Sherwood Elementary School

1401 Olney-Sandy Spring Road

Sandy Spring, Maryland 20860

(301) 924-3195

Fax (301) 924-3294

Parent Letter #16

January 6, 2011

Happy New Year! 2011 promises to be an exciting and challenging year. We hope that you will take advantage of the many activities and meetings that will occur in the coming months and be active participants in our local school and in our county budget discussions. Difficult decisions will need to be made this spring and all parents should express their ideas and their concerns as these matters develop.

One of those opportunities will occur on February 10th when the Sherwood Cluster PTA leadership will meet with the Board of Education to discuss our cluster’s future. ThePTA has prepared a parent survey to support this discussion. Joann Mirgon has sent out the link over the PTA website. Here is the announcement again. Please take the time to provide the PTA with your input. “In preparation for a meeting between the PTA leadership of the Sherwood Cluster and the Board of Education on February 10, 2011, we would like to gather your opinion regarding priorities forMontgomery County Public Schools. The Board of Education has been soliciting these ideas from parents around the county and we would like to give them the perspective of Sherwood Cluster parents and High School Students. Please click on the link below or copy into your web address line and answer this one question. The survey asks you to review a list of 30 possible priorities and pick the top five that are most important to you.It is important that the Board of Education hears our voices and we need your help so please take 5 minutes to complete this survey by Friday January 21, 2011. Once we have gathered all the data we will communicate the results back to all participants.

Thank you. The Sherwood Cluster PTA Presidents.

The Homework Hotlineis up and running again. This is a great way to get support with homework questions. Call the Hotline between 4 and 6 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 301-279-3234 with your questions.

SAVE THE DATE---STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY

February 8, 2011, 6:00 to 6:45 PM, Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery Tour

7:00-9:00 PM, Ross Boddy Community Center, Sandy Spring, Maryland

Join us in 2011 for a community gathering to celebrate the legacy of diversity in the Sherwood region. Administrators, teachers, parents and community members will convene for a conversation with Deputy Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools Dr. Frieda K. Lacey. Dr. Lacey will address the significance of advocacy and accountability in helping to close the achievement gap in Montgomery County Schools. The event will include a tour of the Sandy Spring Slave Museum, student performances from elementary through high schools, and showcases of student talent. Refreshments will be served and Day Care will be provided. Please save the date for Tuesday, February 8, 2011.

Presented by the NAACP Sherwood Cluster & Montgomery County Public Schools

For more information, feel free to reach out to Kristen Prophet at <mailto:>.

Fifth grade parents who applied for their children to attend the Magnets and Consortium schools for middle school, expect to receive decision letters in the mail in early February.

The MCPS Parent Academy will hold a series of parent workshops in January and February. A flyer will come out soon with all the details.

Jump Rope for Heart is coming up on Friday, February 11th during the school day. Ms. Roth has sent out a flyer with details. If you can help that day for any part of the day, please contact Ms. Roth.

News from last week:

Video Games Concert at Strathmore on February 26th. You can check this out at

Montgomery College will host a one day event, “MC Adventures”, on January 22nd from 8:30 am to 2:50 pm for students in grades 4 and 5. This program was formerly known as “Saturday Discoveries”. If you are interested, please call 240-567-7264.

Remember that the Sherwood Elementary Sandy Spring Bank branch is open each Wednesday morning before school for deposits. This is a great way to begin savings accounts.

Students in grades 3 thru 6are invited to join the Sunday Scholars program beginning Sunday, February 6, 2011 for small study groups to prepare for the MSA tests in the spring. This program will run for 5 Sundays. The cost is $45 for the materials. Groups meet at the Ross Boddy Community Center in Sandy Spring at 2:15-4:30 pm. For more information contact Sharon Mosley-Ramsey at or call 301-351-9165.

Saturday School registration continues each Saturday at Sherwood High School from 8:30 to 11:30 am. For more information, call 301-320-6545. We have attached an application form to this bulletin.

Activities for the week of January 3rd:

Friday2nd Grade In House Field Trip - Mad Science

ThursdayVision and Hearing

Attachments:The Parent Academy, Mad Science Registration

UPCOMING DATES:

Important dates
What? / When?
Mad Science – Mrs. Craig / January 7th at 10:30
Mad Science – Mr. Wainwright / January 7th at 11:30
Mad Science – Mrs. Lowe / January 7th at 11:30
Mad Science – Mrs. Rhoades / January 7th at 2:00
Shark Island Club / January 11th at 3:30-5:30
Shark Island Club / January 13th at 3:30-5:30
Vision and Hearing / January 13th
No School – MLK / January 17th
Shark Island Club / January 18th at 3:30-5:30
5th Grade Wax Museum / January 20th at 1:00
Shark Island Club / January 20th at 3:30-5:30
No School – Professional Day / January 24th
Shark Island Club / January 25th at 3:30-5:30
Shark Island Club / January 27th at 3:30-5:30
2nd Grade Birthday Club (Wainwright) / January 28th at 3:00
3rd Grade Birthday Club / January 28th at 3:00
5th Grade Bingo Night / January 28th at 7:00
Shark Island Club / January 1st at 3:30-5:30
Report Cards Go Home / February 2nd
Blue & Gold Assembly / February 2nd at 9:30
Shark Island Club / February 3rd at 3:30-5:30
Shark Island Club / February 8th at 3:30-5:30
Shark Island Club / February 10th at 3:30-5:30
Jump Rope for Heart / February 11th
Valentine Parties / February 14th at 2:00
Shark Island Club / February 15th at 3:30-5:30
Blanton Studios Group Pictures / February 17th
Shark island Club / February 17th at 3:30-5:30
Jump Rope for Hearth (Snow Date) / February 18th
No School – President’s Day / February 21st
Shark Island Club / February 22nd at 3:30-5:30
Shark Island Club / February 24th at 3:30-5:30
3rd Grade Birthday Club / February 25th at 2:50-3:15
Sock Hop / February 25th
Science Fair / March 3rd
Sock Hop (snow date) / March 4th
Early Release Day / March 4th
MSA Testing – Reading Grade 3 & 4 / March 7th & 8th
MSA Testing – Reading Grade 5 / March 9th & 10th
MSA Testing – Math Grade 3 & 4 / March 11th & 14th
MSA Testing – Math Grade 5 / March 15th & 16th
Variety Show Preview / March 15th
Variety Show Preview / March 16th
Variety Show Preview / March 17th
1st Grade Field Trip to Sandy Spring Museum / March 18th
3rd Grade Birthday Club / March 25th at 2:50-3:15
MSA Testing – Science Grade 5 / March 28th – 30th
No School – Professional Day / March 31st