May 2023 Monthly Meeting Minutes

5/3/2023 3:54 pm

Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)

Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES) 

Parent & Teacher Association Meeting (PTA)

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 from 7-8pm on Zoom 

Agenda will include: Brief updates from PBES and TPES on enrichment and classroom assignments; information from both the TPES and PBES PTAs on upcoming events and budget updates and opportunities to serve on each PTA for the 2023-2024 school year; and a bylaws update vote for the PBES PTA; and a budget amendment vote for TPES PTA. At 7:25 we will shift to informal panel discussions for Rising Third Grade Families on the transition to PBES, Welcome to Future Panther Families, and for Rising Sixth Grade Families on TPMS, Get Excited for Middle School.

Spanish and Amharic interpretation will be offered using the Globe icon at the bottom of the Zoom window, thanks to the TPES team.

Zoom link: 

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/84309489316?pwd=ZEp4TWRPMDZhNnJzdFUySnJBZzVoZz09#success

 

7:00 Welcome - Chris Campbell PBES PTA VP of Communications & Emma Cheuse, PBES PTA President

 

7:02 Introductions of the Interpreters (Chris Campbell). 

Luis Mejia (Luis_D_Mejia@mcpsmd.org), Spanish Interpreter

Tebeje Abebech (Abebech_Tebeje@mspsmd.org), 240-665-2236, Amharic Interpreter

Please click the Globe at the bottom of the Zoom window to access the meeting in Spanish or Amharic.

  • Haga clic en el Globo en la parte inferior de la ventana de Zoom para acceder a la reunión en español o amárico.
  • እባክዎ ስብሰባውን በስፓኒሽ ወይም በአማርኛ ለማግኘት ከ Zoom መስኮት ስር ያለውን ግሎብ ጠቅ ያድርጉ።

 

7:03 Upcoming Dates and Announcements - Refer to MCPS 2022-2023 Calendar

Chris Campbell, PBES PTA VP of Communications

 

Both TPES and PBES:

  • May 8-12: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week - Help celebrate the wonderful teams at both TPES and PBES –
  • Thank you to all TPES and PBES volunteers -- please visit the TPES and PBES PTA 

Volunteer Hall of Fame and help thank all volunteers. There’s still time to get your name on the list. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ucSOV9NXPnYnnFvkZIKfwYi50KMEnQUtqCarVSSIVJc/edit 



TPES Key dates and updates/announcements:

  • May 3, Bike to School Day
  • May 11, 7pm: Parent Meeting (Behavior Support), via Zoom
  • May 18, 7pm: TPES Art Showcase. Celebrate your child’s artwork.
  • May 24: TPES assembly in honor of Asian/ Pacific American Heritage Month at TPES 
  • GoFundMe fundraiser created for Ms. Joines and her two young daughters as they grieve the loss of her husband, Mr. Nick Joines.



PBES Key Dates/Announcements

 

  • PE Swimming session two has started and will run through May 12.  If your student needs a swimsuit or other assistance to participate in swimming, please reach out to Mrs. Oberdorf at christine_d_oberdorf@mcpsmd.org for free, PTA-funded swimsuits.  Thanks again to all who gave funds or helped to recruit sponsors to support lifeguards.
  • May 26 will be Field Day.  Volunteers needed! Save the date and sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeN0aS-gJLFvakZgtmOFFqJ4l-S7CdzGROYpgLHTTbJvNwE-w/viewform?usp=sf_link.  Reach out to Sara Lewis, serowe@gmail.com, if you can volunteer to help that day.
  • May 31, 7-8:30pm will be Cultural Heritage Night.  Volunteers needed to bring food to share, to perform a dance or song representative of your cultural heritage, and for set-up/clean-up! Reach out to Aphra Adkins, aphra.adkins@gmail.com, if you can volunteer to help or sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49a5a823a4fa7-pbes#/. 
  • Snack donations still needed - please deliver to PBES to the attention of the Third Grade and Counseling Teams - thank you. 
  • May 10: Volunteer appreciation - hope to see all PBES volunteers at Takoma BevCo on Weds. May 10 - feel free to drop by any time between 7-8:30pm for a Panther trinket (Parents need to buy your own drinks as the PTA can’t fund those ;).  

 

Recruitment for TPES and PBES PTA Officer positions for 2023-24 (Margaret McDonnell, PBES PTA President)

 

TPES: Please know that we’re actively recruiting for PTA leadership positions for the 2023-2024 school year and have a number of open positions given term limits and parents who are graduating to PBES. An email went out from the nominating committee, headed by Joyce McDonough. In meantime, please email vp@tpespta.net if interested in stepping up. We need you!

