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Diamond Gems Page 1 of 17
hImer
November, 2014
Volume 4, Issue 3 Diamond Gems Upcoming Events:
November 4th
- NO
SCHOOL Election day
November10th
–Early
Release –
Parent/Teacher
Conferences
November 11th
– Early
Release Parent/Teacher
Conferences
November 3rd
– 11th –
Scholastic Book Fair,
Media Center
November 17th
5 pm – 8 pm
Restaurant Night Chick-
Fil-A in the Kentlands
November 26th
– Early
Release
November 27th
– 28th – NO
SCHOOL - Thanksgiving
Diamond Elementary School 4 Marquis Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20878
“Excellence Through Effort” Message from the PTA President
Dear Diamond Families, I want to start by saying the month of October has been very busy for everyone. I hope everyone has been taking advantage of the many different events that have enriched our school and families. I want to recap the events of October; we had an outstanding International Night as always! I want to thank Nazzi Kholdebarin and Reza Emtiaznoori, as well as all of the families who participated in this event to make it a phenomenal experience. I am proud to say the Diamond staff are being appreciated through the efforts of Kristy King, Carmel McGuire, and the entire Staff Appreciation team. Your giving and support have made the staff more comfortable and has addressed some of the more customized necessities in the public spaces. I’d like to thank Allyson Levine & Mary Kate Gutierrez for their support in our “Donuts for Dads” event which is another marquee event in the Diamond PTA annual calendar of events. It was a great opportunity for the Dads to sit with their children and just enjoy the morning. To the Dads: thank you, I really hope you enjoyed your time with your children. I hope everyone had a chance to admire the efforts of the Curb Appeal team led by Karen Rogers. They refined the grounds around our school marquee and the front grass area just below the kindergarten playground - kudos Karen and team. In my closing I want to take a moment and address everyone who uses the Diamond PTA Yahoo Group and Diamond Facebook and Yahoo pages; these pages are not for posting grievances and/or animus concerns you may have with the school, staff, teachers, etc. I want to remind you all that Diamond has a proud culture of open communication between the school staff and parents. I urge you to always contact your child’s teacher if you have any concerns about classroom activities, homework, etc. Further to this point, you can make an appointment with Mr. Walder or Ms. Shinn if you feel your concerns aren’t being met to your satisfaction. Otherwise, if you feel you need a third party you can email the PTA President or Secretary and we can act as a third-party to assist you with any communication concerns or help connect you with the correct Diamond ES staff member to hopefully resolve your concern. These Diamond pages are for posting PTA events and sharing of information within the MCPTA community. We do not want to put information on any of these pages that will draw negative attention in any way. Also, please be reminded that the Diamond pages are public and do not provide the best forum for supporting any of our children’s educational/classroom concerns. The Diamond PTA web pages are managed by the PTA, and we reserve the right to delete any comment or discussion we deem inappropriate. Parents, I am very proud of you all, I believe every parent in the Diamond family takes great pride in the development of their children, and please by all means “keep up the good work.” Remember the “Andrea Virga Coat Drive” is still underway until Oct 30, 2014. Let’s Go Diamond Dolphins, and join the PTA! Best Darwin D. Johnson PTA President, Diamond ES 2014/2015
Diamond Gems Page 2 of 17
Diamond Elementary
Principal, Mr. Daniel Walder
Assistant Principal, Ms. Cathy Shinn
Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Dee Dee McCaffrey
Attendance Secretary, Mrs. Kim Irish
School Hours: 9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
4 Marquis Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301-840-7177
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/diamondes/
School Colors Blue and yellow
School Mascot
“Finn” the dolphin
International Night Thank You First of all I wanted to say THANK YOU to all PTA members, Mr. Walder and Ms. Shinn for giving me the opportunity to coordinate Diamond ES’s 6th International Night. And special thanks to my husband Reza Emtiaznoori who helped me as co-chair. Also thanks to Mr. Darwin Johnson, Mrs. Gross, Mrs. Lentz, Mr. Golden, Mrs. McCaffrey, Mrs. Irish, all building service crews and all volunteer students for supporting the event. I am so happy that parents and students had a great time that night. Thanks again, Nazzi Kholdebarin
Diamond Gems Page 3 of 17 -
