February 5, 2024 – Dolphin Digest TPES PTA Weekly Newsletter

February PTA Meeting Tomorrow: Tuesday, February 6, 7-8pm
Our February joint-PTA meeting will take place via Zoom tomorrow evening! Hear about our Black History Month celebration. Also, Mr. Althofer, TPES Guidance Counselor will join us to discuss the Zones of Regulation curriculum. Zoom link will be sent Tuesday afternoon via email.
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.
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! We will need volunteers to staff the book give-away, tally minutes read, and organize teacher thank-you events. You can sign up to volunteer on thislinked spreadsheet. Please contact Amanda Wagner (helloamandawagner@gmail.com) for more information.
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 in the coming weeks in preparation for the Valentine’s Day card exchange.
Yearbook Ordering is Now Open
If you’d like to order a year book for your child, please use this link. Yearbooks cost $22 and will be distributed at the end of the school year.
Lost and Found
TPES Lost and Found was organized last week, and it’s waiting for you to come claim your child’s belongings! 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.
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.
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!
Share Your Input on the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) Program
Take this five-minutesurveyto share your feedback on the MCPS and Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) Community Engagement Officer (CEO) program.
Inclement Weather Communication and Make-up Days Feedback
Please provide your feedbackon communication around inclement weather that may impact school operations. MCPS would also like to hear your preferences on how MCPS approaches inclement weather make-up days.
Tell MCPS What You Think About the Food
The Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) is collecting feedback on what you want to see on school menus. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey. Survey results will directly impact menu development.
National School Counseling Week: February 5-9
National School Counseling Week 2024 will be celebrated February 5-9, 2024, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. Consider sharing a note with our counselors, Mr. Altholfer and Ms. Ampofo, about how they impact you and your student’s life!
Green School Recertifcation atTPES: 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! We will send them to be recycled once the boxes are full! Let’s see how many pounds of plastics we can prevent from going into our landfills!
UpcomingTPESEvents 
February 5-9: National School Counseling Week
February 6: Joint PTA Meeting
February 14: Valentine’s Day
February 19: No School – President’s Day
February 19-March 15: TPES Read-a-thon
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