The 5th Grade Geography Bowl will be taking place soon. Each 5th grade student has an opportunity to complete and study a packet of information on Europe, Africa and Asia. The top 3 scorers on the test, for each class, will represent their class and participate in the annual Geo Bowl. The winning class will receive the coveted trophy their teacher will proudly possess for the year…until next year’s Bowl. In addition, the winning class will earn a PTA sponsored ice cream party, with a little something special for the winning participants! Students love the opportunity to make signs and cheer on their fellow classmates for this friendly competition.

Please join us for our final PTA meeting of the year to elect our PTA Board for 2025-2026. We will celebrate our successes over the past year, discuss planning and ideas for next year, and say a big thank you to all our volunteers who made everything possible that we accomplished this year! 

Bar-T will be available for childcare and we will be providing pizza, but RSVP's are required to ensure adequate staffing is available:

Field Day is coming up at RPES! More information to come and volunteer sign-ups will be shared with parents.

Join Us for a PTA Meeting & Parent Social – Tues, May 6, 2025

We’re excited to invite all RPES parents to a combined PTA Meeting and Parent Social on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 PM at Colony Grill (11325 Seven Locks Road, Cabin John Village, Potomac, MD).

To make it easier for families to attend, extended Bar-T child care will be available for RPES students from 6:00–8:00 PM in the RPES all-purpose room. Pizza dinner will be provided for the children. RSVP IS REQUIRED BY SUNDAY, MAY 4!

At Colony Grill, the PTA will provide pizza and non-alcoholic beverages for attending parents. Additional food or alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

Please RSVP using this form by Sunday, May 4 so we can plan accordingly:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXx_v8QkmBClCUqAAButXBdAP7ELv6SPMFLvP68F_RGvVY9Q/viewform?usp=header

We hope to see you there for an evening of community connection and conversation.

Arts and Science Night - April 9, 2025

We invite all students to participate by bringing in their STEAM projects to display at the event. Whether it's a science experiment, a piece of art, a technological innovation, or a mathematical model, we welcome all contributions! The deadline to submit a project is April 1, 2025. Each participant will receive a certificate of participation.

You can sign up to bring your project here:

STEAM Project Submission Form Sign up here!

We promise an evening filled with wonder and excitement for the whole family!

Fun Run Day: Friday, April 4

Timing:

Grades K-2: 1:00-2:00pm
Grades 3-5: 2:00-3:00pm

About the Event

The Boosterthon Fun Run is a high-energy event where students will run, move their bodies, build character, and learn about fitness—all while raising funds to support bigger field trips and exciting school assemblies!

Fundraising Tiers & Schoolwide Rewards

Tier 1: $3,000 – Finish Strong!
PTA meets its fundraising goal for the year
Reward: Schoolwide Popsicle Party after the event

Tier 2: $9,000 – Expand Field Trip Opportunities (Includes Tier 1 Reward!)
$1,000 field trip fund for each grade (K–5)
Helps cover bus costs & high-quality experiences

Tier 3: $13,000 – Shoot for the Stars! (Includes Tiers 1 & 2 Rewards!)
A Traveling Planetarium comes to RPES!
Students experience a 360-degree space adventure in the school gym

*Students also receive individual prizes for fundraising

We’re excited for this experience because it offers 3 important things to our school community:

High-energy, fitness-focused in-school event for all students!

Character enrichment program

 A fun and easy way to support our school’s fundraising efforts!

Join our April meeting to hear about upcoming events including the Boosterthon Fun Run Fundraiser, Arts & Science Night, and more! Mrs. Heifetz will give her monthly update. We hope you can join us!

Your RPES student can attend Bar-T for FREE during the meeting and enjoy pizza dinner! Drop your student at Bar-T in the All Purpose Room. 

PLEASE RSVP BY MON, MARCH 31 SO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AND PIZZA!

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 7-8:30pm

Join us for Cultural Heritage Night on Wednesday March 19 from 7-8:30pm. This family-friendly event for a night that celebrates culture and diversity at RPES. If you have any other questions or ideas please contact Amy amyhaddad28@gmail.com 

Cultural Heritage Night Volunteers Needed!

Thank you to everyone who is hosting a table at Cultural Heritage Night, we are going to have a great showing! Please consider volunteering to help out at the event. Spots are available for set-up, greeters, and clean-up. Sign-up HERE

Join our March meeting to hear about upcoming events including Cultural Heritage Night, the Boosterthon Fun Run Fundraiser, Arts & Science Night and more! Plus learn about the Staff Person of the Year award. Mrs. Heifetz will give her monthly update. We hope you can join us!

