Shady Grove Matters ~ A Message from the Principal ~

Shady Grove Matters
SHADY GROVE
MIDDLE SCHOOL
8100 Midcounty Highway
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
"We must always go the
second mile. When we go
the first mile, we simply
do what is required of us.
It is when we go the second mile that excellence
is achieved and minor
miracles happen."
V O L U M E
7 ,
Call SGMS
Please view our September highlights and save the date of our upcoming events.
I encourage all parents and guardians to continue to stay involved.
Dear Shady Grove Families!
An example would be to ask our 8th
Welcome to the start of the 2015grade students what they are read2016 academic year. This is sure to ing and speaking about in English
be one of the best. As I begin my
classes. Their response should be
7th year at Shady Grove I am excit- the in-depth study of the poem
ed and energized.
below. This is a great example of
how we will Rise to Excellence!
As 8th grade administrator and
Principal I am soaring alongside our ~Edward Owusu
staff and students as we all
“Disobey Gravity and Rise to Excel- ———————————————-lence”. Our theme of shedding the
negative energies that pull individu- A Journey by Nikki Giovanni
als down and instead focusing on
what’s important that will lead us to It’s a journey… that I propose… I
Mr. Edward Owusu
Principal
A Message from Mrs. Cherry
4 ,
2 0 1 5
am not the guide… nor technical
assistant… I will be your fellow
passenger…
Though the rail has been ridden…
winter clouds cover… autumn’s
exuberant quilt… we must provide
our own guideposts…
I have heard… from previous visitors… the road washes out sometime… and passengers are compelled… to continue groping… or
turn back… I am not afraid
I am not afraid… of rough spots…
or lonely times… I don’t fear… the
success of this endeavor… I am
Ra… in a space… not to be discovered… but invented…
I promise you nothing… I accept
your promise… of the same we are
simply riding… a wave… that may
carry… or crash…
It’s a journey... and I want… to go…
I want to take this time to remind students and families
about the rigorous math classes that they are taking
Greetings Shady Grove this year. Most all of our Grade 7 students are taking
Families!
Investigations in Mathematics this year, which is a
Ms. Shella Cherry
Assistant Principal
Mr. Clark Montgomery
Assistant School
Administrator
I want to officially wel- new, very fast paced, rigorous math course that will
come all of you to the prepare them for success in Algebra next year. Stu-
Content Specialist
Ms. Edwina Bawuah
Math
Mr. Nick Chupka
Literacy Coach
Mr. Rob Ferrante
Social Studies
Ms. Chanda Guitano-Stephens
PE/Arts/Technology
Ms. Tama Hobbs
Science
Ms. Cristina Maynard
RTSE ED Cluster Services
Ms. Jennifer Miehle
RTSE LAD
Ms. Jennifer Sadara
Resource Counselor
Ms. Rebekah Young
English
S E P T E M B E R
achievement is key. This year our
Instructional Focus has as its core
Academic Language acquisition
using student to student discourse
as a vehicle to increasing literacy.
September
Main Office
301-548-7540
1
~ A Message from the Principal ~
-Deborah McGriff
3 - School Picture Day
7 - No School (Labor
Day)
8 - Softball Tryouts begin
10 - Back-to-School Night
(7:00 p.m.)
10 - PTSA Meeting
14 - No School for Students & Teachers
17 - 7th Grade Awards
Assembly
27 - Family Life Parent
Information Meeting
18 - 8th Grade Awards
Assembly
18 - School Dance
23 - No School for Student & Teachers
30 - 7th Annual Advance
High School Night
I S S U E
2015-2016 school year! dents will need to remain committed to their studies
Summer has come and every day and participate in homework and classwork
gone and we are refreshed for the hard work ahead. to keep up with the curriculum.
We have been busy throughout our building to prepare Student success has been a constant for our Grade 7
for the new school year. Shady Grove is excited to class. While our students are more comfortable with
welcome some excellent, new teachers and they are the middle school routine, they still need parental and
quickly making an impact on our students. I am very professional support to meet this goal of continued
privileged to work with such a highly qualified and growth and success. Please touch base with your child
dedicated staff, our wonderful Grade 7 students, and every day to see that they are completing all of their
all of the supportive parents.
