements:
      • Working to get WhatsApp group for Spanish and Amharic. Currently still need Amharic support.
      • Communications from school and MCPS will also be taken over by ParentSquare
    • September events:
      • Wednesday, Sept. 17 – Back to School Night (free childcare provided by Kids Adventures courtesy of Finn Family Group Real Estate)
        • 6:30 – 7:00 – Instrumental Music (for those interested in learning about Instrumental Music for 4th and 5th graders)
        • 7:00 – 7:30 – Session I
        • 7:35 – 8:00 – Session II
        • 8:00 – 8:20 – Building Browse
      • October events:
        • Tuesday, Oct. 7 – PTA meeting, in person at TPES 6-8pm
        • Monday, Oct. 13 – Open House
          • Two sessions – usually one in the morning, one in the afternoon
        • Call for PBES PTA Volunteers
          • Volunteer at PBES: https://pineybranchpta.membershiptoolkit.com/Volunteer
          • NAACP Representative
          • Hispanic Heritage Night Planning Team (October)
          • Book Fair Planning Team (Fall)
          • Read-a-thon Planning Team (January/February/March)
          • GeoBowl Planning Team (January/February/March)
          • Black History Night Planning Team (February)
        • Call for Room Adults

The numbers below indicate the number of room parents still needed for that teacher:

  • Davidson- 2
  • Dunlap-Roberts- 2
  • Gazda- 1
  • Giles- 2
  • Kandeh- 2
  • Berardi-1
  • Casey-1
  • Eskow- 2
  • Kenny- 2
  • Li- 1
  • Brooking- 1
  • Griffin- 2
  • Kenny-2
  • Patrick- 1
  • Pinnock- 2
  • Tolson-2

 

 

PTA Business

  • Treasurer’s Reports and Updates

○ TPES: Budget document, Germaine Dunn, Treasurer

  • TPES has a healthy budget for FY26 school year
  • Expenditures have been mainly been used for assemblies, teacher lunches, and other activities planned
  • 24 families have provided dues or donations to the PTA
  • More details coming in the next meeting

○ PBES: Budget document , Dan Proudfoot, Treasurer

  • Overall budget is about $30,820
    • On income side, boosters and donations is estimated at $4500
    • Fundraising side, $23,800 (bake sales, readathon, etc)
    • Grants

 

TPES and PBES Leadership

Ms. Hayden, TPES Assistant Principal

Dr. Gadsden, Principal, and Ms. Diana Hayden, Assistant Principal, Takoma Park ES

  • Gadsden shared that TPES is not fully staffed, there is still need for para-educators and special educators
  • Covid is making the rounds at TPES, with lots of kids and staff having tested positive. Teachers and administrators are masking.

Mr. Weertz, Acting Principal, Piney Branch ES

  • Richard Weertz is Acting Principal at PBES; Ms. Oberdorf will be here later in the year. Ms. Java Robinson is acting Assistant Principal

 

Safety at our School

  • Hayden:
    • Resource: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/security/
    • During the October PTA meeting, we’ll take a deeper dive into school security and share additional information.
    • Hayden Shared new standard response protocol with Montgomery County, streamlining communication and response calls.
      • Staff were trained on new protocols
      • Students were trained and practiced emergency responses first day of school
      • An evacuation drill was held during the first week of school
      • Safety drills are scheduled throughout the year to ensure staff and students stay aware of protocols
    • What is most important for parents to know in the event of a school emergency
      • Stay calm and wait for updates from the school
      • Do not come to the school unless instructed
      • Updates will come from the school or central office ASAP.
        • Keep communication lines open.
      • Family resources:
        • Standard response protocol
        • SRP Video
    • Weertz:
      • PBES following same process and protocols. Next week is safety week at PBES, with added emphasis, including more communication with the students and drills planned.

 

 

Next Meeting:

  • Discuss concerns about your child getting safely to and from school (in the meantime, you can reach out to the PTA for support – pbes.pta@gmail.com; president@tpespta.net
  • Security measures
  • In person – October 8th
joycekmcdonough@gmail.com

June 2024 PTA Meeting Minutes

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Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)
Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES)
Parent & Teacher Meeting (PTA)
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 from 7 – 8pm on Zoom 

Agenda will include: 

(1) Upcoming TPES and PBES dates and announcements

(2) MCPS Summer Reading Challenge Presentation

(3) Takoma Park Middle School PTA Introduction

(4) Treasurer’s reports 

(5) Vote on TPES & PBES Executive Committees for ‘24-’25 School Year

(6) End of Year Statements from Mrs. O & Dr. G.

(7) Q&A

(8) Closing

 

7:00 PM: Meeting Kick-off 

Chris Campbell, PBES VP Communications – Welcome 

  • Intro to topics to be discussed

7:05 PM: Upcoming Dates & Announcements

Claire Dean, TPES VP 

Chris Campbell, PBES VP Communications 

TPES ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Read by Claire Dean, TPES VP 

  • Library books are due! If you have library books still at home, please have your child return them. Check your take home folder for any info on books you may have at home.
  • Second Grade Walking Field Trip to PBES: Wednesday, June 5, 9:30am
    • Second graders will visit Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES) and will leave at 9:30am, so please be sure your child arrives to school on time! 
  • Crossing Guard Appreciation Day: June 5th – The City of Takoma Park will set up tables at the guard posts so students can leave a token of appreciation on their way to school. If you have time to make a card or artwork, please do so to thank the crossing guards that work to keep us all safe. 
  • Second Grade Promotion Save the Date: June 10 at 9:45 AM at TPMS – Second grade families, save the date! 
  • At-Home Chromebooks – If your student has an MCPS at-home Chromebook and they are leaving MCPS, please bring the Chromebook, charger and carrying case back to TPES by June 7th. You can send it in with the student or drop it off at the front office. If they are moving to a different MCPS school or staying at TPES then they can keep the Chromebook at home all summer.
    • 2024-2025 TPES PTA Executive Committee Openings

We need YOU! Yes, YOU! We have several critical positions on our PTA board that must be filled or critical services and funds will be cut. We have not had anyone step up yet! If not you, then please send us an email nominating or recommending someone! The following positions are open:

  • Non-board roles are also vital and many volunteers are aging out of TPES so we have several needs: 
  • NAACP Representative 
  • Room Parent Coordinator 
  • Teacher/Staff Appreciation Committee Co-Chair
  • Social Services Coordinator

Please reach out to Kaitlin Caruso at president@tpespta.net or Clare Dean at vp@tpespta.net if you want to volunteer for the PTA next year

PBES ANNOUNCEMENTS: read by Chris Campbell, PBES VP Communications 

  • Returning Musical Instruments
    • This is a friendly reminder that all Instrumental Music students using a school instrument must return their instrument to Mrs. Pratt by Wednesday, June 5. Students may leave it with Mrs. Pratt at the end of their last class, or leave it on the counter in the Instrumental Music room.
  • PB Jelly Volunteer Needed for Tomorrow
    • Volunteer has been found.
  • Shark Tank Volunteers Needed
    • Fourth grade will be having their 4th annual shark tank assembly on Friday, June 7th from 9:45-10:45am. We are hoping we can recruit two parents/business owners in the community to be judges on the panel. If you are interested please reach out to brogan_plummer@mcpsmd.org for more information
  • Flash Yearbook Sale
    • Next Monday, June 10, 2024, we will hold a Yearbook Flash Sale from 9–9:30am for families who missed the opportunity to purchase a yearbook and would like to do so now. Yearbooks will be sold in the front hallway for $20 on a first come, first serve basis. Please reach out to Java Robinson (java_m_robinson@mcpsmd.org) if you have any questions.
  • MCPS Drive for Supplies
    • Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Learn Shop, Inc., have enjoyed a 23-year partnership collecting new and reusable school supplies at the close of the school year and donating these supplies to students and families in need for the start of the next school year. Donations of new or gently used school supplies may be dropped off at the PBES entrance through June 13.
  • 5th Grade Promotion
    • Wednesday, June 12th at 2:00 p.m. Seating is limited so please allow for two guests per student. The Clap Out will be at 3:15 p.m.
    • Volunteers are needed to decorate for the 5th grade promotion! Please reach out to pbes.pta@gmail.com if you are interested in either purchasing supplies or participating in the decoration. 

Huge thank you to our volunteers from this past year.

  • 2024-2025 PBES PTA Executive Committee Openings

7:15 PM: Aphra Adkins: MCPS Summer Reading Challenge for all age groups. Dave Burbank (TKPK Library Associate) was unable to attend this evening.

There is a summer reading challenge through the county:

7:25 PM: TPMS PTA Introduction – Ramata Diop, President TPMS PTA

  • Discussion of open positions and activities over the summer:
  • Open positions for next year:
    • Board Positions: 
      • Fundraising VP
      • Corresponding Secretary (Communications)
      • Membership VP
      • Montgomery County Council Delegate
      • NAACP Parent Council Rep
  • Committee Positions:
    • 6th Grade Welcome Picnic Chair
    • Safe Routes to School Liaison
    • MCCPTA Gifted Talented Committee Liaison
    • MCCPTA Special Needs Committee Liaison
    • International Night Committee Chair
    • Minit Grants Committee Chair
    • Books & Basketball Committee Chair
    • Staff Appreciation

Find out more here:

https://www.tpmspta.org/ptsa-board-elections/

If interested please email tpms.pta.president@gmail.com

 

There will be July and August events for meet and greet for incoming TPMS students

Contact for Ramata: tpms.pta.president@gmail.com

 

7:30 PM: Budget Updates

Amy Swift, TPES PTA Treasurer

Vote approved to extend the budget as a summer budget.

  • Rachael Pierotti, PBES PTA Treasurer – Budget presentation of current year to date and proposed 2024-2025 Budget

Vote: Approved

Membership voted to approve the budget for 2024-2025.

Questions: Treasurer (Rachael) email: pbesptatreasurer@gmail.com.

7:35 PM: Vote on TPES & PBES Executive Committees for ‘24-’25 School Year

  • Vote on the new upcoming year’s executive committee members for TPES 

Co-VP of Membership -Jessi Binder and Erin Nichols Co-Membership Secretaries – Lesley Perry (2nd term) and Lillie Rosen

Vote: Approved

  • Vote on the upcoming year’s executive committee members for PBES

All members are continuing, PBES PTA still has a couple open positions that need to be filled, but no need to vote on current positions.

7:45 PM: End of Year Statements from Mrs. O & Dr. G.

Mrs O and Mr Weerts: A huge thank you to everyone – Staff felt very supported by PTA. Excited to have the 2nd graders come visit PBES and have the 5th graders visit TPMS.

Summer school will be held for Joann Laleck at PBES. 

Thank you!

Dr. G: This is a very exciting time of the year! Second grade promotion on Monday. The 2nd graders are trying to put together a newspaper. If you have experience in word processing, please volunteer to help make it happen. It’s been a wild year but a good one. Thanks to volunteers and staff for getting it done!

7:50 PM: Q&A

Q: Can I order a year book for PBES?

A: Next Monday, June 10, 2024, we will hold a Yearbook Flash Sale from 9–9:30am for families who missed the opportunity to purchase a yearbook and would like to do so now. Yearbooks will be sold in the front hallway for $20 on a first come, first serve basis. Please reach out to Java Robinson (java_m_robinson@mcpsmd.org) if you have any questions.

Q: I don’t recall whether or not I ordered a Year book. How can I confirm?

A: The contact for all yearbook sales at Piney Branch ES is Ms. Robinson (java_m_robinson@mcpsmd.org)

Q: When will yearbooks be distributed?

A: TPES: early next week, same for PBES.

Q: Do kindergarteners get a yearbook?

A: If you buy one.

Q: Why doesn’t the PTA earn anything from the book fair?  I thought a portion of Scholastic Book Fair proceeds were supposed to support the school in some way?

A: It earns Scholastic Dollars for the school to spend, but it’s not cash.

Q: And the school spends it on books?  Do you have an estimate on how many books were earned for the school?

A: Scholastic dollars can be used on books and school supplies, etc. We count the amount in scholastic dollars. The total scholastic dollars were $7,000 this year for PBES.

PBES used Scholastic. However TPES did a different book fair: Per Amy Swift, TPES tried Book Worm this year instead of Scholastic. Approximately $3500 from book fair.

Q: Do we know what the impact of the MCPS budget cuts will be on PBES?

A: Mrs Oberdorf  received notice that PBES was losing an allocation but in reviewing the numbers that may be rescinded.

Q: Is there any way we can support you as a parent advocacy community around the note MCPS sent out about increases in class sizes, etc?