Your RPES student can attend Bar-T for FREE during the meeting and enjoy pizza dinner! Drop your student at Bar-T in the All Purpose Room. 

PLEASE RSVP BY MON, MARCH 3 SO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AND PIZZA!

Community Service Night is back! It is on Thursday, February 20 at 7pm in the All Purpose Room. We will be packing backpacks, organizing supplies, and creating positive cards for an amazing organization, Comfort Cases. www.comfortcases.com Their goal is to provide a bag filled with personal items for children as they transition into foster care.

TIME SLOTS:

7-7:45: Session 1: GRADES K-2

Packing Backpacks, Card Making & Mindfulness Activity.

8-8:45: Session 2: GRADES 3-5

Packing Backpacks, Card Making And Mindfulness Activity.

8:45-9: Organizing and Clean Up

Donate TODAY and include your grade level in your donation!

Venmo:- @Tina-Basalla

Zelle - 3017289377

THIS YEAR WE’RE REQUESTING MONETARY DONATIONS TO GO TOWARDS:

KINDERGARTEN - TOILETRIES

1ST GRADE - COLORING BOOKS / CRAYONS

2ND GRADE - STUFFED ANIMALS

3RD GRADE - BLANKETS

4TH GRADE - PJS SIZES 3-6

5TH GRADE - PJS SIZES 7-10

Donate TODAY and include your grade level in your donation!

Venmo:- @Tina-Basalla

Zelle - 3017289377

Questions? Contact Sally Rahnama orTina Basalla at

salemay51@gmail.com

gupta.tina@gmail.com

What: Join us our February PTA meeting + special parent presentation on online safety for children!

Where: RPES School Library (enter through main entrance and walk straight down the hallway)

When: 7-8pm

This meeting features a presentation by Jamie Padre from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

PLUS: Your RPES student can attend Bar-T for FREE during the meeting and enjoy pizza dinner!. Drop your student at Bar-T in the All Purpose Room. PLEASE RSVP SO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AND PIZZA.

Come try your luck at Bingo and win fun toys and prizes! It’s free to play bingo, and we’ll also have raffle items (tickets for purchase) and a bake sale to benefit the 5th grade promotion.

Win a fun prize or just have fun playing bingo with friends! No RSVP necessary - just come have a fun evening at Ritchie Park!

Volunteers are needed to make this fun evening a success!
PLUS, THE PTA IS INVITING RPES FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO CONSIDER DONATING A BASKET, GIFT CARD, OR OTHER ITEM TO THE RAFFLE:

What: Join us our December PTA Holiday Mixer & Meeting!

Where: RPES School Library (enter through main entrance and walk straight down the hallway)

When: 7-8pm

Join us in the library from 7-8pm for our December PTA Meeting. We’re going to take some time to socialize and enjoy some treats, hot cocoa, and sparkling cider. The holiday mixer will be from 7-7:30 with the meeting from 7:30-8:00pm.

PLUS: Your RPES student can attend Bar-T for FREE during the meeting and enjoy pizza dinner and a small treat!. Drop your student at Bar-T in the All Purpose Room. PLEASE RSVP BY MON, DEC 2 SO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AND PIZZA!

Dine out at Cabin John Shake Shack on weds, nov 13 from 10:30am-9:30pm and 25% of proceeds will be donated to RPES PTA.

Show the flyer (click below) when you order in-person OR use code DONATECHICKEN on the Shack App for pickup, delivery or kiosk (in store) when checking out. This is valid for the whole day - so order lunch, a snack, dinner, or dessert and you’ll help support the PTA!

What: Join us our November PTA meeting!

Where: RPES School Library (enter through main entrance and walk straight down the hallway)

When: 7-8pm

PLUS: Your RPES student can attend Bar-T for FREE during the meeting and enjoy pizza dinner!. Drop your student at Bar-T in the All Purpose Room. PLEASE RSVP SO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AND PIZZA.

Saturday, October 26, 2024 ∙ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Cabin john skating rink
10610 Westlake Dr, Rockville, MD 20852

Please join the Ritchie Park Community at Skate Night. Come dressed in costume (optional) for a great evening of skating fun!
Tickets are required for anyone who wishes to skate.
Skate rentals are optional and for those who don't have their own skates.

Still want to join but didn’t purchase tickets?

