Takoma Park Middle School

Emily Modde

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Oct 13 – Einstein HS Fall Sampler Concert

Dear 8th graders and families,
My name is Rebekah and I’m president of the Patrons of the Arts Community at Einstein (PACE). We’re like a Boosters club, but we support the art, music, theatre, and dance programs.
This is a perfect opportunity to hear all seven of our curricular music ensembles perform. That’s right! SEVEN ensembles for singers and instrumentalists to explore and grow as musicians! And Einstein is the only school in MCPS with TWO curricular jazz bands!
Our music program doesn’t stop in the classroom.  We also have a marching band, drum line, pep band, and live pit orchestra for spring musicals. Our singers perform in plays and musicals, and as guest performers with our instrumental ensembles.
PACE volunteers will be at the concert to answer any questions you or your student have about music at Einstein.
Can’t make it on the 13th? Our musicians will also be performing at our Fall Showcase for 8th graders on October 19!
(If you would like to come but you are unable to cover the cost of a ticket, please contact me at einstein2@mccpta.org.)
Rebekah Kuschmider,
Einstein Cluster Coordinator
Delegate, AEHS

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Represent MCCPTA on Curriculum Advisory committees

The MCPS Curriculum Advisory Committees (CACs) bring together community members, families, students, teachers, school-based staff, central office staff, and other stakeholders to receive and provide feedback on changes, updates, and information related to curriculum, instruction, programs, and assessments across MCPS. The Montgomery County Council of PTAs, along with other stakeholders, is invited to send volunteer representatives to these committees, which meet quarterly.
Representatives should be able to attend the scheduled meetings and be willing to share their perspectives, ask questions, and provide feedback as part of the committee’s work. They will also be expected to submit notes that will be included in reports to the MCCPTA delegates. No prior experience is necessary.
The CAC will meet virtually from 4:15-6:00 on the following dates:
  • October 15
  • January 14
  • April 8
  • May 14
The MCCPTA has openings to represent MCCPTA on the following committees:
 
Fine Arts: The topics covered this year will include
  • General Music at the Secondary level
  • Dance and theatre development
  • Regional Centers and course development
Health /PE: The topics covered this year will include:
1) elementary health education; 
2) elementary physical education; 
3) CDC What Works in Schools Grant; 
4) input from adapted physical education topics; 
5) health education and physical education based on the updated MSDE Frameworks approved in Winter 2026.
 
If you are interested in being an MCCPTA representative for either of these committees, please email esolvicechair@mccpta.org.
Thank you!
Evelyn Chung
MCCPTA CAC Coordinator

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After-School Financial Literacy Club for Takoma Park Middle Students (Earn SSL Hours!)

NOTE: This After-school program at the Long Branch Community Center is made available from the CHEER non-profit.  It is not available through TPMS, and bussing to/from is not available.
Learn more in these flyers and message from CHEER.
My name is Danielle Wolfe. I am the Communications Director at CHEER, a local nonprofit organization. I am reaching out to share an exciting after-school opportunity for your students that also helps them earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours.
Starting October 6th, we are launching a new round of our financial literacy after-school club. This program teaches students essential, real-world money management skills such as budgeting, opening bank accounts, understanding investments, and navigating student loans. Our instructor, Matt, is fantastic at breaking down these concepts in a way that is fun and highly engaging for middle and high schoolers.
We would be incredibly grateful if you could please share the details below and the attached flyer with your school’s parents and families.
Program Details:
I have attached the club flyer, as well as CHEER’s brochure to provide some more background information about our organization and mission.
Thank you so much for your time, support, and help in spreading the word to our community.
Take care,
Danielle Wolfe

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Danielle Wolfe

Communications Director

Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research

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Things to Do: 9/26 -TPMS Black Families Affinity Group Picnic and Meetup

The TPMS Black Family Affinity Group is looking forward to this year’s Fall Meetup!
  • Event Date/Time: Saturday 09/26/26 at 3pm
  • Location: Takoma-Piney Branch Park
  • Please RSVP and review the available slots in the sign up genius to sign up no later than Thursday, 09/24. Thank you!

We invite everyone to please formally RSVP and sign up to bring an item or help organize an activity here:  https://tinyurl.com/2026TPMSBLKMEETUP

Appreciate you spreading the word to new families at TPMS.

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Have a High schooler? Take the survey asap – High School Instructional Continuity Survey

High School Instructional Continuity Survey
Last spring, MCCPTA passed a resolution asking MCPS to prioritize teacher continuity in full-year high school courses and avoid routine mid-year teacher and schedule changes.
Now that schedules are available for the new school year, MCCPTA would like to understand what families are actually seeing across MCPS high schools. Please take 2 minutes to complete this short survey about your student’s schedule.
The survey is available in English and Spanish , includes directions for checking your student’s second-semester schedule, and is anonymous. If you have more than one high school student, please submit a separate response for each student.
Please respond ASAP.
Thank you for helping MCCPTA understand how instructional continuity is being implemented across MCPS high schools.
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PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Survey on Continuity of Instruction in Secondary Schools
Last spring, MCCPTA passed a resolution calling on MCPS to prioritize continuity of teachers in year-round courses and to avoid routine mid-year teacher and schedule changes.
Now that schedules for the new school year are available, MCCPTA wants to know what families are seeing in MCPS high schools. Please take two minutes to complete this brief survey about your student’s schedule.
The survey is available in English and Spanish , includes instructions for reviewing your student’s second-semester schedule, and is anonymous. If you have more than one high school student, please submit a separate response for each student.
Please reply now.
Thank you for helping MCCPTA understand how continuity of instruction is being implemented in MCPS high schools.
Regan
MCCPTA Curriculum Committee

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Join the Regional Program Center Listserv

Hello! I’m Rebekah, the chair of the new committee for Regional Program Centers. I want to invite you all to subscribe to the listserv for this new committee. I hope it will become a valuable resource for sharing information about the new regional program centers. You can subscribe by sending a request to regional-program-centers+subscribe@mccpta.groups.io.
I look forward to answering questions and bringing your suggestions to MCPS!
Rebekah Kuschmider,
Chair, Committee on Regional Program Centers
Einstein Cluster Coordinator
Delegate, Einstein High School
President, Patrons of the Arts Community at Einstein (PACE)
“If not us, who? If not now, when?”

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Due 9/30 – Screen Use Survey for Upcoming Listening Session

MCCPTA is currently planning for a listening session to be led by a Maryland delegate that would include legislators, Board members, candidates, and MCPS leaders. The focus of the listening session would be to: 1) hear parent concerns about screen use in school; and 2) make practical recommendations to MCPS to address excessive and harmful screen use.

Please complete a BRIEF survey to help us collect some basic data about Chromebook access at your school and your support for a list of recommendations. You can also share this survey with friends who may like to join!

Complete the SURVEY SUPPORTING SCREEN USE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MCPS

(SBS-MCPS, MCCPTA Tech Committee)

Deadline: September 30

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MCCPTA: 9/15 – NTIA Listening Session on Screens in Schools

NTIA LISTENING SESSION ON SCREENS IN SCHOOLS (9/15, 7PM)
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) wants to hear from parents, students, and educators about how screens are used in education. On Thursday, Sept. 15 at 4 pm PST/7 PM est they are holding a public listening session, and everyone is encouraged to come. NTIA Senior Advisor Matthew Plaster recently spoke at a symposium on screen harms to children, and he described his vision of K-12 education in this one minute statement. (The symposium on screen harms, which was hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services, can be accessed here.)