A: Dr. G: Please help get the word out to folks with rising Kindergarten students to please get those rising Kindergarteners registered!! K enrollment is down and if TPES does not get more kids enrolled for K it will impact the number of K teacher positions.

Q: Is there a deadline for volunteering for a PTA position for PBES? 

A: No, we’ll take you when you volunteer!

Q: Will we lose instrumental music? We are so sad we are losing Ms Pratt?

A: No. There is no change in the instrumental music program. We’ll be hiring a new person. We share allocation with Rolling Terrace with PBES comprising the larger allocation.

Q: Is Kid Adventure having a summer camp this year at PBES? 

A: They won’t be at PBES because Laleck will be here this year. KA will be at TPES.

7:58 PM: Thank you!


joycekmcdonough@gmail.com

May 2024 PTA Meeting Minutes

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Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)
Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES)
Parent & Teacher Meeting (PTA)
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 7 – 8pm on Zoom 

Agenda will include: 

(1) Upcoming TPES and PBES dates and announcements
(2) Food Forest and Gardening Club at TPES
(3) Treasurer’s Reports
(4) Dr. Gadsden and Ms. Oberdorf to speak about class assignments
(5) Breakout rooms for rising K, 3rd and 6th grade parents

Spanish Translator: Mercedes Castelo

Amharic Translator: There will be no Amharic translation provided. 

7:00 PM: Meeting Kick-off 

Kaitlin Caruso, TPES PTA President Welcome 

  • Intro to topics to be discussed
  • Plea for Executive officers for upcoming school year 
    • Descriptions of open positions will be sent out this week. Please consider joining the executive board!

7:05 PM: Upcoming Dates & Announcements

JOINT TPES/PBES ANNOUNCEMENTS: read by Joyce McDonough, TPES VP Communications 

  • May 9 – TPES/PBES Soccer game this Thursday, May 9 between parents and teachers of TPES vs. parents and teachers of PBES! Event will be held at Washington Adventist University. Anyone who is playing, please arrive at 5:45 for warm-up. The game will start at 6:15 PM and will end by 7 PM with a dance party for children on the field. Attendance is FREE! Pizza will be served for $1 a slice! Quantity will be limited! We hope to see as many of you as possible out there for this wonderful community-building event!

TPES ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Read by Joyce McDonough, TPES VP Communications

    • There will be an 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.
    • Please fill out the parent input form sent out by Dr. Gadsden 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, the staff at TPES will begin the process of developing classes for next year. This work will continue into the summer. The goal is to make the best student-teacher match possible and to use the information in the form to help guide that work. 
    • Thank you to everyone who volunteered for the TPES Book Fair! 
      • Online Book Fair: Our online book fair will remain open through the school year.  There are books for all ages available at the online fair.  TPES PTA receives 15% of the proceeds for books purchased through the online fair.  https://www.bookwormcentral.com/TakomaPark
      • Please contact Claire Dean and Lesley Perry at bookfair@tpespta.net.  
    • This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and we are still seeking gifts to raffle off to teachers. 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 Garcete to let her know what you can contribute: esthergarcete@gmail.com
    • Kindergarten Enrollment 2024-25 Now Open Kindergarten online registration is now open. 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/). If you have any questions or would like more information on how to enroll at Takoma Park Elementary School, please call 240-740-0980 or email Ms. Hottel-Cox at anne_m_hottel-cox@mcpsmd.org. 
  • Yearbooks! If you’d like to order a yearbook for your child, please use this link. Yearbooks cost $22 and will be distributed at the end of the school year. 

PBES ANNOUNCEMENTS: ready by Chris Campbell, PBES VP Communications 

  • New Art Gallery! Ms. Cantu is putting together a beautiful display of student’s art from classes past and present in a new gallery wall space. The PTA is seeking donations to help fund this exciting project. Donate here! The gallery system will allow us to change out the artwork for years to come.
  • Teacher Appreciation Week: Teacher Appreciation Week is happening this week up and there are ways you and your student can thank our staff for BEE-ing the BEST! Thank you to everyone who donated or helped decorate! 
    • We are still looking for volunteers to help with Clean-Up on Friday. Sign up here! 
    • Friday, May 10: BEE Yourself: Students and staff can dress to express their silly sides!
  • Volunteers Needed for Instrumental Concert Bake Sale on May 22: Your help is needed on May 22! Please consider signing up to either staff the bake sale table or bring a dozen baked goods. This is a fundraiser for the PBES PTA and your support is appreciated! Sign up here!
  • May 16: 4th/5th grade choral concert
  • PBES Yearbooks: Yearbooks are on sale now. The price is $20. They may be ordered online here.

7:15 PM: Sharon Broderick, Co-Chair, Food Forest and Gardening Committee 

  • Presentation on Food Forest and TPES Gardening Club 
  • Vision for forest garden on TPES grounds; incorporates fruit and nut trees, bushes, 
  • Started last year to build garden boxes; planted for the first time last year
  • Working with MCPS to get proper approvals to get more planting in the fall
  • First tree plantings: April 2024; all growing; persimmon, serviceberry, hazelnuts, spicebush, witch hazel on nature walk along TPES playground edge
  • TKPK owns land on other side; working with Arborist to develop the nature walk there
  • 45 students in student garden club! They love to water the plants
    • Posters in the atrium
    • food tasting in atrium this wednesday from what has been grown
    • Plans for 2nd grade group to meet during the week
  • Applying for grant for funds 
  • Planting and clean up event on May 11 1-4pm
    • Planting along the nature walk
    • 45-100 plants coming

7:25 PM: Treasurer’s Reports 

  • Amy Swift, TPES PTA Treasurer
    • Month of April
    • Lots of revenue coming in from Read-a-Thon and Book Fair
    • Book Fair: amount is what we took in cash/checks that goes back to Book Fair venue
    • PayPal admin charges: looking for ways to cut those
    • Exceeded expected income for year; under budget in spending
  • Ingrid Gardiner, PBES PTA President
    • Running about $10,000 behind on donations; over on fundraising; more should be posted
    • Programming costs don’t currently include the pool and other incoming costs

7:35 PM: Dr. Gadsden and Ms. Oberdorf

  • Speaking about class assignments for 2024-2025 school year 
  • Ms. Oberdorf (PBES)
    • Started process for class assignments a few weeks ago
    • Gathering data on students; teacher input in addition to scores
    • Start setting up potential classes; balance in demographics, gender, service groups, interventions, enrichment
    • Form for parent input being sent shortly
    • Staff meeting to present drafts of class rosters
    • Collaborate with TPES for rising third graders
    • Long process (3 months); 200 sets of students at a time
    • Hoping to make the best matches for all students
  • Dr. Gadsden (TPES)
    • Similar process as PBES
    • Forms for current second graders are shared with PBES; no need to fill out two
    • Cannot honor “keep with” requests; can honor “keep apart” requests
    • Do the best we can to have a balanced room and that every child in the room has another child who looks like them.
  • Cap on class sizes at PBES because a Focus school
  • TPES expects to have 9 K, 9 1st, 6 2nd grade classrooms; moving toward co-teaching model in hopes of bringing down the student teacher ratio; will be about 25 kids per class, but smaller for reading and math.
  • PBES going from 9 to 8 third grade classes; district monitors enrollment to adjust the number of classes.
  • 5th grade promotion ceremony: June 12 at 2pm

7:40 PM: Breakout rooms for incoming K parents, 3rd grade parents and 6th grade parents

Kindergarten Breakout Rooms (Dr. Gadsden to present before questions) 

  1. Claire Dean 
  2. Kelley Seay

Third Grade Breakout Rooms: 

  1. Christine Kahler Smith 
  2. Mari Quenemoen 

Sixth Grade Breakout Rooms: 

  1. Becca Jones-Albertus
joycekmcdonough@gmail.com

April 2024 PTA Meeting Minutes

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Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)
Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES)
Parent & Teacher Meeting (PTA)
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 from 7 – 8pm on Zoom 

7:00 PM: Meeting Kick-off 

Chris Campbell, PBES VP Communications 

  • Intro to topics to be discussed

7:05 PM: Upcoming Dates & Announcements

Chris Campbell, PBES VP Communications 

Joyce McDonough, TPES VP Communications

JOINT TPES/PBES ANNOUNCEMENTS: ready by Chris Campbell, PBES VP Communications 

  • April 10 –  No School for Students – Grading and Planning for end of term
  • April 22 – Asynchronous Day for Students – Professional day for teachers There is no school for students on Monday April 22nd. Students will receive asynchronous assignments to bring home on Wednesday, April 17th. Students will return the assignments following the asynchronous learning day
  • May 9 – TPES and PBES Soccer Game – Details to be shared soon

PBES ANNOUNCEMENTS: read by Chris Campbell, PBES VP Communications 

  • 5th Grade Panoramic Picture: The 5th grade panoramic picture will be taken on April 17th. Orders are now being accepted.
  • PBES Yearbooks: Yearbooks are on sale now. The price is $20. They may be ordered online here. 

TPES ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Read by Claire Dean, TPES PTA Vice President

  • There will be an 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.
  • Please Submit Your Read-a-thon Pledges Read-a-thon pledges were due April 8 but we’d never turn away your donations! 🙂 Pledges support all PTA programs, and the Read-a-thon historically has been one of the TPES PTA’s most important fundraisers! You can submit pledges via PayPal here:  https://tpespta.net/read-a-thon/. Or you can make a check payable to TPES PTA and put it in your child’s Dolphin Folder or mail it to TPES PTA at 7511 Holly Avenue, Takoma Park MD 20912.
  • Volunteers Needed for TPES PTA Book Fair with Bookworm Central: April 15-19. The book fair is less than ONE WEEK away and we still have MANY volunteer openings. Please consider signing up here. This will be our first time supporting Northern Virginia-based Bookworm Central rather than Scholastic and want to make it a huge success!
    • Evening Book Fair Hours: The Book Fair will be open for evening shopping hours from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on the following dates:
    • Tuesday, 4/16:  Pajama Night!  Come dressed in your coziest pajamas for some book shopping.
    • Thursday, 4/18:  Dress as Your Favorite Book Character!  Celebrate a love of reading by dressing as a favorite book character while you shop (No masks, weapons, etc.).
    • PTA Donations for Book Purchases: The PTA is committed to ensuring that every child can shop for a book during the book fair.  If you are interested in donating to help the PTA fund books for our TPES community, please donate here and note in the Comments that the donation is toward book fair vouchers.
    • Teacher Wishlists: Teachers will have a chance to prepare lists of books that they would like for their classroom during Preview Day on 4/12.  Parents can purchase those books for classroom and specials teachers during either the on-site book fair or at our online book fair.
    • Online Book Fair: Our online book fair will remain open through the school year.  There are books for all ages available at the online fair.  TPES PTA receives 15% of the proceeds for books purchased through the online fair.  https://www.bookwormcentral.com/TakomaPark
    • Please contact Claire Dean and Lesley Perry at bookfair@tpespta.net.  
  • Teacher Appreciation Committee Seeking Gifts/Donations for Teacher Raffle We are seeking gifts to 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
  • STEM Night Feedback Did you come to STEM Night? If so, we’d love your feedback. Please fill out this form to share your thoughts. 
  • Kindergarten Enrollment 2024-25 Now Open Kindergarten online registration is now open. 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/). If you have any questions or would like more information on how to enroll at Takoma Park Elementary School, please call 240-740-0980 or email Ms. Hottel-Cox at anne_m_hottel-cox@mcpsmd.org. 
  • Come cheer on D.C. United on MCPS Night as they take on the Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30pm. Takoma Park Elementary School 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  
  • Yearbooks! If you’d like to order a yearbook for your child, please use this link. Yearbooks cost $22 and will be distributed at the end of the school year. 

7:10 PM: TPES Career Day (Kaitlin Caruso)

  • Career Day will take place at TPES on May 29, 2024 from 9:30 to 11:20 am
  • 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.  

7:15 PM: Kaysi-Ann Webley,  (Special Projects Coordinator – City of Takoma Park)

  • Presentation on  Earth Day/Free Bike Repairs/Bike Month/Spring Safe Routes Survey 
  • Funds from TKPK 5K to TPES and PBES $661.02 for each school
  • Parent Surveys: 
    • PINEY BRANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL URL: http://www.saferoutesdata.org/surveyformparent.cfm?key=6693730 
    • TAKOMA PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL URL: http://www.saferoutesdata.org/surveyformparent.cfm?key=2690359

Presentation:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ELjncL0W2DlS38Egur6KRVgbLjizdiu8/edit#slide=id.p1

7:25 PM: Koko Lawrence and Ashley van Norden (PBES Special Educators)

  • Understanding Neurodiversity and how to support at neurodivergent kids at school and at home  

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGBvweeHeY/uC_bDnW8zLOlt1ykQ4XCDw/edit?utm_content=DAGBvweeHeY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Resources: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17o8tpP2M8t-In1BtAkcwA5X1zAbRQKMwH57CR8cxdsw/edit#slide=id.p

7:40 PM: Q & A

Q&A – Koko and Ashley’s presentation

Q: Does the school offer testing?

