Important PPES Information:
Piney Point families,
What an exciting start to December! This week we were visited by the mobile science lab! Please be sure to ask your students about that fun learning time. Starting on Monday, we are going to be having a spirit day every day until Winter break! The daily spirit days are listed below. We continue to encourage our community to to help our families in need. If you are able to donate a gift card it would be greatly appreciated.
Our PTA Holiday Shoppe is is in full swing. Children will be previewing and having the opportunity to buy this week. Please send in cash or check to purchase along with the order form. The Cookies with Santa is scheduled for December 15th from 5:30-7:00pm. Please come and enjoy the holiday fun.
The SMCPS Calendar Committee is seeking input in the development of the 2024-2025 school year calendar. Please respond to this Calendar Survey to provide your input.
Be sure to review this entire newsletter each week as it will provide you with valuable resources and information.
~Mrs. Zeier
- December 4th- Laser Assembly.
- December 8th- 2 hour early dismissal
- December 11th- Band and Chorus Winter Concert- 6:30-8pm
- December 12th - Strings Winter Concert- 6:30-7:30 pm
- December 15th- Cookies with Santa 5:30-7pm
- December 18th- January 1st- School Closed for Winter Break
- January 4th- SPARKS Club Meeting 3:45-5pm
Parent Cheat Sheets for Math
During this holiday season, the kitchen has wonderful opportunities to help children of all ages learn math concepts such as fractions, estimation and measuring quantities. Children can learn about healthy foods while they reinforce mathematical skills when they:
learn the tools used in measuring liquids and ingredients for recipes
kitchen tools such as teaspoons tablespoons and measuring cups
learn relationships between different qualities such as pints and quarts.
Incorporate math into your cooking class by discussing with kids how ingredients are measured and added into recipes. How different quantities of ingredients can affect the quality and nutrition value of a recipe.
Below is a 3-ingredient recipe for holiday sugar cookies from Delish.com that can be an easy way for students to start learning how to follow a recipe.
INGREDIENTS
1 stick plus 2 tbsp. salted butter, softened
1/3 c. granulated sugar
1 c. all-purpose flour
Sprinkles (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 325°.
2. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then stir in flour.
3. Form the cookies into 1" balls, placing them about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. If using sprinkles, flatten cookies into a disc shape and top with sprinkles.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden.
5. Let cool and decorate!
Free Math App for parents with visual models you can you click here!
Research has shown us the important role families play in helping children learn to read and write. The most important thing you can do is to read with your child every day.
Below are some additional tips to help support reading at home, as well as grade level newsletters for our reading curriculum programs.
Phonics Practice making connections between sounds and letters.
Point out words that begin with the same letter as your child's name (for example, John and jump). Talk about how the beginning sounds of the words are alike.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Sort and Group Objects. By putting objects in groups, children can learn new words that label the category. You also can discuss the ways in which items in the groups are similar or different. Toys are great for sorting and grouping.
Fluency
Read a variety of books on one topic. This will help your child become more familiar with vocabulary related to a topic of interest and provide multiple opportunities to re-read familiar, high-interest vocabulary and ideas.
Benchmark Advance Home Connection Newsletters - Unit 2
Grades K-3 use Fundations for phonics instruction and word study instead of the Benchmark Advance materials. For phonics and word study, please use the Fundations newsletter linked below instead of the phonics information in the Benchmark Advanced newsletters.
Grade K Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3
Fundations Home Support Newsletters
Kindergarten Unit 1 1st Grade Unit 3 2nd Grade Unit 4
SMCPS Reading Language Arts Information and Resources
Explore the site and the Benchmark Advanced curriculum. Choose your child’s grade level on the right-hand side of the site for grade specific resources and information including articles, websites, and online books.
Please remember to return library books on time. At the end of each month, Mrs. Anderson will send out notices reminding students of books that are overdue or of fines that need to be paid.
To see what your student currently has checked out to them or any fines that have been assessed, the student can login to Destiny through Clever or via Direct Login. Here are the steps for the direct login.
