18820 Strawberry Knoll Road Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879 E. Frank Kaplan, Principal

18820 Strawberry Knoll Road
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879
E. Frank Kaplan, Principal
December 21, 2015
Tracy Winfrey-Edwards, Assistant Principal
Farewell to Mrs. Anderson, Our Lady of the Knoll
Strawberry Knoll
News
BUSINESS NAME
Strawberry Knoll will undergo a major change when
staff and students return from winter break. Our
Mrs. Anderson, administrative assistant and caretaker of the Knoll, will retire at the end of this
month. During her 23 years at our school, Mrs. Anderson has remained steadfast in her grace, poise,
and unwavering support to the Strawberry Knoll
family.
Mrs. Anderson was born in Jacksonville, Florida and
moved to Severna, Maryland when she was three
years old. She loved elementary school and always
enjoyed walking through the neighborhood playground on her way to Severna Park Elementary
School. Mrs. Anderson’s two favorite subjects were
Music and Physical Education. She appreciated her
teachers.
Mrs. Anderson graduated from the University of
Maryland, College Park, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. Upon graduating from
college, Mrs. Anderson worked as manager of the
Music and Arts Center in Mc Lean, Virginia. Among
her many responsibilities, Mrs. Anderson hired staff. This is how she met
her husband, Mr. Anderson. Years after he left the store they reconnected
and were married shortly after.
Life changed for Mr. and Mrs. Anderson when their first child, James, was
born. Mrs. Anderson applied for the administrative secretary position at
Westbrook Elementary School in Bethesda, and following her interview with
the principal was offered the job. Ten years later, James became the big
brother of two younger sisters, Kari and Jenna. Clearly the commute from
the Anderson home in Gaithersburg to Bethesda was a bit much for Mrs.
Anderson. So, Mrs. Anderson transferred from Westbrook Elementary
School and became the new administrative secretary at Strawberry Knoll.
Mrs. Anderson has a wealth of fond memories she takes with her. Like so
many who have joined our school staff, Mrs. Anderson found her home away
from home when she arrived here on March 20, 1993. Mrs. Anderson states,
“The staff, students, and their families will remain as my extended family. I
enjoyed coming to work every day. Each brought a new set of surprises and
experiences. I was most fortunate to work with Mr. Kaplan, our principal.
We worked well together, like the best of dance partners!”
So as Mrs. Anderson ends her chapter with Montgomery County Public
Schools (MCPS), she and her husband will open a new chapter in their lives.
They recently purchased a lot in Chester County, Pennsylvania and are in the
process of having a new house built. Although Mr. and Mrs. Anderson will
only be one hour and one-half from Gaithersburg, they will be much closer to
their grandson, Griffon and his parents who live in Delaware. Plans include
spending more time with Griffon and riding her horse, Lane-Four, on country
trails. The Anderson’s are avid travelers and will certainly take to the road
and travel by air. Mrs. Anderson also intends to play her piano on a regular
basis.
Mrs. Anderson’s family gives her purpose in life. She and Mr. Anderson have been married for 30
years. The Anderson’s eldest child, James is a mathematics teacher in Delaware. Kari is a third
grade teacher at Greencastle Elementary School, here in MCPS! Jenna is a senior at the University of
Tennessee and will graduate in May 2016 with a degree in public relations. Mrs. Anderson shares, “I
am very proud of all my children. I cannot wait to see Griffon more often so that he will be a big part
in my life!”
Indeed, Mrs. Anderson has played a significant role in the life of our school. We extend our gratitude
and love to her. She will, forever be our Lady of the Knoll!
Welcome Back, Ms. Myers!
We welcome Ms. Myers, our substitute administrative assistant back to the Knoll. Ms. Myers comes
to us with previous experience as a principal’s secretary. She has fulfilled the administrative assistant positions at both the elementary and secondary school levels. Ms. Myers served as our substitute attendance secretary a few years ago when our beloved Mrs. Karolick became ill. Ms. Myers joins
