Dear MHES families and staff,

Thank you to everyone who attended our Scholastic Book Fair and Ice Cream Social last week! Your support made it a fun and successful event for our students, and we truly appreciate your commitment to building a strong school community.

As we prepare for another exciting week of learning, please remember that there is no school on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Classes will resume on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 8:45 am. We look forward to continuing our journey of learning and engagement with your children!

Please see the information below for important updates for the week of September 30, 2024.

Desmond Mackall

Principal

Meadow Hall ES

October

1- PTA Meeting (7pm)

3- School Closed

14- MHES Open House (9:00-10:30 am and/or 1:30-3:00 pm)

17- MHES Outdoor Movie Night (6pm)

18- Professional Day (No School for Students)

25- MHES Fall Class Parties (2:15-3:15pm)

Check out news from Mrs. Blakely and Mrs. Fensterstock in the library by clicking the link below:

SEPTEMBER LIBRARY NEWS

Dear MCPS Families and Students,

Our community is entering a time that may bring challenging emotions and discussions into our schools and we want to ensure that our entire community—students, families, and staff—has the guidance and strategies to navigate these moments together. With the upcoming national election, the first anniversary of the October 7th attack, and the ongoing conflict, it’s important that we prepare for the range of conversations and emotions these topics may evoke.

For students to be their best in school, their learning environments must remain safe, welcoming, and inclusive. As educators, we strive to model thoughtful and positive expression and encourage students to make respectful, informed choices, especially during challenging times.

The new processes for responding to and communicating when faced with incidents of hate and bias, along with the information campaign addressing these issues, have been shaped by input from our community members. School staff and leaders have received these same resources to ensure we are all operating from the same guidance when managing student speech and expression in our schools.

Thank you for your continued partnership in making our schools a safe and inclusive space for everyone.

Respectfully,

Thomas W. Taylor, Ed.D., M.B.A.
Superintendent

Resources to Reduce and Address Incidents of Hate and Bias

• See the steps taken and plans for this school year to reduce and address Hate-Bias
  español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ

• Visit the new Responding to Incidents of Hate-Bias website.

High-Quality Curriculum

• Civic Engagement conversations occur through Social Studies classes, where teachers are provided lessons, guidance, and ongoing professional development. A letter sent from principals and social studies staff provides notification of this work.

• Attend the Social Studies Curriculum nights to learn more about how Social Studies is taught!

COMMUNITY SCHOOL UPDATES!

REMINDER: CSL Bus Stop Meetup!

On Fridays through December 13, 2025, I will visit MHES school bus stops to say “hello,” and get to know families that I may not get the chance to bump into on campus before or after school. The schedule is as follows:

• Scott Avenue and Edmonston Drive 9/20/24 and 11/8/24
  

• Edmonston Drive and Gilbert Road 9/27/24 and 11/15/24

• Denham Road and Gilbert Road 10/11/24 and 12/6/24

• Grandin Avenue and Woodburn Road 10/18/24 and 12/13/24

Fresh Produce Distribution

Small Things Matter will provide 50 families with fresh produce on the first and third Friday of the month beginning on Friday, October 4, 2024. The Produce will be distributed at dismissal on a first come first serve basis. Please contact me directly at jessica_e_jackson@mcpsmd.org should you have a significant need for the food and are not able to make it to the school for distribution at dismissal.

Jessica Jackson, MSW, LCSW-C

Community School Liaison for Meadow Hall ES

Department of Student Engagement and Behavioral Health

Office of Well-Being and Student Services

Jessica_e_Jackson@mcpsmd.org

Cell/Whatsapp: 227-216-1193

IG: @meadowhalles_CSL

Twitter/X: @MHES_CSL

Adult English Classes are Back at MHES!

Would you like your child to take tutorials for homework while you take English conversation sessions? Sign up for both now!

Meadow Hall, with the support of Montgomery County Public Schools and Rockville High School, will be offering tutoring for their K-5 grade students while their parents take English conversation sessions. Both sessions will be held every Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. beginning October 7 through November 6, 2024. There is no cost for these sessions.

Tutoring will be provided by Rockville High School students in the All Purpose Room, while the English conversation sessions will be provided by Montgomery County teachers in the Media Center Meadow Hall ES.