 

Positions

2023-24

2022-2023

President

Kaitlin Caruso

Margaret McDonnell

Executive Vice President

Need - max term limit

Joyce McDonough

Treasurer

Need - max term limit

Stephen Tippett

Executive Secretary

Need - max term limit

Dianne Kirsch

Membership Secretary

Justine Lassman

Justine Lassman

Vice President Communications

Need

Kaitlin Caruso

Vice President Membership

Mercedes Castilo

Estelle Jean

Vice President Fundraising

Diana Hickey van Houwlingen

Diana Hickey van Houwelingen 

Vice President Equity

Jon Frederick

Jon Frederick

MCCPTA Delegate

Need- 

Rebecca Shaeffer



PBES - calling new Board members for 2023-24 (Emma Cheuse, PBES PTA President)


Click this link for information about our current Officers list and Board positions: https://pineybranchpta.membershiptoolkit.com/our-pta 

 

Current PBES PTA - Nominating Committee Draft Slate - 

 

Positions

2023-24 (Nominations)

2022-2023 Officers

President

Need a volunteer

Emma Cheuse

Executive Vice President

Aphra Adkins

Sara Lewis

Treasurer

Ingrid Gardiner*

Kate Bauer

Secretary

Need a volunteer

Joyce McDonough

Membership VP

Sara Lewis

Erin Kelley

Vice President Communications

Chris Campbell

Chris Campbell

Vice President Fundraising

Mary Kathryn Lee

Mary Kathryn Lee 

Vice President Equity

Desiree Hernandez

Desiree Hernandez, Corey Null

MCCPTA Delegate

Matthew Blumin Stark

Matthew Blumin Stark

MCCPTA Delegate

Need a volunteer

Open 

Board-appointed positions:

 

  • *NAACP Representatives: 1 volunteer still needed.  

 

  • Equity Committee Co-Chair nominee: Dr. Adanna Johnson

 

Please reach out to the Nominating Committee (Desiree Hernandez, Chris Campbell, and Emma Cheuse) at pbes.pta@gmail.com or any of your current Board members if you would like to express interest in helping in an officer or appointed position on the PBES PTA Board next year.  

 

Reminder – Last joint PTA meeting of the year: Tues. June 6, at 7pm on Zoom.  Agenda TBD - but will include a Vote on the PTA Officers for next year - so please save the date.

 

7:10 PBES Principal Mrs. Oberdorf will provide an update on ELA Enrichment and 

classroom assignments for 2023-24. Please feel free to contact her with any questions 

at: christine_d_oberdorf@mcpsmd.org.

 

 

  • Planning for class assignments for next year. 

 

    • Gearing up for articulation and planning for children rising to next grade level. 
    • Rely heavily on TPES 2nd grade team and Dr. Gadsden. In addition, teams from both schools get together (i.e., Reading Specialist teams, SPED, ELD teams)
    • Parent Input form coming in next few weeks to provide insight for class assignments next year. 

 

 

  • Enrichment Opportunities

 

    • Holding pattern with MCPS. Don’t know what curriculum will be next year for English Language Arts (ELA). Benchmark Advance or new program entirely
    • At each grade level, students will receive enrichment through in-class
    • PBES will hold information session for rising 3rd graders to explain enrichment opportunities at 4th grade, including ELA and math, CES and Enriched Literacy Curriculum
    • Make sure to provide access to all students. Committed to ensure all have students have access to enrichment whenever they’re ready. District does universal screening for all third graders but school has some autonomy to provide access for all students

 

  • Parent Question: Discuss enrichment/placement for math in rising 4th graders: District provides guidelines, and school has some autonomy including  teacher recommendations, etc. Math options include Math 4 or Math 4/5. Notification will come to all families in early June. Reach out to Ms. Oberdorf with questions about placement. 

 

TPES Principal Dr. Gadsden - will provide information on class assignment process. Please feel free to contact her with any questions at: zadia_t_gadsden@mcpsmd.org (See TPES notes for more information)

 

7:15  PBES PTA Bylaws vote (Introduced by PBES PTA Exec VP Sara Lewis)

The PBES PTA executive board has been working this year to update the Piney Branch PTA bylaws. We made several changes to the bylaws and voted to approve them during the February PTA meeting. After hearing back from the Free State PTA governing body, we have learned that we are required to make two additional changes. Thus, we have
changed the following two sections so that they are in alignment with the Free State PTA
bylaws template:

 

  1. Article VIII Section 2  - regarding the makeup of the board of directors: The board of directors shall consist of the officers of this local PTA/PTSA, the chairs of standing

committees, the delegates to the PTA Council, and the principal of the school or a
representative appointed by him/her.