us on Friday, January 8, 2016.
Safety and Security Remain Our Priority.
Clearly, our school is a home away from home for all- staff, students, and families. Included in our
commitment to providing our Noble Knights with a safe learning environment are various communication protocols staff use. Staff can always access the Kare-A-Lot Office by hitting the classroom call
buttons. Staff including our playground assistants and physical education teachers that are outdoors
with students always carry walkie-talkies with them. This enables office staff to receive any messages relayed by those staff outdoors with students. Our health room technician also has a walkie-talkie
so she is aware of any playground situations that warrant her immediate attention.
Our policy remains that when a student is outdoors for recess and needs to see the heath room technician, the student reports to one of several playground assistants each with a walkie-talkie. The
playground assistant then relays a message to the health room technician and office staff. The student in need of attention is escorted by a buddy or two to the health room. Once the student and
buddy/buddies arrive to the office and report to the health room, the health room technician assesses the student’s condition. Our helpful buddy/buddies report back outdoors for recess.
Again, thank you for escorting your child/children to the office when they are late to school. We
have had several instances where students have come to school late without any adult escort. Safety
and security remain our priority!
Noble Knights Take a Virtual Tour.
What did your child/children say about this past Wednesday’s virtual tour? Our school was among
several selected in MCPS to engage second through fifth grade students in an awesome learning experience. Sponsored by Google and in coordination with the school system’s technology department, students used Google cardboard devices to see the following: Ocean Safari, Landforms, Coral Reefs, and
Historic Philadelphia. To learn more about this past week’s virtual experience, visit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlYJdZeA9w4.
Board of Education Approves $1.73 Billion Capital Improvements Program
The Montgomery County Board of Education approved a $1.73 billion six-year Capital Improvements
Program (CIP) request for MCPS on November 16. The Board’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2017–2022 request includes 10 new classroom addition projects—6 in elementary schools and 4 in secondary schools—and a
new elementary school in the Clarksburg cluster. The CIP request keeps on schedule many other projects that will add capacity to schools and increases funding for countywide projects, including Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) replacement and numerous other infrastructure needs.
The request will now be sent to the county executive and the County Council for consideration. Visit
the MCPS website at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org to learn more.
Consejo de Educación Aprueba Programa de Mejoras de Capital de $1.73 Mil Millones
El Consejo de Educación del Condado de Montgomery aprobó una solicitud de Programa de Mejoras de
Capital (CIP) de $1.73 mil millones por seis años para MCPS el 16 de noviembre. La solicitud del Consejo
para los años fiscales (FY) 2017-2022 incluye 10 nuevos proyectos—6 adiciones de aulas en escuelas
elementales y 4 en escuelas secundarias— y una nueva escuela elemental en el grupo de escuelas de
Clarksburg. La solicitud de CIP mantiene la programación de muchos otros proyectos que agregarán
capacidad a las escuelas y aumenta los fondos para proyectos en todo el condado, incluyendo el
reemplazo de los sistemas de Calefacción, Ventilación y Aire acondicionado (HVAC) y otras necesidades
de infraestructura. La solicitud se enviará ahora al Ejecutivo y al Consejo del condado para su
consideración. Para obtener más información, visite el sitio de internet de MCPS en
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org.
UPCOMING REMINDERS
December 23
2:00 p.m. Winter Sing-a-Long—Gym
December 24— January 1 Winter Break
January 4
Students Return to School
