Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
January 22-January 26
Dear Silver Creek Families
Last week was an unusual week with the school closures due to the snow. Thank you to our families and students for your continued flexibility. As communicated by MCPS, the decision to implement virtual learning can be found on the MCPS website. We will communicate our virtual learning plan with families by the end of January 2024.
We are getting closer to the end of the quarter. It is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the school year. This Friday, January 26 is the end of MP2. Please encourage your child to complete any missing assignments and/or retake any quizzes/tests, if needed. There is no school for students on Monday, January 29, 2024 This is a professional day for teachers.
The sections marked with an * have 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, January 12 2024 * to hear upcoming news & events: https://youtube.com/live/u4CcOZHwTzk?feature=share
You may also access the following document for the daily links to the Silver Creek News Show (SCN).
*Due to school closures and MAP testing last week, there were no morning announcements.
*SCMS Outdoor Education Parent/Caregiver Meeting Follow up (6th grade ONLY)
As a follow up to the Virtual Outdoor Education Parent Meeting that was held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, we wanted to thank the many families that joined us. If you were unable to join us, the presentation slides and a recording of the presentation are linked below.
Outdoor Ed Presentation Slides
Outdoor Ed Recording--(It takes a minute to begin.)
Important Dates
- February 2nd: Outdoor Education (ODE) Information Packets with permission & medication forms distributed to students via Science classes
- February 16th: ODE Permission slips and medication forms DUE
- February 26th: All requirements to be a parent volunteer must be completed
- March 18 -20: ODE Session 1 (Mr. Bibeault's Science classes)
- March 20 - 22: ODE Session 2 (Dr. Marcum's Science classes)
Chaperones
We do need several parent/caregiver chaperones for each ODE session. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the Chaperone Interest Google form and then Mr. Bibeault will follow up with you.
Chaperone Interest Google Form: https://forms.gle/rCBE9443jmq8jnhD8
We will continue to provide Outdoor Education Updates and Reminders as we get closer to important dates and the actual trip.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Mr. Bibeault, 6th Grade Team Leader, at Ryan_P_Bibeault@mcpsmd.org.
*Winter MAP Assessment
Due to school closures last week, please see the adjusted MAP testing schedule below.
All sixth grade students and seventh and eighth graders in a reading or mathematics intervention will take the Winter Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment on Monday January 22 (Reading) in the morning through their homeroom classes. Students should report to the same testing locations as Thursday January 18 when they took the MAP Mathematics test.
Please note: Students with testing accommodations may have a separate testing location. These students have received passes to their testing locations. Students may bring a bottle of water and a pencil to testing. We do encourage that your child attend school on this day so that they do not miss this important test. Students who are absent will be invited to a makeup session on January 23 and 24 during their first period class.
- Please click here to view the MAP Testing Schedule.
- Please click here for more information on the Measure of Academic Progress test.
Please email Ms. Rachel Mannheimer, English Content Specialist, at rachel_j_mannheimer@mcpsmd.org or Mr. David O'Shell, Assistant Principal, at David_O'Shell@mcpsmd.org if you have any questions.
Library Media Center
Click HERE for our JANUARY MEDIA MONTHLY. We have plenty of news and updates about learning, inquiring, and reading together as we kick off 2024.
Silver Creek is proud to announce an exciting event for our entire community, WE ARE the JOURNEY: An Oratorical Contest Celebrating Culture and Community, on Thursday, February 22, at 6:30 pm. All students are invited to perform an original speech, poem, or other creative work, or recite the work of a published author. Please visit our ORATORICAL CONTEST WEBSITE for more information, including prompts, resources, and this commitment form. We look forward to celebrating Black History Month, our inclusive community, and our amazing student participants with all of you! For more information, please contact your child's English teacher, Ms. Hill-Gilliard, or Ms. Diskin.
Student Course Registration and Articulation for SY24-25
Believe it or not, it is already time to begin thinking about next school year. Below is a timeline of dates as we start the articulation process for our students.
Current 6th and 7th Grade Students
SCMS staff will be working to make course recommendations. These will be shared with students and sent home at the end of January.
- January 30th & January 31st--SCMS counselors will visit 6th and 7th grade science classes to share course offerings and explain the course registration process and timeline.
- February 5th--Deadline for completing and submitting Google Course Registration Form. Information on how to complete this registration form will be shared with students when counselors visit their science classes.
- Detailed information regarding course offerings and the course registration process and timeline will be shared with parents at the end of January. It will also be posted on the SCMS website upon our return from winter break.
Current 8th Grade Students (Rising 9th Grade Students)
- January 8th --B-CC counselors visited 8th grade science classes to share information about High School graduation requirements, 9th grade course offerings, and the registration process and timeline. We will continue to update you with further course registration and articulation information as it becomes available.
- January 15th—Online course registration window opens via StudentVue (Dependent on MCPS and access to Synergy).
