Takoma Park Middle School

Emily Modde

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Join the 2023-24 PTSA Board!

Dear TPMS parents and caregivers,

I wanted to reach out and ask each of you to consider stepping forward to be on the 2023-2024 TPMS PTSA Board. Many of us (both Vice Presidents and the Treasurer) are 8th grade parents and will be moving on to high schools next year. I have seen your energy and enthusiasm on committees and events, and would love to see a diverse, energized board emerge for next school year.

Serving on the PTSA does not take more than maybe 5 hours a week, but it is an invaluable way to support your kids and their amazing teachers and administrators. I have really treasured my time this year, and have not found it hard to manage even with a full-time job. Please reach out to any of us on the outgoing board to find out more about our jobs.

VP volunteering and membership- Alice Weiss (aliceweiss@rocketmail.com)

VP fundraising- Jamie Iwugo (jamieiwugo@gmail.com)

Treasurer- Greg Swaluk (gswaluk@gmail.com)

Recording secretary- DIana McCown (diana.mccown@gmail.com)

Corresponding secretary- Emily Modde (see above)

Nominations are open for candidates for the 2023-2024 PTSA board. Parents of TPMS 6th, 7th and 8th graders may either self nominate or nominate someone else through this google form https://forms.gle/Lz3AqsNV9apD7uuw7 .

 

Not sure about a board position?  Consider signing up for one of our many committee volunteer roles. There are lots of ways to help.  Find a list of board positions and committee positions at our website:  https://www.tpmspta.org/ptsa-board-elections/ 

 

Officer nominations will be collected through April 14th. 

Elections will be held during the May PTSA membership meeting. 

 

Please reach out if you have questions or concerns:  tpmsptanomination2023@gmail.com 

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PTSA General Meeting & High School Info night for 8th graders and their parents

This event has already happened, but you can read the minutes from this meeting here

 

Tuesday, March 14th, 7-8:30 pm in the TPMS Cafeteria (in person only)

Join us for a general PTSA Meeting and special breakout sessions for 8th grade students heading to HS this year and their parents.
We’ll have counselors and students from Blaire HS and another school available to answer questions on what to expect as your 8th grader rises to High School.

 

TPMS PTSA General Meeting Agenda 

  1. Welcome & President’s Report (7:00 – 7:15) 
  2. Clare Seelke, TPMS PTSA President
  1. Books and Basketball – THANK YOU! 
  2. April 22 Earth Day Thrift Sale- Jamie Iwugo- jiwugo@gmail.com
  3. Nomination Committee and Search for 2023-2024 Officers 
  4. Committee Reports
    1. 8th grade dance 
  1. Principal’s Report (7:15 – 7:25)
  2. Erin Martin, TPMS Principal 
  1. Upcoming school events and needs from PTSA

 

   III. Treasurer’s report (7:25 – 7:30) 

  1. Greg Swaluk, TPMS PTSA Treasurer 
  1. Budget Update 
  1. Breakout Networking with High School Parents and Students (7:30 – 8:15) 
  2. Closing (8:15 – 8:20) 
  3. Clare Seelke, PTSA President 

 

TPMS PTSA Upcoming Events 

  • March 

o March 15: PTSA-supported lunch for staff

o March 23: Restorative Justice event (School event) at 6PM

o March 29: EATS OUT at MOD PIZZA

  • April 

o April 11: PTSA Nominations for 2023-2024 due

o April 18: PTSA meeting- Rising 6th grade transition and PTSA Elections   

o April 22: Earth Day Thrifting Event  

 

 

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COMING SOON:  The Earth Day Flea Market & Crafts Faire

Saturday, April 22, 2023 10am-2pm in the TPMS Cafeteria

Get ready for one of the best fun-raiser and community building events of the year supporting TPMS students and teachers!

  • Declutter your home!  
  • Find second-hand treasures (clothes, household items, jewelry, books, toys and more)!  
  • Support and discover local artists and craftspeople!  
  • Have a ton of fun!

How it works, starting at the end of March (date to be announced):

  • Bring us your best (clean, undamaged) stuff!  We will accept donations from the larger community to sell (100% of proceeds from all donated items will go to the PTA).
  • Or, rent a table/blanket space to sell items (either second hand or crafts/art, food etc.)  You keep the profits, the rental fee contributes to our fundraiser.  This will be open to any community member or business.

We need your help:

  • Join the event committee – Contact Jamie Iwugo by email: jamieiwugo@gmail.com
    • Advertising/promotion
    • Reaching out to crafting communities
    • Kid volunteer coordinator
    • Formal wear coordinator
    • Collections coordinator (coordinating people who can collect and sort donations as they come in)
  • And/or Be a volunteer – Contact Jamie Iwugo by email: jamieiwugo@gmail.com
    • Kids – Before, during event, and after event cleanup opportunities – for SSL hours.
    • Adults – Before, during event, and after event cleanup opportunities.

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Books & Basketball – A Big Success!

A big thank you to all the parents, students, teachers and staff who came out for the Books & Basketball event this past weekend, February 10 & 11. This FUN-raiser succeeded- and exceeded – in our goals of building community and raising badly needed funds for our school.  

This PTSA fundraiser raised more than $6,000 to be used to finance other school events, support and appreciate teachers, provide field trip scholarships, and a whole lot more.  Camaraderie, community, and sportsmanship were on full display with some amazing basketball performances by our 7th and 8th grade players, including standout basketball skills by our teachers (notwithstanding some seriously fun trash-talking by Mr. Miller and over-the-top performance by Mr. Baker!)  🙂 

Special shout-outs of appreciation are in order to those who made this event possible:

  • TPMS parents Dawn Taylor and Mary Hanisco and their enthusiastic leadership 
  • TPMS Assistant Principal Einhorn and Mr. Baker managing the basketball game
  • Assistant Principal Patterson-Breese managing student participation
  • Assistant Principal Jackson coaching the teacher team
  • Deandre Boggan coaching the student team
  • Mr. Goehring managing the Difference Maker volunteer support
  • Ms. Mickens-Hundley helping with logistics
  • PTSA Vice Presidents Jamie Iwugo managing the silent auction, and Alice Weiss managing the volunteer effort.  
  • Special thanks to Mayor Talisha Searcy for her fantastic rendition of Mama Llama at our Book Sale Storytime
  • A huge high-five goes to all the parent donors, adult and student volunteers who helped put these multiple events on and clean up, and the student volunteers.  
  • Finally, a huge thanks to all the businesses and parents who donated for our silent auction.   Please note them in the list that follows!

Silent Auction Donors (in no particular order):

Restaurants and Food

Fitness, Wellness and Sports

Photography, Music and Hobbies

Homegoods, Clothing and Accessories

Travel

Special Item donations

  • Steve Madden Purse donated by TPMS parent, Jamie Iwugo
  • Ninja Line donated by TPMS parent, Jamie Iwugo
  • Kindle donated by TPMS Parent, Alice Weiss
  • “Bucket of Meeps” hand made meeps by TPMS teacher Maura Moore!
  • Grossman Solutions Executive Search Services by Britt Cocanour   
  • Lunch with Montgomery County Executive, Marc Elrich 

Hope to see you at this event next year!