Sligo Creek Elementary School

PTA Newsletter
Volume 12, Issue 2 Friday, October 8, 2010

PTA Presidents Corner

We hope the first six weeks of school has gone as smoothly for you as it has for us, and all of you have settled into your routines. September at Sligo Creek was very busy, with an extremely well-attended back to school social on the playground and a wonderful Beautification Day. Back to School Night was a great success with informative and helpful presentations by all our teachers, and a fabulous new red carpet rolled out by our own Mrs. Swift! Many thanks to all the parents and staff who helped make these events so wonderful! Now that that we've gotten through September and all the adjustments that back-to-school takes, we hope that you can take moment to look for ways to help out at school. Our school needs all kinds of help, whether that's a few hours once a month, or once a quarter, or several hours each week. This could include assisting in your child's classroom; helping out with a PTA event; or making some phone calls to plan a future event. Ask your child's room parent if you can photocopy something for the teacher, or stuff Friday folders, or help decorate the room as the seasons change. Check in with a PTA committee that piques your interest. We're also looking forward to some great school and PTA events in November, so please make sure to put them on your calendar now, and help out if you can. The Fall Festival will be held at school on Friday, October 29th. An Election Day Bake Sale is set for Tuesday, November 2nd (no school that day); our primary day bake sale raised approximately $800, so were hoping this one is even more successful. Our November 3rd PTA meeting will feature Wendy Taylor, who will talk about how to make homework time more organized and less aggravating! Wendy is a former MCPS teacher and a certified educator, now with her own tutoring firm. K-2 students and families will be gathering on Friday, November 5th for the K-2 Social. The PTA's book fair will be in the media center from Monday, November 8th through Friday, November 12th, and we'll have books in English and French. Our Staff Appreciation Lunch is scheduled for November 11th. We hope to see you at some or all of these events! Diane Kelleher & Stuart Kern PTA co-Presidents

Principals Letter
Dear Parents and Friends, Fall is probably my favorite season. It is such a beautiful time of year. It also signals that school has been in session a month and we are settling into a routine. Your children are working hard, making good choices and having a great day on purpose. We will be celebrating 30 peaceful days the middle of the month, if our streak continues. It is surprising what a difference it makes with 75 less students in the building. The halls are quiet, the lines in the cafeteria move more quickly, and we have no classes in the portables. There is a marked difference. We do miss our friends who left us and I check in periodically to make sure that they are doing well. They miss us but have adjusted well to their new schools. Page | 1 We will again have our annual Open House on th Columbus Day, Monday, October 11 from 9:3011:00. We invite you to join us. You are welcome to visit any and all classrooms. We look forward to your visit. We will be having a Fall Festival again this year. We are still in the planning stages and the date has th been set for October 29 . The time is yet to be determined. We will keep you informed. For those of you who bring your child to school or pick your child up, we continue to try to improve this process. It is important that you move as far around the circle as you can when dropping off or picking up. We can get more cars in the circle at the same time and get students where they need to be more quickly. Please remember that you are not to (continued on Page 2)

(Principals Letter, continued from Page 1) pass cars on the left in the circle, unless you are directed by the adult in the circle. Parents are to remain in cars at all times. It is so helpful if you have your childs name in the front windshield. Even this process is running smoothly most of the time. Just a reminder, parent conferences will be held th on November 11th and November 12 . If you have not scheduled a time for a conference with your childs teacher, please take a moment and set that up with the teacher. The best way is to send the teacher an email. Our new reading specialist, Ms. Homesley joined th us on October 4 . She has many years experience as a reading specialist and we are fortunate to have her with us. She comes to us from Virginia Beach. I am sure you will have an opportunity to meet her in the near future. Our former reading specialist, Ms. Jones, left us to serve as an assistant principal at Great Seneca Elementary School. I am sure that Ms. Homesley will be creating volunteer opportunities for you to work with our children. If you have even 30 minutes a week, we have a job for you. Your volunteer efforts are greatly needed and greatly appreciated. Enjoy the beautiful fall weather. Take a good book outside and read with your child. We are excited about our smooth opening and a calm, peaceful first month. Thank you for sending us your child every day prepared to learn and excited to be with us. Sincerely, Diantha Swift

