Takoma Park Elementary School(TPES)
Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES)
Parent & Teacher Meeting (PTA)
Tuesday, March 2, 2021 from 7-8pm on Zoom
Principal’s Updates: Hear from Dr. Gadsden & Mrs. Oberdorf
Mark your calendars for our next meeting, Tuesday, April 13, 7-8pm.
7:00 Welcome & Introduction of Interpreters
Upcoming Dates and Announcements from the MCPS Calendar
Chris Campbell, TPES VP Communications
March 1-31: READATHON for both schools (Chris Campbell, Sara Lewis & Sarah Goupell) -Piney Branch 4600 minutes so far goal 200,001; Mr. Pendleton’s 4th grade class has most students participating
Readathon has changed this year
All money raised from Readathon will be supporting the PTA
At TPES- majority of funds will go to media center. Huge need for funds
Last year- 600 titles not returned to library from 2019-2020 school year
90% of nonfiction connection needs to be replaced – outdated, bad shape
Recording minutes: online- Required for TPES, Optional for PBES
Paper calendar optional but encouraged if possible to have visual
What counts as reading: reading by themselves, listening to story by adult, online books either reading or being read to online
Donations- not required, but greatly appreciate
On the PTA website there will be celebrity readers reading each day TPESPTA.net and https://pineybranchpta.membershiptoolkit.com/
Readathon page is on kids homeroom page in MyMCPS/Canvas for TPES
March 3 – Kindergarten families Zoom with Dr. Gadsden re: reopening, 7pm
Open house for students who are returning to in-person instruction
(all day; Sign Up Genius forthcoming from school)
March 4 – 1st & 2nd grade families Zoom with Dr. Gadsden re-reopening, 7pm
March 7 – Welcome-back decorating at school entrances from 5p-6p at TPES & PBES
March 8 – No school; teacher professional day
March 9 & 10 – Asynchronous learning days for all student
March 10 – Open house for students who are returning to in-person instruction
(all day; Sign Up Genius forthcoming from school)
March 12 – Half day for students
March 15 – Schools re-open for phase 1.1; some students return (K-3)
April 6 – Grades 4 & 5 students who opted in return to in-person learning
April 13 – Joint PTA meeting for TPES & PBES, 7pm
April 20 – PBES STEM Night 6:30-8:30pm
- Please join us for Sharing Our Stories, Mondays at 7:00pm on Zoom. On March 22nd, PBES PTA President Sarah Goupell will read “Waiting for the Biblioburro” by Monica Brown in honor of the 2021 Readathon. Spanish interpretation is provided. Interested in being a guest storyteller or educator or need the Zoom details? Email Shana at sabbathshana@gmail.com.
- Nominating PTA Officers for the 2021-2022 School Year
Lauren Greenberg & Lia Salza Goldstein
Recruiting officers and committees for both schools’ PTA
Executive committees good way to learn what is happening at schools and get to know people at school
TPES: Executive membership secretary- take minutes at executive committee meetings and PTA meetings
President/Vice President
Looking for anyone who wants to become involved- please reach out to Lauren or Lia.
Lauren.k.greenberg@gmail.com; lia.salza@gmail.com
Can share positions, especially those that require heavier lift, e.g. Treasurer
7:15 Principal’s Updates for Plans to Re-Open
Principal Gadsden and Principal Oberdorf
Dr. Gadsden:
Hybrid model- not all virtual not all direct learning
Teachers will spend them sometime on the computer working with all kids, and sometime breaking them into small groups to work together in person.
First 2 weeks will be getting accustomed to being in school- please be patient
After spring break, they will hopefully be used to handling
Will send survey for transportation
Kiss and ride- most have opted not to come on bus
Likely will block traffic as they are dropping off kids
Be patient
Don’t get out of cars
Kindergarten parents- either park in neighborhood and walk them to door; if you can’t let them out of the car.
2 open houses- so can see classrooms. Teachers may or may not be there. You can come in and see what classroom looks like/where they will sit.
If child is not returning in person, will not be allowed to tour the classroom
If child need special time and attention- send an email
March 3 (for KG) and March 4 (1st and 2nd parents) meetings are for adults only- all parents should attend so they know what to expect. Meetings at 7 pm.
