Call to Order: The PTA met on Monday, October 3, 2022 in-person at the All-Purpose Room of Glen Haven Elementary School. President Ally Nelson called the meeting to Order at 6:30 pm. Present: President Ally Nelson, President-elect Christine Halpin, Vice President for Communications Liz Crocker, Treasurer Shazi Spieler, Treasurer-elect Alex DeWire, Secretary Katie Campana-Scherer, Delegate Doug Ryan, Principal Strain, Prospective and current PTA Members
19 sign-ins.
Minutes: ● Call to order from PTA President
Introduction to PTA (what we do, importance of volunteers, how funds are used for students)
Glen Haven staff announcements
Upcoming events (Walk to School day 10/12; Book Fair starts 10/10; parent volunteer training 10/17; Open House 11/11; Kids helping Kids food drive 10/03- 10/31). – November’s PTA meeting speaker will focus on mental health in children. – All students will get glen haven t-shirts! – Staff Shoutouts! – GHES data: demographics and assessments.
PTA announcements and updates – Membership: current 44 members (goal 150 members). – Communications: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our newsletter. – Community Engagement (update from VP Adina Holmes): Sweep the Creek was a few weeks ago; NAACP Parents Council has an Enriched Studies program; Saturday School started October 1; November is Veterans and Military Family month. – Events and information updates: Book Fair is next week; Room Parents are needed; new design for Spirit Wear is coming; necessity of fundraising.
Finances and proposed budget: Projected income $12,500; projected revenue: $12,500. Goal is to minimize rolling over of funds, so that the money PTA raises has a quick turn around for supporting events and programming.
Save the date! October 10-14th will be the annual book fair! We’re looking for volunteers so be sure to sign-up if you’re interested in helping out.
We’ll also be hosting a silent auction that week. If you have items or services you’d like to donate please sign up here. School Calendar Survey: MCPS is asking parents and guardians to fill out a survey about the school calendar. They’ll use responses to inform decisions about the next school year. Find the survey here. English Classes for Parents: Sign up for free classes for English as a second language for parents. Offered by the Literacy Council. Learn more and register here. Eagle Nation News: Each Sunday, Principal Strain puts out a newsletter with lots of useful information. Make sure you’re receiving it! It is sent from Do_Not_Reply@mcpsmd.org. If you aren’t getting it make sure to reach out to the school. You can read the most recent one here.
Volunteer with the PTA: We have short and long-term volunteer opportunities. Help with fundraising, classroom activities, special events, social media and more! Sign up here. Join the PTA: Your membership helps support the students, teachers, and parents at Glen Haven. Sign up today. Donate to the Silent Auction: We’re hosting a silent auction to support PTA activities. If you’d like to donate something please fill out this form. Smart Sacks: This free program gives the first 40 children who sign up a sack of healthy foods each Friday to ensure they have meals for the weekend. To sign up fill out this form. Food Resources: Additional food resources for the county can be found here. Borrow a Computer: Montgomery County distributes Chromebooks to individuals who reside in the county and need a computer. Learn more and sign up for one here. Keep up with Glen Haven Elementary School events and activities with our Google Calendar.
School Related Events Hispanic Heritage Month: Across MCPS, schools will celebrate Hispanic Heritage. Early Release Day: September 30, 12:55 PM. It is also silly sock day! PTA Meeting: October 3, 6:30 PM in the all purpose room (cafeteria) No School: October 5 Book Fair: October 10-14
Fun Community Activities Read to a Dog: Saturday, October 1 from 11:00am – 12:00pm at the Aspen Hill Library. Research shows that reading to dogs is a way to build confidence in children’s reading abilities. Learn more here. Taste of Bethesda: Saturday, October 1 from 11am – 4pm in Woodmont Triangle. Enjoy live music and great food. Entrance is free but food must be purchased using tickets. Learn more here. Takoma Park Street Festival: Sunday, October 2 from 10am-5pm on Carroll Street. Festival goers will enjoy the day exploring over 150 vendors booths, live music from 18 local bands, food trucks and more. Learn more here. MCPS TV: Did you know that Montgomery County Public Schools has a YouTube channel full of useful information? From how to support your child’s learning at home to recordings for the board of education meetings to security briefings about changes and updates you can find lots of information on their channel.An MCPS Series on Staff Health & Wellness Topic: Conflict
Members of the Glen Haven Community will be joining the Friends of Sligo Creek for the Sweep the Creek event. Volunteers of all ages are asked to come join us and help pick up litter and trash to make our neighborhood beautiful.
We will be meeting on Saturday, September 24th from 9:00 to 11:00 AM and on Sunday, September 25th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM on the southwest edge of Glen Haven Neighborhood Park (where Windham Ln turns into a pedestrian-only path).
