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Stonegate Greetings
Weekly Newsletter
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Week of April 15, 2024
Monday 4/15
Grades 3 and 4 State Testing MCAP ELA
Tuesday, 4/16
National Wear your Pajamas to work day
Grades 3 and 4 State Testing MCAP ELA
LFI Field Trip to Clark Elioak’s Farm 9:40- 2:10
Sky’s The Limit Dance, Grades K-2
Girls on the Run, Grades 3-5 from 3:45-5 pm
Boys Let Me Run, Grades 3-5 from 3:45-5 pm
Wednesday, 4/17
Spring Photos: Student Portraits and Class Photos
MCCPTA/BOE Area Meeting - 6:00 - 7:30 pm at Stonegate
Thursday, 4/18
Sky’s The Limit Dance, Grades 3-5
Girls on the Run, Grades 3-5 from 3:45-5 pm
Boys Let Me Run, Grades 3-5 from 3:45-5 pm
Friday, 4/19
Stonegate Career Day 2024
Wear Stonegate Spiritwear
LFI Community Outing
Looking Ahead:
- Monday, April 22: School Closed for all students; Asynchronous (At-Home) Learning Day
Upcoming Dates
April
April 22: School Closed for all students; Asynchronous (At-Home) Learning Day
April 25: Take Your Child to Work Day
April 30: Anacostia Schools Watershed Cleanup- Mr. Micheli's class 10:50 am - 12:15 pm
May
May 1: Grade 5 Panoramic Photo 9:15 a.m.
May 1: Ms. Guidot’s CES class Wax Museum 12:30-2:45 in Media Center
May 2: Kindergarten Orientation for new Kindergarteners for 2024-2025
May 6 - 10: Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
May 6, 7: Grade 5 State Testing MCAP Math
May 7: Fun Run 12:30-3:15
May 7: Virtual PTA Meeting
May 8: Grade 3 In House Field Trip Bread Making
May 9: Safety Patrol Picnic
May 9, 10: Grades 3 and 4 State Testing MCAP Math
May 11: Boys Let Me Run 5K
May 13: 2nd Grade MAP-P and 5th Grade MAP-R Testing
May 14: Election Day - No School
May 15: PreK Field trip to Brookside Gardens
May 16: 1st Grade MAP-P and 4th Grade MAP-R Testing
May 17: Kindergarten MAP-P and 3rd Grade MAP-R Testing
May 19: Girls on the Run 5K
May 20: 4th and 5th Grade MAP-M Testing
May 21: 3rd Grade MAP-M Testing
May 23: Chorus and Instrumental Music Assembly 9:30 am
May 23: Spring Stonegate Chorus and Instrumental Music Concert 6:30 pm
May 23: Grade 2 Field Trip Robinson Nature Center
May 24: Grade K Field Trip to National Zoo
May 27: Holiday, Memorial Day - No School
May 28: Grade 4 Field Trip to DC National Mall
May 31: Stonegate’s Talent Show 6 pm
June
June 3: Field Day
June 6: Grade 5 - End of Year Party 9:30-12:00 p.m. outside
June 7: Grade 1 - End of Year Party 10:00-12:00 p.m. outside
June 7: Kindergarten - End of Year Celebration 1:30-3:00pm (Classroom/Playgrounds)
June 7: PTA Spring Carnival 6-8 pm
June 10: Rain Date for Grade 1 - End of Year Party 10-12 outside
June 12: Clap out for 5th Graders 2:45pm
June 11: Grade 5 Promotion at Sherwood High School 6 - 7:30 pm
June 13: Early Release 12:55 dismissal/Last Day of School
See the MCPS Yearlong Calendar
Principal’s Message: Stonegate Shark Fun Run | Register today!
This is going to be a great week!
The day is here! You can now register for our Stonegate Shark Fun Run! Our goal is to raise $20,000 for student and teacher activities including field trips and cultural arts activities. Registering is easy and free! All students who register will receive a prize.
