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Stonegate Greetings
Weekly Newsletter
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Week of Sept 17, 2023
Monday, 9/18:
Hispanic Heritage Month 9/15- 10/15;
MAP-P (Math) for Grade 2 from 9:30-10:45
Tuesday, 9/19:
MAP-P (Math) for Grade 1 from 9:30-10:45
Thursday, 9/21:
MAP-P (Math) for Kindergarten from 9:35-11:00
Friday, 9/22:
Early release day for students; dismissal starts 12:55 pm
No Community Outing for LFI
Reminder:
Monday 9/25: No school for students and teachers
Happy Rosh Hashanah
Wishing all who celebrate a sweet and Happy New Year.
Shanah Tovah!
Important Dates
September 25: Non-Instructional Day—No school for students and teachers
October 2 - 6: Book Fair
October 3: PTA Meeting (virtual) Zoom Link coming
October 9: Professional day for all staff; no school for students
November 1: Grading and Planning for the end of term; no school for students
Message from the Principal
Dear Stonegate Elementary Families,
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks for joining us at both Back to School Night and the Back to School Night Picnic. Your presence made these events truly special and memorable.
We deeply appreciate your commitment to your child’s education and the strong sense of community that you bring to our school. Together, we are creating an environment where learning thrives, and children flourish.
We look forward to a wonderful school year ahead, filled with growth, exploration, and partnership. Thank you for being an essential part of our school family.
Click here to view the BTSN Welcome from Stonegate and PTA:
Stonegate Back-To-School Welcome 2023
Click here to view all the BTSN Presentations, recorded by the teams.
Stonegate ES - Grade 3 (coming soon)
Stonegate ES - Kindergarten (coming soon)
Stonegate ES - LFI (coming soon)
Warmly,
Linda M. Jones
Principal, Stonegate Elementary
Stonegate Recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Those countries include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. As a culturally rich school, Stonegate is proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Counselor’s Corner
Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC)
Choose Success! The Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC) is made up of three schools – Argyle, Loiederman, and Parkland middle schools – each of which offers an innovative and challenging magnet curriculum. Argyle focuses on digital design and development; Loiederman offers a creative and performing arts focus; and Parkland provides students the opportunity to explore math and science through aerospace technology and robotic engineering. Admission is based upon a Choice process open to all Montgomery County students who are currently in Grade 5.
For more information and deadlines, please see the Counselor’s Corner on Stonegate’s website here. You will also find tips for parents and students on the transition to middle school.
Stonegate ES Counseling Website
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/stonegate-counseling/home
Important Updates
Playgrounds closed until 4:15
For Safety and Security, the school playgrounds are closed during dismissal. Thank you for your help and understanding.
Students may not bring toys or balls to school
Students are not allowed to bring toys or balls to school. *The only exceptions are when toys, electronics, balls, etc are allowed as part of a school spirit day or Shark Bait Party.
Pick up trash on campus
If you use the school grounds with your family or neighbors, please pick up after yourselves. Keep our school grounds clean!
Dogs on the school grounds:
We kindly ask that if you bring your furry friends onto school property, you do so responsibly:
Clean up after your dogs: Please carry waste bags and ensure that you pick up after your dog. There are designated trash bins located throughout the school grounds for your convenience.
Follow leash regulations: Ensure that your dog is on a leash at all times, as per our school's rules and local ordinances.
Encourage others to clean up after their pets as well.
Students bringing water bottles
We wanted to take a moment to emphasize the importance of sending your child to school with a labeled water bottle. We are fortunate to have modern filling stations on campus, making it easy for your child to refill their water bottle throughout the day. This ensures they have access to clean, fresh water at all times.
Bring a sweater or jacket to school
Students should dress appropriately for the weather as we play outside for recess most days.
We encourage students to bring a labeled jacket or sweater as they may feel cold in different spaces in the building.
Car drop-off
For the students' safety, we ask all cars to follow our procedures.
Do not pull into a parking spot and allow your children to walk through the lot. This is a significant safety issue.
We have provided all students a card with the student's first and last name typed. Please show the card with your child's first and last name.
Shoelaces & stair safety
In our new building, students use the stairs every day. Untied shoelaces are dangerous on the stairs. Please ensure your child knows how to tie their laces or that your children come to school wearing shoes without laces.
Saturday School at the George B. Thomas Learning Academy
The George B. Thomas Learning Academy (GBTLA), and its signature program Saturday School, have been supporting youth education and academic achievement in Montgomery County since 1986. It has been a collaborative effort for over 30 years, in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools and the dedicated community members who help make our work possible. They offer very affordable academic tutoring for grades K – 12, nearby at multiple sites.
