Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
October 16- October 20
Dear Silver Creek Families
Thank you to our students and staff for demonstrating our core values of Empathy, Equity, and Excellence as we continue committing ourselves to fostering a safe and inclusive school environment.
We are getting closer to the end of Quarter 1. As always, if your child needs extra support, please encourage them to take advantage of after school homework help, and/or the advisory support period to complete any missing assignments or to receive extra support prior to the end of Quarter 1. The quarter ends October 31.
In the newsletter, the section with an * has been updated with new information OR is a new section in the newsletter. Please make sure to review. As always, thank you for your continued partnership.
Let's make it a great week Huskies!
Bell Schedule
*Silver Creek News (SCN) News
Did you miss the latest Husky news. You may access the link below from Friday, October 13, 2023 to hear upcoming news & events https://youtube.com/live/kU5wiP5Nl8Y?feature=share
You may also access the following document for the daily links to the Silver Creek News Show (SCN).
*Bus Safety Week
This week is Bus Safety Week and we are showing our appreciation for our bus drivers who keep our students safe as they take them to and from school.
Please complete this short Google Form with your child to write a message of appreciation to the driver of their bus route. Please complete this form by Wednesday October 18 so we can share responses with our drivers. Feel free to complete the form more than once. Thank you!
*Picture Day is this week, Friday, October 20
School Picture Day is this Friday, October 20, 2023 . Pictures will be available approximately two weeks following our school's photo day. Save time and Pre-order online here: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001030593#login
For questions about ordering please email underclass@vosphoto.com
*Counseling Department News & Updates
Refresh your Parent Toolbox
Parenting for resilience and independence! Learn tips and tricks to help your child navigate feelings of disappointment. Join the counselors for some expert advice as you continue to build your parenting toolbox.
Thursday, Oct 19, 2023, 07:00 PM
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/4232082710?pwd=cmg4Mm84WlhKYVJoa0ZsRHQwVkdLdz09
Meeting ID: 423 208 2710
Passcode: MsLevine
Therapy Dogs: Good news! We have therapy dogs coming to Silver Creek beginning October 23, 2023. Ms. MacHarrie, our social worker, has arranged for therapy dogs to visit SCMS once a month. More information will be provided on the morning announcements as well as the weekly newsletter for families. Please stay tuned.
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHA): MHA week will be celebrated by MCPS the week of October 30 - November 4. At Silver Creek, we will celebrate this week with activities at lunch, theme days and morning announcements. If you have an idea for MHA week, email Susan Levine at susan_a_levine@mcpsmd.org
The October newsletter is now available here: https://www.smore.com/ukb6p. You may also check out resources about middle school children on the Counseling Website. If your family needs help with school supplies, food for the weekend, winter coats or other needs, we would like to help! Please fill out the following form below: https://forms.gle/gdTDMCSSgmU5pVQp9
If you have questions related to registration/enrollment or transcripts, please contact Latonya Abrom at Latonya_N_Abrom@mcpsmd.org
*Library Media Center Update
Our Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month Open Mic is now rescheduled for Tuesday, October 24. Sign ups are first-come, first-served, on our LMC website. Students can perform or recite original or published work that celebrates or centers Latin American culture, history, and stories. Or, they can be part of our supportive audience.
Please visit our Library Media Program website HERE for online resources, book catalog and recommendations, events, and much more.
*SSL Opportunity for students: Chevy Chase Elementary School Fall Festival
Whether you went to Chevy Chase Elementary or not, the CCES Fall Festival is coming up on Sunday, October 22 (rain date Oct. 29).
The hard-working parents at CCES are seeking energetic volunteers to help with setup, cleanup, organizing games, and helping with refreshments. The event runs from 3:00-5:00 pm on Oct. 22. Volunteers should arrive at the CCES back parking lot at 2:30 pm (or possibly earlier to setup). One of the adult volunteers onsite will be distributing and signing SSL forms. Students can contact Mrs. Kitty Whitehead with questions, kittywdc@gmail.com, 202-615-2950. To sign up, use this Sign-up Genius link & follow the directions.
High School Regional/Countywide Application Programs- 8th Grade ONLY
To learn more about which high school regional/countywide application programs your child is eligible, please review the personalized program eligibility report available October 10th in ParentVUE – in DOCUMENTS (located on the left navigation bar of Synergy). This report includes programs for which your child is eligible along with program descriptions and directions to access the application.
The deadline to apply for any one of the High School Regional/Countywide Programs is November 3, 2023. You may also visit the High School Programs At-A-Glance at MCPS website for additional information: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/high/
If you do choose to apply to one of the programs, you will be notified of the results the first week of February 2024. The deadline to accept a program invitation is February 16, 2024.
Please join us on Tuesday, October 17th at 7:00 PM on zoom to learn about the various MCPS high school programs. This is a great opportunity to learn about other programs outside of B-CC High School. We will go over both the application and the lottery programs. There will also be time to ask specific questions.
Zoom Link:
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/4232082710?pwd=cmg4Mm84WlhKYVJoa0ZsRHQwVkdLdz09
Meeting ID: 423 208 2710
Passcode: MsLevine
No Place for Hate (NPFH) Advisory Council
Students are invited to an interest meeting scheduled for Wednesday October 11 from 3:20-4:20 p.m. in Room 301 .Parents/caretakers and community members, we are always looking for adults who would like to participate as well. If you are interested in joining the advisory council, please fill out this quick No Place for Hate Advisory Council interest form: No Place for Hate Advisory Council Interest Form (google.com) the committee meets every other Wednesday beginning at 3:20PM. We will contact you about our first full meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, October 25
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Matthew Okun at Matthew_Okun@mcpsmd.org. I look forward to a great school year as we continue our work to make Silver Creek a "No Place for Hate" school.
