College Gardens Elementary School

Valentine's Day Classroom Celebrations - Tuesday (2/14)

Classroom Valentine’s Day Celebrations are scheduled for Tuesday, February 14 from 2:45 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.  Please contact your child’s teacher for more information.

Our February Community dinner is this Thursday (2/16)

Our February Community Dinner/Fundraiser Night is this Thursday, Feb. 16th, between 5 pm to 9 pm at Bamboo Buffet, 2010 Viers Mill Road, Rockville (Twinbrook Shopping Center, near Safeway).  Invite your friends, family and neighbors to come join with our College Gardens community for a scrumptious all you can eat dinner - over 150 buffet items to choose from!  Bring the flyer and 10% of your purchase will be donated to the PTA!

Also mark your calendar for these upcoming Community Dinners:

• Mar 13 - Hard Times Cafe, 1117 Nelson Street, Rockville
• Apr 23 - Fontina Grill, 801 Pleasant Dr,  Rockville (King Farm)
• May 3 - California Tortilla, 199 E. Montgomery Ave., Rockville (next to Regal Movie Theaters)
• May 23 - Buffalo Wild Wings, Rockville Town Square

Richard Montgomery HS Cluster Concert - Now is Tuesday, Feb. 21, 7:30 pm @ RMHS Auditorium

The Richard Montgomery Cluster Chorus Concert was postponed last Wednesday, Feb. 8, due to weather conditions. The concert, including performances by our 5th Grade Chorus, is rescheduled for its snow date, Tuesday, February 21 at the Richard Montgomery High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. 

Students from each of our four cluster elementary schools will be performing.  It promises to be an evening of exceptional music from our cluster student chorus’.  

Family Fun Night is next week! - Friday (2/24)

The PTA’s Family Fun Night will be on Friday, February 24^th, from 6:30 - 8:45 pm.  College Gardens will be turned into a Winter Wonderland!   There will be food, games, crafts, a DJ, and a raffle with terrific prizes!   The proceeds from the raffle help fund this event. (see Family Fun Night flyer)

We need volunteers to help plan and work this event that is fun for the whole family.  If you are interested in helping out or know students who need SSL hours, please contact Gegi Leeger on 301-879-2219 or at GegiPTA@hotmail.com.

Rockville Student Art Show

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to display your child’s work in a real art gallery setting. The Annual Rockville Student Art Show will be held at the Glenview Mansion Art Gallery at Rockville Civic Center Park from March 4th-March 23rd. Student work is to be dropped off Sunday, February 26th from 1:30-3:30pm. Work will be accepted from all K-12 students who live within or attend schools located within the corporate limits of the City of Rockville. Entry forms and more information available at www.rockvillemd.gov/arts/studentexhibit.htm 

Cultural Arts Assembly - The Spilling Ink Project Wednesday (2/29)

Join us at the College Gardens PTA's third Cultural Arts Assembly of the school year.  On Wednesday, Feburary 29, The Spilling Ink Project will entertain students with their show Katha: Tales from India.  The shows are at 9:45am for Headstart and grades K-2 and at 2:30pm for grades 3-5.  Both shows are in the APR.  Parents, guardians and siblings are welcome to attend. (see a video preview)

If you can help on the day of the assembly (setting up chairs, seating students), please contact Jen Green at hahleewude@verizon.net.

Do you have a direct connection with a local carpet vendor?

Several classrooms in our school are in need of new carpets.  These area rugs provide our children a comfortable gathering space for group learning and having fun, however several classrooms have rugs that are old and falling apart, or simply have no rugs at all.  Commercial grade classroom rugs from school supply vendors can cost upwards of $300 each.

The PTA would like to purchase new, durable, flame resistant, carpets for the classrooms that are most in need.  We are in search of a parent who may have a direct connection to a local carpet/rug vendor.   If you have a connection with a local vendor and can help the PTA secure a good discount on the purchase of multiple rugs, please send an email to info@cgespta.org.

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"Make Your School a Bully-Free Zone" by Maureen Costello, Director of Teaching Tolerance

When parents think of bullying at school, the first image that comes to mind may be a large child shoving a smaller, younger child in a schoolyard. But bullying is rarely so obvious these days. The most common forms of bullying can go unnoticed, and can do far more lasting damage. This fact presents a challenge to parents and educators working to create a bully-free environment in their schools. Fortunately, there are concrete, effective steps parents and educators can take to prevent bullying—and prevention is the best solution.

Recognize the signs and causes of bullying

What causes bullying? A genuine conflict between students is distressing, but it is not bullying. Bullies seek power and almost always bully a child who is not likely to fight back and who is perceived to be different or “less than.” The victim may come from a nontraditional family, practice an unfamiliar religion, wear unusual clothes, or have some unfashionable physical or emotional traits. (read full article)