Stonegate Greetings
Weekly Newsletter
Mental Health Awareness Week & National School Bus Safety Week
Monday, October 21st
Mindfulness Monday
After school Avanti Soccer 3:30-4:30 p.m.
After school Spanish, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
SGA Food Drive until November 4th
Drop off School Library Pumpkins this week
Tuesday, October 22nd
Talented Tuesday
SGA student speeches, Virtual 9:30 a.m.
After School Girls on the Run 3:30-4:45 p.m.
After School Boys Let Me Run 3:30-4:45 p.m.
After School Sky’s the Limit Dance Gr K-2- 3:30- 5:15 p.m.
SGA Food Drive until November 4th
Wednesday, October 23rd
Wear It Wednesday
After School STEM by Problem Solvers 3:30-4:45 p.m.
After School Creative Adventures Art 3:30-5:00 p.m.
SGA Food Drive until November 4th
Thursday, October 24th
Thrive Thursday
Grade 1 Field Trip to Baltimore National Aquarium 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Grade 5 Field Trip to Strathmore Music Center 11:20 a.m. -2:00 p.m.
After school Basketball 3:30-4:30 p.m.
After School Girls on the Run 3:30-4:45 p.m.
After School Boys Let Me Run 3:30-4:45 p.m.
After School Sky’s the Limit Dance Gr 3-5- 3:30- 5:15 p.m.
SGA Food Drive until November 4th
Friday, October 25th
Fun Friday
After School Magnus Chess Academy 3:30-4:30 p.m.
SGA Pumpkins and Plaid Dance 6:30-8:30 p.m.
SGA Food Drive until November 4th
Drop off School Library Pumpkins by today!
Dear Stonegate Families and Caregivers,
This Tuesday, October 22nd, we will have our SGA speeches and elections! The link has been shared with families of all candidates giving speeches. We are incredibly proud of all our Stonegate Sharks who have shown such bravery and leadership by wanting to serve as SGA officers. Good luck to everyone participating!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Kids Heart Challenge Walk! We are thrilled to share that we met our goal for the Heart Association, raising over $3,000 for such an important cause. Your participation and generosity are truly appreciated.
A big thank you also to everyone who attended Math Night! It was such a fun and engaging evening for all. We love seeing our students excited about learning.
This Friday, October 25th, is our SGA-sponsored Pumpkins and Plaid event! It’s going to be a blast, so pull out your favorite plaid and join us for the fun. Don’t forget to wear your plaid, and if you can, please bring a non-perishable item or make a monetary donation. Food will be available for purchase. Just a reminder, this event is for our Stonegate Sharks. They must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver – this is not a drop-off event.
We also have lots of items in our Lost and Found! Last week, Mrs. Wooler rolled the items outside during dismissal so parents could look for missing items. If your child is missing something, please check the Lost and Found area as we have accumulated quite a few items.
Lastly, if your child will not participate in the Halloween Parade and Parties, please complete this form so your child can join the Harvest Festival. If they are joining the parade and parties, please do not complete the form.
Thank you for your continued support and for making Stonegate such a wonderful community!
Warmly,
Linda M. Jones
Principal
Thank you to everyone for supporting our American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser. Stonegate raised $3,421.32!!
Our top 10 fundraisers got to spray Silly String on our principal Ms. Jones after our community walk on Thursday. It was a beautiful day and we appreciate everyone’s support.
Student Governement Association- Student Elections
The Stonegate Elementary School SGA wishes to congratulate every student who participated in the Primary Election. It takes so much courage to run for an SGA office, and we are so proud of all of you! We have 17 students that will move on to give speeches. Speeches will take place on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. They will take place virtually on Zoom.
Halloween Celebrations
For those students who celebrate Halloween, a costume parade will begin at 1:50 p.m. Caregivers and families are welcome to watch the parade. School costumes must be safe, and no pretend weapons of any kind are allowed.
As we prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, I want to share some important information and updates to volunteers for Halloween parties. This year we are limiting the number of caregivers that are allowed to volunteer and support the classroom parties after the parade.
Each class will be allowed up to 5 caregivers as volunteers. Teachers will reach out to caregivers to determine their interest in volunteering and to confirm sign up. Thank you for your understanding as we work to keep Stonegate fun and safe.
Treats for all parties must be Nut/Peanut free, store bought, and still in original wrappers/unopened containers.
Harvest Celebration
Simultaneously, the Harvest Celebration will be for students who do not celebrate Halloween
It will take place in the MPR from 1:50-3:15 p.m.
