GOOD AFTERNOON MAY HOWARD FAMILIES!

As we approach the final weeks before winter break, we want to thank you for your continued support throughout the semester. The next three weeks will be filled with exciting activities, learning opportunities, and a little holiday cheer!

Here are a few important updates and reminders as we head into this busy time:

1. Upcoming Assessments: Please be aware that the students will be taking their Middle of Year assessments for AMIRA and iREADY. We encourage students to be in school each day between now and the end of the semester, and it is important that they learn to manage their time well. They should reach out if they need any help.

2. Holiday Celebrations: We have a variety of activities planned, including our 2nd ANNUAL ART SHOW and Music Concert on Thursday, December 12th as well as the various winter holiday celebrations. More details will be shared in the coming days, and you should be hearing from your child's teacher regarding specifics.

3. Winter Break Details: School will be closed beginning Monday, December 23rd through Friday, January 3, 2025. Students will return on Monday, January 6, 2025. We look forward to welcoming your child back after the holidays for a fresh start to 2025 and the 2nd semester.

4. Dress Code & Weather: As the weather turns colder, please make sure your child is dressed warmly for outdoor activities. A reminder that hooded sweatshirts are not allowed.

5. Important Dates: Please see the attached December calendar for other important dates.

We understand that the end of the semester can be a busy time for families, but we hope to make the final weeks before break a positive and memorable time for all of our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you for your partnership and support.

Kathleen Mahoney Taylor

#greathappenshere

#mayhowardstrong

The LEADER IN ME CULTURE COMMITTEE would like to begin the following staff appreciation idea.

The idea is to be able to identify a staff member you appreciate, as well as the reasons that staff member is making a difference. A form link has been created to automatically create a certificate of appreciation for the identified staff member.

The committee would print the certificates on cardstock and hang them outside the staff member's door.

Attached, please see the link where staff members can be nominated.

Here is a link to the form: https://forms.gle/2GpP5HzzvojfQ3Kc8

Attached is an example of a certificate that would be generated.

WOW! We collected 212 pounds of Pop Tabs that will be delivered to the Ronald McDonald House next week.

Congratulations to the following. . .

Mrs. Chisholm's Class (overall classroom winner) - Stuffed Animal Day

5th Grade (1st Place Grade Level) - Movie & Popcorn

PreK & K (2nd Place Grade Level) - PJ Day

1st Grade (3rd Place Grade Level) - Extra Recess

These prizes were voted on by Student Council members.

5th Grade - Student Council will provide the popcorn for your movie day when you decide to do this.

We are SO PROUD of the LEADERSHIP our HAWKS show when we do these drives throughout the year! HAWKS LEAD THE WAY with your support!

We will do another pop tab drive during the spring.

Save those pop tabs 🙂

The school council is an advisory body organized to assist May Howard Elementary School. The council fosters a collaborative relationship among school administrators, parents, teachers, and the business community to provide recommendations for school improvement. School Council meetings are scheduled bi-monthly, typically on Wednesday mornings. There are a total of four meetings during the school year.

Who is on the school council?

The school council consists of a minimum of seven members: parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school; community members/business partners; two certified full-time teachers; and the principal. The Council Members currently are as follows:

Kathleen Taylor, Principal kathleen.taylor@sccpss.com

Cassie Clark, Assistant Principal cassie.clark@sccpss.com

Jason Gamble, Community Member jasongamble@comcast.net

Julie Olsen, Community Member julieo@comcast.net

Kameron Huff, Parent ket986@gmail.com

Priya Goeser, Parent ptgoeser@gmail.com

Connie Hinely, Teacher connie.hinely@sccpss.com

Remi Sauers, Teacher remington.sauers@sccpss.com

What's better than getting your sale price AND earning money for May Howard? To sign up, visit www.publix.com/partners and simply select May Howard and the phone number you use at checkout. If you have any questions or issues, Publix has a customer care line to help with the partner's program by calling (800) 242-1227.

Attention parents:

If your student has a history of seizure disorder, asthma (requiring medication), or a severe allergy (requiring epinephrine), please see the attached forms and have them filled out by your child's Doctor and returned to Nurse Laurie.

If your child requires medication while in school, medication must be brought in by the parent/guardian and signed in with the nurse. No medication may be sent or kept in a student's backpack unless a medication self carry form is filled out.

We want to ensure the safety of every student while at school. Therefore, it is imperative that we have proper medication and directions from your Doctor on how to best care for him/her.

Thank you for your cooperation and I look forward to supporting your children this school year. If you have any questions, please contact me at 912-395-3926.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION WITH ANY ATTENDANCE EXCUSES WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN SENT IN AND MISPLACED.

WE HAVE HAD PERSONNEL IN AND OUT ALL SEMESTER FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS AND SOME OF THE NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN DOCUMENTED YET.

WE ARE WORKING TO CORRECT THIS PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT YOUR CHILD'S ATTENDANCE RECORDS ARE UP TO DATE.

YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND YOUR NOTES DIRECTLY THROUGH POWERSCHOOL OR TO THE PRINCIPAL.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.