A: Yes, if we go through child find and determine impact, with consent, can be tested. We have a school psychologist for assessments. Parents can also seek outside specialists.

Q: Can you talk about the 2 E (Twice Exceptional) program options for students with that diagnosis.

A: There are special educations services so students can receive pull out intervention, some receive in class support. No specific programming outside tailoring.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/enriched/gtld/

Q: What is the timeframe between when a family enters the child find process and when they ultimately receive supports (if required)

A:  About 90 days.

Q: Is there any education being provided to the students to normalize neurodivergency?

A: Educators and classrooms have been intentional about embracing normalizing differences and providing accommodations such as different seating types, etc.

Q: I know this presentation was specific to PB, I’m wondering if TPES has similar accommodations?

A: All processes are same for MCPS.

7:50 PM: Budget Updates

Amy Swift, TPES PTA Treasurer

Rachael Pierotti, PBES PTA Treasurer

Q: What happens to any money left over at end of year

A: Rolls over and will get applied to next year’s budget.

7:58 PM: THANK YOU

Ingrid Gardiner,  PBES PTA President

  • Reminder that next meeting will be on May 7 @ 7 PM 

REQUEST: If anyone is able or knows anyone willing to be a translator, please reach out. We would like to provide translation and have not been able to for the last few meetings.

PTA Suggestion Box:

Please share comments and ideas for meeting topics:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffIWOOmTZloAzFJHnvKrJiRaD-hNiRRt-18VfwFjZyZgWTmg/viewform



joycekmcdonough@gmail.com

March 2024 PTA Meeting Minutes

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TPES and PBES PTA Meeting
March 5, 2024
Meeting Minutes

(Spanish)
(Amharic)

(1) Upcoming TPES and PBES dates and announcements
(2) TPES and PBES Read-a-thon Updates
(3) Geobowl Update
(4) Susan Anderson (TPES Media Specialist): Keeping Students Safe Online
(5) Q & A
(6) Treasurer’s reports
(7) Next PTA Meeting

Meeting Kick-off by Kaitlin Caruso, TPES PTA President 

Upcoming Dates & Announcements

TPES ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Read by Joyce McDonough, TPES VP Communications

    • The 2024 TPES Read-a-thon is here! Please continue to read and record your minutes. Reading logs for week 3 are due this Friday. Find more information on the Readathon (including extra reading logs) here. 
    • Come join us for TPES STEM Night this Thursday, March 7 from 7-8 pm! There will be fun, hands-on activities for all children.
    • Lost and Found: Please come check out the lost and found! Most coats are now hanging on a coat rack, while there are three (large and overflowing) boxes of sweatshirts, sweaters, fleeces and lunch boxes. There is another separate box of water bottles and finally, a box of hats, gloves and scarves. Everything is located in the atrium. We ask that if your child has lost something this year, to please come look for it, as there are a significant number of items. Please remember your ID when you come to school so that you may get in. EVERYTHING will be donated after STEM Night, so check it out when you’re at school on March 7th! 
  • Come cheer on D.C. United on MCPS Night as they take on the Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30pm. Takoma Park Elementary School 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  
  • Volunteers for First Grade Media Class Needed: First graders are making science journals in the library media class. Students will use them in quarter 4 science lessons. We would appreciate help supporting students with handing out supplies, collating the pages and simple sewing. Please check this schedule at and email Ms. Anderson (Susan_g_anderson@mcpsmd.org) if you can help. 
  • Our Prekindergarten classes are in need of cleaning supplies. In particular, classrooms need Clorox wipes, Lysol wipes and Spic and Span spray. Donations can be dropped off in the office. Please let the office staff know that your donation is for PreK. Many thanks in advance!
  • Seeking Volunteers to Join Teacher Appreciation Committee: Our PTA is in need of a co-chair and/or volunteers to help plan and implement Teacher Appreciation Week which will be the first full week of May (May 6 -10). Detailed notes from last year’s committee are available so you don’t need to start from scratch! Thanks to parent, Betsy Garcete, for chairing this committee this year, but she can’t plan Teacher Appreciation Week on her own! Please reach out to Betsy with interest and questions! esthergarcete@gmail.com. 
  • Yearbooks! If you’d like to order a yearbook for your child, please use this link. Yearbooks cost $22 and will be distributed at the end of the school year. 

PBES ANNOUNCEMENTS: ready by Chris Campbell, PBES VP Communications 

  • The 2nd Swim Unit began this week for all students. Please remind your child to being a swim suit and towel on PE Day for the next three weeks. The swim unit will run  March 4 through March 22. Please reach out to Mr. Russell or one of our school counselors if your child is in need of a swimsuit.
    PBES Picture day: Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 6 
  • Family Life Education Unit: On Thursday, March 7, 5th grade caregivers meeting regarding the upcoming Family Life Education Unit
  • PBES Multicultural Night at Takoma Park Middle School on March 20
  • Spring Break: March 25-29
  • PBES School Survey: Help Improve Our School! We want to improve our teaching and make our school a more welcoming place for all students and families. Please fill out this survey to to help us understand what we need to do better. It will take about 10 minutes.

TPES Read-a-thon Update (Amanda Wagner)

  • Week 3 of TPES read-a-thon.  Halfway to school-wide goal of 200,000 minutes
  • If they get to the school-wide goal there will be a popcorn party, and will need volunteers for the party – stay tuned!
  • All students should participate in the read-a-thon regardless if family and friends are pledging money – the fundraising part is optional.  

PBES Read-a-thon Update (Kristin O’Planick)

  • The PBES Read-a-thon kicked off with book give-away
  • After 3 weeks of reading and logging, the 28th marked the end of the 2024 Readathon with class assemblies, where they celebrated the collective achievement.  This included PB-Jelly which the students love.  
  • PBES overall far exceeded its goal of reading 200,000 minutes.  The students read 495,205 minutes in total!
    • 3rd grade read 135,557 minutes
    • 4th grade read 136,235 minutes
    • 5th grade read 225,937 minutes
  • The classes that read the most and won a pizza party are:
    • 3rd grade, with an average of 1,138 minutes per student, Young’s class
    • 4th grade, with an average of 1,548 minutes per student, Plummer’s class
    • 5th grade, with an average of 2,271 minutes per students, Kenney’s class
  • The fundraising goal of $3,000 is close to being met.  
    • Today: $2,570 
    • Please try to complete your pledges/follow-up with sponsors/ contribute this week if you have not already and are able to! https://pineybranchpta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/76287817
      • There is a specific option for the Readathon on the webpage.
      • Alternatively you can send a check made out to the PBES PTA to the school’s office

PBES Geobowl Update (Justine Lassman)

  • Parent volunteers have made this event possible, as many others.
  • In two weeks, the Geobowl competition will take place (March 18 and March 19).  Find which day your student will be competing below.
  • If you want to help they could still use some volunteers – 
  • For volunteering or any Geobowl questions contact: justinelassman@gmail.com 
  • Geobowl competition dates and times for each class:
    • Monday, March 18 in Gym
      • 9:35-10:35 a.m. Gr. 4  (Casey, Eskow, Plummer, Serra)
      • 12:00-1:00 p.m. Gr. 5  (Kenney, Madsen, Pinnock, Tolson) 
      • 1:10-2:10 p.m. Gr. 3  (Dunlap, Gazda, Joy, Kandeh)
      • 2:20-3:20 p.m. Gr. 3  (Claxton, Giles, Granados, Hernandez, Young)
    • Tuesday, March 19 in Gym
      • 9:35-10:35 a.m. Gr. 4 (Bolden, Eberly, Li, Porter)
      • 12:00-1:00 p.m. Gr. 5 (Brooking, Kariuki, Luker, Patrick)

Keeping Students Safe Online (Susan Anderson, TPES Media Specialist) 

  • Slides are available here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1O2YDPIguj8Y5MopaK6ns-sfcFcvVS9EYx4KQHnKJgyI/edit?usp=sharing 
  • In school
    • Online activity is monitored/filtered
    • Students have to log in with an MCPS account 
    • MCPS filters keep students from inappropriate web sites
    • Activity (search history, etc) and Google Drives are monitored
    • All students at TPES and PBES are receiving digital citizenship classes – usually by media specialist (at TPES it’s mostly Sue Anderson. Ms. Edgar teaches them at PBES)
      • Focus: making safe and healthy choices
      • Uses curriculum from Common Sense Education
      • Try to be consistent from school to school
  • At home
    • MCPS is not monitoring or filtering at home
    • You can set up restrictions on your home wifi or router
    • Technology can’t solve all issues, so you should consider:
      • Talk with your child regularly/respectfully about the rules and expectations:
        • They are growing up tech “natives”
        • Remember to emphasize that digital use isn’t all “bad”.  A lot of activities are really useful for learning, being creative, etc.
        • Encourage self-regulation
      • Make a tech plan (common sense guidance)
    • Do it together
      • Model what you are doing for your children
      • Sharing interesting content together helps
      • Create technology together such as a video of them playing piano
      • Talk about what they see and play online
    • Safety tips
      • Children should ask for your permission – they should not be able to grab your device without asking
      • Set rules and limits – say no when needed
      • Keep device use where you can see it
      • Know what sites/games they’re using
      • Open dialog – if they see something uncomfortable they should tell you. Caregivers should be receptive to these conversations.  
    • TPES/MCPS content
      • Educational, fun websites that are free with no ads
      • Most are accessed through Clever afer students logs into MCPS network
      • Find list of resources (and needed passwords here: https://bit.ly/TPESonline23

Q & A

Budget Updates

TPES (Amy Swift, TPES PTA Treasurer)

  • $202 came in this month
  • Expenses include paypal fees.  When you make donations (cash, check or paypal), keep in mind that paypal incurs fees  
  • Spent additional money on staff support (Valentines day, water delivery, lunch card for paypal group)

PBES (Rachael Pierotti, PBES PTA Treasurer)

  • A few more booster donation and fundraising for the readathon boosted donations this month.
  • Expenses included BTSN childcare, paypal feels, etc.  

Next PTA Meeting

  • The next PTA meeting will take place on April 2 at 7 PM 

SPANISH:

(1) Próximas fechas y anuncios de TPES y PBES
(2) Actualizaciones del maratón de lectura de TPES y PBES
(3) Actualización del Geobowl
(4) Susan Anderson (especialista en medios de TPES): Mantener seguros a los estudiantes en línea
(5) Preguntas y respuestas
(6) Informes del tesorero
(7) Próxima reunión de la PTA

Inicio de la reunión por Kaitlin Caruso, presidenta de la PTA de TPES

Próximas fechas y anuncios

ANUNCIOS DE TPES: Leído por Joyce McDonough, vicepresidenta de comunicaciones de TPES

¡El maratón de lectura TPES 2024 ya está aquí! Continúe leyendo y registrando sus actas. Los registros de lectura de la semana 3 vencen este viernes. Encuentre más información sobre el Readathon (incluidos registros de lectura adicionales) aquí.

¡Únase a nosotros para la Noche TPES STEM este jueves 7 de marzo de 7 a 8 p. m.! Habrá actividades divertidas y prácticas para todos los niños.

Objetos perdidos y encontrados: ¡Ven a ver los objetos perdidos y encontrados! La mayoría de los abrigos ahora están colgados en un perchero, mientras que hay tres cajas (grandes y rebosantes) de sudaderas, suéteres, polares y loncheras. Hay otra caja aparte con botellas de agua y, por último, una caja con gorros, guantes y bufandas. Todo está ubicado en el atrio. Le pedimos que si su hijo ha perdido algo este año, venga a buscarlo, ya que hay una cantidad importante de artículos. Recuerde su identificación cuando venga a la escuela para poder ingresar. TODO será donado después de la Noche STEM, ¡así que compruébelo cuando esté en la escuela el 7 de marzo!