PTA News
Summary of the October PTA Meeting
The second PTA meeting of the school year was held on October 5, 2010. The co-presidents, Diane Kelleher and Stuart Kern opened the meeting with a highlight of upcoming PTA and school events. Then Chef Egg from the Silver Spring Whole Foods led an enjoyable discussion of healthy eating ideas for kids and parents. While answering our questions, he also explained and demonstrated good knife skills and prepared a delicious fruit cup for everyone to sample. At the end of the evening there was Q & A time with Ms. Swift. Please see the PTA Website for the complete minutes from this and past meetings at www.scespta.org. Please join us for the next PTA meeting on Wednesday, November 3rd at 7:00 pm when our guest speaker will be Wendy Taylor who will talk about how to make homework time more organized and less aggravating.

PTA Activities & Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Staff Appreciation Events: Donations & Volunteers Needed
The PTA has a busy start to the month of November. On Thursday, November 11th (Early release day) we will provide a luncheon for the entire staff and will need donations of main courses, salads, fruit and desserts. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 2nd (no school), we will hold a PTA Bake Sale at the top of the grand staircase. We raised over $800 at our September Primary Day sale and hope to do it again! We will need many donations and volunteers to make these events a success.

Book Fair is Coming!

This year the PTA book fair will be during the school week of Monday, November 8th through Friday, November 12th in the Media Center. There will be both English and French books for sale. Volunteers will be needed to help staff the fair. If you can help out, please contact Sara Melnick (sara_melnick@yahoo.com) or Alice Vorosmarti (vorosmarti@verizon.net).

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The Beautiful Contributions of the PTA Beautification Committee

The September 11th Fall Beautification Day was a huge success thanks to all who participated, the support of school staff and PTA, and particularly the hard work of the Beautification Committee. For this seasons project, participants concentrated efforts on the sloping piece of land adjacent to the teachers parking lottrash and weeds were removed, bulbs were planted, and mulch was laid. The result was a fabulous landscape renovation. Other projects of the Beautification Committee have included: an ongoing upgrade of the playground; planting of a tree to honor the life of former SCES teacher, Ms. Gale; and sponsoring a mulch sale fundraiser. The Beautification Committee is enthusiastically cochaired by Tori Hall and Tim Abrahams. Special thanks are due to Tim, SCES parent and owner of Abrahams Lawn Service, for the time, enthusiasm, and resources he contributes to the school. He has donated trucks, tools, professional landscapers, plantings, mulch, and tons of heavy lifting to beautify the school. His wife Rebecca and two sons, Cooper and Hayden, work by his side to make his contributions to the school a real family and community effort. The Beautification Committee sponsors at least two events a yearone in the fall and one in the spring. Come out for the next event to support the work of the Beautification Committee and to show your school pride! Until then, you can help by picking up litter around the school and by encouraging our little Salamanders to be careful of the plantings. (The Beautification Committee selects tough, native species to plant, but any plant suffers when branches get snapped off or roots get compressed.)

Calling All Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Parents!

The K-2 Social is scheduled for Friday, November 5th. The PTA is looking for 2 individuals to spearhead this event. Over the past two years, the Events committee has created a simple template to use in order to get volunteers and to organize the activity. The gym is already reserved, so we need just a few parents to help plan and staff this event to make it a success for our kids! Please contact Jenn Lage (jennylage@gmail.com) if you can help.

