The Dolphin’s Tale The bi-weekly principal’s newsletter of Travilah Elementary School Susan J. Shenk, Principal Travilah Elementary School turns 50 years old this year! We will be celebrating 50 years of excellence in education throughout the year. February 25, 2011 Issue #13 February – African American History Month 25 Jump Rope for Heart 28 Grade 5 – Baltimore Symphony Orchestra March – Women in History Month

1 7:00pm PTA Meeting 4 12:55pm Early Release Day – Teachers Professional Time 7 MSA Reading – Grades 3 and 4 Interims distributed 8-9 Hearing/Vision Screening Kdg., Gr 1, rescreens/new students 8 MSA Reading – Grades 3 and 4 9 MSA Reading – Grade 5 10 MSA Reading – Grade 5 11 MSA Math – Grades 3 and 4 13 Daylight Savings Time begins – move clock forward one

hour before going to bed on Saturday, 3/12! 14 MSA Math – Grades 3 and 4 15 MSA Math – Grade 5 16 MSA Math – Grade 5 Grade 1 - Mad Science – Mineral Mania 17-29 MSA Makeups 18 Grade 3-4 Band Concert 21 Kdg. – In school field trip –Astronomy PTA Family fun Night – Il Porto 22 Grade 2 – Field Trip Recycle Center 23 2:15pm Grade 4 Wax museum 25 PTA International Night 30 Third Marking Period ends Grade 5 – Chemistry Presentation 31 Professional Day – No students

Visit our website! http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/travilahes/ School Phone: 301-840-7153 School Attendance Line: 301-670-8223 School Fax: 301-670-8230 Visit the PTA website! http://www.travilahpta.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PRINCIPAL’S WRITING WALL – Each week students’ writing is displayed on the Principal’s Writing Wall. All students will be featured at least once during the year. The following students’ work was highlighted during the weeks of February 14 - 23, 2011 are: Kindergarten: Ms. Cryan’s class – Ruth Dai, Laney Meyer, Ryan Wagner, Sophia Bills, Hari Maheswaran, Evan Lewis, Adriana Cruz, Pratyusha Mandal Mrs. Tozier’s class – Hope Safai, Landon Silbert, Lyndsie Lewis, Karen Potts, Alec Fleischer, Lillian Zhao, Jessica Song, Jessica Winson, Lauren Meyer, Esha Patel, David Chen Mrs. Knight’s class – Michelle Hsiung, Daniel Sofer, Nina Dorfman, Hailey Ahn, Tiffany Ke, Dinaz Campbell, Liam Graham, Will Greene, Selena He, Ashley Denner, Dennis Chunikhin, Grade 1: Mrs. Goldizen’s class – AJ Grainger, Mick Shiflett, Brenda Matsuda, Max Messina, Alain Bilounga, Ellie Lee, Victoria Tong, Mohanned Khan, Thomas Mitri, Shane Miller, Daniel Zhou, Elizabeth Itskovich, Landon Rojas, Kenzo Matsuda, Neha Dheenadhayalan, Nathan Pak, Maya Chelar, Michael Hu, Nichole Jezek Grade 3: Mrs. Kolze’s class – Hari Kannan, Kent Ngo, Nate Price, Alice Bennett, Kelly Kimbis, Francis Meyer, Sabrina Shah, Danielle Tauber, Anna Baldwin Mrs. Shrager’s class – Jeffrey Rubin, Jessica Grinspoon, Leah Kellert, Ritik Singh, Keely Sellman, Brittany Fuentes, Erich Mayne Toby Kleinman Grade 4: Mrs. Fones’s class – Catherine Gui, David Park, Jennifer Weiss, Noah Reiser, Michael Yu, Maitri Khera, Avery Marsteller, Michael Wu Grade 5:Mrs. Singal’s class – Cara Jones, Rachel Li, Christian Navarro, Sarah Shapiro, Christina You, Abbey Mayne, Jacob Rosenblatt, Justin Slud, Eric Lu, Jack Foley, Bianca Shah, Radhika Khare, Cynthia Sheng, Robbie Littlefield, Sydnie Haendler 50th ANNIVERSARY PLANS - We are beginning to make plans for Travilah’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Please save the date – Sunday, May 15th 2:00 – 4:00pm! We will have many exciting events! SAVE THE DATES – SPRING TESTING TIME IS NEAR! - Please write these dates on your calendar to avoid scheduling doctor appointments, trips, family visits, etc. on these dates. Thank you!

Dates

Grades

Content March 7 and 8 3 & 4 MSA Reading March 9 and 10 5 MSA Reading

March 11 and 14 3 & 4 MSA Math March 15 and 16 5 MSA Math

April 4-11 2 Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills

April 11-12 5 MSA Science INTERNATIONAL NIGHT – PERFORMERS AND EXHIBITS NEEDED - Our Annual International Night is fast approaching! The PTA is requesting families and students to participate. Share your cultural heritage by preparing an “exhibit” table to represent a country and/or if your child(ren) are interested in participating in an ethnic performance. The tables can include food, crafts, displays, games, etc. from a country. The performances can be a dance, musical instrument, fashion show, etc. For more information or to sign up, contact Kawal Singh at singkj2@yahoo.com PARENTS AS LITERACY PARTNERS - First, Second, and Third Grade Parents: Thank you to those of you who attended Wednesday’s session of Parents as Literacy Partners. We appreciate your cooperation and willingness to work as a partner with the teachers to assist your child. Your attendance sends such a positive message to your children of how you value the importance of continuous learning and collaboration. We hope you enjoyed the evening! ORGANIC GARDENS - Attention all green gardening enthusiasts: Spring is just around the corner and Travilah’s gardens are awaiting. We are in search of parent volunteers to assist with maintenance of our courtyard gardens and our organic flower garden. Your ideas and energy are all welcomed and appreciated. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mrs. Knoblach at school.

