18820 Strawberry Knoll Road Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879

E. Frank Kaplan, Principal Rosemary Ford, Assistant Principal

Web Site Address—http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/

Str

aw

be

rr

y K

no

ll N

ew

s

ST

RA

WB

ER

RY

K

NO

LL

E

LE

ME

NT

AR

Y

SC

HO

OL

March 2, 2012 Superintendent to Hold Four Forums This Spring

Superintendent of Schools Joshua Starr will be holding four forums this

spring, each focusing on a specific topic—English Language Learners (March

12 at Kennedy HS), Gifted Education (March 22 at Magruder HS), Special

Education (April 16 at Seneca Valley HS), and Social and Emotional Learn-

ing (May 10 at Whitman HS). Each forum will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

and will provide an opportunity for parents, staff, and the community to hear

about the latest trends and research, find out what’s happening in our schools,

and share their thoughts and ideas with Dr. Starr, guest panelists, and other

participants. Interpretation and childcare will be available. Additional infor-

mation is available at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org or by calling 301-309

-MCPS (6277).

El Superintendente Realizará Cuatro Foros Esta Primavera

El Superintendente de Escuelas Joshua Starr estará realizando cuatro foros

durante esta primavera, cada uno de ellos enfocado en un tema específico—

Estudiantes de Inglés Como Segundo Idioma (English Language Learners)

(12 de marzo, en Kennedy HS); Educación Para Estudiantes de Alto Potencial

(22 de marzo, en Magruder HS); Educación Especial (16 de abril, en Seneca

Valley HS); y, Aprendizaje Social y Emocional (10 de mayo, en Walt Whit-

man HS). Cada foro se realizará de 7:00 a 8:30 p.m., y ofrecerá una oportuni-

dad para que los padres, el personal y la comunidad conozcan las últimas ten-

dencias e investigaciones, para que sepan lo que está sucediendo en nuestras

escuelas y para que compartan sus opiniones e ideas con el Dr. Starr, con los

panelistas invitados y con los demás participantes. Habrá a disposición servi-

cio de interpretación y cuidado infantil. Se puede obtener información adi-

cional en www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org, o llamando al 301-309-MCPS

(6277).

IMPORTANT DATES

2/20/12 HOLIDAY—President’s Day

2/21/12 7:00—8:30 p.m. Feasibility Study —Media Center

2/23/12 7:00—8:30 p.m. P.T.A Science Fair—All-Purpose Room

2/28/12 Class Pictures

2/29/12 9:00 a.m. 4th Grade Wax Museum—All-Purpose Room

African American Wax Museum

Fourth grade students and staff hosted their annual African American Wax Museum

on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Fourth grade students read biographies about

famous African Americans in preparation for Wednesday’s event. Students dressed

as the people they researched and presented facts about their lives. Visitors to our

museum were able to learn about such famous people as: President Barrack, and First

Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Dr. Thurgood

Marshall, Ms. Rosa Parks, Ms. Harriet Tubman, Ms. Beyonce Knowles, Mr. Freddy Adu

and many others. Visitors were amazed at how well the students portrayed the indi-

viduals researched. Our guests also enjoyed the songs our fourth grade students

sang under the direction of our talented music teacher, Mrs. Kahan.

Science Fair Successful

Congratulations P.T.A sponsored Science Fair participants. We were excited to see so many

Noble Knights and their families at this year’s fair. We also thank Mr. and Mrs. Smiley for serving as this year’s

P.T.A. Science Fair sponsors!

IMPORTANT DATES

March 7, 2012 3:30 p.m.—5:00 p.m. Feasibility Study—Media Center

March 12 & 13 MSA Testing Grades 3 & 4 Reading

March 14 & 15 MSA Testing Grade 5 Reading

March 16 & 19 MSA Testing Grades 3 & 4 Math

March 20 & 21 MSA Testing Grade 5 Math

March 22, 2012 Spring Portraits

March 29, 2012 2:00p.m. Literacy Highlights with Noble Knights

7:00—8:30 p.m. Arts “Knight”

Third Marking Period Ends

March 30, 2012 No School for Students—Professional Day

Abeywardena Nishan Aguiar Mia Alvarez Daniel Alvarez Fiorella Asae Chandra Azizi Abdullah Azizi Abdul Benowitz Todd Bhatia Ashna Brant Aidan Brodie Chynna Cochran Owen Copper Sarah Del Cid Christian Dixon Kimberly Halling Samantha Halling Reid Hardy Mason

Higgins Caden Holbert Karen Holbert Aurora Ifeanyi Obi Ifeanyi Kika Ifeanyi Dodi James Mary Jemli Yousef Jemli Yasmine Johnson Antonio Khosravian Neal Kumazah Theresa Melendez Victor Melendez Gerardo Nachadalingam Sibani Page Isaac

Page Immanuel Shabbir Fatima Singh Zorawar Singh Suhani Smiley Wesley Smiley Jeremy Srinivas Srinithi Surratt Lucas Surratt Tabea Thomas Jenlani Trepowski Joanthan Ullah Fatihah Webb Natalie Webb Aaron

Kindergarten Orientation

Kindergarten Orientation is in the planning stages. Please help us

estimate the number of students who will attend kindergarten at

Strawberry Knoll during the 2012- 2013 school year.

According to the Maryland State Law, a child must be five years

old by September 1, 2012 in order to enter kindergarten for the

2012- 2013 school year. Kindergarten attendance is compulsory. Parents who do not plan

for their children to attend kindergarten at the Knoll will need to contact Mr. Kaplan af-

ter May 1, 2012 and complete an enrollment waiver.

If you have a child who will be entering kindergarten this fall, please complete the form

below, and return it to the school office by March 19, 2012. Also, if you have a neighbor

or friend who has a child of kindergarten age for fall 2010, please pass this information

sheet to them.

Kindergarten Orientation is scheduled for Thursday, May 10, 2012 and Friday, May

11, 2012. Additional information will be provided in upcoming newsletters.

Please return the bottom portion to the Strawberry Knoll Elementary School office by

Friday, March 19, 2012.

************************************************************************

Strawberry Knoll Elementary School Kindergarten Survey

2012 - 2013

The following child will be five years old by September 1, 2012.

Child's Name: ______________________________________

Child's Date of Birth: ___________________

Parent's/Guardian’s Name: ___________________________________________

Home Address: ________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Home Phone: ____________________________

In order to expedite your receiving forms for Kindergarten Orientation, can the

orientation packet be sent home with an older child in your family?

Yes Name of student: ______________________________

No Please mail the packet to my home address.