There’s a lot to keep track of, especially at the start of the school year, so here’s a handy little checklist to help you out. It’s a simple guide to ensure you don’t miss any important steps, whether it’s joining the PTSA, signing up for volunteer opportunities, or staying connected with school events.
Join the PTSA Here: Membership Toolkit
Learn More: cabinjohnptsa.org
Thank you to all the parents and staff who have stepped forward to volunteer this year. You’re amazing! There are still a few more roles we’re looking to fill. Support and training are provided.
If you can help — either leading a committee or helping out — please fill out this form, and we’d love to talk. We have a lot to accomplish this year, and we need every family to help!
Show your Cougar spirit with CJMS gear, and take advantage of special sale prices! Hoodies, flannel pants, and shirts are all available at reduced prices, making it the perfect time to stock up. Order online today and conveniently pick up your items at the Back-to-School Picnic. Don’t miss out on this chance to save, support the PTSA, and show your Cougar pride!
We welcome all members of our community who are interested in supporting our school through volunteer service. Your time, energy, and commitment make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and help strengthen our school community.
Before you begin volunteering, please take a moment to review the following MCPS screening requirements. For additional guidance, you can explore the related FAQs page as well as other helpful MCPS volunteer resources, which provide detailed information on the process and expectations for volunteers.
We hope your kids—and you—are settling into the school routine. We have a lot of fun events and activities lined up, so please make sure to save the dates.
September 18: Back-to-School Picnic and Parent Social – 5:30pm to 7:30pm
September 30: Restaurant Night at Shake Shack (Check out the flyer below)
October 11: School Cleanup Day – 9am to 11am
October 14: General PTSA Membership Meeting (in person) – 6pm Social, 6:30pm Meeting
See you there!
The CJMS PTSA is excited to welcome you and your family as we begin the 2025–2026 school year together! It was a joy to connect with many new families as they joined our school community on Monday. We hope the CJMS bag and magnet we distributed brought our new students a little extra Cougar spirit to start off the school year.
This year the PTSA is focused on increasing parent engagement, reimagining some of our programs, and focusing on fundraising. Your involvement matters more than ever. Whether you’re new to the school or a returning family, we need your support to help create the programs, events, and resources that make our school thrive.
Together, we can make this a great year!
PTSA Executive Committee: Debbie Fleischer – President | Rachel Azoff – Vice President | Heather Braswell-Ho – Vice President | Denise Schainker – Treasurer | Claire Andrews – Secretary
By joining the PTSA you are advocating on behalf of our students (including your own!) and showing your commitment to providing the best school experience at Cabin John. We welcome student members too! Join online today on our Membership Toolkit! No additional commitment is required. Membership is annual and must be renewed each school year.
Donate to PTSA. Most of our funding comes from your donations so please donate if you are able. While we suggest $100 per family, any amount helps! Last year we only met 59% of our fundraising goal, which impacts our financial strength and ability to support our students. Every dollar we raise supports programs and activities at CJMS. Membership dues only account for 15% of our annual budget. Please add a donation to your cart when you join! Learn more about ways we support Cabin John.
Volunteer. There are lots of ways to get involved—even an hour makes a difference! Complete this form to discover available opportunities and indicate your interest.
Keep in Touch. Make sure you are subscribed to Cougar Clips for weekly updates and mark your calendar for the Back to School Picnic (Thursday, September 18th) and our first PTSA meeting of the year (Tuesday, October 14th).
Join us for a fun-filled Back-to-School Picnic on Thursday, September 18, from 5:30–7:30 PM! Kids can enjoy an inflatable soccer field, gaga pit, lawn games, a photo booth, and music from our DJ, while parents can socialize and connect. Pizza and other concessions will be available. Stay tuned for more details!
If you shop at Harris Teeter, please link your VIC card to support CJMS. It’s easy and free, but you need to link your school(s) each school year! Only takes a minute and the contributions really add up!
We are still collecting nominations for the following positions:
• VP: Open
• Membership Chair (Manages directory and A to Z Connect updates): Open
• NAACP Parents’ Council Representative (PTSA Representative for Montgomery County NAACP Parents’ Council): Open
• Reflections Chair (Runs art contest): Open
• Spiritwear Chair (Runs Spiritwear sales): Open
• Book Fair Chair (Organizes Fall Book Fair): Open
Our 2025-2026 PTSA Leadership Nominees:
• President: Debra Fleischer
• VP: Selena Liang
• Treasurer: Denise Schainker
• Secretary: Claire Andrews
• MCCPTA & Churchill Cluster Delegate: Heather Braswell-Ho
• MCCPTA & Wootton Cluster Delegate: Priyanka Kamat
• Webmaster: Heather Braswell-Ho
• Communications Chair: Julie Ehrlich
• Back to School Picnic Chair: Georgia Karamalikis
• School Support Chair: Selena Liang & Alex Downey
• International Night Chair: Varsha Morar
Please stay tuned for the date and time for our election.