Originally delivered on 11/13/2023 8:01 am

SUBJECT: Hoover Notes November 13, 2023

Newsletter
HOOVER NOTES

Hoover Notes will be sent out weekly to help you keep track of important school community news and events.  New items are bolded.  Links are blue.

PTA Action Items
  1. Thank you for a terrific in person Book Fair!  There were so many wonderful Turkey Undercover entries, and all teacher classroom library requests were met!  Students can continue to buy books online through Thursday 11/16 here.  
  2. Let your student(s) know about the 2023-2024 National PTA Reflections Art Contest, "I Am Hopeful Because..." Submission deadline is 11/17. 
  3. There are two opportunities to help us show our gratitude for the amazing Hoover Staff.  Please contact Kimberly King at PresidentHooverPTA@gmail.com if you want to participate.
    • Bake a dozen HOMEMADE cookies for the PTA provided staff dinner before the Parent Meet & Greet on 11/20. Students can earn SSL hours. Cookies need to be dropped off at the coordinator's house near Potomac Village by 11/19.
    • Donate a pie or other sweet treats, or homemade bread for staff to enjoy over Thanksgiving break.  We will collect items during the morning carpool on 11/22.  You can also drop them off at the coordinator's house near Potomac Village.  
  4. Take a look at the Hoover Staff's Amazon Wishlist. Over 3,000 individual snacks have been requested for after school programs. Items should be delivered to the "Gift Registry Address".  
  5. Participate in the next scheduled fundraising Spirit Nights on 11/20 at Chipotle (Potomac Village) and 12/6 at Ledo Pizza (Westlake Drive). 
  6. Consider sponsoring this year's Hoover directory by placing an ad for your business. Advertising starts as low as $275. Reach out to Stephanie Kempter from AtoZ Connect to reserve your spot.  
  7. Join the new Safety Committee, which is focusing on traffic safety around the school. The Committee's first meeting is 11/16 at 7:45 am at Hoover.  If interested, contact Kimberly King at PresidentHooverPTA@gmail.com.   
  8. The HHMS NAACP Parents' Council is having their third meeting on 12/6 at 7 pm. Future dates are listed here.  Contact Lauren Oxner, HHMS NAACP Parents' Council Representative at HMSNAACPREP@gmail.com with any questions. The Zoom link is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88172164622?pwd=aB6ubvITdTJs9gO7rTCahaH5O1i88e.1.
  9. Join the PTA if you haven't already. We would love to get to 100% participation!
  10. Link your Harris Teeter VIC card to the Together in Education program to earn money for Hoover.  Click here for more details.
  11. Stay up-to-date with PTA activities when you join the Hoover PTA Facebook Page.
Hoover News
  1. Dr. Kim's November Message is available here.  
  2. Some of the student report cards contain inaccurate student service learning (SSL) information.  MCPS can confirm that the students’ SSL records in Student/ParentVUE remain intact and continue to report the correct information.  If you would like to know the current number of SSL hours on your student SSL record, you can view the full details of the student’s SSL record on Student/ParentVUE by following the directions provided at this link - https://bit.ly/SSLonVUE.  Once the report card issue is fixed, Hoover will repost an updated report card in Student/ParentVUE.
  3. The Media Center is looking for volunteers starting the week of 11/13. Here is the link to sign up.  Sign up is till the end of December. Volunteers will need to complete one module: Online "Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training" via your MCPS Classroom/Canvas Account. You can read the user guide here. Questions? Contact Saumya Sharma-Bhardwaj at avi.guh@gmail.com.
  4. The Parent Meet & Greet is 11/20 from 4-6:30 pm.
  5. Buy yearbooks here.  You can purchase Yearbook Recognition Ads. The flyer has more information.
  6. Arts and crafts supplies are being collected for student projects. Please drop off donations in the media center.  
  7. The 6th Grade Parent/Guardian Outdoor Ed meeting is scheduled for 12/6 from 7-8 pm on Zoom.  
  8. Parents can sign up to volunteer at the 7th Grade Finance Park (1/22/23-1/24/23) here.
  9. Spring registration for boys or girls' soccer opens 1/29/24 at noon.
MCPS Community News
  1. MCPS Things to Know, Thursday Nov. 9 provides informationabout how you can provide additional feedback on the 2024-2025 school year calendar, share your insights at the upcoming Operating Budget Forum with Board member Julie Yang, an important attendance message, and more.
  2. Read the latest edition of MCPS QuickNotes, which includes a calendar of events and MCPS news and information.  
Student Service Learning (SSL)

Student Service Learning is a Maryland state graduation requirement. 75 SSL hours are required to graduate.  For more information and SSL opportunities, visit the MCPS SSL page, the Montgomery County Volunteer Center's website, and the PTA's SSL page.  If you have questions, email Hoover's SSL Coordinator, Mrs. Triantis at Amalia_D_Triantis @mcpsmd.org.


SSL Opportunities:  

1. The Climate Health Education Initiative (@climatehealthei on Instagram) aims to inspire youth to achieve sustainability and understand the intersection between climate change and planetary health concepts through educational programs. We offer workshops, after-school programs, and classes to students and last year we organized an environmental education program at Wayside Elementary School.  We are looking for volunteers who are passionate about environmental education and public health.  Any middle school or high school student (Grades 6-12) in Montgomery County Public Schools is eligible to join and earn SSL hours. For more information and to join, please fill out this short Google form: https://forms.gle/5R6c4whpstsxHfj37. 

2. Grades 6 -12 students and families are invited to attend this year’s Changemaker Workshop to learn how to take action to improve their communities.  English: November 14, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM; Spanish: November 15, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM.  Students will earn 2 SSL hours for attending. Learn more here. 

3.  Bake a dozen cookies for the Parent Meet & Greet.  (See #3 PTA Action Items)

Week of November 13, 2023

11/13   Hoover Media Center Volunteer Slots Open

11/14   MCPS Changemaker Workshop (SSL opportunity), 6:30-8 pm

11/16   First Safety Committee Meeting, 7:45 am at Hoover

11/16   Last Day of Online Book Fair

11/17   Deadline for 2023-2024 National PTA Reflections Art Contest Submissions

11/19   Meet & Greet Cookie Drop off Deadline (SSL Opportunity)

Week of November 20, 2023

11/20     Early Release Day, 12:30 pm

11/20     PTA Spirit Night Fundraiser, Chipotle (Potomac Village)

11/20     Parent Meet & Greet, 4-6:30 pm

11/21     Early Release Day, 12:30 pm

11/22    Teacher Thanksgiving Treats AM Car Pool Collection

11/22-11/24    No School (Thanksgiving Holiday) 


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