⭐️ Register Now On MYBOOSTER.COM ⭐️
Be sure to check out the easy sharing functions on MYBOOSTER.COM to let others know how they can help support our school.
Thank you for working with us to make our school stronger. We are grateful for your support!
● REGISTRATION OPENS - 04/12/2024
Register on MYBOOSTER.COM
● Stonegate Shark Fun Run Kickoff - 04/26/2024
● Event Day - 05/07/2024
Thanks for your support, Stonegate Elementary families!
THANK YOU SPONSORS
We want to extend a huge and special thank you to our sponsors below. Our field day and Fun Run shirts look amazing thanks to you!
Warm regards,
Linda M. Jones
Principal, Stonegate Elementary
MCCPTA/BOE Area Meeting - Wednesday, April 17
MCCPTA/BOE Area Meeting - Wednesday, April 17 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm at Stonegate
Please join the MCCPTA and MCPS Board of Education on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 pm for an important event bringing area school communities together. During this meeting, local school leaders will share some amazing activities from their school community, and there will be an opportunity to discuss concerns and potential solutions with community members and Board of Education members. Please review the meeting flyer attached for more details.
Parents, guardians, students, and community members are all welcome and encouraged to attend. We are hosting this meeting at Stonegate Elementary School, so don’t miss this informative session. If you have questions or concerns you’d like to share with the BOE and can’t attend the meeting, please email your questions to stonegateptapres@gmail.com by Tuesday, April 16.
Spring Testing for MCAP and MAP
3rd and 4th Grade MCAP Testing continues Monday and Tuesday
Attendance - Students need to be at school, on time every day of testing. If your child is late to school, they will not be able to participate in testing that day. Making-up the assessments due to a student being absent or late will cause significant loss of instructional time. Please do everything you can to make sure your child is at school, on time every day of testing.
Sleep and Breakfast - Please make sure your child gets a good night's sleep and eats a healthy breakfast on testing days.
Electronics - Students are prohibited from having electronics such as phones, airpods, and smart watches. They must be off and in their backpacks, or left at home on test days.
Spring Testing at Stonegate
This spring, Stonegate students will participate in state and/or district wide testing. Students in grades 3-5 will participate in the Maryland state assessments known as MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program). Students in grades K-5 will participate in our district wide MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. If you would like to hear more about these assessments, please attend the March PTA meeting on Tuesday, March 5. Crystal Semitekolos, our Staff Development Teacher and one of our Testing Coordinators, will be presenting on spring testing. Here is the slideshow if you’d like to preview the information about Spring Testing: Spring Testing Slideshow. This testing does not apply to students in LFI who complete different assessments.
Testing Dates
Spring testing dates are always included in the important dates above. However, if you’d like a one-sheet with all the spring testing dates, please find it linked here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B12UssxfLO22qaW6aVlyXXO2APtmBQTRDTYc2Cx-u9Q/edit
Test Taking Strategies
Here are some simple test-taking strategies that may help your child show their best on the test.
Practice Tests (ELA & Math):
3-5th grade students will be participating in practice MCAP testing with their teachers, but it is encouraged to practice with the format of the test and the types of questions at home, too! You can access the practice tests by visiting the link here: Practice Tests
MAP Testing
The Measures of Academic Progress (also known as MAP) testing window overlaps with the MCAP testing window. Please take note of the testing dates for your child's grade and make every effort for them to be present on testing day in order to not miss instructional time for testing makeups. Thank you!
May 2: Kindergarten Orientation for new Kindergarteners for 2024-2025
If you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2024, it's time to register your child for Kindergarten! We also invite you to attend our Kindergarten Registration.
Registration for Kindergarten is OPEN now.
Please use ParentVUE to register for the 2024-2025 school year. New families will need to create an account on ParentVUE.
Please sign-up for a time!
This is a normal school day for all Stonegate students. Current Kindergarteners (2023-2024) have school this day.