Go to elibrary.smcps.org.
Click on the appropriate school.
Select the “Login” option from the top right of the page.
Enter the correct login credentials. Your login information is the same as your regular login credentials.
Username: 3 initials and last 4 digits of student ID number (Example: abc1234).
Password: regular network password
After logging in, click the “My Info” tab at the top and the student’s current checkout and fines (if applicable) will be displayed.
SMCPS provides some wonderful databases and ebook options for our students. Use the link provided to access the SMCPS Database and Ebook S’More.
Need a laptop charger?
Need to purchase a laptop charger?
You can do one of two things:
1. Email your child's teacher or the Library Media Specialist Mrs. Anderson (lwanderson@smcps.org) that you wish to pay for the missing laptop charger. A fine then can be assessed so that you can pay using My School Bucks, sending in cash, or a check (made out to SMCPS).
OR
2. Go directly to the DELL store. You can purchase directly from their website and have it shipped to your home.
Ensure one of these links is being used:
www.dell.com/mpp/smcps (click Shop Recommended Solutions to get to the discounted power cords)
www.dell.com/mpp/smcps-chargers (leads directly to the purchasing portal)
If you purchase from Dell, please make sure that you label the charger with the student's first and last name before sending it to school. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher or the Library Media Specialist Mrs. Anderson(lwanderson@smcps.org).
Join the PTA
It's time to renew your PTA membership dues!
2023-2024 Membership/Dues Cost: $20
Dues payment link:
https://pineypoint.memberhub.com/
Why join the PTA?
- Your membership dues help us achieve our goals of helping students, teachers, and staff.
-You will receive school updates. Signing up will keep you in the loop with what’s going on at PPES.
-Signing up to join the PTA is not a commitment. We won't force you to volunteer- but we do appreciate all the help we can get! If you join there are also no meetings to attend.
Thank you for your support!
Birthday Treats
What Do You Do If Your Student Is Ill?
While school attendance is vital to your student’s education, a sick child belongs at home. Please review the Sick Day Guidelines below to assist you in making that decision
KEEP ME HOME IF...
- I have a temperature higher than 100°F.
- I'm throwing up or have diarrhea.
- My eyes are pink and crusty.
SEND ME BACK TO SCHOOL WHEN...
My symptoms have significantly improved or resolved.
I haven't had a fever or fever-reducing medication for 24 hours.
I haven't thrown up, had diarrhea or had medications to control these symptoms for 24 hours.
If antibiotics have been prescribed, I have been taking them for at least 24 hours.
CALL THE DOCTOR IF...
I’ve had a temperature higher than 100°F for more than 2 days.
I've been throwing up or having diarrhea for more than 2 days.
I've had cold symptoms for more than a week and they aren't getting any better.
I still have asthma symptoms after using my asthma medicine (and call 911 if I'm having trouble breathing after using an inhaler).
KEEPING YOUR STUDENT WELL
Hand washing is the number one way to stop the spread of disease. Twenty seconds of soap and water scrubbing before meals and after bathroom breaks is a great way to start this healthy habit. Encourage this practice at home.
Ensure adequate exercise and rest periods.
Provide proper nutrition, including a good breakfast.
Encourage good daily hygiene, including brushing teeth.
Review the rules of safe play.
Please click the link below for information regarding your child's bus number, bus stop location, and pick-up and drop-off times. If you have specific questions regarding bus transportation, please call the Department of Transportation at (301)-475-4256.
For all parents of PreKindergarten and Kindergarten students: An adult must be present at the bus stop when students are being picked up or dropped off. If an adult associated with a PreKindergarten or Kindergarten student is not present at the bus stop at the end of the school day, the bus driver will return the student to the school and the parents will be contacted to come to the school to pick up the student.
Volunteer Application
Schoology
Connect with Mrs. Zeier
Email: tbzeier@smcps.org
Website: https://ppes.smcps.org/
Location: 44550 Tall Timbers Road, Tall Timbers, Maryland 20690, USA
Phone: 301-994-2205