Strathmore Elementary School - Montgomery County Public ...



right-25273000MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLSStrathmore Elementary School3200 Beaverwood Lane Principal: Mrs. Tivinia Nelson @DreamStrathmoreSilver Spring, MD 20906 Assistant Principal: Mrs. Saanura James @APSaaMorePhone: 301-460-2135Fax: 301-460-2137 August 2019"Every child deserves a champion; an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be.” Rita PiersonDear Strathmore Families, Welcome back Strathmore! We hope that you have enjoyed your summer and are ready to return on September 3, 2019. As always, Strathmore looks forward to partnering with every parent as we champion our scholars! We encourage you to visit our classrooms, school office, media center, multipurpose room,?playground, and build relationships with the staff members of Strathmore Elementary School.? As parents, you play a critical role in the overall success of our instructional program. As we move forward as a team, we thank you in advance for your feedback, collaboration, and support.It has been a busy summer for Strathmore. Our building services team worked hard cleaning the building while MCPS Construction teams worked tirelessly again to renovate student bathrooms, replace ceilings, and update classrooms. I know you will love the upgrades! The Instructional Leadership Team spent the summer analyzing student data and reflecting on instructional practices that consistently impacted student achievement. We also expanded our PBIS program to include Restorative Conversations and mindfulness activities to build a community of learners. We look forward to sharing more information about mindfulness with you during our Parent Café’s throughout the year. Please mark your calendars with the following important dates:McDonald’s Spirit Night @ Plaza del Mercado – Monday, August 26, 2019 – 4:00 – 6:00 Back To School/Open House Events – Thursday, August 29, 20195:00– 5:30 p.m.- Families New To Strathmore Meet Principal, Assistant Principal, Counselor, and Parent Community Coordinator & learn more about Strathmore ES (Media Center)ESOL Parent Meeting (ESOL Room)5:30 – 6:30 p.m. – Visit Classrooms and Meet Your Teacher6:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Family Picnic Pack a picnic dinner for your family and join us on the field for our Strathmore Family PicnicFirst Day of School – Tuesday, September 3, 2019Parent Café’ – Friday, September 27, 2019 (Last Friday of each month)Saturday School at Strathmore!This year, we have the privilege of hosting Saturday School at Strathmore Elementary! We invite you to join the fun at Saturday School! Register your child today for our Saturday School Center at Strathmore! Saturday School provides academic tutoring and instruction with certified teachers in a nurturing and supportive environment. Grades Kindergarten through 8 focus on reading, language arts, and math and is aligned with the Montgomery County Public Schools curriculum. Grades 9-12 focus on core subjects (English and Math), support for High School assessments, and SAT/ACT support. Saturday School will kick-off this year on Saturday, September 21, 2019. The program is held most Saturday mornings during the school year from 8:30am to 11:00am. Transportation and breakfast are provided. Registration is easy! The fee for the year is $40 for students receiving free and reduced–price meal service (FARMS) and $85 for non-FARMS. Please visit our website at for more information and online registration.*MCPS Transportation ProvidedSchool Hours/Arrival and Dismissal ProceduresIn order to maintain the safety and security of our scholars, scholars should not be dropped off before 8:40 a.m. Main Office – 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Student Day – 9:00 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (Doors open at 8:40 a.m.)Early Release/Dismissal – 9:00 a.m. to 12:55 p.m. (Doors open at 8:40 a.m.)2 Hour Delayed Opening – 11:00 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (Doors open at 10:40 a.m.)Please make sure your child is here on time to listen to morning announcements at 8:55 a.m. Instruction begins at 9:00 a.m. In the afternoon, scholars will dismiss from their p.m. teacher. Scholars will review arrival and dismissal instructions on the first day of school. Please join me in welcoming new staff to our Strathmore Family:Ms. Atiyah Okanlawon – Grade 3 TeacherMs. Hope Gouterman – Grade 3 TeacherMr. Jerard Mason – Grade 4 TeacherMs. Lissett Morvis – Grade 5 TeacherMs. Tania Arevalo Perez – Grade 5 TeacherMs. Hailey Koob – Grade 5 TeacherMs. Susan Rice – ESOL TeacherMs. Jeannine Rice – ESOL TeacherMs. Jill Asato – ESOL TeacherMs. Carolyn Jones – Music TeacherMs. Tamarra Condon – Grade 3 SCB TeacherWe wish the best for our Strathmore