January 12
6:30 p.m. PTA Meeting
January 15
10:00 a.m.—12:15 p.m. Head Start to Imagination Stage
6:30 p.m. PTA Movie Night
January 18
Martin Luther King Jr. Day—HOLIDAY
January 22
Second Marking Period Ends
January 25
Professional Day—No School for Students
Seasons’ Greetings!
The holiday season is here! As nature surprises us with spring-like weather this week, we rise each morning filled
with noticeable excitement and hope. We look forward to long-awaited celebrations and home-comings.
Let us remember the priceless gift of remaining present for family and friends. Join us as we continue to build a positive attitude among students about learning and always taking care of one another. Take time to ponder the powers
of love, laughter, and forgiveness. Above all, remain present for family and friends. Seasons greetings to each and
all!
Winter weather emergencies, such as snow and ice, may cause disruptions in school operations, including the closure of school, a delayed opening, or an early dismissal. This letter provides information
about the procedures used when such disruptions occur. Also, information is provided about the weather contingency plan that would
add student instructional days to the end of the scheduled school
year if schools are closed for more than four days due to excessive
weather emergencies.
Closure of Schools
When schools are closed system-wide, all instructional programs and extracurricular activities in schools are cancelled. Private child-care providers in school buildings may elect to stay open if the schools are closed but the
administrative offices are open. In extreme conditions, administrative offices also may be closed. If this occurs,
private child-care programs located in school buildings are closed as well.
Delayed Opening
A delayed opening means that schools open two hours later than scheduled. All school buses operate on the same
delayed schedule, and, therefore, the pick-up times are two hours later than normal. When elementary schools
open on a delayed schedule, the following programs are cancelled—morning sessions of Head Start, prekindergarten, and other specialized programs or field trips scheduled before 10:50 a.m. (e.g., the Thomas Edison High
School of Technology morning session). Activities that begin after 10:50 a.m. will be held as scheduled. Afternoon sessions of prekindergarten begin at the regular time. Parents should continue to check for radio, television,
or web announcements in the event a decision to delay the opening of schools is reconsidered and a decision to
close schools for the day is made (by 7:00 a.m.).
Early Dismissal
An early dismissal means that schools will close 2.5 hours earlier than scheduled. All school buses operate on
that same early schedule, and, therefore, drop-off times are 2.5 hours earlier than normal. When elementary
schools close early, afternoon prekindergarten and other early childhood programs are cancelled as well as any
special programs or field trips scheduled after 10:50 a.m. Morning prekindergarten and morning half-day Head
Start students will be dismissed at 10:50 a.m.
Public Announcements
Information about school operations is announced publicly as soon as possible on area radio and television stations, Montgomery County Public Schools Cable TV (Comcast Channel 34, Verizon FIOS Channel 36, and RCN
Channel 89), Outlook, on the Internet at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org, and on a recorded telephone message at
301-279-3673. Emergency e-mail announcements are available by signing up for MCPS QuickNotes on the
school system’s home page. If schools are closed or delayed, the announcement is made no later than 5:00 a.m.
(or the night before if possible). If schools are closing early, the announcement is made by 11:00 a.m.
Emergency Weather Contingency Plan
An emergency weather contingency plan will add student instructional days to the end of the scheduled school year if schools are
closed more than four days because of weather emergencies. The current school year for students ends on Friday, June 17,
2016. However, if schools are closed for more than four days due to weather emergencies, the following schedule would extend the
school year in order to add the necessary make-up days:

If schools are closed for five days, the school year will be extended by one day to June 20,
2016.

If schools are closed for six days, the school year will be extended by two days to June 21,
2016.

If schools are closed seven days, the school year will be extended by three days to June 22,
2016.

If schools are closed for eight days, the school year will be extended by four days to June 23,
2016.

If schools are closed nine days, the school year will be extended by five days to June 24,
2016.
Weather Conditions and Decisions
The school system uses a variety of sources of information to determine whether to close schools, delay the
opening of schools, or dismiss schools early. These sources include actual physical inspection of road and
school conditions by transportation officials and other staff at areas throughout the county and an analysis of
independent reports from the National Weather Service, Accu-Weather, and the news media. The most severe weather conditions within the county are used as the basis for decision making. Consistent procedures
are maintained in order to respond quickly to emergency weather conditions and protect the safety and wellbeing of students.
All public schools within Montgomery County adhere to the same schedule relating to emergency weather
conditions. The decision to change school operations is made by the interim superintendent of schools or his
designee and affects all schools within the school system.
A Message from Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers
Dear Parents and Community Leaders:
Last week, I announced my recommended operating budget for next school year. It includes a modest
4.5 percent increase and is designed to reestablish a strong foundation for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
going forward. The last eight years have been extremely challenging for us, resulting in the elimination of 1,800 positions—more than $200 million in cuts—and increases in class sizes and reduced supports to our students. I believe that we
cannot cut any further and so we are seeking full funding for our budget—an increase of $103 million. In addition, the
budget requires the County Council to restore $24 million in one-time funds used to fund our current budget and another
$7.9 million to cover the shift of teacher pension costs to the county from the state.
I am asking our parents and our community to stand with us and work to ensure our budget is fully funded by the Montgomery County Council. In addition to establishing a strong foundation for the future, my budget recommendation puts
MCPS on the path to improve student achievement for all and close the achievement gap with some targeted investments.
My budget does not include all of the resources we need, but it is a down payment on our children’s future.
With the release of my budget recommendation, I am inviting our parents and community to learn more about the MCPS
budget through a variety of ways, give the Board of Education and me your input, and share your perspective with our
County Executive and County Council.
Your voice is important in this discussion because it is essential that we invest now to Fund our Future.
We have created several ways for you to learn more and to be involved in the budget process this
year:
BUDGET 101 – We created our new Budget 101 website to answer many of the questions that parents, students,
staff, and community members have asked about the MCPS Operating Budget over the years, including —

Where does the money come from for the MCPS budget and how is it spent?

What factors drive the MCPS budget and what guides our spending decisions?

How are individual schools funded and staffed to support student success?
Why has MCPS cut positions over the past several years even as enrollment has hit an all-time high?
NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR – Everyone is invited to host a Neighbor to Neighbor discussion. It can take place
during a PTA meeting; a brown bag lunch at a local business or nonprofit; or in the home of a neighbor or family
member. The Neighbor to Neighbor web-based tool includes everything you need to have a self-guided discussion
about the budget and submit your feedback to us.
Parent Academy Workshops – MCPS is hosting three Budget 101 Parent Academy workshops to learn more in
person about our current budget and discuss the proposed budget for next school year. The Parent Academy workshops are scheduled for –

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 Francis Scott Key Middle School


WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 Carver Educational Services Center
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2016 Forest Oak Middle School
Before and After School Daycare News
The Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF) Office has
informed us that they will rebid our school’s before and after school childcare program under a new regulation governing how providers are selected which was adopted by the
Board of Education and County Council. The school is
charged with creating a committee to review and rate all
childcare applications submitted for our school, as well as
make the selection of a new childcare provider. Mr. Kaplan
will chair the committee and seeks volunteers. If you are
interested to serve on the interview committee, please contact Mr. Kaplan.
Congratulations to
Mr. Smith on his
upcoming wedding on
January 2, 2016!
Important Dates—2016
January 1 New Year’s Day—Offices and schools closed
January 18 Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Day—Offices and schools closed
January 25 No school for students. Professional day for teachers.
February 15 Presidents’ Day—Offices and schools closed
February 26 Early release day for all students. Planning/grades/interims
March 24 No school for students. Professional day for teachers.
March 25, 28, 29, 30, 31 and April 1 Spring Break—No school for students and teachers, offices closed
March 25 & 28
April 26 Primary Election Day—Offices and schools closed
May 30 Memorial Day—Offices and schools closed
June 17 Last day of school for students. Early release day for all students
June 20 Professional day for teachers
School Contingency Calendar, 2015–2016
If the school year should be disrupted by emergencies and schools are closed, the school year will be extended.
If schools are closed... The school year will be extended by...
5 days 1 day to June 20, 2016
6 days 2 days to June 20 and 21, 2016
7 days 3 days to June 20, 21, and 22, 2016