Principal's Message
Dear MHES families and staff,
We are looking forward to another great week of learning and growth at Meadow Hall! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Bingo Night—it was wonderful to see so many families enjoying an evening of fun and showing their support for our PTA.
This Friday, we are excited to celebrate our students’ accomplishments during our Quarter 1 Growth and Achievement Celebration. As we honor their hard work, we also encourage families to start engaging their students in meaningful conversations about goal setting for Quarter 2.
Ask your child:
- What achievements from Quarter 1 are you most proud of?
- What areas do you want to continue to improve upon?
- What steps will help you reach your goals?
Let’s inspire our students to strive for even greater success in the next quarter!
Thank you for your continued partnership. Please see the information below for the week of November 18, 2024.
Desmond Mackall
Principal
Meadow Hall ES
A Word from Mrs. Jackson: Community School Liaison!
COMMUNITY SCHOOL UPDATES
Community Reach Montgomery
Our evening English Conversation Classes are wrapping up on November 13, 2024. Congratulations to the parents who made it to class, participated, and improved their conversation skills in English. Learning a new language as an adult is such a difficult task! Please know that we are so proud of you and your efforts. We are also excited to announce that we will have additional six-week sessions in the winter and spring. Stay tuned for registration information!
CSL Bus Stop Tour
I am in the final stretch of the CSL Bus Stop Tour. My goal was to meet families that I may not get the chance to bump into on campus before or after school. Here are the final dates for the tour:
- Denham Road and Gilbert Road 12/6/24
- Grandin Avenue and Woodburn Road 12/13/24
PEP Parenting is coming to MHES!
We will host an 8-week program for parents and caregivers where parents will learn new tools each week; and meet with parents to share ideas and support one another. I am so thrilled for this community building opportunity for our families. Recruitment and registration will begin in December.
MCPS School Year Calendar Part 2
MCPS wants to hear from YOU about preferences for the 25/26 school year calendar. Please use this link to provide feedback about dates for Winter Break and the last day of school for the 25/26 school year: Survey about MCPS Calendar
Community School Parent Survey
Our Community School Family survey is still open! Please take a few minutes to complete the survey so that I know how to best serve your children and family!
MCPS Parent Academy is a Community School program!
Community School Instructional Specialist, Danielle Wilson-Saddler oversees the Parent Academy. Please be sure to look at the upcoming sessions that cover a variety of topics:
Parent Academy Fall 2024. Yours Truly is registered for a few classes this month and next!
How Can I Help YOU?
Please feel free to reach out to me to ask about resources or if you have ideas for events and initiatives that would benefit the community. I am here to serve YOU!
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
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PTA!
Chipotle Dine Out
Please join us for a Dine out at Chipotle (Wintergreen Plaza) on Wednesday, November 20th, 4-8PM. 25% of event sales will be donated to Meadow Hall! Show the flier that was sent home with students at the restaurant or order online using the code JW76TPV. Thank you!
Creative Adventures
The Meadow Hall PTA has once again teamed up with Creative Adventures, Inc. art education non-profit to offer after school art classes this winter!
Creative Adventures, Palette of Possibilities: This session kids will design a relief-style composition, draw with repurposed materials, imagine monsters with oil pastels, paint in the folk art style, explore collage & transparency, and create a sculpture out of a very familiar household object. Join the fun!
The art begins after school on December 3, 3:30-5:00 p.m., and runs for six Tuesdays, with a break over the holidays, ending on January 21 (No class on December 24 and 31). Tuition for this class is $200, which includes all supplies. Learn more and register at https://www.artinyou.com/schoolyearclasses
Partial scholarships are available upon request. Please contact the program directly for more information. There is a 10% sibling discount for a second child after one full tuition. Questions? Contact 301.943.4659 or rosana@artinyou.com
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.
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 Students Begin Construction on 44th Young American House
MCPS students in the Construction Trades Foundation program are hard at work on the early phase of construction for the 44th Young American House in Silver Spring. This exciting project highlights the skills and dedication of our construction technology students, who are bringing this home to life from the ground up. Check out the latest photos from the build and get an inside look at the craftsmanship that’s already underway. Don't miss this behind-the-scenes glimpse—head to our website for the full story and more pictures.