 

  1. Article X Section 3 - regarding how committee chairs are selected: The chair of each
    standing or special committee shall be elected by the executive committee of this local
    PTA/PTSA.

Motion unanimously passes for by-law updates. 



TPES PTA Budget Amendment vote (Introduced by Margaret or Joyce) Up to 

$10,000 toward the purchase of Dreambox subscriptions for all current K-2 students. 

 

 Budget amendment vote: 

The TPES Executive Board proposes spending up to $10,000 to purchase the math DreamBox subscription for every current K-2 student (from June 2023-June 2024) to provide supplemental math practice and enrichment. 

 

Background: 

Due to the pandemic and thanks to the generosity of our membership, the TPES PTA has built a steady surplus of cash from not spending on as many in-person programs. We have been in close communication with school leadership and have determined the greatest need and highest impact gift that our PTA can make at this time is to provide supplementary math support. As many of you know, our PTA has been focused on addressing learning loss due to the pandemic, and math has been hardest hit. DreamBox is an adaptive math program that can be used at home and in classrooms. Dr. Gadsden's colleagues at peer schools have used the program with great success. TPES plans to use the program as one of its math centers within the classroom, and now that MCPS provides free access to Chromebooks and hotspots at home, families can use the program at home. 

 

Since our current 2nd grade families are the ones who have contributed to our PTA these past three years during the pandemic, we'd like to ensure that they are included in this program, so at minimum, your second grader will have a subscription to DreamBox they can use at home for the next year, even in third grade. 

 

Motion passes unanimously for budget amendment

7:18 Treasurer’s Reports

 

Stephen Tippett, TPES PTA Treasurer Budget Report 

Kate Bauer, PBES PTA Treasurer Budget Report

 

To be included. 

7:23     Introduction of Promotion Panels (Chris Campbell, PBES PTA VP Communications) - 

Rising 3rd grade families: please stay in the main room for the PBES Panel, where 

interpretation will continue in Spanish and Amharic. 

Rising 6th grade families: Please join Breakout room 1 for the TPMS panel in English, Breakout room 2 for the TPMS conversation with a parent in Spanish and Breakout room 3 for the TPMS conversation in Amharic.  

 

Main Zoom Room for Rising 3rd Grade Families:

 

Welcome to Future Panther Families (facilitated by Emma Cheuse, PBES PTA President)

 

Welcome from PBES Principal Mrs. Oberdorf

 

Hear from current PBES Parents Ingrid Gardiner (PBES NAACP Representative and Parent), Julie LeSuer (PBES Parent), Joyce McDonough (PBES PTA Secretary and TPES Executive Vice President), and Chris Campbell (PBES PTA Communications VP) about the transition from TPES to PBES.  

Q&A

If you have additional questions, please contact Mrs. Oberdorf at PBES or the PTA at: pbes.pta@gmail.com, or visit: pbespta.org.  

 

Ms Oberdorf: Welcome. 

  • Bittersweet time as we prepare transition of 5th graders to middle school 
  • June 6: 2nd graders visit PBES during school. Includes school assembly with PB Jelly to welcome 2nd graders, tour, and spend time in classroom with current 3rd graders. 
  • Work closely with TPES to ensure smooth transition

 

PBES HIghlights:

  • Massive playground, swimming at gym, really nice people, PB Jelly
  • Ingrid: families get anxious b/c they go from being big kids to babies again but adjustment is smooth and quick
  • Chris: Son and big group of friends feared that they wouldn’t know anyone. Once they realized that they knew everyone in their class and grade, a lot of anxiety and fear washed away. 
  • Joyce: Practically speaking, walkers get dismissed on their own and don’t need to be picked up. Each grade is split into Pod A and Pod B which makes the school feel smaller and less overwhelming since half are at playground/cafeteria; also means you may not be in the same pod as all friends
  • Julie Jones: Increased independence. Use planner/calendar to write down homework and give more agency to the students
  • Teachers and front desk staff are very kind and very welcoming, giving a positive experience. 
  • 3rd graders are assigned to homeroom teacher and remain with homeroom teacher throughout the day.
  • Extracurriculars include: PE, art, media, music, counseling, and STEM (1x/month for STEM)
  • Pods are just for lunch/recess and teacher planning (to ensure teachers have common planning time). No distinction academically between the two. 
  • Enrichment: no district distinction for programming for instruction. Enrichment takes place within the class. Based on readiness, teachers will assign enrichment within the classroom. In 4th grade, looks differently because of county-wide enrichment. 
  • Before/after care options? 
    • Kids Adventure is also at PBES with before care and after care. 
    • Community center has clay class at 4pm and can easily walk there. 
    • Soccer program that has practice at PBES field right after school. 
    • Little Scholars also offers after school clubs, where PTA provides scholarships.
    • Forest Explorers is another option that meets in the woods behind the field 

 

  • More writing: in English, math, social studies and you’ll see their writing flourish. More projects like the biome project. Students are expected to be more independent.
  • “Ride the wave” the first month. Sometimes your student will be really excited, and on other days, they’ll be anxious. 