November 2014 - We’re highlighting…
“Mr. Lance Damaska”
What grade do you teach or what position do you have? 4th Grade Have you ever taught another grade? If so, what? Yes, 3rd and 5 th Where were you born? Beaver Falls, PA What was the name of your Elementary School? Chippewa ES When you were in elementary school, what was your favorite subject? Reading Where did you go to college? West Minster College What is your favorite color? Blue What is your favorite sport to watch or to play? Soccer What was your favorite childhood book? Once and Future King What is your favorite book? Redwall What is your favorite hobby? Tropical Fish Do you have a pet? If yes, what kind & what is the name? None What is your favorite food? Homemade apple pie What is your favorite board game? Clue What is the name of your favorite restaurant? Texas Roadhouse What is your favorite movie? Courageous
“Gigi Stake” What is your name? Gigi Stake What grade are you in? 5th Who is your teacher? Ms. Taugher What is your favorite book? Harry Potter What is your favorite food? Korean Steak Do you have a family pet? If so, what kind? No Do you have any brothers or sisters at Diamond? If so, how many and what grades are they in? Yes, Dallin- 3rd and Austyn – middle school How many people are in your family? 5 What is your favorite vacation location? Brazil Where would you like to visit? Hawaii What is your favorite color? Blue and green What is your favorite subject in school? Science What is your favorite movie? Rio What is your favorite hobby? Playing outside Do you play sports? If so, what? Swimming, basketball and volleyball What is your favorite sports team? I don’t know Do you play a musical instrument? If so, what? Yes, piano and viola Where do you want to go to college? Haven’t thought about that What do you want to be when you grow up? A swimmer in the Olympics
Diamond Elementary School 4 Marquis Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
PHONE: (301) 840-7177
Absences: Please call the office, 301-840-
7177, to report student absences.
WEBSITE:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/diamondes/
PTA
Let’s get to know Diamond’s Students & Staff !
Diamond Gems Page 4 of 17
Diamond PTA Yahoo Group!
Get school and PTA information and news!
Join the Group by sending an e-mail message to:
diamond_elementary_school-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
All Parents are strongly encouraged to sign up! It’s FREE and easy and open to all Diamond families and staff. Be sure to include the following in your subscription e-mail:
Your First and Last Name
The First and Last Name(s) of your student(s) and the name of their Teacher(s)
Your student’s grade level
This information is needed for the PTA to identify you as a Diamond parent or guardian in order to grant your membership request. Group membership is also available for Diamond staff! Elizabeth and John Voung diamond_elementary_school-owner@yahoogroups.com Elizabeth2278@gmail.com
Johnqvuong@gmail.com
Attention Classroom Volunteers! If you are interested in being a classroom volunteer, please sign up with your child’s teacher. In addition, please email our Volunteer Coordinator, Amy Galler - amygaller@yahoo.com.
Diamond Gems Page 5 of 17
RESTAURANT NIGHT
Monday November 17th from 5PM – 8PM
Chick-Fil-A in The Kentlands
-
A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT DIAMOND PTA!
TELL THEM WE SENT YOU!
PTA Curb Appeal Day Announcing “Green Thumb Awards” to the following for hard work during PTA Curb Appeal Day in October: Matthew Dahan Bill Garrett Jen, Matt, Matty, Taylor & Nikki Gormley Mary Kate, RJ, and Reenie Gutierrez Suzanne Jenkins Darwin Johnson Tim, Daniela, Brendan and Thomas Markey Jaime Melara Cathy Shinn Darshita, Dhanvi and Dwiti Vasavada Thanks to our awardees for all of their hard work weeding, trimming, mulching, planting and sprucing up the school gardens. A special thanks to Bill Garrett and Cathy Shinn, for help delivering mulch bags. It was so nice to see returning students pitch in and earn SSL hours. The hard task was made so much easier by all of the support and yummy refreshments provided by Cathy Shinn. There is a lot more work to do, so look for the next Curb Appeal Day in the weekly ConnectEd announcements and the PTA Yahoo List Serve. You can also send an e-mail to ShaneKaren99@gmail.com to receive a personal invitation. Karen Rogers Chair, PTA Curb Appeal
Diamond Gems Page 7 of 17 Thank you to the families that have joined the PTA! (as of 10/15/14)
Abdulkadir Elias Kondragunta Qui White
Abraham Ellsworth Kostaris Rachakonda Williams
Adhami Emard Kumar Reed Zafar
Alangaden Emtiaznoori Lang Reese Zangmeister
Al-Saeed Estrada Levine Roff Zhang
Amanuel Farieta Lin Rogers Zimet
