Tubman Tiger Times

Sunday, November 1st
As this quarter begins, we remain fully dedicated to supporting every student's growth—starting with being in school on time, every single day.
Let's keep this incredible momentum going!
Highlights from This Past Week
Gaithersburg Cluster Principals on the Rise
First Grade Field Trip to Sharps Farm
Coming Soon
November 2: No School
November 3: No School
November 4: First Day of Quarter 2
November 5: PTA Movie Night 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
November 6: Vision Screening for K, 1 & 4 (Rescheduled from October)
November 9: Family Market, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
November 11: Open House, 10 am - 11 am
November 12: Report Cards Distributed
Open House is on Wednesday, November 11th from 10am - 11am.
Parents and guardians are invited to come see their child learn.
In order to maintain safety and continuity of learning for students, younger siblings and other children will not be able to attend. This event is for adult visitors only.
November Caregiver Coffee
☕ November Caregiver Coffee: Planning for Your Child’s Financial Future! 💰
Raising a family comes with many financial responsibilities, but a little planning today can make a big difference tomorrow! Join us for our November Caregiver Coffee on Thursday, November 19, as we welcome Navy Federal Credit Union and the Gaithersburg Financial Empowerment Center for an informative and empowering workshop focused on financial wellness.
Learn practical tips for managing the costs of raising children, budgeting and saving for the future, building and maintaining good credit, managing debt, and protecting your family from fraud.
📅 Thursday, November 19, 2026
⏰ 9:45–10:45 AM
📍 School Cafeteria
☕ Come enjoy a cup of coffee and breakfast, connect with other caregivers, and gain valuable tools to help your family build a stronger financial future. All parents and caregivers are welcome!
Kids Heart Challenge
❤️ Kids Heart Challenge Week 2: Let's MOVE MORE, Tiger Families! 🐯🍂
Get ready to get moving! November 2–6 is MOVE MORE WEEK as part of our Kids Heart Challenge!
With no school for students on Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3, it's the perfect opportunity to get outside, enjoy the beautiful fall weather, and make heart-healthy memories together as a family!
🍁 25 Ways to Get Moving at Home! Looking for fun and easy ways to keep your family active? The American Heart Association has created a list of 25 simple movement activities that families can enjoy together! Try a one-minute dance party, jumping jacks, a game of balloon volleyball, or even some family yoga. No special equipment needed! Challenge your family to see how many activities you can complete over the long weekend!
❤️ Explore the activities here:
🚶 Recess Walking Club Starts Wednesday!
When students return to school, we'll challenge them to walk laps around the perimeter of our field during recess. Encourage your child to participate, count their laps, and see how many they can complete!
🌟 Have You Signed Up for Kids Heart Challenge Yet?
It's not too late to join the fun! Signing up is FREE, and every student who registers helps us get closer to earning some exciting rewards!
Here's how to register:
Visit heart.org/schools or download the Heart Schools app.
Find Harriet R. Tubman Elementary School and register your child.
Explore Finn's Mission together to learn heart-healthy habits and important lifesaving skills.
During registration, select YES to join the NFL PLAY 60 Family Challenge and commit to getting 60 minutes of daily physical activity together!
We're having friendly competitions between classrooms and grade levels! Even better, our entire school can earn special rewards. Every registration counts, and we need your help to reach our goals!
Let's make the most of these beautiful fall days, get those bodies moving, and work together to keep our Tubman Tigers' hearts healthy and strong! ❤️🐯
Vision Screening @ Tubman
Clear vision plays such a vital role in your child's learning and growth! In accordance with Maryland State Law, the Prevention of Blindness Society will be visiting Tubman on Friday, November 6th, 2026, to conduct annual vision screenings.
Who will be screened?
- Students in Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 4
- Students who are new to MCPS
- Students referred by their teachers for potential vision concerns
Important Reminders for Families:
- Glasses & Contacts: If your child already wears prescription glasses or contact lenses, please make sure they wear or bring them on screening day.
- Results & Follow-Up: If your child doesn't pass the initial screening, we will send home a referral form. The Prevention of Blindness Society will offer follow-up eye exams and provide prescription glasses free of charge to students who need them at a later date (TBA).
