Meadowcreek Community Newsletter
October 29, 2024
Mark Your Calendars
November is National Native American Heritage Month!
October 28-November 1- Red Ribbon Week
October 29- Technology Workshop for Families 5:00-6:00PM in Media Center
October 30- Little Learners Academy 11:00AM-12:00PM
October 31- Student Council Trick or Treat Spin to Win Fundraiser
November 3- Daylight Saving Time Ends (set clocks back one hour!)
November 5- Digital Learning Day
November 7- Literacy Night 5:30-7:00PM
November 7- Post-Secondary Readiness Family Night Virtual 5:30-6:30PM
November 11- Veterans Day
November 11-15- School Psychologist Week
November 14- Spirit Night @ Chick-Fil-A 5:00-8:00PM
November 18-22- American Education Week
November 25-29- THANKSGIVING BREAK
School Year Calendar
Visitor Guidelines
All visitors must present a valid ID to enter the school.
Families
- Check in with the front desk to receive a visitor tag
- Ensure your visitor tag remains visible while in the building
- No pictures should be taken of any student who is not your own
- Visiting the Family Center is always encouraged!
- If you wish to volunteer at our school or in your child’s classroom please complete our online form and we will contact you for an orientation
- Check out with the front desk before leaving the building
Student Teachers/ Student Volunteers
- Check in with the front desk to receive a visitor tag
- Ensure your visitor tag remains visible while in the building
- Cell phones should be put away while working with students
- No pictures should be taken of any student
- Maintain a professional demeanor with students and staff, this includes social media interactions
- Please wear business casual/ school appropriate attire
- Check out with the front desk before leaving the building
- Check in with the front desk to receive a visitor tag
- Ensure your visitor tag remains visible while in the building
- Cell phones should be put away while working with students
- No pictures should be taken of any student
- Check out with the front desk before leaving the building
Lunch Visitation
- 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. Strollers are not permitted in the cafeteria due to space concerns. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Thank you for helping us to maintain a positive, safe, learning environment for our students.
General Reminders
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 on Sale
Yearbooks are on sale for $25.00. The price will increase to $30.00 on November 1st! Click here to order today: https://bit.ly/3vFqU69
ParentSquare Communication App📲
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.
ParentSquare vs. ParentVUE
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.
Technology Workshop for Families 💻📱
You're invited to our Technology Workshop for Families tonight from 5:00-6:00PM. Join us to learn about the various technology resources available to help you support your child at home. We will discuss ParentSquare, ParentVUE, Imagine Language & Literacy, eCLASS Student Portal, and Google Classroom. We look forward to seeing you there!
Instructional Resources Public Review Opportunity
Staff, students, families, and Gwinnett community members are invited to review and provide input on proposed instructional resources for select grades and courses in Career and Technical Education and Health (Sex Education).
Before adopting instructional resources for classroom use, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) holds an extensive review. Multiple committees involving various stakeholder groups reviewed resources submitted by publishers for alignment with the school system’s Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards. During the ongoing review process, selected resources are piloted in GCPS classrooms. Data from the reviews and pilots will be considered in making adoption recommendations to the Board of Education in 2025.
This year’s virtual public review is open now through October 31. To begin, please visit this link.
What: Instructional Resources Public Review Opportunity
When: September 30 - October 31
Where: Begin the virtual review.
Student Council Officers
🎉 Congratulations to our 5th Grade Student Council Officers! A big round of applause for Jeick Velasquez Castanon (President), Jayden Escobar Villalta (Vice President), and Camila Veloz (Secretary)! We know your leadership will make a positive impact this year. We're excited to see all the great things you’ll accomplish together!
MES School Podcast: Mustang Press
"Conversations with Student Council" Series
🎉🎉 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 special series, Conversations with Student Council just dropped. Tune in as Student Council Officers Jeick, Jayden, and Camila share the many hats Student Council members wear throughout the year as they discuss their responsibilities as peer leaders, how they support with the PBIS Fair, and their upcoming Trick or Treat Spin to Win Fundraiser on October 31. 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! 🎙️
Read for the Record 2024
Last Thursday, we celebrated Jumpstart’s Read for the Record! We read “Piper Chen Sings” written by Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran, illustrated by Qin Leng. This is an empowering story of self-expression, overcoming self-doubt, and the ways family relationships can support us. The story shows how emotional awareness and embracing nervousness can reduce anxiety, a lesson Piper Chen learns from her Nai Nai’s- her grandmother’s life story. #readfortherecord2024 #piperchensings Jumpstart
Red Ribbon Week
It is Red Ribbon Week! Please join us as we celebrate being drug-free!