family members that have moved on to new experiences:?Ms. LaSandra Bowie, Ms. Coliena Ayele, Mr. Nicholas Sible, Ms. Christy Cahalan, Ms. Jean Carlson, Ms. Veronica Wharton, Mr. Bruce Lee, Ms. Pamela Gooding, and Ms. Meghan ShereikaAs we continue to “Dream Big, Work Hard”, your support is critical in fostering a positive learning environment. Thank you in advance for partnering with us to ensure every student has the confidence, skillset, and opportunity to exceed their dreams. Remember to visit the PTA table during Back-to-School Night to join and support your child’s education.Please view the information on the following pages and refer to the back-to-school resources on our school website. Feel free to reach out to your teacher, our counselor, or an administrator to collaborate or address any concerns you may have during this school year. I look forward to working with each of you, your amazing children, and our extraordinary staff throughout this school year.Sincerely, Tivinia G. NelsonTivinia G. NelsonPrincipal left30797500Welcome?Back Message from our Assistant Principal, Mrs. Saanura James:?Welcome back Strathmore families! I am excited to embark on another year of learning and growing together.? This year I will continue to extend myself to you as a collaborative partner in your child’s education. My role as your assistant principal is to support the schools vision of promoting a safe place for our students to learn.? It is my belief that we as educators have a responsibility to model the respectful and kind interactions that are needed in our world today. I truly enjoy working with Strathmore’s young scholars as they learn to navigate their way both socially and academically at this intermediate level of elementary school.In addition, I will continue to support our teachers as they deliver instruction that challenges our scholars’ minds through productive struggle and rigorous learning activities.? Our scholars know that we expect them to stretch their mind muscles. I am committed to supporting them as they work towards their own academic success. I know that education is the key to unlocking a world of possibilities for our children.? My consistent message to your children is that they can do anything that they put their minds to with dedication and hard work, and I am here to help them.I am ready for another excellent year of learning, laughing, dreaming, and growing together. Sincerely,Mrs. James030480000Counselors’ Welcome: Greetings Strathmore Families, Thank you for making me feel welcomed as your school counselor this past year! I am learning so much about this community and all the wonderful staff who work to make this school great. As we begin 2019-2020 school year, I look forward to expanding our growth mindset lens to focus on providing staff and students with equitable practices to increase academic performance as we continue to close the achievement gap among diverse populations. I still believe acceptance is the key to living in a world where so many students can easily feel left out. Therefore, I will work with you to incorporate positive behavior intervention strategies that support our school vision to make Strathmore a safe place where we show respect for all, challenge our minds, and experience success! This year we will offer replacement behaviors that include interventions for de-escalation using restorative justice and mindfulness practices that help maintain a calm and reassuring school environment where everyone feels problems are being solved and no hard feelings remain. As part of our restorative practice we will have areas within each classroom designated as “mindfulness corners” where students can take a pause break throughout the day. ‘Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment through a gentle nurturing lens. This requires maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we are sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.’The mindfulness corner will include zones of regulation to help students ‘check their temperature’. Once the student realizes what zone he finds himself in, he may choose to use one or more of the sensory tools such as; rubics cubes, squeeze ball or monkey noodles for manipulation and quiet reflection to redirect the student who might otherwise make a poor choice.As the school counselor, I am a vehicle for staff and student empowerment through collaborative efforts, but we need parents on-board as well. Let’s work together to help raise spirited children who become productive citizens in our society.Please feel free to contact me either by email at Yvette_R_Dowtin@ or by phone 301-460-2135 to discuss any concerns.Sincerely,Ms. Dowtin Bel Pre/Strathmore PTA “Two Schools….One Community”On behalf of the Bel Pre Strathmore Parents Teacher