Opt-Out & Existing Care: If your child is already under a doctor's care for a vision condition, or if you choose to opt out due to religious beliefs, please send a written note to our school nurse, Ms. Nida Khan, before screening day.
To learn more about vision health, common symptoms, and county health resources, please visit the Montgomery County School Health Services Page.
If you have any questions about the screening process, don't hesitate to reach out to School Nurse, Ms. Nida Khan at 240-740-6772. Thank you for helping us keep our students healthy, supported, and ready to learn!
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) News
Movie Night Volunteers
We need YOU to volunteer for our PTA Movie Night on November 5th!
PTA Community Survey
Let us know how the PTA can better support our diverse families and students. Scan the QR code or click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefLYxhk3ge6IiRBA6QzxfkW5NVhq7_lWjc05ZPlfYxBecEWg/viewform
Join the Tubman Tigers WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FnQRTmiqzZE3FgTk66G1iG
View our full calendar, membership info, and more at www.tubmantigerspta.com or follow us on Facebook!
Questions or comments? Email us at contact@tubmantigerspta.com. Hablamos español!
Tubman Family Market
🥕 Next Family Market 🍎
Mark your calendar! Our next Tubman Family Market will be held on Monday, November 9, from 5:30–6:30 PM in the school cafeteria. Markets will continue on the second Wednesday of each month throughout the school year.
Family Markets are for Tubman families only and offer families an opportunity to receive fresh produce and shelf stable food at no cost. No registration is required—just stop by and remember to bring your own bags!
Adult volunteers are needed! Our markets depend on the support of volunteers to help set up, distribute food, and keep things running smoothly. If you’re able to lend a hand at one or more markets, we would greatly appreciate your support!
Volunteering at Tubman
Caregivers who have completed the MCPS volunteer training will have the opportunity to volunteer in classrooms.
This is in addition to field trip chaperones. We are asking for caregivers to sign up for one volunteer opportunity in your child's class to give all families the chance to volunteer.
After School Programs
We are happy to offer a variety of after school programs for our students!
Identity
- 2nd and 3rd grade students
- Mondays through Thursdays, 8:00 - 9:15am & 4:00 - 6:00pm
Tremendous Thursdays with City of Gaithersburg
- Kindergarten through 5th grade
- Thursdays from 3:50-6:30
Excel Beyond the Bell
- 2nd through 5th grade
- Mondays through Fridays from 3:50-6:30
Saturday School — FREE for Tubman Students! 📚
We’re excited to share a special opportunity for our students through the George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy Saturday School Program! Saturday School provides additional academic support in reading, language arts, and mathematics through Saturday morning sessions during the school year.
⭐ Participation is FREE for students attending Community Schools when families register through the designated links below. Families must use one of these special Community School registration links to receive the free enrollment opportunity.
Learn more and register here:
🌐 English Registration | Spanish Registration | French Registration
Take advantage of this great opportunity to give your child extra academic support at no cost to your family!
Community Support Resources
💙 Calling All Dads & Father Figures! FREE Parenting Program!
Dads, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures—this one’s for you! The Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) is offering a FREE, 8-week virtual Family Resilience Program designed to help you build stronger family connections, support your child’s emotional well-being, and help them thrive at home and in school!
Program Details:
💻 Where: Virtual sessions on Zoom
📅 When: Tuesday evenings (starting October 20) OR Wednesday evenings (starting October 21) **Classes have started but it’s not too late to join!
⏰ Time: 90 minutes per week for 8 weeks
🎁 Bonus: Earn a $50 e-gift card for attending at least 5 sessions plus the evaluation session (one per household).
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical parenting tools, connect with other fathers and father figures, and make a positive impact on your child’s life!
Questions? Contact frp@PEPparent.org or call 301-929-8824.
🦃 Baskets of Blessings Thanksgiving Drive-Thru! 🍂
The season of giving is here! ❤️ Our wonderful community partner, New Life Seventh-day Adventist Church, is hosting its Baskets of Blessings Thanksgiving Drive-Thru to help local families celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday!
Families are invited to participate in this special community event:
📅 Sunday, November 22, 2026
⏰ 12:00–3:00 PM
📍 New Life SDA Church - 7401 Muncaster Mill Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
✅ Registration is REQUIRED! Families interested in participating must register in advance.
