Greenwood PTA

Welcome

March 4th, 2019

Happy March Gators!

Our next monthly PTA meeting will be held Tuesday, March 5th in the media center from 7:00-8:00pm. Please come hear our guest speaker Jen Cort discuss “It’s Not Your Imagination, Kids and Conversations Are Different Today”. After the talk in addition to PTA President and Principal updates there will be budget discussions regarding the Variety Show, 5th Grade Recognition, and the Spring Fair. Representatives for each committee will be present to provide updates and answer any questions you may have.

Thanks to all that attended Culture Night on February 26th. 16 countries were represented with displays, food, and fun artifacts and we had over 100 student visitors take a tour of the world! The performances by Greenwood students and parents were outstanding. Special thanks to Melissa Frye and Allison Moffett for helping plan such a wonderful event.

One final note: when you receive calls from Greenwood with updates about buses or activities at the school please try to listen to the entire message before calling the school. Many people are flooding the office with calls as soon as they see who is calling rather than listening to the message for answers. Thank you!

Treasurer position

Tim Abercrombie has served on the PTA board as treasurer for almost two years and his term will end this summer. We are looking for someone to shadow Tim these last few months and join the board next year. The treasurer position is a two-year commitment. You are required to attend monthly board meetings and PTA meetings. If you are interested in becoming PTA treasurer or would like more information please contact Mary at president@greenwood-pta.org.

Skate Night

Have fun with the Greenwood community and skate to say goodbye to winter! On Saturday, March 23rd from 4-6pm come to Rockville Ice Arena, 50 Southlawn Court, for our annual Skate Night event. Tickets are $9 and include skate rental. You can reserve your spot in advance with students name, number of tickets, and “skate night” written on an envelope turned into students teacher or you can purchase them day of. No tickets are actually delivered but there will be a list at the door of those that have pre-paid.

Yearbook

Yearbook sales have begun! Go to https://commpe.pictavo.com/PictavoSchool/FindSchool  and enter school #80011.  Hurry, early bird price is $18. Cost of yearbook will go up on March 18th.

Variety Show

Tickets are now on sale for this years Variety Show through Showtix, https://www.showtix4u.com/events/16078! Seats must be reserved in advance. Tickets are $10 per person. Pictures and DVDs can still be purchased through the store on myschoolanywhere up until April 6th. This year we are looking for volunteers to help in the green room rather than requiring a parent from each group. If you are interested in helping out there is a sign up genius for K-4 acts, https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090448a5ab2aa13-variety1, and 5th grade parents, https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090448a5ab2aa13-variety.

Montgomery County Board of Education (non-PTA)

• On February 6, 2019 the Board of Education met with the Sherwood Cluster to discuss boundary analysis in Montgomery County as well as a question and answer session about class size, security, and programming. The questions asked during the focus group discussion, lead by Dr. Zuckerman, were as follows:
  • As a resident and/or parent, what issues are important to you to include in a review and analysis of school and cluster boundaries?   
  • If you could advise the consultant  who will be conducting the MCPS boundary analysis, what would you tell the consultant are the greatest concerns among parents about the current attendance zones?
  • What do you want to learn from the boundary analysis?

Parents - if this is of importance to you please tell Dr. Zuckerman and the Board of Education your thoughts.  Contact information for Andrew Zuckerman, Chief Operating Officer and the Board of Education is andrew_zuckerman@mcpsmd.org and boe@mcpsmd.org respectively.

• Coming up with the Board of Education is a chance to share your thoughts on school safety and security. MCPS and the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (MCCPTA) are hosting a series of community conversations on safety and security. The meetings will feature Ed Clarke, chief safety officer for MCPS, and Dr. Christina Conolly, director of MCPS psychological services. They will discuss school safety issues, student mental health concerns, and lockdown with options protocols. They are meeting on the following days:

Tuesday, March 5, 7–8:30 p.m. Silver Creek Middle School--Kensington, MD

Wednesday, March 13, 7–8:30 p.m. Paint Branch High School--Burtonsville

Thursday, March 21, 7–8:30 p.m. Northwood High School –West Silver Spring

Tuesday, March 26, 7–8:30 p.m. Clarksburg High School Cafeteria--Clarksburg

Parent Resource: Chesapeake Center's March Wednesday Workshop (Non-PTA)

Taking place on Wednesday, March 13th from 7:30 - 9 PM there will be a workshop at the Bethesda branch of the Chesapeake ADHD Center, 6430 Rockledge Dr. :

The Invisible Sibling: Family Dynamics and the Challenge of Meeting Everyone's Needs

Sibling relationships are powerful. When a brother/sister is diagnosed with a learning difference or a physical or emotional illness, there is a shift in the family equilibrium. The focus is often primarily on the child with the identified need. Limited hours in a day, work, home, and financial responsibilities add additional stressors for parents who are worried about finding the right support and care. Children are sensitive and very aware of changes in family dynamics. Siblings often feel confused, sad, and resentful about getting less attention than their brother or sister. How do parents recognize a level of distress that unmet needs are causing? What is the long-term impact? Is there a silver lining for the sibling? What are realistic expectations for parents? This presentation will address these questions as well as factors contributing to siblings’ reactions and how they are affected, what is a normal vs. problematic behavior, effective communication skills, and strategies to shift the family scale to a healthy balance for everyone, including parents.

Upcoming Calendar:

March 2019

March 1        Early Release -- 12:45pm

March 5        General PTA Meeting, Media Center - 7-8pm

March 7        Curriculum Night

March 21        Dining Night Out: Green Turtle

March 23         Skate Night---4-6pm

April 2019

April 2        General PTA Meeting, Media Center - 7-8pm

April 3            Early Release -- 12:45pm

April 5            Spirit Day

April 6        Variety Show -- 3:00-5:30pm

April 11        Dining Night Out: Cafe Rio

April 17-22        No School (Spring Break)

April 22-26        Earth Week

As always, thank you all for your feedback. Your insights are invaluable to our school. Hope to see you at our next PTA meeting, Tuesday, March 5th from 7-8pm.

Sincerely,

Mary Quirion

PTA President