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Mustang Weekly

Building Students, Building Leaders Vol. 3 Issue 14

Mustang WeeklyBuilding Students, Building Leaders Vol. 3 Issue 14

Vision: We foster respect, relationships, and equity to ensure success for all.

November 4, 2024

Principal's Message

Dear MHES families and staff,


We are looking forward to an exciting week ahead with all our students! Just a reminder that school will be closed today, Monday, November 4, for our staff professional day, and tomorrow, Tuesday, November 5, for Election Day. We hope everyone enjoys the extra time, and we can’t wait to welcome students back on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.



Thank you for your continued support, and let’s make it a fantastic week together!


Please take a moment to review the important information below for the week of November 4, 2024.


Desmond Mackall

Principal

Meadow Hall ES

IMPORTANT DATES:

November

4- No School Professional Day

5- No School- Election Day

6- PTA Meeting at 7pm

6- MHES Student Picture Day

7- Principal Coffee at 9:15 am

8- SGA Candidate Speeches at 10 AM (Available online)

15-MHES PTA Bingo Night at 6:30 pm

26- Early Release Day

27-28- No School for Students and Staff

Picture Day is Wednesday, November 6, 2024!

Families,


Do not forget Wednesday, November 6th is student picture day! Students will take class pictures tomorrow for the yearbook!

A Word from Mrs. Jackson: Community School Liaison!

COMMUNITY SCHOOL UPDATES

Meadow Hall Cafe

We will have a Coffee and Conversation on November 7, 2024, at 9:10 AM. The topic of conversation will be “Understanding Your Child’s Report Card,” and “How to Help Your Child Deal with Academic and Social Stress.” Coffee and pastries will be provided. A Spanish interpreter has been requested.


Family Survey

Our Community School should meet the needs represented in the community, so your input is essential! So far only 78 families have completed the Family Survey. I ask that all families complete the survey by November 23, 2024. To make it interesting - the class with the most surveys completed will be rewarded! If you have children in more than one class, please be sure to list all classroom teachers. The winners will be announced in early December. Mr. Taylor’s class is currently in the lead!

English Survey

Spanish Survey


English Conversation Classes

Our English conversation classes have been a hit! We will have a winter session beginning in January. Stay tuned for registration information.


Josie’s Closet

Josie’s Closet was established to positively impact children experiencing clothing insecurity. They will provide our students with two NEW outfits, a pair of jeans, shoes, and socks. Please contact me if your child is in need of a referral. The typical turnaround time for the orders to be fulfilled is 10 business days.


Bus Stop Tour

I am on the second leg of the bus stop tour! I have enjoyed meeting with parents and talking a bit about the Community School Strategy. Please see the schedule below to know when you can expect me to stop by and say “hey!”.


  • Scott Avenue and Edmonston Drive 11/8/24
  • Edmonston Drive and Gilbert Road 11/15/24
  • Denham Road and Gilbert Road 12/6/24
  • Grandin Avenue and Woodburn Road 12/13/24


How can I help YOU?

Please reach out to me if you have questions about resources in the community. I am here to serve all members of the Meadow Hall Community!

Jessica Jackson, MSW, LCSW-C

Community School Liaison for Meadow Hall Elementary School

Department of Student Engagement and Behavioral Health

Office of Well-Being and Student Services

Cell: 227-216-1193

IG: @meadowhalles_CSL

Twitter/X: @MHES_CSL

Website: https://wideworldofya.my.canva.site/mhes-csl-site

Upcoming Events!

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PTA!

5th Grade Bake Sale on Election Day

Please consider helping our 5th graders have a great end of year celebration by supporting their bake sale. If you can volunteer time or baked goods please check out the sign-up genius here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054AAEA92AA0FB6-52015791-5thgrade#/. Donations must be dropped off to the school by November 4th.


PTA Meeting: November 6, 2024

We encourage you to join us tonight for our PTA meeting. Admin will review the MCPS report card.
Topic: PTA Meeting
Time: Nov 6, 2024 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81169870313?pwd=pB388xwc0YxcGlpistMCEQXqmt5J60.1
Meeting ID: 811 6987 0313
Passcode: 060816


Bingo Night

Join us on Friday, November 15th at 6:30PM for a family fun-night of Bingo! You can pre-order pizza (by November 12th) or just come and enjoy some Bingo! Every Meadow Hall Student will get 1 free Bingo card. Additional cards cost $3.00 each or 2 cards for $5.00. Drop-offs are not permitted but the whole family is welcome. We will have lots of great prizes for Bingo winners and drinks and snacks will also be sold. If you can help support the event with either time or donations please click on the link here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4FACA72AA4F8C52-52801384-pizza#/. Hope to see you there!



