January 2023 PTA Meeting Notes

1/4/2023 8:45 am

Takoma Park Elementary School (TPES)

Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES) 

Parent & Teacher Association Meeting (PTA)

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023 from 7-8pm on Zoom 

Agenda will include: (1) A Discussion of Literacy Learning with TPES and PBES Reading Specialists, including Q&A. (2) Treasurer Reports and Pool update for PBES.  Hear about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and ways to help the TPES and PBES school communities. 

Topic: PBES/TPES PTA Meeting

Time: Jan 3, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

ZOOM LINK: https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/82405701233?pwd=eDlzelZWRDFYMW9RMGJHUkhkOTFBdz09

 

Meeting ID: 824 0570 1233 // Passcode: PTA2023

Audio: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

 

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

Emma Cheuse, PBES PTA President

 

7:02 Introductions by the Interpreters (Chris Campbell)

Mr. Luis Mejia, Spanish Interpreter and Ms. Tebeje Abebech, Amharic Interpreter 

 

Thank you to our Parent Community Coordinator (PCC) Farzaneh Nabavian who serves TPES, TPMS and Blair for helping to arrange interpreters and all of our support for our community:  https://blairpcc.weebly.com/ 

7:04 Upcoming Dates and Announcements - Refer to MCPS 2022-2023 Calendar and 

 

Volunteers and Donations Needed for January:

  1. Chris Campbell: short summary of the announcements (2 min). Please see the list at the end of this meeting agenda and in the chat but the following are immediate events.    
    1. See MAP test dates below
    2. Jan. 4-17: Tommy’s Pantry Drive at PBES 
    3. Jan. 9: Deadline to submit Interest form for your PBES student to audition for the 2022 Elementary School Chorus.

 

  1. PBES Readathon co-chairs Leanne Sandowski and Kristin O’Planick: Readathon at PBES is just a few pages away!  Book donations are needed for the Book Swap in January.  If you are able to volunteer to help by distributing books for the book swap, planning a fun assembly, getting raffle prizes or tracking minutes, please email Leanne Sedowski at leanne_sedowski@hotmail.com or Kristin O'Planick at kristinop@yahoo.com.  
    1. Month of February. Overview of events include kick off with book swap; two weeks of reading and tracking minutes; and conclude with school assembly to celebrate readers
    2. Volunteers needed for this effort! Reach out sooner rather than later
    3. Immediate need: Go through your books for grades 3-5 and donate for book swap

 

  1. PBES Geo Bowl Co-chair Aphra Adkins: Geo-Bowl kicks off soon!  We are gearing up for the Geography Bowl (GeoBowl) and need your help.  GeoBowl has been on hiatus since COVID hit and we are excited to hold this at PBES again for the first time since 2019.  Please email brittrhoads@gmail.com if you can volunteer for about 2-2.5 hours, at your own home, before or after school, Jan 16 - Feb 3.
    1. Three-month long competition to get kids excited about geography. Everyone can participate and it culminates in a brief competition. 
    2. Jan 12: School assembly - explain process, get kids excited, pass out packets
    3. Need volunteers to help kids complete packets and volunteers to check/correct packets (see Britt Rhoads’s recent email) 

 

  1. TPES Key Dates/Announcements  

TPES Book Fair: February 10-17! As usual, students can shop at the fair during school. We will also have two days when the fair is open until 7:30pm for families to shop together. Many more details will be sent over the PTA listserv and from teachers as we get closer to the event, including a volunteer signup . 

 

7:10    Presentation and Discussion on Literacy Learning and the Structured Curriculum 

 

Reading Specialists Ms. Bozell (TPES) and Mr. Bledsoe (PBES) 

Contacts: Michelle_T_Bozel@mcpsmd.org and Robert_Bledsoe@mcpsmd.org 

 

Q&A with the Reading Specialists and School Principals Dr. Gadsden and 

Mrs. Oberdorf (Facilitated by Chris & Emma) (10-15 min.)

         

Shift to Structured Literacy

  • MCPS Central Office has asked to disseminate this information
  • MCPS shifting all elementary school literacy instruction in response to research that kids in grades K-5 need explicit instruction in reading. 
  • Main facets: Phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing
  • Not a new program, not a philosophy, not an opinion. Based on research. 

 

Characteristics of Structures Literacy

  1. Systematic and Cumulative: students given plenty of opportunities to practice new and old skills
  2. Explicit instruction: Teachers provide explicit instruction with regular feedback
  3. Diagnostic and responsive: teachers provide support in small group instruction.

 

Teach one skill, collect diagnostic information to immediately respond to students’ needs. 

 

All students benefit from a structured literacy approach to reading

5-35% learning to read seems effortless or relatively easily

40-50% learning to read requires code-based explicit instruction

 

  • Is backed by scientifically-based research
  • Not a pendulum swing
  • Has been shown to work for nearly all students

 

Decoding and word recognition is taught in systemic way. Starts at basic level and becomes more and more complex. In upper grades, focus on word study and vocabulary development. Historically, students used leveled texts to learn and leaned on guessing. Now, decodable books. Only use decodable words to decode and read words. 

