Meadowcreek Community Newsletter

February is Black History Month!

February 3- February 7- National School Counseling Week

February 4- Spring Picture Day & Class Photos

February 4- Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS) Family Night 5:30-6:30PM via Zoom

February 6- Valentines Dance 5:30-7:00PM

February 12- School Resource Officer Appreciation Day

February 13- February 17- Student/Staff Holiday (No School)

February 20- Spirit Night @ Chick-Fil-A 5:00-8:00PM

February 26- Little Learners Academy 11:00AM-12:00PM

February 27- Multilingual Learners Parent Workshop 10:30-11:30AM

February 28- New Family Orientation Workshop 8:30-9:30AM

Early Release and Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, March 5 and Thursday, March 6. On these days we will dismiss students at 12:00PM. Please click the link below or visit our school website and select your child's teacher to schedule a parent-teacher conference: https://ptcfast.com/schools/Meadowcreek_ES

If you need support with signing up for a parent teacher conference on PTCFast, please visit the Family Center.

Each year, to help improve our schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools collects feedback from our families, students, and staff members about their school experience. The Educational Effectiveness Surveys (EES) are an opportunity to provide feedback on nine characteristics of high-performing schools. Student, family, and staff responses are used to develop local school plans of improvement and help the district identify areas of support needed now and long-term.

• February 3–March 7: The Family Survey is now open. All GCPS Families will receive a link to the survey via ParentSquare. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. The link to the survey will also be available in ParentVUE.

Please click here to complete the survey: https://gcpsk12ga.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_etIpEWn8RUqKsqW

We appreciate your feedback!

he Office of Family Engagement in the Department of Federal Programs invites all families to join the Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS) Family Night on February 4, 2025, from 5:30 PM until 6:30 PM via Zoom.

During this session, families of students in grades 3-12 will receive information about the Georgia Milestones assessment, a website to practice online testing, and tips to help your child at home.

Please use this link to register: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/lQ7B_egoS7Sd2DYJKahG-A#/registration

February is Black History 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.

We’re celebrating National School Counseling Week!

Happy National School Counseling Week to the best school counselors!! This year, our school counseling program met the criteria to become a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) by the American School Counselor Association!! We are so grateful for our counselors Ms. Nelson, Ms. Reynolds, and Ms. McKnight! Thank you for all you do for our school and our students every day!

Last week, Ms. Sarah Willoughby was recognized at the GCPS Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet! #Teacheroftheyear #Teachersaretheheartofourblueprint #GCPSTOTY2025 #GCPSTOTY #teamgcps

Between January 13, 2025 and February 25, 2025, all English Language Learners will participate in the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Assessment™.

About the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Assessment

All English learners enrolled in K – 12th grade in the state of Georgia take the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 each year. It assesses social and instructional English as well as the academic language associated with language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Students are tested in four different domains: speaking, listening, reading, and writing in order to determine the English language proficiency of the student. The school uses the information to ensure that your student is receiving appropriate academic support to achieve his/her best.

Because the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 assessment is composed of several subtests, students will complete the test over multiple school days.

How your student can prepare for test taking—and what you can do to help

A student who is well rested and well fed and has a positive attitude about testing is best prepared for testing. You can help your student do his or her best by considering these tips:

• Make sure that your student is in school and on time on test days.
• Make sure your student gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast before each day of testing.
• Emphasize that you have confidence in his or her ability to do the best job possible.
• Remind your student to listen to the directions and read each question carefully during testing.

Thank you very much for encouraging and supporting your student during testing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Haley Thompson at Haley.Thompson@gcpsk12.org.

The 2025 Georgia Milestones End of Grade Assessment will be administered to all students in 3rd - 5th grade from April 21 - May 2, 2025. Attendance is very important on testing dates so that your child does not have to make-up the tests on a different day. Students must arrive at school on time. Testing will begin at 8:30AM each morning. Please plan ahead to ensure that your child is present for all testing days. We appreciate your support in ensuring we have a successful Georgia Milestones administration!

Parent information has been posted to the Accountability and Assessment public-facing webpage found HERE.

The MES Robotics team has been working on this season's innovation project. In their research, they learned about the effects of ocean noise pollution on marine life. Please support their efforts to raise awareness and bring about change by reading and signing their petition on Change.org: https://www.change.org/SlowDownForTheWhales

Thank you!

