October Tidbits #1

• Oct. 14: Two-Hour Early Dismissal – Parent Conference Day
• Oct. 16: Unity Day - Wear orange!
• Oct. 18: Two-Hour Early Dismissal – Professional Responsibilities/ Collaborative Planning
• Oct. 25: End of 1st Marking Period
• Oct. 25: PTO Fall Festival & Scholastic Book Fair Family Night
• Oct. 25 - Nov. 1: Scholastic Book Fair
• Oct. 28 - Nov. 1: Red Ribbon Week

The TCES Running Club is BACK!

Please read this newsletter for the details and permission form.

Thank you,

Ms. Settle

Congratulations to our September Character Kids! Having good character means being trustworthy, respectful, fair, caring, responsible, and an overall good citizen. Way to go to these students for exemplifying these traits.

PreK: Emersyn Laughy

Kindergarten: Nazir Somerville and Carter Dickerson

First Grade: Diana McHenry and Bella Ha

Second Grade: Adelaide Loftus-Sorroche and Sage Walker

Third Grade: Kiera Fugitt and Skyla White

Fourth Grade: DJ Johnson and Jewel Holland

Fifth Grade: Omari Evans and Serenity Johnson

Effective communication is crucial not only for emergencies but for our ability to communicate with families in general. Online Emergency Information Update Forms are now available through the student’s Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. It is vital that all information is updated in eSchool. The deadline for the online submission of Emergency Information Update forms is October 31st, 2024. Please click here for the Blank Emergency Form. If you have any questions, please contact The Department of Student Services at 301-475-5511 ext.32150.

Kudos this week go to Second Grade with a 98 percent attendance rate for the week! They achieved 100 percent attendance two days this week.

Honorable mentions go to Kindergarten, First Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade, which achieved 100 percent one day this week.

We're grateful to all for your efforts to be here! Every day matters in the pursuit of knowledge. Consult this resource for tips on how to keep your child healthy and in school.

You can check attendance records in HAC. If you notice any days that are unlawful (marked red), please send an email to smverhaagh@smcps.org, or submit the reason for the absence online through our school website.

Parent and Childcare Provider Workshop: Parents of young children and local Childcare Providers are invited to participate in a Conscious Discipline workshop Tuesday, October 15, 2024, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. The Building from the Beginning workshop will be held in the Dohrman rooms at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center. Mission BBQ has graciously offered to provide dinner to the first 100 people who register. Childcare is not available. Please refer to the flier here for more details and fill out the Registration Form. Local childcare providers may register here and SMCPS will pursue MSDE Core of Knowledge Hours on their behalf.

Unity Day is Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Wear orange to show your support for KINDNESS, ACCEPTANCE, and INCLUSION!

Follow this link for the Spanish version of the flyer.

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."- Aesop

Please take a moment to register as volunteer. Volunteers must be clear EACH AND EVERY YEAR before they can participate in field trips or other school activities. Submit your form today so that you can join us for the fun: https://www.smcps.org/offices/safety-security/volunteer-sign-up

We encourage all parents to connect to your student's Schoology account. Use these instructions to create a new account. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact schoology@smcps.org.

Sign outs from the office will end at 3:30 to allow staff to prepare for dismissal. Any sign outs after 3:30 will take place at 3:45 from the Media center with our regularly scheduled parent up. This ensures that all of our students are dismissed safely at the end of the day.

SMCPS students use the Internet and other instructional computer resources in school. It is important that you and your student review the Acceptable Use Policy each year. The Resource & Tech Accountability Smore information and resources to help families manage their SMCPS tech. Also, please review this slide presentation with your student.

Children need healthy meals to learn. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-priced school meals. Please use this link to apply: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application.

A limited supply of our SY23 and SY24 Town Creek t-shirts, hats, and other spirit wear are still available! You can purchase them through MySchoolBucks while supplies last. The products will be delivered to your student's teacher and placed in your student's backpack upon delivery.

TCES Lunch/Snack Boxes are available now! These plastic boxes include two compartments for food, a compartment for a fork and knife (included), and our Terrapin logo. They are immediately available and will be placed in your student's backpack immediately upon receipt of MSB order.

Watch this space for the TCES 2025 Spirit Wear Collection!

Welcome to the newest regular feature of the Terrapin Tidbits! Ms. Lancaster, our school nurse, will use this section to share health-related news and resources for the TCES community.

This week's focus is getting ready for flu season. Please review this flyer and make a plan to get your flu shot:

Our Fall Festival is just one month away now!

We need volunteers to staff stations at the Fall Festival. Please scan this QR code to volunteer:

You can also contribute to the success of the Fall Festival by purchasing/donating supplies from the PTO Amazon Wish List. We appreciate any support you can provide!