Going back to school will not look the same as it used to
Staying home will not look the same as it has done
For open house tomorrow- come into main office.
If didn’t chose the bus to leave room for other kids and now want to choose bus, how to make change? The request goes to transportation can submit through synergy
Waitlist: As people change their minds re: in person, there is a lot of traffic both ways. Will call people on Friday to let them off the
K open house- Wednesday, rest of open house Tomorrow 10:45-3:30
If can’t remember if signed up for bus- check on status of request for transportation: Parentvue or email Ms. Paz.
New bell times start March 15.
Ms. Oberdorf:
PBES instructional model different: priority was for students to remain with current teachers
Support for virtual and simultaneous. Hard to promise simultaneous right now because this is all brand new.
A couple of situations where teacher is not returning to building- assigning a paraeducator someone who is already a staff member- to be co-working and coteaching with the virtual teacher.
Arrival/dismissal changing: student will be entering 4 different entrances depending on where you are coming from
Welcoming 3rd grade first so a small advantage
Survey for traffic
State Testing: will need to continue the MCAP state assessment to 3rd-5th English and math
Push to shorten assessment this year
No details yet.
No 5th grade MISA (science) test this year
Open house- production of video to show students what it will be like once come off bus/car/walking in door
All teachers will be hosting open house- virtual and in person
Friday March 12 dismissal- entire class will be attended to see how things are different on zoom or what things will look like once they return in person.
Q?A:
Hybrid: blend simultaneous and support to virtual. Best practice for simultaneous for 2 teachers in one classroom- don’t have that
Direct instruction but also virtual
PBES: grades are in pods and rooms are adjoining- have an additional staff member for every 2=3 room
Crossing guards are coming back; will be fully staffed as before. No safety patrols at PBES and no discussion at TPES to decide on patrols.
In communication with Lucy Nehrer from TP to help with logistics
A/B rotation: can we do every week for 4th and 5th grade if few enough come
Rationale – youngest learners need to be in person
PBES: Not able to have all students here every week, except for those special education services
Even though percent is 45%, when look at class to class not able to offer across the board to have everyone come every week
Working with KA and identify space in building- interim for between when 3rd grade starts and 4th grade, and before and after care
PBES: number returning 306 students returning overall; out of 620 students total
Trying to not have a wait list- do have 1 class where more students want to come back than have space
Small wait list-for 3rd grade; 4th and 5th no wait list.
Will 4th and 5th go earlier than April 6? No idea
What will 9th and 10th look like? Teams planning to make sure scope and sequence not interrupted- so not just review but allows students to continue learning asynchronously.
TPES: 9:25-3:50 ; lunch will only be 1 hour
Some time for them to be on zoom with the teacher in the class, and independent work off computer or on computer (nearpod, etc).
PBES: 9:25-3:50
How will weekly covid testing work- will all students who opt in be tested weekly, or will they be rotated.
What happens with cases of COVID in the classroom- definite protocol in place, and work with the department of health and human services.
Spring break March 29-April 2, also no school April 5.
TPES: Kindergarten children will not go in the building through the front door.
Kids who get out of cars- will go in through the cafeteria/KA door and go straight through to their classrooms
Only walkers are going through the front door.
Summer Camp Resource Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FUSbob_EvnnnCJAZsGlwkA4PCxQW8ieVVgNjWt9J8CE/edit#gid=0
7:55 Treasurer’s Reports
Kelley Skelton, TPES Treasurer & Erin Kelley, PBES Treasurer
KELLY: TPES: sufficient funds to operate 29.049 in operating funds
Food funds: 90,000
PTA has expended almost 6000 to get classrooms ready- would like to update budget currently budgeted at 12,000 up to 18,000 – approved
ERIN: PBES: good cash flow- have enough funds to operate for the rest of the year- still need $3000 or more from readathon
Cumulative and expenses are close- just below where we started
If you haven’t joined the PTA not too late, those membership dollars really help MCCPTA and MDPTA in their advocacy.
Next meeting Tues April 16 after spring break!
Have a terrific spring break everyone!
Help support local schools while enjoying locally made artisanal spirits! Our fundraiser is off to a great start. Join your friends and neighbors and check out Sang•Froid distillery this week!
