Stonegate Greetings
Weekly Newsletter
Square 1 Art Fundraiser - Order now through Nov. 19
Monday, November 11th
Book Fair Early Shopping 7:30- 9:30am, Donuts for Grownups
Open House - Caregivers Welcome to Visit Classrooms
Gently Used Coat Drive
Veterans Day
After School Avanti Soccer 3:30 - 4:30
After School Spanish Classes 3:30- 4:30
Tuesday, November 12th
PTA Scholastic Book Fair all week
Gently Used Coat Drive
After School Girls on the Run 3:30-4:45
After School Boys Let Me Run 3:30-4:45
After School Sky’s the Limit Dance Gr K-2- 3:30- 5:15
Wednesday, November 13th
PTA Scholastic Book Fair all week
Gently Used Coat Drive
LFI Field Trip to Robinson Nature Center 9:40-1:30
No Afterschool STEM – ended last week
Thursday, November 14th
Student Make Up Picture Day/Retakes 9-11 am
PTA Scholastic Book Fair all week
Gently Used Coat Drive
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.
Good Night, Sleep Tight Reading Night 6-7 p.m.
Scholastic Book Fair open late 6-8 p.m.
Friday, November 15th
Gently Used Coat Drive- Last Day!
Scholastic Book Fair- Last Day!
LFI Community Outing
After School Magnus Chess Academy 3:30-4:30
Saturday, November 16th
Boys Let Me Run 5K - Kensington Park Run (Beach and Cedar) arrive at 8:30 am
Dear Stonegate Families and Caregivers,
Thank you so much for supporting our recent fundraisers at Chuck E. Cheese on Friday and California Tortilla on Wednesday! Your participation and generosity make a tremendous difference, and we are so grateful for the sense of community you help build here at Stonegate.
We also acknowledge that November is Native American Heritage Month, a time for us to honor and celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American and Indigenous peoples. Throughout this month, we recognize the diverse traditions, languages, and achievements of Native communities and reflect on the vital role they have played—and continue to play—in shaping our society. It’s also an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the unique challenges Indigenous people have faced historically and in modern times, while learning about the resilience, creativity, and strength that characterize Native American heritage. Join us as we celebrate, learn, and show respect for this essential part of our shared history.
This week is full of exciting events, and we hope to see many of you this week! Please read below for details on everything coming up, including our Open House opportunities, the Scholastic Book Fair, and our Goodnight Sleeptight event. Each of these events is designed to bring our community together and celebrate our students’ learning and growth.
During our Open House on Monday, November 11, you will have an opportunity to visit your child’s classroom from 9:30-10:15 or 1:45-3:00. Please be sure to sign-up with your child’s teacher so they know when you’re coming.
Thank you for being such an essential part of the Stonegate family. We look forward to connecting with you throughout the week!
Warmly,
Linda M. Jones
Principal
The Stonegate PTA will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair this week from November 11th - November 15th in the Media Center.
To learn more about the book fair, get a digital preview, check out the event schedule, or add funds to your eWallet, visit the Stonegate Scholastic Store.
There are many ways to enjoy our Book Fair!
On Monday, November 11 from 7:30 - 9:30 am, join us for Donuts with Grownups and early shopping at the Book Fair.
For evening shopping hours, join us for the Good Night, Sleep Tight event on Thursday, November 14 from 6 - 8 pm.
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!
Join us Monday for our Donuts with Grownups!
This fall, Battle Property Group is proud to lead the Dollars for Donations campaign, and we’re calling on local businesses and parents to join us in making a meaningful difference. Together, we can support two important causes—keeping families warm this winter and helping Stonegate Elementary’s 5th-grade class celebrate their promotion in style.
Here’s how you can participate:
Pledge Money for Each Coat Donated: Stonegate’s students are collecting gently used coats for families in need from November 11- 15th, 2024 in partnership with A Wider Circle. We’re asking businesses and parents to pledge a monetary donation for each coat collected during the campaign. Every pledge directly supports the 5th-grade class promotion activities.
Make an Outright Donation: If you prefer not to make a pledge based on the number of coats, you can still contribute by making a one-time, outright donation of any amount. Every dollar counts! Your Impact Matters: All Stonegate students will bring in gently used coats, with the 5th graders leading the collection from each class.
On Friday, November 15, 2024, A Wider Circle will pick up all donated coats, and the PTA will reward the class that collects the most with a pizza party! In gratitude for your generosity, your business or family will be recognized through the school’s parent network and social media platforms.
ALL LOST AND FOUND ITEMS WILL ALSO BE DONATED ON NOV. 15.
Direct Donation through GiveButter
This coat drive supports our fiffth graders fundraising.