Venga a animar a D.C. United en la Noche de MCPS cuando se enfrenten al Seattle Sounders FC el sábado 27 de abril a las 7:30 p.m. La escuela primaria Takoma Park tendrá su propia sección. Una parte de la venta de boletos se destina a apoyar a la PTA de TPES para que podamos continuar ofreciendo apoyo a la escuela. Las entradas para la sección TPES se pueden adquirir aquí: https://fevo-enterprise.com/Takomapark5

Se necesitan voluntarios para la clase de medios de primer grado: Los estudiantes de primer grado están haciendo revistas de ciencias en la clase de medios de la biblioteca. Los estudiantes los usarán en las lecciones de ciencias del cuarto trimestre. Agradeceríamos ayuda para ayudar a los estudiantes a repartir útiles, cotejar las páginas y coser de forma sencilla. Consulte este cronograma y envíe un correo electrónico a la Sra. Anderson (Susan_g_anderson@mcpsmd.org) si puede ayudar.

Nuestras clases de Prekindergarten necesitan artículos de limpieza. En particular, las aulas necesitan toallitas Clorox, toallitas Lysol y spray Spic and Span. Las donaciones se pueden dejar en la oficina. Informe al personal de la oficina que su donación es para PreK. ¡Muchas gracias de antemano!

Buscando voluntarios para unirse al Comité de Apreciación de los Maestros: Nuestra PTA necesita un copresidente y/o voluntarios para ayudar a planificar e implementar la Semana de Apreciación de los Maestros, que será la primera semana completa de mayo (del 6 al 10 de mayo). ¡Están disponibles notas detalladas del comité del año pasado para que no tenga que empezar de cero! Gracias a la madre, Betsy Garcete, por presidir este comité este año, ¡pero ella sola no puede planificar la Semana de Agradecimiento a los Maestros! ¡Comuníquese con Betsy si tiene interés y tiene preguntas! esthergarcete@gmail.com.

¡Anuarios! Si desea pedir un anuario para su hijo, utilice este enlace. Los anuarios cuestan $22 y se distribuirán al final del año escolar.

ANUNCIOS DE PBES: listos por Chris Campbell, vicepresidente de comunicaciones de PBES

Esta semana comenzó la 2ª Unidad de Natación para todos los alumnos. Recuerde a su hijo que debe usar traje de baño y toalla el día de educación física durante las próximas tres semanas. La unidad de natación funcionará del 4 al 22 de marzo. Comuníquese con el Sr. Russell o con uno de nuestros consejeros escolares si su hijo necesita un traje de baño.

Día de fotos de PBES: mañana miércoles 6 de marzo

Unidad de Educación para la Vida Familiar: El jueves 7 de marzo, reunión de cuidadores de 5to grado sobre la próxima Unidad de Educación para la Vida Familiar

Noche multicultural de PBES en la escuela secundaria Takoma Park el 20 de marzo

Para inscribirse para traer comida, utilice este enlace: https://bit.ly/pbesfood

Para inscribirse en presentaciones, utilice este enlace: https://bit.ly/pbesperform

Para inscribirse como voluntario en el evento, utilice este enlace: https://bit.ly/pbesvolunteer

Vacaciones de primavera: 25 al 29 de marzo

Encuesta escolar de PBES: ¡Ayude a mejorar nuestra escuela! Queremos mejorar nuestra enseñanza y hacer de nuestra escuela un lugar más acogedor para todos los estudiantes y familias. Complete esta encuesta para ayudarnos a comprender qué debemos hacer mejor. 

Tardará unos 10 minutos.

Actualización del maratón de lectura de TPES (Amanda Wagner)

Semana 3 del maratón de lectura de TPES. A mitad de camino hacia la meta de 200.000 minutos para toda la escuela

Si alcanzan la meta para toda la escuela, habrá una fiesta de palomitas de maíz y se necesitarán voluntarios para la fiesta. ¡Estén atentos!

Todos los estudiantes deben participar en el maratón de lectura independientemente de si familiares y amigos están prometiendo dinero; la parte de recaudación de fondos es opcional.

Actualización del maratón de lectura de PBES (Kristin O’Planick)

El maratón de lectura de PBES comenzó con la entrega de libros

Luego de 3 semanas de lectura y registro, el día 28 marcó el final del Readathon 2024 con asambleas de clase, donde celebraron el logro colectivo. Esto incluyó PB-Jelly, que a los estudiantes les encanta.

En general, PBES superó con creces su objetivo de leer 200.000 minutos. ¡Los estudiantes leyeron 495,205 minutos en total!

3er grado leyó 135,557 minutos

4to grado leyó 136,235 minutos

5to grado leyó 225,937 minutos

Las clases que más leyeron y ganaron una fiesta de pizza son:

3er grado, con un promedio de 1,138 minutos por alumno, clase de Young

4to grado, con un promedio de 1,548 minutos por alumno, clase de Plummer

5to grado, con un promedio de 2,271 minutos por alumno, la clase de Kenney

La meta de recaudación de fondos de $3,000 está cerca de alcanzarse.

Hoy: $2,570

¡Intente completar sus promesas/seguimiento con patrocinadores/contribuya esta semana si aún no lo ha hecho y puede hacerlo! https://pineybranchpta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/76287817

Hay una opción específica para el Readathon en la página web.

Alternativamente, puede enviar un cheque a nombre de PBES PTA a la oficina de la escuela.

Actualización del Geobowl de PBES (Justine Lassman)

Los padres voluntarios han hecho posible este evento, como muchos otros.

Dentro de dos semanas se llevará a cabo la competencia Geobowl (18 y 19 de marzo). Encuentre a continuación qué día competirá su estudiante.

Si quieres ayudar, todavía les vendrían bien algunos voluntarios.

Para voluntariado o cualquier pregunta sobre Geobowl, comuníquese con: justinelassman@gmail.com

Fechas y horarios de competición de Geobowl para cada clase:

Lunes 18 de marzo en Gimnasio

9:35-10:35 a.m. Gr. 4 (Casey, Eskow, Plummer, Serra)

12:00-13:00 Gramo. 5 (Kenney, Madsen, Pinnock, Tolson)

13:10-14:10 Gramo. 3 (Dunlap, Gazda, Alegría, Kandeh)

14:20-15:20 Gramo. 3 (Claxton, Giles, Granados, Hernández, Young)

Martes 19 de marzo en Gimnasio

9:35-10:35 a.m. Gr. 4 (Bolden, Eberly, Li, Porter)

12:00-13:00 Gramo. 5 (Brooking, Kariuki, Luker, Patricio)

Mantener a los estudiantes seguros en línea (Susan Anderson, especialista en medios de TPES)

Las diapositivas están disponibles aquí: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1O2YDPIguj8Y5MopaK6ns-sfcFcvVS9EYx4KQHnKJgyI/edit?usp=sharing

Que puedes hacer en casa

En el colegio

La actividad en línea es monitoreada/filtrada

Los estudiantes deben iniciar sesión con una cuenta de MCPS

Los filtros de MCPS mantienen a los estudiantes alejados de sitios web inapropiados

Se monitorea la actividad (historial de búsqueda, etc.) y Google Drives.

Todos los estudiantes de TPES y PBES reciben clases de ciudadanía digital, generalmente impartidas por un especialista en medios (en TPES es principalmente Sue Anderson. La Sra. Edgar les enseña en PBES).

Enfoque: tomar decisiones seguras y saludables

Utiliza el plan de estudios de Common Sense Education

Trate de ser consistente de escuela en escuela

En casa

MCPS no está monitoreando ni filtrando en casa

Puede configurar restricciones en el wifi o enrutador de su hogar

La tecnología no puede resolver todos los problemas, por lo que debes considerar:

Hable con su hijo con regularidad y respeto sobre las reglas y expectativas:

Están creciendo como “nativos” tecnológicos

Recuerde enfatizar que el uso digital no es del todo “malo”. Muchas actividades son realmente útiles para aprender, ser creativo, etc.

Fomentar la autorregulación

Haga un plan tecnológico (orientación de sentido común)

Establecer reglas/límites basados en los valores familiares

Para ver ejemplos, visite: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/family-tech-planners

hazlo juntos

Modele lo que está haciendo por sus hijos

Compartir contenido interesante juntos ayuda

Crear tecnología juntos, como un vídeo de ellos tocando el piano.

Hablar sobre lo que ven y juegan en línea.

Consejos de seguridad

Los niños deben pedirle permiso; no deberían poder agarrar su dispositivo sin pedírselo.

Establece reglas y límites: di no cuando sea necesario

Mantenga el uso del dispositivo donde pueda verlo

Sepa qué sitios/juegos están usando

Diálogo abierto: si ven algo incómodo, deberían decírtelo. Los cuidadores deben ser receptivos a estas conversaciones.

Contenido TPES/MCPS

Sitios web educativos y divertidos, gratuitos y sin publicidad.

Se accede a la mayoría a través de Clever después de que los estudiantes inician sesión en la red de MCPS.

Encuentre una lista de recursos (y las contraseñas necesarias aquí: https://bit.ly/TPESonline23 

Preguntas y respuestas

pregunta sobre videos de minecraft

Los videos de Minecraft pueden ser inapropiados para niños de esta edad y los padres deben considerar estar en la habitación si los niños los están viendo.

Pregunta sobre Chromebooks

Si necesita un Chromebook en casa, envíe un correo electrónico: susan_g_anderson@mcpsmd.org

Hay un proceso separado para wifi. Si necesita wifi en casa, envíe un correo electrónico y pregúntele al maestro de su hijo. Te darán un formulario para completar para wifi.

¿Cómo se accede a las cuentas de estudiantes?

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/schools/high-schools/k-q/paintbranchhs/uploadedfiles/news/student-accounts-and-access.pdf

Español: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OqD1BLpP5fJ_zyOPgwK9cQp4E1D7ndlg9xXIBT3-1eg/preview

Pregunta sobre las protecciones de seguridad en Chromebooks

Tenga en cuenta que las protecciones de los Chromebooks de los estudiantes en TPES y PBES NO se transfieren automáticamente cuando los estudiantes usan sus Chromebooks en casa.

Pregunta sobre Class Dojo

Para obtener información sobre cómo iniciar sesión en Class Dojo, pregúntale a tu profesor.

Actualizaciones del presupuesto

TPES (Amy Swift, Tesorera de la PTA de TPES)

$202 ingresaron este mes

Los gastos incluyen honorarios de paypal. Cuando hagas donaciones (efectivo, cheque o paypal), ten en cuenta que paypal genera tarifas.

Gasté dinero adicional en apoyo del personal (día de San Valentín, entrega de agua, tarjeta de almuerzo para el grupo de PayPal)

PBES (Rachael Pierotti, Tesorera de la PTA de PBES)

Algunas donaciones de refuerzo más y la recaudación de fondos para el maratón de lectura impulsaron las donaciones este mes.

Gastos incluidos cuidado de niños BTSN, paypal siente, etc.

Próxima reunión de la PTA

La próxima reunión de la PTA se llevará a cabo el 2 de abril a las 7 p.m.

AMHARIC

 

(1) መጪ TPES እና PBES ቀኖች እና ማስታወቂያዎች

(2) TPES እና PBES ተነባቢ-አ-ቶን ዝመናዎች

(3) የጂኦቦውል ማሻሻያ

(4) ሱዛን አንደርሰን (TPES የሚዲያ ስፔሻሊስት)፡ የተማሪዎችን ደህንነት በመስመር ላይ ማቆየት።

(5) ጥያቄ እና መልስ

(6) የገንዘብ ያዥ ሪፖርቶች

(7) የሚቀጥለው PTA ስብሰባ

 

TPES ማስታወቂያዎች፡ በጆይስ ማክዶኖው፣ TPES VP ኮሙኒኬሽንስ አንብብ

የ2024 TPES Read-a-thon እዚህ አለ! እባክዎን ማንበብዎን ይቀጥሉ እና ደቂቃዎችዎን ይቅዱ። የሦስተኛው ሳምንት የንባብ ምዝግብ ማስታወሻዎች በዚህ አርብ ሊጠናቀቁ ነው። ስለ Readathon (ተጨማሪ የንባብ ምዝግብ ማስታወሻዎችን ጨምሮ) ተጨማሪ መረጃ እዚህ ያግኙ።

ዛሬ ሐሙስ፣ መጋቢት 7 ከቀኑ 7-8 ፒኤም ለ TPES STEM ምሽት ይቀላቀሉን! ለሁሉም ልጆች አስደሳች እና ተግባራዊ እንቅስቃሴዎች ይኖራሉ።