Finance Park- 7th Grade Field Trip: October 30 & October 31st
Permission forms: Permission forms were sent home with students last week. You may see the letter that accompanied the permission form located here. All permission slips are due to your child's World Studies teacher no later than October 13th, 2023. You may view the video for more information.
Volunteers Needed: Our need for volunteers is immense, as we need 17 volunteers for each day. It is a great opportunity to create a rich learning opportunity for our students. We would like to request support from our parents/caregivers for this event. If you are interested in being a volunteer, you may register through the Junior Achievement - Finance Park registration portal. The directions for doing this are available here.
If you have any questions please email the World Studies Content Specialist, Mr. Matthew Myers at Matthew_P_Myers@Mcpsmd.org or the 7th Grade Team Leader, Ms. Leah Taylor at Leah_R_Taylor@Mcpsmd.org.”
Intergenerational Choir- Kensington Park Senior Living Community
Intramurals: Attention all 6th-8th grade students
Intramural sports are designed to promote participation in sports to all eligible middle school students of all grade levels. There are no try-outs, no paper work and students don’t need much experience to participate. Intramurals take place after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays from 3:05-4:30. Activity buses are available after every intramural session. Sample sports can include: basketball, football, soccer, badminton, tennis, volleyball, cross country, dance, weight training, track and field, kickball, capture the flag, etc.
Intramurals began last week, September 18. Currently, we have available 5 on 5 Basketball on Tuesdays for 7th & 8th graders & Wednesdays for 6th graders.
As new classes come available, your child's PE and Health teacher will make announcements to their classes. It will also be posted on our school’s website and the intramural bulletin board in the PE hallway.
After School Activities
After school Activities have started. We have a range of after school activities. Please click the link below to view our After School Activities Brochure which includes a description of each activity, the staff member who is sponsoring, the location, and the day of the week the activity begins.
Please note that some clubs will begin later in the school year. We do ask that students register for their activity so that sponsors are aware of the number of students attending. Scroll down further in the link to view the After School Activities Bus Schedule. Buses will depart Silver Creek at approximately 4:20 p.m. to take students home. Each bus will take students to their regular bus stop or to a stop nearby. You may also choose to pick your child up from their activity. Please pick your child up at the front of the school by 4:20 p.m.
We look forward to seeing your child at one of our great clubs!
PARENT RESOURCES
*Principal Coffee
We are excited to have principal coffees once a month on Fridays from 8:30-9:10 am. Principal Coffees will begin Friday, October 20 and will take place over zoom. This is a great time to hear about school-wide happenings and events related to students' academic and social well being.
Topic for this month is: Interpreting your child's Measures of Academic Performance (MAP) score and how the data is used. The zoom link is located below:
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/88331973591?pwd=aVZrelJTbHQrc0gyMlFGTy8vT2htZz09
Meeting ID: 883 3197 3591
Passcode: Husky
One tap mobile
1 301 715 8592
Parent Handbook
Please locate the parent handbook on our website. All the information you need is located here for your convenience.
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/silver-creek-parent-handbook/home
*Latest MCPS Updates from Thursday, October 12
Here are things to know from Thursday Oct. 12. Get information about how you can learn more about the upcoming FY 2024-2025 Operating Budget, applications for the Montgomery Virtual Academy, upcoming district events, vaccinations, national bus safety week and a pilot for a possible new sport at MCPS.
October is LGBTQ+ History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. To learn more, you may READ here.
*National PTA School of Excellence Award
Congratulations to the Silver Creek PTSA for receiving the National PTA School of Excellence award. The National PTA School of Excellence Program is a recognition program that supports and celebrates the partnership between families and the school to enrich the educational experience and overall well being of all students. You may read more about the program here.
We would like to thank Ms. Kimberly Clarkson, former SCMS PTSA president, for all of her hard work and efforts with applying for this designation last school year.
Way to go SCMS PTSA! Thank you for all you do for our school community.
Free and Reduced Meals
The application is now open for parents and guardians to complete and submit for assistance with the cost of school meals. Families of students who may qualify for free or reduced-price meals can apply for this service. Eligibility is based on family size and gross income. Beginning this year, students in Maryland who qualify for reduced-price meals will not be charged for breakfast or lunch meals.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
October 17- 8th Grade Parent/guardian Q&A meeting on High School Regional Countywide Programs- Via Zoom @ 7 PM
October 19- Parent Toolbox Zoom Meeting hosted by Counseling Staff @ 7PM
October 20- Principal Coffee- Via Zoom @ 8:30-9:10 AM
October 30 & October 31- Finance Park- 7th Grade Field Trip
October 30- November 4- MCPS Mental Health Awareness Week
October 31- End of Marking Period 1
November 1- No school for students
Link to MCPS Calendar
Student Absence
If a student is going to be absent, the parent/guardian is asked to call the attendance line at 240-740-2201 the morning of the absence. In your message, please include the information listed below:
1. Parent/Guardian name
2. Full name of your student (First & Last); student ID#
3. Date(s)of absence
4. Reason for absence
If you have any questions regarding attendance procedures, parents may email a note to Ms. Pamela Carroll-Sykes, attendance secretary, at Pamela_M_Carroll-Sykes@mcpsmd.org
Important Contacts
Silver Creek Middle School
Principal: Dr. Tiffany N. Awkard
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Kimberly Heidler
Assistant Principal: Mr. David O'Shell
School Hours: 7:30 am- 4:00 pm
Main Office: 240-740-2200
Registration & Counseling: 240-740-2211
Attendance Line: 240-740-2201
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/
Location: 3701 Saul Road, Kensington, MD, USA
Phone: 240 740 2200
Twitter: @SCMSDrAwkard