Dear Meadow Hall Elementary School Families,

I hope this message finds you well and recharged after a wonderful summer break! It is with great excitement that we welcome all our students, families, and staff back for the 2024-2025 school year. We are thrilled to see the familiar faces we’ve missed and to meet our new families joining the Meadow Hall community. Tomorrow marks the first day of school, and we can’t wait to kick off another year filled with learning, growth, and community connections.

We look forward to seeing everyone bright and early tomorrow morning as doors open for students at 8:45 AM. Let’s make this year our best one yet!

Desmond Mackall

Principal

Meadow Hall ES

26- First Day of School ( Doors Open at 8:45 am for Students)

27-PTA Meeting (Virtual and In Person @ 7 pm)

September

3- Labor Day (School Closed for Students and Staff)

10- Back to School Night (6:00-7:30 pm)

27- Early Release Day for Students (12:55 Dismissal for all Students)

For families in need of backpacks, we have arranged for assistance. Please feel free to reach out to our our Community School Liaison, Mrs. Jessica Jackson via email at Jessica_E_Jackson@mcpsmd.org. She will have backpacks available for distribution during our upcoming open house.

For more information on school supplies please visit the school website or see the link below.

MHES School Supply List (2024-2025)

New Information for Grade 5 Students:

Grade 5 students will enter through the second main entrance and have breakfast in the cafeteria this year. Teachers will meet all 5th-grade students in the All Purpose Room where they will enjoy breakfast and start their day with grade-level team time (Morning Meeting).

We also encourage you to visit the MCPS Department of Transportation website for transportation news and the latest updates as the year continues.

Students and families should also review the important Ride by the Rules safety guidelines provided by the Department of Transportation.

• Ride by the Rules- Bus Safety and Guidelines for Students and Parents

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.

REMIND will be our school-wide system for easy home-school messaging and communication. We use it to keep families informed of events, announcements, weekly newsletters from your child's teacher, and more. It also allows families to read messages in their preferred language. Please make sure your email and phone number are updated in ParentVUE as this will allow instant access to your child's teacher via REMIND. You can download the Remind app on your phone for instant communication. We will provide technical support to assist with this in the media center during our Back to School Night (Sept. 10th)!

MHES Personal Mobile Device (PMD) Expectations

Students using a personal mobile device to access the internet while attending an MCPS-Sponsored activity must follow the MCPS Responsible Use Guidelines.

School Level

Students may use their Personal Mobile Devices (PMD):

1. Before or after the student's instructional day. (Before entering and after exiting the building)

2. All cell phones and PMDs are turned off upon entering the building until the student has exited the building at the end of the day.

Classroom Level

1. Cell phone use in the classroom and during the school day is prohibited (This includes smartwatches)

2. All cell phones are required to be turned off and stored in the student's backpack

3. Students observed using cell phones or smartwatches in the building will be asked to turn it in and an adult (18 or older) will be asked to pick it up from the Principal.

Note: We encourage families to call the main office if they need to contact their child for any reason during the school day as all cell phones will remain in the off position until students exit the building. If a student uses a PMD to access the internet on the MCPS property but is not on the MCPS network, the student remains obligated to comply with the requirements of this regulation. MCPS monitors and reserves the right to investigate all PMDs and PMD activity on the MCPS network.

or

Call the main office and Mrs. Algeo or Mrs. Mejia can assist you.

We can provide support in both English and Spanish!

We understand that travel plans and family commitments sometimes require extended trips overseas. However, we urge you to consider this policy change when making such plans. Please keep in mind that classroom teachers are not required to provide extended leave homework assignments, as assignments will be closely tied to daily lessons. Nevertheless, teachers can offer guidance to families on ways to engage their children in learning activities if they choose to do so. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, please reach out to the administration.

Boo-Hoo/Woo-Hoo Breakfast for Kindergarten Families

The MHES PTA invites all Kindergarten caretakers to the annual Boo-Hoo/Woo-Hoo breakfast and chat. The Breakfast is hosted by our PTA and will take place in the media center on the first day of school. After dropping off your Kindergarten student we encourage you to head over to Portable #4. Here you will get to talk with other parents, celebrate, or shed a few tears whatever fits your mood. Have a doughnut and a cup of coffee and take your time. Congratulations on your kindergartners. We look forward to seeing you!

August PTA Meeting

We will have our first PTA meeting on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 7 pm. Families will get to meet the PTA leadership and School Administration. The meeting will be a combination of in-person and online. The Zoom link for the meeting is listed below. We hope to see all the families there!

