Montgomery Knolls / Pine Crest Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

October 2014 Newsletter

1 The Voice of the PTA

The Pine Crest Prowl Fun Run was a blast! Ms. Johnson (Phys. Ed.) got the kids ready and running around a track created on the Pine Crest Field. Parents, teachers, and students cheered on the children. Thank you to the 20+ volunteers who helped the kids keep track of their laps, and hand out medals and water —we couldn't have done it without you! Pine Crest families have raised $3,700 already and there is still time to get to the PCES goal of $5,000. All fundraising for the Pine Crest Prowl is due on Wednesday, October 15. Keep up the good work, and let's get pumped for the Montgomery Knolls Magic Mile! Information will be in your child's MKES Red Folder and is available online at http://www.mkpcpta.org/fun-runs.

Montgomery Knolls 2013-14 Second Grade Class and teacher Ms. Nauman win the ICESat-2 Mission Penguin Naming Contest! "The penguin mascot for NASA’s upcoming Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 mission now has a name, thanks to a group of second graders led by teacher Nika Nauman at Montgomery Knolls Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland. The mission’s feathered friend will be called Paige." http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/paging-paige-icesat-2-s-penguin-mascot-named/ Advocacy Corner The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Capital Improvements Program (CIP) proposed budget for the next school year will be released by the MCPS Superintendent on October 28th. The CIP budget provides funding for school buildings (new and additions) along with large systems within schools (heating and air conditioning systems, roof replacement, etc). All school communities have the opportunity to provide comments on the proposed budget.  MCPS staff emails can be found at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/planning/contact.aspx. You can also  call  at  301-309-6277 (Spanish: 301-230-3073),  or  write  to  Montgomery County Public Schools,  850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850.   This is an election year and there are four Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) positions open with two candidates running for each open seat. In the coming month, leading up to the November 4th election, there will be several opportunities to attend forums or meet-and-greets to learn about the eight candidates. Note that unlike the County Council and General Assembly, BOE seats are all countywide - BOE district affiliations apply only to where the candidate/BOE member must live. So, no matter where you live, you have a vote in EVERY Board of Education contest. The state of Maryland adopted new science standards (Next Generation Science Standards) in April 2013. The state has directed all local school systems, including MCPS, to fully implement the new standards by the school year 2018-19. In anticipation of curriculum changes, MCPS is holding two information nights to share information about the new standards and to gather input from the community before the standards are presented to the Board of Education this fall. Both meetings will be held in the Carver Educational Services Center Cafeteria in Rockville from 7-8:30 pm on September 29th and October 9th.

Executive Board President Nickie Haine Vice President Madeline Santiago Vice President Rebecca Wilson Secretary Kate O'Connor Treasurer Leah Ossi Volunteer Coordinator Julie Rollenhagen

Contact us MKES 301-431-7667 Pine Crest 301-649-8066 www.mkpcpta.org

mkpcvolunteer@gmail.com Yahoo Group Send email to MKPCPTA-subscribe @yahoogroups.com

Our private group is "Montgomery Knolls Pine Crest PTA"; search on Facebook and ask to join.

Pine Crest Howls!

Committee Chairs do... Fundraising supports...

Upcoming Events "Magic Mile" Fun Run Friday, October 24, at Montgomery Knolls Volunteer Training Training session for all in-school volunteers. 6:00 pm at MKES, with child care. Stay for dinner and General PTA Meeting *. General PTA Meeting* October 7, 6:00 pm "Bring Your Home to School" Parent Open House Both schools Monday, October 13, Columbus Day ESOL Night MKES Wednesday, October 15, 6:00-8:00 pm Dine Out for PTA Wednesday, October 15, 5-9 pm, Mama Lucia's, 1302 East-West Hwy Curriculum Night at MKES Thursday, November 13 * All PTA General Meetings are held at Montgomery Knolls ES. Meetings are open to the public and are attended by schools administrators, teachers, and parents. Translators will be present for Spanish-speaking attendees. Bring your children - we will provide babysitters.

What the PTA does - raise funds to support our schools!

Program free or reduced price meals (FARMS program) All families should have received a form from the Division of Montgomery District Food and Nutrition prices which describes how to apply free or reduced lunch County. These forms must be sent back as soon as possible. There is a request sent home with the youngest child of the family at the beginning of the school year. Families can also pick up a blank application at any MCPS school. If you did not receive this form or need another can pick one up at the school office or any MCPS school, or download the application http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/foodserv/farms/default.aspx?id = 385158. Questions? Call free program reduced price meals is 301-840-8155. Bring complete school or mail application to: Division of Food and Nutrition, Montgomery County Public Schools, 16644 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855. If you are not sure whether or not you qualify for price free / reduced lunch, we encourage you to apply. Households must apply each year to determine if they are eligible for FARMS program. Federal income guidelines change every year, and it is likely that most household situations change every year.

Your school is becoming more green and needs your help! We have exciting news for our community! Pine Crest and Montgomery Knolls are becoming Maryland Green Schools in 2014-15 and 2015-16 with grants from the Green Kids program! Audubon naturalists will help school teachers and children to realize STEM-based Green activities like energy saving, watershed protection, elimination of invasive plants, ecological conservation, whatever initiatives staff might decide upon that fit curriculum goals. Parents, your children’s teachers can’t make the most of this two-year opportunity on their own! If this program speaks to your values, PLEASE inform yourself about it, and offer your help, even to encourage and assist your child’s teacher in the areas you care most about. It’s all here: www.mkpcpta.org/apps/links/#green_team. Email greenteam@mkpcpta.org to offer your time and talent toward Greening the schools and beautifying your children’s campuses with outdoor educational resources.

Papa John's Discount Cards

We are 1/2 way to our goal to raise $1,000 for PTA programs. Pick up

order form at school.

What is the PARCC Assessment? Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) http://www.parcconline.org/. The adoption of the internationally-driven Common Core State Standards

(CCSS) and new, more difficult assessments being developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC),

of which Maryland is a member. See an example of the new assessments at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/math/keyfacts/.