Please remember, any of the 5 registered volunteers who will be assisting with either of these celebrations must sign in at the front office using a driver’s license and obtain a visitor’s sticker. We want to ensure the safety and security of all students and visitors in the building. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your classroom teacher.
Holiday Giving Project
To sign up for family assistance then please sign up through the form down below. Resources are limited. While a referral is not a guarantee of assistance, the project helps as many families in need as donations allow. For more information please reach out to Mr. George by phone or email.
DEADLINE IS THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25:
Weekend Snack Bags- KIND
Stonegate partners with Kids in Need Distributor to help provide food to families that are in need. If you are a family that is in need of the bags provided by KIND please complete the KIND form or reach out to Mr. George, our school counselor at Kedon_F_George2@mcpsmd.org. More information is provided down below in our Stonegate Greetings. The first delivery with FOOD bags is going out on November 8th. If you are in need of bags please let your school counselor know.
For Parents of 5th Grade students: Middle School Magnet Consortium
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/school-info/msmagnet/
How to Receive Emergency Information for MCPS Schools
We have so many sweaters and hoodies left over at recess.
Label your child’s items today and throughout the year! We have many lunchboxes, sweaters and hoodies in our Lost and Found. The Lost and Found is in the Multi Purpose Room (MPR), we encourage kids and parents to find their items.
We have partnered with https://mabelslabels.com/ if you would like to order amazing label products for clothing, water bottles and lunch boxes. Our Grade 5 students will earn 20% of sales. Be sure to select “support a fundraiser” and select “Stonegate Elementary (Silver Spring)”
Stonegate PTA Membership Drive
Join the PTA during The Big Splash Membership Drive and help support vial programs like cultural assemblies, community engagement activities, teacher mini-grants, and! Help your child's class make waves in the competition—each class with the highest percentage of PTA membership will win tasty prizes. The overall school winner will get a pizza party, and the top class in each grade will enjoy a popsicle party. Check out this week’s leader board for each grade:
Leaderboard for this week:
PK: Williams
LFI: Moore
K: Fabre
1: McKnight
2: Dantzler
3: Wolfe
4: Congress
5: Guidot
Stonegate Scholastic Book Fair - November 11 - 15
We are excited to announce that our school will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair, which will take place from November 11th - November 15th at the Media Center. To learn more about the book fair, get a digital preview, check the event schedule out, or add funds to your eWallet (available October 18th) visit the Stonegate Scholastic Store.
For students, it’s one of the most anticipated events of the school year—but we need volunteers to make it happen. We hope that you can offer your time and talent to help students experience Bookjoy firsthand! And every purchase at the Fair directly benefits our school. So, it’s a win-win! If you’re available to lend a hand at the book fair please sign up today!
Town Hall with Dr. Taylor
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 23 from 6 - 8 pm for a Town Hall with MCPS Superintendent, Dr. Taylor hosted by The Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity & Excellence. Help us show Black parents, caregivers, and community members (along with Latino families) are alarmed that the majority of Black and brown students are reading below grade level. Please register this week using the QR Code.
Families and students can stay engaged throughout the school year with Parent Academy TO GO, a series of free virtual webinars for families. October, November and December webinars are now available on the Parent Academy website. Topics include managing bedtime battles, learning skills for better communication and tools to diffuse power struggles, and handling disappointing grades. Registration is available here.
Upcoming Topics:
- Managing Morning Mayhem and Bedtime Battles
- Partnering for Student Success: New Literacy Curriculum, New Opportunities to Connect
- What is Hate-Bias?
- Active Parenting Now!
- Sharpening Phonics Skills at Home
- Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Modes of Learning: Support Your Child at Home
Menus are sent home monthly and can be found on the MCPS’s website: Elementary Menu
Kindergarten- 5th Grade Menu: October 2024:
English | españolPre-K: October 2024:
English | español | français | 中文 | Portuguese | 한국어 | tiếng Việt | አማርኛ
Hot lunches are served daily with alternate choices. Lunch is $2.55 including milk. Milk may be purchased separately for 60 cents. Parents are highly encouraged to start a Myschoolbucks account for their child. This will eliminate lost or forgotten lunch money. The price of lunch or breakfast will be subtracted from the account. Checks should be made payable to Stonegate School Cafeteria.
MySchoolBucks.com is an optional service for parents/guardians to make prepayments to a student's cafeteria account for breakfast, lunch, and à-la-carte meals online with a credit or debit card. You can check your child's spending history, and receive low-balance notifications.vBy creating a secure online account, parents can monitor and manage their child's account.
There is a $2.49 convenience fee for each payment transaction.
