Mustang Weekly
Building Students, Building Leaders Vol. 3 Issue 19
Principal's Message
Dear MHES families and staff,
As we approach our final week before the winter break, I want to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful events that have brought us together as a community. A heartfelt thank you to all the families who supported our Grade 5 McDonald's fundraiser last week—your participation helps us plan and prepare for a great end of year experience for our students.
We also want to extend our gratitude to everyone who joined us for Math and Reading Game Night. It was fantastic to see so many families engaged in learning and having fun together! Additionally, congratulations to all the students who participated in the Science Fair. Your creativity and hard work were inspiring. A special thank you goes to our staff for their efforts in organizing and planning such a fantastic evening of fun and discovery for our students.
Let’s finish this week strong as we prepare to kick off a well-deserved winter break. Thank you for your continued partnership and support! Thank you for your continued partnership. Please see the information below for the week of December 15, 2024.
Desmond Mackall
Principal
Meadow Hall ES
A Word from Mrs. Jackson: Community School Liaison!
COMMUNITY SCHOOL UPDATES
Walking Wednesday
Everyone is encouraged to walk to school on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. Starting at 8:15 students will be welcomed to school with music, prizes, and a visit from Zeal the Zebra. The goal of Walking Wednesday is to promote safe routes to school. Please meet at the following locations at 8:20 am and walk to school together:
- Cove Lane and Baltimore Road Twinbrook (Mr. Hines)
- Gruenther Avenue and Fletcher Place (Ms. Maloney & Ms. Kepler)
- Marshall Avenue and Twinbrook Parkway (Ms. Hellman & Mr. Mackall)
Our partners at Interfaith Works will be out to say hello to our students - please thank them for all they do for our school!
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
Josie’s Closet
Josie’s Closet was established to positively impact children experiencing clothing insecurity. We are incredibly grateful for their generous donation of brand-new clothing for 47 of our students! If your child benefitted from the new clothing, please consider writing a thank you note. I will be sure that the notes make it to the ladies at Josie’s closet. I know they will be so happy to hear about the positive impact their work had on our community!
Coat distribution
To date, 80 MHES students have been gifted brand new coats, courtesy of The Villages of Rockville Town Center; families from Rockville Day Care Association; as well as community members throughout the Twinbrook neighborhood. I would like to recognize 1st grade (Wellington) grandparent, Ms. Deidre, who generously donated five super warm coats! We are so lucky to have such a wonderful village among us!
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 this month!
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 after Winter Break. I would like to express my appreciation for Ms. Asencio (first and second grade parent), Ms. Monterrosa (third grade parent); and Stacey Weng (big sister to MHES 3rd grader) who volunteered their time organizing the pantry shelves! Our pantry will open after winter break!
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!
Staff Appreciation Breakfast
On 12/19 the PTA will be hosting a staff appreciation breakfast to celebrate the amazing people who make our student's successful every day! Please consider donating an item for the breakfast or funds supporting our staff and celebrate them this holiday season!
Staff Favorites
If you would like to celebrate a staff member for the holiday season and want to know what they like, please check out this list of staff's favorite things. Thank you!
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.
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!
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
New MealViewer Shows School-Specific Menus, Nutritional Info and Food Allergens
The Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) has made it easier to view school menus. MCPS students, parents and community members can now view school menus with MealViewer, providing increased access to:
- School-specific menu offerings with photos.
- Nutritional information for each meal.
- The top nine allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat and sesame), helping you make informed choices based on your child’s dietary needs.
MealViewer can be accessed on a computer browser, through the MealViewer app on Android and iPhone, or using any browser on a smartphone. No sign-in or passwords are required to view menus. It is also possible (but not required) to rate food items, star favorite items, use a nutrition calculator and create a profile. Check out your school’s menu today. Learn more in this video (English) and (en Español).
Visit the Division of Food & Nutrition Services website for how-to videos, quick tips and additional resources.
Tune in Live Dec. 18 to the Superintendent’s Recommended Budget Presentation
Superintendent Thomas Taylor will present his Fiscal Year 2026 Recommended Operating Budget on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. The public is invited to watch the presentation live on the MCPS website or on the MCPS-TV YouTube channel.
Public hearings are scheduled as follows.
- Jan. 14, 10 a.m. – Operating Budget Work Session
- Jan. 16, 6 p.m. – Operating Budget Public Hearing
- Jan. 23, 10 a.m. – Operating Budget Work Session
- Jan. 27, 6 p.m. – Operating Budget Public Hearing
- Jan. 30, 10 a.m. – Operating Budget Work Session (if needed)
- Feb. 4, noon – Business Meeting with Tentative Adoption of the Operating Budget
Maryland Report Card Shows 93.6% of Schools Score 3 or Higher
Earlier this month, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) released its 2024 Maryland Report Card, which measures the success of schools and identifies areas for improvement for state, district and school-level results in the state of Maryland.
MSDE included 202 MCPS schools in its 2023-2024 school year performance evaluation. Of the MCPS schools evaluated, 50% obtained a 5-star or 4-star rating, representing an increase of 1.8% over the 2022-2023 school year. More than 93% of MCPS schools earned three or more stars, exceeding the statewide average of 83%.
Save the Dates—Special Education Resource Fair Is Jan. 15; HBCU Fair Set for Feb. 14
Mark your calendars for upcoming events for MCPS students and their families:
The Special Education Resource Fair will be held from 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. Registration opens Friday, Dec. 13. More information
FAFSA/MHEC One Application Completion Event: Also 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
Apply Now to be an MCPS Summer RISE Host
It might seem early, but summer is right around the corner!
The MCPS Department of Partnerships is seeking Montgomery County businesses, government agencies and nonprofits to participate as hosts for the 2025 Summer RISE program. Registration is now open through Friday, March 7.
Summer RISE provides rising MCPS juniors and seniors with career-based learning experiences and helps employers to cultivate a talent pipeline.
Students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning opportunities related to their field of interest. The program runs for five weeks, from June 23–July 25, with a minimum of 50 hours of in-person, virtual or hybrid opportunities..
More information on the Summer RISE program is available here.
Reflecting on 20 Years of Strathmore Magic
For the last 20 years, more than 240,000 second graders have visited the Music Center at Strathmore for free concerts performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra. In this video story, MCPS alumni reflect on the impact those concerts had on their lives and careers.
Blake Students Chosen as All-State Dancers for Maryland
Neive Carr and Niambi Mills, students at James Hubert Blake High School, have been accepted as All-State Dancers for Maryland. They were selected from 108 dancers who auditioned at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
The pair will perform at the Maryland State Dance Festival and Showcase in January, a first for both. Read more.
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