Wonderful Literary Festival
Students had a wonderful time this week with all the events celebrating the love of reading and writing books! A special thanks to our Media Specialist, Tammy Dietmeier and our Media Assistant/ELD Teacher, Jen Willis for planning and organizing a wonderful event!
If you would like to order a copy of one of the books written by one of the authors who visited Stonegate this week, here is their information:
Ada Ari:
Books ordered by April 18 will be autographed
Mark Dantzler
Order Form below
Cash or checks payable to Mark Dantzler
PTA News
PTA Board Nominations for 2024 - 2025
The Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for the 2024 – 2025 Stonegate PTA Board. If you are a parent, guardian, or teacher interested in helping shape school spirit, inclusivity, and culture for Stonegate Elementary students then don't miss this opportunity to get involved! As we prepare for the 2024 - 2025 school year, we need to build a leadership team, and we need your help to do so.
Complete the 2024 -2025 Stonegate PTA Board Nominations Form to submit the names of individuals who can help us move Stonegate forward. We have a solid foundation to build upon, but with your diverse insights, gifts, talents, and professional skills you can help us to build an amazing school community for everyone to participate in and enjoy! Please submit names on or before Wednesday, April 24! If you have questions, please contact this year’s Nominating Committee: Deborah Bryant, Obha Osman, or Jessy Srbnick. The Board Elections will take place during the May 7th PTA Membership Meeting.
Special PTA Membership Meeting - Thursday, April 25
Mark your calendar for a Special PTA Membership Meeting on Thursday, April 25 at 8 pm to discuss a proposed/revised amendment to the PTA Bylaws. The proposed amendment would support accuracy and consistency in the Board Officer terms. The Zoom link will be shared in the meeting reminder prior to the meeting. If you have questions, please contact stonegateptapres@gmail.com or stonegatepta.vp.p.o@gmail.com.
Stonegate Snack Pantry
To ensure that our Sharks have snacks to get through their day, the PTA is seeking food or monetary donations to stock the Snack Pantry. Snack items can be purchased from the Snack Pantry Amazon Wish List or monetary donations can be made via the Stonegate PTA website. If you would like to drop-off snacks, please leave them in the Front Office and let the staff know that the items are for the Snack Pantry. This is an ongoing effort and will seek support for the remainder of the school year.
Stonegate Spirit Wear
Check-out the Stonegate On-Demand Store for new spirit wear. All orders will be shipped directly to your address.
Arab American Heritage Month
Arab American Heritage Month is an annual observance that takes place in April to celebrate Arab American heritage and culture. It honors the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans to the wider American community. We are proud that Montgomery County Public Schools recognizes this special month by celebrating Arab Americans and all of their contributions to our society in the areas of politics, science, sports, entertainment, fashion, and public safety. Stonegate looks forward to celebrating this special month through our morning announcements and displays around our building!
April is Autism Acceptance Month
Did you know…
In Maryand, about 1 in 40 elementary-aged children have an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. At Stonegate, we serve many neurodiverse children across all programs and every grade. Many of our families include a family member on the spectrum.
This April, lets celebrate neurodiversity at Stonegate!
Read about xMinds- A great resource for families of autistic students:
xMinds: Partnership for Extraordinary Minds; Improving education for autistic students in Montgomery County, MD
Join us at Lunch and Recess!
The weather is warming up and we invite family members and caregivers to volunteer to support recess or lunch!
Please sign up for any available dates/times you can volunteer using the Sign-up Genius. See Stonegate’s Volunteer Handbook for more details.
All volunteers must complete the MCPS Volunteer Training Module on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect within the last two years. Please bring a copy of your certificate or send it to Anita_B_Knuth@mcpsmd.org or Franny_S_Wooler@mcpsmd.org
Stonegate Yearbook 2024
Pre order your Stonegate Yearbook now! Yearbooks are being sold online at Josten’s for $25 (includes tax). Please use this link: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09866687
Place your order before 4/26/24. Yearbooks will be shipped to the school the first week of June for delivery to students.
