November 20, 2023 Dolphin Digest – TPES PTA Weekly Newsletter

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TRIPLE YOUR IMPACT to Our Dolphin Drive: 3:1 Match 

This Thanksgiving season we have a number of generous community members who have offered a 3-to-1 match of all Dolphin Drive donations made during Thanksgiving week – up to $1000!  That means that if we raise $1000, our Thanksgiving Match partners will donate an additional $3000!  That’s Fantastic!

If you haven’t already had a chance to contribute, you can multiply your impact by donating now. That’s wonderful news for the PTA!   We’re doing great in this year’s drive, and I can’t thank everyone enough for the wonderful support!

This year, please consider giving thanks to our school community by contributing to the TPES Dolphin Drive!

I’d like to thank everyone again for the tremendous support this month.  I’d like to also extend additional thanks to our Thanksgiving Match partners! This is a truly special and wonderful offer.

Town Hall Parent Meeting TOMORROW, November 21, 7PM, via Zoom (link sent Tuesday afternoon) 

Please join Dr. Gadsden and school leaders for a Town Hall Parent Meeting via Zoom, TOMORROW at 7pm, to better understand MCPS policy and TPES practice for behavioral concerns. This meeting is being held in response to parent inquiries about how our school manages and responds to behavioral incidents that may disrupt the educational environment. These incidents have occurred in several classrooms in more than one grade. During the meeting, the following will be discussed:

  • Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (definition and the Dolphin Team)
  • Safety of all students
  • Rights of all students
  • Confidentiality- Individual students will not be discussed (individual incidents will be discussed)
  • What happens when a child becomes dysregulated and has an explosive incident
  • What happens when a class must be moved due to an incident
  • The number of incidents that caused classes to be moved to manage behavioral situations
  • When kids hit others (staff response)
  • Parent notification of incidents and the school response to incidents
  • Moving forward
  • Questions & Answers

Monday and Tuesday are early dismissal days with students (K-5) being released at 1:20 p.m. There is no school for students on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the holiday. There is no school for Pre-K students this week. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences Today 

If you haven’t already scheduled your parent-teacher conference yet, please reach out to your child’s teacher! Conferences will be virtual unless you request in-person so scheduling is very flexible!

Small Things Matter Coat Drive Continues

Families are invited to a second distribution event on Tuesday, December 5 from 4:30-6 PM behind the TPSS Coop.

Literacy Night – SAVE THE DATE – December 21st

TPES Literacy Night is approaching! More details to come but expect rooms throughout the building to be set up with different literacy games and activities that you can then practice at home!

Health Room Needs Change of Clothing Donations

The Health Room needs 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. This is also a reminder to make sure your child has a change of seasonal-appropriate clothing kept in the classroom (top, pants, underwear, and socks).

Upcoming TPES Events

November 20-21 – Early Dismissal (1:20PM)
November 21, 7pm – Town Hall Meeting via Zoom on behavior
November 22-24 – No School, Thanksgiving Break
December 21 – Literacy Night

Upcoming Community Events

December 2, 12-4pm – Alternative Gift Fair outside of TP Farmer’s Market
December 3, 8-11am – Pajamarama
December 16, 1-4pm – Takoma Cocoa Crawl

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