Dear MHES families and staff,

It looks like our new year is already off to a snowy start! Due to inclement weather, there will be no school on Monday, January 6, 2025. We will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates via Remind if additional closures occur during the week.

We are thrilled to begin the new year together and look forward to welcoming students and staff back soon. If school is closed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, please note that our PTA meeting will still take place as scheduled at 7:00 PM via Zoom. The meeting link is provided in the PTA section of this newsletter.

Enjoy your snow day, and stay safe and warm. We’ll see you soon! Please see the information below for the week of January 5, 2025.

Warm Regards,

Desmond Mackall

Principal

Meadow Hall ES

January

1- New Year's Day (School Closed for students and staff)

2- School open for students and staff

7- PTA Meeting ( @ 7pm); Zoom only if schools are closed.

9- MHES Steering Committee Meeting (4pm in Portable 4)

17- STM Food Distribution (3:45 pm)

December attendance letters went home the week before winter break. A student that has missed 10% or more of school is considered chronically absent per MCPS. All students over 10% will get an attendance letter sent home monthly to make you aware of how much school your child has missed due to excused and/or unexcused absences. The absent percentage will decrease the more your child does attend school. If your child continues to receive attendance letters monthly and does not show attendance improvements, then there will be additional follow up from your child's teacher and school administration. It is very important to communicate with us when your child is out of school. To let us know your child is absent and to provide written documentation to excuse an absence, please do one of the following:

1. Email Megan Algeo (megan_k_algeo@mcpsmd.org) and Renifer Mejia (renifer_r_mejia@mcpsmd.org) to let us know that your child is absent and the reason (sick, doctor apt, etc.).
2. Send in a written note with your child when they return that explains why your child was absent (sick, doctor apt, etc.). It should be turned in with 3 days of the absence and include the date and be signed by the parent/guardian.
3. Send in a doctor's note from your child's physician.
4. Complete the Report an Absence online form located on the Meadow Hall ES website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/report-an-absence/

If you have any questions about your child's absences, please give our Attendance Secretary, Megan Algeo a call at 240-740-5260 or reach out by email to megan_k_algeo@mcpsmd.org

In addition to attendance letters, tardies will be reviewed monthly. Instruction begins at 9am and students are expected to arrive before then. Tardiness can seriously impact your child's academic progress and we need your support in ensuring all students get to school on time. We look forward to seeing everyone on January 2, 2025!

COMMUNITY SCHOOL UPDATES

Coffee and Conversation

We are very excited about the increased participation at our monthly principal/parent coffees. In addition to the question and listening sessions with Mr. Mackall and Ms. Simhon, we are working hard to bring in guest speakers who can discuss different topics of interest to the Meadow Hall Community.

• On January 9, 2024, Reading Specialist, Ms. Bartee, will hold a workshop on our new reading curriculum, CKLA. Parents will walk away with a better understanding of how to support their student’s reading at home.
• On February 6, 2024, Clinical Director from The Tree House Child Advocacy Center, Molly Cupid, will lead a discussion on addressing the behavioral responses associated with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Community Reach Montgomery

Our twice weekly English conversation classes will resume on January 13, 2025. Tutoring will be available for K-5 students while their caregivers participate in class. We are also offering supper for students and high school volunteers!

We are hopeful that everyone will return to class, and we are excited to welcome many more participants! Register here: https://forms.gle/n6yZkMfWZPALsYuH6

Thank you to PTA Parent, Ms. Rechy, for her continued support of this initiative!

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. Please register here: https://pep.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_03CvGtuV4kCee5o

Meadow Hall Market - Opening January 2025

We are building a community pantry where families can stop by if there is an emergency need for food. I expect that we will have it up and running twice per week starting January 23, 2025. I would like to express my appreciation for Ms. Asencio (first and second grade parent), Ms. Monterossa (third grade parent); and Stacey Weng (big sister to MHES 3rd grader) who volunteered their time organizing the pantry shelves!

Summer Camp registration begins soon!

Montgomery County Recreation will host two summer camp fairs this month. January 5th in Germantown and January 11th in Silver Spring. Follow this link for more information:

https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=46340

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

MHES PTA Meeting This Tuesday January 7, 2025

Our monthly PTA meeting will be taking place this Tuesday at MHES. The meeting is scheduled to be a hybrid meeting. If schools are closed we will have the meeting via zoom. (Pending no cancellation of evening activities) We will keep you updated via REMIND! See the zoom link attached below.