Please wear long pants and boots and bring work gloves if you have them (some will be provided, but there will be a limited supply, especially in child sizes). High school students can earn community service hours, and forms will be provided. We will see you at the creek! My School Bucks: MCPS is now using this service so parents and guardians can track payments and pre-pay for things like school lunch. Learn more and register here. Sign Up For ParentVue: This system will allow you to communicate with the school, manage your child’s schedules, receive important documents like grades, etc. Make sure you’re registered! Learn more here. Eagle Nation News: Each Sunday, Principal Strain puts out a newsletter with lots of useful information. Make sure you’re receiving it! It is sent from Do_Not_Reply@mcpsmd.org. If you aren’t getting it make sure to reach out to the school. You can read the most recent one here.
Sweep the Creek: Join our annual effort to keep our community clean! Saturday, September 24th from 9:00 to 11:00 AM and Sunday, September 25th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Check out the beginning of this newsletter for more information. Dine with Dignity: MCPS runs a program that helps alleviate student lunch debt. You can learn more and donate here. Linkages to Learning: This MCPS program connects students and their families with needed resources and support. Learn more here and donate money or items here. Updated Covid Rules: If your child tests positive, MCPS requests you report that here. MCPS has a handy quarantine calculator that can help you figure out when your child can return to school here. New Personal Devices Rule: MCPS just passed new rules about personal devices such as cell phones, tablets, and laptops not issued by the school. Elementary students may only use them before and after school hours. Learn more here. Rainbow Club: All MCPS elementary school students are invited to join this virtual club supporting LGBTQIA students and allies. Learn more and sign up here. Keep up with Glen Haven Elementary School events and activities with our Google Calendar.
School Related Events Say Hello Day: Monday, September 19 wear green and greet people by name. Random Acts of Kindness Day: Tuesday, September 20 Free To Be Me Day: Wednesday, September 21 students wear something that shows what they love Mix It Up Day: Thursday, September 22 wear “mixed up” clothing Fun Friday: Friday, September 23rd is a spirit day so students can wear something with an eagle, GHES gear, or blue or green clothing. Sweep the Creek: Saturday, Sept 24th and Sunday, September 25th. No School Monday, September 26th Early Release Friday, September 30th at 12:55 PM. PTA Meeting Monday, October 3rd at 6:30 PM in the GHES all purpose room (cafeteria).
Fun Community Activities PanaFest: Saturday, September 24 from noon-9PM at 1 Veterans Plaza. This festival is held annually in Silver Spring to celebrate African heritage and showcase the cultures of area residents of African descent under the overall arching theme “I ♥ African Heritage Unity!” Learn more here. Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival: Sunday, September 25 from 10AM-5PM. The annual arts parade is back! Enjoy the parade and then head to Marian Fryer Town Plaza for live entertainment and lots of food vendors. Learn more here. Ale Trail: Saturday, September 24 11AM-3PM.Celebrate Oktoberfest at Lake Needwood. Enjoy a scenic hike, live music, photo opportunities, beer garden and multiple food and drink vendors. Learn more here. Celebrate Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM): Want to inspire the next generation of women in STEM? The IF/THEN project is dedicated to diverse representation of women showcasing the wide variety of careers they can have in STEM. They have profiles, videos, photos, activity sheets and posters that are free! Find them here.
Welcome to the 2022/2023 school year! I’m excited to serve as your GHES PTA President for this school year!
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Ally Nelson. I have three kiddos, two who attend Glen Haven (2nd and 4th). When I’m not doing PTA work or driving little people around, you can find me doing an art project, reading a book or sitting by the pool (sometimes all three at the same time).
We hope you find reading “The Scoop” enjoyable and informative. It’s one of the benefits that the PTA provides. Additionally, we organize fundraisers to support the school and students, fund activities, organize community service events and help our staff feel appreciated.
In order for us to continue serving the Glen Haven community, we do need parents and guardians to be active and involved. I challenge you to join the PTA, join a committee and participate.
I look forward to working with all of you and seeing all the great things we can do! Thanks- Ally Sign Up for ParentVue: If you are new to MCPS make sure you are able to access information about your child through ParentVue. Learn more here. Class Dojo: Glen Haven teachers use Class Dojo to keep in touch with parents. It’s also a great way for you to reach your child’s teachers! Check your email for an invitation link from parent@classdojo.com. After School Fun: Check out this list of fun after-school activities at Glen Haven and ways to register your child.
