Linda M. Jones, Principal Jennifer Till, Assistant Principal THE STONEGATE SPLASH

Monday, May 9, 2016
Linda M. Jones, Principal
Jennifer Till, Assistant Principal
The Principal’s Message for
Stonegate Families
Stonegate Elementary School
THE STONEGATE SPLASH
A MESSAGE FROM MRS. JONES
Dear Families,
I can’t believe it is already May. Where did the year go? I have begun to
reflect on my second year as principal at Stonegate Elementary and I am
very proud to serve this community. I am extremely honored to work
with my staff, students, and families. I can’t thank you enough for the
support that you have given me. It has meant so much to me.
I am looking forward to closing this year and wishing all of my families
a wonderful summer. This summer I will be very busy preparing for the
2016-2107 school year. I will have story time during the month of July. Students will have the opportunity to come to school for story time
and enjoy a cool refreshing popsicle with me. This year I will have only
primary sessions. I am excited about staying engaged with my students
over the summer.
Story Time with Ms. Jones
Day
Time
Group
Wednesday, July 20th
1:00
Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd
Wednesday, July 27th
1:00
Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd
As we wind down this year, we are already beginning to plan for next
year! We are currently forming classes, developing the master instructional schedule, and developing training modules for staff. Our grade
level team leaders will be involved in three days of summer leadership
development. Agenda topics include analyzing summative assessment
data—including MAP, mClass, and school climate data, revising the
goals for our school improvement plan, discussing curriculum upgrades,
and continuing our discussion on how race and culture impact teaching
and learning. This summer third and fourth grade teachers will receive
professional development in the area of math. We are already looking
forward to a great new school year!
Finally, I want to wish everyone a very Happy Mother’s Day!
A Mother’s Love
Of all the special joys in life,
The big ones and the small,
A mother’s love and tenderness,
Is the greatest of them all.
Anonymous
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Important Dates:

May 10th-Global Childrens’s Centers Meet
and Greet, 6:30 p.m.

May 11th–Field Day 35, 9:15 a.m.-11:35 a.m.

May 11th-ESOL Night,
6:00 p.m.

May 12th-Field Day K2, 9:15 a.m.-11:35 a.m.

May 13th-Cello Fury
Assembly, 9:30 a.m. &
10:30 a.m.

May 17th-Spring Choral and Instrumental
Concert, 10:00 a.m. &
7:00 p.m.

May 19th-Patrol Picnic,
9:30 a.m.

May 20th-Career Day,
9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

May 25th-Math Acceleration Information
Night (grades 4 & 5),
6:30 p.m.

May 30th-Memorial
Day- No School

June 1st-Volunteer
Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.