They offer programs for Kindergarten, Grades 1-12, Robotics, and more!
See the Saturday School flyer: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/schools/elementary-schools/p-s/stonegatees/uploadedfiles/ss_2023-24_calendar_at-a-glance_english.pdf
Register at: www.saturdayschool.org
September Lunch Menu
K-5 Lunch Menu for September
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MENU SEPTEMBER 2023
Pre-K Menu
PRE-K HEAD START SCHOOL MENU AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2023
Free and Reduced-price Meals System (FARMS) applications have been updated for the new school year, and are now available online at www.MySchoolApps.com; this is the preferred application method. All interested families must reapply each school year.
Stonegate Spirit Wear Sidewalk Sale - Thursday, Sept. 21
Let’s get ready to celebrate Stonegate Spirit every Friday. Stop by the PTA sidewalk sale on Thursday, September 21 from 3 - 4 pm after school to purchase your student’s new spirit wear. The new Stonegate t-shirts, hoodies, long sleeve tie dye shirts, and water bottles will be available for purchase. Cash and credit cards are accepted
Save the Date: Stonegate Book Fair on October 2 - 6
The Stonegate Book Fair is FINALLY back! The PTA has been waiting eagerly to bring back the book fair and what better time than now! Scholastic Book Fairs help introduce children to loving books, shopping independently, and making sure every child has a book in hand by the end of the fair. We have set a goal of selling one thousand books this Fall!
The Book Fair is our longest in person event of the year, and we need help from parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins (lol) to make it successful. Friday, September 29, 2023, with set-up and be open for business October 2 - 6, 2023. The complete schedule will be up next week. Sign-Up to Volunteer Here.
Scholastic has also made a way for family and friends that aren't close by to add funds to your child's account through eWallet. Parents are welcome to use this as well for when your children shop with their classes, so they don't lose any bills or coins on the way to the fair.
Check out the Stonegate Book Fair website for details, special events during book fair week, a digital book fair flyer, eWallet registration, and Online Shopping starting October 2nd!
Reach out to Effie Kalapothakos for any questions at stonegatepta.secretary@gmail.com.
Stonegate PTA- You Belong!
PTA Membership Drive
The annual PTA Membership Drive is underway and runs from August 1 through October 15. If you have already joined (thanks!), your membership will be included in this year's membership drive. If not, don't wait, sign-up today to support a variety of community engagement activities and various educational enrichment resources for our school community throughout the year.
Thank you for supporting the Back-To-School Picnic!
We appreciate all that attended the Back-To-School Picnic last week. It was great to see our students, staff, and families make magical memories. A big kudos to our community partners Global Childcare Center, PaPa’Torta El Papi, Pizza Hut, Kona Ice, Great Kids Events, and our very own Stonegate DJ Shawn Cocharn!
ParentVUE
ParentVue is a central online location for students and their parents, guardians, or other authorized adults to access MCPS student information. Parents/caregivers who do not have an account created will receive a letter from MCPS with instructions and access codes for activation.
Here is a ParentView quick guide and directions for activating your account. If you need an activation letter or assistance, please contact the office.
Here is the MCPS Parent Tech Support Website:
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/parents/tech-info-support
Clothing To Cash Recycling Program
Clothing to Cash® is a program that collects New and Used Clothing, Shoes, Sheets, Towels, (all Textiles) and pays the school 10 cents for every pound collected. The program is operated entirely OUTSIDE and will be located in the school parking lot, where students, parents, staff and the community can drop off items throughout the year. They have state of the art photo quantity sensors installed in each bin that report 3 times daily to prevent overflow and allows the company to schedule service as needed (no other companies use this technology). They empty the collection bin, weigh the contents to determine our school earnings and pays our school monthly. The average school (500 - 1000 students) will earn $1000- $2000 yearly if each student would donate just one 13-gallon kitchen size trash bag yearly!! Add in parents, siblings, relatives, neighbors, and staff and Stonegate’s earnings could really increase.
Stonegate Elementary School
14811 Notley Road,
Silver Spring, MD 20905
(240) 740-7340
Arrival 8:40-9:00
Students must arrive by 9:00.
Student Dismissal 3:25
Caregivers who are picking up walkers or car riders, please arrive promptly for dismissal at 3:25
Picking up early
If you need to pick your child up early, please do so before 3pm. The main office cannot accommodate parent pick ups after 3:00 p.m.
Principal: Linda_M_Jones@mcpsmd.org
Twitter: @StonegatePrin
Assistant Principal: Franny_S_Wooler@mcpsmd.org
Twitter: @FrannyWooler
Visit us on the web: