Welcome
KP PTA Membership Meeting
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Ice Breaker: On a scale of 1-9 how do we feel entering Week 4 of school? Drop your # in the chat!
2026-2027 PTA Board Officers
President Denise Gomez Oluwo
VP Fundraising Nadai Rahaman
VP Acad. Enrichment Elaine Liao Avin
VP Programming Jen Goldschmidt
VP Communications Ally Kelly
Treasurer Jamie Tippit
Secretary Maariya Bassa
Cluster Rep 1 Mariah Murphy
Cluster Rep 2 Matt Shell
MCCPTA Rep 1 Daniela Bernal
MCCPTA Rep 2 Page Yarborough Santiago
NAACP Parent Council Rep Shawntel Powell
KP PTA Membership Meeting
Agenda:
Principal & Assistant Principal Updates
2026-2027
Back-to-School Resources Slides
Core Purpose
This framework describes what strong, inclusive teaching should look like in every MCPS classroom. It is designed to ensure that every student has access to high-quality instruction that responds to their strengths and needs and is based on research about how students learn best.
Key Components
High-Quality Materials: Students are instructed with strong, high quality grade-level materials that are aligned with what they are expected to know and be able to do. Materials include a variety of perspectives, cultures, identities, and experiences so students can see themselves and learn about others.
Explicit Instruction: Teachers carefully plan and teach lessons in a clear, purposeful sequence. They explain what students are learning, why it matters, and what success looks like, while using different teaching approaches to help all students understand and make progress.
Culturally and Linguistically Responsive and Specialized Teaching: Teachers build on students’ cultures, languages, strengths, experiences, and individual learning needs. Students receive the supports they need to successfully participate in grade-level learning, including appropriate services and supports for multilingual learners and students receiving special education services.
Effortful Thinking: Students do more than listen or complete assignments—they actively think about what they are learning. They have opportunities to solve problems, explain their thinking, ask questions, discuss ideas, make connections, and apply what they learn.
Motivation Strategies: Teachers create classrooms where students feel welcomed, supported, challenged, and ready to learn. Clear expectations, positive relationships, engaging learning, and consistent classroom routines help students feel comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and working through challenges.
Feedback and Assessment: Teachers regularly check what students understand and provide timely, useful feedback to help them improve. Teachers use this information to adjust instruction, provide additional support or challenge, and help every student continue making progress.
Instructional Vision
Elementary Curriculum
Literacy
Amplify CKLA: Upgrading to the 3rd Edition for PK-grade 5. The 3rd Edition further integrates authentic texts, reducing the need for supplemental resources:
Implementation: Year 3 of rollout with focused professional development, collaborative planning, and job-embedded coaching.
Mathematics
Amplify Desmos Mathematics: Launching a new high-quality instructional material for PK–Algebra 1 that emphasizes conceptual understanding, mathematical discourse, problem solving, and productive struggle.
Implementation: Year 1 of systemwide implementation with professional learning, collaborative planning, instructional coaching, and ongoing classroom support.
FIT Intervention
FIT Time: Continued expansion of literacy and math interventions for all students.
Implementation: Student progress is monitored regularly using classroom evidence, DIBELS, mCLASS Math, and teacher observations to adjust instruction and intervention.
Implementing the Assessment Calendar
What's Staying the Same
What's New for 2026–2027
Implementing Progressive Discipline & Restorative Approaches
*The use of progressive discipline and restorative approaches is a MCPS expectation for all school staff.
Progressive Discipline
Responses increase based on student behavior and circumstances, prioritizing instruction and correction before exclusion.
Restorative Approaches
Rebuilding and Strengthening Community
Restorative practices resolve conflict, repair harm, and reconnect students to the school community.
Student Code of Conduct: Supporting Safe, Respectful Schools
Creates safe, supportive, and respectful learning environments through clear expectations, consistent responses, and restorative approaches.
MCPS EXPECTATION: All staff use progressive, instructive, and restorative approaches to student behavior.
PREVENT & EDUCATE
• Establish clear behavioral expectations
• Teach and reinforce positive behaviors
• Apply expectations consistently and equitably
• Build strong student–staff relationships
RESPOND & SUPPORT
• Use tiered, progressive responses
• Begin with redirection and intervention
• Increase responses based on behavior and circumstances
• Use administrative action when necessary
REPAIR & RESTORE
• Address harm and rebuild relationships
• Support successful student reentry
• Partner with students and families
• Reduce the likelihood of recurrence
Our goal is not simply to respond to behavior—it is to teach, correct, restore, and keep students connected to learning.
COG-RA Implementation: Ready for Day One
Supporting the Maryland House Bill 525: Phone-Free School Act rollout with a coordinated set of communications so staff and families hear one consistent message.
Resources
COG-RA Regulation and FAQ
A step-by-step operating procedure translating the regulation into daily school practice.
Back to School Resources
A ready-to-use teacher slide explaining expectations directly to families.
For Families
Parent-Facing FAQ
Plain-language answers to the questions families are most likely to ask.
No Cell, Bell to Bell Guide
The family & student guide covers the why, the rules, and what happens if a device appears.
Every school opens the year with the same rules, the same tools, and the same message to families.
MCPS Future Ready
13
Mobile Device Policy & Code of Conduct Connection
COG-RA Mobile Devices Regulation
PMDs are strictly prohibited during the academic school day ("Bell to Bell"). This includes cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and communication devices under the Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act.