Monday, 10/28: Pajama Day! Wear your cozy pajamas to show that you are putting drugs to sleep!
Tuesday, 10/29: Twin Day! Together we take a stand against bullying! Team up with a friend or two and dress up as twins, triplets, or quadruplets.
Wednesday, 10/30: Wacky Wednesday! Drugs are wacky, dress tacky! Wear mismatched, colorful or backwards clothes!
Thursday, 10/31 : Book Character Day! Get wrapped up in reading, not drugs! Dress as your favorite book character! No masks, weapons, or scary costumes.
Friday, 11/1: Red Out Day! Wear RED to show your stance against drugs and bullies!
Little Learners Academy
Little Learners Academy will be held on Wednesday, October 30 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.
Dates:
October 30, 2024
November 20, 2024
December 18, 2024
January 29, 2025
February 26, 2025
March 26, 2025
April 30, 2025
Picture Day Photos
Picture Day was October 16. You can view and order pictures online: https://bpiphotography.net/view-order-photos/. If you have any questions, please reach out directly to BPI Photography at 770-887-3080 or visit their website: www.bpiphotography.net.
Trick or Treat Spin to Win! 👻🎃
Our Student Council will be hosting a fundraiser on October 31st. Donate $3 and you can Spin the Wheel. Everyone who donates gets a prize! Will you get a TRICK or a TREAT? Bring your $3 donation to Mrs. Wysocki’s room at the beginning of Specials on October 31st.
Family Engagement Wall of Fame
To honor your academic engagement with our school, Meadowcreek Elementary is encouraging all families to please consider submitting a photo of you and your child completing any academic engagement activity to post on our Meadowcreek Family Engagement Wall of Fame!
Below are samples of family academic engagement:
- Attending Book Fair
Reading with your child
Assisting or checking student homework
Open House
Digital Learning
First day of school
Attending Parent-Teacher conferences
Volunteering in the classroom, Parent Center, and Media Center
Attending Parent Nights at school
*Must be school-related photos beginning from September 2024-October 2024
National Native American Heritage Month
November is National Native American Heritage Month! GCPS celebrates #EachAndEvery individual as we cultivate a culture of belonging while leading with empathy, equity, and excellence to ensure that #TeamGCPS students, families and staff feel welcome, safe, accepted, valued, and prepared for the future.
Digital Learning Day
Election Day is on Tuesday, November 5, and is a Digital Learning Day (DLD) for all students. On scheduled DLDs, students access lessons in eCLASS but do not have virtual class time with their teachers.
To ensure that students have a nutritious breakfast and lunch to fuel their learning, our bus drivers will be on the road and at every bus stop to deliver meals prepared by School Nutrition Program staff.
Families should expect buses to run their routes from approximately 10:45 a.m. to noon, beginning at the first stops on the route. These delivered meals are provided at no cost to families, and are provided to anyone 18 years old and under.
Post-Secondary Readiness Family Night
The Office of Family Engagement's Engage, Equip, Empower Series presents Post-Secondary Readiness Night on Thursday, November 7th virtually from 5:30PM until 6:30PM. During this session, GCPS GCPS families of students in grades 6-12 will receive information about Gwinnett Writes, and other post-secondary readiness assessment opportunities. Interpretation will be provided in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese. Please use this link to register:
https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMsdOmgpjwrEtNDnbwQB40tziQaJEK9UU1C
Chick Fil-A Spirit Night
Please join us for Spirit Night at Chick-Fil-A on Thursday, November 14 from 5:00-8:00PM. Students may wear their mustang spirit wear and say they are from Meadowcreek! 20% of all purchases linked to MES go back to our school!
Imagine Language & Literacy Contest
Gwinnett County Public Library Norcross Branch Monthly Programs
Attendance Matters
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!