Association (BPSPTA), we want to welcome you to the 2019-2020 school year!? As you are running about buying school supplies and enjoying the last few days of summer, we want to share with you some information on the BPSPTA.? We are a volunteer run group that acts as an advocate for our scholars and schools and as a liaison to the schools.? We sponsor many enrichment activities such as assemblies, field trips and other events.? We do this through generous participation in fundraising events as well as your membership and donations.? ? Furthermore, we have also sponsored parent interest talks on a variety of subjects and have hosted community events such as the Spring Dance and Book Fair.? We are looking forward to a successful and fun 2019-2020 school year and look to you for your outstanding support.? ?For those who are already members, please considering renewing your membership.? For those who have not yet joined, please consider joining.? And as always, we welcome volunteers.? As you can see below, we do have a couple of board positions open.? For more information, please write us at?belprestrathmorepta@?or stop by and talk to our members at any of our events.? Thank you and have a great 2019-2020 school year!Tia Masters-Bryant, President BPSPTABel Pre/Strathmore Board Members:●? ? ? Tia Masters-Bryant, President:?tmastersbryant@?●? ? ? Latina Bobo, Vice President Bel Pre:?latinabobo@●? ? ??LaMonte Scipio,?Vice President Strathmore??l.scipio74@●? ? ? Chauntel Kennedy, Treasurer:??chauntel26@●? ? ? Andrea McCarthy, recording secretary:?aoliviab@●? ? ? Amy Alipio, corresponding secretary:?amyalipio@●? ? ? Brenda Lopez, volunteer coordinator:?brendabarbari@●? ? ? Yusef Kennedy, Fundraising coordinator:?kennedy501@●? ? ? Stella Harrison, Bel Pre staff representative:?Stella_E_Harrison@●? ? ? Felice Erdeim, Strathmore Staff Representative:?Felice_W_Erdheim@●? ? ? Jackeline Panameno, Boxtop Coordinator?alepanameno14@●? ? ? Tsedenia Eshete , Book Fair Chair Bel Pre?belo_lilli@●? ? ? ?Karen Purdy, Book Fair Chair Strathmore?klpurdy@●? ? ? ?Spanish language liaisons? ? ? ? ? ? ? Ricel Valdes Caldwell?ricelvaldes@? ? ? ? ? ? ??Heidy Fernandez?heidy_e_fernandez-aguilar@? ? ? ? ? ? ? Wendy Rivera?w.barillas@SES 2019-2020: Updates and ProceduresVision and Core Values“Strathmore is a safe place where we show respect for all, challenge our minds, and experience success”At Strathmore, we work hard at “Keep The Peace” by being:RespectfulReadyResponsibleSafeKindDepartmentalizationStrathmore will continue to use a “departmentalization” model. Your child will have an A.M. (homeroom) AND a P.M. teacher. One teacher will teach Math/Science/Social Studies and the other teacher will teach Reading/Writing. In the afternoon, scholars will dismiss from their P.M. classroom. Parents should provide teachers with an email address in order to receive Monday emails with updates and instructional targets for the week. Please contact the teacher first if you have concerns or need more information on how to support your child. Transportation Information Randolph Road Transportation Depot 240-740-2609Please remember that Strathmore and Bel Pre Scholars ride separate buses. Each school will have their own buses and bus routes. Strathmore’s bus schedule is posted on our website under the “Back to School Packet” link. Copies of the bus schedule may be picked up at the school or during Back To School Night. We encourage parents to walk the route from home to the bus stop with your child. It is also critical that adults supervise children at the bus stops in the morning and are there to meet them in the afternoon. Parents should not depend on older siblings to monitor younger siblings at the bus stops. We encourage parents to discuss the afterschool and the emergency dismissal plan with your child. As always, safety is our first priority. Please contact an administrator immediately with any bus concerns or changes in your child’s emergency dismissal plan.If your child is a bus rider, it is critical that they ride the bus on the FIRST day of school. This will ensure that we are able to clearly establish your child’s dismissal routine. We appreciate your cooperation.Car riders are dismissed at 3:25 p.m. Please notify the A.M. and P.M. teachers of any changes to your child’s arrival or dismissal routine. If a change in dismissal occurs during the school day, please notify/call the main office by 2:00 p.m.Bus Safety Please make sure to review the rules of the bus with your child prior to the start of school. Ride by the Rules is specifically designed to: ● Raise awareness of scholars and parents about the importance of appropriate behavior on school buses ● Communicate guidelines for safe and respectful behavior ● Communicate guidelines for reporting disciplinary problems ● Provide outreach to the community with seat belt and safe driving information ● Extend learning on bus safety to counseling and classroom environments Ride By The Rules Parent Role: es/a_parents_role.pdfRide By The Rules Student Guide: It is critical that all parents create a Parent Portal account in order to provide and maintain contact information for your child. Use the link below or visit the Parent Portal table during Open House or Back to School night to create an account.Parents that are unable to create a Parent Portal account will be provided with a paper form. develop a plan with your child that will cover the following emergencies: 1. No one is home when the bus arrives after school. 