Glen Haven Elementary School PTA

Glen Haven Weekly Scoop: Week of Dec 7th

This Week and Beyond:    

• Dec 17 – No school for PEP students
• Dec 18 – Principal’s Book of the Month (9 am – 10 am)
• Dec 24-31 – Winter break: No school for students and teachers; Offices closed Dec 24-25

Announcements:

• Afterschool Book Club start TOMORROW, Monday, December 7th with Interages Grandreaders (an approved, non-MCPS volunteer organization).  We will have Kindergarten – 1^st grade book club, a 2^nd-3^rd grade book club, and a 4^th-5^th grade book club.  Mondays, beginning December 7^th, K-1^st grade from 4 – 4:45pm, 2^nd – 3^rd grade from 4-5pm and 4^th – 5^th grade from 4-5pm on Zoom (link sent upon registration). 

Students will have an opportunity to interact socially with similar age peers from within Glen Haven Elementary while listening to and discussing age- appropriate stories.  Registration will be limited to 10 students per book club.  There is no cost to participate.

If you are interested in your child joining Monday Book Club, please complete the attached form and return it to Mrs. Lucina at Jennifer.M.Lucina@mcpsmd.net right away.  Registration is first, come first served.  All book clubs will be moderated by two Interages Grandreaders volunteers who have passed background checks and received the mandatory Child Abuse and Neglect Training from MCPS. 

Registration form:  https://forms.gle/GJguLqUS1HFFVxXW7

• This year, the Drama Club is doing an online fundraiser since they can’t do their usual fundraisers (Krispy Kreme, Carnival, Chuck E. Cheese) due to COVID.  They also have a very small Drama Club for the same reason.  They are trying to raise money to buy the scripts and royalties for the musical.

The fundraiser is actually really nice!  They have over 500 items, from kitchen items, edible items (like dip mixes, popcorn, candy), decorations, wrapping paper and much more!  Everything is shipped to the buyer directly, no physical contact at all.  Items ship within 48 hours of being paid for, and they take about 4-5 days to arrive (from Texas) so everything will arrive before the holidays! They receive 40% of the price of each item.

If you are interested, please take a look at the link below.  It has been extended to TOMORROW, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7TH:

https://www.forfundsonline.com/welcome.html?participant=P323495

You may make a donation through the site, the Drama Club will receive 70%.  If you would like the Drama Club to receive 100% of the donation you may write a check out to Glen Haven Elementary School and put Drama Club in the “memo” part.  You can either drop the check off at Glen Haven or mail it to the main office c/o Mrs. Kim Berger- 10900 Inwood Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. 20902. 

They really and truly appreciate all of your support!! 

• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Hero Squad Program is working with thousands of schools across the country to raise funds for blood cancer research and patient support services.  While Glen Haven has chosen not to run a fundraiser for this program this year, if you are interested in donating money to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society please us this link:

https://events.lls.org/pages/nca/Glen-Haven-Elementary-School-2021.

• FLU SHOTS:  More information on how to prevent getting or spreading the flu is available on the County’s flu website.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/resident/flu.html

• School Hours are 8:45 am – 3:15 pm (connect, attendance, announcements at 8:45 am).  Please be mindful that instruction for students begins at 9 am, and signing in to class Zoom meetings might take a bit of time! 

• Please note that Wednesday afternoons are scheduled for student support and teacher planning.

• Attendance and Absence Form:  Attendance is taken each morning and each afternoon.  Students are expected to attend all live virtual leaning classes in which they are enrolled.  If they cannot attend due to illness or extenuating circumstances, they may then access the recording of the class to engage in the daily learning during an alternate time within 72 hours of the absence.  Parents/Guardians may then submit a Live Virtual Lesson Absence Form (link on school website or at:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfI682JHZy_aI1i9t1CigBdDsj6K48bIjxzMeuJ-QTu-Qw-WA/viewform?entry.255371218=Glen+Haven+ES ) to document that they engaged in the lesson and to request the unexcused absence to be reconciled to “Present”.  If extenuating circumstance exist, parent/guardians are encouraged to communicate with the school’s administration ahead of time.  The Live Virtual Lesson Absence Form must be completed for each documented absence. 

• FREE MEALS:  Until further notice, meals will continue to be free for all families regardless of FARMS status.  This is due to a grant from USDA. 

