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Stonegate Greetings
Weekly Newsletter
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Week of February 26, 2024
Monday 2/26
PTA Read-A-Thon Fundraiser extended to March 4th!
Tuesday, 2/27
Grade 4 students involved in NAEP testing
Sky’s The Limit Dance, Grades K-5 **Grades 3-5 joining practice
Ledo’s Restaurant Fundraiser supporting our LFI Program 4-9 pm
Wednesday, 2/28
Thursday, 2/29
Black History Performance at Paint Branch High School. Doors Open 5:30 pm, Show starts 6 pm
Sky’s The Limit Dance, Grades 3-5- CANCELED
Friday, 3/1
Spirit Day- SCHOOLWIDE PAJAMA DAY
Early release day for students in K-5, LFI and Ms. Williams' Pre-K class–-Students dismissed at 12:55 pm
No school for Ms. Tyler’s PEP classes
Upcoming Dates
March 5: Grade K Field Trip Croydon Creek
March 5: Grade 5 Field Trip to Sherwood High School for Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Musical
March 5: PTA Meeting (virtual)
March 7: Ms. Smith and Ms. Whitlock Grade 3 Field Trip to Croydon Creek Nature Center
March 7: 5th Grade MISA (State Science Assessment)
March 8: 5th Grade MISA (State Science Assessment)
March 8: Ms. Grammer and Ms. Rem Grade 3 Field Trip to Croydon Creek Nature Center
March 11: Grade 2 Field Trip to Kid Museum
March 14: PreK Field Trip to Imagination Stage
March 14: Grade 5 Field Trip to Springbrook High School for Addams Family Musical
March 14: Math & Reading Night 6-7 pm
March 15: Grade 1 Field Trip Robinson Nature Center
March 19: Grade 4 Field Trip to St. Marys
March 19: 5th Grade Maryland State School Survey
March 25-April 1: Spring Break, No School
April
April 2: Grade 4 Field Trip to Skate Zone
April 4, 5, 8, 9: Grade 5 State Testing MCAP ELA
April 8-12: Literary Festival
April 10: No School for all students
April 11, 12, 15, 16: Grades 3 and 4 State Testing MCAP ELA
April 17: Spring student portraits and Class Photos
April 19: Career Day 9 am-12 pm
April 22: School Closed for all students; Asynchronous (At-Home) Learning Day
April 25: Take Your Child to Work Day
May
May 1: Grade 5 Panoramic Photo 2pm
May 6, 7: Grade 5 State Testing MCAP Math
May 7: Fun Run!
May 7: PTA Meeting (virtual)
May 8: Grade 3 In House Field Trip Bread Making
May 9, 10: Grades 3 and 4 State Testing MCAP Math
May 13: 2nd Grade MAP-P and 5th Grade MAP-R
May 14: Election Day - No School
May 16: 1st Grade MAP-P and 4th Grade MAP-R
May 17: Kindergarten MAP-P and 3rd Grade MAP-R
May 20: 4th and 5th Grade MAP-M
May 21: 3rd Grade MAP-M
May 23: Chorus and Instrumental Music Assembly 9:30 am
May 23: Spring Stonegate Chorus and Instrumental Music Concert 6:30 pm
May 23: Grade 2 Field Trip Robinson Nature Center
May 27: Holiday, Memorial Day - No School
June
June 3: Field Day!
June 7: PTA Spring Carnival 6-8 pm
June 12: Clap out for 5th Graders 2:45pm
June 12: Grade 5 Promotion location TBD
June 13: Early Release 12:55 dismissal/Last Day of School
See the MCPS Yearlong Calendar
Principal’s Message
Dear Stonegate Elementary Families and Caregivers,
Please join us this Thursday for our annual Black History Celebration! We are excited to be in-person this year at Paint Branch High School. Each grade level will have a performance that you don’t want to miss!
What: Black History Performance
Where: Paint Branch High School, 14121 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866
Date: Thursday, February 29th
Student Attire: Dress to impress
Student Arrival Time: 5:30pm (please eat before you come. No food is allowed in the auditorium)
Show Start Time: 6:00pm
Seating: Open seating for all families. See below for where students will be during the performance.
Stonegate Read-A-Thon is EXTENDED!
We are so excited about our students joining the Read-A-Thon! Our Sharks have another week to continue reading and log more reading minutes through Monday, March 4. This is a great way to celebrate Black Children’s Book Week as we close-out Black History Month. Black Children’s Book Week (February 25 - March 2) is a global celebration of Black children and the people who ensure Black children are represented in books and other children’s media.
Our school is currently reading more than ever during our Read-A-Thon. So far, our students have read over 40,000 minutes! It’s not too late to sign-up for the Read-A-Thon and don’t forget to log their reading minutes. There are 8 more days left!
