Originally delivered on 4/8/2024 8:00 am

SUBJECT: Hoover Notes April 8, 2024

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. The final numbers for the Read-A-Thon have been tallied with an impressive 680,083 reading minutes and a total of $6,655 raised! Thank you to all who participated and congratulations to the top readers and fundraisers!
  2. Mark your calendar for our next fundraising Spirit Night on 4/10 - Potomac Pizza (Potomac Village and Travilah).
  3. Save the date for Skate Night on 4/13 from 6:30-8 pm at the Cabin John Ice Rink. Tickets are available for purchase online here through 4/9. Please note that tickets will not be sold at the event. Your name will be added to a list at the door.  
  4. Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help with outdoor recess. Please consider signing up here for future Fridays.  We need to have at least 3 parents per grade or recess will not happen. Be sure to call the main office at 301-968-3740 before going to the school to confirm that recess has not been cancelled because of staffing shortages and/or weather.
  5. Congratulations to August McFeaters who received an Award of Excellence for Music Composition and Anvita Bangalore who received an Award of Merit for Literature at the Free State (MD) PTA level of the National PTA Reflections program.  
  6. Thank you to Edith Deng, Golru Ghaffari and Anne Glynn for serving on the Hoover PTA Nominating Committee.  The Committee is seeking volunteers to serve as board members or on various committees for the 2024-2025 school year.   As a new or current Hoover parent, getting involved in the Hoover PTA is a great way to be involved in the school and show your support for the teachers, staff and students.  Interested parents should email Anne Glynn at anne.glynn@gmail.com.
  7. The PTA's Safety Committee is working with the MCDOT Safe Route to School.  Learn more about the Committee's advocacy efforts here.
  8. Items on the Hoover Staff's Amazon Wishlist includes support for staff appreciation. Items should be delivered to the "Gift Registry Address" at 11208 River View Drive, Potomac, MD 20854.
  9. Link your Harris Teeter VIC card to the Together in Education program to earn money for Hoover. Click here for more details.
  10. Stay up-to-date with PTA activities when you join the Hoover PTA Facebook Page.
Hoover News
  1. Dr. Kim's April Message is available here.  Important information about testing dates, April 22 Asynchronous Day, extracurriculars, and end of year activities are provided.
  2. Please view this message regarding the solar eclipse and the opportunity for 8th graders to view the solar eclipse as part of their Science curriculum.  A reminder for all families, looking directly at the sun without proper solar eclipse glasses may cause eye injury. Please remind your student to practice eclipse safety when outdoors.
  3. Please click here to view a letter from Dr. Kim regarding the upcoming Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program. 
  4. Hoover's World Languages & World Studies Showcase will be on 4/11, 5-7 pm. Students and families will have a blast going back in time to test their trivia knowledge while also enjoying treats and music from different cultures.
  5. In accordance with Maryland State Law, students in MCPS are screened for possible vision and hearing problems. Trained hearing and vision screeners will be screening students new to MCPS, students in 8th Grade, and students referred by teachers because of possible signs of hearing or vision problems. The screeners will be at Hoover on 4/25, 4/26, and 4/29.  
  6. Save the Date for Hoover's Community Equity Night on 5/16 from 5-7 pm. More details will be shared soon.
  7. Hoover's Career Expo Night will be on 5/30 from 5-7 pm. Click here for the flyer which advertises the event and includes a QR code to recruit presenters.
  8. Hoover's Music Department is holding a Krispy Kreme donuts fundraiser to repair instruments, buy more classroom resources, and help reduce the cost of the May Hershey Park field trip. You can donate here.  Donors will receive an e-certificate for Krispy Kreme donuts.  This link will be open until 6/13.
  9. Churchill HS is offering two WCHS Local Summer and Prep Program opportunities for rising 9th graders. Click here for more information.
  10. Congratulations to Mr. Linwood Pumphrey, Hoover's Building Service Manager for winning third place in the MCPS Top Supporting Service Employees Award! 
  11. Please use turn signals when entering and exiting the Hoover parking lot at drop off and dismissal.  This will help Hoover's Security Staff better direct the flow of traffic.  
  12. The Media Center is looking for volunteers. Here is the link to sign up. Sign up is till the end of February. 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.
MCPS Community News
  1. Here is the April 4 MCPS 5 Things to Know.
  2. Read the latest edition of MCPS QuickNotes, which includes a calendar of events and MCPS news and information.
  3. Learn more about the MCPS Superintendent Search here.
  4. Monday, April 22 will shift to an asynchronous learning day for all students. Students will engage in learning experiences and complete work asynchronously. Read the message here.  Pages 6 & 7 in Dr. Kim's April Message has more details.
  5. Winston Churchill High School's Blast 34: In the Wild show performances will be on 4/12, 4/13, 4/19, and 4/20 at 7 pm and 4/21 at 2 pm.  Advance tickets are available now at wchsarts.com/blast.  Online tickets only and assigned seating. 
  6. Save the Date for a Cluster-Wide Event! The Churchill SGA is sponsoring a Community Carnival on 4/27 from 10 am - 2 pm with games, rides, bounce houses, face painting, a petting zoo, free sports clinics, food, music, and more. 
  7. Will you have a student at Winston Churchill HS next year? The Winston Churchill HS PTSA seeks candidates to serve on the PTSA Board for the 2024-2025 school year. This is an amazing opportunity to get involved in the school and work with students, parents, teachers, and school administrators to advocate and engage the robust Churchill community.  To learn more and express your interest, please complete this Candidate Interest Form.  Deadline to submit the form is May 1, 2024.
  8. Nominations are needed for Churchill Cluster Coordinators for the upcoming school year (2024-2025).  Up to three coordinators can represent the Churchill Cluster.  Past PTA Presidents as well as those who are interested in education advocacy and policy serve as excellent candidates. Candidates must have served on a PTA Board in any role and be current dues paying PTA members.  Questions?  Contact Susan Lifsey,Winston Churchill Cluster Coordinator at susanlifsey@gmail.com.
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, Amalia Triantis at Amalia_D_Triantis@mcpsmd.org.

SSL Opportunity:

Hey Hoover teens - more green, less screen!  Drop your phones and come work for MSI! Calling all 7th graders and older who love soccer and would like to earn SSL hours (or get paid) while having fun!  Our MSI Youth Game Leaders enthusiastically manage our soccer games for our first and second grade teams. MANY games are played at Hoover every weekend.  Our YGL’s take responsibility for leading two to three hour-long games on Saturdays. You’ll learn valuable leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.  Our YGL role makes a perfect “first job”.  To learn more details, CLICK HERE (or go to our MSI website, www.msisoccer.org > "Programs" > "Development" > "YGL." 

Week of April 8, 2024

4/9    Last day to buy Skate Night tickets. Purchase online here.

4/10  No School (end of quarter)

4/10  PTA Spirit Night, Potomac Pizza (Potomac Village and Travilah)

4/11  Hoover World Languages & World Studies Showcase, 5-7 pm

4/12  Friday Outdoor Recess (sign up to volunteer here)

4/12 & 4/13  Churchill Blast 34 Performances, 7 pm

4/13  PTA Skate Night, 6:30-8 pm 

Week of April 15, 2024

4/19 & 4/20  Churchill Blast 34 Performances, 7 pm

4/19  Friday Outdoor Recess (sign up to volunteer here)


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