June 1st-Grade 3 Departmentalization Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
MCPS TO MAKE UP ONE SNOW DAY ON JUNE 20TH
MCPS will extend the 2015–2016 school year by one day and end the year on Monday, June 20,
2016. The MCPS request for a one-day waiver of the 180-day school year requirement was approved on April 18th by the Maryland State Department of Education. The school year was previously scheduled to end Friday, June 17, and now will end with an early release day on June 20.
June 17 will be a full instructional day. MCPS was closed for six days this winter due to inclement
weather that left many roads and sidewalks in the county impassable. MCPS already had four
emergency weather days built into the school calendar. With the state waiving one day from the
requirement, MCPS has implemented its weather contingency calendar, which adds one make-up
day to the end of the school year.
ESOL PARENT NIGHT
Join us on Wednesday, May 11th, from 6:00 – 7:45 p.m. for our first annual ESOL Parent Night at
Stonegate. Pizza dinner for the entire family and childcare are provided! Learn about the ESOL
program at Stonegate, discover ways to support your child at home over the summer, and receive
information about important community resources. More information will be coming home soon.
PARCC TESTING
Beginning Monday, May 9th, students in Grades 3–5 here at Stonegate will begin taking PARCC assessments in English Language Arts/Literacy, and Mathematics.
Please be sure your child goes to bed on time so he or she is well-rested. Be sure to get up a few minutes
early to avoid rushing and make sure your child arrives at school on time. Have your child eat a nutritious
breakfast. There is a strong correlation between eating breakfast and memory and cognitive functioning. Be
positive and communicate that this is your child’s chance to show what he/she knows. The most important
thing you can do right before the test is to build confidence about doing his/her very best. Also, please
avoid taking your child from school for appointments during this time. Once a child begins a testing session, they need to complete it during that sitting.
We thank you all for your support during this time.
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STONEGATE VARIETY SHOW
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 organized voice
to the School Board to express our views. Questions?
Please contact: Please contact the Membership Committee Chair Kendra Harris
at:
stonegatepta.membership@g
mail.com
SIGN UP TODAY!
MCPS currently communicates emergency or system
wide changes through various media, including the
MCPS website, MCPS ITV
Channel 34, QuickNotes
email service, Twitter, a recorded emergency information
telephone line, and local media outlets. Alert MCPS adds
the ability to communicate via
text messages delivered to
electronic devices such as cell
phones and personal data assistants. This service provides
messages in English and Spanish. You can subscribe to
Alert MCPS by signing on to
the Alert Montgomery website
at
https://
alert.montgomerycountymd.
gov.
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A BIG THANK YOU to the SGA for organizing an amazing variety show for
our students and families. Stonegate has awesome talent. It is never an easy
task to perform in front of a group. Let’s give these students a big round of
applause for participating in the show:
Isabelle Applebaum
Damon Greenan
Brieana Hackney
Madelyn Kilcoyne
Brieanna Pasipanki
Ila Benson
Jessica Kabik
Amy Lamb
Meron Gashaw
Elijah Bailey
Keller Abangma
Leeyaat Aseefa
Kymani Bone
Julia Taylor
Alaya Scott
Amayah Tate
Ryan Seabold
Duncan Richards
Tiffany Gibson
William Henley
Jair Richards
Shayanne Francisco
Stephen Ganz
Ameerah Regis
Bailey Hackney
Kayla Barnes
Dylan Zimulinda
Ava Bailey
Lizzie Linck
REGIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL
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 2015-2016
Core Values
ELIGIBILITY:

Only for students who are currently enrolled in Grades K through 5 in the 2015–2016 school
year.

Students entering kindergarten this coming fall are not eligible.
DATES:

Tuesday, July 5, 2016 to Friday, July 29, 2016 (8:10 a.m.-11:40 a.m.)
REGISTRATION:
Mission Statement
Stonegate's mission as
a caring community is
to foster the growth of
life-long learners by
communicating high
expectations and
standards through respect, flexibility, and
collaboration.
Vision Statement
The Stonegate Community will be committed to a multicultural learning environment that motivates
and supports all learners to achieve their
greatest potential. We
will collaborate respectfully to develop a
standard of excellence
that promotes high
expectations for all.