የጠፋ እና የተገኘ፡ እባኮትን ኑ የጠፋውን እና የተገኘውን ይመልከቱ! አብዛኛው ካፖርት አሁን በኮት መደርደሪያ ላይ የተንጠለጠለ ሲሆን ሶስት (ትልቅ እና የተትረፈረፈ) የሱፍ ሸሚዝ፣ ሹራብ፣ የበግ ፀጉር እና የምሳ ሳጥኖች አሉ። ሌላ የተለየ የውሃ ጠርሙሶች እና በመጨረሻም አንድ ሳጥን ኮፍያ ፣ ጓንቶች እና ሻርፎች አሉ። ሁሉም ነገር በአትሪየም ውስጥ ይገኛል. በዚህ አመት ልጅዎ የሆነ ነገር ከጠፋበት፣ እባክዎን እንዲፈልጉት እንጠይቃለን፣ ምክንያቱም ብዙ እቃዎች አሉ። እባኮትን ወደ ት/ቤት ስትመጡ መታወቂያችሁን አስታውሱ። እንድትገቡ

ቅዳሜ ኤፕሪል 27 ከቀኑ 7፡30 ከሲያትል ሳውደርስርስ FC ሲያደርጉ በMCPS ምሽት በዲሲ ዩናይትድ አይዞህ። ታኮማ ፓርክ አንደኛ ደረጃ ትምህርት ቤት የራሱ ክፍል ይኖረዋል። የትኬት ሽያጩ የተወሰነው ክፍል TPES PTAን ለመደገፍ ይሄዳል ስለዚህም ለት/ቤቱ ድጋፍ መስጠታችንን እንቀጥል። የ TPES ክፍል ትኬቶች እዚህ ሊገዙ ይችላሉ፡ https://fevo-enterprise.com/Takomapark5

ለአንደኛ ክፍል የሚዲያ ክፍል በጎ ፈቃደኞች ያስፈልጋል፡ የአንደኛ ክፍል ተማሪዎች በላይብረሪ ሚዲያ ክፍል ውስጥ የሳይንስ መጽሔቶችን እየሰሩ ነው። ተማሪዎች በሩብ 4 የሳይንስ ትምህርቶች ይጠቀማሉ። ቁሳቁሶችን በማከፋፈል፣ ገጾቹን በመሰብሰብ እና ቀላል የልብስ ስፌት በማዘጋጀት ተማሪዎችን ለመደገፍ እገዛን እናደንቃለን። እባኮትን መርዳት ከቻላችሁ ይህንን መርሐግብር በ ‹Susan_g_anderson@mcpsmd.org› ላይ ኢሜል ያድርጉ።

የቅድመ መዋዕለ ሕፃናት ክፍሎቻችን የጽዳት ዕቃዎች ያስፈልጋቸዋል። በተለይም የመማሪያ ክፍሎች ክሎሮክስ መጥረጊያዎች፣ ሊሶል ዊዝ እና ስፒክ እና ስፓን የሚረጩ ያስፈልጋቸዋል። መዋጮ በቢሮ ውስጥ መጣል ይቻላል. እባኮትን ለጽህፈት ቤቱ ሰራተኞች ልገሳዎ ለቅድመ መዋጮ መሆኑን ያሳውቁ። በቅድሚያ ብዙ አመሰግናለሁ!

የመምህራን አድናቆት ኮሚቴን ለመቀላቀል በጎ ፈቃደኞችን መፈለግ፡ የኛ PTA ከግንቦት 6-10 የመጀመሪያው ሙሉ ሳምንት የሚሆነውን የመምህራን የምስጋና ሳምንት ለማቀድ እና ተግባራዊ ለማድረግ የሚረዳው ተባባሪ ሊቀመንበር እና/ወይም በጎ ፈቃደኞች ያስፈልገዋል። ከባዶ መጀመር አያስፈልገዎትም ካለፈው ዓመት ኮሚቴ ዝርዝር ማስታወሻዎች ይገኛሉ! ወላጅ ቤቲ ጋርሴቴ ይህን ኮሚቴ በዚህ አመት ስለመሩት እናመሰግናለን፣ ነገር ግን የመምህር አድናቆት ሳምንትን በራሷ ማቀድ አልቻለችም! እባክዎን በፍላጎት እና በጥያቄዎች ቤቲያን ያግኙ! esthergarcete@gmail.com

የዓመት መጽሐፍት! ለልጅዎ የዓመት መጽሐፍ ማዘዝ ከፈለጉ፣ እባክዎ ይህን ሊንክ ይጠቀሙ። የዓመት መጽሐፍት ዋጋው 22 ዶላር ሲሆን በትምህርት አመቱ መጨረሻ ላይ ይሰራጫል።

PBES ማስታወቂያዎች፡ በ Chris Campbell፣ PBES VP Communications የተዘጋጀ

2ኛው የመዋኛ ክፍል በዚህ ሳምንት ለሁሉም ተማሪዎች ተጀምሯል። እባክዎን ልጅዎን በሚቀጥሉት ሶስት ሳምንታት በPE ቀን የመዋኛ ልብስ እና ፎጣ እንዲሆን ያስታውሱ። የመዋኛ ክፍሉ ከማርች 4 እስከ ማርች 22 ይቆያል። ልጅዎ የመዋኛ ልብስ የሚፈልግ ከሆነ እባክዎን ሚስተር ራስል ወይም የት/ቤታችን አማካሪዎችን ያግኙ።

PBES የሥዕል ቀን፡ ነገ፣ ረቡዕ፣ ማርች 6

የቤተሰብ ሕይወት ትምህርት ክፍል፡- ሐሙስ፣ መጋቢት 7፣ 5ኛ ክፍል የተንከባካቢዎች ስብሰባ ስለመጪው የቤተሰብ ሕይወት ትምህርት ክፍል

PBES የመድብለ ባህላዊ ምሽት በታኮማ ፓርክ መካከለኛ ደረጃ ት/ቤት መጋቢት 20

ምግብ ለማምጣት ለመመዝገብ ይህንን ሊንክ ይጠቀሙ፡- https://bit.ly/pbesfood

ለአፈጻጸም ለመመዝገብ ይህንን ሊንክ ይጠቀሙ፡ https://bit.ly/pbesperform

በዝግጅቱ ላይ በጎ ፈቃደኛ ለመሆን ለመመዝገብ ይህንን ሊንክ ይጠቀሙ፡- https://bit.ly/pbesvolunteer

የፀደይ ዕረፍት: መጋቢት 25-29

የPBES ትምህርት ቤት ዳሰሳ፡ ትምህርት ቤታችንን ለማሻሻል ይርዱ! የማስተማር ስራችንን ለማሻሻል እና ትምህርት ቤታችንን ለሁሉም ተማሪዎች እና ቤተሰቦች የበለጠ ምቹ ቦታ እንዲሆን እንፈልጋለን። ምን ማድረግ እንዳለብን እንድንረዳ እባክዎን ይህንን የዳሰሳ ጥናት ይሙሉ። 10 ደቂቃ ያህል ይወስዳል.

TPES የንባብ ማሻሻያ (አማንዳ ዋግነር)

የ TPES ንባብ-አ-ቶን 3ኛ ሳምንት። በግማሽ መንገድ ወደ ትምህርት ቤት የ200,000 ደቂቃዎች ግብ

ወደ ትምህርት ቤት ሰፊው ግብ ከደረሱ የፖፕኮርን ድግስ ይኖራል እና ለፓርቲው ፈቃደኛ ሠራተኞችን ይፈልጋሉ – ይከታተሉ!

ቤተሰብ እና ጓደኞች ገንዘብ እየገቡ ቢሆንም ሁሉም ተማሪዎች በንባብ ላይ መሳተፍ አለባቸው – የገንዘብ ማሰባሰብያ ክፍል አማራጭ ነው።

PBES የተነበበ-አ-ቶን ማሻሻያ (ክርስቲን ኦፕላኒክ)

የPBES ንባብ-አ-ቶን በመጽሐፍ ስጦታ ተጀመረ

ከ3 ሳምንታት የንባብ እና የምዝግብ ማስታወሻ በኋላ፣ 28ኛው የ2024 Readathon መገባደጃ ላይ ከክፍል ስብሰባዎች ጋር በመሆን የጋራ ስኬትን አከበሩ። ይህ ተማሪዎቹ የሚወዱትን PB-Jellyን ያካትታል።

PBES በአጠቃላይ 200,000 ደቂቃዎች የማንበብ ግቡን አልፏል። ተማሪዎቹ በአጠቃላይ 495,205 ደቂቃዎችን አንብበዋል!

3ኛ ክፍል ንባብ 135,557 ደቂቃዎች

4ኛ ክፍል የተነበበ 136,235 ደቂቃዎች

5ኛ ክፍል የተነበበ 225,937 ደቂቃዎች

በብዛት ያነበቡት እና የፒዛ ፓርቲን ያሸነፉ ክፍሎች፡-

3ኛ ክፍል፣ በአማካኝ 1,138 ደቂቃ በአንድ ተማሪ፣ ያንግ ክፍል

4ኛ ክፍል፣ በአማካኝ 1,548 ደቂቃዎች በአንድ ተማሪ፣ የፕሉመር ክፍል

5ኛ ክፍል፣በአማካኝ 2,271 ደቂቃዎች በተማሪዎች፣የኬኔይ ክፍል

የ3,000 ዶላር የገቢ ማሰባሰቢያ ግብ ሊጠናቀቅ ተቃርቧል።

ዛሬ: $2,570

እባኮትን ቃል የገቡትን ቃል/ክትትል ከስፖንሰሮች ጋር ለመጨረስ ይሞክሩ/በዚህ ሳምንት ለማዋጣት ካልቻሉ እና ካልቻሉ! https://pineybranchpta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/76287817

በድረ-ገጹ ላይ ለ Readathon የተለየ አማራጭ አለ.

እንደ አማራጭ ለPBES PTA የተሰራ ቼክ ወደ ትምህርት ቤቱ ቢሮ መላክ ይችላሉ።

PBES የጂኦቦውል ማሻሻያ (Justine Lassman)

የወላጅ በጎ ፈቃደኞች ይህንን ክስተት እንዲቻል አድርገውታል፣ እንደሌሎች ብዙ።

በሁለት ሳምንታት ውስጥ የጂኦቦውል ውድድር (መጋቢት 18 እና መጋቢት 19) ይካሄዳል. ተማሪዎ የትኛውን ቀን እንደሚወዳደር ከዚህ በታች ያግኙ።

መርዳት ከፈለጉ አሁንም አንዳንድ በጎ ፈቃደኞች ሊጠቀሙ ይችላሉ –

ለበጎ ፈቃደኝነት ወይም ለማንኛውም የጂኦቦውል ጥያቄዎች ያነጋግሩ፡ justinelassman@gmail.com

ለእያንዳንዱ ክፍል የጂኦቦውል ውድድር ቀናት እና ሰዓቶች፡-

ሰኞ መጋቢት 18 በጂም ውስጥ

9፡35-10፡35 ጥዋት ጂ. 4 (ኬሲ፣ ኤስኮው፣ ፕሉመር፣ ሴራ)

12፡00-1፡00 ፒ.ኤም. ግሬ. 5 (ኬኒ፣ ማድሰን፣ ፒኖክ፣ ቶልሰን)

1፡10-2፡10 ፒ.ኤም. ግሬ. 3 (ዱንላፕ፣ ጋዝዳ፣ ጆይ፣ ካንዴህ)

2፡20-3፡20 p.m. ግሬ. 3 (ክላክስተን፣ ጊልስ፣ ግራናዶስ፣ ሄርናንዴዝ፣ ወጣት)

ማክሰኞ፣ መጋቢት 19 በጂም ውስጥ

9፡35-10፡35 ጥዋት ጂ. 4 (ቦልደን፣ ኤበርሊ፣ ሊ፣ ፖርተር)

12፡00-1፡00 ፒ.ኤም. ግሬ. 5 (ብሩኪንግ፣ ካሪዩኪ፣ ሉከር፣ ፓትሪክ)

በመስመር ላይ የተማሪዎችን ደህንነት መጠበቅ (ሱዛን አንደርሰን፣ TPES ሚዲያ ስፔሻሊስት)

ስላይዶች እዚህ ይገኛሉ፡ https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1O2YDPIguj8Y5MopaK6ns-sfcFcvVS9EYx4KQHnKJgyI/edit?usp=sharing

በቤት ውስጥ ምን ማድረግ ይችላሉ

በትምህርት ቤት ውስጥ

የመስመር ላይ እንቅስቃሴ ቁጥጥር/የተጣራ ነው።

ተማሪዎች በMCPS መለያ መግባት አለባቸው

የMCPS ማጣሪያዎች ተማሪዎችን ተገቢ ካልሆኑ ድረ-ገጾች ይጠብቃቸዋል።

እንቅስቃሴ (የፍለጋ ታሪክ፣ ወዘተ) እና Google Drives ክትትል ይደረግባቸዋል

ሁሉም በ TPES እና PBES ያሉ ተማሪዎች የዲጂታል ዜግነት ትምህርቶችን እየተቀበሉ ነው – ብዙውን ጊዜ በመገናኛ ብዙሃን ባለሙያ (በ TPES በአብዛኛው ሱ አንደርሰን ነው። ወይዘሮ ኤድጋር በPBES ያስተምራቸዋል)

ትኩረት፡ አስተማማኝ እና ጤናማ ምርጫዎችን ማድረግ

ከኮመን ሴንስ ትምህርት ሥርዓተ ትምህርት ይጠቀማል

ከትምህርት ቤት ወደ ትምህርት ቤት ወጥነት ያለው ለመሆን ይሞክሩ

ቤት ውስጥ

MCPS በቤት ውስጥ ክትትል ወይም ማጣሪያ አይደለም

በቤትዎ ዋይፋይ ወይም ራውተር ላይ ገደቦችን ማዘጋጀት ይችላሉ።

ቴክኖሎጂ ሁሉንም ጉዳዮች ሊፈታ አይችልም, ስለዚህ ግምት ውስጥ ማስገባት አለብዎት:

ስለ ሕጎቹ እና ስለሚጠበቁት ነገር በመደበኛነት/በአክብሮት ከልጅዎ ጋር ይነጋገሩ፡

እነሱ የቴክኖሎጂ “ተወላጆች” እያደጉ ናቸው.

