Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
February 15-February 19
Dear SCMS Parents/Guardians
We hope you are enjoying your long weekend. As a reminder, there is no school tomorrow, Monday, February 15 in recognition of President's Day. This week we will not have Wednesday check-ins. We will have our regularly scheduled focused student intervention time for our students to receive support, if needed. Please make sure to review the schedule below.
As a reminder, report cards have been posted to ParentVue or were mailed home if you have not activated your ParentVue account.
With the completion of Semester 1, we would like to solicit your feedback on our distance learning structure to determine possible upgrades for Semester 2. Please take a moment to answer this quick SURVEY . Thank you for your time.
Let's make it a great week Huskies!
Weekly Assignment at a Glance
Adjusted Schedule for this week: February 15-February 19
Please find the Adjusted Schedules based on half days, professional days, & holidays for 2nd semester linked below. We will be sure to communicate any changes to schedules, as needed.
Reopening of Schools for Partial In-Person Learning
Communication specific to Silver Creek's model and schedule will be shared with families the week of February 22, 2021. Families will not be able to change their original request after February 26, 2021. We will communicate specific schedules to families of 6th grade students who have requested in-person between March 1-March 12.
We will offer a parent information/drop-in session to answer any questions you may have about reopening on Thursday, February 25 from 5- 6pm. Additional parent drop in opportunities will be forthcoming. Zoom link to follow.
Distribution of Quarter 3 Materials
If you were not able to pick up materials for English, math, and art classes last week, we will offer an additional distribution date this Thursday, February 18 for all grades from 9 a.m - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Here is what we are distributing:
Sixth graders will be reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, seventh graders will be reading The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan, and eighth graders will be reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. If you picked up a book for quarter two, please return it during distribution. (The books were A Wrinkle in Time, Inside out and Back Again, and The Giver).
- Students in Algebra and Honors Geometry will receive their workbook for quarter three.
- Students taking Studio Art will receive art supplies they can use for third quarter
- We will also be distributing SCMS Parent Directories
Silver Creek News
Virtual Library Media Center: Next Contactless Holds Book Pick Up
Pick up a stack of great new books! Our next pickup is Friday February 26th, from 9 am - 3 pm. Students can place up to five holds in Destiny from Thursday, February 18th - Tuesday, February 23rd. Pick up is outside the school 2/26, or any day the next week, between 9 am - 3 pm. If you have any library books you are finished reading, PLEASE RETURN THEM any school day from 9 am - 3 pm, to the return bin inside our main doors.
SORA HOLDS: If you have placed holds for ebooks or audiobooks in SORA, please check your SORA shelf regularly to see if your holds were released. You will not receive an email reminder from SORA. If your holds are taking longer than two weeks, feel free to email Ms. Diskin and she will try to expedite your request. We have thousands of great digital books, and all SORA instructions are on our website.
CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Check out a book on SORA from our Black History Month Destiny Collection and then respond on our Padlet. All information is on our website HERE. Winners will be announced February 22nd. And...don't forget to join us for BOOK BITES every Wednesday at 12 pm HERE. We have new books and authors, games, socializing, and general book fun.
No Place for Hate
Many thanks to advisory board parent Mrs. Carline Noailles for compiling and sharing this event list.
- Lecture: Separate but Unequal – Virtual - History of School Segregation in Montgomery County https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/4843980
- Peace by Peace Series – Virtual - Learning to Talk and Be Heard in Conflict – for MS & HS https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/4766636
- No Pressure! Social Justice Discussion Group – Virtual - Black History Month https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/4840276
Husky Huddle Lessons & Attendance
This week we will have Husky Huddle on Tuesday, 2/16 & Friday, 2/19. Students will participate in a NPFH Lesson on Tuesday. On Friday during Husky Huddle, students will have time to work on their assignments, organize their work, and email their teachers, if needed.
Here is the NPFH lesson for Tuesday, 2/16.
As a reminder: Students are expected to attend all 8 of their classes & attendance is taken in all classes including Husky Huddle (8th period/Homeroom).
Yearbook Opt Out Form
If you wish to include your child's image or projects in the yearbook, you do not need to do anything.