PTA Updates
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, March 5, for the next PTA Membership Meeting. The meeting agenda and Zoom access information will be shared prior to the meeting.
PTA membership is year round, and it is not too late to join. There are many PTA activities and events to plan, coordinate, and support to help our students reach their full potential. Visit the Stonegate PTA website to learn more about the PTA and become a member.
Check-out the Stonegate On-Demand Store for new spirit wear. All orders will be shipped directly to your address.
Ledo's Pizza Fundraiser this Tuesday!
On Tuesday, February 27, from 4-9 pm, order some delicious Ledo's Pizza to support Stonegate's LFI Program!
April 22- Asynchronous Learning Day
Monday, April 22 is now an “Asynchronous learning day” for all students. Students will engage in learning experiences and complete work asynchronously.
Asynchronous learning allows for flexibility for students to complete assignments with or without the use of technology. Additional time for students to complete assignments is granted for challenges or unforeseen circumstances.
Schools will share more details about their asynchronous virtual instruction plans with students and families in mid-March, including directions on how to access resources and additional services.
Business Sponsorship for Fun Run and Field Day T Shirts
Stonegate is so excited to launch our new T Shirt Sponsorship program! Through this program, we will be able to provide T Shirts for EVERY student and staff in our school. These shirts will be worn during our Boosterthon Fun Run on May 7th and on Field Day on June 3rd–and many days in between!
We are hoping to partner with local businesses to help sponsor these shirts. Your business logo or name will be displayed on the back of the shirt, and will be worn by over 550 students and 100 staff in our school.
If you know of, or are part of, a business that would be interested in becoming a Stonegate Shirt Sponsor, please send your name, phone number, and business logo in Png, jpeg, ai., eps format to email address Anita_B_Knuth@mcpsmd.org by Friday March 8, 2024. Payments can be made using SCO online or checks payable to Stonegate ES and mail to Stonegate Elementary, 14811 Notley Road, Silver Spring MD 20905.
All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for supporting our school!
Partnership bundles options:
BRONZE NAME AD ($250)
- Name on back of Community Partner Shirt
- Recognition on School website and social media
- 15% Custom Apparel discount from Booster Spirit Wear
- One Community Partner Shirt
SILVER - REGULAR AD ($500)
- Medium ad on the back of Community Partner Shirt
- Sponsor logo placed on School website and social media
- 15% Custom Apparel discount from Booster Spirit Wear
- One Community Partner Shirt
GOLD - PREMIUM AD ($750)
- Large ad on the back of Community Partner Shirt
- Sponsor logo placed on School website and social media
- 15% Custom Apparel discount from Booster Spirit Wear
- One Community Partner Shirt
PLATINUM - SLEEVE AD ($1000)
- Ad on the sleeve of Community Partner Shirt
- Sponsor logo placed on School website and social media
- 15% Custom Apparel discount from Booster Spirit Wear
- One Community Partner Shirt
Girls on the Run
Dear Parents/Guardians,
"Girls on the Run (GOTR) is coming to Stonegate ES! GOTR is a physical activity-based positive youth development program for girls in 3rd-8th grade. The program teaches life skills through dynamic interactive lessons and running games. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness
Starting the week of March 10, 2024, the team will meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:45-5:00. The program culminates in a celebratory 5K, at the Westfield Mall in Bethesda, at the end of the season! The standard program fee is $187.50 and includes 20 lessons/practices, a t-shirt, a water bottle, entry into the 5K, a 5K medal, and more.
The fee reduction approval process is included in the online program registration. Simply answer the financial aid questions during registration, and the computer will determine your eligibility and adjust the fee accordingly. Registration is now open at https://www.girlsontherunofmoco.org/
Resources for Practice, Prep, and Review
Dear Families,
There are many amazing things happening during the school day to support the learning of our students! At times, some students need some extra support to master new learning. MCPS has gathered resources that are free or low cost to families. These resources directly align with our curriculum used to teach our students each day.
Importance of being on time
When students arrive after 9:00 a.m. they miss important announcements and important time with their teachers.
Students should arrive at school before 8:55 am. This allows the students time to store their belongings and get to their classrooms.
Students should be at their desk and ready to go when the bell rings at 9:00 a.m. and the morning announcements begin.
Doors open at 8:40 am for students to begin arrival. We are working to ensure a safe and smooth start to the school day instead of a mad scramble through the parking lot and office. Thank you!
Montgomery County Food Distribution
Click on the link below for information about food assistance resources in Montgomery County.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/get-help/food.html
Spring Testing at Stonegate - Important Information and Dates Included
This spring, Stonegate students will participate in state and/or district wide testing. Students in grades 3-5 will participate in the Maryland state assessments known as MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program). The testing information below applies to all students in Grades K-5 outside the LFI Program at Stonegate. Students in the LFI take alternative tests and receive separate testing information.