A Message from Mr. Montgomery
teaching Evan, a former student, in eighth grade, my first year of
It's A "New" School Year: Wel- teaching. Before you know it, sixth graders, this year will be over
come, Greetings, and Saluta- before you start it; however, with the start of a "new" school
tions
year, one has the opportunity to set goals. These goals may
vary from academic, social, and emotional learning opportuniDear Shady Grove Middle ties. What goals have you set for yourself? One of my goals is
School Family and Students,
to continue working as an educator. Another is to monitor and to
maintain my health. Finally, I plan to just enjoy life and to have
Welcome, Greetings, and Salu- fun.
tations to the Beginning of A As the new school begins, this is the start of a new milestone in
"New" School Year! As a mem- your education as sixth grades and as middle school students.
ber of the Shady Grove Middle Congratulations, you have made the transition from elementary
School Administrative team and to middle school. It will be a year of transformation, transition,
the professional staff, I am honored to have this opportunity to adjusting, and decision-making. You will be making decisions
introduce myself to those family members who are new to our about your classes, studying, adapting to new people, and adschool, to reacquaint, to sustain, and to establish a positive justing to a new school community.
working relationship with all of our staff, students, parents, and Remain safe, healthy, actively engaged in learning, study, enschool community. I am please and bring you greetings for a gaged in positive activities; such as, intramural sports, clubs,
successful 2015-2016 school year. I would also like to welcome organizations, and after school activities. As writer, Marie Wilour newest group of students to Shady Grove, our sixth graders liamson writes in her work" Our deepest fear is not that we are
and their families. I will serve primarily as the grade level admin- inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond
istrator for sixth grade.
measure." In your time, you have the power to determine your
As I continue my journey in education, I am excited about re- own destiny. The choice is yours; make a great school year. As
turning to Shady Grove Middle School for a third year as this is we say at the Grove, " Give your best every day, and your best
my twenty-fourth year as a public school educator. While I am will come back to you." As we continue this journey, sixth grade
starting my twenty- third year in the field of education, I often will bring about some memorable experiences for you, including:
ask myself where has the time gone since I started teaching in outdoor education. Earn good grades, study hard, enjoy middle
South Carolina at Pine Ridge Middle School after graduating school, and have fun.
from South Carolina State University. To this very end, I still I look forward to working with the Shady Grove Middle School
maintain communication with many former students, who now Family, the sixth grade team, students and parents. Sixth Grade
have children who are in middle school; as a matter of fact, one Rocks!
of my former students whom I taught in eighth grade and who is
my neighbor, shared with me that his own son is in his final year All the best,
of middle school. It's hard to believe it because I remember ~Clark Montgomery
Mrs. Cherry’s message Continued...
assignments, preparing for assessments, and understanding the concepts of their new learning. Teachers are committed to helping every student
with any areas of concern and are available to students and families should questions arise and support is needed. Our teachers have been working
hard to prepare lessons that are engaging and challenging and that include opportunities for students to participate in cooperative work practices,
critical thinking, and consistent opportunities to engage in student-to-student discourse using key academic language.
Please remember that I am always a phone call or email away. Your child is my child and any communication regarding their success or their challenges are welcome. I look forward to the year ahead and seeing you at Back to School Night!
Thank you for all you do!
~Shella Cherry
Staff Spotlight:
Ms. Araceli Lopez, Mathematics Teacher
For this first
edition of Staff
Spotlight we
are thrilled to
introduce one
of our new
math teachers, Ms. Araceli
López.
This is Ms. López’s
th
19
year in education. She
comes to us from Forest Oak Middle School where she spent the
last nine years teaching math. She
was born in Camaguey, Cuba and
immigrated to Spain and then to
the US. Ms. López earned her
bachelor’s degree in Education in
Naples, FL and her master’s degree in Educational Leadership
from Hood College. She enjoys
traveling and spending time with
her family and friends. She is very
excited to be here at SGMS and
her motto is “Never give up!”
News from the Math Department
problems using the Pythagorean Theorem.
The math department would like to welcome all of the new and
Algebra students will analyze and solve linear equations and ine-
returning Timberwolves to Shady Grove Middle School! We
qualities in one variable. They will write, interpret, and translate
would like to give you a preview of what your students can expect equations into equivalent forms in order to solve for a specific
variable. Students will also be able to use the laws of exponents
to be learning over the course of the next month:
Math 6 Students will be exploring the types and forms of ratios.
in order to solve simple exponential equations.