🥕 Fresh Local Produce at the Mobile Farmers Market 🍅
Looking for fresh, local produce at a great price? Stop by the Mobile Farmers Market at Gaithersburg Elementary School (35 N. Summit Ave.) every Friday through November, 8:30–11:30 AM.
The market accepts SNAP/EBT, SUN Bucks, MC-Market Cards, cash, and debit/credit cards. Families who receive food assistance can use their EBT/SNAP benefits and receive matching bonus funds through Maryland Market Money—up to $20! That means your benefits can go even further when purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. 🥦🍎
📍 Gaithersburg Elementary School
📅 Every Friday through November
⏰ 8:30–11:30 AM
Stop by and stock up on fresh, locally grown produce while supporting local farmers!
FREE Weekly Medical Clinic in Germantown
American Diversity Group is offering a FREE weekly medical clinic every Friday beginning September 11 for individuals and families in our community. Services include medical consultations and preventive screenings, specialist referrals, health education and resources, and a “Food as Medicine” program that may provide eligible families managing diabetes or other chronic conditions with free weekly food for six months.
📍 Location: American Diversity Group, 12850 Middlebrook Road, Suite 400, Germantown, MD 20876
📅 Every Friday beginning September 11
⚠️ Registration is required. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated initially. REGISTER HERE
💉 BONUS: Free Flu Clinic – September 18
A free flu clinic will also be offered for uninsured community members ages 9 and older at no cost.
Please see the attached flyers for registration information and additional details.
MCPS Calendar Survey
MCPS provides a school year calendar that allows for effective use of time for teaching and learning, for professional growth opportunities, and planning instructional strategies focused on improving student achievement, while maintaining our lens of equity for all students and commitment to community engagement.
In the survey links below, you will find three draft school year 2027 - 2028 calendars.
MPCS is collecting feedback on which draft calendar furthers the educational interests and operational needs of Montgomery County Public Schools.
MCPS News
MCPS Is on the Rise! More Schools Earn Top STAR Ratings
Big news worth celebrating! 134 MCPS schools, nearly 69%, earned 4 or 5 STAR ratings on the 2026 Maryland School Report Card. Fifty-six schools improved their STAR ratings, including 50 that reached four or five STARs. Even better, ZERO MCPS schools received a 1-STAR rating! These results reflect the hard work of our students, educators and school communities, with important gains in reading and math across the district.
Read the Press Release | Read the Information One-Pager | Watch the Event Video
The Latest EdTalk: Supporting Multilingual Students and Families
On the newest episode of EdTalk, hear from host Board of Education President Grace Rivera-Oven and principals Alicia Deeny (Richard Montgomery High School) and Isabelle Mensah (Rolling Terrace Elementary School) about how their schools create welcoming environments, engage students and maximize family involvement for multilingual students and families.
MCPS News: School Closure and Consolidation Study
Why is MCPS studying school closures and consolidations? What does the data tell us?
Engagement sessions are underway, providing families, staff and community members opportunities to learn about the challenges facing our schools, ask questions and share what matters most to them.
No schools have been selected for closure, no recommendations have been made and no decisions have been predetermined. This is a process of learning, listening and planning together, and there's still time to be involved.
Visit MCPSStudy.org
Watch the Videos
English = https://youtu.be/vtn_QeqKZ2Q
Spanish = https://youtu.be/h2PJYSelS1c
Gaithersburg Cluster Community Questions & Feedback
As MCPS continues its Elementary and Middle School Closure and Consolidation Study, the Regional Programming Team is preparing for a Central North-specific virtual community meeting.
To make sure Gaithersburg Cluster families are represented in that conversation, we’ve created a short bilingual form to collect questions, concerns, and feedback from our school communities.
The form will close on Monday, November 2. Our goal is simply to make sure the Regional Programming Team hears directly from families across the Gaithersburg Cluster and understands the questions and considerations that are important to our communities.
MCPS 26-27 School Year Calendar
Meals
Breakfast and lunch are provided for free for every student at Tubman ES! Students are welcome to bring a lunch to school as well.
Menus are available on MealViewer.
School Spiritwear
We have new designs in our spiritwear store!!!
For More Information:
Website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/tubmanes/
Phone: 240-740-6770
Twitter/X: @HarrietTubman ES