TPMS Weekly Community Newsletter
April 5, 2026
April Events:
April 8 - Soccer vs Newport Mill Boys Home / Girls Away (3:30 pm)
April 14 - Soccer vs SSIMS Girls Home / Boys Away (3:30 pm)
April 14 - PTSA Meeting (7:00 pm)
April 15 - Early Release (12:30 pm) - End of Marking Period 3
April 22 - Soccer vs Sligo Boys Home / Girls Away (3:30 pm)
April 24 - Report Card Distribution
April 24 - SGA Dance (6:30 - 8:30 pm)
April 27 - May 1 - TPMS Staff Appreciation Week
April 27 - Pride Summit Field Trip
April 28 - May 1 - ELA MCAP
April 29 - Soccer vs Eastern Girls Home / Boys Away (3:30 pm)
April 30 - We Shine Night (5:30 pm)
*More information can be found in Upcoming Night Events and Due Dates
Previous Newsletters
Did you miss a newsletter? Are you looking for information from a previous newsletter? Click on the link below for a complete list of all community newsletters.
Executive Function Skills Parent Workshop - April 16th
We are excited to invite you to a virtual parent workshop on executive function skills, hosted by TPMS in partnership with Empower Academic Coaching.
Date: Thursday, April 16th
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Format: Virtual
Kids need to know more than what to learn; they need to know how to learn. Even capable, creative, and motivated students can feel overwhelmed by planning, organization, focus, studying, and follow-through when executive functioning is a challenge. Executive function skills help students set goals, plan assignments, study and remember information, and think flexibly. They're the foundation for success both now and in the future. In this session, you'll gain a clear understanding of what executive functioning skills are and how to strengthen them at home. You'll walk away with practical, family-friendly strategies you can start using right away to help your child build independence, confidence, and lasting learning habits backed by research.
Join us for this session led by Caroline Sumners, CEO and Founder of Empower Academic Coaching. At Empower, Caroline and her team help students develop the executive functioning and academic skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.
Registration is required. Please sign up using the google form linked below:
https://forms.gle/8EkP8QAfyswwLM7J8
A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants prior to the workshop.
We hope you will join us for this informative and supportive evening. ~ TPMS Counseling
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth Summit - April 18
Montgomery County Public Schools, in partnership with the Montgomery County Branch of the NAACP, will host the 2026 NAACP Youth Summit on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850. The theme of this year’s summit is “Cultivating Leaders of Tomorrow.” The event is free to all MCPS students and will include leadership development workshops, a student panel discussion, and a reflection and advocacy campaign opportunity.
Lunch will be provided, and transportation will be available to support student attendance.
Participating students will also earn four (4) Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for their engagement in the workshops and advocacy activities.
Spring Dance - April 24
Our spring dance, Garden Gala, is soon approaching! Ticket sales will begin on April 13.
Game Changers - April 25
Empower your young male student for a transformative "Game Changer" experience! Join us for a half-day mentoring conference that is designed to bolster their social-emotional wellness, confidence, and the essential skills they need to thrive in today's shifting world. This event is specially tailored for African American and minority students of color, from elementary to high school.
📅 Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
⏰ Time: 8:00 a.m. to 12 Noon
📍 Location: Montgomery College - Germantown Campus - BioScience Center 20200 Observation Drive, Germantown, MD 20876
MCAP Testing Starts April 28
As many of you already know, our end-of-year assessments will begin at the end of this month. If you have not already done so, please review the communication from MCPS for important information and tips on how to help your child prepare.
Throughout the month, students will participate in lessons and practice assessments to build confidence and readiness. Please mark the dates below on your calendar. It is important that your child is present on these days and arrives having had a good breakfast.
MCAP ELA (Grade 6-8) - April 28 - May 1
MCAP Math (Grades 6-8) - May 12 - 13
MCAP Social Studies (Grade 8) - May 14 -15
MAP (Grade 7/8) - May 14 -15
WeShine STEAM Project Fair - April 30
The WeShine Club gives students the opportunity to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and the Arts through meaningful, student-led passion projects. In a supportive and creative environment, students build confidence, problem-solving skills, and a love of learning while collaborating with peers and expressing their unique interests. WeShine encourages curiosity, creativity, and student voice—helping learners shine both in and beyond the classroom.
Families are encouraged to have their students join WeShine and discover what sparks their curiosity. Please see the flyer and/or link for meeting dates, times, and additional details. We hope to see you in April!
Link:
Arts Extravaganza - April 30
On behalf of John F. Kennedy High School, we invite your students and staff to attend our Arts Extravaganza on Thursday, April 30, beginning at 5:00 PM with our Visual Art Gallery opening, followed by student performances throughout the evening.
This event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate student creativity while helping bridge the transition from middle to high school. We would love for your students to experience the vibrant arts community that awaits them at Kennedy.
English
Espanol
IGNITE SUMMER SCHOOL ACADEMY 2026 🔥 Registration is NOW OPEN!
Ignite Summer School offers a valuable opportunity for students to strengthen their academic skills, build confidence, and stay engaged in learning over the summer.
