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Friday, May 8, 2015

Linda M. Jones, Principal

Jennifer Till, Assistant Principal The Principal’s Message for

Stonegate Families

Stonegate Elementary School

14811 Notley Road

Silver Spring, MD 20905

THE STONEGATE SPLASH

A MESSAGE FROM MS. JONES

Dear Families,

April was certainly a busy month. Many families had the opportuni-ty to attend the Spring Principal’s Tea and the Community Town Hall. Both events were packed with school-wide information and opportunities for questions and answers. I owe a big thank you to all families that attended these events and to those that wanted to but could not. I would like for everyone to know that I have an open door policy and all Stonegate families are very important to me. This summer, please feel free to come in just to say hi or to have a conver-sation. As I approach my final month of this school year, I am truly honored to have been appointed Principal of Stonegate Elementary. I have learned so much this year that has helped me to continue to grow and develop as a leader. I thank you for your continued sup-port.

I would like to thank the PTA for providing an amazing variety show for our students and families. Stonegate has awesome talent and I was so proud of every performer. It is never an easy task to perform in front of a group. Let’s give these students a big round of applause. I am looking forward to next year’s performers. Isabelle Applebaum Duncan Richards Brieanna Hackney Tony Lee Charlie Call Cyntia Ady Brieanna Pasipanki Heaven Carter Jessica Kabik Gabby Hoyos Genevieve Doyle Sophia Soussi-Tanani Ethan Srivatjanapong Amaya Tate Abid Naqvi Anikwe Duru Brady Boyd Mikayla Myers Madeline Kilcoyne Sharai Apollon Tiffany Gibson Morgan Pitter Nelson Dylan Zimulinda Lindsey Lancaster Anthony Ganz Abby Call Stephen Ganz Claudia DoCarmo Brookelyn Pasipanki Addison Brauer Bailey Hackney Julia Taylor Christopher Abangma Charlotte Weikert Kareem Larkins Jasmin Uddin Timothy Lee Talbot Call Aurora del Vecchio Theo Sodani Reese Schenkel Leeyaat Aseefa Kayla Barnes

Important Dates:

May 13th- K-2 Career

Day

May 13th - New Kin-

dergarten Parents In-

formation Night at

6:30 p.m. in the APR

May 13th—Gr. 5 Cho-

rus Concert, 2:00,

APR

May 14th-5th grade

chorus and instrumen-

tal music concert at

7:00 p.m. in the gym

May 26th-Muffins for

Moms at 8:00 a.m. in

the APR

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Monday, May 11th - Hat Day - Wear your favorite hat today. The crazier the better!! Tuesday, May 12th - Wacky Tacky Day - Wear your craziest, mismatched clothing. Some of the pieces could be backwards, inside out, too large, out of style, crazy patterns, etc…. The wackiest, tackiest outfit will win a prize (voted on by staff and SGA officers).

Wednesday, May 13th - Sports Day - Wear clothing representative of your favorite team, sport, or athlete. Thursday, May 14th - Color Day - Each grade level wears a specific color.

Kindergarten - wear red 3rd grade - wear purple 1st grade - wear orange 4th grade - wear yellow 2nd grade - wear green 5th grade - wear blue

Friday, May 15th - College Spirit Day - Wear your favorite college t-shirt today. If you don’t have a special t-shirt, wear your favorite college’s col-ors.

STONEGATE SPIRIT WEEK!

SPONSORED BY THE SGA

MAY 11—MAY 15

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SAY HELLO TO OUR NEW COUNSELOR!

STAFFING UPDATES

Hello, my name is Al Seward and I can’t tell you how excited I am to join the Stonegate community. I have been an elementary school counselor for 8 years with Montgomery County Public Schools. I love to help kids grow socially, emotionally and personally and have a passion to see them max-imize their full potential. I want them to be great students as well as great people! I have heard really great things about Stonegate Elementary and its com-munity! I am actually a product of MCPS, so it is very rewarding to be a part of the school system by which I was educated. In my free time, I love going to the movies, practicing martial arts, learning about anything tech-nology related and tinkering with broken things. I have an open door poli-cy and look forward to getting to know everyone. Please feel free stop by! Take care, Al

Adam Grant will be joining the staff at Oakland Terrace Elementary

School as their 1.0 art teacher. Adam has been a dynamic art teacher at

Stonegate for the past five years and has built amazing relationships with

students and staff. He is beyond talented and skilled, and is committed to

student achievement and success. Please wish Adam well as he joins the

Oakland Terrace school community. Adam will certainly be missed.