Registration Begins: May 4, 2016
Registration Deadline: June 20, 2016
LOCATIONS:
Cannon Road Elementary School
901 Cannon Road
Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
Candlewood Elementary School
7210 Osprey Drive
Rockville, Maryland 20855
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
LITTLE KNOWN SECRETS OF PAYING FOR COLLEGE
College might seem a long way off, but in the blink of an eye your children will be heading off to
college. If you have been thinking about saving for your children's education, or wondering if you
are saving enough money to send 1, 2, 3 or more children to college without bankrupting your retirement, then please join us on June 2 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm for an informative and timely workshop. Learn strategies you can employ now while your children are young. Stonegate is proud to
host The College Funding Coach®. To RSVP: Click here or visit our website
www.thecollegefundingcoach.org and look for upcoming classes in your area.
PRINCIPAL’S BOOK OF THE MONTH
Our May social-emotional theme is compassion. The kindergarten through second grade book is
“The Teddy Bear” by David McPhail. “The Hundred Dresses” by Eleanor Estes is our third-fifth
grade book. Parents are encouraged to check out the Book of the Month from the local library to
read and discuss at home.
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SPRING 2016 MCPS PARENT ACADEMY
The spring session of the MCPS Parent Academy began on April 9. The Parent Academy helps
equip parents with the tips and tools they need to help their children succeed. All of the workshops are free and are held at schools and other locations throughout Montgomery County.
Spring workshop topics include active parenting, preparing for college, PARCC assessments, and
cybersafety and social media. Childcare and interpretation services are provided at all classes.
The schedule of workshops is available at :
Quick Reference to Frequently Called Numbers
Child Find
(programs for children w/
disabilities)
301-929-2224
West Farm Bus Depot
301-879-1065
Early Childhood Education
(Pre K-2nd) 301-230-0691
Food and Nutrition Services
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 closings)
301-279-3673
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/workshops.aspx
Academia para Padres Ofrece Nuevos Talleres
La sesión de primavera de la Academia para Padres de MCPS comienza el 9 de abril. La Academia
para Padres ayuda a equipar a los padres con los consejos y herramientas que necesitan para
ayudar a sus hijos a triunfar. Todos los talleres son gratis y se realizan en escuelas y otros lugares
en todo el Condado de Montgomery. Los talleres de la primavera incluyen: crianza activa, cómo
prepararse para la universidad, las evaluaciones PARCC, y ciberseguridad y los medios sociales.
En todas las clases se proveerá servicio de cuidado infantil e interpretación de idiomas. El calendario de los talleres está disponible en www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/
parentacademy/workshops.aspx.
MCPS SPECIAL EDUCATION SUMMIT
MCPS parents, staff, and community members are invited to the third annual Special Education Summit, Leading the Way Today, Partnering for a Better Tomorrow. The summit will take place
on Saturday, May 14, 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Gaithersburg High School, 101 Education Boulevard in Gaithersburg. The summit is free and will feature resources and workshops for families of students with disabilities. Families will also have an opportunity to meet representatives from many MCPS offices, Montgomery County agencies, and non-profit organizations.
For more information, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/
events/.
Cumbre de Educación Especial de MCPS Programada para el 14 de Mayo
Los padres, empleados, y miembros de la comunidad de MCPS están invitados a la tercera
Cumbre Anual de Educación Especial, Abriendo el Camino Hoy, Colaborando para Un Mejor Mañana.
La cumbre se llevará a cabo el sábado, 14 de mayo, de 8:15 a.m. a 1:00 p.m., en Gaithersburg
High School, 101 Education Boulevard en Gaithersburg. La cumbre es gratis y ofrecerá recursos y talleres para familias con estudiantes con discapacidades. Las familias también tendrán
la oportunidad de reunirse con representantes de muchas oficinas de MCPS, agencias del
Condado de Montgomery, y organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Para más información, visite
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/events/.
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PTA NEWS
Melissa and Jen would like to thank the amazing Stonegate ES families and staff for your support
and energy this past school year. We are grateful for the dedication and care of the many
Stonegate families and staff that contributed to the successful accomplishment of all of our
planned activities and initiatives. Thank you, we are so appreciative of your time and hard work!
During the final PTA meeting of the 2015-16 school year, held last Tuesday evening, the PTA membership elected the following officers for the 2016-2017 school year:
President
Jennifer Willis
VP of Operations and Administration
Kristin Gruen
Recording Secretary
Katherine McCarthy
Corresponding Secretary
Jessica Ryan
Treasurer
Victoria Henley
VP of Programs and Activities
Melissa Labriola
We encourage you to join us in participating in our school community. Several chair positions are
open next school! These positions include: Webmaster, Shark Shack coordinator, Spiritwear Coordinator, Social Media Coordinator, Walking/Mileage Club Coordinator, and PTA Meeting
Speaker Coordinator. We would love to provide more information to you about those positions.
Please contact us with any suggestions, concerns or comments at: Jennifer Willis
[email protected] and Melissa Labriola [email protected]
Looking forward to….

