Takoma Park Middle School

Uncategorized

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Nov 2 – “Africa Earth’s Wild Home” Showing at Nat’l Geo Museum

From the Program Director at National Geographic’s Museum of Exploration:

As part of a special initiative, National Geographic’s Museum of Exploration will host an all-day screening of Disney & Rolex’s new National Geographic show Africa Earth’s Wild Home on Monday, November 2nd from 9:30am-4:30pm (only).

Since this date is a DC school holiday, we would love to pack the screenings with local students and families all day long! To that end, we are pleased to share the attached invitation and the discount code below.

Use the code SCREENINGS112 at check-out to make your museum entry ticket completely free! Once inside the MOE, the film screenings are included with general museum admission, as well as additional hands-on activities for all ages.

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Nov 12 – TPMS Annual Multicultural Night 2026!

November 12th from 6-8pm

TPMS Cafeteria

Showcase your family’s culture or country of origin!  This is an expo-style showcase event with table displays, foods or treats representative of the culture, and performances by students and/or families. 

Read the English Flyer or the Spanish Flyer  to learn how to highlight your culture at Multicultural Night.

Students & Teachers Tap HERE to Sign Up for

  • Table displays
  • Interactive Activites
  • Performances
  • Cuisine Sampling (Please note that this event only offers small samples, do not expect have or serve a meal. Please eat before coming!)

*Students will earn SSL hours for bringing food to sample, making an interactive cultural activity, creating table displays or giving a performance.  They will not receive SSL hours for attendance only.  More info in the flyer links above.

Parents & Caregiver Volunteers Tap HERE to Sign Up for: 

  • Help set up
  • Help cleanup
  • Bring a traditional dish or drink
  • Host a cultural display or crafts table (that is different from your student’s)

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Oct 29 – Martinique Trip Information Meeting

TPMS French Language Teachers, Mme Ribière and Mme Finklea, will be leading a trip to Martinique (French Caribbean island) in June 2027.

From Mme Finklea:
We will be leading a trip to Martinique (French Caribbean island) in June 2027 (right after school gets out).
This trip is not an MCPS sponsored trip, but we organize the trip as an opportunity for students to have contact with native French speakers in a unique cultural setting. We will be having an informational meeting about the trip on Thurs Oct 29 at 7:30 on Zoom.  Please let me know if you have any questions! Here is a link to the trip flyer.
Best,
Mme Finklea
Zoom details:

Suzel Ribiere is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: My Meeting
Time: Oct 29, 2026 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88327669594?pwd=2vYWEmOpyI2UYibbJPKYhEUdDBp2bD.1

Join and take notes
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88327669594?pwd=2vYWEmOpyI2UYibbJPKYhEUdDBp2bD.1&mynotes=on

Meeting chat link
https://us05web.zoom.us/launch/jc/88327669594

Meeting ID: 883 2766 9594
Passcode: Martinique

Join instructions
https://us05web.zoom.us/meetings/88327669594/invitations?signature=8f4BF9ILUhWHh74luvsuaSmmFIOX-jJSfzOE8tv77yk

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October PTSA Meeting

On October 13, 2026 we hosted our second PTSA Meeting of the year over zoom.

The agenda:

  • An ask for help with our Teacher Appreciation luncheon on Oct 16. Sign up genius.
  • Mark your calendars for Multicultural Night on Nov 12.  Sign up form for performances, displays and food.
  • An ask to donate items or services for our Spring Silent Auction, or join the committee to help. For info email: ann.w.gordon@gmail.com
  • Update on our Membership Drive. Get to 290 members by 11/1.
  • Update on our Fundraising Drive.  We’re behind in our fundrasing from last year.  We want to be at $14000 by 11/1, and we are currently at $9000.
  • A presentation from students on the school dance “Neon Night” on Nov 20. And an ask for food and drinks from the PTSA, + chaperones.  See the presentation, and Sign up to be a chaperone.
  • A monthly budget update from our treasurer.
  • An overview Financial Review of PTSA finances recently completed by a financial review committee.
  • A presentation on the new Math Curriculum from Mr. Einhorn and Math Specialist Mr. Colwander. They explained the new curriculum MCPS has implemented, how it’s being rolled out, and information acceleration.  Presentation here.
  • Next PTSA meeting is Tue, Nov 10 over Zoom.

Students that attend our PTSA meetings recieve SSL hours.

To receive SSL hours your student must:

  1. sign-in thru the form linked in the meeting chat towards the meeting’s end.
  2. Then go to the main office the next day to pick up the SSL form.
  3. The student must complete the SSL form and return it to the main office.

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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

—

Danielle Wolfe

Communications Director

Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research

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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.)