Want to get involved in the PTA?

MHES PTA is looking for members to participate on the PTA in various ways. We encourage all families to look at the link below and consider supporting the PTA and getting involved on a committee for the new school year. See the link below:


PTA Committee Volunteer Positions-FY24


Box Tops for Education

Box Tops for Education is a program that gives money to schools for their family’s participation just by purchasing products and scanning the receipt in the Box Tops App. Box Tops earnings are used to fund items for the school and events. If you haven't done so already, Download the Box Tops App on your smartphone using Referral Code WZTM9R7Z. We promise it is a super easy task to get used to. Register and select Meadow Hall as your supporting school. SCAN your receipt with the Box Tops app within 14 days of purchase and EARN cash with every Box Tops product you buy.


JOIN THE PTA

Why join the PTA? Among the many, many good reasons, it basically boils down to being a great way to benefit your child, the school, and yourself by being involved in the PTA functions and connecting with other parents and staff. And for those of you who have been members in past years, don’t forget to renew your membership. Memberships are $10 for family and community members (only one membership is needed per family). We are thrilled to get to know everyone and see you all at our meetings and activities!

OTHER MCPS NEWS!

MCPS Schools Excel in NICHE Rankings

Three Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) have been recognized as the top schools in Maryland as ranked by Niche, a national school and college search platform. In the latest rankings, an additional 18 MCPS schools—across elementary, middle, and high school levels—also placed in the top 10 for the 2025 Best Public Schools in Maryland.


Poolesville High School was named the number one public high school in Maryland. Walt Whitman, Winston Churchill, Thomas S. Wootton, Richard Montgomery and Bethesda-Chevy Chase high schools joined Poolesville in the top 10 rankings. Northwest, Montgomery Blair, Quince Orchard, Clarksburg and Sherwood high schools ranked among the top 25.


Cabin John Middle School was distinguished as the number one middle school in the state. Thomas W. Pyle, Robert Frost, Herbert Hoover and North Bethesda middle schools also ranked in the top 10 schools at this level. Joining the top 25 are Takoma Park, Westland, John Poole, Lakelands Park, Hallie Wells and Tilden middle schools.


At the elementary level, nine MCPS schools earned recognition in the top ten rankings, with Westbrook Elementary School named as the top school. Following in are Stone Mill, Seven Locks, Wayside, Ritchie Park, Carderock Springs, Cold Spring, Diamond and Burning Tree elementary schools. Named among the top 25 elementary schools are Bells Mill, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Wyngate, Kensington Parkwood, Bradley Hills, Bannockburn, Fallsmead, Wood Acres, Lakewood and Travilah elementary schools.


Overall, MCPS was recognized as the second Best School District in Maryland and the second Best School District for Athletes in Maryland.


According to Niche, these rankings reflect MCPS’ exceptional performance across numerous factors analyzed by Niche, including academic performance, extracurricular activity opportunities, data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education and user input from current students, alumni and parents.


For more information on the rankings visit Niche.


MCPS Cheerleaders Shine at the 36th Annual Cheerleading Competition

Teams from 25 MCPS high schools performed amazing stunts during the 36th annual cheerleading competition on Oct. 26, held at Montgomery Blair High School. Squads were judged on level of difficulty, technique and execution. The competition showcased the talent of the squads and gave fans an opportunity to support the teams.


We are so proud of our student-athletes who excelled and showcased their talents at the MCPS Cheerleading Championships,” said Systemwide Athletics Director Jeffrey Sullivan. “Their stunting, tumbling, and spirited routines exemplify our R.A.I.S.E. core value of spirited competition. A special congratulations is extended to our three division winners – Winston Churchill, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and John F. Kennedy high schools. We look forward to watching many of our teams compete at the regional and state levels in the coming weeks!


Read more about the competition that celebrated the dedication and passion of these talented young athletes!


One Day Left to Apply to the High School Regional/Countywide Special Programs

Attention 8th graders! Apply to Regional/Countywide Special Programs using the high school common application found in ParentVUE. Students in grades 9-11 may apply for career readiness programs.


Information sessions will be available for students and families. Visit the Special Programs webpage for details.


Application deadline: Friday, Nov. 1.

Programs At A Glance, eligibility, FAQs and a video overview are available on the Special Programs webpage.


Save the Date: Operating Budget Forums

MCPS invites you to participate in a series of listening sessions to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget. Join the MCPS leadership team to explore how every dollar is utilized within the school system, learn about upcoming changes, ask questions and share your insights. Your voice is important!