Field Day is May 11th for 3rd-5th graders and May 12th for K-2nd graders. We are asking for
donations of cut fruit for the field days. Fruit should be pre-washed and chopped into bite size
pieces and delivered to the school in a disposable container the morning of field day, May 11th
for grades 3-5, and May 12th for grades K-2. Ideas are grapes, strawberries, melon cubes, apple
slices, orange slices and bananas.

Cello Fury! We are excited for our final cultural arts assembly of the year that all grades will
enjoy on Friday, May 13th.

Our next PTA meeting will be our PTA Orientation Fair on Tuesday, September 6th!
Thanks...

Thank you to Victoria Henley for coordinating a wonderful Literary Festival! We had three
amazing authors visit our students this week, Caroline Weston, Jennifer Keats Curtis, and
Jacqueline Jules.
Many thanks to Ms. Jones, Mrs. Till, Mr. Altaner, and the Stonegate ES SGA for a wonderful
6 Variety Show. The PTA was happy to partner with a great team!

PTA NEWS CONTINUED
Thanks…

Thanks to Maggie Conley, Katherine McCarthy, Sarah Kessous, Kristin Gruen, Jessica Ryan,
Tamieka Thomasson, Charisse Scott, Theresa Avila Curtis, Mollie Weikert, Linda Morris, and
Susan Koutsky for help with a successful kindergarten orientation! We were excited to visit
with many incoming families and look forward to welcoming them into the Stonegate ES community!

Thank you to all the families who joined us at Pump It Up – we had 68 students jump! Thanks
also to Charisse Scott for coordinating the activity!

A big thanks to Charisse Scott for her vision and execution of an amazing Blake Cluster Board
of Education visit! We are grateful for her hard work and dedication to our school community.

Thank you Danielle Sodani, Kendra Harris, and Katherine McCarthy for serving on the PTA
Nominating Committee this year.
Announcements…
Join us in showing Stonegate spirit by wearing Stonegate spirit wear every Friday! Spirit wear can
be purchased in the Shark Shack on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8:40 a.m. to 9:00
a.m. or email Jessica Brauer [email protected] or Maggie Conley [email protected] for
more information.
NUTS AND BOLTS
Lost and Found
Please label your child’s clothing with his or her first and last name. Our lost and found items are in the
APR.
Homework Hotline Live
Ask teachers for help Mondays from 6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. and Tuesday-Thursdays 4:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. on
MCPS TV's Homework Hotline Live (HHL). Watch teachers here as they work with you to solve homework
problems. To ask your question: From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, call 301-279-3234
(STILL THE BEST--talk directly with a teacher). Tweet Us @AskHHL, Text HHL 724-427-5445, send an
E-mail to [email protected], or post a message on the HHL Facebook wall. Homework Hotline Live
has been helping students for 30 years. It is a
service of Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools. In addition to this website, HHL
can be viewed in Montgomery County on cable
TV (Comcast 34, Verizon FIOS 36, RCN 89).
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SAVE THE DATE –
Incoming 6th graders
It’s Time to Think About Summer – 2016
The Middle School Extended Year Program for incoming 6th graders to Rosa
Parks or Farquhar will be held at Rosa Parks Middle School. Rosa Parks will be
overseeing the program. They will be offering Support classes in Reading and
Math. Please contact Molly Beach at Rosa Parks for registration information.
All course offerings are pending MCPS budget approval. All classes that do not have a minimum of 12 students by June 13th will be cancelled.
Dates: 7/05 – 7/29 4-week Support Classes
Times: 7:45 – 11:30
Transportation: Buses available for Rosa and Farquhar students
Cost: $95.00 Support Classes
Classes: Maximum 20 students. Recommended students given preference.
*Support classes consist of a review of content, concepts, and skills from previous years’ curricula, as well as a preview of the upcoming curriculum. Classes are for students who need
additional support to access on-grade level indicators.
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