VALENTINE’S DAY PARTIES – THANK YOU – Thank you to the many parents who helped make our Valentine’s Day parties such a success. The children and staff had a wonderful time! Thanks to:

Kindergarten Ms. Cryan Mrs. Knight Mrs. Tozier

Shauna Arata Lana Bleik Labban Jane Silbert Heidi Castelli Lynn Huang Susan Winson Daria Solyak Gemini Patel Janis Fleischer

1st Grade

Mrs. Goldizen Miss Holland Mrs. Newcomer Kimberly Euler Lorraine Slud Deanna Jezek Judith Mitri Vidya Thirulalai Allison Luterman Regina Stryapko Xiaoling Yu Marina Miller Shelley Zweig

2nd Grade

Mrs. Donaldson Mrs. Facine Mrs. Hart Julianne Greene Katherine Denner Gule Emran Toni Hawley Michelle Teichberg Rebecca Resier Dubravka Trakic Sue Potts Terri Stillwagoner Ruthellen Wolf

3rd Grade

Mrs. Kolze Mrs. Perel Mrs. Shrager Jill Prater Eimear Kivlighn Mary Lynn Price Ellen Silver Julie Krieger Kris Sellman Jie Yin Jodi Lee Amy Bennett Martha Santomartino Neerja Tripathi

4th Grade

Mrs. Fones Mrs. Ghetti Mrs. Knoblach Cindy Bartos Meesha Graham Melissa Gracyalny Vivek Khera Shirin Kaffi Renee Kravitz Evy Vlahos Yola Kong Maggie Meyer Dee Weiss Sally Schmalz

5th Grade

Mrs. Egan Mrs. Singal Mrs. Winkler Kerry Bowman Kerry Foley Alex Hazlett Leti Soriano Melissa Haendler Nicole Khorsand Kawal Singh Shamala Littlefield Hemangini Shetty Sue Yi

CHESS CLUB NEWS AND REGISTRATION - The Travilah Chess team won the Primary K-3 Championship in the 2011 Greater Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Championship. This great chess tournament was organized by the Kasparov Chess Foundation and UMBC. Children from several states including Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, DC participated in the event. Travilah was represented by Matthew Shu, Muhammed Hashmi, Justin Zhang, Pranav Vijay and Daniel Sofer. This was a great success for our kids. Registration is now open for the Spring 2011 Chess Club. The Travilah Chess Club meets Monday mornings at 8am and will meet for 10 weeks this spring and the cost is $110. For more information contact the chess club coordinator, Bob Weiss at 301-216-0350 or pwcrack@pwcrack.com.

MONTGOMERY COLLEGE - Montgomery College Workforce Development & Continuing Education YOUTH PROGRAMS ONLINE REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPENED FOR…SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS Courses for students in grades Pre-K - 12 held on the Germantown, Rockville and Takoma Park/Silver Spring campuses. There are over 200 fun-filled summer courses/camps that cover a wide range of topics. So if you want to do something extra special this summer, then REGISTER NOW! WE HAVE IT ALL!!! Courses fill quickly, so register right away! For brochures or registration forms, access our website at: www.montgomerycollege.edu/youth. For additional information, contact YOUTH PROGRAMS office at 240-567-7264 or 240-567-7917. Montgomery College Workforce Development & Continuing Education YOUTH PROGRAMS REGISTER NOW!! KIDS COLLEGE Enrichment and advancement courses cover a wide range of topics from science and math to music, sports and art. Bring your parents or grandparents with you to “Celebrate Earth Day – Recycling and Me” at the Montgomery County Recycle Center in April. Some of our exciting new courses…

• ART DETECTIVES for Ages 4 – 6, • FINANCIAL FITNESS FOR TEENS for Grades 6 – 8, • TEEN FICTION WRITING for Grades 6 – 9 (online course) • RESUME WRITING AND INTERVIEWING skills for Grades 8 – 12.

Don’t’ miss it!!! Courses fill quickly, so register right away! For brochures or registration forms, access our website at www.montgomerycollege.edu/youth. For additional information, contact YOUTH PROGRAMS office at 240-567-7264 or 240-567-7917.Join us on Facebook!! CONGRATULATIONS – Our chess team players came in first place in a tournament played at University of Maryland Baltimore Campus. Travilah’s team consisted of: Matthew Shu, Muhammad Hashami, Justin Zhang, Daniel Sofer, and Pianav Vijau. Chess players from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. competed in the competition. Luxman Maheswaran won an individual trophy. Congratulations team! PLAYGROUND SUPERSTARS – Weeks of February 7 - 14, 2011were: Grade 5: Cynthia Sheng, Ambrose Devine, Jack Foley, Clara Yu, Shirley Wu Grade 4: Elizabeth Meyerovich, Talia Feshback, Matvey Stepanov Grade 3: None Grade 2: Joshua Hou, Catherine Lim Grade 1: Koran Lawson, Daniel Kwak, Samantha Kimbis, Lunah Schleret, Divya Philipose, Logan Pratt, John Kibat, Max Wool, Liam Miller, Nicole Jezek, Roshni Arun Jaylen Riggs, Samir Mitri Kindergarten: Adriana Cruz, Dhanya Philipose, Nicole Yu P.E. CLASS OF THE WEEK – Week of February 14, 2011 - Congratulations to Mrs. Kolze’s class! P.E. STUDENT OF THE WEEK – Week of February 14, 2011- Congratulations to in Francis Meyer Mrs.Kolze’s class! SPECIAL DOLPHIN TALES THANK YOU TO:

• Alex Hazlett and the PTA for bringing us the Magical Math Tour Cultural Arts presentation! • Susan Winson for organizing our Potomac Pizza Night!

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