ዲጂታል አጠቃቀም ሁሉም “መጥፎ” እንዳልሆነ አጽንዖት ለመስጠት ያስታውሱ. ብዙ እንቅስቃሴዎች ለመማር፣ ለፈጠራ፣ ወዘተ ጠቃሚ ናቸው።

እራስን መቆጣጠርን ያበረታቱ

የቴክኖሎጂ እቅድ ያውጡ (የጋራ ግንዛቤ መመሪያ)

በቤተሰብ እሴቶች ላይ በመመስረት ደንቦችን/ገደቦችን ያቀናብሩ

ለምሳሌ፡ https://www.commonsensemedia.org/family-tech-plannersን ይጎብኙ

አብራችሁ አድርጉት።

ለልጆቻችሁ የምታደርጉትን ሞዴል አድርጉ

አስደሳች ይዘትን በጋራ ማጋራት ይረዳል

ቴክኖሎጂን አንድ ላይ ይፍጠሩ ለምሳሌ ፒያኖ ሲጫወቱ የሚያሳይ ቪዲዮ

ስለሚያዩት ነገር ተነጋገሩ እና በመስመር ላይ ይጫወታሉ

የደህንነት ምክሮች

ልጆች የእርስዎን ፍቃድ መጠየቅ አለባቸው – ሳይጠይቁ መሳሪያዎን መያዝ አይችሉም

ህጎችን እና ገደቦችን ያዘጋጁ – አስፈላጊ በሚሆንበት ጊዜ አይሆንም ይበሉ

መሣሪያውን በሚያዩበት ቦታ ይጠቀሙበት

የትኞቹን ጣቢያዎች/ጨዋታዎች እየተጠቀሙ እንደሆኑ ይወቁ

መገናኛ ክፈት – የማይመች ነገር ካዩ ሊነግሩዎት ይገባል። ተንከባካቢዎች እነዚህን ንግግሮች መቀበል አለባቸው።

TPES/MCPS ይዘት

ያለማስታወቂያ ነጻ የሆኑ ትምህርታዊ፣ አዝናኝ ድህረ ገጾች

አብዛኛዎቹ በClever afer ተማሪዎች ወደ MCPS አውታረመረብ ይገባሉ።

የሃብት ዝርዝር (እና የሚፈለጉ የይለፍ ቃሎች እዚህ https://bit.ly/TPESonline23) ያግኙ

ጥያቄ እና መልስ

ስለ minecraft ቪዲዮዎች ጥያቄ

Minecraft ቪዲዮዎች በዚህ እድሜ ላሉ ልጆች አግባብነት የሌላቸው ሊሆኑ ይችላሉ እና ልጆች እየተመለከቷቸው ከሆነ ወላጆች በክፍሉ ውስጥ መሆን አለባቸው.

ስለ Chromebooks ጥያቄ

ቤት ውስጥ chromebook ከፈለጉ፣ ኢሜል ያድርጉ፡ susan_g_anderson@mcpsmd.org

ለ wifi የተለየ ሂደት አለ። ቤት ውስጥ wifi ከፈለጉ በኢሜል ይላኩ እና የተማሪዎን አስተማሪ ይጠይቁ። ለ wifi መሙላት ፎርም ይሰጡዎታል።

የተማሪ መለያዎችን እንዴት ማግኘት ይቻላል፡-

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/schools/high-schools/k-q/paintbranchhs/uploadedfiles/news/student-accounts-and-access.pdf

ስፓኒሽ፡ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OqD1BLpP5fJ_zyOPgwK9cQp4E1D7ndlg9xXIBT3-1eg/ቅድመ እይታ

በChromebooks ላይ ስለደህንነት ጥበቃዎች ጥያቄ

በ TPES እና PBES ላይ በተማሪዎች Chromebooks ላይ ያለው ጥበቃ ተማሪዎች ክሮሞ መፅሐፎቻቸውን እቤት ውስጥ ሲጠቀሙ በራስ-ሰር እንደማይተላለፉ ያስታውሱ።

ስለ ክፍል ዶጆ ጥያቄ

ወደ ክፍል ዶጆ እንዴት እንደሚገቡ መረጃ ለማግኘት አስተማሪዎን ይጠይቁ

የበጀት ዝማኔዎች

TPES (ኤሚ ስዊፍት፣ TPES PTA ገንዘብ ያዥ)

በዚህ ወር 202 ዶላር መጣ

ወጪዎች የፔይፓል ክፍያዎችን ያካትታሉ። መዋጮ ሲያደርጉ (ጥሬ ገንዘብ፣ ቼክ ወይም ፔይፓል)፣ ፔይፓል ክፍያ እንደሚያስከፍል ያስታውሱ

ለሰራተኞች ድጋፍ ተጨማሪ ገንዘብ አውጥቷል (የቫለንታይን ቀን ፣ የውሃ አቅርቦት ፣ የምሳ ካርድ ለ paypal ቡድን)

ፒቢኤስ (ራቻኤል ፒሮቲ፣ ፒቢኤስ ፒቲኤ ገንዘብ ያዥ)

ጥቂት ተጨማሪ የማበረታቻ ልገሳ እና ለ readathon የገንዘብ ማሰባሰብ በዚህ ወር ልገሳዎችን ከፍ አድርጓል።

ወጪዎቹ የ BTSN ሕጻናት እንክብካቤ፣ የፔይፓል ስሜት፣ ወዘተ ያካትታሉ።

ቀጣዩ የPTA ስብሰባ

የሚቀጥለው የPTA ስብሰባ ኤፕሪል 2 በ 7 ፒኤም ይካሄዳል

 

joycekmcdonough@gmail.com

February 2024 PTA Meeting Minutes

/in /by

Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)
Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES)
Parent & Teacher Meeting (PTA)
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 from 7 – 8pm on Zoom 

Meeting Kick-off 

Ingrid Gardiner, PBES PTA President welcome

  • Intro to topics to be discussed
  • Desiree Hernandez will be translating in Spanish, we do not have an Amharic interpreter today. Notes will be shared in English/Spanish/Amharic.
  • Reminder: PBES suggestion/feedback form at this link.  Please give feedback regarding upcoming meetings or other PTA suggestions/ideas

Upcoming Dates & Announcements

TPES ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Read by Clare Dean, TPES PTA Vice President

  • Support a TPES Family During a Time of Crisis: On behalf of a dear kindergarten student at TPES and his family, Ms. Paz has created a GoFundMe page. His mother, 26 year old María, passed suddenly from complications due to her leukemia. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the cause, Ms. María Vicente Chan’s children chaperoned by Ms. Paz returned her to Guatemala for burial. The medical and funeral expenses unfortunately still linger and any further contributions are enormously appreciated. Click here to contribute to the GoFundMe. 
  • Black History Night is on February 29th at PBES! We are looking for six volunteers from TPES to help with set up, food, clean up and the art table. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Gabrielle Williams. We will put her information in the chat. (gabriellefouche@gmail.com). 
  • TPES Read-a-thon is coming soon and NEEDS VOLUNTEERS: February 19-March 15: The Read-a-thon is one of our PTA’s most significant fundraisers, where students will read to raise funds for the PTA. Like in a charity marathon where runners are “sponsored” for every mile they run, students will collect pledges for the time that they read. It’s a lot of fun! The students get very excited to read and set reading goals. Volunteer roles only take a few hours and many can be done from home! Our most important volunteer need right now is on Friday, February 16th for the book giveaway! Even if you can’t commit to a whole time slot, we appreciate even an hour of your time! You can sign up to volunteer on this linked spreadsheet. Please contact Amanda Wagner (helloamandawagner@gmail.com) for more information.
  • Does Your Child Have Extra Pants in Their School Cubby? Please send in labeled pants with your child to stay in their cubby in case a change of clothing is needed. Most children only have shorts from the beginning of the year as their change of clothes. Please label your student’s clothing as it helps get the items returned if misplaced.
  • Lost and Found: Please come check out the lost and found! Most coats are now hanging on a coat rack, while there are three (large and overflowing) boxes of sweatshirts, sweaters, fleeces and lunch boxes. There is another separate box of water bottles and finally, a box of hats, gloves and scarves. Everything is located in the atrium (pictures attached for reference). We ask that if your child has lost something this year, to please come look for it, as there are a significant number of items. Please remember your ID when you come to school so that you may get in.
  • Nurse Seeking Donations of New/Excellent Condition Pants (Sizes 4-10): Please consider sending in an extra pair of pants for the nurse’s office. Not only do bathroom accidents happen, children need to change their pants if they fall in the mud/wet grass, spills in the cafeteria, etc. As a Pre K-2 school, we have lots of change of clothing needs! 
  • Valentine’s Day: When sending valentines in with your child, be sure there is a valentine for every child in the homeroom class. Unfortunately, students without a full set will not be permitted to pass out valentines. This is being done to safeguard the emotional health of our children. Teachers will be sending home class lists soon.
  • Yearbook Ordering is Now Open: If you’d like to order a yearbook for your child, please use this link. Yearbooks cost $22 and will be distributed at the end of the school year. 

PBES ANNOUNCEMENTS: ready by Ingrid Gardiner, PBES PTA President

  • February is Black History Month! TPES/PBES Black History Night Celebration: February 29, 7–8 pm – The Black History Night event will take place on Thursday February 29 from 7 to 8:00 PM at PBES, cosponsored by the TPES and PBES PTAs. Expect live interactive performances, refreshments, and engaging art activities. Students and their families/caregivers are welcome! More details to be provided in the coming weeks.
  • February 19: No school (President’s Day)
  • Cultural Heritage Night, GeoBowl, and Readathon updates will be provided by the committee members after the announcements
  • Here is the sign up link to bring some Valentines treats for PBES staff on Feb 13: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4DA4AC28A4F49-47660610-velentines#/

Budget Updates, TPES and PBES

Amy Swift, TPES PTA Treasurer 

Zones of Regulation

Ms. Altofer . TPES Counselor 

Overview – Zones of Regulation is an SEL curriculum originally developed for small groups of students with autism or sensory processing issues. We are however seeing more and more children with self regulation challenges.

  • Mr Altofer and Ms. Ampofo are working with this curriculum (Zones of Regulation) this year. 
  • Breaks feelings into color zones.
  • Will be continuing to refine lessons and have consistency throughout classrooms/school.

Q: Are there ways we as parents can support what you are doing at school?

A: You can have conversations with your student at home if they are becoming unregulated or getting close to a tantrum, ask what color they are in. Reinforce that red is not good/bad but means out of control. Remind them that not everyone experiences their feelings the same, there isn’t a right/wrong, just a difference of opinion.

Q: If this was originally developed for kids on the autism spectrum, how appropriate is this curriculum for kids who are not on the spectrum (which presumably is most kids)?

A: It was developed for that purpose but has been used in school/clinical settings with students with ADHD, students with regulatory issues. 

This is something that is good for all children, it was just designed for children originally for kids on the spectrum. “A good strategy is a good strategy”

From chat: I rarely get details from my kids about what they learn daily, but my kindergartner and 2nd grader fell all over themselves to tell us everything about the zones of regulation!

Q: I really appreciate the focus on zones of regulation this year. How it the zones curriculum being balanced with other guidance curriculum that covers other topics?

