Welcome To Panther Tracks
News, updates, and reminders for the coming week and more going forward. La traducción al español está en la parte inferior. የአማርኛ ትርጉም ከታች ነው።
Community Resources
This is a new, recurring portion of Panther Tracks and we will update this section weekly with relevant information as needed. This week:
- A message from BOE Superintendent Dr. Taylor: All our children deserve a high-quality education that fosters both academic excellence and well-being regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, disability, religion, or any other identifying characteristic. Read the full statement here.
- MCPS is committed to ensuring that all students feel safe and welcome in our schools, regardless of immigration status. Click here to read the statement.
- MCPS offers support to our Immigrant students and families. Click here for resources.
- How does MCPS handle immigration enforcement visits to schools? Click here for more information.
- How can I ensure my child's personal information is not shared? Under FERPA, schools may disclose directory information without consent unless the family completed an Annual Notice for Directory Information and Student Privacy form at the start of the year. If you would like to update your family's preference, please contact the main office.
- One of the children in our PBES community is currently facing the incredibly difficult journey of fighting cancer. For those looking for a way to support Nate, his family has shared that donating blood—specifically at Children’s National Hospital—would be especially meaningful and helpful.
- There is a critical blood shortage nationwide. Donating directly at Children’s National helps ensure that life-saving blood products are available not only for Nate but also for other children receiving care. Nate’s treatment will last at least 12 months and will include chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation. Throughout this time, he will require regular transfusions of both whole blood and platelets. If you are able, we encourage you to consider donating. You can find more information about how to give blood at Children’s National Hospital here: https://www.childrensnational.org/get-care/departments/blood-donor-center
Needed: Field Day Volunteers – and Join Us for the Volunteer Breakfast
Field Day is Friday, May 30 (rain date June 3). Volunteers are needed! Please sign up to volunteer at this link: rmd.me/nAOosUJKwBv. Also, as a thank you to all volunteers, please join the volunteer breakfast in the PBES front lobby at 8:45am.
Sunday: Takoma Pride Celebration
Celebrate diversity, inclusion, visibility and acceptance at Takoma Pride Parade and Street Fair on Sunday, June 1 from 10am – 2pm. All are invited to join in this family-friendly event! Check out the website for more information on schedule, parade, and the street fair.
Help Fill the Front Garden with Flowers
Mr. Weerts is organizing a planting party on June 4 at lunchtime. Please bring a flower to plant to help beautify our school. Questions? Please reach out to Mr. Weerts at Richard_Weerts@mcpsmd.org.
Needed: New PTA Board Members for 2025-26 School Year
Thank you so much to those who have stepped up and assumed roles on the PTA board for the next school year. We still have a few key positions that need to be filled. The current board is term-limited out of our positions so we need new volunteers to take our places and lead the PTA into next year. If you are interested in a position please reach out to board@pbespta.groups.io. The roles needed to be filled are:
- President
- Executive Vice President
- Vice President of Equity
- NAACP Representative
- Webmaster
PBES Feasibility Study Update
MCPS has planned community meetings for the Piney Branch Elementary Feasibility Study. All of the meetings are planned to be held at the Piney Branch Elementary School Cafeteria. Upcoming meeting dates are: May 29: 7-8pm, June 4: 7-8pm. The County webpage for the project can be found here: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/construction/project/pineybranches/
Boundary Study Update
All in the PBES school community are invited to participate in the ongoing Boundary Study upcoming consultations for the reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School which may impact Takoma Park Middle School and Blair HS. These sessions will cover the initial options for each study and share how potential changes may affect families with middle and high school students. More information on upcoming virtual and in-person sessions to be held May 27-29 and FAQs can be found on the boundary study website at https://mcpsmd.info/BoundaryStudy. This webpage is the key place for the most updated information as the project progresses.
Feedback Requested: MCPS High School Academic Programs
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is conducting a study to ensure that high school students have equitable access to high-quality academic programs that reflect the needs of our student community, enabling them to thrive in their futures and meet the demands of tomorrow’s workplace and industries. As part of this effort, we invite all families to complete a short survey. The changes made as part of this analysis will create a lasting foundation for many years, so we want to hear from all families, including those whose children are not yet in high school. Your feedback is very important to ensure that the needs of all students are considered.
Your feedback will be used by the program analysis design team—made up of families, community members and school-based staff—along with program data, industry insights and input from student focus groups to develop a recommendation for high school programs. Again, this work is to ensure equitable access to high-quality, high-demand high school programs for all students. The goal is to have a recommendation by June 2025 with a finalized plan by December 2025. To learn more about the High School Academic Programs Analysis, visit the project website. SURVEY LINK
Upcoming Dates
This week:
- Thursday, May 29: PBES Feasibility Study Community Meeting #3, 7 pm
- Friday, May 30: Field Day
- Sunday, June 1: Takoma Pride Celebration
This month:
- June 6: Professional Day, No School for Students
- June 12: 5th grade promotion at 2pm (PBES gym) and Clap-Out at 3:15pm (PBES lobby)
- June 16: Early Release Day
- June 17: Early Release Day, Last Day of School
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