Also, please consider giving a direct donation to our Fifth Graders.
This year has been full of photo opportunities! You may have pictures from a party, a field trip, or other fun event! Families and staff can use this Josten’s link to upload photos from field trips, class parties, class projects, assemblies, etc. for possible inclusion in the yearbook.
Yearbook Link to submit photos:
https://images.jostens.com/0UttG7hxhZq-7MutrNwsZcg
For Grade 5 families - Dropbox ONLY: Please submit a photo of your student when they were younger, such as kindergarten, to include in the flashback section of the yearbook.
Please complete this online permission slip by Nov. 22:
https://forms.gle/hUihyxqBM4SiWf7SA
Cost of trip: FREE
Date: Thursday, December 19
The entire school (except for AM and PM PEP Classes) has planned a field trip to University of Maryland’s Xfinity Center, 8500 Paint Branch Dr, College Park, MD 20742 on Thursday, December 19, 2024.
The University of Maryland Women's Basketball program is excited to offer your students the opportunity to attend its game on Thursday, Dec. 19 as the Terps play William & Mary for the annual Field Trip Day. This game will integrate Common Core standards such as numeracy and literacy with the game of basketball in an effort to create a fun and educational environment for all students in attendance.
Thanks to our PTA and successful Fun Run Fundraiser, approximately $ 3600 has gone to cover the cost of the MCPS buses.
Important Info: Students MUST bring a bagged lunch this day OR purchase one from school. The cafeteria will provide a cold chicken sandwich, drink and fruit. Please indicate the need for a bagged lunch by returning the slip listed below to your child’s teacher by Nov. 22.
Chaperones- 4 per class - All chaperones must complete online training on the prevention, recognition, and reporting of child abuse and neglect. The link to the training is www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/childabuseandneglect. Indicate below if you would like to be a chaperone. Your child’s teacher will contact you if you are selected as a chaperone for this trip.
Paper copies of the permission slip will also be sent home. Please either complete the online permission slip or return the paper slip by Nov. 22
Every jacket, lunch box and water bottle needs to be labeled with your child’s name or your family last name. Take a minute and write your child's name on their coats. This small step will save you money and time!
Stonegate has a diligent team of fifth grade student leaders who check every item in the lost and found for a name and return it to the right student.
Items with no name will be donated on November 15th.
PTA Election Day Bake Sale
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! The PTA Bake Sale was a huge success! We appreciate the support from everyone that donated items for the sale, volunteered, and families that purchased items at the sale! Your support will help us facilitate upcoming school events and activities to enrich our school community.
Snack Pantry
The PTA Snack Pantry provides a snack for students during their school day, if needed. To support this ongoing effort, you can order snacks online, make a donation, or drop snacks off at the main office.
PTA Meetings & Events
Mark your calendar, the next PTA membership meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 3, and on Tuesday, December 11, we are hosting a PTA Restaurant Night at Jersey Mikes in Olney.
Show Your Stonegate Spirit - Membership and Spiritwear
Although the membership drive has closed, membership is open year-round. You can show your school pride and join the PTA online today! Check out the Stonegate Spiritwear On-Demand store to order your favorite Stonegate apparel anytime. There are lots of exciting items to choose from for the entire family. Orders will ship directly to you. Your support makes a difference in our school community!
Menus are sent home monthly and can be found on the MCPS’s website: Elementary Menu
Kindergarten- 5th Grade Menu: November 2024:
English | español | français | 中文 | Portuguese | 한국어 | tiếng Việt | አማርኛ
Pre-K/Headstart: November 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.
Payments to student cafeteria accounts can be made either through My School Bucks (optional, not a requirement), or cash or checks payable to Stonegate Cafeteria and submitted to the cafeteria manager.
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
Nov 1 - 19 - Square 1 Art Fundraiser
Nov 20 - Grade 2 Field Trip to Strathmore Music Center 11:20 a.m. -2 p.m
Nov 21 - LFI Thanksgiving 1:30-3 in cafeteria
Nov 22 - Grade 4 Field Trip to Historic St. Mary’s City 7:30 am - 4 pm
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 3 PTA Membership Meeting virtual 8:00 pm
Dec 9 - 20 - Gr 5 Krispy Kreme Digital Dozen Fundraiser (opens Nov. 20)
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 23 - Winter Instrumental Music & Chorus 5:30-6:30 pm
Jan 27 - Grade 1 Field Trip Imagination Stage 9:40 - 12:30 pm
Jan 30 - Yearbook Club photos 9:15-11:15 am
Feb 4 - PTA Membership Meeting virtual 8:00 pm
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 - Paint Branch 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
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.