A: This year, this is the curriculum we are using. Next year we will incorporate mindfulness into zones. 

Q:Is this tool being used in PBES as well so students can maintain a consistent approach as they age up?

A: No, but it is available. Choice was made to use it at TPES based on what counselors/staff were seeing and what seemed appropriate.

Q: What trends post-pandemic are you seeing? Particular grades or throughout?

A: Throughout school. My sense that it was from being out of school, being on screen, then having to transition back. The social skills foundation and general frustration tolerance has decreased. In any given year, there is a handful demonstrating this but we are seeing more and more, behaviors are getting bigger, more students are becoming physically aggressive, etc.

Black History Month celebration – no presentation this evening

Reminder: The celebration is Feb 29th at PBES

THANK YOU

Mrs Oberdorff: Thank you to all the volunteers for GeoBowl and Readathon

Dr Gadsden: Thank you for everyone volunteering for lunch, recess, and at school, and for your smiles when you come in.

Ingrid Gardiner,  PBES PTA President

  • Reminder that next PTA meeting will be on March 5 at 7 PM 

Additional Q&A:

Q:Is there a “no-school day” on Tuesday, May 14th?

A: May 14th is a Holiday with schools and offices closed for Primary Election Day.



joycekmcdonough@gmail.com

January 2024 PTA Meeting Minutes

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Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)
Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES)
Parent & Teacher Meeting (PTA)
Rescheduled: Thursday, January 18, 2024 from 7 – 8pm on Zoom 

Agenda will include:
(1) Upcoming TPES and PBES dates and announcement
(2) Update about Black History Month events
(3) Presentations by Dr. Gadsden (Principal of TPES) and Ms. Oberdorf (Principal of PBES) on protocol and processes for virtual school in the case of inclement weather.
(4) Q&A

7:00 PM: Meeting Kick-off 

Kaitlin Caruso, TPES PTA President welcome

7:05 PM: Upcoming Dates & Announcements
Joyce McDonough, TPES PTA VP Communications
Chris Campbell – PBES PTA VP Communications 

TPES Announcements: 

  • Little Scholars Club Registration Extended through Sunday, January 21, 8pm for Cheerleading, Hip Hop, and Mini Med

We have been working with Little Scholars to ensure improved programming this winter session. If a class is no longer listed, it is full. Please click here or on the attached flyer to register. 

  • Next Food Forest and Gardening PTA Committee on Wednesday, January 24th 8-9PM

To learn about planting in the spring, Spring Gardening Club update; and Green School recertification. Please email Erin Mohan mohan.erin.m@gmail.com for the Google Meet link.

  • Green School Certification at TPES: Bring in dried-up markers and used-up glue sticks

There are 2 boxes in the Atrium, one for dried-up markers and one for used-up glue sticks. Please send your used items in with your child! They’ll be sent to be recycled once the boxes are full! Let’s see how many pounds of plastics we can prevent from going into our landfills! 

  • Volunteers Needed to Coordinate TPES/PBES Soccer Spring Event

This spring the TPES and PBES PTAs hope to hold a soccer game event to bring together our school community. If you are interested in helping to make this happen, please reach out to Kaitlin Caruso (president@tpespta.net) 

    • Thanks to our parent volunteer, Alfia Ali, we have an active Amharic-language WhatsApp group for TPES parents. We also have a Spanish-language WhatsApp group, led by Ms. Paz. Help us spread the word! 
  • Advice on Lice. We are still having reported cases of lice at the school. You may have noticed that our PTA is including tips in our weekly newsletters to keep lice front of mind. We have also purchased some medicated shampoos and combs for the nurse to distribute to families who may need them. 
  • Blair HS has their STEM night for Grades K-5 on January 26th, 
  • There is NO school on January 29th. 

PBES Announcements: 

    • The Geography Bowl has begun! Packets should have come home with you children with maps of Africa and The Americas and questions about these regions. For anyone unfamiliar with the GeoBowl it’s a voluntary opportunity for kids to develop an enthusiasm for geography and create school spirit through team competitions. The packets are completed outside of class time and the classroom with the highest percentage of completed packets gets a donut party 🙂 You can learn more about the GeoBowl on the PBES PTA website HERE, including important dates:
      • Monday, January 22 4pm-5pm and Thursday, January 25 8am-9am packet completion help at school for those kids interested in getting support completing their GeoBowl packets 
      • Thursday, February 1st Final day to turn in completed packets
      • Monday, February 5th All corrected packets will be returned to classrooms
      • Please consider volunteering by filling out this FORM. 
  • TPES/PBES Soccer Spring Event: reach out to Sara Lewis at serowe@gmail.com if interested in participating through PBES.
  • Little Scholars Club Registration is open through Sunday, January 21st. Scholarship applications are now closed. We are accepting donations to help cover the cost of scholarships for the Spring Semester of after school programming. Link here to make a donation.
  • January 24: Instrumental music concerts at TPMS: 6:00 p.m. Strings Concert, 7:00 p.m. Band Concert. Family and friends are invited to attend. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Mrs. Pratt at Stacia_A_Pratt@mcpsmd.org.

Amanda Wagner from TPES and Leanne from PBES will now share a special announcement about the Read-a-thon at each school.

  • Read-a-thon is a schoolwide event to encourage kids to read over a period of three weeks.
    • TPES: starts February 14
    • PBES: starts February 2
  • Parents submit their readathon minute trackers back on fridays; win pizza party for most read
  • Book giveaway on first day, starting book collection next week
  • Families may submit donations for every minute or book read. Will be sending home information.
  • How to participate (both schools)
    • Book collection: Donate books for the book giveaway, particularly books in Spanish
    • Parent volunteers
      • Help with book giveaway
      • Tally minute trackers
    • More information coming soon
  • Contact information:

7:15 PM: Update from NAACP Representatives and PTA leadership regarding Black History Month Events

Gabrielle Williams, TPES PTA NAACP Representative
Ingrid Gardiner, PBES PTA President 

  • Theme: Blacks in the Arts
  • Solidifying date for the event at the end of February
  • Will be held at PBES
  • Planned for the event:
    • Food
    • Dance troupe
    • Opportunities for student involvement
  • More details coming soon

7:25 PM: Protocol and Processes for Virtual Schooling In the Case of School Closures Due to Inclement Weather (Including time for Q & A)
Ms. Joi Hollis, Principal of TPES
Ms. Christine Oberdorf, Principal of PBES 

  • Dr. Gadsden will stay on the call at the end for further questions
  • Slide Deck
  • MCPS Operating Status
    • Color coded system (LINK)
    • Multi-step process for making the decision to close (LINK)
      • Team tracking weather data and what surrounding districts are doing
  • Code Purple: Virtual Learning (LINK)
    • Only happens under certain conditions
      • Predictable storm/event
      • Part of multi-day event
      • Prior preparation and communication has taken place – school will know by noon the day before
    • Get Ready announcement will be sent from school
    • Required to have live (synchronous) instruction on 2-hour delay schedule
    • Attendance taken: maximize flexibility if difficulty during sign-on
    • There will be opportunities to make up work missed if unable to be online
    • Chromebook: must have access to a device for live instruction
      • Request device (link)
      • MCPS ITS handles the distribution
        • Tech days
          • TPES: Wednesdays
          • PBES: Fridays
      • MiFi device – request through school principal
      • Technology support resources (LINK)
      • Additional Tech Supports: School will send the resources via email when having a Code Purple day
      • Advance planning: Ensure you can find Canvas and Clever – look at documents and check with teachers/child to find out if child knows their signon details
      • Sign up for MCPS alerts (LINK)
    • Meal service: offered at 20 sites thru county; MCPS will communicate where these will be
    • TPES Schedules
      • Separate schedules for each grade
        • Start: 11:05
        • Lunch: 12:05-12:40
        • K: will not have specials – many movement breaks
        • User-friendly icons (teacher faces) to help out students and families
          • Hub to click on your grade level to take you to the slide deck with your child’s grade.
    • PBES Schedules
      • Start: 11:05
      • Lunch: 12:45-1:30
      • Follow pod and teacher within grid
      • Specialists will use the teacher zoom link to keep from switching rooms
    • Can assign chromebooks the day before the code purple if needed

Q&A

  • How TPES kids move from classrooms for homeroom/math: Canvas landing page will have zoom link and their schedule; TPES working out how to handle math transitions; Students will switch virtual classrooms for reading if they have Ms. Wade.
  • Snow days: only 2 built into the calendar. Unsure what January 29 or spring break will look like yet. MCPS may ask the state for special dispensation to avoid makeup days.
  • Do students have to logon to a MCPS device? Everything can be accessed through student’s google account. No need for a specific device from MCPS.
  • Canvas: do students know how to use it? Students are familiar with accessing it.
  • Chromebook tech issues: send device to school and IT will troubleshoot. 
    • Tech days
      • TPES: wednesday
      • PBES: friday
      • Send in the device (not charger) with a note of the issue
      • Not always immediate reply; will try to turn around based on availability 
  • Students sign in to Google with their ID and .net email. For example: 123456@mcpsmd.net. Then they input the same password they use in school.
  • Passwords and logins: if students don’t remember, call the office
  • Preferable for kids to be on their own computer rather than having several kids on one projector/device.

7:50 PM: Budget Updates
Amy Swift, TPES PTA Treasurer
Rachael Pierotti, PBES PTA Treasurer

  • TPES include link to document?
    • Through December 31, 2023
    • Ahead because of Dolphin Drive, Read-a-thon, Dolphin Gear
  • PBES include link to document?
    • Fundraising same as last year
    • Working on getting more business sponsorships
    • Bookfair expenses
    • Holiday treats, etc. 
    • Total expenses: $15,086

7:55 PM: THANK YOU: Kaitlin Caruso, TPES PTA President 

Reminder that next meeting is Tuesday, February 6, 2024

General questions:

  • Are they learning how to access Canvas at school? Teachers are teaching this based on their tech level; making as much of the navigation visual.
  • Lost and found: ideas to organize? Teachers borrow from the lost & found when someone needs a coat; they try to reconnect kid with coat when possible; appreciate any help with that; Parents: take an inventory and come by the school to go through the atrium
    • Possible ways to help
      • PTA take photos and send on listserv
      • Donation of coat racks for better organization?
      • Want to ensure everyone gets their things back before donating this year. 
      • There is a supply of available hats/gloves/coats at PBES that they give out when they see a need.
  • Tomorrow (January 19) is NOT a virtual day. Building will not be accessible.
  • PTA will try to hold a session on how to log in for virtual learning, on MCPS Chromebook and non-MCPS device.
joycekmcdonough@gmail.com

December 2023 PTA Meeting Minutes

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Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)
Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES)
Parent & Teacher Meeting (PTA)
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 from 7 – 8pm on Zoom 

Agenda: 

(1) Upcoming TPES and PBES dates and announcements
(2) Presentations by PBES reading specialist (Mr. Bledsoe), Math Coach (Mrs. Faulk), and Staff Development Teacher (Java Robinson) and TPES Principal and Vice Principal (Dr. Gadsden/Ms Hollis) with resources, tools, and activities to help kids at home depending on which areas kids may need help with based on report cards.
(3) Q&A

7:00 PM: Meeting Kick-off 

Ingrid Gardiner, PBES PTA President welcome

  • Intro to topics to be discussed
  • Reminder: PBES suggestion/feedback form at this link in chat asking for folks to give feedback regarding upcoming meetings or other PTA suggestions/ideas. Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffIWOOmTZloAzFJHnvKrJiRaD-hNiRRt-18VfwFjZyZgWTmg/viewform

7:05 PM: Upcoming Dates & Announcements

TPES ANNOUNCEMENTS: Claire Dean, TPES PTA Vice President

    • Online Book Fair:  TPES PTA is partnering with Bookworm Central for both an online and on-site Book Fair.  The online book fair is available right now.  Link: https://www.bookwormcentral.com/TakomaPark  You may also purchase books to go directly to the media center – see link on page. If you order books by December 8, they will arrive by December 22.  TPES PTA receives 15% of all proceeds from the online book fair.  
    • TPES Merchandise:  If you would like to purchase some TPES merchandise for the holidays or winter season, please contact TPES PTA VP Claire Dean.  If you are interested in TPES merchandise before the holidays, please send me an email to coordinate at VP@tpespta.net.  You can check out our online book fair at: https://www.bookwormcentral.com/TakomaPark. You can see the full list of available titles by clicking the “Books” tab at the top of the fair page. You can also help Ms. Anderson and the Media get the books they need by purchasing from the Library’s Book Fair Drive. Those books will go right to the Media Center’s collection. Let’s get reading!
    • The Health Room needs change of clothing donations for boys, girls and non-binary clothing sizes 4-10, specifically, underwear (new only), pants and shirts. As a PK-2 school, we have several accidents throughout the week where children need a change of clothes. 
  • Thank you – the TPES Holiday drive was fulfilled. All spots were taken for the holiday toy drive. The PTA encourages donations to STM toy drive and City of Takoma Park’s 2023 Toy Drive:

Small Things Matter’s Holiday Toy Drive:  https://smallthingsmatter.org/

City of Takoma Park’s 2023 Toy Drive:  https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/police/services-and-programs/2021-toy-drive/

  • Reminder to make sure your child has a change of seasonal-appropriate clothing kept in the classroom (top, pants, underwear, and socks). 