✨ What Students Will Experience:
- Project-based learning in Math, Literacy, and Science
- Hands-on Virtual Reality experiences
- College and career exploration to connect learning to future goals
🕘 Program Details:
- Dates: July 7 – August 6, 2026 (Monday–Thursday) (No School July 22)
- Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
📍 Locations:
- Argyle Middle School
- Eastern Middle School
- Forest Oak Middle School
- Francis Scott Key Middle School
- Rocky Hill Middle School
- Julius West Middle School
🚌 Transportation:
Bus routes available from nearby elementary schools
🍎 Meals:
Breakfast and lunch are provided daily
💻 Registration:
Register through ParentVUE
💲 Program Fees:
- Full Tuition: $104.25
- Tier 1: $41.75
- Tier 2: $29.25
(Fees include processing fee)
💳 Payment Information:
Tuition payments can be made through School Cash Online beginning the week of April 7
⏰ Aftercare:
Low-cost aftercare options are available for families needing extended-day support
(Additional information will be shared in mid-April)
MCPS Transition Services presenting these upcoming webinars
March 25, 6:30 pm
Medicaid 101
This presentation will provide a brief overview of Medicaid for people with disabilities, including covered services, eligibility groups, and how Medicaid connects to DDA services such as the Community Pathways Waiver.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4koGP3WwR1aWIXI1vrkDbQ#/registration
April 15, 6:30 pm
Department of Rehabilitative Services (DORS) and Social Security
A presentation by DORS Staff about Pre-ETS and Employment Services and the Social Security application process
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5A0CCzgwSsCLVNFaEpQcZQ#/registration
So What Else? - Food Assistance
If your family is facing hardship, SoWhatElse? is here to provide free groceries and pantry items to help make ends meet and keep your family strong. Your privacy is important to us.
We understand that food budgets can be tight. SoWhatElse? pantry is designed to provide consistent, supplemental food support for households in Takoma Park. We offer a rotating selection of fresh produce, shelf-stable staples, and frozen items. We are a dependable resource for you and your children.
WHEN: Every other Wednesday, we will have food delivery to TPMS. Parents can pick up a bag full of food between 12:00 noon and 4:30pm.
We can also send the food home with your child if you indicate the need.
WHERE: TPMS
If you are in need for food assistance, please click here and complete the google form
JSSA services
We are excited to be partnering with the JSSA Therapeutic Mentoring program through this school year. Students within this program are provided with a personalized plan designed to their individual needs and strengths. Support for building communication skills, handling conflicts in healthy ways and increasing confidence in social situations are some of the ways they can support your student. It is a free short-term resource. Please find more details and how to refer your student within this document.
SSL Opportunities
STRIVE for 75! Our aim is for every TPMS scholar to earn their 75 student service learning hours by the end of their 8th grade year! There are several opportunities through the school year that can support your student reaching 75 SSL hours! Please find TPMS opportunities at this link: https://bit.ly/TPMSSSL
Get Caught Reading This Spring Break!
Whether you’re relaxing at home or stuck in a long airport security line, spring break is the perfect time to get lost in a great book. Why not scroll through a good book? We are encouraging MCPS students and families to show us how you read this spring break – whether at home, outside or on the go! Read, read everywhere. In a chair? With a bear? In a bed? On your head? Then tag us on social media with #MCPSCaughtYouReading. We can’t wait to see where your stories take you! And, save the date for the Gaithersburg Book Festival on Saturday, May 16.
We Need to Hear from You; Time Is Running Out
Yes, it’s a survey but we need to hear from you! Earlier this year, MCPS implemented significant operational changes and shifts — affecting topics including grading, safety (including police in schools), the Student Code of Conduct, open lunch and cell phones in schools. MCPS is distributing surveys on several of these issues important to families, students and school-based staff; we want to know how they are working for you in practice. The survey is available here. Read more.
Also, watch this video explaining why your feedback matters:
English | Spanish | French | Chinese | Vietnamese | Amharic | Korean | Portuguese
Preparing for Spring Assessments: What Families Need to Know
End-of-year assessments are important because they showcase what our students know, understand and are able to do. The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, or MCAP test, is the main component measuring student academic performance in Maryland’s accountability system. MCAP performance is a key component of the Maryland School Report Card, including star ratings for each school. This is how the outside world assesses and views our students’ performance, our schools’ performance and our performance as a district.
In case you missed it, we shared information with families on changes to the testing schedule and how you can help your student prepare for upcoming assessments.
Join Us to Learn the Latest on Special Ed Services, Staffing and Support
The Division of Specialized Support Services will hold a webinar for families from 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, focused on what’s new in special education services, staffing and supports — and why. MCPS special education leaders will provide context for what this means for schools and classrooms. The session will be held virtually, featuring a brief presentation followed by questions and answers. More details, including the Zoom link for the meeting, will be shared in the coming weeks.
Spots Are Going Fast; Sign Up Soon!
The Superintendent’s Shuffle is fast approaching! Join us on April 11 at Bohrer Park for a day of community and movement to help eliminate student meal debt. Learn more and sign up!
After the run, stay for more family fun! Manna Food Center and UnitedHealthcare — joined by A Wider Circle, EveryMind, GOCO Health and WorkSource Montgomery — are hosting the Nourish & Flourish Community Resource Fair. This free, family-friendly event will offer food, health screenings, lifestyle workshops, nutrition resources, employment services, and more, all focused on strengthening the connection between good nutrition and overall health.
Board Takes Action on Proposed Scope of Elementary, Middle School Boundary Study
At its meeting today (March 26), the Board received a comprehensive report on declining enrollment and uneven school utilization and approved the next phase of work, launching a countywide elementary and middle school boundary study with the potential for school consolidations and closures.
This action responds to shifting enrollment patterns, available capacity in some schools, and operational inefficiencies. While this work may generate strong reactions in the community, it reflects the importance of engaging in a deliberate, data-driven and community-informed process to better align facilities, resources and student needs for the future — without predetermining any specific school closures.
Read the resolution.
Takoma Park Middle School
Website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/takomaparkms/
Location: 7611 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (240) 740-5220
Email: Mrs. Martin: Erin_L_Martin@mcpsmd.org
Mr. Loznak: Jesse_Loznak@mcpsmd.org
Instagram: @ms_martintpms; @takomaparkms; @mr.loznak; @mrs_sorianotpms