Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter

Welcome to December! I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday filled with rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Some time away from our everyday tasks can be remarkably restorative. I am confident that we will all return with renewed enthusiasm and vigor.

We appreciate our families coming out for Parent-Teacher conferences last Monday prior to the break. We hope you all found this to be a valuable experience.

As we approach the winter months, let's continue to support one another, fostering a positive and inclusive environment where each member of our community can thrive. The winter season presents a chance for us to engage in various winter-themed activities, both inside and outside the classroom. Whether it's participating in winter sports, enjoying seasonal arts and crafts, or simply appreciating the beauty of the winter landscape, there is much to look forward to during the months ahead.

We have two weeks until interims for Marking Period 2, scheduled for Monday, December 16. As always, please encourage your child to take advantage of their advisory time to complete any missing assignments and/or to receive any extra support. Wishing you all a wonderful return from Thanksgiving break and a joyous entry into the winter season. Let's make the upcoming weeks memorable, filled with learning, laughter, and the spirit of togetherness- make it a great week, Huskies!

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 an awesome week, Huskies!

Did you miss the latest Husky news. You may access the link below from Tuesday, November 26.

to hear upcoming news & events Click Link. You can see all of the news links located here.

As we begin to enter the colder months, we would like to share with you our Severe Weather to Virtual Learning Plan. MCPS requires each school to have a Severe Weather plan and to communicate it to staff, students and families and then post on the school’s website.

Please see Plan and Schedule linked below:

Severe Weather Plan

Severe Weather Bell Schedule

All students will take the winter administration of MAP-R and MAP-M in order to measure progress in reading and mathematics.

• MAP-M - Monday, December 16
• MAP-R- Tuesday, December 17

All students with accommodations will receive their appropriate testing accommodations. Students will take the test with their homeroom teacher at the start of each school day. Please ensure a good night sleep and breakfast!

To learn more about the MAP assessment, please click on the link: https://www.nwea.org/the-map-suite/family-toolkit/

Questions about testing, please contact Justine Pfeiffer, assistant principal, at Justine_Pfeiffer@mcpsmd.org

Catch up with our November MEDIA MONTHLY: NEWS & NOTES from the LIBRARY MEDIA PROGRAM.

This month, we are in need of "wintery" craft items for our Ugly Book Sweaters book review project in our makerspace. We could use foam and flat stickers, washi tape, ribbons, wrapping paper, sequins, beads, and any other craft items.

We are so grateful to the families who have donated to our library makerspace. Click HERE for our wish lists, and thanks in advance to all!

Our December newsletter is out. Check it out here: https://secure.smore.com/n/gtjck5

The counselors are offering parent/caregiver toolbox sessions to provide pertinent and helpful information to our families to navigate parenting a middle school child.

• Save the dates: Our parent toolbox meetings are coming.
• Meetings will be from 7:00 - 8:00 via zoom. The dates are January 30, March 20 and May 15, 2025.
• All links will be sent in January.

• Check out the mental health support tab on our website for some workshops for grieving families put on by Caring Matters. All workshops are on zoom.
• 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: Sign up for Husky Help 24-25 (google.com)
  
• The HUSKY PANTRY is open. Please make sure to fill out the FORM above to ensure your child has access to these resources.

If you have questions related to registration/enrollment or transcripts, please contact Ms. Susan Levine, resource counselor at Susan_A_Levine@mcpsmd.org

We are excited to announce that our annual family S.T.E.A.M Night is scheduled for Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 6:30-8:30PM. We encourage all students and their families to stop by and check out some of the great activities and demonstrations.

Activities at STEAM night this year will include:

Zip Flyers; Mini STEM challenges; Estimating Games; Computer Science Games; Star Gazing & Pizza Math.

There will also be food to purchase from the PTSA. Please bring your family and join us for a night of fun. Transportation provided beginning at 6:15 PM from Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center

We are excited to announce that SCMS Yearbooks are on Sale NOW. Ms. Jordan is our Yearbook sponsor this school year. Ms. Jordan and the SCMS Yearbook club have been meeting after school to start designing the 2024-2025 yearbook.

How to Order

• Reserve your copy now for $30.00 until February 1, 2025. To order online, scan the QR code or go to yearbookforever.com.

Questions? Please email our yearbook sponsor at Cassandra-lee_E_Jordan@mcpsmd.org

Middle School Athletics for the 2024-2025 school year is open to all 7th and 8th grade students. All athletes MUST be registered on ParentVue. Physicals (form SR-8) must be filled out by a medical professional prior to any type of participation. Physicals are valid for up to two years. Copies of the SR-8 form can be found HERE.

Winter Registration: Parent/guardians can register their student-athletes for winter athletics using ParentVue which began on October 28, 2024.

• Practices/Games occur every Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday after school from 3:10-4:30 or later on game days.
• Tryouts will be held December 10th-12th. Information regarding middle school athletics registration can be found here. Below are some helpful resources to assist parents/guardians with the on-line registration process:
  
• Complete the Middle School Spring Athletics Online Registration located on ParentVue.
• Complete the Middle School Spring Athletics Online Registration located on ParentVue. Click here for helpful tips on accessing the registration form.