7:10 PM:  Dolphin Drive Update, Diana Hickey van Houwelingen, VP of Fundraising

Exceeded goal: $11,077; including Thanksgiving match partners = $14,077 total

7:12 PM:  Budget Updates

Amy Swift, TPES PTA Treasurer

Most of the income this month was from Dolphin Drive.

Rachael Pierotti, PBES PTA Treasurer

PBES also surpassed the goal for Panther Appeal.

 7:20 PM:  Report Cards – Tools, Resources, and Activities Presentation

TPES – Dr. Gadsden and Ms. Hollis

Resources for supporting math and reading at home

Link to presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1x632rIFm-coLytxlrAWhGshv3LLAWvCMwJ43GSqfxes/edit?usp=sharing

Families can print reading resources information at home. If you don’t have print capabilities at home, you can email reading specialist Ms. Jennifer Fahrenthold: Jennifer_Fahrenthold@mcpsmd.org.

Math coach: Samikia East: Samikia_East@mcpsmd.org.

Questions during presentation: 

Q: Dr Gadsden showed an online portal for DIBELS. How do we access that? We only got a printout at our parent-teacher conference. 

A: The Home Connect website is listed at the bottom of the second page of the DIBELS report, and is also available at https://mclass.amplify.com/homeconnect/.  If you have any additional questions, please email Jennifer_Fahrenthold@mcpsmd.org.

Q: Math question: For students who complain about having to make drawings when they can solve problems in their head, how can parents explain to them why these strategies are important? 

A: Please let students know it is great that you know how to answer problems in their head, however, there are many ways to solve a problem and the teacher wants to see what strategies you used to solve your work that is why it is important to show your work.  The teacher might have a question about your work but you left for the day and if you show your work they can look at your work to get their question answered.

Q: When we observed during the open house, the teacher was using leveled readers typical of a balanced literacy approach, which surprised me given the move by MCPS to the science of reading.  Do classrooms need more decodable texts?  And could the PTA support this? Or, is the goal to use a mix of leveled readers and decodable books?  

A: Thank you for your kind offer, but we have an excellent selection of decodable books.  Teachers have access to both decodable readers and books that are not designed as decodable readers so that they can select the type of book that is most appropriate for the task the teacher is envisioning. If you have any additional questions, please email Jennifer_Fahrenthold@mcpsmd.org.

Q: Does TPES also have access to restorative justice training? 

A: We have a Restorative Justice Coach who trains staff.

PBES – Reading Specialist- Mr. Bledsoe, Math Coach-Mrs. Faulk, Staff Development Teacher-Java Robinson
Ms. Faulk, Math Coach: presentation on how you can support your child at home
Mr. Bledsoe, reading specialist: presentation on helping your child with reading at home. Email: Robert_Bledsoe@mcpsmd.org
Java Robinson, Staff Development Teacher: Presentation on Restorative Justice & Minority Scholars Program

Link to presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1se8TuxMn-Zc1LsexjtT7kYDTOjIcZHGfZE6VuWduTEE/edit?usp=sharing

7:45 PM:  Q&A

Facilitated by Chris Campbell, PBES VP of Communications and Aphra Adkins, PBES PTA VP

Form will be filled out and shared.

7:59 PM: THANK YOU

Ingrid Gardiner,  PBES PTA President

  • Reminder that next meeting will be on January 8 at 7 PM
joycekmcdonough@gmail.com

November 2023 PTA Meeting Minutes

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Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)
Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES)
Parent & Teacher Meeting (PTA)
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 from 7-8pm on Zoom
Meeting Minutes

Agenda included: (1)Upcoming Dates & Announcements (2)Dreambox Presentation by Samikia East (3)Wait Until Eighth Presentation by Amber Rieke (4) Treasurer’s Reports and Budget Votes

7:00 PM: Meeting Kick-off  – Kaitlin Caruso, TPES PTA President 

Upcoming Dates & Announcements (Read by Joyce McDonough, TPES VP Communications) 

Takoma Park Elementary PTA 

  • The Dolphin Drive Begins! (Please refer to Diana to make announcement) 

November is coming and it’s time for our annual Dolphin Drive!  This year we aim to raise $10,000 for the PTA.  With your support we can continue to provide programs and opportunities for our students at TPES.  Be on the lookout for more information about how you can participate and show your school spirit!  Go, Dolphins!

Flyers and envelopes will be coming home with children in the Dolphin folders, if not already. Envelope: write the child’s and teacher’s name on the website. Donations also accepted at https://tpespta.net/donations/fall-2023-dolphin-drive/

  • Bring in Magazines for the Counseling Office 

Students will be creating collages to help identify emotions and understand zones of regulation by cutting out examples of people experiencing different emotions from magazines this week. Please send in magazines with people that could be useful for these collages.

  • TPES Open House: Friday, November 10, 9:30-11:30AM

Some classes will do their normal activities, others may have special events. Teachers will determine the format of the event and how parents will engage.

  • Reminder: Respect Road Signs

As a reminder, there is no left turn at the exit of the school parking lot onto Holly Ave during school hours. There has been additional congestion at drop off/dismissal, including buses not being able to drive through, due to cars trying to turn left onto Holly Ave from the TPES parking lot.  

  • Small Things Matter and TPES/PBES Annual Coat Drive 

The school is partnering with Small Things Matter for its annual Coat Drive! The drive runs until November 15. Please bring new or gently used coats to the designated box in the main office during school hours. All PBES and TPES families are invited to get coats on Tuesday November 7 at the TPSS Coop and again at a later date (to be announced soon).

  • TPES will have Hearing & Vision screenings from November 6th through the 9th from 9:30am to 3pm. The school is in need of several volunteers to help the health room staff escort students from the classrooms to the screening location and back. Please let Ms. Paz know if you are available to assist during this important screening (Johanna_A_Paz@mcpsmd.org). 
  • There will be HALF DAYS on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week and NO SCHOOL November 22-24, 2023. 

Piney Branch Elementary PTA 

  • Panther Appeal Update: Thanks to All Who Contributed

Appeal is over, a big thank you to everyone who donated! Your support makes everything the PTA does possible!.  We are getting close to our goal and hope that our silent auction gets us to the $10K goal

  • On November 9 the PTA is hosting a Community Celebration from 7-8:30 pm, where we will thank our PBES Family and Friends for their support and participation in our vibrant community. There will be a silent auction, raffle, pizza, and a “Why I Love Piney Branch” group art project. The PTA needs volunteers for our PBES Community Celebration on November 9th! 

The event will have a group art project for students, a silent auction, pizza and raffle prizes! Bidding for silent auction items will close online at 630pm the night of and continue in person at the event.

Please fill out this SignUp Genius if you are able to volunteer. 

  • Feedback Needed: After-school Programs

Please complete this survey  to help the PTA plan future after-school programming. We are interested in your feedback, whether you have participated in the past or are interested in participating in the future.

  • Thank you to Adanna Johnson for volunteering to serve as an NAACP representative for PBES! 

We are looking for one additional NAACP representative to share responsibilities with Adanna. The NAACP representatives attend monthly meetings (or ensures PBES representation at monthly meetings), share important information from the Parents’ Council with the school community, and help to plan/support outreach events/activities at PBES. Please reach out to Sara Lewis (serowe@gmail.com) if you are willing to serve in this capacity.

For all volunteers: MCPS Volunteer Training and support guide – please complete this before you are scheduled to volunteer: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1URJRNYdUyL0ghVzZ32xLqPmkE7IwUvcRF2qid89ojA/preview

7:10 PM: Dreambox Presentation and Q & A

  • Samikia East, Staff Development Teacher, TPES
    • Link to presentation
    • Dreambox is a digital math program that K-3 students have access to at home and at school that complements the Eureka curriculum.
    • Empowers teachers and parents with actionable data
    • Students are encouraged to use it at home without assistance.
    • Role of the Learning Guardian
      • Ensure technical compatibility: PC, laptop, or ipad. Up to date browsers: Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Ipad app. Not compatible with android tablets, iphones
      • Username, password, classroom id comes from teacher. Student will know their picture password.
      • 5+ lessons per week, to be completed both at home and at school. Set this expectation with student.
      • Support best practices: student is the only person playing on the child’s account. It’s ok to make mistakes. Use Help and hint buttons. 15 minutes per lesson; turn on volume
    • Creating free Dreambox Math Family Account
      • Some lessons at home, some in class. This account will help know what’s been done at school
      • Login to the child’s account. Select Set Up Parent Access link. 
      • Cannot create account from ipad app
      • Enter email and create a password for parent account
      • Forgot your password link is on the login page
      • Once logged in, parent can monitor child’s progress
    • Priority for Eureka worksheets or Dreambox? To work out with the student’s math teacher. Dreambox sessions are short. May rotate what the student does each evening.
    • All data kept in house by the teacher.
    • Very little data is linked to student’s account; secure
    • Is there an offline version? Can choose to do the Eureka workbook instead of Dreambox. Research shows 5+ lessons per week can improve results. Students not on screens every day at school; MAP growth scores increased with Dreambox use.
    • How do Eureka and Dreambox relate? Both are Common Core based. Eureka may not get to all concepts covered by testing; Dreambox can
    • Logins were sent home previously; Ms. East will remind teachers to send again.
    • Joyce McDonough comment: Just wanted to name for PBES families, especially our 4th and 5th grade families, that TPES PTA purchased subscriptions for all K-3 students to address learning loss during the pandemic but the program can be used for older students. It’s an adaptive program that adapts to the skills and needs of your child.
    • Dreambox is adaptive depending on where the student is. Goes through K-8 skills
    • Tutor Me: TPES is not supporting the program this year.

7:25 PM: Wait Until Eighth Presentation and Q & A

  • Amber Rieke, Health & Wellness Committee, TPES PTA
    • Fellow parent; presented last year on Wait Until Eighth
    • Conversation started last year and picking it back up
    • Wait Until Eighth is a national campaign www.waituntil8th.org 
    • Focused on smartphones because of social media/internet access
    • Many studies coming out about social media and mental health of youth – suggest not helpful and could be harmful; health advisories released by APA and other organizations
    • Seeing increasing issues with tech at school being a distraction; mostly smart watches
    • www.waituntil8th.org/why-wait: links to research on how smartphones are changing childhood
    • Organization set up a pledge to sign to agree not to give child a smartphone until at least 8th grade; helpful to have the norm to avoid the peer pressure of other families giving smartphones.
    • Considering setting up something similar for TPES and PBES families; open to ideas on how to address the pressures. Ensure that it is something that is sustainable into the middle school years.
    • https://bit.ly/pta_waituntil8th – survey to submit ideas and provide feedback. Please complete by November 26. Will circulate in PTA newsletter and elsewhere. 
    • Amber.Rieke@gmail.com: Amber’s email for additional questions
    • Resources for parents of high school age children? Many resources on the wait until 8th website
    • https://www.childrenandscreens.com/

7:40 PM: Treasurer’s Reports & Budget Votes

  • Amy Swift, TPES PTA Treasurer
    • Votes: 
      • Using Square and PayPal charity accounts for collecting payments, both in person and online links
        • Motion passes
      • Increases to budget expenses
        • General Expenses
        • Outreach & Social Events: buying merch, fund events
        • PTA Administrative: copier expenses, CPA for tax processing
        • Subtotal School Programs: 
        • Staff Support: water cooler, etc.
          • Motion passes
    • FInancial Review completed and submitted to Free State PTA
  • Rachael Pierotti, PBES PTA Treasurer
    • Changes
      • Panther appeal is complete, except the silent auction; over $8000 collected so far
      • PBES received a grant
    • Expenses: Aquarium, staff support, pta operations b/c paypal fees
    • Book fair closed but will see the funds next month; not income for the PTA.

7:55 PM: Closing Remarks 

  • Kaitlin Caruso, TPES PTA President 
  • Reminder that next meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 5th
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