September PBIS Star Students of the Month
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. McCray and Support Staff of the Month Mr. Gallen! 🎉🎉
Parents/Guardians of students receiving Special Education services
Parent Mentors Present: “Families Engaging in Education” – 4 Session Workshop
When: October 31, and November 14, 10:00 – 11:30 AM or 6:00-7:30PM
Where: In-Person registration link for 10:00 AM session
Zoom registration link for 6pm session
Parent Mentors Present: “Navigating the Holidays and Avoiding Caretaker Fatigue”
When: Tuesday, November 12, 10:00 – 11:30 AM or 6:00 -7:30 PM
Where: In-Person registration link for 10:00 AM session
Zoom registration link for 6 PM session
Complete Back to School Forms in ParentSquare
- Free/Reduced Lunch Application: The free/reduced application must be completed each school year if assistance with meals, AP exam registration and/or college applications is needed.
- GCPS 2024-2025 Student Conduct Behavior Code
- GCPS 2024-2025 Handbook Information for Students and Families
- Attendance Protocol: GCPS 2024-2025 Handbook Information for Students & Families
- Extracurricular Activities: GCPS 2024-2025 Handbook Information for Students & Families
- Media Release Opt-Out: GCPS 2024-2025 Handbook Information for Students & Families
- Parent AKS Overview: Overview of Academic Knowledge and Skills for your student.
- The Plan/The Promise: A written agreement that outlines how the school, the students, and families will work together to ensure your child’s academic success.
Enrollment for the 2024-25 School Year
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is required by law to verify the address of each and every student who attends our schools. This annual process, detailed on the district’s website, ensures students attend their zoned schools. Address verification helps maintain balanced enrollment, preventing overcrowding and ensuring optimal learning environments. It also ensures that resources like teachers, materials, and funding are allocated appropriately, supporting balanced class sizes and individualized attention.
Last spring, GCPS informed parents and guardians that students enrolled under specific conditions—Residency Affidavit, Permissive Transfer, Kinship Caregiver Affidavit, Homeless, or Foster Care—would need to renew their forms with proof of residency. GCPS recognizes that this requirement can be challenging for families whose family members or landlords are not locally available. District and local school leaders are actively working with these families to find solutions that meet district requirements and state law. We encourage families to continue working with their local schools to resolve any issues.
GCPS Book Mobile 5K
Lace up your sneakers and make a difference!
Join us for our GCPS Book Mobile 5k and Fun Run on Saturday, November 2nd at the ISC. The 5K is our only fundraiser of the year to put new books into kids' hands!
The Book Mobile 5K will be held on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, at the
Instructional Support Center (ISC)
437 Old Peachtree Road, NW
Suwanee, GA 30024
Register at bookmobile5k.com
2024-2025 Free & Reduced Lunch Application
Engage, Equip, Empower Series
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.
Family Center/Community Resources Assistance
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!
Volunteer Opportunities
Education Tips for Parents
Keep Reading Interesting With Chapter Books
Books are fabulous, but they’re also easy for your child to take for granted. “After all,” your elementary schooler may think, “they’re always there when I want them, so what’s the hurry to pick one up?” It’s an understandable sentiment, even if it is unfortunate!
Luckily, there are many ways to keep your child enthusiastic about reading—and to foster motivation to do it. One way is by introducing your child to the pleasures of chapter books.
Here’s what to do:
- Find a book you think your child will enjoy. Maybe it’s a classic from your own childhood, such as Charlotte’s Web, or a new title that comes highly recommended by a teacher or your librarian.
- Take it slowly. Have your child read (or you read aloud) just one chapter each night. The forced waiting will make the time your child does spend with the book all the more precious.
- Discuss the book. When you’re not actually reading the story, take time to talk about it. Ask your child to predict what might happen next.
- Build on the experience. Once you’ve finished a book your child enjoyed, see if it has a sequel and read that one, too. If it doesn’t, ask your librarian to recommend similar stories or other titles that your child might enjoy.
Brought to you by:
Gwinnett County Public Schools
© 2024 The Parent Institute, a Division of PaperClip Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Play2Learn
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.
*You do NOT need to complete the form if your child is currently enrolled in Play2Learn*
Little Learners Academy (LLA)
We are so excited to offer Little Learners Academy for our early learners at Meadowcreek Elementary! This program is open to all families and will be held the last Wednesday of every month. 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:
October 30, 2024
November 20, 2024
December 18, 2024
January 29, 2025
February 26, 2025
March 26, 2025
April 30, 2025
Social-Emotional Learning Hub for Parents
Gwinnett Building Babies' Brains
Xfinity Internet Essentials
Internet available as low as $9.95 plus tax!
Call 855-846-8376 for assistance.
Gwinnett County Public Schools App
Get news, updates, announcements, school resources, and more! Download the new GCPS App today!
GCPS Tech Tips
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.