Originally delivered on 12/11/2023 8:00 am

SUBJECT: Hoover Notes December 11, 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 News
  1. Hoover's Social Worker has identified two Hoover families who are in need of some additional love and support this season.  If you would like to help support these families, please purchase an item from this list by 12/15.  Gifts should be not be dropped at Hoover. They can be dropped off or mailed to 11208 River View Drive, Potomac, MD 20854.  Email questions to presidenthooverpta@gmail.com. 
  2. The PTA received 22 submissions for the Reflections Art Contest. Congratulations to the following Hoover Finalists who will represent Hoover at the County level of the competition. Thank you all for your hard work and amazing entries!

    Literature: Anvita Bangalore (Grade 7), Rehan Van Dam (Grade 7), and Timothy Kao (Grade 6) 

    Music Composition: August McFeatters (Grade 8)

    Visual Arts: Lilianne Acheson (Grade 8), Sreyan Sen (Grade 6), and Aileen Zhang (Grade 8)

    Special Artist: Maddox Stern (Grade 8)

  3. We still need individual snacks for the Science Bowl, Art Club and Korean Club.  You can purchase snacks and other teacher requested items here: Hoover Staff's Amazon Wishlist.  Items should be delivered to the "Gift Registry Address".  
  4. Save the date for a Parent Tea the morning of 1/26 (exact time TBD). Phyllis L. Fagell, a licensed clinical professional counselor, certified professional school counselor, and journalist will be discussing the 10 key skills kids need to thrive in middle school and beyond - and how parents can help. 
  5. Join the PTA if you haven't already. We would love to get to 100% participation!
  6. Link your Harris Teeter VIC card to the Together in Education program to earn money for Hoover.  Click here for more details.
  7. Stay up-to-date with PTA activities when you join the Hoover PTA Facebook Page.
Hoover News
  1. Dr. Kim's December Message is available here.  
  2. Hoover's Chorus and Orchestras 1,2 and 3 will perform tonight and Bands 1, 2 and 3 will hold their concert on 12/14.  Both concerts are at 6 pm in the Churchill High School Auditorium.
  3. Hoover's SGA is partnering with KINDH (Kids in Need During the Holidays - www.kindh.org) to collect gifts and clothes for children in Montgomery County. Collection boxes will be in the front lobby from 12/1-12/15. Items must be new and unwrapped.  Requested gifts include games, toys, Legos, action figures, cars, art and craft kits, books and clothes.  Each family will also receive a gift card from Giant or Safeway for their holiday meal.  Gift Cards and check/cash are also welcome if you do not have time to shop.  Please make your check donation out to KINDH. If you have questions, please contact Tamara Greenspan at tamaragreenspan07@gmail.com or 301-580-2405.
  4. Hoover is hosting a Student Leadership Summit on 12/20 to engage and foster student leadership.  Selected students will be notified later this month.
  5. The Media Center is looking for volunteers. 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.
  6. Buy yearbooks here.  You can purchase Yearbook Recognition Ads. The flyer has more information.
  7. Arts and crafts supplies are being collected for student projects. Please drop off donations in the Media Center.  
  8. At least 15-17 parent volunteers are needed each day for the 7th Grade Finance Park field trip on 1/22-1/24/24. The link to the MCPS site to volunteer is https://www.myja.org/parents/montgomery.   Parents can volunteer one or more days. Parents will get trained at Edison HS the morning of the trip.
  9. Registration for girls' soccer opens 1/29/24 at noon.
  10. The Science and Math Departments are celebrating STEM on 3/14/24 (Pi Day) from 5-7 pm. Parent volunteers are needed to present or run activities.  Please complete the Volunteer Google Form if you're interested.  They are also looking for new organizations to participate. If you or someone you know works with an organization like NOAA, NASA, Discovery, National Geographic or any other STEM related organization, or you know someone who works in a STEM related field, please contact Julie_a_Marsteller@mcpsmd.org. 
MCPS Community News
  1. MCPS Things to Know Thursday December 7 includes the recently approved 2024 - 2025 school year calendar, information about the upcoming superintendent's budget presentation, new school profiles public dashboards, annual report to the community, winter and health reminders, and good news about staff and students.
  2. Read the latest edition of MCPS QuickNotes, which includes a calendar of events and MCPS news and information.
  3. Multiple elementary and middle schools in Maryland are among the best in the country, according to new rankings released by U.S. News & World. Montgomery County dominated the rankings with Herbert Hoover ranked #2 in the top 10 middle schools in Maryland!
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. 


Week of December 11, 2023

12/11    Hoover Chorus and Orchestras 1, 2 and 3 Concert, 6 pm, Churchill High School Auditorium

12/14    Hoover Bands 1, 2 and 3 Concert, 6 pm, Churchill High School Auditorium    

12/15    Deadline to participate in PTA Gift Drive for Hoover Families

12/15    Deadline to participate in SGA KINDH Gift Drive

Week of December 18, 2023

12/20    Hoover Student Leadership Summit

12/22    Last Day Before Winter Break 


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