Art to Remember

Hopefully, by now, most of you have received your child's Art to Remember packet. When you are looking for that special gift for that special someone, think about purchasing an Art to Remember keepsake. At least 25% of the cost of each item (and as much as 33%) goes to RCF. The Art to Remember orders will arrive at RCF between Dec. 15th and Dec. 17th. If you have any questions or need additional paper for siblings, friends, nieces or nephews, please contact me at raehaas00@yahoo.com. Or you can pick up another order packet, which includes the paper, in the office.

Happy Shopping!

Rachel Haas

Staff appreciation luncheon a huge sucess

Thank you to all of the parents -at every grade level- who contributed to the event. The tables were literally full of delicious food including lots of homemade and international dishes! There were: homemade tamales, Indian lemon rice, spinach lasagna, Mexican stew, Cuban beans rice, pasta with pesto, quiche, Napa cabbage salad, Peruvian chickens, Greek salad, rosemary foccacia, sandwiches, beef roast, olive bread, fruit salads, dulce de leche, cheesecake, chocolate, cider, sparkling waters, and much much more! With your $ contributions we were also able to buy ceviche, shrimp, a vege tray, desserts, a bouquet of peppers, and additional serving items that we needed.

At 5 pm, RCF staff members were still stopping in to grab a plate before evening conferences. Additionally, teachers definitely have a lot to enjoy tomorrow! Thank you to the so-many of you who contributed, and a special thanks to Teresa Chavez, Sorayda Carbajal and Rachel Haas who helped set up or serve during the day.

If you left a dish or serving utensil with us, please find them-clean-on the small table in the staff lounge. Please try to collect them on Friday before or after school.

The next Staff Appreciation potluck is on Wednesday, March 3rd and the theme is Italian. Please earmark your favorite recipes for that!

Regards,
Elizabeth Sadqi

This morning's paper brought a rude shock on page 3 of the Metro section journalist Nelson Hernandez reports that MCPS could be required to pay between 16 and 64 MILLION dollars in fines due to a compromise hashed out last spring between the county and the board of education to meet state spending requirements.

The story is so convoluted but here is what I understand. The state sets minimum levels of funding for its counties and in the last year, as the county faced a huge budget crisis, the board of education asked the state to allow them to reduce spending. The state BOE denied the request citing the similar circumstances around the state. The county scrambled to find a way to bring its spending in line with the states expectations and yet also be fiscally responsible. The county council ultimately ordered the board of education to pay back the money owed on school construction, which typically the county would pay for.

Doug Gansler, the state Attorney General has issued an opinion that this solution is "artificial" and therefore illegal since it gives the appearance of spending more money while not actually spending the money on education. It is now up to the state board of education to decide what, if anything, the fine should be.

For what it is worth, Prince George's County hit upon a similar solution. We will have to wait and see how that plays out.

What impact will this have on our little corner of MCPS. It's hard to say at this point. On the one hand, it could force the county and the BOE to fund MCPS more fully. On the other hand, I also like to have police and a fire department. What do you think?

Mind the Gap

I recently heard this radio documentary called Mind the Gap on the how the achievement gap plays out in one economically and racially diverse New Jersey suburb. It was a fascinating overview of everything from the differing expectations parents bring to early education to the role of class in student performance to the impact of tracking on high school students. I highly recommend it. It is an hour long, but riviting and well worth the time.

http://www.prx.org/pieces/40313-mind-the-gap-why-good-schools-are-failing-black-s

Here's one of the RCF traditions that I love: Halloween Parade. It is a little bit messy, a little bit ragged, different every time, but a whole lot of fun. I love that the kids are so excited. I love that the teachers join in the fun and I love that parents turn out in huge numbers. There are always too many cupcakes, too many Darth Vaders and some child cries for some reason (it might be the cupcakes and Darth Vader). But it is all about the kids and the community, and that is what makes RCF a special place.

The picture above features many, but not all the great staff costumes. Thanks to all the teachers and staff who enthusiastically embrace the craziness, most especially Building Services, who does a great job when it is all done. Thanks to all the room parents who organized a fun afternoon and to Nina Bronk Keller who organizes all the room parents. Finally, thanks to all the other parents who come and join in the fun.

Happy Halloween.

CIP released; RCF on track for Modernization

The Board of Education released its Six Year Capital Improvement Plan today. Most importantly for us, RCF remains on track for modernization. Quoting from the report:

*Rock Creek Forest Elementary School*Capital Project: A modernization project is scheduled for this school with a completion date of January 2015. An FY 2011 appropriation for facility planning funds is recommended for a feasibility study to determine the feasibility, scope, and cost of the modernization. Division of Long-range Planning staff will review the educational specifications for the modernization with the school staff and community in the spring of 2010 in anticipation of the feasibility study. In order for this project to be completed on schedule, county and state funding must be provided at the levels recommended in this CIP. Projections indicate enrollment at Rock Creek Forest Elementary School will exceed capacity throughout the six-year period. Relocatable classrooms will be utilized until additional capacity can be added as part of the modernization.

This is very good news, HOWEVER, note the words that county and state funding must be provided at the levels recommended. Over the next few months, we need to maintian pressure across the spectrum -- from the Board of Education, to the County Council, and most importantly, to the State House and Governor's Office. Check back here to get more information about how to help.

For starters, plan to attend the CIP hearing with the Board of Education on November 11 and 12. Wear your RCF shirts, bring signs and bring your kids! 7 PM in the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. Craig Brown is testifying for the cluster on November 11 and I am testifying on the 12th. See you there.

Parking, Kiss and Ride and Other Dangerous Sports

OK, In the interest of full disclosure this post is pure editorial, but parking and driving and drop off around the school during peak times is tough at best and very nearly a contact sport at worst.

Let's all remember, the kiss and ride is there for a reason, to ease the flow of traffic. Please don't park illegally on Grubb Road or Colston to drop your kids off. Colston is so narrow firetrucks cannot fit through if people are parked illegally. Grubb is very busy at 9 AM, when people are parked illegally, it is nearly impossible to see clearly enough to make the turn from Blaine onto Grubb safely. Which leads me to my next point.

PLEASE look for walkers when you get close to an intersection. I can't tell you the number of times I have almost been hit by a parent pulling out of Blaine Dr. Even more frequent are the times I stop and watch the parent pull through the stop sign craning their head to the left to look for oncoming traffic on Grubb and make the right turn WITH OUT EVER LOOKING TO THE RIGHT, where my kids and I are standing. These are people I know, friends, fellow parents, PTA members and dedicated volunteers.

Finally, when we do park, please be respectful of our neighbors and try not to block driveways or park at the condos, even for a few minutes. The condos WILL tow your car. It is so tempting, I know, the open spots are just sitting there, when we need them most, but they aren't ours to use.

OK, done with editorializing for now. Go forth and drive safe!