First Grade: Tara Mitchell is coming from Woodlin Elementary where

she has been teaching first grade for the past four years. Tara is very excit-

ed to join us and we are lucky to have her .

Special Ed Resource: Carissa Barnes is coming from Rolling Terrace Ele-

mentary where she is a third grade teacher. She has a master’s degree in

special education. We are thrilled to have Carissa join us here at

Stonegate.

Staff Development: Stefanie Rardin is a staff development instructional

specialist. She trains staff development teachers. She had many, many

opportunities and chose us. We are delighted that she will be joining us

here at Stonegate.

THE AIR IS ON!

The weather has been

much warmer this month

and our air conditioning is

now on at Stonegate. Be-

cause of this, please send

your child to school with

a sweatshirt or sweater so

they may cover-up if a

classroom becomes too

chilly. Thank you!

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As our year winds down, please take note of the many important and exciting end-of- year events coming our way: Peace Day Celebration-Camaro Club, May 11th, 9:10 a.m..-12:05 p.m.

K-2 Career Day, May 13th, AM

Welcome meeting for new kindergarten parents, May 13th, 6:30 p.m.

Patrol Picnic, May 14th, 9:15-1:30

Instrumental and Choral Concert, May 14th, 7:00 p.m.

Gr. 3-5 Career Day, May 15th, AM

Girls on the Run 5K, May 17th, AM

Literary Festival, May 18-22

LFI trip to Baltimore Zoo, May 20th

K-2 field day, May 21st, AM

4th Grade field trip to St. Mary’s City, May 21st, 7:30-4:00

Holiday—May 25th

Muffins for Moms, May 26th, 8:00 a.m.

Town Hall meetings, May 27th

Volunteer Reception, May 27th, 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.

Gr. 3-5 field day, May 28th, AM

5th Grade field trip to Mt. Vernon, May 29th

5th Grade Wax Museum, June 2nd

5th Grade end of the year party, June 8th

5th Grade Awards Assembly, June 10th, 10:00 a.m.

5th Grade Promotion, June 11th, 9:30 a.m.

Last day for students; early release day, June 15th, 12:35 p.m.

Mark Your Calendars!

Our 5th graders will soon be departing and heading off to middle school! They will be recognized at a school-based

awards assembly in June and will celebrate with an end-of-year party on June 8th! We will officially celebrate

them on Thursday, June 11th, 2015 with the 5th Grade Promotion ceremony. The luau-themed ceremony will

begin at 9:30 a.m. in the gymnasium. Families are invited to attend the short program to recognize the many ac-

complishments of our fifth grade class. Students will be honored with a certificate of promotion. A brief reception

will follow in the All Purpose Room. We hope you can join us for this special occasion. More detailed information

will follow shortly.

FIFTH GRADE PROMOTION

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Core Values

Mission Statement

Stonegate's mission

as a caring communi-

ty is to foster the

growth of life-long

learners by communi-

cating high expecta-

tions and standards

through respect, flex-

ibility, and collabora-

tion.

Vision Statement

The Stonegate Com-

munity will be com-

mitted to a multicul-

tural learning envi-

ronment that moti-

vates and supports all

learners to achieve

their greatest poten-

tial. We will collabo-

rate respectfully to

develop a standard of

excellence that pro-

motes high expecta-

tions for all. learners.

RECESS MILEAGE CLUB

On Tuesday, May 26th, the PTA and SGA invites all moms to stop in and grab a muffin and juice before work. We’ll be serving delicious muffins beginning at 8:00 a.m. that morning until around 8:40 a.m. So, stop in and have a treat on us!

MAY IS FOR MOMS!

The 7TH Annual PTA-sponsored Recess Mileage Club is back for the month of May! The Mileage Club will held during recess on Mondays and Thursdays.

Highlights:

· Students can sign up for a lap card during any Mileage Club recess.

· The Mileage Club will be held on Mondays and Thursdays in May, weather and grounds permitting.

· Recommended attire: Sneakers/athletic shoes. · Students pick up your lap cards at the start of each recess and get your laps

marked as you go. · Earn fun “foot tokens” in fabulous new colors! For every 5 laps (1 mile) you collect

a foot token to be placed on your Mileage Club chain.