Volunteer with the PTA: We need your help! We have volunteer opportunities that are both long-term and short-term. Sign up here to volunteer. Dine with Dignity: MCPS runs a program that helps alleviate student lunch debt. You can learn more and donate here. Donate Your Instrument: Have an old instrument lying around? Donate it to a MCPS student in need! Learn more about how to donate here. Monkey Pox Resources: MCPS recently shared a video with Kimberly Townsend, Senior Administrator with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, MCPS School System Medical Officer Patricia Kapunan and Dr. Christina Chester to discuss monkey pox. They also shared this link from the American Academy of Pediatrics and this resource from the CDC. Safe Schools Hotline: If your child or you see, hear, or witness something concerning make sure you know how to report it. Call: 833-MD-B-Safe (833-632-7233). Montgomery County Food Resources: The county has numerous ways to get free and reduced cost food. Learn more here. Keep up with Glen Haven Elementary School events and activities with our Google Calendar.
School Related Events Labor Day: No school Monday, September 5th! Instrumental Music Interest Parent Meeting: September 6th at 6:00 PM in the Media Center Back to School Night: September 6th from 6:30-8:10 PM in the cafeteria/all-purpose room. This is an opportunity for families into the building to meet the teacher, visit the classroom, and learn more about the teaching and learning that occurs every day at the Eagle Nation. Daycare will be provided by AlphaBest. Fun Community Activities Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Celebration: Saturday September 3, 2022 10:00am to 4:00pm at Woodlawn Manor Culture Park. Underground Railroad Experience Trail Hikes happen all day. Learn more here. DC Hot Air Balloon Festival: September 16-17th from 3PM-8PM each day. Watch beautiful hot air balloons, take a ride on a tethered balloon, listen to live music, and there is a kid zone with rides and a bouncy house. Held at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg. $20/adult; $8/kid. Learn more and buy tickets here. Mediterranean Festival: September 23-25 in Potomac, MD. Great food, face painting, vendors and more. Learn more here. Mrs. Strain on Twitter: Did you know that the principal Mrs. Strain is on Twitter? She regularly shares updates and lots of fun pictures! Check out her feed here: https://twitter.com/MrsStrain and enjoy a few photo highlights below!
Kindergarten Registration is Open: Do you have a child who will be starting kindergarten? Make sure to register! Know a neighbor or friend with a child entering kindergarten? Encourage them to register! Schools use registration numbers to justify hiring teachers so it is important to register early. Registration is easy and can be completed online or by contacting the school.
Free and Reduced Meal Sign-ups: Funding to provide free breakfast and lunch for schools is set to expire at the end of the summer. Families will need to register here to get free or reduced meals for the 2022-2023 year.
End of Year Survey: The county has extended the deadline to provide feedback about what school issues to prioritize. You have until July 29th to fill out this survey.
Help Kids Walk to School Safely: Children walking to Glen Haven often lack sidewalk access making their commute dangerous. How can you help? If you know of an area lacking sidewalks be sure to request one using this form. You can also review the county’s recommendations to increase and expand sidewalks and share your thoughts here.
Donate a Backpack: For $15, you can provide a MCPS student in need with a backpack filled with school supplies. Learn more and donate to this MCPS program here.
School Volunteer Training: Want to volunteer in your child’s school in the upcoming school year? Make sure you take the mandatory training and are vaccinated against COVID-19.
Free Summer Meals: Free meals are being served at approximately 175 sites throughout the county every weekday. All children 18 and younger, as well as persons with physical and mental disabilities up to 21 years old, are eligible to receive meals.
xMinds: This is a collaborative partnership of parents, educators, and service providers working together to improve the educational experience and outcomes for autistic students in Pre-K–12 education in MoCo. They host free conversations, playdates, resources, support groups etc. Learn more here.
School Wellness Services: The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) operates 14 MCPS school-based health and wellness centers located in schools across the county. They offer everything from vaccination to required physical exams for sports activities to mental health services. Learn more and find a location here. Glen Haven families can also reach out to the school counselor Mrs. Rebecca H Willis Rebecca_H_Willis@mcpsmd.org.
School Related EventsJuly PTA Playdate: Join new and returning Glen Haven Elementary families and students on July 31st for a fun morning of play! 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET at Evans Parkway Neighborhood Park. Free drinks and light snacks. All grades welcomed.
PLEASE NOTE: the August playdate is cancelled due to a scheduling conflict with the Back-to-School Fair.
Fun Community ActivitiesAfro Latino Festival: Music, food, dancing, and art festival celebrating Afro-Latino culture that is free for all ages. Sunday, July 31 from 1PM-9PM ET at Veterans Plaza in downtown Silver Spring. Free tickets here.
Wheaton Summer Concert Series: Every other Friday this summer from 6:30-8:00 PM ET enjoy a free concert at the Marian Fryer Town Plaza. Learn more here.
