SSIMS Weekly Newsletter

Email: Karen_Y_Bryant@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/ssims/
Location: 313 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 740-2750
Twitter: @SSIMSPrincipal

Internationally Speaking, with Principal Bryant

Welcome our new Assistant Principal!

SSIMS PTSA

Upcoming Events

Health & Safety Corner

Chromebook Expectations

Cell Phone Expectations

Upgrade to morning locations

SY23 Bell Schedule

Hiring Opportunities in MCPS

ParentVue

Past Newsletter Links

Dear Silver Spring International Families,

I hope this communication finds you basking in the glow (heat!) of summer and surrounded by family, friends, and all the cold lemonade you can drink!

We are on the cusp of a new school year and I want to reach out to share my greetings, welcome our new families into the school community, and check-in on our existing families. Our Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) has been working diligently this summer to plan for the year ahead. We are excited to welcome our students back on Monday, August 29th and are looking forward to a productive school year.

Our commitment to providing high quality instruction, inspiring engaged learning, and fostering a close-knit community of learners is unwavering as we continue to navigate the impact of the pandemic. Our commitment to safety, health, and wellbeing for students and staff remain top priority for the coming year.

Silver Spring International Middle School (SSIMS) is a unique learning community with a diverse student body of close to 1200 students, dedicated teachers and staff, and a robust instructional and electives program. We are an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and all of our students participate in the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) in which critical thinking, cultural awareness, second language acquisition and global citizenry are emphasized.

We are the only school in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to house French and Spanish language immersion programs, which allow students to focus more intently on the language acquisition component of our program. We have an award-winning Autism Resource Services (ARS) program in which students thrive as they develop social and academic skills necessary for high school. In short, our school offers a first-rate instructional program for all students. It is truly a gem in our school district!

I will share more information about the upcoming school year as we get closer to opening. For now, please access the information contained in this newsletter to prepare for the new school year.

Happy August! 🐾

My name is Edward Pegues (Pee-geese) and I'm originally from North Carolina. I attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC and played baseball there. After I graduated in 2011 I went on to teach Health/PE, coached basketball, baseball, and served as an assistant athletic director at the high and middle school level. I went on to complete a master degree in school administration from UNC Chapel Hill and worked as an Assistant Principal at Carrboro High School in Carrboro, NC before moving to Maryland in June 2020. I have spent the past two school years serving as an Assistant Principal at Northwest High School in Germantown, MD. Looking forward to learning and growing students in the Silver Spring International community.

At Silver Spring International, we enjoy a strong, active relationship with our Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). We are thrilled to welcome the leadership of Allison Adcock-Melgosa and Celeste Raker Dillen, the SY23 Co-Presidents.

Please visit the PTSA website to view general information about the organization and sign up for the listserve :

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/ssims/about/ptsa/ .

Mark your calendars for the following upcoming events:

• New Student Orientation: Thursday, August 25 from 8:15 - 12:30
• 6th Grade Parent Meeting: Tuesday, August 16 from 6:00 - 8:00 at the SCES Auditorium
• August 6th Grade Orientations: August 10 - 12 from 10:00 - 11:30
• Ice Cream Social: Thursday, August 25 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm
• Back to School Night: Monday, September 12 from 6:30 - 8:00

As we begin to start the school year, we want to share some information regarding chromebook use for SY23. Our 7th and 8th grade returning students should already have a chromebook and charger and are expected to bring them to school every day starting on the first day of school. Our 6th grade students will receive chromebooks during the first week of school and are expected to bring them every day.

We will not have extra chromebooks for students to borrow for the day if they forget them at home. Students will engage in alternative activities in class if they do not have access to chromebooks. Please encourage your student to bring their chromebooks every day. If students need technology support during the year, they should go to the Media Center at the beginning of the day before 1st and 2nd period.

Students' use of PMD (Personal Mobile Devices) will be limited to use before and after school only. Additional information will come out as we get closer to school starting.

We have made changes to our morning routine. Beginning on August 30 (the second day of school), the Field House will be open at 7:30 am as another location (in addition to the cafeteria) for students who arrive to school early. There will be activities and space for students to read, socialize and wait for first and second period.

Are you having trouble accessing ParentVue on Synergy? Check out this website that provides information and resources for accessing ParentVue. If you still need help, please contact the counseling department for extra assistance.

MCPS is hiring! Montgomery County Public Schools hires the best teachers and support personnel to support our more than 166,000 diverse students and 210 excellent schools. Apply today so that you can be part of one of the highest performing school systems in the nation!

Click HERE for job opportunities in MCPS!

Week of June 6 - June 10