Here is the link

Topic: MHES PTA Meeting
Time: Jan 7, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82649257432?pwd=SJad61mmXXlNdojMr4qlR2U5bGcm39.1

Meeting ID: 826 4925 7432
Passcode: 926910

Want to get involved in the PTA?

MHES PTA is looking for members to participate on the PTA in various ways.

Next school year we will have 3 open board positions at the end of the school year. Please reach out to any current board member if you want to learn more about the board.

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!

Join Us for Operating Budget Public Hearings

Superintendent Thomas Taylor has proposed a $3.61 billion Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2026, designed to stabilize the school system and prioritize resources for student learning and school support. The recommendation reflects a “Focus on Fundamentals” approach that targets investments directly to schools, supports student success and addresses structural deficits within the system.

The Board of Education will now hold public hearings and work sessions on the budget. The timeline follows:

• Public Hearings: Thursday, Jan. 16, and Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.
• Work Sessions: Tuesday, Jan. 14, Thursday, Jan. 23, and Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.
• Board Approval: Tentative adoption of operating budget; Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
• Final Adoption: Adjustments based on revenue projections will follow, with final adoption expected Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget website

Stay Informed About Weather-Related Changes

With winter weather just around the corner, updates to school schedules and operations may sometimes need to be made. To receive the latest information on delays, closures and operational changes, Stay Connected, subscribe to Alert MCPS, and monitor our color-coded status system.

Keep Your Contact Information Current

To ensure you receive timely notifications, please update your contact details via the ParentVUE link on the MCPS Community Tech Support website.

Learn more about the color codes.
MCPS Operating Status Inclement Weather, 2024-2025

Don’t Miss These Upcoming Events

The Special Education Resource Fair: Set for 5:30–7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15 in the auditorium at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. This event is open to all parents who have children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). MCPS families can learn more from community organizations about after-school activities, summer programs and tutoring.

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fair: Will be held from 6–8:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG). This event offers an opportunity for students in Grades 8 through 12 and their parents/guardians to meet with representatives from more than 50 HBCUs and participate in workshops. More information

FAFSA/MHEC One Application Completion Event: Set for 6–8:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 at USG, this event is open to all high school seniors and their parents. More information

Dine with Dignity Seeks Donations

MCPS provides meals to all students, ensuring they are ready and prepared to learn in school. The Dine with Dignity program fundraises to address and pay off debt accrued by students while their families wait for approval to receive free meals. A donation to Dine with Dignity supports students continuing to receive nutritious meals and learn alongside their peers. Donate today.

Student Opportunities

SMOB Candidate Filing Period: Students interested in running for the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) may begin filing their nominations at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The filing period ends on Thursday, Jan. 23. Students are eligible to run for the SMOB if they are a current Grade 10 or Grade 11 student, enrolled in an MCPS high school, and a Montgomery County resident. Candidate nomination forms can be found on pages 31-32 of the SMOB Election Protocols. Completed forms should be scanned and emailed to Shella Cherry, director, Student Leadership & Extracurricular Activities. More information

Save A Student Summit: High school students are invited to attend from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, in the Walter Johnson High School auditorium. The summit will educate students on the impact of opioid and fentanyl use and train them on how to use Narcan in an overdose emergency. Students can earn three Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for participating. RSVP. Walter Johnson is located at 6400 Rock Spring Drive in Bethesda.

SSL Hours Due Jan. 3, 2025

Students who have completed Student Service Learning (SSL) hours since June 1, 2024, should submit the required SSL Activity Verification Form to their school’s SSL coordinator by the recommended due date of Jan. 3, 2025.

All MCPS students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate from high school. To learn more, click here. Translated information can be found here.

Students may also access their SSL record, forms, guidelines and other resources at the MCPS SSL Hub for Students/Families.

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_md

• https://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

• Prekindergarten and Head Start Registration Open for Income-Eligible Families

More From MCPS

• School calendar
• Parent resource page
• News and Information page/Noticias en Español
• Latest photo galleries
• MCPS TV videos
• MCPS TV español

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.

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

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