Shady Grove Matters

Dear Shady Grove Families,

This week is packed with excitement at our school! Our 6th-grade students will be heading out for their highly anticipated Outdoor Education adventure, where they'll learn about nature, teamwork, and survival skills—rain or shine! It’s going to be an unforgettable experience, and we can’t wait to hear all about their adventures when they return.

As a reminder, grades close this Friday, October 31st!

Thank you very much for your continued support!

~Dr. Bangerd

October - November 2025

October Upcoming Events:

Hispanic Heritage Month (2nd Half)

Filipino American Heritage Month

National Principal Appreciation Month

November Upcoming Events:

Native American/Alaska Native Month

Mental Health Awareness Week (11/3-11/8)

National School Psychologist Week (11/3-11/7)

Monday, November 3rd - No School for Students (Grading & Planning Day for Teachers)

Monday, November 24th - Early Release Day for Students

Tuesday, November 25th - Early Release Day for Students

Wednesday, November 26th - Schools and Offices Closed

Thursday, November 27th - Schools and Offices Closed

Friday, November 28th - Schools and Offices Closed

Dear SGMS Families:

We are excited to share that MCPS is transitioning to using ParentSquare to engage the district, school administrators and now even teachers with ongoing school-to-home communication. Using ParentSquare you'll be able to receive and send messages in any translated language preferred, set your preference to receive them as a text, email or app notification, set a preference for when you want to receive messages, instantly or as a daily digest, send RSVPs to school events and sign up to volunteer and/or donate items at events as well. During this transition we will cease our use of the Remind application for school-to-home communication.

ParentSquare accounts have been created for all teachers, school administrators and staff and caregivers. Your preferred language to receive and send communication may already be set in ParentSquare. If it’s not, you can select your preferred language while logged into your ParentSquare account using the website or app.

We encourage you to watch the ParentSquare Overview Video (English | Spanish) and review the quick guide below to learn how to begin using ParentSquare.

Translated ParentSquare Quick Guides

English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Amharic, Korean

We're excited to begin our transition to using ParentSquare which will facilitate streamlined communication in MCPS between the district, school administrators, teachers and caregivers, maintaining school-to-home information and updates all in one place.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has a business partnership with Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc., providing 15 grand, upright, and digital loaner pianos to MCPS at no cost. MCPS provides maintenance for the instruments and informs our students, parents, and guardians of the partnership.

Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc., has a public sale of instruments twice a year—the first sale is scheduled for November 15-23, 2025. During this time, the public can purchase pianos at reduced prices. Our partnership with Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc. commits MCPS to provide the notice of this sale to each student.

Schaeffer Piano Sale Letter_English

Schaeffer Piano Sale Letter_Spanish

🎓 Roadmap to College: What Students Should Do Each Year of High School to Stand Out

Join us for an informative webinar packed with essential strategies for navigating the changing landscape and positioning your student for success.

📅 Date: Monday, October 27, 2025
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

During this session, parents will learn:

How admissions are changing and what it means for your child
What factors matter most in college acceptance decisions
How to build a strong narrative through high school achievements
ACT/SAT prep tips: Should your child take the tests or skip them?
How to start early to move a “dream school” into the “target” range

Mount Calvary Baptist Church’s 15th Annual Historically Black College and Universities College Fair on Saturday, November 1st, 2025 starting at 10:00 a.m. There are seminars especially for middle school students. This is a non-MCPS community event.

For Additional Information & Registration

Deara Students and Families:

Students will now sign up for after-school clubs using a Google Form. You will be able to sign up one week in advance, and all results will be posted on the cafeteria board.

Where to Find the Forms: All Google Forms will be linked in this Google Doc. You can find this Doc through either your Homeroom Canvas page or the After School Activities Canvas page. Students – if you haven’t already, please self-enroll in the After School Activities Canvas course using this link: https://mcpsmd.instructure.com/enroll/JF8X8P

Form Lock Times (subject to change):

Wednesday (end of day) – Tuesday's form will lock
Thursday (end of day) – Wednesday's form will lock
Friday (after Homeroom) – Thursday's form will lock

Important: If you do not sign up before the form locks, you will not be able to stay for clubs.

Transportation Info:

Bus Riders: There will be 2 activity buses on regular days and 3 buses on dance/game days. Please know your bus stop to find the right bus. View routes here: Activity Bus Routes for 2 Bus Day & 3 Bus Day

Car Riders: Parents/guardians must arrive for pick-up by 4:10 PM.

Walkers: You will be dismissed from the front entrance and will walk towards the back.

More info is available on the After School Activities Canvas page.

Here are a list of clubs we offer (please note: some clubs will begin later in the year):

Shady Grove MS Families,

As the cold weather is approaching, I would like to remind families that Physical Education classes will be outside over the next several weeks. Could you please remind students to bring in a sweatshirt/hoodie and sweatpants to keep in their lockers? We want to ensure that everyone is warm and comfortable as the weather changes.

Thank you,

Chanda Stephens

Health/PE/Electives Content Specialist

Attention 8th graders! In addition to the various academic programs in the local schools, Grade 8 students who live in Montgomery County may be eligible to apply to MCPS High School Regional/Countywide Application Programs (criteria-based/selective and interest based/lottery). For more information, visit the MCPS regional/countywide high school application programs website . Application deadline is November 7, 2025.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) offers enriched and accelerated programming in local middle schools and regional middle school magnet programs (Grades 6–8).

The Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC) is composed of three magnet themed middle schools. The MSMC is interest based, Grade 5 and 6 students are eligible to apply beginning this fall on the MSMC website, and placement is by a lottery. The MSMC schools include Argyle, A. Mario Loiederman, and Parkland middle schools.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Carla D. Malozowski, instructional specialist, Department of Consortia and Application Program Services, email.

The PTSA is selling snacks and drinks during the lunch periods on Fridays. Please sign up for a slot or a few slots if you are available to help. Snacks are sold in the concession stand outside the lunch room during 6th, 7th and 8th grade lunches. Items are priced $.50 to $1.50. Any volunteers welcome!

Sign up Here

Hello!

Steel City Codes, a nonprofit organization dedicated towards STEM education, is offering cost-free after-school classes for students in 6th - 8th grade in the DC metropolitan area through which high school volunteers will be teaching computer science to students.

As of now, the classes will be held online via Zoom, and will start next month. Specific dates will be announced in the following weeks.

Students will learn throughout the year using our specially-designed curriculum and will complete a fun final project at the end of the unit! Different levels are offered for a variety of ages, for grades 6 through 8. Classes include Intro to Python, Intermediate Python, Intro to Java, and Intermediate Java. We will host Web Development if there is enough interest.

If you're interested in registering your child, please fill out this registration form:
https://forms.gle/wxvtdktjvPakJGD86

We will send out more information to those interested in the coming weeks.

For more information, feel free to check out our website at https://www.steelcitycodes.org/chapters. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at washingtondc@steelcitycodes.org.

"These materials are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Board of Education of Montgomery County, the superintendent, or this school."

Steel City Codes Fall Flyer