QuickNotes November 2009 Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences

[Howard Hartman]

Montgomery County Public Schools Rockville, MD | Vol. 5, No.3 | November 2009 GO TO: Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences Community Shares Thoughts with Board of Education Homework Hotline Live! is Back Time to Register for Parent Academy Workshops Get Answers to Food and Nutrition Questions Cybersafety Tip: Alert Students to Dangers of Sexting Parent-to-Parent: Advocate for Your Child Remind ES Students to “Tap and Stack” After Lunch Thomas Edison to Host School Tours, Annual Open House Get the Latest Information on Weather-related Delays Websites Can Help Planning for College Homework Help Available on MCPS Web Attend Workshop on Resources for HS Students with Educational Disabilities Take Advantage of Student-refurbished Used Car Sale in December Nominate Principal/Teacher for NAACP Excellence in Education Award Don’t forget. . . Dates to Remember Nov. 3: Second marking period begins Nov. 11–12: Early release day, K–8, parent conferences Nov. 10: Board of Education Meeting Nov. 25: Early release day, K–12 Nov. 26–27: Thanksgiving holidays. Schools and offices closed Preparing for Parent–Teacher Conferences The parent-teacher conference is an opportunity for parents to spend one-on-one time with their child’s teacher to discuss how their child is doing in school. The conference also can help parents and teachers discover ways that they can work together to support the child’s interests and needs. This year’s conferences will be held on Nov. 11 and 12. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade will be dismissed early on those days. Here are some things for parents to think about before arriving at the conference: Typically, a conference will last 15 to 20 minutes and may include a discussion of classroom work, assessments and any extra support your child may need. Ask to see examples of your child’s work. Discuss whether your child is on track for advanced coursework. Are there enrichment opportunities or other extra support that may benefit him/her? Ask how you can support learning at home, especially with homework. Aside from report cards, ask about the best ways to keep up to date on your child’s progress. Be sure to bring up your child’s special interests and abilities, along with any special health or family concerns. Contact the school in advance if you need an interpreter, or bring someone who can interpret for you. If you have more to talk about than your assigned time will allow, ask for a follow-up meeting with the teacher. Sheet for Conference Planning and Follow-up Community Shares Thoughts with Board of Education Parents, staff, students and community members provided testimony on the following question: “During difficult economic times, what priorities in the Montgomery County Public Schools strategic plan should we focus on for the 2010–2011 school year to improve achievement for all students?” Fifty individuals presented testimony before the Board at forums held Sept. 17 and October 15. The written testimonies of those who spoke are available online. If you missed the forums, you can still send us feedback. Get Answers to Food and Nutrition Questions Where can you find out how many calories are in a grilled cheese sandwich, a chef salad or a plain English muffin? What are the menu options for a student who is vegetarian, lactose intolerant or diabetic? How can you find out whether your child qualifies for Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) and where can you get help filling out the FARMS form? The Food and Nutrition Services website has the answers to these questions. It also includes a list of nutritional requirements for snacks and beverages in vending machines, the MCPS wellness policy, Web links to sites on nutrition and food safety and information on using the cafeteria meal debit system. You can also call them at 301-840-8170. Homework Hotline Live! is Back Homework Hotline Live! is back for its 24th season on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. The program provides K-12 students one-on-one homework help when they call the hotline number at 301-279-3234 (Voice/TTY). During the program, MCPS teachers take calls from students live on the air and assist them with homework problems. Students also can e-mail their questions to hhl@mcpsmd.org. Homework Hotline Live! Time to Register for Parent Academy Workshops The Parent Academy is bringing parents an exciting lineup of free workshops this school year. Brush up on algebra with the Math Dude, go behind the scenes at the MCPS food services facility and the transportation depot, take a tour of local college campuses, strengthen your advocacy skills, and much more. Workshops are held in schools and other locations throughout the county. Free child care and interpreters are provided. Register online or call 301-517-5940.   Cybersafety Tip: Alert Students to Dangers of Sexting Parents are encouraged to alert students about the dangers of sexting and the possibility of serious legal consequences. Sexting is gaining popularity among teenagers. It involves students sending sexually explicit messages to one another, usually using the cell phone. Parents should know that transmission and possession of indecent photos of underage children is a violation of child pornography laws. More information on sexting CyberSafety Parent-to-Parent: Advocate for Your Child The 30-member Parent Advisory Council (PAC) provides feedback on systemwide parent outreach and helps parents strengthen their advocacy skills. Parents are encouraged to use some of the tips shared by other parents in a workshop sponsored by PAC last spring. PAC will hold two other workshops in the Parent Academy, Nov. 4 (English) and Nov. 5 (Spanish). Also, look for PAC tips in Parent Connection newsletter. Remind ES Students to “Tap and Stack” After Lunch Parents can join in the new recycling initiative at elementary schools by encouraging their students to "tap" their containers in the trash and "stack" them in the receptacle provided after they eat lunch. Remind them that if there is "sticky stuff" left in the container it goes in the trash. Elementary schools are now serving lunches in plastic, recyclable containers, which complement the new recycling milk containers rolled out last year. Tap and Stack Thomas Edison to Host School Tours, Annual Open House Starting in November, Thomas Edison High School of Technology will offer tours to parents and students. Edison offers advanced career technical education in 19 subject areas, including biotechnology, automotive technology, electricity, network operations, carpentry, plumbing, professional restaurant management and interior design. Tour participants will receive brief overviews of each area and get a glimpse of the classrooms in action. The two-hour tours are held during the school day and are conducted by students in Edison’s Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. Students interested in enrolling in Edison for the 2010–2011 school year should call 301-929-6920 for tour reservations.  