In this issue:
1. REMINDER: NO SCHOOL TOMORROW – ELECTION DAY
2. May PTA Meeting Minutes
3. 2024-2025 TPES PTA Executive Committee Openings
4. Dress for Field Day THIS WEEK: May 13, 15, 16
5. TPES vs. PBES Soccer Game NEW DATE: Thursday, May 23, 6:15pm
6. THANK YOU for Contributing to Teacher Appreciation Week
7. TPES Art Show Help Needed to Hang Student Art
8. Parent Input for Next Year’s Class
9. Incoming Kindergarten Parent Meeting: May 30, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
10. Second Grade Promotion Save the Date: June 10
1. REMINDER: NO SCHOOL TOMORROW, Tuesday, 5/14 – ELECTION DAY
On the ballot include: U.S. Senate candidate, U.S. House Representative (including our 8th district), Montgomery County School Board (1 at-large seat and our District 4)
2. May PTA Meeting Minutes
Meeting minutes for our PTA meeting last week can be
found here and includes upcoming dates, an update about TPES’s Food Forest, class assignment information from principals, and treasurer’s report. (Notes not available from breakout rooms.)
3. 2024-2025 TPES PTA Executive Committee Openings
Several parents are staying on to serve another term but others have reached term limits or will no longer have children at TPES, so the following positions are open:
Executive Secretary
Membership Secretary
VP Communications
VP Membership
VP Fundraising
VP Equity
You can find descriptions here: https://tpespta.net/get-involved/tpes-pta-volunteer-descriptions/
Non-board roles are also vital and many volunteers are ageing out of TPES so we have several needs:
NAACP Representative
Room Parent Coordinator
Teacher/Staff Appreciation Committee Co-Chair
Book Fair Committee Co-Chair
Social Services Coordinator
We need YOU! Our PTA is vital part of TPES, helping to provide necessary supplies to teachers and the school, providing opportunities for afterschool enrichment (including scholarships for students to participate), planning community-building events and organizing additional learning opportunities, such as assemblies and providing funding for field trips. Without parent volunteers, this work can’t happen, so please consider stepping up, even if you can only commit a certain amount of time!
Please reach out to Kaitlin, Claire, or Amy with any questions or interest: president@tpespta.net. Elections will take place at our June 4 PTA meeting!
4. Dress for Field Day THIS WEEK: May 13, 15, 16
Children should wear closed toed shoes appropriate for running, and they may get wet (not soaked) during water activities so dress appropriately!
5. TPES vs. PBES Soccer Game NEW DATE: Thursday, May 23, 6:15pm
Please join us Thursday, May 23rd at Washington Adventist University for a friendly soccer game between the staff and parents of TPES vs. the staff and parents of PBES! The game will begin at 6:15 PM and there will be a dance party on the field after the game (around 7 PM) for kids and families! There will be pizza for $1 a slice while supplies last (we encourage you to bring cash, as well as your water bottles!) and to wear merchandise or school colors, as well as make signs to encourage the school(s) you’re cheering on!! We look forward to seeing you there! And cross your fingers for weather and weather forecasts to be favorable!
6. THANK YOU for Contributing to Teacher Appreciation Week
We would like to extend our gratitude to the parents and neighborhood businesses who donated and gave discounts to make last week a success. Thank you to the following businesses who contributed to our TPES Teacher Appreciation Week: Takoma BevCo., Tabletop, Azalea City Nails, People’s Book, Fulfillery, House Mouse Books, Yoga Heights and Willow Street Yoga. Thank you to the parents who made our staff feel appreciated with the notes, flowers, gift cards, and food contributions!
Finally, a special thanks goes out to TPES parents, Betsy Cohen, Mercedes Castelo, Erin Mohan, and Orly Keiner, for all of your work to organize last week’s special events. You are ALL amazing!!
7. TPES Art Show Help Needed to Hang Student Art
We are looking for parents to help hang student art up on the walls! All you will need to do is pick a time (as many slots as you are available) and report to the Art room 407 to retrieve the artwork and the location where it is to be hung. If you have extra hanging supplies, donations of staples, staplers, masking tape, glue sticks, and scissors are welcome!
Link to the parent volunteer sign-up!: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BAFAA29A1FACE9-49251402-artshow
8. Parent Input for Next Year’s Class
Please use the attached form to tell the school about your child’s learning style and needs. The form is an opportunity to provide input into your child’s class placement for the 2024-2025 school year. This spring, TPES staff will begin the process of developing classes for next year. This work will continue into the summer. The school’s goal is to make the best student-teacher match possible and staff will use the information in this form to help guide their work. Second grade families should still use this form; PBES will use the information for the same purpose.
9. 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. To register, please email
Anne_M_Hottel-Cox@mcpsmd.org. Help us spread the word!
10. Second Grade Promotion Save the Date: June 10
Second grade families, save the date! The school will send more information. In years past, the ceremony has taken place at Takoma Park Middle School in the morning but we’ll need to wait for official word from Dr. Gadsden.
11. Upcoming TPES Events
May 13: Kindergarten Field Day
May 14: No School, Election Day
May 15: First Grade Field Day
May 16: Second Grade Field Day
May 23: TPES vs. PBES Soccer Game
May 29: Career Day
May 30, 7pm: Incoming Kindergarten Parent Meeting
June 10: Second Grade Promotion