Progressive Intervention & Discipline
Violations trigger tiered, progressive responses. Unauthorized PMD use transitions range from administrative warnings to out-of-school suspensions and/or exclusions.
Code of Conduct: Tech Violations
Technology infractions are fully integrated into student discipline protocols. The updated Code targets critical digital and academic safety issues:
• AI Misuse: Academic and social impacts.�• Cyberbullying: On and off-campus behaviors.�• Media Infractions: Recording/posting fights.
Shared Accountability & Integrity
Aligning phone-free school boundaries with the Code of Conduct ensures distraction-free classrooms, safeguarding student mental health and academic integrity.
"Think before you click, Pause before you post, and If it’s not helpful to others, delete it!"
Standard Response Protocol
Synergy and ParentVUE Updates
ParentVUE Submitted Attendance
Tardy Check-In Kiosks
Digital Hall Pass
What is the KP PTA?
Helping our Eagles SOAR!
The KP PTA is a volunteer-driven organization that works alongside our school to enrich the experience of every student, support teachers and staff, and build a connected KP community.
ENRICH:
Academic Enrichment
Curriculum
Student Programs & Activities (e.g., Science Fair)
SUPPORT:
Classroom Resources
Staff/Teacher Appreciation
Student & School Needs
CONNECT:
Family & Community Events
International Night
Community Service
Your PTA annual membership & the Kensington 8k are our ONLY fundraisers!
Volunteering is NOT required as part of your PTA membership!
By-Laws Voting
Proposed By-Law Changes:
Proposed Budget & Vote
REVENUE | |
Fundraisers/ Membership | |
Box Tops | $100.00 |
Eagle Fund Membership | $20,000.00 |
Kensington 8K Race | $15,000.00 |
Scholastic Book Fair | $1,000.00 |
Misc. Donations | $1,500.00 |
Total Revenue | $37,100.00 |
EXPENDITURES | |
Communications & Public Relations | |
Sister School Partner | -$500.00 |
Spirit Wear Sales | |
Expense | -$4,000.00 |
Income | $3,000.00 |
Total Spirit Wear Sales | -$1,000.00 |
Staff Appreciation | -$7,500.00 |
Website/ Zoom/ Virtual Speakers/In-Person Meeting | -$1,000.00 |
Total Communications & Public Relations | -$10,000.00 |
PTA Operations | |
Bank Fees | -$15.00 |
Cluster Activities | -$200.00 |
Insurance | -$250.00 |
Membership Dues | -$1,000.00 |
Office Supplies | -$250.00 |
Quickbooks | -$950.00 |
State Licenses and Registration | -$200.00 |
Tax Preparations | -$3,000.00 |
Total PTA Operations | -$5,865.00 |
School & Facility Support | |
Staff Support | -$1,500.00 |
Patrol Picnic | -$700.00 |
Recess Equipment | -$1,000.00 |
Total School & Facility Support | -$3,200.00 |
Total Expenditures | -$46,665.00 |
| |
Total Revenue | $37,100.00 |
difference | -$9,565.00 |
Proposed Budget 2026-27
Enrichment/ Academic Support | |
Academic Enrichment | -$3,000.00 |
Counseling Support | -$2,100.00 |
SGA Support | -$500.00 |
Diversity & Inclusion | -$1,500.00 |
Field Day | -$500.00 |
Green Team | -$1,200.00 |
International Night | -$750.00 |
Science Fair | -$500.00 |
Classroom Reimbursement | -$6,000.00 |
Teacher Mini-Grants | -$2,000.00 |
Literacy Day | -$1,200.00 |
Total Enrichment / Academic Support | -$19,250.00 |
Programs & Community Support | |
NAACP | -$250.00 |
Back to School Picnic/Ice Cream Social | -$1,100.00 |
Room Parent Committees | -$500.00 |
End of Year Pizza | -$500.00 |
Running Club | -$500.00 |
Wellness Day | -$3,000.00 |
Skate Night | -$1,000.00 |
5th Grade Activities | -$1,500.00 |
Total Programs and Community Support | -$8,350.00 |
Total Reserves at 9/1/26 | $ 26,989.00 |
Membership/Fundraising Update
Membership is Fundraising!
Givebacks
New Categories
Membership/Fundraising Update
Membership
Fundraising
This is one of KP’s biggest fundraisers!
Run or Walk�8km | 2 mile | 1km
Fast, Flat Course�Fun For the Whole Family�
https://runsignup.com/Race/MD/Kensington/Kensington8K
Every membership matters. Every family belongs.
Together, we can help every KPES student SOAR!
JOIN THE KP PTA TODAY!
Latino Heritage Month�PTA DE&I Committee
Parent Volunteering 101
Kensington Parkwood PTA - Volunteer at KP
5th Grade Committee & Fundraising�Committee Chairs: Uduak Ogunsiakan & Graceny Jimenez
Fifth Grade Committee organizes fundraisers to cover the cost of activities for our fifth grade students as they celebrate their last year of elementary school. Planned activities include:
These bake sales and dine out nights (where a portion of your food purchase from places like Five Guys and Chipotle are then donated by the restaurants to KP’s fifth grade) are ways you can help support! Fifth grade may feel far away for some, but it will be here before you know it and we love this tradition to celebrate every student’s last year at KP.
Communications Update
Newsletter
Stay Connected
2027-2028 & 2028-2029
School Year Calendar Survey
Survey closes September 20. Vote Here
Key Highlights:
Event Reminders:
Questions? We’ll do our best to answer.