Blake High School PTSA

To the Parents/Guardians of 9th Grade Students

If you are confused by the maze of High School acronyms and requirements you are not alone!   Come to the 9th grade parent/guardian meeting on Tuesday, October 13th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Blake amphitheater.   We’ll talk about PSAT, HSA, SSL, PE, ODD DAYS, EVEN DAYS and more.

This will be a great opportunity to meet with other 9th grade parents/guardians and Mr. Chris Berry, the 9th grade administrator, to discuss topics related to your 9th grader.

Please contact Michiko Diby (email: michiko.dibyATgmailDOTcom) with any questions or items you’d like to discuss at meeting.

To the Parents/Guardians of 10th Grade Students:

Please join us at our first 10th grade parent/guardian meeting on Tuesday, October 6th from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Blake amphitheater! It’s an opportunity to meet with other 10th grade parents/guardians and Ms. Beth Thomas, the 10th grade administrator to discuss topics related to the Class of 2012.

Our first meeting will include information about the upcoming PSAT exam as well as an open forum to discuss any questions/topics of interest and plan for future meetings.

If you have any questions about the meeting or items you’d like to discuss at the meeting, please email Ann Joiner joiner457ATaolDOTcom.

From the PTSA Special Education Committee:

FREE Transitioning Youth Resource Fair
Saturday, October 17   9:00 – 1:30 pm
Katherine Thomas School 9975 Medical Center Drive (next to Shady Grove Hospital)

For students with disabilities and their families – Middle School through Post-Secondary

Drop-in Workshops:
SSI, DDA, DORS – what are they, who’s eligible and how do you apply
Choosing the Best Path through High School
Transition for Young People with Mental Health Issues
Jobs – Preparing in High School and Finding the Right Job
College Disability Support Services
Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Guardianship/Advanced Health Care Directives
IDEA to ADA

Exhibits:
Recreation
Arts
Education
Advocacy Groups
Transportation
Adult Service Providers
Government Services
College Options and Services

FREE!!  Questions? Need accommodations or translation? Need flyers?    Email transitionworkgroup@yahoo.com

SPONSORED BY:  Montgomery County Transition Work Group, TLC/The Treatment and Learning Centers, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services, Community Support Network, TransCen, Abilities Network

Attention 11th Grade Parents

We’ll have our first Parent-to-Parent meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 30th, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the amphitheatre.

Mr. DuBoyce will present basic rules and policies, credit issues and information related to High School Assessments for graduation. Ms. Martin will present information related to the PSAT and SAT/ACT preparation.

There’ll be time for questions and answers to keep you in the loop!
Please join us and spread the word to other 11th grade parents!

Debi Gartland & Judith Sitkin Porzel

The QSP magazine fundraiser gives the Blake PTSA 40 percent of every subscription sold. QSP offers more than 700 popular magazines at up to 90 percent off newstand prices.

You can help Blake PTSA whether you order a new title, renew a favorite subscription, or give a gift subscription.

To order online, go to the QSP Online Store.

In the box that says School/Organization #, enter the school code for Blake H.S.: 425090296.

Follow the instructions online.

Note: This is an ongoing fundraiser, available online throughout the school year. It is listed on the Help Your PTSA page.

The first After Prom committee meeting was held on Oct. 5th. Watch this space for announcements about future After Prom committee meetings and events.

The committee is in charge of the After Prom, which will be held at Dave and Busters on May 15th. Committee member positions include Decorations, Fundraising, After Prom Activities, Prizes, T-shirts and others. In addition, the committee raises money to support the After Prom through such events as dine-outs at local restaurants and after-school pizza sales on Tuesdays.

If you were not able to come to the meeting but would like to help in any way please contact Maura McMullen (McMullens2ATverizonDOTnet) or Diane Bush at (dbush10892ATverizonDOTnet).

At the September PTSA membership meeting, Principal Carole Goodman noted that one way parents can show their appreciation to Blake staff without spending any money is to send them an email whenever they’ve done an outstanding job or helped their children in a special way. Mrs. Goodman requests that parents cc: her on such emails so that she can place a copy of the note in the staff member’s permanent file.

Note: A current list of all Blake staff, including email addresses, is available on the Blake online Staff Directory.

Documentation of service for which SSL hours are desired must be turned in to the school’s SSL Coordinator (Ms. Erinn Rigney).

2009-2010 Deadlines:

• Last Friday in September: Documentation of service performed in the summer is due. (Friday, Sept. 25, 2009)

• Friday before first semester exams begin: Documentation of service performed during the first semester is due. (Friday, January 8, 2010)

• Friday before second semester exams begin: Documentation of service performed during the second semester is due.(Friday, June 4, 2010)

The Montgomery County Department of Recreation’s KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) Club is looking for high school students who would like to serve as teen coaches for kids with disabilities.

Interested teens must attend a Montgomery County public or private high school.  Sessions are held at Tilden Middle School in Rockville every other Sunday afternoon from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m., October through April.  Students will qualify for student service learning credits.

KEEN Club provides a safe and supportive environment for participants to learn appropriate behaviors while developing self-esteem and confidence through sports and recreational activities.Applications must be received by September 18. The KEEN program is sponsored by the Montgomery County Youth Advisory Committee and departments of Recreation and Health and Human Services. For more information, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec, or call 240-777-6985.

Young people who would like to make a difference in the lives of homeless children are invited to join the County’s Youth Advisory Committee’s “Big Buddy, Little Buddy” program.

Mentors must attend Montgomery County public or private high schools, provide their own transportation and commit to three hours a week at the Greentree Shelter in Bethesda .  Volunteers will qualify for student service learning credits.

Student mentors will assist their “buddies” with homework and arts and crafts projects, plus play games and participate in sports activities with them.  Group activities are planned once a month off the premises.

Applications must be received by September 18. The mentoring program is sponsored by the Montgomery County Youth Advisory Committee and departments of Recreation and Health and Human Services.

For more information and to print an application for the program, see http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/rec/teens/flyers/bigbuddy08final.pdf; or call 240-777-6985.