Students in grades K-5 will participate in our district wide MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. If you would like to hear more about these assessments, please attend the March PTA meeting on Tuesday, March 5. Crystal Semitekolos, our Staff Development Teacher and one of our Testing Coordinators, will be presenting on spring testing. Here is the slideshow if you’d like to preview the information about Spring Testing: Spring Testing Slideshow
Attendance on Testing Days
Students need to be at school, on time every day of testing. If your child is late to school, they will not be able to participate in testing that day. Making-up the assessments due to a student being absent or late will cause significant loss of instructional time. Please do everything you can to make sure your child is at school, on time every day of testing.
Sleep and Breakfast - Please make sure your child gets a good night's sleep and eats a healthy breakfast the day of testing.
February Lunch Menu
There are different menus for Pre-K, Elementary, Middle School, and High School. Inclement weather closures can affect the meal choices.
The February Menu for School Meals:
Menus are available in other languages here:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/menus/#Menus
Apply now for Free Meals at https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
Interested families must reapply each school year. It takes 15 minutes!
Upcoming Field Trips
We are learning every day in school and on field trips! Here is a list of planned and upcoming field trips. This list will continue to grow as additional trips are planned and more details are finalized. We want to thank our PTA for sponsoring several trips so our students can enjoy them for free!
Permission slips are coming home with students. Please check your student’s folder and return the permission slip.
For field trip payments, we encourage online payments at https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/ School Cash Online is MCPS’ online payment system. Cash or checks payable to Stonegate Elementary are also accepted, but for safety and security purposes, online payments are preferred.
Students will not be denied the opportunity to attend a trip due to financial hardship. If you need to make special arrangements to cover the cost of the trip, please contact your child’s teacher via email or note.
SchoolCash Online
Pay for field trips online! Activate your account today. With your account, you will receive an email each time there is a new activity fee added for your child(ren).
One-Pager - Parent Registration Instructions - 2022 - Montgomery
MCPS Withdrawal Policy for 2023- 2024 School Year
Starting October 2023, MCPS has lowered the threshold of consecutive days of unexcused absences from 15 to 10 days.
If a student is absent 10 consecutive days they will be withdrawn. MCPS will require schools to complete the following forms: MCPS Student Permanent Withdrawal, regardless of student age and the MCPS Educational Interview for Withdrawal Prevention. Then the forms will be filed in the student’s cumulative folder.
Your Remind Settings
Stonegate ES is communicating through Remind, which sends texts to parents. If you aren’t receiving the messages or you would like to add additional contacts, you can add or remove email addresses and phone numbers.
Adjust your account settings for Remind at www.remind.com.
Choose “Sign up” and enter your phone number. Your account as an MCPS parent will come up and will allow you to edit your communication settings.
Add a phone number for a caregiver:
Do you need an older sibling, a grandparent or other caregiver to receive text messages from the school? Add an additional phone to receive school wide Remind text messages by using that phone to text @436ch8 to the number 81010.
Clothing To Cash Recycling Program
Clothing to Cash® is a program that collects new and used clothing, shoes, sheets, towels, and all textiles and pays the school for every pound collected. As your child is outgrowing clothes, don’t throw those clothes away, give clothes a second life by donating them to Stonegate.
This recycling program is a win-win! It’s free and convenient for families and also serves as an ongoing fundraiser that serves our students and school community.
The program is operated entirely OUTSIDE and is 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 allowing the company to schedule service as needed. They empty the collection bin, weigh the contents to determine our school earnings, and pay our school each month. Every donation helps. If each family donates just one kitchen-size trash bag, we will earn $1000- $2000 yearly.
Stonegate families, relatives, neighbors, and staff are all encouraged to participate!
ParentVUE
ParentVue is a central online location for students and their parents, guardians, or other authorized adults to access MCPS student information. Parents/caregivers who do not have an account created will receive a letter from MCPS with instructions and access codes for activation.
Here is a ParentView quick guide and directions for activating your account. If you need an activation letter or assistance, please contact the office.
Here is the MCPS Parent Tech Support Website:
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/parents/tech-info-support
Stonegate Elementary School
Stonegate Elementary School
14811 Notley Road
Silver Spring, MD 20905
Main Office: 240- 740-7430
Arrival 8:40-9:00 a.m.
Dismissal 3:25 p.m.
All walkers will exit through the front doors. We ask that caregivers please greet your students behind the cones away from the front entrance of the double doors.
Picking up early?
If you need to pick your child up early, please do so before 3 p.m. The main office cannot accommodate parent pick-ups after 3:00 p.m.
Principal: Linda_M_Jones@mcpsmd.org
Twitter: @StonegatePrin
Assistant Principal: Franny_S_Wooler@mcpsmd.org
Twitter: @FrannyWooler
Visit us on the web at: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/stonegatees/