  • Monday, Nov. 11, 6:30–8 p.m., location to be determined
  • Thursday, Nov. 21, 6:30–8 p.m., location to be determined


Last Call for School Calendar Feedback!

As MCPS continues to develop the 2025–2026 traditional school year calendar, the district is seeking additional feedback from staff, families, students and the community. Take a moment and give us your feedback on Round 2 of the survey. The survey will close on Sunday, Dec. 1.The Board of Education is expected to adopt the 2025–2026 school calendar at its Dec. 5 business meeting.


The major differences between the two calendar options are:

· Length of winter break (eight days or 10 days).

· Last day of school for students (Wednesday, June 17, 2026 or Monday, June 22, 2026).

Click here or scan the QR code below to access the survey.


Coming Soon: Winter Sports Season

Online registration for 2024-2025 high school winter athletics is available through the ParentVUE portal. This portal, accessible in English and Spanish, consolidates all necessary forms and documents into a user-friendly, internet-based platform. Parents and guardians can securely log in to the portal to complete the registration. Additionally, they have the option to scan and upload their student’s physical examination documents. Please note that pre-participation physical exams remain valid for a duration of 13 months. More information is available on the registration page of the MCPS Athletics website.


Marking Remembrance and Reconciliation Month

MCPS observes Remembrance and Reconciliation Month with mandatory brief K-12 learning on local African American history and support of local Emancipation Day celebrations. The Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation was established by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights in 2019.


Below are upcoming MCPS Emancipation Day events for this year:


Student Opportunities

On-The-Spot Admissions: Several local and regional colleges and universities are offering on-the-spot admissions to MCPS seniors from 6–8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Seneca Valley High School, and from 3–6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Richard Montgomery High School. Attendees will also get FAFSA support and learn about the Montgomery College application process.

Seneca Valley is located at 19401 Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown.
Richard Montgomery is located at 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville.

Speak Up, Save a Life: The State’s Attorney’s Office’s “Speak Up, Save a Life” student video PSA contest is open to middle and high school students. The videos must focus on the dangers of using drugs, opioids and fentanyl. Students can earn 10 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours by participating; the top prize is $1,000. Entries are due by midnight on Friday, Nov. 12. Submit an entry. For questions, send an email.


National C-SPAN Documentary Competition: Students in 6th through 12th grades are invited to participate in C-SPAN’s annual national video documentary StudentCam competition, which encourages them to think critically about issues that affect our communities. This year, students are being asked to create a five-to-six-minute video documentary on a topic that relates to the competition theme, “Your Message to the President.” Students may compete individually or in groups. The submission deadline is Inauguration Day, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. C-SPAN awards cash prizes to the top 150 student documentaries. More details here.



Open Registrations


More From MCPS

ParentVUE and other Important Online Resources

  1. Sign Up For ParentVUE to Stay in Touch With Your School
    Families new to MCPS are encouraged to sign up for a ParentVUE account at the beginning of the school year. ParentVUE is the online parent portal that serves as the primary communication vehicle for schools to share information regarding grades, attendance, scheduling, access to myMCPS Classroom, and more.
    ParentVUE provides a way to view school-related information and data for students. Register for athletics, and special programs, communicate with teachers, and verify your student information annually.
    ParentVUE also allows access to Canvas/MyMCPSClassroom, a digital learning platform. Parents and guardians can view instructional information and resources, and get alerts about assignments and grades.

  2. Sign up for Alert MCPS
    Alert MCPS provides emergency information about school closures or emergencies via text or email messages to devices you register. Sign up here.

  3. Know These Important System Resources A. GoFan: This online digital ticketing platform offers fast and easy access to tickets for high school events, and allows fans to enter games quickly and safely. For ticketed sports, tickets are no longer sold at the gate and must be purchased online. B. SchoolCash Online: https://www.schoolcashonline.com MCPS has transitioned to this online payment system as its preferred method of payment for all school-related fees. Schools and offices will now use SchoolCash Online for fundraising, field trips, course fees and extracurricular activities. This new payment system is not related to school cafeteria accounts.

    1. MySchoolBucks:Use MySchoolBucks to add school meal money to your child’s account. This will eliminate the need for your child to bring money to school every day. This year, meals (lunch and breakfast) will not be universally free. If your student wants to buy lunch in school, they will need a MySchoolBucks account. Families who believe they qualify for free and reduced-price meals can apply here.

ParentVUE Quick Guide- English
Click the button to access the Quick Guide in English.
ParentVue Quick Guide- Spanish
Click the button to access the Quick Guide in Spanish

BUILDING STUDENTS, BUILDING LEADERS!

Meadow Hall
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