Understanding the MCPS Operating Budget
MCPS has created a new Operating Budget Dashboard to offer an accessible, user-friendly and transparent way for all stakeholders to explore the operating budget.
Take a moment to watch the video below for more information on the dashboard.
MCPS is hosting a series of listening sessions to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget. Join MCPS leadership to explore how every dollar is allocated within the school system, learn about upcoming changes and share your insights.
Your voice is important and we encourage you to ask questions and engage in the conversation. Upcoming forums:
Monday, Nov. 18, 6:30–7:30 p.m., Spanish session through Facebook Live on MCPS en Español Facebook
Thursday, Nov. 21, 6:30–8 p.m., Clarksburg High School, 22500 Wims Road in Clarksburg. RSVP
Did you miss the first Budget Forum ? You can watch it here.
Winter Weather Is Coming (Maybe): Are You Ready?
Winter is near and MCPS has you covered! Visit our Stay Connected website for tools to stay in touch and how to get real-time information on weather delays and closures. Stay safe this winter!
Don’t Miss the Superintendent’s Video
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/ugfu7nIDpuk
We Need Your Feedback for the School Calendar!
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 to give us your feedback on Round 2 of the survey. The survey will close on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Click here to access the survey.
Get Ready for End of Course Exams
The End of Course (EOC) exams for Biology B and National, State, and Local (NSL) Government B courses are approaching. The testing window is open from Dec. 9, 2024, to Jan. 22, 2025. These exams count for 20% of students’ second semester course grades.
Why It Matters:
The EOC exams are state-mandated assessments that evaluate student knowledge from both Semester A and Semester B of Biology and NSL Government courses. It directly impacts the final grade of the student.
Where to Learn More:
Visit the MCPS Website to read about the EOC process and find frequently asked questions here.
Student Opportunities
Participate in the National C-SPAN Documentary Competition
The National C-SPAN Documentary Competition provides students in 6th through 12th grades an opportunity to think critically about important societal issues. Students are asked to create a short video documentary on a topic related to the theme, "Your Message to the President."
Details:
Video Requirements: Students must create a 5–6 minute video documentary.
Format: Students may compete individually or in groups of 2-3. Grades 6-8 compete in the Middle School category, and grades 9-12 compete in the High School category.
Submission Deadline: Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Prizes: Cash prizes are awarded to the top 150 student documentaries.
What's Next:
Submit your entry by the end of day on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Where to Learn More:
For more information, including how to enter and the competition rules, you can visit the official C-SPAN StudentCam website.
Apply to the Rales-O’Neill Scholarship
Applications for the Rales-O’Neill Scholarship, offered by the Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation (MCPSEF), are open now for high school seniors. The scholarships provide $10,000 toward future studies and will be awarded to two hundred students.
Applications must be submitted by Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. For more information on eligibility and rules, visit the MCPSEF website.
MPSSAA Football Playoff Tickets On Sale!
Get ready for the action! Tickets for the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) Football State Quarterfinals will go on sale at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Don’t miss out on the excitement—mark your calendars and grab your tickets to cheer on your team!
Day of Service to the Environment!
Join the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center for a day of service from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23. Families of all skill levels are invited to work on environmental-friendly projects to improve and beautify the center. Students who participate with their parents can earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. Sign up in advance to participate and make a difference!
Stay Connected
VISIT the MCPS homepage.
CALL 240-740-3000. Staff take calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish (240-740-2845)
READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS News page.
FOLLOW the MCPS social media pages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in English and Spanish.
http://twitter.com/mcps
https://www.facebook.com/mcpsmd
https://www.instagram.com/mcps_mdhttps://www.facebook.com/mcpsespanol
https://twitter.com/MCPSEspanol
https://www.instagram.com/mcpsenespanol/SIGN UP for emails and text alerts and make sure your ParentVue information is up to date.
WATCH the MCPS cable channels Comcast 34 (1071 HD), Verizon 36 or RCN 89
Open Registrations
More From MCPS
ParentVUE and other Important Online Resources
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.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.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.
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.
Meadow Hall Principal
Email: Desmond_Mackall2@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/
Location: 951 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-5260
Twitter: @MHES_Principal
Meadow Hall Assistant Principal
Email: Ilana_N_Simhon@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/
Location: 951 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-5260
Twitter: @MeadowHallAP