Regular and punctual attendance at school is critical for academic success.

SCCPSS Policy JBD-R states that students are expected to attend school every day. Excused absences include those due to personal illness, death of a family member, observance of a religious holiday, orders of governmental agencies, participation in school sponsored activities, medical necessities (quarantine), or hazardous conditions.

Parents are required to provide the school with a written excuse the day the student returns for the absence(s) to be considered excused and for make-up work to be provided.

Written excuses must include:

• the student’s full name
• date(s)
• reason for absence
• physician’s or parent’s signature
• contact number to verify the excuse
• Five days of student absences for sickness per school year will be excused with a parent note. (for example: when they don't feel well but don't see their doctor). Any absence beyond five days must be from a physician, hospital, court subpoena, order of a government agency, funeral notice, or obituary to be excused. Further documentation as stated above may be required by school officials at any time for validation. Even if you have used your five parent notes for the year, please send a note for any absence for our files.

Please send excuses to our Information Specialist, Kim Sancomb at kimberly.sancomb@sccpss.com

Student behavior is influenced by the way students are dressed and no student should dress in a manner that is disruptive or has an adverse effect on the learning environment. The uniform standards have been implemented by the district and are on the May Howard web site for your review.

Students are expected to dress in uniform during the school day unless it is a designated out-of-uniform day.

Uniform colors are as follows: navy blue or white tops, khaki or navy bottoms.

Clear or mesh book bags are still required.

Spirit Wear Store is online! Thanks to our PTA for the great options!

Please see the web site for the the grade level school supplies and the uniform information.

With PowerSchool's Parent Access, you can read announcements, review class assignments, check your child's grades, attendance, and discipline.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

POWER SCHOOL/PARENT ACCESS TO-DO'S

Verification

Every returning family will receive an email from the district asking parents and guardians to verify their child's information in our database. The sooner you are able to do this, the better it will be for our staff. If your address has changed, you must upload a new proof of address.

Request a Device

You may request or decline a device for your student under "Forms." When in the PowerSchool Portal, you can find the Forms link on the navigation menu on the left hand side of the screen. Under the General Forms tab, the Form to fill out is called "Student Device Loan Form". This needs to be completed as soon as possible in order for our staff to ensure that we can assign your student a device for the year. It is highly recommended that a Family Protection Plan is also purchased if you reserve a device for your student.

Family Protection Plan

Parents/Guardians should sign the Family Protection Plan, FFP, (think insurance) if requesting a device under "Forms" and then pay for the plan in School Cash.

Code of Conduct

Please sign off on the Code of Conduct acknowledgement under "Forms."

Provisional Enrollment Document Upload

Most parents/guardians will NOT need to complete this section under "Forms." This is only for parents who enrolled their student but still need to provide additional documentation within 30 days.

Student Change of Address

Most parents/guardians will NOT need to complete this section under "Forms." Use only if your address has changed.

Please note if the address has changed, new proof of address must be uploaded in the verification.

If parent/guardian names have changed, it will require parent/guardian to contact the school and provide required documentation.

How do I get started using the PowerSchool Parent Portal?
Visit the Parent Portal by clicking here:

1. Log into Parent Access.

2. Select the student you wish to register along the top.

3. Select the Student Verification 24-25 Icon on the left side.

4. Agree to the terms and conditions.

5. Click Begin Forms.

6. Repeat the process for all students.

I do not have a Parent Access account.
If parents/guardians need a Parent Access account, please click here to request one.

I forgot my login credentials for the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

If you already have an account and do not remember your username and password, please click the reset Username/Password on the Parent Access login screen here: https://sccpss.powerschool.com/public/account_recovery_begin.html

Do I have to answer all the questions?
Questions marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.

What if I make a mistake?
If you would like to make a change prior to submitting the form, navigate back to the page using the “< Prev” and “Next >” buttons or click on the underlined field on the Review page. If you have already submitted the form, you will need to contact your student’s school to make the changes.

I’ve completed the form, now what?
Once you have finished entering your information, click “Submit" to send the information to the school. If you cannot click on this button, you will need to make sure that you have answered all required questions.

What if I have more than one student in the district? Do I need to do this for each child?
Yes, you will need to provide information that is specific to each child. We recommend that you complete and submit one form and then start another. This will allow you to “snap” (or share) selected family information, which will save you time.

Use the link to visit the Spirit Store! Every Friday the students may wear the MH spirit shirts with uniform bottoms! Purchase your gear today!

Thanks to our PTA for such a great SPIRIT WEAR DEPARTMENT!

Here is a link to the 2024-25 SCCPSS Student Code of Conduct. Please review these expectations with your child/ children.

Home of the MH Hawks!

24-25 LET YOUR LEADERSHIP SHINE

Email: krystle.graff@sccpss.com
Website: https://spwww.sccpss.com/schools/mh/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 115 Wilmington Island Road, Savannah, GA, USA
Phone: 912-395-3925
Twitter: @MHESPrincipal