· There is no requirement for how far or how often you must walk or run, partici-pate for part or all of recess when you want, but you must complete at least 1

mile in the club to earn a Mileage Club chain, your first foot token, and to earn a Mileage Club certificate at the end.

· Students are encouraged to use chains from prior years and continue adding this year’s tokens to show off all the miles you’ve walked! Keep your Mileage Club

chain in your backpack on Mileage Club days.

· Lost chains can be replaced by purchasing them at the Shark Shack.

· Stonegate Staff join the fun and get fit and fresh air!

Parents we need your help and encourage you to participate in the Mileage Club. To volunteer, send your name, phone & email address to Li Graham at Ligrah@aol.com and you will be added to the VolunteerSpot sign up where you can select individual dates and recess periods to participate.

THANK YOU!

A huge thank you to the PTA for all of their help with Kindergarten Orienta-

tion on Thursday, May 7th. We were so excited to meet our new incoming

kindergarten students! The orientation was a huge success in part to having

such wonderful PTA members volunteer their time to help with the process.

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Have You Joined The PTA?

It’s not too late; you can still join the PTA today and become a member of an organization that works for our children at the national, state, and local levels. The PTA is instrumental in planning activities for parents, teachers, and students and serves as an orga-nized voice to the School Board to express our views. Questions? Please contact Elizabeth Jo-seloff, Membership Com-mittee Chair at: Joseloff@hotmail.com

SIGN UP TODAY!

MCPS currently communi-cates emergency or system wide changes through vari-ous media, including the MCPS website, MCPS ITV Channel 34, QuickNotes email service, Twitter, a rec-orded emergency information telephone line, and local me-dia outlets. Alert MCPS adds the ability to communicate via text messages delivered to electronic devices such as cell phones and personal data as-sistants. This service provides messages in English and Span-ish. You can subscribe to Alert MCPS by signing on to the Alert Montgomery web-s i t e a t h t t p s : / /alert.montgomerycountymd.gov.

The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Regional Elementary Summer School Programs offer enrichment and reinforcement activities for current elementary school students. Students must register at their grade level in 2014–2015.

ELIGIBILITY:

Only for students who are currently enrolled in Grades K through 5 in the 2014–2015 school year.

Students entering kindergarten this coming fall are not eligible.

DATES:

Tuesday, July 7, 2015 to Friday, July 31, 2015 (8:10 a.m.-11:40 a.m.)

REGISTRATION:

Registration Begins: May 4, 2015 Registration Deadline: June 19, 2015

LOCATIONS:

Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School

14516 Nadine Drive

Rockville, Maryland 20855

Waters Landing Elementary School

13100 Waters Landing Drive

Germantown, Maryland 20874

Registration forms are available online at:

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/extendedhours/summerschool/

and in the main office of your local elementary school or by contacting the Regional

Summer School Office at 3 01 . 2 7 9 . 3 2 0 2

REGIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL

SPECIAL EDUCATION SUMMIT

Special Education Summit Set for May 16th

MCPS parents, staff and community members are invited to the second annual Special Education Summit, Leading the Way Today, Partnering for a Better Tomorrow. The summit will take place from 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16th, at Gaithersburg High School, 101 Education Boulevard in Gaithersburg. The summit will feature keynote speaker Priscilla Gilman, author of The Anti-Romantic Child: A Memoir of Unexpected Joy, resources and workshops for families of students with disabilities. Families will also have an opportunity to meet repre-sentatives from MCPS offices and Montgomery County agencies and non-profit organizations. To register for the summit, visit the Special Education website or call 301-517-5940. The summit is free. Childcare and lunch will be provided.

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Authors Bios

Laura Murray was a teacher before becoming an author, and had to deal with

many an escaped Gingerbread Man in her time. Her first book, The Gingerbread

Man Loose in the School, was chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection; is a 2013-

2014 Virginia, Illinois, and Nevada Reader's Choice Award Nominee; a Florida

Children's Choice Award Honor book, and received glowing reviews from Kirkus,

Publisher's Weekly, Horn Book, SLJ, along with a starred Booklist review.

Katrina Moore is the debut children's book author of So Long Gnop-Jiye, a heart-

warming story about a child's journey from China to the United States. Her inspira-

tion for this book came from fond childhood memories of her mother's retelling of

her past. As a teacher, she believes that the best stories come from the heart.