The two registration forms have already been sent home. For further information please contact Ms. Cristina Rechy, cristinarechy@hotmail.com and in English, Ms. Jessica Jackson, Jessica_E_Jackson@mcpsmd.org

Take advantage of this great opportunity!

¿Le gustaría que su hij@ tomara tutorías para hacer su tarea mientras usted toma sesiones de conversación en inglés? ¡Regístrense ambos ahora!

Meadow Hall, con el apoyo de Montgomery County Public Schools y Rockville High School, ofrecerán tutorías en español para sus estudiantes de jardín de infantes hasta 5to grado mientras sus padres toman sesiones de conversación en inglés. Ambas sesiones se llevarán a cabo todos los lunes y miércoles de 6:30 pm a 8:30 pm a partir del 7 de octubre hasta el 6 de noviembre de 2024. Estas sesiones no tienen costo alguno.

Las tutorías las impartirán estudiantes de preparatoria de Rockville High School en el Salón de Usos Múltiples (All Purpose Room) y las sesiones de conversación en inglés las darán profesores del condado en el Centro de Medios (Media Center), todo dentro de Meadow Hall.

Los dos formularios de registro ya han sido enviados a casa. Para mayor información favor de contactar a la Sra. Cristina Rechy, cristinarechy@hotmail.com y a la Sra. Jessica Jackson, Jessica_E_Jackson@mcpsmd.org

¡Aproveche esta gran oportunidad!

If you are interested in joining a committee or just helping out at one of the events please contact info@mhespta.org and let us know how you would like to be involved!

Bells Mills, Woodfield Elementary Schools Win National Blue Ribbon Awards

Bells Mill Elementary and Woodfield Elementary Schools have been recognized as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. They are the 44th and 45th MCPS schools to receive this distinction.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools award recognizes schools that demonstrate outstanding academic performance or significant progress in closing achievement gaps. These two join a select group of 356 schools nationwide and 10 in Maryland to receive this recognition.

Bells Mill Elementary School

Located in Potomac, Bells Mill serves approximately 610 students. The school's commitment to academic excellence, respect and inclusivity has fostered a supportive and nurturing atmosphere. Students benefit from rigorous curriculum, effective teaching and a collaborative learning environment.

Woodfield Elementary School

Woodfield serves more than 300 students from diverse backgrounds. The school's focus on fostering a sense of community and belonging has created a positive and inclusive learning environment. Students participate in various school activities, including a student garden, leadership programs and peer mentoring.

A Q&A With Karla Silvestre

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. More than 34 percent of MCPS students are Hispanic or of Hispanic descent. This month brings an opportunity to highlight the contributions and rich diversity of the many Hispanic cultures across Montgomery County. It also gives us a chance to celebrate some of our wonderful staff members and leaders who are of Hispanic heritage. Don’t miss this Q&A with Board of Education President Karla Silvestre.

Oct. 9 Hispanic Parent Night Will Discuss Financing College

The Hispanic College Fair is being held from 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville. A Hispanic Parent Night: Financing College Information Session is being held in conjunction with that event. The Parent Night will be held from 6–7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 15 W. Gude Drive, Third Floor, Potomac Room.

The event will include presentations from Beverly Coleman, director of the TRIO Educational Opportunity Center at Montgomery College (MC), and Rhonda McLaren-Scott, financial aid outreach counselor at MC, to discuss options for financing college. Attendees will learn about the Federal Student Aid Identification (FSA ID) number and have an opportunity to create one during the workshop. Spanish-speaking interpreters from MCPS and MC will be on site.

Hispanic Parent Night Financing College Registration

Hispanic Parent Night—Financing College

Noche de Padres Hispanos - Cómo Pagar por Estudios Universitarios

Collegiate Directions and MCPS will also host a Financial Aid Night on Zoom at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3. Register here. This event will be in Spanish. The Zoom information will be shared after registering. Email questions to Jill Semmens.

In addition, all high schools hold free financial aid nights for MCPS students and families.

Reminder: Apply for FARMS by Oct. 8

The Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) application is available for this school year. Families must reapply every year to determine whether they are eligible for the FARMS program, even if their child qualified the previous year. Tuesday, Oct. 8 is the last day that student eligibility from last school year carries over into this year. After Oct. 8, students without a new eligibility will revert to a paid status and be charged for meals. Students/families can request a paper application at any school, but processing is faster online.

• 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