They will also use the multiplicative relationship to further explore Geometry students will understand the definitions of basic georatios. They will differentiate between ratios and fractions. Finally, metric figures while applying reasoning to construct these figthey will calculate rates and unit rates.
ures. Emphasis will be on the use of multiple tools such as com-
IM students will be discovering and exploring the multiplicative
passes and rulers to build understanding why construction works
property in proportional relationships. They will be able to identify in geometry.
unit rate and find equivalent ratios. They will also be able to represent ratios in different form and displays.
Algebra Prep students will be exploring and applying the properties of exponents and powers of ten. They will be able to identify
and perform operations with rational numbers. Students will also
explore the relationship between powers and roots and solve
News from the 6th Grade Team
this trip will be November 4th. More information
Welcome to Shady Grove Middle School!
The sixth grade teachers are gearing up for the
start of another productive school year. We have
organized our classrooms, started preparations for
our Outdoor Education trip and have created rigor-
ous lessons for our students. We want to ensure
that your children are receiving a top-notch education, while enjoying their time as sixth graders at
Shady Grove Middle School. Our teachers are
regarding the parent meeting will be distributed
during Back to School Night.
If you have any questions about sixth grade or just
Shady Grove in general please don’t hesitate to
contact your child’s teachers directly or either one
of the team leaders:
Mrs. Tonia Riggs at
[email protected] or Mr. Brook Jefferson at [email protected].
We look forward to a wonderful school year!
extremely dedicated and willing to go above and
beyond the call of duty to ensure that their students
are academically successful.
Outdoor Education will take place December 7 –
December 11 this year. The parent meeting for
News from the 7th Grade Team
our students an opportunity to witness what higher
educational institutions offer. In the past, the col-
Welcome Back!
The seventh grade teachers are gearing up for the
start of another productive school year. We have
organized our classrooms, prepared for our college
field trip, added new events to our calendar, and
have created rigorous lessons for our students.
We want to ensure that your children are
receiving a top-notch education, while enjoying
their time as seventh graders at Shady Grove Middle School. Our teachers are extremely dedicated
and willing to go above and beyond the call of duty
lege field trip has been a success and we want to
continue to provide this opportunity to this year’s
seventh grade class. More information will follow in
weeks to come. In the meantime, if you have any
questions about the field trip or anything else,
please do not hesitate to contact the seventh grade
Team Leaders Ms. Deb Jorge at [email protected] and/or Mrs. Christine
Oxenford at [email protected]
We look forward to a wonderful school year !
to ensure that their students are academically successful.
Our annual college field trip will take place in October. We will be visiting different colleges to give
SHADY
GROVE
MATTERS
News from the 8th Grade Team
A Fresh Start
The 8th grade team is delighted to be working with all of our students.
As a team, we closely monitor the achievement of each and every child.
Our goal is to ensure that every 8th grader is successful and prepared
for high school before they leave Shady Grove. To do this, we will be
working closely with students who demonstrate academic difficulties.
This support will involve a number of interventions including 1:1 mentoring, homework club, CT rotations, parent contacts/ conferences, and a
number of other individual and group interventions. We are committed
to serving all our students the best possible education.
professionals and your highest priority as parents and guardians. Let us
work together to guarantee their success!
Please feel free to contact any of your child’s teachers if you have any
concerns around their academic success.
Submitted by Mr. Hull
Teacher: Advanced US History 8
As a team, we ask for the support of families to ensure that all students
succeed. We know and understand how challenging this can be, especially when folks work multiple jobs, work in the evening, and have other
family & professional responsibilities. We all share one common goal,
the success of your children at Shady Grove. How can you help support
your child’s academic success? Here are some suggestions:
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Check Edline regularly
Check planners daily
Ensure your child is completing their homework
Ensure your child is studying for upcoming tests & quizzes
Ensure your child seeks help when confused about assignments,
concepts, skills, etc.
Stay in touch with the school
The success of the students at Shady Grove is our highest priority as
“A good head and good heart are
always a formidable combination. But
when you add to that a literate tongue
or pen, then you have something very
special.”
~Nelson Mandela