If you would like to join skate night and did not purchase tickets or rentals by the deadline, please email Mihaela Biro, PTA VP of Programs at programs@ritchieparkpta.org

If you would like to attend and need a reduced price, please send a confidential email to the school counselor: Rachel_S_Greif@mcpsmd.org.

What: Join us our October PTA meeting!

Where: RPES School Library (enter through main entrance and walk straight down the hallway)

When: 7-8pm

PLUS: Your RPES student can attend Bar-T for FREE during the meeting and enjoy pizza dinner!. Drop your student at Bar-T in the All Purpose Room. PLEASE RSVP SO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AND PIZZA.

Join us for the annual Ritchie Park Elementary School PTA Welcome Back Picnic!

This is an event for the whole family! We’ll have pizza and desserts for sale plus games and an inflatable obstacle course to celebrate the start of school and to come together as a community. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and join the fun!

Rain date is Friday, September 13, 2024.

What: Join us for the first PTA meeting of the 2024-2025 school year!

Where: RPES School Library (enter through main entrance and walk straight down the hallway)

When: 7-8pm

PLUS: Your RPES student can attend Bar-T for FREE during the meeting and enjoy pizza dinner!. Drop your student at Bar-T in the All Purpose Room. PLEASE RSVP SO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AND PIZZA.

The PTA is pleased to sponsor Popsicles with the Principal. Come meet our new Principal, Mrs. Cassandra Heifetz. PTA volunteers will be passing out popsicles from 5-7. This event will take place by the front entrance of RPES. We hope you can join us!

Help make sure Ritchie Park voices are represented! 

The Central Area Summer Advocacy Meeting brings together several area school clusters to inform MCCPTA (the county association of PTAs) advocacy priorities for the coming year. These are the issues MCCPTA will focus on before the school district and Board of Education.

RSVP at: https://bit.ly/2024CentralSAAM

Celebrate the end of the year with ice cream! Come get a special treat, compliments of the PTA. The Staff Member of the Year will be announced at the ice cream social. We hope you can join us!

Come out and mingle with the RPES parent community at our inaugural parent night on Sunday, June 2, 2024 from 6-8pm. We'll provide appetizers and refreshments - the bar will be open if you want to purchase additional food or alcoholic beverages. It's a great way to catch up with old friends - and make some connections in our wonderful community. Please RSVP so we can plan ahead.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfO9oN-gjOL0hq9_n3yubRSxJPUvIFIruhZ3ry8OKFmqmbHIw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Join us for the annual Art and Science Night at RPES. View science experiments and projects created by students along with beautiful student artwork. New this year: parents and family members will have the opportunity to purchase their child’s framed artwork!

Art

This year our Art Show will feature a theme... Maryland! Each student's art will relate to a place or symbol of our state! 

We have teamed up with Artomé to have every student’s work framed to be displayed at the show. Each student will have the opportunity to purchase their professionally framed work. The cost is $25 per frame, $22 will go to the company Artomé for the actual frame and $3 will go to the Ritchie Park art department for new supplies such as paint, paper, clay, and other exciting mediums!

You will be able to purchase the frame the night of the show, but it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to pre-order the frame on Artomé’s website beforehand.

If you choose not to buy the frame Artomé will take your student's artwork out of the frame at the end of the night and hand it back to Ms. Goldberg. Artwork without a frame will be passed back during the week to the artist it belongs to. If other family members would like to purchase a reproduction of your student's artwork you can order a framed copy from Artomé during the virtual event and Artomé will ship it to them.

Science

We invite all students to participate by bringing in their exciting STEAM projects to display at the event. Whether it's a science experiment, a piece of art, a technological innovation, or a mathematical model, we welcome all contributions! 

You can sign up to bring your project here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16674XZF7dHjxIXHqs5dXBG1KkEQbwdJ355qBjMxUN3E/edit

Deadline to submit a project is Sunday, May 19th. Each participant will get a certificate of participation

We're also seeking volunteers to assist on the day of the event. We need help with the science tables and art projects to ensure everything runs smoothly. If you're interested in lending a hand, please let us know by emailing Nat Gorman at nattng310@gmail.com or signing up here.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAZd1fBQ2X1w0foiQ8GypJif0JKK4Kk_km1QQaLLRGDPaGcQ/viewform

Plus, don't miss the science assembly by Circus Science with Gregory May at 7:00 pm!

Stay tuned for more surprises and details about the event. We promise an evening filled with wonder and excitement for the whole family.