Yearbook Sales
Order your yearbook today at yearbookforever.com.Please see the two videos below on how to upload pictures and purchase a yearbook.Call for pictures: How to upload pictures. How to navigate yearbookforever.com: How to purchase & upload pictures on yearbookforever.com
Questions about the yearbook, please contact Ms. Jordan at: Cassandra-lee_E_Jordan@mcpsmd.org
Online Homework Help
MCPS has announced a new, free student online tutoring and homework help service. Tutorme.com is a secure, online resource that will be easily accessible through MCPS student Canvas and StudentVUE accounts and will offer on-demand assistance on any subject from grade 3 through grade 12. More information is available here.
SSL Information at Silver Creek
PARENT RESOURCES
Save the date for the next Tea Time with Dr. Awkard
The next Thursday Tea is scheduled for Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 8:30-9:00 am. Topic: TBA
Here are the slides from last week's Thursday Tea.
Counselor News & Updates
Please see the February Newsletter HERE.
Come join us for our next parent information session on Wednesday, February 17 from 3-4 pm. Please see flyer for additional information.
As always, you may check out the Counseling Website periodically for upcoming parent drop in sessions that focus on providing academic, social and emotional support strategies/practices for parents during virtual learning.
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/scmsmcpscounseling/parent-resources
Parent/Guardian Resource Handbook
Please locate the parent handbook on our website. All the information you need is located here for your convenience.
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/silver-creek-parent-handbook/home
STEM Class: Robotics/Coding
Social Media
We know that many students use social media applications such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. It is imperative that students use these social media applications appropriately. Technology should be not be misused for the purpose of bullying, harassment, or intimidation. I will address any acts of misuse accordingly. The MCPS Policy can be found here.
Thank you for being vigilant and monitoring your child's social media use. Here is a resource for parents on social media.
Important Dates to Remember & Coming Attractions
February 15-President's Day- Schools and offices closed.
February 18 - Distribution of Materials Make up Date
February 19- Career Cafe- 12PM
February 24- PTSA Sponsored Family BINGO Night- 7PM
February 25- Parent Drop-In session- 5PM (Q&A about reopening)
February 26- Last day for families to change original request of in-person or virtual learning.
March 8- No School for Students; Professional Day for Staff (MCPS recent calendar change)
March 11- Thursday Tea- 8:30 AM
March 12- MP 3 Interims
March 29-April 2- Spring Break
Student Absence & Class Recordings
If a student is going to be absent, the parent/guardian is asked to call the attendance line at 240-740-2201 in the morning of the absence. In your message, please include the information listed below:
1. Parent/Guardian name
2. Full name of your student (First & Last); student ID#
3. Date(s)of absence
4. Reason for absence
You can also email Ms. Rachel Distelhorst, attendance secretary, at Rachel_Distelhorst@mcpsmd.org.
Students are expected to attend the live meetings for all classes listed on their schedules. If students are not able to attend one or more live class meetings on a given day, they should access the recording of the class that is posted in myMCPS Classroom. These recordings will only be available for 72 hours after the live class meeting. After watching the recording, please complete the Live Virtual Lesson Absence Form found here. After the form has been submitted and processed, the absence will be removed from the student’s record. (Please note that it may take several days to process the form after it has been submitted.) If a student is absent from a live class meeting and not able to access the recording within 72 hours due to an extenuating circumstance (e.g., hospitalization, death in the family, etc.) or has questions regarding attendance procedures, a parent or guardian may email a note to Ms. Rachel Distelhorst, attendance secretary, at Rachel_Distelhorst@mcpsmd.org
Important Contacts
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/staff/directory/
Silver Creek Middle School
Acting Principal: Dr. Tiffany Awkard
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Kimberly Heidler
Acting Assistant Principal: Mr. David O'Shell
School Hours: 8:15 am-3:45 pm
Main Office: 240-740-2200
Registration & Counseling: 240-740-2211
Attendance Line: 240-740-2201
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/
Location: 3701 Saul Road, Kensington, MD, USA
Phone: 240 740 2200
Twitter: @SCMSDrAwkard