September Tidbits #4

In this section, parents will find action items that we ask you to take a moment to review and complete. Thank you for your support.

Mr. Kent and the TCES family

1. Mark your calendars:

A. Field trips start Sept. 25th. Be sure to check the weather and teacher supply list.

B. SMCPS has approved revisions to the school system calendar.

2. All past volunteers and new volunteers must complete the volunteer.

https://www.smcps.org/offices/safety-security/volunteer-sign-up

-ELMS and Sotterley field trips start Sept. 25th.-

3. IT has updated their technology Helpdesk System to the new Service Desk platform. All computer repair tickets that are currently in the active Help Desk system will stay open in this system through completion. All tickets submitted after September 22nd will be created in the new Service Desk platform. Instructions have been prepared for students to access the Service Desk.

4. St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) Department of Food and Nutrition Services would like to remind families that School Year Meal Benefit forms for SY 2023-2024 are now available online. U.S. Department of Agriculture waivers that permitted distribution of free meals in school and via take-home meals have not been extended into School Year 2023-2024.

All families must fill out a new meal benefit form as soon as possible. Filling out the form early ensures your benefits stay current. Meal Benefits Application

5. Use this link to join the TCES PTO

Town Creek Terrapin Families,

9/18/23 - 9/22/23 Recap:

1. Parents/Guardians: if you need to sign out your child(ren) out early, please try to do this no later than 3:30 p.m.. After this time, the office is fully focused on the safety of bus and car dismissal. We can still assist you past this time by having your child(ren) report to the Media Center for dismissal at 3:45.

2. Congratulations to our three newest Tenacious Terrapins!

A TCES Tenacious Terrapin a student who never gives up and never stops trying, some who does whatever is required to accomplish a goal, and/or someone who goes above and beyond what is expected.

What's just ahead:

ELMS and Sotterely field trips are just around the corner. Be sure to check the weather and your field trip supply list!

Monday, Septemer 25th - Ms. Kirscht (2nd) and Ms. Grzymalski (5th) field trip to Sotterley

Tuesday, September 26th - Ms. Morgan (2nd) and Mr. Rushworth (5th) field trip to Sotterley

Wednesday, September 27th - Ms. Horner (4th) and Ms. Moore (4th) field trip to ELMS

Reporting a Student Absence:

https://survey.smcps.org/index.php/47737?lang=en

Parent/Guardian student pick up form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBgP5_hjk-hQuckUnouN-r-tOLXJCyJpIR7bHDFjFYrUS6LQ/viewform?usp=sharing

Everything Lunch: School Lunches, Menus, Accounts and Meal Benefit Applications

https://www.smcps.org/offices/food-nutrition-services/school-lunches-menus-meal-plans

School and Bus Stop Locator:

https://versatransweb07.tylertech.com/StMarysCounty/elinkrp/search.aspx

Immunization and Medical Forms:

https://www.smcps.org/fs/pages/5679

Student Handbook and Code of Conduct:

https://www.smcps.org/offices/student-services/student-handbook

Student Resource and Technology Accountability:

https://www.smcps.org/fs/pages/548

Ready to rock some new Town Creek threads? A wide variety of spirit wear is now available from hoodies to sweatpants!

Select this link to see pictures and detailed descriptions of the seven new items available in both youth and adult sizes.

To order, you can print this form and send cash or check, or you can order everything online in the My School Bucks School Store. For directions on how to order through the MSB School Store, please select this link.

The items will be delivered to your student at school as soon as they arrive at TCES.

**NOTE: Do not put money into the lunch money account for this purchase! That is a separate account from the School Store and can NOT be transferred.

Hours: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Days: Monday - Thursday

Phone: (301) 863-4044

Ms. VerHaagh - Attendance/Registration - smverhaag@smcps.org

Ms. Hertzbach - Secretary to the Principal - pahertzbach@smcps.org

PTO Board Members for the 2023-2024 School Year!

• Lydia Rivera: President
• Amylis Martinez: Vice President
• Paula Causey: Secretary
• Rebecca Lira: Treasurer

Our first PTO general meeting was held on Sept. 12th at 5:30 p.m. in the TCES cafe.

Town Creek Elementary PTO

Meeting Notes

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

In attendance- Lydia Rivera, Amylis Martinez, Rebecca Lira, Paula Causey, Yasi Kirby, Kelly Kent, Deb Settle, Bethany McHenry, Violet Burdick, Brandy Norris, and Rachelle Altig.

The meeting was called to order at 5:45pm by President Lydia Rivera. Officers were introduced. A permanent treasurer is still needed.

Lydia reviewed the budget for the 2023-2024 school year and reviewed the situation with the Maryland PTA lawsuit and why we are a PTO. We also discussed what funds raised will potentially go toward (teacher wishlists, pay off student lunch debt, programs such as assemblies, school improvement projects).

In the course of reviewing the budget and fundraising from the prior school year, the following committees/events were discussed (in chronological order through the school year):

• Fall Festival

• 10/27 5:00-7:30

• Indoor event

• Co-chairs Lydia Rivera and Brandy Norris

• Further details to be discussed at committee planning meetings

• Movie Night

• 11/17 time TBD

• Paula Causey and Yasi Kirby to co-chair

• Holiday Shop

• 12/7

• Set up after lunches

• Shop time 3:45-5:00

• Committee needed

• New Year’s Dance

• 1/5/24

• Committee needed

• Candy Grams

• February

• Increase cost to $1

• Committee needed

• Book Bingo

• 3/5/24

• Need more updated materials, Ms. Norris’ company may be interested in donating

• Need committee

• Teacher Appreciation

• May 6-10, 2024

• Need committee

• Summer Festival

• TBD

• Spirit Nights

• Ongoing

• Need organizers

• First one at Mod Pizza

We are in need of PTO bylaws and board member responsibilities descriptions. Tentatively, the board will develop bylaws to be voted upon by the membership.

Action Items:

• Mrs. Kirby and Mrs. Causey to create a signup genius for committees, provide the links to the sign up and membership digital form to Mr. Kent to share in weekly S’more.

• Fall Festival committee to begin planning events, consult with Ms. Settle for information on prior festival success/lessons learned.

• School Telephone: (301) 863-4044
• Website: https://schools.smcps.org/tces/
• School Messenger: phone, email, SMS (text messages)

Please be sure all phone number(s) and email addresses are up to date!

ALERT: Beware of Phishing Attempts on SMCPS Student Accounts:

In recent weeks, phishing attempts have been targeted at SMCPS student accounts using methods outside of SMCPS managed services.

Phishing is a method where malicious individuals attempt to trick you into providing them with information about you and your online account information. These methods can take many forms, so staying vigilant for anything that seems out of the ordinary when online is important.

Additionally, please note that SMCPS IT support will never contact you on Discord, Steam, or any other application that is not managed by SMCPS and will never ask you for your account password. If you are contacted on any outside application stating to be SMCPS IT, please DO NOT respond, block/report the individual and inform your site administration so that it can be escalated. Contact your building-level tech or the Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) at your first leisure for more information.