 

Over time, the weight of the two components shifts. 

Students can master decoding and word recognition before 2nd grade. 

Word recognition vs. language comprehension

In K-1: instructional time relies more heavily on word recognition

In 2nd grade: instructional time relies equally on word recognition and language comprehension

In grades 3-5: instructional time relies more on language comprehension

 

Small Group Instruction: 

  • Receive extra time for those struggling in whole group
  • English Language development
  • Those needing enrichment

 

Students will no longer spend 15 minute blocks and work through small groups every day. 

What doesn’t change: daily read alouds to build vocabulary, complex text, building knowledge around topics, working collaboratively with their peers, write in response to reading and composition on topics. 

 

Centers for Enriched Studies (CES) Curriculum: provides rigorous reading and writing curriculum for grade 4-5 students. 

  • What has not changed: 
    • Interdisciplinary
    • Strategies that focus on higher level thinking skills
    • Complex texts and advanced vocabulary

 

Benchmark Advance Enrichment: for those not in CES but need enrichment

  • Any student that shows need for enrichment and accelerated instruction
  • Inquiry projects both in class and Media Center
  • Novel studies are for small group instruction to provide in-depth learning experiences beyond their grade level

 

Curriculum and Assessment: 

Grades K-2: 

  • Really Great Reading: explicitly phonics instruction in all K-2 classes
  • Benchmark Advance-Language Comprehension

Literacy Assessments: 

  • DIBELS (K-2)
  • MAP-R (3-5)
  • Benchmark Advance Interim Assessments (K-5)

 

MCPS currently has RFP for new curriculum when Benchmark concludes at end of this year. 

Next curriculum will have key requirements: 

- components os structured literacy aligned with the science of reading research

- Strong writing program

- Reflective of the diverse experiences and identities

 

Q&A from parent community: 

 

Q: Why MCPS not choosing to renew contract with Benchmark?
A: Aligns more with balanced literacy not structured literacy. Benchmark is piloting a curriculum that is based on structured literacy so it’s possible Benchmark continues to be the curriculum of choice

 

Q: How will this new reading approach affect writing instruction?

A: Same strategies to teach reading will be used to teach writing

 

Q: Feedback from teachers so far this year? Adequate professional development?

A: MCPS sent reading specialists professional development and slide shows and opportunities to facilitate with teachers. Teach specialists first and then train teachers. 

 

Q: How does this work for students who have fallen behind? 

A: Part of what we’re doing is providing students with daily phonics practice, foundational skills. When teachers see gaps, that’s where their targeted instruction is in small groups

 

Q: Those not in CES but in Benchmark Advance, how much is determined schoolwide vs. teacher-dependent?

A: Half of grade level working with one level. Do novel for 2-3 weeks and then switch. Students typically should read 2-3 novels per quarter 

 

Q: When we practice reading/writing at home with our kids, how can we make sure we are supporting how they’re learning at school?

A: At TPES, paying attention to weekly newsletter which are explicit of what phonics skills are taught and reading comprehension. Teachers should be sending home DIBELS reports so you know what is important to practice at home. At PBES, teachers are sending home the calendars that are aligned with units in Benchmark. 

 

Q: Complementary to program that parents can do at home if their child is struggling?

A: K-2: Really Great Reading Program Playground. Online and complimentary work and lesson can be repeated at home. 

 

Q: What will be taught at remainder of year?

A: Over summer, teachers participated in shift for structured literacy. Embedding science of reading into Benchmark.  

 

Q: How can parents help support small group instruction? 

A: PBES: CARES program - some teachers are doing virtually working 1:1. Some teachers and paraprofessionals are doing before/after school. Accelerated learning opportunity. Two outside virtual tutoring companies that are free. TPES: CARES program focused on reading. Welcoming all and any volunteers to help with enrichment small groups. 

 

If you have ever have any questions about your child’s progress in literacy, always feel free to reach out to your teacher and/or Mr. Bledsoe, PBES Reading Specialist

 

7:45 Treasurer’s Reports & Vote

  Kate Bauer, PBES PTA Treasurer & Emma Cheuse, PBES PTA President Budget Report & Discussion of Budget Adjustment Needed (PE Swimming Lessons and After School Club scholarships). If you can help with advocacy or fundraising for pool swim lessons during PE, please contact Emma at pbes.pta@gmail.com and Mary Kathryn Lee (PBES Fundraising VP) at marykathryn.lee@gmail.com).  