Topic: PTA Meeting
Time: Aug 27, 2024 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86459731307?pwd=JWHOHt5eF4tXwbKNfKlakq4bRkDbla.1

Meeting ID: 864 5973 1307
Passcode: 911568

Join by Phone
+13017158592,,86459731307#,,,,*911568# US (Washington DC)
+16469313860,,86459731307#,,,,*911568# US

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!

Link to join the PTA this year:
* Join online at https://www.mhespta.org/membership/join-the-pta

Community Message:

Dear MCPS Community:

Fall is right around the corner! As families prepare to return to school, here are a few health care reminders from MCPS and School Health Services:

1. School immunizations—The Maryland Department of Health released updated school vaccine requirements for the 2023-2024 school year. Families of incoming kindergarten students, new students, and 7th and 8th graders may need additional vaccines to start the school year. For students whose required vaccines are incomplete, updated vaccine records must be submitted by the first day of school; proof of exemption or a vaccination visit must be submitted within 20 days. School staff are reviewing records and contacting families of students with incomplete vaccination records. Not sure if your student is up to date? Contact your child’s health care provider or access their immunization records online. Students 18 years old and younger eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may obtain free vaccines through the county’s Immunization Program.

1. School Health Forms—Returning students may need certain forms if they have a health condition that requires medication, other health support or accommodations, or an emergency health plan at school (for example, asthma, food allergies or a seizure disorder). Common forms include:

• Form 525-13 (for medications to be given or available at school): Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication / Autorización para Suministro de Medicamento Recetado

• Form 525-14 (emergency plan for severe allergic reactions): Emergency Care for the Management of a Student with a Diagnosis of Anaphylaxis / Atención de Emergencia para Estudiantes con Diagnóstico de Anafilaxia

• Form 240-23 (for food services to be aware of special diets due to an allergy or another health condition): Special Dietary Needs Form / Formulario de Necesidades Alimentarias Especiales

• Other health forms or forms in other languages are on our website

1. Athletics—Sports team tryouts has started for high school, and September for middle school. Student-athletes will need a sports physical if they are registering for the first time, or if it has been 13 months (high school) or two years (middle school) since the date of their last exam. Parents/guardians must submit their student’s physical form as part of the online registration process. For more information on registration, required forms or other resources for sports physicals, visit the MCPS Athletics website.

• Pre Participation Physical for Athletics / Examen Físico Previo a Participación en Deportes

1. For more information about school health services, see the program information on the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website. For an overview of mental health services and supports, download the MCPS Stronger Student App or click on “Mental Health Support” on the MCPS website.

Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) Applications Are Now Open

The Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) application is now available for the 2024–2025 school year.

Students at schools participating under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) are eligible for free meals and do not need to apply for FARMS. Students at non-CEP schools may qualify for Free or Reduced-price Meals based on household size and income. Students may also qualify if they are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) or Medicaid benefits. Families must renew their FARMS application each school year even if their child qualified the previous year. Students who qualify for reduced-price meals will eat for free. Visit MySchoolApps.com to apply (translations available).

Board of Education Seeks Applicants for Vacancy on Ethics Panel

The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking applicants for a vacant position on its five-member Ethics Panel. The vacancy is for a term running through June 30, 2027. Members serve without compensation. As noted in Board Policy, BBB, Ethics, among the panel’s responsibilities are: approving financial disclosure forms; interpreting the Board of Education’s Ethics Policy and issuing advisory opinions concerning its application; and conducting hearings on complaints filed regarding an alleged violation.

Read more.

Join the MCPS Transportation Team!

MCPS is hosting a job fair for bus drivers, bus attendants and mechanics from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. on Thursday, July 25. The fair will be held at the Shady Grove Transportation Depot, 16651 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville. Read more.

• 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.
• READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS newsroom.
• 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

More From MCPS

We maintain open lines of communication with parents and community members throughout the school year. The phone number for the school is 240-740-5260. You may also email Mr. Mackall at Desmond_Mackall2@mcpsmd.org or Mrs. Simhon at Ilana_N_Simhon@mcpsmd.org. We can also be messaged instantly on once you update your cell phone and email information. You will have instant access through the REMIND app to contact any MHES staff member at any time. All staff emails are also available on the school website at

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/

(Note: We continue to update our website to reflect FY25 changes)

The administration expectation for all staff is to return calls within 24 business hours. If you choose to contact staff over the weekend please know that our expectation for them is to respond during school hours (weekday). We thank you in advance for your understanding!

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