Raffle DRAWING!!!
Between now and November 3rd, email your Giant or Safeway Card number along with name and address to treasurer@scespta.org and the PTA will register you for the Giant A+ or eScrip programs*. Winners will be drawn on November 3rd at the Next PTA meeting!! You do not need to be present to win! Not only will you contribute up to 4% back on everyday grocery purchases but you will also be entered to win: a $150 shopping spree at Whole Foods!!! Or one free after-school class of your choice in the spring

*All submissions will be registered securely on your behalf by PTA VP of Fundraising; one entry per card number. Just submit card numbers, name and addresses for yourself, friends, family or neighbors, and well enter the SCES PTA as the beneficiary for each entry. 2010 PTA Officers are ineligible for the raffle; Sligo Creek Elementary staff and administrators are eligible; eligible participants who have registered their cards on their own or choose to do so, may also enter the drawing by emailing treasurer@scespta.org with date of registration. For security purposes, the SCES PTA will only register reward card numbers; programs that require the entry of debit or credit card numbers must be registered by the card holder. Page | 3

Painless Fundraising: Amazon Gives up to 4% Back on All Purchases

Did you know that the Sligo Creek PTA is an Amazon Associate and that all of your purchases can contribute up to 4% back to the school? There's no registration required--you simply click through the Amazon link on the PTA website (at: www.scespta.org/painless-fundraising.html) and Amazon will send the school a check. Now that is Painless Fundraising!

Art to Remember--Our New Fall Fundraiser!

Imagine your child's artwork reproduced on a mug, t-shirt, notecards, magnet and much more! These reasonably priced items make great keepsakes and wonderful holiday gifts AND all purchases benefit the SCES PTA. A letter will be in your child's Friday Folder explaining the program more fully. Please fill out and return the bottom of the sheet to let us know if your child will be participating or not, and if they will do the artwork at home or at one of the afternoon or evening art work sessions. Questions? Offers to help? Contact Judy Ehrenstein at 301-608-0242, judy.ehrenstein@gmail.com

Special Needs Corner

Our next Monthly Meeting will be Friday, November 19 at 9:45 a.m. We meet at Kefa Caf, just four blocks from school (963 Bonifant Street, Silver Spring; 301-589-9337). Join us for coffee, conversation & organizing activities for the school year! Please check out our resource page on the PTA website, www.scespta.org. It contains key websites and a list of books SCES parents have found most instructive in raising their children (with and without special needs). Hardcopies of this page are available in the resource rack, outside the school office. Usually, what is effective with our special needs children is beneficial for all of our kids. Here are a few homework strategies which we have found helpful, from parent to parent: Top 10 Ways to Stay Focused During Homework 1. 2. 3. Exercise BEFORE sitting down to work. Use a checklist to organize materials, break down steps, etc. Chew on gum or healthy snacks like nuts or pretzels. 4. Take movement breaks in between assignments: Jump rope, do wall push ups, stretches. 5. After each 1020 minutes of near work, give your eyes a break. 6. Listen to calming, instrumental music. 7. Set up work area so that feet are flat on floor or stool. 8. Use a kitchen timer. 9. Diffuse essential oils. 10. Sip water and move again! We leave you with recommended reading which we think parents of all kinds of kids will find insightful and humorous. Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Aspergers by John Elder Robinson is his story of growing up with Aspergers Syndrome (a form of high functioning autism) before a diagnosis existed. Elder is a fantastic storyteller. His focus on a particular population has global appeal because he touches on the human condition, examines different social perspectives, and explains how our brains interpret the same world differently.

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In Our School
Recorder News
During the school year, 2010-2011, recorders are an integral part of the Third Grade through Fifth Grade General Music Curriculum. A recorder is a woodwind instrument that assists your child in reading/playing musical notes and in grasping the basic fundamentals of Music Theory. Recorder instruction is a progressive study where Third Grade Students start as beginners and work up to an advanced level in the Fifth Grade. In order for your child to benefit from this instruction, it is required that all students in Grades 3 bring a soprano recorder to music class, beginning January 3, 2011. All students in Grades 4 and 5 are reminded to bring in their soprano recorder to each music class, along with a music folder for sheet music and written assignment storage. Recorder instruction for Grades 4 and 5 will begin on Monday, October 11, 2010. If you are in need of purchasing a recorder, Sligo Creek Elementary School will order one for you. We are selling soprano recorders for $6.00 each. Information Letters for Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Students on purchasing a soprano recorder for music class will be sent home in the October 1, 2010 Friday Folder.