 

    • Request for budget amendment. Need to settle outstanding bill to pool operator from 2019-20 (during pandemic, etc.) for students to receive swimming instruction
    • Income: added $6000 fundraising line item. We’d like to advocate for county to not charge a public school to use this public facility that is housed in a public school. It’s a life-saving skill. Many students are looking forward to it. Goal to reach $3K quickly so school can start swim lessons in January ($3000) and then second stage for remaining $3000. PTA continues to tap business sponsors and look for grant opportunities specifically for the pool. Long term goal is to take cost away from PTA and school. 
    • Expense: Added funds for programs: to cover swimming and demand for club scholarships. Moving funds from PTA operating budget. Most of pool expenses to cover lifeguard expenses. 
    • $25,500 new programmatic expense. ($6,000 from 2020, $6000 for this year, $3000 to cover club scholarships). Leaves $5000 for Geo Bowl, Readathon, Counselors, etc. Anticipated grant that doesn’t look like it’ll materialize so amending from $19,300 to $4,500
    • Seeking approval to seek funding and to spend it for pool. Realize pandemic caused challenges for previous PTA so it was an unanticipated cost. 
    • All grades/students get swimming lessons. Swim lessons become the curriculum for PE for three consecutive weeks. 
    • If budget amendment is adopted, we’ll be able to spend the money for swim lessons starting in January. 
    • Email pbes.pta@gmail.com with ideas/questions/concerns

 

  • Budget amendment was unanimously approved by membership. 

 

 

7:59    Thanks & Next Steps - Emma Cheuse (PBES PTA)

Thank you to all TPES and PBES volunteers -- please visit the TPES and PBES PTA Volunteer Hall of Fame and help thank all volunteers. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ucSOV9NXPnYnnFvkZIKfwYi50KMEnQUtqCarVSSIVJc/edit 

Next joint PTA meeting: Feb. 7, 7pm on Zoom. Black History Month celebration and more TBA.  To request topics for future PTA agendas, please reach out to president@tpespta.net or pbes.pta@gmail.com. 

 

Attendance as of 7:03pm: 52 participants; 7:57pm 70 participants




List of Upcoming Dates and Announcements

 

Reminder on Upcoming Dates/events: 

 

  • MAP Testing at PBES:
    • Jan. 6, 9: 5th Grade - MAP Reading 
    • Jan. 10-11: 4th Grade - MAP Reading
    • Jan. 13, 17: 5th Grade MAP - Math 
    • Jan. 18, 20: 3rd Grade MAP - Math
    • Jan. 23-24: 3rd Grade MAP - Reading

 

 

  • Jan. 4-17: Tommy’s Pantry Drive at PBES  -- In honor of the life and spirit of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Tommy’s Pantry will be collecting the following at a bin inside the front door of PBES — Jan. 4th thru Jan. 17th— please donate: full-size toothpaste, bags of cough drops, chapstick/lip balm, maxi pads (24+ ct. packs), and qt-size containers of shelf-stable milk. Thank you for your support! For more information, please visit the Tommy's Pantry News page: https://tommyspantry.org/tommys-pantry-mlk-day-drive-launches-jan-3rd/ 

 

 

  • Mon. Jan. 9: Deadline to submit Interest form for your PBES student to audition for the 2022 Elementary School Chorus.  Please see the email from Mrs. Oberdorf or contact Ms. Oleinick for additional information at (301) 891-8000.  If your student is selected, they must commit to rehearsals weekly on Tuesdays at 7:15-8:45pm, starting on February 14, 2023, at a location to be determined. Concert will be held on Tuesday April 25, 2023 at 8:15pm.  

 

  • Weds. Jan. 11: TPMS Information Meeting for 5th Grade Parents, 6-7pm at Takoma Park Middle School.

 

  • Mon, January 16: TPES and PBES closed for Martin Luther King Jr/ Day of Service  

 

 

  • Thurs. Jan 19th: 7pm: TPES Literacy Night (Pre-K and K students and their families, as well as other TPES students who are working on letters and sounds)  - Wear your coziest pajamas and come ready to have fun with literacy. There will even be a few take-home surprises. Parents and students will have fun learning simple literacy activities that can be done at home. 

 

 

 

  • Tues. Jan. 24th: 6pm: Beginning Band Concert (Group 1), 7pm: Beginning Band concert (Group 2), at PBES.  

 

 

 

  • Weds. Jan. 25: 6pm Beginning Strings Concert; 7pm: Advanced Strings and Advanced Band Concert, at PBES.

 

 

  • Thurs, January 26: 6-8pm, STEM Night @ Blair HS: Montgomery Blair High School is excited to host a STEM night in the Student Activity Center located at the University Blvd. entrance.  This event is open to DCC K-5 students who have completed the attached registration form.  The event is being hosted by the Math honor society and will feature activities in the health services, robotics, engineering, neuroscience, mathematics, coding and more.  Due to space limitations, we are limiting the event to the first 200 students to sign up.  Event Registration form

 

 

  • Fri, January 27: TPES and PBES closed for professional day for teachers/end of quarter grading 

 

 

 

  • February 10 - 17: TPES Book Fair - Get ready for the annual Scholastic Book Fair - February 10-17! As usual, students can shop at the fair during school. We will also have two days when the fair is open until 7:30pm for families to shop together. Many more details will be sent over the PTA listserv and from teachers as we get closer to the event. 

 

 

 

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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