English Classes for Families are held every Tuesday 10:30AM-12:00PM.

January 14, 2025 - March 25, 2025

Meadowcreek Elementary School

5025 Georgia Belle Ct, Norcross, GA 30093

Enrich your language skills with our immersive English courses, designed to make learning enjoyable and effective!

Click Here to Register: 85cdc.org/esol

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.

Who: Families of students who are receiving special education services

What: Each state is required to conduct a parent survey to measure parent/family perceptions of the success of parent engagement between home and local schools.

When: Available January 20, through May 31, 2025.

Where: Parents can complete the survey via the survey link below.

Please use the following link to access the survey

💕💃✨Join us for our Valentine's Dance on Thursday, February 6 from 5:30-7:00PM. Admission is free, and the evening will be filled with dancing, music, and crafts. Vouchers to purchase pizza, snacks, crafts, and flowers will be available for $1 each. Pre-sale vouchers can be purchased from January 27 to February 4! Please send exact change! 💘

Girls on the Run Registration is open! Use this link to register: https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/GOTRGAS25?sid=3edfb61dbb394196b37db5d05bd6fd4e

GCPS students will be on break from Thursday, February 13, through Monday, February 17. Students and staff return to learning on Tuesday, February 18. Note that GCPS does not offer meal service on student holidays.

Please join us for Spirit Night at Chick-Fil-A on Thursday, February 20 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!

Families, please join us on Thursday, February 27 for our Spring ESOL Parent Workshop! During this workshop, parents will learn all about ACCESS Testing and how to interpret their English learner's test scores! We look forward to seeing you there!

New Meadowcreek families, please join us for New Family Orientation on Friday, February 28 at 8:30AM in the Media Center. Parents will learn about the following:

🌟School Hours
🌟School Important Personnel
🌟Attendance Importance
🌟Family Center's Goals
🌟Educational Resources for Families

🌟Imagine Learning
🌟Our Plan/Promise
🌟Answer any questions that you may have
🌟Take a School Tour

✨ Capture the Memories! Order Your Child’s Yearbook Today! ✨

Don’t let this year’s special moments fade! The Yearbook is a keepsake your child will cherish for years to come! From classroom highlights to unforgettable events, it’s all here!

📚 Price: $30

🖱️ Order Now: https://bit.ly/3vFqU69

Don't miss out on emergency messages or important alerts! GCPS staff and families have access to the ParentSquare app! Download it and adjust the settings for your use. Please visit the ParentSquare page on the district website to learn more.

The ParentSquare app is a great way to stay informed when inclement weather results in changes to the school schedule. You can find more information about GCPS' inclement weather policy here.

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.

ParentSquare

In ParentSquare you can connect with teachers and school staff:

• Send and receive messages from the school via email, text, or mobile app.
• Communicate in your preferred language.
• Direct message teachers, staff, and principals.
• Share pictures and files.
• See calendar items.
• Participate in group messages.

ParentVUE

In ParentVUE you view enrollment records and progress:

• See attendance records.
• Review academic progress and grades.
• Check class schedules and course history.
• See graduation requirements and status.
• Translate information into your preferred language.
• See records for all your children at any GCPS school with a single login.

It is important your contact information is up to date with your school. Both ParentSquare and ParentVue rely on your up to date contact information. If you need to update your information, please call or visit the school. ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each parent/guardian using their preferred email address and phone number listed in ParentVUE. GCPS recommends reviewing your contact information annually.

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 December PBIS Star Students of the Month! 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. Reed and Support Staff of the Month Ms. Pereira! 🎉🎉

🎉🎉 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, February 26 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:

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!

Reading aloud with your child—and having your child read aloud to you—is an important way to help build reading skills.

Here is an idea to use during your regular read-aloud time. It takes only a few minutes, but it can help your student become a better reader:

1. Choose a short passage to read aloud that is about 200 words long. It should be something your child can read without making many mistakes. Be sure to choose a book your child enjoys.
2. Read the passage aloud. Use lots of expression in your voice as you read. Make it fun!
3. Have your child read the text back to you. If a difficult word causes struggles, just say what it is and have your child continue reading. It may take a few times before your student can read the text easily.

At other times, practice reading a short story aloud together. You read it first, and then have your child read it. Or read a sentence or two aloud to your child, then have your child read the next sentence or two, and so on.

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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.