Amirineni Feldstein Liu Rowe Angelastro Fischer Locraft Rubman Arnold Fisher Lopez Sabag Baik Forman Lubin Sanders Bakri Galler Madera Santiesteban Bakshi Garre Venkata Magesh Satyawani Basam Gerke Mancia Saxena Berman Glerum Manikoth Schwartz Bernal Goh McGuire Schwindaman Bhadriraju Golder McHugh Selvarajan Bhamidipati Gollapudedi McKenna Senguttuvan Bipat Gonsalves Megahed Sewall Bodenstein Gonzalez Meininger Sharma Brar Gormley Mensah Sharma Brown Grabow Merritt Shinn Brown Gupta Miller Shrivatsa Burney Guruvayurappan Mohanty Singh Butler Hanson Mollica Slattery Butterman Harris Montalban Smith Calabro Hase Montesinos Sogal Cassels Hassan Mudiya Stake Cavasilios Ho Naik Strawbridge Chahal Huang Nanduri Su Chill Hugg Newson Tang Chimera Jain Nigmann Taylor Chu Jayaprakash Nistane Theeler Chung Jeffy Nuthalapati Theodore Craig Jeong O'Brien Thies Creswell-Claggett Johnson Pao Trego Crotts Johnson Park Turner Daly Johnston Parker Uppin Damodara Joseph Parmach Vairamani DeLand Kafetz Paul Vakatov Dillon Kahn Pawar Van Roie Du Kalbhor Pelaez Vasavada Duhon Kalmat Phelan Vuong Dyrdahl Marquez Kashyap Pilloff Waghode Dyson Kelley Pirnat Walder Edwards King Ponce Watkins Ehlers Komakula Puranik Wesselink
Diamond Gems Page 8 of 17
It’s Jacket and Coat Season!!!
It’s that time of year when our children are misplacing or losing their coats, jackets, gloves, hats and sometimes lunchboxes! Parents, please check the lost and found located in the Art hallway for any missing items. Also, please check that the items your child comes home wearing or that are in their backpacks are theirs. Please return them to school if they are not.
Donuts for Dads Event We had a very successful Donuts for Dads event on Thursday, October 16, with a wonderful turnout of dads, grandfathers, and uncles accompanied by their children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces. The donuts, coffee and orange juice were very well received!! Thank you to the First Field (Quince Orchard) Starbucks coffee for their very generous donation. We would also like to thank the PTA for sponsoring this successful and fun event, and to Mr. Walder, our school Principal, and Ms. Shinn, our Assistant Principal, for their support during the whole event. We had a wonderful and very dedicated committee of volunteers who helped us put this event together, including: Melanie Mollica, Donna Marraffa, Daniela Stake, Gretchen Walters, Abbe Arnold, Stephanie Theeler, Shanon Phelan, Katie Smith, Kanya Sanders, Mariana Rojas, Kristin Johnston and Heather Locraft. We are also thankful for the assistance from Luis Rosales and Dennis Fitzwater from Building services, for all their help prior, during, and after the event. We greatly appreciated all the help from Mrs. Kim Irish, and Mrs. Dee Dee McCaffrey throughout the planning of this event. We could not have done it without your ongoing support and assistance!! Thank you! Mary Kate Gutierrez and Allyson Levine - Co-Chairs
Diamond Gems Page 9 of 17
Staff Appreciation PTA Staff Appreciation would like to express our thanks to the families that donated gift cards in October. These $5 gift cards will be used as give-a-ways for our fabulous educators. We will continue accepting donations throughout the year. Stores to consider include: Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Panera, Krispy Kreme, Michaels or Target. Please send gift cards through your child’s teacher in an envelope marked PTA STAFF APPRECIATION. Thank you in advance for your generosity. In November, we will be arranging dinners on November 10 & 11 for staff that will be staying late to conduct Parent/Teacher Conferences. We will need volunteers to provide food along with setup and cleanup. Please email us at:desstaffappreciation@gmail.com if you are interested in assisting. Thank you for your continued support during this school year!!
2014 DES SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the Media Center from Monday, November 3 rd through Tuesday, November 11th from 8:45am to 4:00pm weekdays only. The fair will be closed Tuesday, November 4th for Election Day. On Monday, November 11th the fair will remain open until 8:00 p.m. during parent/teacher conferences. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Shannon Glerum at shannonglerum@yahoo.com.
Diamond Gems Page 10 of 17
Diamond Elementary Turkey Trot 2014
1 Mile Fun Run
Saturday, November 22nd 10:00 a.m. Warm up at 9:45 a.m. (meet in front of the school)
$3.00 per participant
Refreshments will be sold
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name(s)_________________________________________
Grade (s)________________________________________
Total enclosed $
***Please make checks payable to DES PTA***
contact Brigitte Rowe brigitterowe@gmail.com or
Liz Pilloff lizpilloff@hotmail.com with any questions
Diamond Gems Page 12 of 17
PTA
2014/2015 Diamond Elementary PTA Calendar Note: Dates and Events are subject to change.
