Community Schools Resource Hub

I am excited to work with you and your family! My role as CSL is to serve as a bridge between our school, the community, and your family. I value building relationships and supporting the needs of our school community. I am looking forward to utilizing partnerships to provide comprehensive services and resources. Please let me know how I can help you and your family.

I can help connect families to resources such as:

• School supplies

• Food assistance

• Clothing and hygiene supplies

• Healthcare and mental health services

• Student and family support programs

• Housing and financial assistance

Contact Information:

• Community School Liaison: Dana Pelzman
• Email: Dana_K_Pelzman@mcpsmd.org
• Text or Call: 227-271-3676
• Office Location: Main Office @ Eastern MS

Contact the Counseling Office or your student’s grade level Counselor for more information:

240-740-6290

• 6th Grade:

• Ms. Bolinger: Last Names A-R

• Jordan_A_Bolinger@mcpsmd.org

• Ms. Gamble: Last Names S-Z

• Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

• 7th Grade:

• Ms. Ruffin: Last Names A-R

• Kristen_Ruffin@mcpsmd.org

• Ms. Gamble: Last Names S-Z

• Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

• 8th Grade:

• Ms. Meyer: Last Names A-R

• Jessica_A_Meyer@mcpsmd.org

• Ms. Gamble: Last Names S-Z

• Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

Learn more in the flyers below!

Eastern Middle School students are welcome to participate in Saturday School through the George B. Thomas Learning Academy at Montgomery Blair High School

Because Eastern is a Community School, our students can enroll at NO cost!

Families can sign-up using the unique registration links below to ensure that the enrollment fee is waived.

• English

• Spanish

• French

Questions? Please contact Dana Pelzman, Eastern Middle School’s Community School Liaison.

• Email: Dana_K_Pelzman@mcpsmd.org

• Phone: 240-740-6280

• Text: 227-271-3676

All 7th students in Maryland are required to receive the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap), and the meningococcal (MCV) vaccine. Parents and guardians should provide updated immunization records to their child’s school health office as soon as possible, either before the end of the current school year or before the start of the next school year.

👉 Click here for more information.

To schedule an appointment or confirm clinic hours, call one of the following Montgomery County FREE immunization clinics:

• Dennis Avenue Health Center: 240-777-1050

• Silver Spring Health Center: 240-777-3160

• School Health Services Immunization Center: 240-740-4430

• School Supplies (backpacks, pencils, pens, paper, binders, etc.)

• Request a MiFi device for your home

• Sports Equipment & Athletic Gear (for school sponsored sports only)

• Winter Coats and Accessories

• Clothing and Shoes

• Bras and Sports Bras

• Hygiene and Menstrual Products

• Weekly snack bags (Add your name to the waitlist as of 3/16/26)

• Bi-weekly fresh produce delivery (Add your name to the waitlist as of 3/16/26)

This year, Eastern is excited to introduce our Wellness Room for students in grades 6–8—a calm, welcoming, supervised space where students can take a short break, enjoy a quieter lunch, or practice coping strategies before returning to class ready to learn.

The Wellness Room supports the whole child by providing tools like fidgets, sensory items, calming visuals, breathing exercises, and flexible seating. A staff member is always present to guide students and ensure a safe, supportive environment.

Students may visit with staff permission for brief 5–10 minute breaks or use the space during lunch. While not a replacement for counseling or instruction, the Wellness Room helps students build self-regulation skills to stay engaged in learning.

• Eastern Middle School: Weekly snack bags & bi-weekly fresh produce boxes. Contact Dana Pelzman for more information. Both are currently accepting names for a waitlist.

• Blair HS Cluster Food Markets: See schedules below. All are welcome. Food availability is first come, first served.

Call our SNAP Hotline 301-818-3614 or fill out the SNAP Referral Form and a Food Resource Specialist will get in touch to assist you. Click on the button below and fill out a SNAP referral form. For more information, click on the Montgomery County Food Council button below.

Contact Dana Pelzman if your Student Needs Any of These Items:

• School-based mental health support
• Vision and hearing checks
• Support with purchasing eye glasses
• Access to a medical provider for your child
• Health insurance assistance for your child

This program is designed to support middle school-aged youth who are uninsured, underinsured, or otherwise face barriers to accessing mental health services. Built on a foundation of Positive Youth Development principles, Therapeutic Mentoring provides individualized, strength-based support that helps young people build communication skills, problem-solving abilities, social connections, and overall well-being.

Key features of the program:

• No cost to students or families, thanks to Montgomery County DHHS funding.
• Flexible locations — services can be provided in school, at home, or in the community.
• Accessible referrals — school staff and community providers or family members can make referrals directly through JSSAs MindCraft app:
• Parent & Student App - Spanish https://jssa.jotform.com/app/252404307048955
• Parent & Student App - English: https://jssa.jotform.com/app/252323640021946

Our Community Schools team can help connect families with support such as:

• Case management and family support

• Help completing applications

• Housing resources

• Public Transportation Discount

• Financial assistance programs

• Immigration and legal referrals

• Clothing and hygiene items

• School supplies

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Free tax help for income eligible households in Montgomery County.

Tax season appointments for the Community Action Agency's VITA program are available now through April 9, 2026. Appointments are for Montgomery County residents with a combined household income of $69,000.

Metro Lift offers 50% off Metrobus and Metrorail trips for DC, Maryland, and Virginia customers enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Click on the link below to enroll for free in as little as 5 minutes!

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.

Scan the QR Codes below to download the Parent Square app (or click on the image below)

ParentVue video instructions in Spanish.

If your family needs support, please reach out.

Community School Liaison: Dana Pelzman
Email: Dana_K_Pelzman@mcpsmd.org
Text or Call: 227-271-3676
Office Location: Main Office @ Eastern MS

You can also call Eastern's main office to connect you with Community Schools at 240-740-6280.