PTA: Request to join GHES PTA MemberHub for PTA communication

https://glenhavenelementary.memberhub.com/join/uwjuo5

Access our store to pay for your PTA membership

Use link https://glenhavenelementary.new.memberhub.store/store?category=Memberships

• ***PTA meetings are hosted by the PTA and OPEN TO EVERYONE- membership is not required to attend!!***
• Welcome to new and returning parents! Our weekly newsletter, The Scoop, will have plenty of timely information, but please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!
  • For your future planning: Parent Information Sessions/PTA Meetings convene on the first Tuesday of the month, unless otherwise noted.

• Meet the new PTA Leadership for 2020-2021 

Glen Haven PTA Leadership Team – 2020-2021
Position	Serving
Executive Committee
President	Jessica Sniffin
Vice President	John Nangle
Vice President – Communications	Roxana Finkelberg
Treasurer	Catherine Beaudette
Treasurer Elect	Shahrzad Spieler
Secretary	Katie Campana-Scherer
Delegates	Doug Ryan

Other ways to help out the PTA:

***Check out our New Virtual GHES Spirit Wear on the Member Hub***

Spirit Wear in new designs and colors are available now on the Member Hub.  Orders will be packed twice a month using all Covid19 safety precautions and will be distributed at GHES during to be announced meal distribution dates. 

Help our PTA by purchasing items with the Box Tops for Education logo.  There are two ways to submit them.   

Sending in Box Top Clippings by Mail

1.Join for free at:

https://www.boxtops4education.com/About

Find our school & sign up.

2. Go to Submit Box Tops and follow the steps for how to organize the clippings for mail and  fill out submission form.

3.SEND YOUR BOX TOPS TO:

    Box Tops for Education
    350 Victor St.
    Highland Park, MI 48203

THERE IS ONE SUBMISSION DEADLINE LEFT FOR THIS YEAR.  It is MARCH 1st.

Digital Submission of Box Tops 

1. Download the Box Tops app & create a free account

2. Shop as you normally would

3. Then simply scan your store receipts and to find participating products (it doesn’t have to be the same day you shopped)

4. The app will automatically credit your school’s Box Tops earnings online

• Sign up for eScrip at www.escrip.com earn special savings for you and money for the Glen Haven PTA.
• We now have a new way to support your Glen Haven PTA!  If you shop on Amazon, use our Amazon Smile link (https://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-6018965) to donate some of the proceeds for your purchase to Glen Haven PTA.   You’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com,  with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to the Glen Haven PTA! 
• Register your Giant card at https://giantfood.com/school-rewards/.  For each purchase that you make, Giant will donate to Glen Haven Elementary.

Class Dojo:  Please make sure you set up a Class Dojo account for your child.  Your child’s teacher has the information regarding how to set this up or you can click on this link- https://classdojo.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/205417305-Create-a-Parent-Account#web. The school uses Class Dojo for most communications so it is very important for you to have access to your child’s account and check for announcements daily.

Like us on Facebook!  Glen Haven PTA @glenhavenpta (https://www.facebook.com/glenhavenpta/)

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School Information for Parents:

Extracurricular Activities at Glen Haven:

• Drama Club (Grades 1-5) – Students learn about all aspects of drama, including acting, singing, and dancing, as well as how to be a good team member.  Grades 1-3 will meet for Semester 1 (1x per week), Grades 4-5 will meet all year (1 x per week Semester 1, 2 x per week Semester 2).  Meeting Dates/Times:  Grades 1-3 Wednesdays 4:00-4:45 (Semester 1 only), Grades 4-5 Thursdays 4:00-5:30 (Semester 1) and Tuesdays 4:30-5:30 and Thursdays 4:00-5:30 (Semester 2), Grades 4-5 Semester 2 subject to change. Sponsor Emails:  Heather.M.Williams@mcpsmd.net

Stephanie.R.Talley@mcpsmd.net

• Safety Patrol – Grade 5 – This leadership opportunity for Grade 5 students will begin virtually to train students how to serve as role models for younger students and promote safe arrival and dismissal of students.  Meeting Dates/Times to be determined.  Sponsor Emails:  laura.c.tun@mcpsmd.net

travis.a.payne@mcpsmd.net

ParentVUE:  If you have not activated your ParentVUE account and need your activation code, please email rebecca.h.willis@mcpsmd.net to have it emailed to you. 

Parent guides to the Elementary school curriculum:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/elementary/guides.aspx

Student safety: As parents and caregivers, we often have questions about student safety.  You can find information about how Montgomery County Public Schools approaches student safety at https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2018-2019/Ensuring-Student-Safety.html

Family Resources / Recursos para la familia: 

Here are some additional resources you may find beneficial. 

