Meadowcreek Community Newsletter

December 5- 12 Days of December Begins

December 5- The Office of Counseling, College & Career Services, and The Office of Health and Social Services Night 5:30-7:00PM (Virtual)

December 4-9- iReady Diagnostic in ELA and Math (Grades K-5)

December 11&12- Holiday Luncheon

December 12- Winter Concert @ 6:00PM

December 16-18- District Assessments in Math, Science, Social Studies (Grades 3-5)

December 18- Little Learners Academy 11:00AM-12:00PM

December 23-January 3- WINTER BREAK

January 6- Students Return to School

Please see the iReady Diagnostic and District Assessment schedule below. It is very important that your child is at school and on time each day for testing. Testing begins at 8:30AM. We appreciate your support in ensuring we have a successful assessment administration!

Wednesday, December 4 - Monday, December 9-

iReady Diagnostic in ELA and Math (Grades K-5)

Monday, December 16 - Wednesday, December 18-

District Assessments in Math, Science, Social Studies (Grades 3-5)

Parent Lunch

Parents must be on time for lunch visitation. Parents that arrive 10 minutes past the lunch start time for your student’s class will not be allowed to visit. Students can have no more than 2 visitors for lunch. You are only permitted to eat with your student. Appropriate attire is required. Please sit at the Parent Table with your student during your student's scheduled lunch time. Students are expected to return to their class and teacher when the class is dismissed from the cafeteria. Due to the limited time and supervision expectations for teachers, they are not available for conferences or parent meetings during lunch. Please make arrangements to meet with your student’s teacher at another more appropriate time. Cell phones should not be used in the cafeteria. Photos are not allowed for student confidentiality purposes. After lunch, immediately return to the front desk. Visitors are not permitted to go to the playground, classroom, or any other portion of the building.If a parent needs to check out a student after lunch; please go to the front desk to request a student checkout with your ID. Thank you for helping us to maintain a positive, safe, learning environment for our students.

Strollers

Please remember that strollers are not permitted in the cafeteria during lunch. Strollers have to be left in the hallway next to the cafeteria.

Outside food

No outside food is allowed in the cafeteria. Parents may purchase food containers at the register and proceed to the food lines to choose items. Please refrain from bringing in birthday treats and outside food for a class. We want to remain sensitive to classroom allergies. Ice Cream is available to purchase for a class if you desire. Please no cupcakes, balloons, flowers, etc.

Ice Cream

The new ice cream procedure started October 1. Parents will need to send money for ice cream with their student in the morning by 8:45am. Students will receive the ice cream during lunch but will no longer be able to purchase ice cream during lunch time. We appreciate your understanding and continuous support!

Car Riders

During morning arrival, please do not park in the parking lot and walk your child inside the school. Please remain in the car rider lane and drop your child off in line with a staff member. We do not want students and parents walking across the car rider lane. This slows the line and creates a safety concern.

Tardies

Please make sure your child arrives at school on time. Students should be in class and ready to begin instruction by 8:15 am every day. When students are late, it is disruptive to the learning environment. Please help us make sure our students are prepared for daily learning by being on time.

Yearbooks are on sale for $30.00. Click here to order today: https://bit.ly/3vFqU69

60% of Meadowcreek families have downloaded the ParentSquare app! If you have not, please download the app to stay involved with your student's learning and activities at school from anywhere. Once you download the app, you can login with your phone number as the username. If you don't know your password, you can reset it. If your phone number has changed, you will need to let us know. If you need support, please visit the Family Center. Thank you for your continuous support.

ParentVUE and ParentSquare are tools we encourage you to use to support your student’s learning. Think of ParentVUE as a tool you use to view and update student records. Think of ParentSquare as the place you go to engage with teachers and staff. Please see the guide below from the GCPS International Newcomers Center to help families understand the difference between ParentSquare and ParentVUE. If you need any support with these platforms, please visit our Family Center.

