Sequoyah Elementary School

Redland Middle School

Parent Building Tours (pdf) will be held on the last Wednesday of the Month (February 24, March 24, April 28, and May 26) from 10:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

Parent Night (pdf) for incoming 6th Graders is Feb 16, 2010 7pm

  2/3/10

PTA meeting POSTPONED
Tuesday, Feb 2nd 7PM

Report Cards Distributed (different from date in the Signal)
Wednesday, Feb. 3rd

Grade 2 GT Parent Night
Thursday, Feb. 4th 6:30 PM

Bingo Night
Friday, Feb. 5th 7PM

Third Grade MSA Parent Night
Monday, Feb. 8th 7PM

Restaurant Night
Wednesday, Feb. 10th

Valentine’s Parties
Friday, Feb 12th

President’s Day Holiday - No School
Monday, Feb. 15th

Market Day Pick-ups
Thursday, Feb 17th

"Cabin Fever" (sponsored by PTA)
Saturday, Feb. 20th from 11 – 2pm

Early Release Day
Friday, Feb. 26th

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As most of you are probably aware, there was a devastating earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, January 12. All initial reports indicate absolute destruction of much of the capital city and beyond; many children have been left without a home or family.

We in the Sequoyah community have the opportunity to reach out across the world to help. We are working with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) to collect funds to help in the relief effort. On the reverse side of this paper is an information sheet published by UNICEF explaining some of their relief efforts in response to this disaster. By visiting UNICEF’s website at www.unicefusa.org, you can read more about their worldwide efforts to help children and families during times of great need. Attached is a donation form and envelope that you can return to school with a check or cash that we will send to the organization. Please ask relatives, neighbors, and co-workers if they can help, too. All donations are tax deductible.

Your children have been asked to collect "Powerful Pennies+ for Helping Haiti" and bring them in to contribute to the relief effort. Students have been told that they may bring in coins with your permission. Each classroom and the office has a collection box; all money will be secured at the end of each day. We know all students will benefit from the act of giving and they are motivated to help. All funds will be counted and forwarded to UNICEF during the first week of February. We thank you ahead of time for your generosity and support.

Sincerely,
Sequoyah Staff

Mark your calendars for our First Annual Family Reading Night. This special event will be held Thursday, Jan. 14 from 6:30 until 7:30 PM at Sequoyah. All students must be accompanied by an adult. The teachers have been developing fun reading activities around the theme of their grade level's favorite authors. Please see this flyer for more information or contact Beth Deigan 301-840-5335 or Elizabeth_M_Deigan@mcpsmd.org.

Our Superintendent, Dr. Jerry D. Weast, has released his proposed operating budget for next school year. The recommended budget proposes no new initiatives but allows our school and our school system to maintain the services and programs we are currently providing. The only increase - about 1 percent - is to help fund MCPS' continued growth in enrollment.

Given the economic challenges at the state and county levels, the future of Dr. Weast's proposal is very uncertain and before the budget receives final approval from the County Council and the Board of Education, the district could be forced to make some very difficult cuts. With his recommendation, Dr. Weast and the budget team - which included our employee associations and PTAs - released a list of areas that could be impacted should cuts to the budget need to be made. These are not final recommendations and we are hopeful that we will not need to make any reductions. We want to maintain the high level of service to our students that has yielded such outstanding results in our school and our system. However, we must be prepared.

With all of this uncertainty, it is more important than ever that our parents and community members are fully informed about the budget and know exactly how to make their voice heard. A budget website has been created that includes a video presentation by Dr. Weast; the full budget book, as well as a summary; frequently asked questions and much more. Please take the time to learn more about Dr. Weast's proposal and make sure the members of the Board of Education and the County Council know your priorities and your concerns. You can visit the website at http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/budget/.

As we all know, even in difficult times, we must continue to invest in education to secure the future of our children and our community. Thank you for your continued support!

MCPS currently communicates emergency or systemwide operational changes through various media, including the MCPS website, MCPS ITV Channel 34, QuickNotes email service, Twitter, recorded emergency information telephone line (301-279-3673), and local media outlets. For more information visit http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/emergency/sources/.