September 15th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. This year's theme is "Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together." As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I encourage all of us to honor and recognize the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx individuals.

We will kick-off this month with a Latin Dance assembly, sponsored by the PTSA and our Cultural Celebration Committee has also created a display in the main hallway. Throughout the remainder of September and beginning of October, students will experience mini-lessons and curricular connections that highlight the culture, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx people, both past, present and locals.

Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Erin Martin

This week our students will take their Measures of Academic Progress in Math (MAP-M) during their math classes.

Picture Day will take place through Physical Education and Health classes on Thursday and Friday. Our vendor, Freed Photography, will send ordering information directly to families. If you have any questions, please contact Tracy Mickens-Hundley at Tracy_L-Mickens-Hundley@mcpsmd.org.

To those of you who have signed up to be PTSA members or volunteers - thank you!

We are still working to connect with those of you who expressed interest in helping out. If you expressed interest in a committee, we’ll be reaching out to you.

Join as a member and/or become a volunteer!

We still have board and committee positions available!

Please consider joining our PTSA Board or a committee. This is a great way to learn more about what is happening at TPMS, and make an impact in your student’s education!

Join the board or a committee

Learn more about the positions

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the PTSA is sponsoring a salsa dance lesson for all students on Monday, September 16. This is one of many ways in which we endeavor to enrich your students’ school experience!

Learn more about all PTSA Sponsored events

Get ready for our biggest fundraiser of the year!

Our biggest fundraiser of the year kicks off October 7th. Keep watching this space for more information!

See the flyer for some details

The Social Studies team is hosting a series of Curriculum Night webinars for families to learn more about how social studies is taught in MCPS and how its curricula in kindergarten through 11th grade incorporate the history of various ethnic and cultural groups. The webinars will be held from 6:30–7:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Thursday, Sept. 12–Black and African American History
• Thursday, Sept. 26–Asian History
• Thursday, Oct. 10–Hispanic History
• Thursday, Oct. 24–Arab History
• Thursday, Nov. 7–Indigenous History of the United States
• Thursday, Dec. 5–LGBTQ+ History (Middle and High School Only)
• Thursday, Dec. 12–Jewish History

To attend, families must register at the above links and a link to attend the webinar will be sent to them.

November 1, 2024

High School Choice Form Deadline

Application Deadline for All Secondary Magnet and Application Only Programs

Students at Takoma Park Middle School are a part of the Downcounty Consortium. All DCC students are able to participate in the high School choice process which include interest-based and criteria-based programs. Throughout the months of September and October, 8th graders will receive classroom lessons regarding the choice process. Ms. O’Connell and Ms. Lever will also have weekly lunch bunches to answer questions about high school, application only programs, and all other things high school related. On October 8th, at 7pm, Ms. Lever and Ms. O’Connell will host a High School information night at TPMS for parents and 8th grade students to attend as part of the PTSA meeting. Below are MCPS links regarding the high school process and dates of all of the open houses. As always, if you have questions, Please reach out to your child’s 8th grade counselor.

Ms. Lever (A-G)

Ms. O’Connell (H-Z)

Important Websites to refer to:

• High School Programs (MCPS Link)
• Application only MCPS High School Regional/Countywide Application Programs At-A-Glance
• Un vistazo a los programas de solicitud regionales y de todo el condado de MCPS High School
• MCPS High School Regional/Countywide Application Programs At-A-Glance
• Un vistazo a los programas de solicitud regionales y de todo el condado de MCPS High School

DCC FLYER

NEC FLYER

September 2024

• 09/19 - DCC HS Information Session (Options Fair) for Grade 8 parents/students, Virtual, 6 pm
• 9/26 - DCC Open House - Wheaton HS for Grade 8 parents/student (Wheaton/Edison Partnership Program Information at 6:30 pm), 6:30 pm
• 9/26 - Wheaton HS, Biomedical & Engineering Application Only Program Info Meeting – 6:30 (available only to DCC residents and Gr 8 students who attend DCC middle schools on transfer)
• 9/30 -DCC Open House - Blair HS for Grade 8 parents/students, 6 pm
• 9/30 - Rockville HS IBCP Parent Info Night, time TBD

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October 2024

• 10/7- Blair HS Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet Information Meeting, time TBD
• 10/8 - TPMS High School Choice information Night, 7pm (at PTSA Mtg)
• 10/9 - Kennedy HS Regional Application IB Programme Parent Information Night, 6:30 pm
• 10/9 - DCC Open House - Kennedy HS for Grade 8 parents/students, and Leadership Training Institute (LTI) Parent Information Meeting (LTI available only to DCC residents and Gr 8 students who attend DCC middle schools on transfer) 6:30 pm
• 10/10 - Magruder Aviation Parent Info Session, time TBD
• 10/14 - Poolesville HS Global Ecology House Parent Information Meeting; Virtual, 6 pm
• 10/14 - DCC Open House - Einstein HS for Grade 8 parents/students, 6:30 pm, VAC Parent Information Meeting 6 pm
• 10/21 - Richard Montgomery HS Countywide International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB) Parent Information Meeting, time TBD
• 10/28 - Blair HS CAP Parent Meeting for Grade 8 parents/students, 6 pm (available only to DCC residents and Gr 8 students who attend DCC middle schools on transfer)
• 10/30 - DCC Open House - Northwood HS for Grade 8 parents/students, 7:00 pm, MC2 Parent Information Night, 6:00pm

November 1, 2024

High School Choice Form Deadline

Application Deadline for All Secondary Magnet and Application Only Programs

Summer SSL forms are due to Ms. Sita by September 23rd, 2024. Please remember to submit forms that have been thoroughly completed! Ms. Sita has received numerous forms already that are missing critical information like student name and ID number. Stop by 106 before 8:10 if you have any questions.

In an effort to ensure all students have access to chromebooks at home, we are working with families to request MCPS issued chromebooks. Currently, MCPS is experiencing low inventory due to the number of chromebooks checked out. If you have MCPS issued chromebooks at home that you are no longer using, please have your child return them to the media center.