- January 24th—Course Selection Information Night at B-CC HS at 7:00 PM (Please see flyer attached)
- January 31st—Deadline for completing course registration in StudentVue
*Counseling Department News & Updates
The Therapy dogs will be here on Monday, January 22. Students will be invited during their lunch period to come visit the dogs. This month the following classes will be invited:
- 6th Grade – Ms. Kim and Ms. Lim
- 7th Grade – Ms. Jefferson and Mr. Jones
- 8th Grade – Mr. Mallory and Ms. Saund
Check out the January Newsletter here: https://www.smore.com/rhu3f
In this edition you will find:
- Registration season
- New Year's resolutions
- Information about vaping and edibles
- Other parent resources
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
Please note: Transcript requests: Please request transcripts from the main page of the SCMS's website. You can find it under QUICKLINKS on the left hand side. This is the most efficient way to ensure Ms. Abrom, registrar, receives your transcript request. Questions? Call the counseling office at 240-740-2211
Homework Help
Homework Help is available Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:10-4:20 in Room 403. The purpose of Homework Help is to provide a quiet space for students to study and complete homework.
*Please note that this is not a tutoring program and therefore there is limited assistance available for students who need assistance with work or attaining concepts. Please contact Mr. Ed Eibel, Homewrok Help sponsor, at edward_e_eibel@mcpsmd.org for more information.
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.
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.
Yearbook Sales
We are excited to announce that SCMS Yearbooks are on Sale NOW. Mrs. Boyle, our Yearbook sponsor, and our Yearbook Club have been meeting after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays to start designing the 2023-2024 yearbook. Yearbooks are $30 until January 31, 2024. See the flyers below for more details on how to order your Silver Creek Yearbook.
Questions? Please email our yearbook sponsor at Jennifer_K_Boyle@mcpsmd.org
PARENT RESOURCES
Principal Coffee
We are excited to have principal coffees once a month on Fridays from 8:30-9:10 am.
This month's principal coffee is scheduled for Friday, January 26. The topic will be Understanding Our School's MD Report Card. The zoom link is below:
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/83760976823?pwd=MWIyejdYOW05TVNRVVhwM2JDT2pZUT09
Meeting ID: 837 6097 6823
Passcode: Husky
One tap mobile
13017158592
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, January 18
Here are things to know from Thursday Jan. 18. Get information about how weather decisions are made, how you can share your thoughts about school breakfast and lunch menus, a bus tracking app, upcoming district events, good news this week, and learn more about the SSL hours graduation requirement in this week's episode of To the Point!
Parenting/Caregiver Toolbox - This week on Thursday, January 25
Refresh your toolbox. In our rapidly changing world, where the landscape of education is evolving, it becomes crucial to equip our children with the skills to navigate and thrive in an ever-shifting environment. One such essential skill is resilience—the ability to adapt, bounce back from setbacks, and face challenges with strength and determination. In an effort to collaborate with our families, counselors will share research-based strategies on ways to build resilience in middle schoolers.
The session will be on January 25 from 7- 8:30 via zoom. The session, "Parenting for Resilience and Independence" will provide tips on how to best help your middle schooler bounce back from disappointment. Join the counselors for some expert advice as you build up your parenting/caregiver toolbox.
Zoom link coming soon.
Restorative Justice at Silver Creek
At Silver Creek, we continue to instill the values of being a restorative justice school. Restorative Justice is a mindset and philosophy toward school climate and relationship building. Important components are: Proactively and intentionally developing relationships and building community; and restoring, repairing, or healing the school community when harm has occurred.
The focus is on education, learning from mistakes, identifying and working on the root of the behavior, making deep-level change, repairing relationships, and restoring students and staff to the environment.
The Key Values of Restorative Justice include:
- Nurturing healthy relationships built on trust
- Fostering mutual respect between individuals
- Feeling a sense of responsibility for your community
- Repairing harm and transforming conflict
- Reintegrating back to your community if harm has been caused
To learn more about RJ at Silver Creek, please see the flyer here.
MD Report Card
The 2023 Maryland Report was released the week of December 13, 2023. Please read the letter that provides a link to our school's report, some background about the MD Report Card, including resources to better understand the report card. LETTER.
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
January 22- MAP-R testing (6th grade ONLY & selected 7th and 8th grade students)
January 25- Parent/Caregiver Toolbox Meeting- Via zoom at 7:00 PM
January 26- Principal Coffee- Via Zoom at 8:30 AM
January 26- End of Marking Period 2
January 29–No School for students; Professional Day for staff to complete quarter/semester grades
January 30 & 31- SCMS counselors will visit 6th and 7th grade science classes to explain the course registration process and timeline.
January 31- Deadline for completing course registration on StudentVue (8th grade ONLY)
Link to MCPS Calendar
*Early Dismissal Reminder
If you need to pick up your child for an early dismissal, please send your child in to school with a note to give to the main office. This will help to facilitate your child being ready in a timely manner and will minimize any potential disruption to instruction. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.
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