October 2014 Day Date Time Event
Tuesday 7 7:00 PM PTA Meeting, Media Center
Friday 10 7:00 PM 6th
Annual International Night!
Monday 13 9:00 AM–12:00N Diamond Elementary Open House
Thursday 16 8:30 – 9:45 AM Donuts for Dads, All-Purpose Room
Friday 17 All Day NO SCHOOL, MSEA Teacher Convention
Wednesday 22 4 PM – 9 PM Restaurant Night – Potomac Pizza in the Kentlands
Thursday 30 2:00 PM Halloween Parade & Classroom parties
(Last day of Andrea Virga Winter Coat Drive)
Friday 31 All Day NO SCHOOL – Professional Day
November 2014 Day Date Time Event
Tuesday 4 All Day NO SCHOOL,- Election Day
Monday 10 1:00 PM Early Release, Parent/Teacher Conferences
Tuesday 11 1:00 PM Early Release, Parent/Teacher Conferences
Monday 3 - 11 See flier Scholastic Book Fair, Media Center (open during Parent/Teacher Conferences)
Monday 17 5-8pm Restaurant Night – Chick Fil-A in Kentlands
Saturday 22 TBD TURKEY TROT FUN RUN- AT SCHOOL
Wednesday 26 1:00 PM EARLY RELEASE prior to Thanksgiving
Thurs./Fri. 27 - 28 All Day HOLIDAY – Thanksgiving NO SCHOOL
December 2014 Day Date Time Event
Tuesday 2 7:00 PM PTA General Meeting, Media Center
TBD TBD TBD Restaurant Night – TBD
Wed - Wed. 24 - 31 All Day NO SCHOOL – Winter Break
January 2015
Day Date Time Event
Thur - Fri 1 - 2 All Day HOLIDAY – New Year’s Day – No School
Wednesday 14 9AM – 10AM Principal’s Coffee
Monday 19 All Day HOLIDAY – Martin L. King, Jr. Day – No School
Tuesday 20 All Day NO SCHOOL – Professional Day
10/15/2014
Diamond Gems Page 13 of 17 Tuesday 20 2pm – 4pm Rockville Town Square – Ice Skating Fundraiser!
Friday 30 7:00 PM Family “Finn”-Go Night
February 2015
Day Date Time Event
M-F 2 – 20 All Day Kids Helping Kids Food Drive
Tuesday 3 7:00 PM PTA General Meeting, Media Center
Friday 13 7:00 PM Family Fun Night – Valentine’s Dance, All-Purpose Room
TBD TBD TBD Restaurant Night – TBD
Monday 16 All Day HOLIDAY – Presidents’ Day – NO SCHOOL
Friday 20 AM Last Day of Kids Helping Kids Food Drive
Friday 27 1:00 PM Early Release
March 2015
Day Date Time Event
Friday 6 7:00 PM PTA EVENT – TBD
TBD TBD TBD Restaurant Night – TBD
Friday. 27 All Day NO SCHOOL Professional Day
April 2015
Day Date Time Event
M-F 3 - 10 All Day Spring Break – NO SCHOOL
Tuesday 14 7:00 PM PTA Budget Meeting, Media Center
TBD TBD TBD Restaurant Night – TBD
Friday 24 8:15 – 8:45 AM Dol”Finn” Dash Training
May 2015
Day Date Time Event
Tuesday 5 7:00 PM PTA General Meeting. Media Center (Elections)
Fridays 1 & 8 8:15 – 8:45 AM Dol”Finn” Dash Training
Tuesday 12 8:30AM - 9:45AM Muffins for Moms, All-Purpose Room
TBD TBD TBD Restaurant Night – TBD
Friday 15 8:00 – 8:45 AM Dolphin Dash! – Back of school - Fields
Thursday 21 7:00 PM Curriculum Night – All Grades!