2. School is closed early due to weather conditions. 3. Unexpected needed pick up of your child due to illness or other emergency. Your support to provide for your child in the event of an emergency is greatly appreciated.Lunch InformationApplication Process for Free and Reduced MealsOn the first day of school, scholars will receive a Free and Reduced Meal application. These applications must be renewed yearly. This year, you may submit an “ONLINE APPLICATION” at . Forms submitted on line are processed faster. If your child currently receives free or reduced meals, an application must be completed and returned prior to September 27, 2019. This program provides a daily lunch to all scholars who qualify. You will be notified of the decision by the Division of Food Services. Click link above for more information. Please note that parents are responsible for settling accounts with a negative balance. The paper application will not be pre-printed with the student information as they were in the past, so it is necessary for parents/guardians to list the names/ID numbers, birthdates, and schools of the children for whom they are applying.Free Breakfast ProgramAll scholars at Strathmore Elementary School will have the opportunity to eat breakfast in their classroom each morning from 8:40 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at no charge. Breakfast will include milk, juice or fruit, and an entrée such as French toast sticks, bagels, breakfast sandwiches and yogurt. We invite your child to start the day with a nutritious breakfast with his/her peers each morning.Elementary school meal prices are as follows:Lunch meal$2.55Reduced-price lunch meal .30 (New price for FY20)Milk .60Maintaining Lunch Accounts through SNAPAll schools in Montgomery County use an automated system for purchasing lunch and beverages called School Nutrition Accountability Program (SNAP). Please see the attached information regarding school lunch payment and the first week of school menu. How does the lunch program work?Parents send in a check for the amount of money to be deposited in the lunch account. You can send in any amount desired. Money left in a lunch account is transferred to the next school year.Go to and click on "Sign up today!" Create an account for yourself, and add your children. You will need the student’s name (exactly as it appears on their report card), school, grade, birth date, and six-digit student ID number (not their PIN). (OPTIONAL) Provide credit or debit card information, if you would like to make prepayments to your child's cafeteria account. Select a Meal Payment Option to make a prepayment, or select your child's name to view recent cafeteria purchases. Checks are made payable to Strathmore Elementary Cafeteria during Open House, or any morning between 8:40 and 9:00 a.m. You can also deposit money in your child’s SNAP account online at Each child enters his/her individual PIN number. The money is deducted from the account when the child makes a purchase. Ms. Rui Li, Cafeteria Manager, sends home notices before an account is depleted. If your child normally buys lunch, strongly consider using the automated system at Twitter at StrathmoreWe will continue to use Twitter to share updates with our community. This is a great way to showcase the work of staff and scholars regularly and connect with the community. Be sure to follow the excellence of Strathmore at our Twitter handles @DreamStrathmore and @APSaaMore.Cosmic Kids Before/After CareWelcome back to another great year at Strathmore ES! We are looking forward to another fun filled, action packed year at Cosmic Kids! Whether you are looking for homework help, sports, arts & crafts, field trips or a variety of clubs and activities, we’re the place for you! Cosmic Kids has a variety of plans to suit your busy schedules and we are open when school is not! Please feel free to contact us at cosmickidsinc@ or give us a call at 240-765-9771 (Beth Lewis) or 240-372-5349 (Deedee O’Grady). Check out our website at . ................
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