Salsa in the Park: All ages are welcomed to enjoy free dance lessons from Salsa with Silvia and live music. Drinks and food available for purchase.Thursday, August 4, 2022 | Wheaton Forest Local Park | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pmThursday, September 15, 2022 | Long Branch-Arliss Neighborhood Park | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Learn About the Cell: A new free adventure and puzzle game called Microscopya takes players on a journey through the inside of the cell, exploring its fantastical world and solving puzzles based on real molecular mechanisms. Created by Dr. Beata Mierzwa who is a microbiologist and artist. Android, iOS and browser options. Learn more and download it for free here.
Know someone who would enjoy reading The Scoop? Encourage them to sign up for free here.
Welcome new and returning students and parents to Glen Haven Elementary! Join us for THREE fun and free playdates this summer at Evans Parkway Neighborhood Park. This is a great opportunity for your children to meet other students and for parents to meet each other. No RSVP needed. We’ll have free snacks, drinks, and lots of fun!
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Sunday, June 26
Sunday, July 31
Saturday, August 27
Please Note: Playdates will be cancelled if rain is forecast for that morning and/or if there is a heat emergency.
These Bylaws for Glen Haven PTA, Inc., were voted on and approved Tuesday June 7, 2022, during our last general meeting of the academic year. These Bylaws will be renewed 2025.
Proposed Slate for PTA positions and roles: 2022-23
Position
Agreed to Serve
Executive Committee
President
Allyson Nelson
President-elect
Christine Halpin
Vice President
Adina Holmes
Vice President – Communications
Vacant
Treasurer
Shazi Spieler
Treasurer-elect
Alex DeWire
Secretary
Katie Campana-Scherer
Delegate
Doug Ryan
Delegate
Vacant
Committee/Task Leads
Membership
Christine Halpin
Staff Appreciation
Vacant
Communications
(n/a: VP Communication leads)
Finance/Audit
Vacant
Translation
Vacant
Room Parents
Vacant
After School Activities
Vacant
Fundraising and Community Events
Vacant
Fundraising. and CommunityEvents activities: [These are largely dependent on our access to the school, so: TBD]
Book Fairs
Suzanne Feinspan
Movie Nights
Vacant
Spirit Wear
Corinna Burnham
Dine Out Nights
Vacant
2nd Cup of Coffee
Vacant
Box Tops
Vacant
Election Day Bake Sale (when applicable)
Vacant
Sweep the Creek
Vacant
Read-A-Thon
Vacant
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
From the Clothing to Cash Organization: The Clothing to Cash collection bin outside of Glen Haven Elementary School, ONLY ACCEPTs clothing, shoes and textiles. Those items MUST fit inside the collection bin and never be left outside on the ground. Thank you in advance for your prompt attention.
GHES Amazon Wishlist
This list includes items that students will be able to use at their seats and during indoor recess, etc. A wish list has been compiled and you may access it in the link below. Thank you so much for your support! GHES Amazon Wishlist- https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3UYK69GK16LJO?ref_=wl_share
Reminders
COVID-19 Testing Information:
Help our community contain covid- we can all help! Frequent testing (plus mask-wearing and hand-washing) is an extremely helpful way to contain the spread of covid-19. Please sign your child up for testing! COVID-19 tests will be administered by trained personnel. The test involves a swab inside the front part of the nose. The swab should not hurt; however, your child may experience some slight but brief discomfort. Your child’s test result will be provided to you, along with instructions with any next steps. The same consent form is now used for both the screening and rapid tests so families only need to sign one form for each child.
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.
Have you joined Class Dojo: Please make sure you set up a Class Dojo account for your child.
Class Dojo is our school-wide system for easy home-school messaging and communication. We use it to keep families informed of events and announcements. It also allows families to read messages in their preferred language. Please contact your child’s teacher to get the unique class code. Get answers to common questions here: Class Dojo Helpdesk for parents https://classdojo.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/categories/200185365-For-parents?mobile_site=false
School Hours are 9:00 a.m. – 3:25 p.m. (doors open at 8:40 a.m.)
Welcome to new and returning parents!***PTA meetings are hosted by the PTA and OPEN TO EVERYONE – membership is not required to attend!!***
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.
Other ways to help out the PTA:
Request to join GHES PTA MemberHub for PTA communication
https://glenhavenelementary.memberhub.com/store This link has the 2020-2021 virtual shirts and other Glen Haven wear. Please contact Ms. Corrina Burnham at corinna.burnham@gmail.com if you would like to order something from this site that is not available. The PTA will be ordering more of the items that are not available. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Corinna Burnham at corinna.burnham@gmail.com. Thank you!
Help our PTA by purchasing items with the Box Tops for Education logo. There are two ways to submit them.
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
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!
Hello Glen Haven Elementary School!
Glen Haven Elementary School PTA 