August, 2012
Dear Twinbrook Families,
I hope you have had time to relax and refresh for a few weeks. For some of you, the 2012 - 2013 school year has been in progress since the beginning of July. After the first day of ELO was rescheduled because of the storms, the staff and students got right to work. Amy Alonso, our new assistant principal, and the ELO staff were committed to giving our students a terrific start to the new school year.
I am providing information for you to learn more about new students and staff members; a new class; the Maryland School Assessment updates; safety and security expectations; our birthday party policy; parent leadership and support and Open House. We are still keeping up with new students coming from various cities, states and countries. In addition to keeping up with changes in student enrollment, we are keeping up with the staff who are coming and going. Please take note of the staff changes below.
Who Has Left Us?
Staff Member / Position / New Location / PositionNema Manuel / Assistant Principal / Page Elementary / Assistant Principal
Katie Newmeyer / Fifth Grade Teacher / Wheaton Woods Elementary / Fifth Grade Teacher
Denise Fleet / Third Grade Teacher / Weller Road Elementary / Math Focus Teacher
Kristelle Kambanis / Second Grade Teacher / Bannockburn Elementary / Reading Initiative Teacher
Abby Jacobs / Kindergarten Teacher / Germantown Elementary / Kindergarten Teacher
Rachelle Simon / Special Education / Greencastle Elementary / Special Education Teacher
Tedra Walker / ESOL Teacher / Rosemary Hills Elementary / ESOL Teacher
Joyce Miller / Media Specialist / Home / Retirement
Fernanda Mouco / 1:1 Paraeducator / Julius West / 1:1 Paraeducator
Who Has Joined Us?
Staff Member / Previous Position / Previous Location / New PositionAmy Alonso / Assistant Principal / Strathmore Elementary / Assistant Principal
Stacy Stickels / PreKindergarten Teacher / MCPS / First Grade Teacher
Melissa Vuuren / Teacher / Private School / Third Grade Teacher
Danielle Hersh / Substitute Teacher / MCPS / Third Grade Teacher
Ellen Kraft / Special Education Teacher / Tilden Middle School / Special Education Teacher
Patricia Williams / Fourth Grade Teacher / Waters Landing Elementary / Special Education Teacher
Jennifer Jones / Third Grade Teacher / Arcola Elementary / Media Specialist
Sarah Desir / Paraeducator / Westbrook Elementary / Special Education Paraeducator
Teresa Perez / School Nurse / Lake Seneca Elementary / School Nurse
Who Has Changed Positions?
Staff Member / Previous Position / New PositionKaren Smith / First Grade Teacher / Kindergarten
Kelly Hughes / First Grade Teacher / Third Grade Teacher
Caitlin Master / First Grade Teacher / Second Grade Teacher
Julie McMillen / Reading Support / First Grade Teacher
Elissa Lethbridge / Fifth Grade Teacher / Fourth Grade Teacher
Michelle Massie / Third Grade Teacher / Fifth Grade Teacher
Rebecca Arosemena / Third Grade Teacher / Science/Technology Teacher
Our central office staff support has remained the same. Dr. Donna Hollingshead is still our community superintendent and Mr. Pat Abrunzo is still our director of school performance. Their office is no longer OSP (Office of School Performance), but instead OSSI (Office of School Support and Improvement). Our new Title One Specialist is Mrs. Nia Grigsby. She has been a part of ELO our summer leadership meetings. She comes with a wealth of Title 1 and staff development experience.
Although there is no longer AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) for the state testing, we did meet the standards for our school in all areas. Accountability remains an essential part of our daily work however. Please see the enclosed sheet for more information.
Yes, we will be a Title One school again this year. With Title 1 money we will be able to have a science teacher. Our students will be exposed to an additional regular science period in order to focus on nonfiction text and the thinking skills. We will also have Promethean boards to go in the media center and in the science room, as well as a moblile Netbook lab to use in the science room and throughout the building. This technology will be a new and exciting part of our instructional program.
For security purposes, we will continue to use the cameras that are installed at the front door and at the Wainwright door. After 9:15 you will have to push the button at the front door in order to be let in by computer. Please do not request that staff members let you in any other door throughout the day. We rely on this system to keep our students, staff and facility safe. We will also continue with our computerized sign in. Visitors must present their driver’s license or a state issued identification to sign in. Another system that we will implement is saying good-bye at the door. Parents and guardians will not walk students to the classroom this year. Our kindergarten, first and second grade students and parents did an excellent job of this during ELO.
For student birthdays, we will continue with the process of parents bringing just cupcakes or cookies during their child’s lunch period if they choose. If parents are unable to come during lunch, teachers may pass out the cupcakes or cookies that the parents bring to school. PreK and Head Start students only will be able to celebrate birthdays with cupcakes and juice at the end of their day.
Our new PTA president is Mrs. Kim Carter. I have met with her to begin our collaboration process for the year. We look forward to the new energy, new ideas and new participation from all. If you were a PTA member last year, please join again this year and encourage others to do the same . Our parent resource room will be in the same location this year - Room 110. Mrs. Abarca will be available at least three hours each day to support parents.
Open House will be held Thursday, August 23, 2012 from 2:00 to 3:00. There will be a meeting for kindergarten parents only from 1:00 to 1:30. From 1:30 – 2:00 there will be a Title 1 meeting for all parents. Please see the enclosed pre-service week schedule so that you may plan ahead.
I am looking forward to a great year.
Mrs. Johnson