Adjoa Burrowes has illustrated over 17 picture books utilizing her vibrant cut-

paper collage style. The award-winning Grandma’s Purple Flowers, which she also

wrote, was an American Booksellers Association, Kids Pick of the List winner; a

Bank Street College, Kids Book of the Year Selection; and winner of the Paterson

Prize for Books for Young People. Burrowes’ illustrations have toured museums

and art institutions across the nation in several traveling exhibitions. She is cur-

rently a resident artist with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

in Washington, D.C. where she designs and implements art and creative writing

residencies.

Kitson Jazynka writes fictional books for the Boys Camp Books and non-fiction

books for children for the National Geographic Society. She also writes for lots of

fun magazines like National Geographic Kids, American Girl and Young Rider as well

as KidsPost in the Washington Post. With a friend, she co-writes a blog about horses

called The Sweet Feed.

Monday, May 18 Tuesday, May 19 Wednesday, May 20 Friday, May 22

Laura Murray pre-senting in the me-

dia center.

Katrina Moore presenting in the

media center.

Adjoa Burrowes pre-senting in the media

center.

Kitson Jazynka presenting in the

media center.

9:15-10:00

Grades 4 & 5

10:10-10:55

Grades K-3

9:15-10:00

Grade 3 &

Summers & Thebaud

9:25-10:10

Grades K & 2

10:10-10:55

Grades K & 3

11:15-12:00

Grades 1 & 2

10:10-10:55

Grades 5 & Hill

10:20-11:05

Grades 3 & 5

11:05-11:50

Grades 1 & 2

11:20-12:05

Grades 1 & 4

LITERARY FESTIVAL

SCHEDULE

UPCOMING LITERARY FESTIVAL: Stonegate Elementary School’s Literary festival will

be held the week of May 18. The following four authors will be participating this year and

the schedule is included below. A flier will go home in backpacks next week.

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Margaret Mead once wrote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change

the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” We, at Stonegate, have certainly been changed for the

better by the committed families and community members who have dedicated their time to help our stu-

dents and our school. Our volunteers have read stories, chaperoned field trips, conducted fundraisers, men-

tored students, copied resources, hung bulletin boards, supervised recess, shelved books, laminated materi-

als, and the list goes on. We would like to honor and thank our many volunteers with a Volunteer Tea,

scheduled for May 27th, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Media Center. We hope that you will join us! It

is time to celebrate YOU!

The 2015 MCPS Give BACKpacks campaign has launched and we need your help to raise money to purchase backpacks filled with school supplies for students in need. The GIVE BACKpacks campaign was created in 2013 in response to a growing need in Montgomery County. Many families are facing financial struggles and need help provid-ing their children with school supplies. Currently, more than 51,000 MCPS students re-ceive Free and Reduced-price Meals—an indicator of poverty. Last year, thanks to the generous donations of MCPS parents, staff and community members, the district was able to provide more than 19,000 backpacks to students in need at 47 schools. We’re hoping to serve even more students this year. A $10 donation will provide a student in need with a new backpack, filled with school supplies. You also have the option to give at the following levels, or in any other amount of your choosing:

$300 – Provides backpacks for a class

$1,500 – Provides backpacks for a grade level

$6,500 – Provides backpacks for an entire school

$25,000 and up – Provides backpacks for a cluster (elementary and middle schools

that feed into particular high schools and consortium schools) Visit www.mcpsgivebackpacks.org or call 301-309-MCPS to learn more or to donate.

LET’S CELEBRATE YOU AT THE VOLUNTEER TEA!

GIVE BACKPACKS TO STUDENTS IN 2015

Quick Reference to Fre-

quently Called Numbers

Child Find

(programs for children w/

disabilities)

301-929-2224 West Farm Bus Depot

301-879-1065

Early Childhood Educa-

tion

(Pre K-2nd) 301-230-0691

Food and Nutrition Ser-vices

301-840-8170

General Info

(MCPS Call Center)

301-309-6277 Hispanic Hotline

301-230-3073

Homework Hotline

(Channel 52)

301-279-3234

Weather Info (Late opening/early clos-

ings)

301-279-3673

If you missed the deadline for buying a yearbook - don't worry!

The yearbooks will arrive at Stonegate in early June and the PTA will be selling them starting on June 5th until the end of the year. Yearbooks are $18/each (cash or check) and are first come first serve. Supplies are limited! (If you ordered a yearbook on-line, your yearbook is reserved for you and will be ready for pick up at that time.)

YEARBOOK NEWS!