Monday 25 All Day HOLIDAY – Memorial Day – No School
June 2015
Day Date Time Event
Wednesday 3 8:30am Volunteer Gathering – Media Center (Breakfast Reception Wednesday)
TBD TBD TBD Restaurant Night – TBD
Friday 12 1:00 PM EARLY RELEASE - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Updated 12/16/2014 Go to www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/diamondes/PTA for updates
PTA Executive Committee and Chairpersons
Executive Committee Name Email
President
Darwin Johnson Darwin.johnson1214@gmail.com
VP – Fundraising Kristina Wesselink Littlestewie1@gmail.com
2014 - 2015
Diamond Gems Page 14 of 17
VP – Community
Stephanie Theeler stheeler@hotmail.com
Treasurer
Chris Chimera Chrischimera4@hotmail.com
Secretary
Shannon Phelan Shannonphelan@gmail.com
PTA Committee Chairperson Email After School Activities Valerie Holford valerieholford@rcn.com
Annual Fundraiser Kristina Wesselink Littlestewie1@gmail.com
Back to School Social Abbe Arnold jasabbe2@verizon.net
Book Fair Shannon Glerum shannonglerum@yahoo.com
Box Tops & Labels for Education Shannon McKenna wrigley317@comcast.net
Cultural Arts Mary Jo DiBernardo Emard mjdibernardo@hotmail.com
Curb Appeal Karen Rogers Shanekaren99@gmail.com
Diamond Gems Newsletter Kristin Johnston
Allison Fisher
kristinjohnston1@yahoo.com
allisonfisher16@gmail.com
Diamond’s Marquee Sarah Lang sarahklang@gmail.com
Directory Cynthia Miller
Kristin Johnston
Drcyn74yahoo.com
Dol”Finn” Dash & Training Julie Sabag jnstarley@yahoo.com
Donuts for Dads
Muffins for Moms
Allyson Levine
Mary Kate Gutierrez
allysonlevine1213@gmail.com
mkmcg72@gmail.com
Family Fun Finn-Go Night Abbe Arnold
Nazzi Kholdebarin
jasabbe2@verizon.net
nazzi74@gmail.com
Family Fun Movie Night Sandee Taggart Sandra.taggart@sprint.com
Family Fun Valentine’s Dance Heather Locraft
Allison Fisher
hlocraft@gmail.com
allisonfisher16@gmail.com
Fifth Grade Picnic Abbe Arnold Jasabbe2@verizon.net
Foreign Language: Language Stars Brigitte Rowe brigitterowe@gmail.com
Food Drive Sarah Lang
Liz Pilloff
sarahklang@gmail.com
lizpilloff@hotmail.com
Giant A+ Bonus Bucks & Target—Take Charge
of Education
Kristin Chu kristinchu1@verizon.net
Giant Bulletin Board Jennifer Gormley Jennifer.gormley@yahoo.com
Girls on the Run Paul Phelan
paulphe@gmail.com
Group Piano Rocio Paul Rjp1207@yahoo.com
International Night Chair &
Co-Chair
Nazanin Kholdebarin
Reza Emtiaznoori
nazzi74@gmail.com
PTA Committee Chairperson Email
MCCPTA Delegates (2) Rick Chimera
Shannon Phelan
Rick.chimera@yahoo.com
shannonphelan@gmail.com
Membership Brooke Bernal
Shannon Phelan
brookebernal@yahoo.com
shannonphelan@gmail.com
Parents’ Night Out Heather Locraft
Katie Dyson
hlocraft@gmail.com
katiedyson@verizon.net
Northwest Cluster Rep. Rick Chimera rick.chimera@domo.com
Diamond Gems Page 15 of 17 Principal’s Coffee Jaime Craig
Elizabeth Vuong
Email.jaime.craig@gmail.com
Elizabeth2278@gmail.com
Quince Orchard Cluster Rep. Mary Jo DiBernardo
Emard
mjdibernardo@hotmail.com
Nominating Committee Co-chairs OPEN
Restaurant Night Heather Locraft
Katie Dyson
hlocraft@gmail.com
katiedyson@verizon.net
Room Parent Coordinator Eileen Heaps eileenheaps@yahoo.com
Turkey Trot Fun Run Fundraiser Liz Pilloff
Brigitte Rowe
lizpilloff@hotmail.com
brigitterowe@gmail.com
Special Needs Representative Fatma Sabri zhra@hotmail.com
Spirit Wear Liz Pilloff
Holly Reed
lizpilloff@hotmail.com
hollylowreed@gmail.com
Staff Appreciation Chair
& Co-Chairs
Kristy King
Carmel McGuire
desstaffappreciation@gmail.com
UNICEF Nisha Manikoth
Jaime Howenstein
nishanatesh@hotmail.com
jaimehowenstein77@gmail.com
Volunteer Coordinator Amy Galler amygaller@yahoo.com
Andrea Virga Winter Coat Drive Nazzi Kholdebarin Nazzi74@gmail.com
Yahoo Group Moderators Elizabeth Vuong
John Vuong
Elizabeth2278@gmail.com
johnqvuong@gmail.com Updated 12/16/2014
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/diamondes/PTA
Email darwin.johnson1214@gmail.com if you are interested in any of the above openings
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