Parents now have the option to be notified in the ParentVUE mobile app if their student’s grade fall below a preset threshold. Within the app, a parent can choose to enable the notification and will select the grade threshold of when to be notified. Thresholds can be set on the student’s class average or on assignment grades. The notifications are processed each afternoon starting at 5:30 pm. Specific directions on enabling Grade Notifications can be found here. Other ParentVUE resources are available on the ParentVUE site.

Congratulations to our Student Council President, Jeick Velasquez Castanon on earning the GCPS Caring Award for going above and beyond in embodying the values of empathy, kindness, community engagement, and leadership! Congratulations, Jeick! We’re so proud of you!

🌟Our Student Council representatives had the opportunity to attend the GCPS Peer Leadership Conference recently! 🎉It was an awesome day filled with learning about leadership, adaptability and creativity. They’re bringing back fresh ideas and skills to make a positive impact here at MES! We can’t wait to see how they use what they learned to inspire and lead their peers!

Each month, our teachers nominate a PBIS Star Student of the Month in their class. These students were nominated by their teachers because they consistently demonstrate positive behaviors that align to our school-wide PBIS expectations. Each student photographed is a responsible, respectful, problem solver. Way to go, Mustangs!! 🎉🎉

Also, Congratulations to our Teacher of the Month, Ms. Hardy and Support Staff of the Month Ms. Odonkor! 🎉🎉

Parent Mentors Present: “Behavior Strategies to Support Your Child”

When: Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 10:00 – 11:30 AM or 6:00 -7:30PM

Where: In-Person registration link for 10:00 AM session

Zoom registration link for 6 PM session

The Office of Counseling, College & Career Services, and The Office of Health and Social Services Night will be held on Thursday, December 5th virtually from 5:30 pm until 7:00 pm presented by Dr. Demetria Williams, Director & Dr. Heather Alvira, Coordinator, and Crystal Baskerville, Director & Dr. Sandrea Jones, Lead Social Worker.

During this session, GCPS families of students in grades k-12 will gain valuable insights into counseling, college, and career resources available to students and family support options. Families will also understand the importance of consistent school attendance and its impact on student success.

Interpretation will be provided in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Please use this link to register: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/j/99012252144

You're invited to our annual Holiday Luncheon! The Holiday Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, December 11 and Thursday, December 12. Classes have assigned days and times so please be sure to check the schedule below.

Adults: $4.00

Children: $2.50

Side Items: $.75 (CASH ONLY- no bills larger than $20)

*If you are planning to check out your child after the Holiday Luncheon, you must return to the FRONT OFFICE to show your ID before your child will be released. Students will not be allowed to exit the cafeteria with a parent or guardian.

*If you are attending the Holiday Luncheon for multiple students and you have time in between luncheon times, please exit the building and return at the next luncheon time. We only have space for the classes and visitors assigned to specific time frames. Thank you for your assistance in ensuring we have enough space for all families!

*Please remember that strollers are not permitted in the cafeteria during lunch. Strollers have to be left in the hallway next to the cafeteria.

We look forward to celebrating and connecting with you!

Come see our Winter Concert featuring 5th Grade and Chorus Club!

Meadowcreek Elementary School Gym

Thursday, December 12, 2024

6:00PM

🎉🎉 MES has a podcast! Introducing Mustang Press—a podcast by Meadowcreek Elementary students, for everyone! Each episode brings fresh topics inspired by what students are learning and events happening at our school. Our latest episode is the first episode of our special series, Conversations with Student Council. Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeart Radio to hear what our students have to say! We hope you enjoy, and stay tuned for more episodes coming soon! 🎙️

Spotify: Mustang Press

Apple Podcasts: Mustang Press

iHeart Radio: Mustang Press

Little Learners Academy will be held on Wednesday, December 18 from 11:00AM-12:00PM. This class is offered on the last Wednesday of each month and is for all families with children birth to five years old and their parent or caregiver. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Pena-Perez at 770-381-4248.

Who: Children birth to five years old and their parent or caregivers

What: 60 minute session, learn to be your child's first and best teacher!

Why: Engage with your child through PLAY! Get your child READY FOR SCHOOL!