If you have questions about our athletics programs or registration, please contact our Athletic Director, Mr. Sean Brennan at sean_p_brennan@mcpsmd.org

We have a range of after-school activities to choose from. 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 ask that students register for their activity so that sponsors are aware of the number of students attending. The registration link is below. 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 at 4:20 p.m.

We look forward to seeing your child at one of our great clubs!
Afterschool Activities Brochure

Registration

Husky Drama Presents: Through the Looking Glass adapted by Lindsay Price from Lewis Carroll

Alice is back in Wonderland and things are more confusing than ever – Flowers talk, the White Queen cries before she pricks her finger, and there’s a life-sized chess game going on. Alice wants to play, but mostly wants to be queen. Will she make it to the eighth square?

Performances:

• Friday, December 6: 7:00 PM
• Saturday, December 7: 12:00 PM & 6:00 PM

Tickets are available online: https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/78516/354/False/True

We look forward to a great performance by our Husky Drama Cast and Crew.

On behalf of the Silver Creek staff, I would like to say "thank you" to the PTSA for the delicious Thanksgiving Pies given last week. Thank you to Amy Lerman & Michelle Levine for organizing this for staff.

We are so appreciative of your generosity and continue to feel incredibly grateful for such a supportive and generous PTSA and school community.

Support the PTSA!

Now is the time to donate to the PTSA’s Husky Fund! The Husky Fund PTSA supports our great teachers, administrators, and students throughout the school year, but we are significantly behind in our fundraising efforts this year. We have more than $20,000 to go to meet our goal – please help us now so we don’t have to make difficult budget cuts this winter. As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, you can also personalize your donation in tribute to a Silver Creek faculty or staff member, student, or parent. You can honor birthdays, work anniversaries, special thank you’s, and more with your donation.

• Donating is easy: Log in to pay4schoolstuff.com
• Select “The Husky Fund: A Tribute Gift" - include the honoree’s name and the reason for your tribute in the donation form
• The PTSA will send a note of appreciation to all teachers, administrators, and others recognized with a tribute gift so they are aware of your generous donation in their honor

Update Your Info in the Online School Directory

Huskies, it's time to make sure your information is correct in the school directory! Please go to https://scmsptsa.membershiptoolkit.com, click register or login, and once you're registered, you can add or confirm your student's information and access the directory. If you have any questions, please let the PTSA know!

We are excited to announce our first Middle School Career Fair on Friday, February 28, 2025. This event aims to expose our students to a variety of career paths and inspire their future aspirations.

• We invite parents and guardians to volunteer and share insights about your profession or career. Whether you’re in education, healthcare, technology, arts, trades, or any other field, we’d love to hear from you!
• Your participation will provide valuable knowledge and inspiration to our students as they explore their future possibilities.
• For more information and to sign up, please visit this link.

Thank you for supporting our students and helping make this event a success. Questions, please email Ms. Ashley Rivera at Ashley_C_Rivera@mcpsmd.org or Ms. Meredith Lange at Meredith_A_Lange@mcpsmd.org.

Our school’s diversity is what makes us so special. In an effort to recognize the many cultures and backgrounds that make up our community, the PTSA Diversity Council will be hosting special recognitions/activities during lunch to celebrate this uniqueness.

On Friday, November 1 we celebrated Día de los Muertos. In some Latin American countries, it is a celebration of the life and legacy of the deceased. Students had Mexican chocolate and sweet bread. Mexican hot chocolate was a popular drink once only served to the wealthy during special holidays like Día de los Muertos. Students really enjoyed the opportunity to learn more and partake in this experience.

See the slides that were shown to students during lunch for the last two recognitions.

This school year, SCMS will be moving to a cell phone-free school. This means that phones are prohibited the entire school day (8:05 - 3:00 PM) The policy will take effect the first day of school, Monday, August 26. Please make sure you and your child review our new cell phone policy to ensure a smooth transition to the school year.

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.

• Apply here
• Learn more about the program

December 6: - Husky Drama Performance- 7:00 PM

December 7: Husky Drama Performance- 12:00 PM & 6:00 PM

December 9 - Open House (6th Grade Families)

December 9 - Winter Concert, Chorus, Orchestra & Jazz Band, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
December 10 - Winter Concert, Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced Band, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
December 12 - SCMS STEAM Night, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
December 16- MP 2 Interims

December 23- December 31- Winter Break (No School for students and teachers)
December 24 & 25 - Schools and Offices closed
December 30 & 31 - Systemwide Closure, All Schools & Offices Closed

Link to MCPS Calendar

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

Please find our school directory located on our School's Website with important contact information: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/staff/directory/

Principal: Dr. Tiffany N. Awkard

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Kimberly P. Heidler

Assistant Principal: Ms. Justine Pfeiffer

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
X: @SCMSDrAwkard