April Lunch Menu
The April Menu for School Meals:
Apply now for Free Meals at https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
Interested families must reapply each school year. It takes 15 minutes!
Upcoming Field Trips
We are learning every day in school and on field trips! Here is a list of upcoming field trips. This list will continue to grow as additional trips are planned and more details are finalized. We want to thank our PTA for sponsoring several trips so our students can enjoy them for free!
Permission slips are coming home with students. Please check your student’s folder and return the permission slip.
For field trip payments, we encourage online payments at https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/ School Cash Online is MCPS’ online payment system. Cash or checks payable to Stonegate Elementary are also accepted, but for safety and security purposes, online payments are preferred.
Students will not be denied the opportunity to attend a trip due to financial hardship. If you need to make special arrangements to cover the cost of the trip, please contact your child’s teacher via email or note.
SchoolCash Online
Pay for field trips online! Activate your account today. With your account, you will receive an email each time there is a new activity fee added for your child(ren).
One-Pager - Parent Registration Instructions - 2022 - Montgomery
MCPS Withdrawal Policy for 2023- 2024 School Year
Regular school attendance is a major predictor of academic success
Set routines to establish good attendance patterns
Notify the school when their child is going to be absent on any given day
Provide a written note or physician’s certificate for absences or tardiness within 3 days of the students return to school
Plan vacations or trips around the school calendar to avoid unnecessary absences.
Doors open at 8:40 am for students to begin arrival. Students should arrive at school before 8:55 a.m. each day. This allows the students time to hang their belongings and get to their classrooms. When students arrive after 9:00 a.m. they miss important announcements and important time with their teachers. Please arrive on time!
If a student is absent 10 consecutive days they will be withdrawn.
MCPS will require schools to complete the following forms: MCPS Student Permanent Withdrawal, regardless of student age and the MCPS Educational Interview for Withdrawal Prevention. Then the forms will be filed in the student’s cumulative folder.
Montgomery County Food Distribution
Click on the link below for information about food assistance resources in Montgomery County.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/get-help/food.html
Spring cleaning? Don’t forget to Donate!
Clothing to Cash® is a program that collects new and used clothing, shoes, sheets, towels, and all textiles and pays the school for every pound collected. As your child is outgrowing clothes, don’t throw those clothes away, give clothes a second life by donating them to Stonegate.
This recycling program is a win-win! It’s free and convenient for families and also serves as an ongoing fundraiser that serves our students and school community.
Stonegate families, relatives, neighbors, and staff are all encouraged to participate!
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
Your Remind Settings
Stonegate ES is communicating through Remind, which sends texts to parents. If you aren’t receiving the messages or you would like to add additional contacts, you can add or remove email addresses and phone numbers.
Adjust your account settings for Remind at www.remind.com.
Choose “Sign up” and enter your phone number. Your account as an MCPS parent will come up and will allow you to edit your communication settings.
Add a phone number for a caregiver:
Do you need an older sibling, a grandparent or other caregiver to receive text messages from the school? Add an additional phone to receive school wide Remind text messages by using that phone to text @436ch8 to the number 81010.
Stonegate Elementary School
Stonegate Elementary School
14811 Notley Road
Silver Spring, MD 20905
Main Office: 240- 740-7430
Arrival 8:40-9:00 a.m.
Dismissal 3:25 p.m.
All walkers will exit through the front doors. We ask that caregivers please greet your students behind the cones away from the front entrance of the double doors.
Picking up early?
If you need to pick your child up early, please do so before 3 p.m. The main office cannot accommodate parent pick-ups after 3:00 p.m.
Principal: Linda_M_Jones@mcpsmd.org
On X: @StonegatePrin
Assistant Principal: Franny_S_Wooler@mcpsmd.org
Visit us on the web at: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/stonegatees/