Applying for Free Lunch
Students in Maryland who qualify for reduced-price meals will not be charged for meals! Apply right away. One application covers the entire HOUSEHOLD. Translations in other languages are available through the online application.
Apply now at www.MySchoolApps.com
Here is a video about how to apply:
English Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJUapGLarBo
Video en Español: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsdCrtCIFJc&t=4s
Here is the 24-25 School Calendar
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org//siteassets/district/calendar/2024/2024-calendar.pdf
Fall/Winter Dates
Oct 30 - Grade 3 Field Trip Butler’s Orchard 9:40 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.
Oct 30 - Pre K Field Trip to Butler’s Orchard 9:40 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.
Oct 31 - Harvest Festival and Halloween Parade 2-3 p.m.
Nov 4 - No School, Grading and Planning Day, Possible Make up
Nov 5 - No School, Election Day
Nov 5 - PTA Election Day Bake Sale
Nov 5 - 19 - Square 1 Art Fundraiser
Nov 6 - California Tortilla in Olney Restaurant Fundraiser 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Nov 8 - Gr 5 Restaurant fundraiser Chuck E Cheese 3-9 pm
Nov 11-15 - PTA Scholastic Book Fair
Nov 11 - PTA Donuts With Grownups - Book Fair
Nov 11 - Open House for Families to Visit Classrooms
Nov 13 - LFI Field Trip to Robinson Nature Center 9:40-1:30
Nov 14 - Make Up/Retakes Student Picture Day 9 - 11 a.m.
Nov 14 - Good Night, Sleep Tight Reading Night 6-7 pm
Nov 16 - Boys Let Me Run 5K
Nov 22 - Grade 4 Field Trip to Historic St. Marys 7:30 am - 4 pm
Nov 20 - Grade 2 Field Trip to Strathmore Music Center 11:20 a.m. -2 p.m
Nov 22 - Grade 4 Field Trip to Historic St. Mary’s City
Nov 24 - Girls on the Run 5K at Wheaton Mall
Nov 25-26 - Early Release Day, Students dismissal 12:55 pm
Nov 27-29- No school, Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec 11 - PTA Restaurant Night Jersey Mikes
Dec 19 - School Wide Field Trip (all grades) to Xfinity Center UMD Girls Basketball Game 10 -2
Dec 23 - Jan 1- No School, Winter Break
Jan 2 - Return to School
Jan 14 - Gr 5 Chipotle Restaurant Night 5-9 pm
Jan 16 - Science Night 6-7:30 pm
Jan 22 - Winter Instrumental Music & Chorus 5:30-6:30 pm
Jan 30 - Yearbook Club photos 9:15-11:15 am
Feb 13 - PTA Restaurant Night Vocelli
Feb 14 - Valentine’s Parties 2-3 pm
Feb 21 - Grade 4 Field Trip Arts on Stage “Lift Every Voice” 10:30 am -2 pm
Feb 24- Mar 14 PTA Read A Thon
Feb 27 - Black History Celebration - Sherwood High School
Feb 28- Early Release dismissal at 12:55
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) appreciates the support of the parent and community volunteers who support the essential needs of the schools.
For our field trip Chaperones, you must have completed the online Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Training within the last 3 years (2022-2023, 2023-2024, current 2024-2025 school years). You can access the training through ParentVue.
Support Guides: How to take the training
All volunteers WILL need to check-in and check-out of the main office and scan their driver’s license/identification cards through the Visitor Management System (VMS). Once the volunteer clears the VMS, they must be badged (the VMS creates a sticker badge) and remain under supervision of an MCPS professional while with students.
Link to 7 minute Volunteer Expectations Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tpdZrX8MRqYutpNhA3siVOajmRnxlYPa/view?usp=sharing
As a one time volunteer, such as guest reader or helping with student celebrations, you do NOT need to complete the online Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Training.
Clothing to Cash® is a program that collects New and Used Clothing, Shoes, Sheets, and Towels, (all Textiles) and pays the school 10 cents for every pound collected. The program is operated entirely OUTSIDE and will be located in the school parking lot, where students, parents, staff, and the community can drop off items throughout the year.
They have state-of-the-art photo quantity sensors installed in each bin that report 3 times daily to prevent overflow and allow the company to schedule service as needed (no other companies use this technology). They empty the collection bin, weigh the contents to determine our school earnings, and pay our school monthly.
The average school (500 - 1000 students) will earn $1000- $2000 yearly if each student would donate just one 13-gallon kitchen-size bag of textile mate! Add in parents, siblings, relatives, neighbors, and staff, and Stonegate’s earnings could really increase.