Dates:

December 18, 2024

January 29, 2025

February 26, 2025

March 26, 2025

April 30, 2025

Regular school attendance is vital to your student’s success. At Meadowcreek ES, our goal is to ensure that all students fully benefit from their education by getting to school on time (in class by 8:15) and attending school regularly. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. You can help your student learn that going to school on time, every day is important. Consistent attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.

Below are the times we expect students to be at school:

• Students arrive no earlier than 7:40 am
• The bell rings and instruction begins at 8:15 am. Attendance is taken in class.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

• Have your child ride the bus as this assures your child will get to school on time. If you have to drive your child to school, leave yourself extra time in case of traffic or inclement weather. Our doors open at 7:40, so you can drop your child off starting then.

• An unexcused tardy means your child arrived in class late (after 8:15) because of sleeping in, traffic, missing the bus, running late, etc. Examples of excused tardies are illness, health condition, medical appointment, and family emergency. You must come inside the building to sign-in your child with the reason why your child was tardy.
• Arriving late to school/class impacts a student’s learning as well as the classroom atmosphere. Being on time for school/class is a positive goal for each of our students. Research has shown that your child's attendance record may be the biggest factor influencing his/her academic success.

If your student is going to be absent or late, please contact your child’s teacher. If your student is absent, you will need to send in an excuse letter for the absence.

Meadowcreek is tracking students with perfect monthly attendance! Students with perfect attendance will receive a certificate of perfect attendance by the end of each month. If your student receives a perfect attendance certificate, their name will be entered in a drawing for a NEW BIKE! We will pick the winner at the end of the semester. Good luck!

GCPS partners with students and caregivers to engage, equip, and empower families, educators, and community members as co-authors for the development of the whole learner from birth through adulthood.

Gwinnett County Public Schools’ family engagement initiative seeks to support the growth, development, and success of each and every student. The Engage, Equip, and Empower series hosted by the Department of Federal Programs Office of Family Engagement provides opportunities for families to participate in instructional sessions, workshops, events, and activities to engage with Gwinnett County Public Schools. The series will provide opportunities for families to learn how to support their children at home in the core academic content areas, be active participants in their children’s education, and learn about resources, programs, and wraparound services to support their children.

Meadowcreek Elementary families have the opportunity to connect with the Family Center in person, by phone, or Zoom to become familiar with:

• School procedures
• Check out free educational games and resources to help your child at home
• Familiarize yourself with the new communication tool ParentSquare
• Navigate the Parent Portal
• Complete free/reduced lunch application online
• Support your child with eCLASS/Google classroom
• Make payments on MyPaymentsPlus (cafeteria, school field trips, spirit wear, etc.)
• Anything else that you may need support with!

In-Person: Parents may visit the Family Center Monday - Friday during school hours

Virtual: Click on the following link from 1:00pm - 2:00pm on Wednesdays & Thursdays: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/j/92626367024

Phone: Mrs. Rosell: 770-638-2374 or Mrs. Pena-Perez: 770-381-4248

We look forward to serving you!

Studies show that too many students in the United States do poorly in geography. In a geography assessment by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only a quarter of the nation’s eighth graders scored proficient or above.

Here’s one easy way to give your child a jump start on the subject:

• Whenever you’re in the car—whether on long trip or just driving around town—have your child look for out-of-state license plates. After spotting them, your child can jot them down in a notebook.
• When you get home, help your elementary schooler locate the states or provinces on a globe or a large map hung on the wall. Your child can then have fun marking each with a bright sticker.

Brought to you by:

Gwinnett County Public Schools

© 2024 The Parent Institute, a Division of PaperClip Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Please complete the form to be placed on the waiting list for the Play2Learn 2024-2025 school year. Once accepted, you will receive a call from Ms. Pena-Perez with instructions to register your child at the school.

Internet available as low as $9.95 plus tax!

Call 855-846-8376 for assistance.

Get news, updates, announcements, school resources, and more! Download the new GCPS App today!

GCPS Tech Tips is a place where GCPS educators offer quick tips and tricks for technology integration in the classroom. Each week, a new video will be released which focuses on how to effectively use your Chromebook and other tips/tricks. Check out the entire playlist here.