BACK TO SCHOOL

By April 8, approximately 40 percent of South Lake students had returned to the classroom for four full days of instruction, with the fifth spent at home learning virtually. This figure represents the school’s capacity in order to maintain COVID guidelines. Staff members reported for younger children the adjustment back to the discipline of the classroom was challenging. Socially, children were happy to see their friends.  For many families, home routines improved; working families were relieved to no longer have childcare expenses.

Some challenges have continued in terms of transportation, helping struggling students catch up, and the fact that virtual learning is still the only option one day a week. Some teachers have been imaginative, including Heather DeLuca, STEAM teacher, who sponsors “Science Scholars” once a week, which is a 90-minute block of time where students can catch up on science homework.

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

Planning continues to move forward on completing the construction of South Lake’s new building by 2023. Principal Celeste King and her staff have been working with MCPS to help design the new school’s layout, including providing ample space for both a parent resource room and a community room. Current plans are to move South Lake students in December 2021 to Emory Grove Elementary until the building is completed.

TBA AND SOUTH LAKE

The Community of Action again wishes to thank all those who contacted the County Council last fall urging members to return South Lake to its priority place on the CIP list. Read the full story in Washington Jewish Week.

We are currently working with school staff to find ways to support South Lake students and families. This spring, we helped provide funding for two STEM evening programs. The first of these held on April 8 featured SO Fun City who traveled from New York to present an interactive virtual event where students became inventors and problem solvers as they learned magic. The second of these was produced by Mad Science of Washington.

On Tuesday, May 3, Temple Beth Ami hosted a brunch for over 120 South Lake faculty and staff as part of Teacher Appreciation Week. Everyone enjoyed a brunch catered by Panera of bagels, assorted pastries, yogurt parfaits, and fresh fruit. At the end of the month, Saturday, May 22, Temple Beth Ami volunteers teamed up with South Lake faculty, parents, and students to complete a Beautification Project to pick up trash around the school and enhance the outdoor environment with flowering plants and freshly trimmed bushes.

Other help continues to be needed. Donations of gift cards to Giant, Walmart, and Target are always welcome to support South Lake families who struggle with food insecurity. Tikkun Olam will be sponsoring the annual School Supply Drive this summer. South Lake families rely on this collection. Other supporting volunteer programs including the After School Art Club, Mommy and Me, and Lunchtime Reading are still on hold with the hope that by fall 2021, these can be reinstituted. Look for updates to come or email Community of Action.

MCPS Black and Brown Coalition for Education Equity and Excellence

The Black and Brown Coalition for Education Equity and Excellence recently published its first newsletter providing an overview of the advocacy work of the organization. The Coalition was founded by Byron Jones (Montgomery County Chapter of the NAACP) and Diego Uriburi (Identity, Inc.) in order to close the opportunity gap by advocating for educational equity for Brown, Black, and low-income children through evidence-based policies. The newsletter covers the group’s advocacy positions and provides a link to its study regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and virtual learning on Black, Brown and low-income families, a video of its Virtual Accountability Forum Regarding Education Equity, Maryland Blueprint for Education advocacy, and a summary of its work to date. Click here to request a copy of the emailed newsletter.

Click here to learn more about MCPS’ Educational Equity and Enrichment Hubs and what you can do to help.

Click here to learn more about this series of conversations and for future event dates/speakers.

Voting Rights and Mobilization

Join us for training with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism:

• Thursday, June 10 at 8 pm:
  https://rac.org/calendar/freedom-vote-and-lobbying-training?utm_medium=email&utm_content=2021_6_3(zoom)

• Wednesday, July 14 at 8 pm: https://urj.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtfuiqqzwsGtHHbTbMTCSaASlmt-pgDyC4?utm_medium=email&utm_content=2021_6_3

We will be taking notes and learning how we can effectively support Voting Rights now and through the coming year. This will be a huge virtual group so after you register with the RAC, please let us know you are joining by also emailing bethamigotv@gmail.com so we will know who is interested in working on this issue.

Montgomery County Primary Candidates Forum – June 12, 2022

Save the date and block out some volunteering time!  The first planning meeting will be in October 2021. We will reach out to all those who volunteered for our successful 2018 Forum and publicize our first meeting to the whole congregation, as we would love to have people who have not yet been involved join us!

AIM is continuing to pursue advocacy of a four-part agenda established last summer. The agenda includes the following issue action teams:

• Health: This two-part issue includes: 1) addressing disparities in COVID testing, tracing, and treating and 2) addressing healthcare deserts in Montgomery County especially those created during distant learning.
• Jobs: This issue focuses on ways to create conditions leading to better-paying jobs with benefits allowing for families to reach financial stability which impacts housing choices.
• Housing: This two-part issue includes: 1) stopping evictions during the pandemic and 2) supporting the preservation and production of affordable housing in the County.
• South Lake: Protecting the return of South Lake Elementary School to its original priority place on the County’s CIP roster is critical.
• Additionally, AIM has begun a new agenda item focusing on police reform.

Anyone interested in getting involved in one or more of these team efforts should contact Tanushree Isaaacman or Cynthia Marshall.

During the week of February 8, the Maryland General Assembly overrode Governor Hogan’s veto of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Temple members will remember that this bill was the culmination of years of work by experts to craft a world-class education system and has 5 main pillars: early childhood education; elevating the licensure standards for teaching and providing commensurate compensation; investing in those children who need more assistance; ensuring our students are college and career ready; and establishing accountability and oversight. By overriding this veto, the legislature also released the funds for HB 1 (2020), the Built to Learn Act, which will provide the funding mechanisms for public school construction projects.

According to State Delegate Sara Love, “The Governor’s proposed budget fully funds the Blueprint and school construction. The General Assembly also has now secured over $7 billion for school construction, education programs, additional resources, and more support for teachers and students.”

Strong Schools Maryland advocated for state legislators to vote to override Hogan’s veto. The group hosted over 700 advocates in Annapolis for daily advocacy days, held over 200 legislator meetings, sent over 35,000 emails to lawmakers, made more than 14,000 calls to legislators offices, sent over 100,000 texts to Maryland voters, collaborated with more than 50 statewide partners in the Coalition for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, of which Temple Beth Ami was one.

Thank you to all TBA members who participated in this advocacy through your letter writing, calls, and texts.