Sligo Creek ES Dance Teams and Orff Ensemble Performance Groups

During the school year (2010-2011), at Sligo Creek Elementary School, there will be two performing Dance Teams, and a Percussion Ensemble, in addition to the performing Sligo Creek Elementary Fourth and Fifth Grade Chorus. One Dance Team will be for Third Grade Students entitled: The Sun Catcher Dance Team and the Second one will be for Fourth and Fifth Grade Students entitled: The Solar Flares Dance Team. The Percussion Ensemble will be entitled: The All-Star Orff Ensemble and it will be available for Fourth and Fifth Grade Students. All Students in the Third Grade Classes are invited to sign-up for the Sun Catcher Dance Team. This dance team will meet every Tuesday, beginning: October 26, 2010. All Students in the Fourth and Fifth Grade Classes are invited to sign-up for the All-Star Orff Ensemble. This percussion group will meet every Wednesday, beginning: October 27, 2010. All Students in the Fourth and Fifth Grade Classes are invited to sign-up for the Solar Flares Dance Team. This dance team meets every Thursday, beginning: October 28, 2010. All rehearsals will be held in the Music Room, from 8:15 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Information Letters on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Dance Team and Orff Ensemble Performance Groups will be sent home in the October 8, 2010 Friday Folder.

MCPS Fifth Grade Honors Chorus Update

All Fifth Grade Students are invited to sign-up to audition for the 2011 Fifth Grade Honors Chorus, during the week of September 27, 2010. The Honors Chorus Audition Sign-Up Sheet is located in the music room hallway on a music stand. Sign-up for an audition appointment request today! For more information on the MCPS Honors Chorus, please visit: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/sligocreekes/specials/music/

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Japanese Educators Visit SCES

On Tuesday, September 21 , Sligo Creek Elementary School hosted a group of five teacher educators from Japan. At the beginning of the visit, Principal Swift offered a warm welcome, and then Andrew Goldberger, a Staff Development Teacher, led a walking tour of the school building. Mr. Goldberger fielded a number of questions th about the school and its curriculum. In Mrs. Schranks 4 grade classroom, the guests observed an engaging lesson on Marylands physical geography and patterns of human settlement. Professor Tomohito Harada of Hyogo University of Teacher Education summed up the observation by saying, I was very impressed with the students higher-order thinking skills. Todd Kenreich, a kindergarten parent and professor at Towson University, helped coordinate the visit. Please see the online version of this newsletter for a photo of the visit at: www.scespta.org.
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PTA and School Calendar 2010-2011

Monday, October 11 Friday, October 15 Friday, October 29 Monday, November 1 Tuesday, November 2 Wednesday, November 3 Friday, November 5 Thursday, November 11 Friday, November 12 November 8 12 School Open House No School for Students Fall Festival No School for Students Election Day: No School; PTA Bake Sale PTA Meeting K-2 Social PTA Staff Appreciation lunch; Early Release Early Release PTA Book Fair 9:30 11 am

7 8:30 pm Gym

Media Center

SLIGO CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTA Sligo Creek Elementary School 500 Schuyler Rd Silver Spring MD 20910 PTA Web site: http://www.scespta.org/ Alice Vorosmarti, Newsletter Editor vorosmarti@verizon.net

Diane Kelleher,co- President Stuart Kern, co-President Andrew Schulman, Treasurer Suzanne Chartol, Secretary Jennifer Calvert, Vice President for Events & Fundraising Andrea Savoye, Vice President for Communication & Operations Laura Foradori, co-Vice President for Academic Support Alice Vorosmarti, co-Vice President for Academic Support

Current and Past Issues of the SCES PTA newsletter are available online at the PTA Website WWW.SCESPTA.ORG

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