Beyond the Table (English):  https://drive.google.com/file/d/11GQcOFAitMoeV8yn9F2LNjUyNkpDVedO/view?usp=sharing

Beyond the Table (Spanish):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i5qOcZBzuk5NtRlm_PP23h4mLkhOMNsj/view?usp=sharing

COVID Kits:  https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=28198

Financial Assistance Programs Accepting Applications NOW

Emergency Assistance Relief Payment (EARP) – https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS/RightNav/Coronavirus_EARP.html

The County’s EARP Program is expanding and now more people may qualify.  The EARP Program provides financial assistance to: 

*low-income households who do not qualify for other types of federal and state support

*low-income families with an adult who has lost income due to a household member having COVID-19

Visit the County’s website (link above) to learn more about the new eligibility  guidelines and to apply online – https://montgomerycountymd.seamlessdocs.com/f/ojn3zzdkoz6q

Immigration status is not required for this program. 

This program does not count as public charge.

COVID-19 School-Age Subsidy Program (CSSP) –

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/get-help/cargivers.html

*For low-income families with children at MCPS schools who attend a qualifying full-day childcare program.

*Short term program which may provide assistance paying for childcare between October and January.

*Childcare providers must be licensed and participating in the program.

*If you are eligible for other childcare subsidy programs, you must apply for those first. 

*See program website (above) and Instructions for Parents (English / Espanol) for more information and to apply online – https://forms.montgomerycountymd.gov/f/SchoolAgeChildCare

*Can provide assistance to families with undocumented children.

Parent Academy workshops are free workshops that provide information, resources, and tools & tips to support student success. The Parent Academy is designed to inform and empower families as advocates and partners in their children’s education.  Workshops provide families with useful information and resources to support their children’s academic and emotional well-being, as well as helping them to be college and career ready. Through a variety of learning opportunities, we hope to strengthen our engagement with families and the community. We recognize that behind every successful student are supportive families, teachers, school staff and community members who take an active role in educating our students.

We want our families and students to remain engaged throughout the school year. While we may not be able to meet face-to-face, Student, Family and School Services is excited to provide “Parent Academy TO GO ,” a series of virtual workshops for families to view at home.

Families can access additional information about social emotional support on the

following websites:

● Office of Student and Family Supports and Engagement:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/studentservices/

● Be Well 365:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/studentservices/wellbei

ng/index-new.aspx

● Mindful Moments Video Series:

5

● Waymaking Video Series:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/waymaking/specials/

● Virtual Parent Academy Series:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/worksh

ops.aspx

Los talleres de la Academia Para Padres son talleres gratuitos que brindan información, recursos, herramientas y consejos para apoyar el éxito de los estudiantes. La Academia Para Padres está diseñada para informar y empoderar a las familias como defensores y aliados en la educación de sus hijos. Los talleres brindan a las familias información y recursos útiles para apoyar el bienestar académico y emocional de sus hijos, además de ayudarlos a estar preparados para la universidad y la vida profesional. A través de una variedad de oportunidades de aprendizaje, esperamos fortalecer nuestro compromise con las familias y la comunidad. Reconocemos que detrás de cada estudiante exitoso hay familias, maestros, personal escolar y miembros de la comunidad que lo apoyan y que toman un papel activo en la educación de nuestros estudiantes.

A Look Ahead:

• Jan 1 – New Year’s Day: offices and schools closed
• Jan 18 – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: offices and schools closed
• Jan 22 – Principal’s Book of the Month (9 am – 10 am)
• Jan 25 – 28 – The Great Kindness Challenge
• Jan 29 – No school for students; professional day for teachers
• Feb 12 – No school for students; professional day for teachers
• Feb 15 – President’s Day: offices and schools closed
• Feb 17 – No school for PEP students
• Feb 26 – Principal’s Book of the Month (9 am – 10 am)
• Mar 12 – Early release day for all students (11:30 am)
• Mar 26 – Principal’s Book of the Month (9 am – 10 am)
• Mar 29 – Apr 5 – Spring Break: No school for students and teachers; Offices closed April 2 and 5
• April is Month of the Military Child!!
• Apr 16 – No school for students; professional day for teachers
• Apr 30 – Principal’s Book of the Month (9 am – 10 am)
• May is the Month of the Military Caregiver AND Children’s Mental Health Month!
• May 3 – 7 – Teacher Appreciation week!!
• May 13 – No school for students; professional day for teachers
• May 28 – Principal’s Book of the Month (9 am – 10 am)
• May 31 – Memorial Day: Offices and schools closed
• June 16 – Last day of school for students!!! Early release day for all students (11:30 am)
• June 17 – Professional day for teachers