All student visitors must be accompanied by an adult; for groups, one adult per 10 students.  The first tour is scheduled for Thurs., Nov. 12, from 8:15 to 10:10 a.m. or from 11:20 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. In addition, Edison will hold its Annual Open House from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thurs., Dec. 3 (snow date: Wed., Dec. 9). The school is located at 12501 Dalewood Drive in Silver Spring. (Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible to apply to the school. Enrollment applications are available on the Edison website. Get the Latest Information on Weather-related Delays Want to get the latest information on school closings and other delays and emergencies? Montgomery County Public Schools has information on the web that covers the following areas related to emergency weather conditions: How to get MCPS emergency and weather information Schools and offices closed Schools closed, offices open Delayed opening or early dismissal Learn more about how to get emergency information from MCPS Websites Can Help Planning for College The website www.college.gov, from the U.S. Department of Education, includes information on planning, preparing and paying for college. The site is targeted to high school students and their parents. For students, it has information on the advantages of going to college and offers advice on finding the right fit and the college admissions process. For parents, the site provides resources for handling the cost of college and offers tips on how to support your child’s goals. The University System of Maryland offers www.Way2GoMaryland.org to help middle and high school students prepare for a successful transition to college life. This website focuses on early preparation for college and career exploration. Homework Help Available on MCPS Web MCPS has a variety of homework resources available to help students. Many of them are subscription-based and accessible with a user name and password. Students can get this information from the media specialist at their school. Homework Hotline Live! features MCPS teachers who take calls from students live on the air and assist them with homework problems. The public libraries also have a wealth of useful resources, such as homework help websites for students in kindergarten through Grade 5 and for students in Grades 6–12. Students can get a free library card on the public libraries website. Attend Workshop on Resources for HS Students with Educational Disabilities Families of students, ages 14–21, with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are invited to attend a workshop on postsecondary education. Next Steps: School to Adult Living Transition Workshop will be held Nov. 12, 7–9 p.m. at Earle B. Wood Middle School. School-system representatives will share planning tools and resources to assist students with educational disabilities transitioning to postsecondary education. Registration is not necessary. For more information, contact the Transition Services office at 301-649-8008. Take Advantage of Student-refurbished Used Car Sale in December The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit foundation, for use by Montgomery County Public Schools Automotive Technology high school students, will hold its first student-run used car sale of this school year at Gaithersburg HS, Saturday, December 12, 2009, 9–11 a.m. Visit www.autocareers.org for more information on this hands-on educational program. Nominate Principal/Teacher for NAACP Excellence in Education Award Parents can nominate their favorite deserving principal and teacher for the 2009–2010 Montgomery County NAACP Excellence in Education Principal and Teacher of the Year Awards. One MCPS principal and one MCPS teacher will be recognized for their commitment to closing the achievement gap through programs meeting the academic and social needs of all students. The awards will be presented at the Annual Freedom Fund Dinner, Apr. 25, 2010. Deadline for nominations is Dec. 18. Go to website for more details. Don't Forget. . . Technology Day for Middle School Parents and Students: Sat., Nov. 7, at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville. Doors open at 9 a.m. Middle School College Orientation: Parents and students are invited to a college orientation on Thurs., Nov. 5, from 6:30–8:00 p.m., at Kingsview Middle School, Germantown. Nov. 9 is Deadline for Choice Process, Application Programs: Nov. 9 also is the deadline for applications to elementary, middle and high school application programs. The Special Programs website lists meeting dates and includes applications. See the Parent Information Meeting website for enrollment information. On-the-spot Admission/Scholarship Events Nov. 4 at Gaithersburg HS: Morehouse College & Dillard University, 6 to 10 p.m.   Nov. 19 at Wheaton HS: Trinity University, 6 to 9 p.m.   Nov. 23 at Rockville HS: Hampton University, 6 to 9 p.m. More at montgomeryschoolsmd.org Emergency Weather Information School Calendar School Menus Schools Sports Schedules For Parents Information in Other Languages TV Highlights Cover to Cover: In this month’s edition, see how MCPS high school students learn to be firefighters and emergency medical technicians at the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Training Academy; get new information on the Seven Keys to College Readiness for parents; and see how Quince Orchard High School  implements the Seven Keys for their students. Homework Hotline Live!: This program helps MCPS students solve the daily dilemmas of homework. Teachers answer questions about a variety of school subjects live on the air Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. on Comcast Channel 33, Verizon FIOS channel 35, RCN channel 88 or on the Instructional TV website. Students can call 301-279-3234 to have their questions answered.   Math Dude: This video series follows the MCPS curriculum to help middle and high school students improve their algebra skills. Watch on Comcast Cable Channel 33 at 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday, online or subscribe to the podcast. Our Schools Today: This program keeps parents updated on important school system issues. In November, parents can learn about Edline and Connect-ED. Available in six languages. Education Matters: Board of Education president Shirley Brandman discusses access to college, from deciding between SAT and ACT to the application and financial aid process. Counselors and experts share valuable tips and advice for parents and students. 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