 

Summer opportunity: Friday, August 25th Open House. Coordinate with TPES to ensure families can attend both. 

 

Breakout Rooms for Rising 6th Grade Families: 

 

Get Excited for Middle School (facilitated by Sara Lewis, Executive Vice President 

PBES PTA)

 

Hear from current TPMS Parents Amit Mistry, Laura Delaney and Heather Hahn,  
about the transition from PBES to TPMS.

  Q&A

If you have additional questions, please contact Alice Weiss at 

aliceweiss@rocketmail.com at the TPMS PTSA or visit: 

https://www.tpmspta.org/. 

 

TPMS Spanish Breakout Room lead: Claudia Rodriguez, TPMS PTSA, claudiarodriguez@rcn.com

 

TPMS Amharic Breakout Room lead: Missiratch Biable, TPMS PTSA, 

missiratch@gmail.com 

 

7:59 Panel wrap-ups. Thank you for joining! We hope to see you at the final joint TPES/PBES 

PTA meeting of the year - Tues. June 6, at 7pm on Zoom. 





List of Upcoming Dates and Announcements

 

Reminder on Upcoming Dates/events: 

 

  • April 24-May 12: PE Swim Session 2. 
  • Artist in Residence Working with 5th Graders:
  • 5th grade English Language Arts (ELA) classes are excited to host an Artist in Residence for the month of May.  The artist is a professional playwright who will work with each ELA class to conceptualize, write, and perform an original play.  Performances will be script-in-hand without props or stagecraft, but each play will be original to each class.  Each ELA class and Media class will host one  session per week from May 1st through May 19th.  In-school performances will follow on May 31 and June 1.  
  • May 3: Bike and Wheels to School Day at PBES
  • May 8-12: Teacher Appreciation Week at TPES and PBES
  • May 10: MCPS Program - Popular Culture and Hate: Understanding what Your Student is Exposed to in Society today - (English) May 10, 2023, Registration Link
  • May 26: Field Day at PBES
  • May 31: Cultural Heritage Night at PBES
  • May 31, 7pm: Cultura Popular y Odio: Entendiento a lo que esta expuesto su estudiante en la sociedad actual (Espanol/ Spanish) Registration Link 
  • June 6, 7pm on Zoom - Last joint PTA meeting of the school year.  Agenda TBD - but will include a Vote on the PTA Officers for next year - so please save the date.
  • June____ at : _____: Fifth Grade Families - save the date for the PBES Promotion Ceremony.

 

To request topics for future PTA agendas, please reach out to president@tpespta.net or pbes.pta@gmail.com. 

 

Announcements and Opportunities:

 

 

  • Snack donations for both TPES and PBES to be distributed to teachers and counselors to ensure all kids have access. Nut-free, healthy options requested. Delivery options: please drop off at the main office between 8:30 am-4:30 pm, or order for direct delivery to the school.

 

 

 

  • School Meals Applications due ASAP - free federal meals have ended. All families must either complete the application for Free or Reduced School meals from MCPS or deposit funds to pay for your child’s meals at school.

 

Deposit funds in your child’s “MySchoolBucks” account - link 

Apply for Free and Reduced Meals at School - link

No child will be turned away - PBES and TPES will ensure every child who requests food receives it, but applications are needed so no debt is accrued. The PTA equity teams are also seeking to support families during this time - please donate to the PBES PTA and TPES PTA and to Tommy’s Pantry to help fill gaps and ensure food access for all in our community. 

 

Reminder for all volunteers: MCPS Volunteer Training and support guide - please complete this before you are scheduled to volunteer: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1URJRNYdUyyL0ghVzZ32xLqPmkE7IwUvcRF2qid89ojA/preview

 

We need your help and support:

Become a PTA member, donate, become a sponsor, sign up to volunteer:

Takoma Park Elementary School PTA: https://www.tpespta.net

Piney Branch Elementary School PTA: https://pineybranchpta.membershiptoolkit.com

 

PBES Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/pineybranches/

Find out the latest from the Panther Tracks Newsletter for PBES. Sign up for the PTA listserv or send an email to pbespta+subscribe@groups.io to start posting and receiving messages.

 

TPES Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/takomaparkes/ 



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