Meadow Hall Staff Newsletter

It is the First Week of School!!

Thank you for all your energy, input and engagement during our preservice week. Our school looks AMAZING and very welcoming for our students.

A reminder - we do have Town Halls this Tuesday in the APR (grades k/1 @ 9:05am; grades 2/3 @ 9:50am; grades 4/5 @ 2:30pm)

Please see our dismissal times for the afternoon these first few days. We will adjust and move closer to the 3:25pm time later in the week and next week. We will make announcements at the following times.

3:05pm - Kindergarten Patrols go the K classrooms (all other patrols stay in their homeroom)

3:15pm - Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers walk kids to bus lines and car rider area and KAH in the APR (if patrols haven't already escorted them) and then out to the front for walkers.

3:20pm - Grades 2-5 KAH and car riders and bus riders dismiss

3:25 - All students dismissed

The PDF linked below has the changes to MCPS Covid-19 process for this school year.

Our first fire drill is this coming Thursday, August 31st and 10:45am. Please review procedures with your students ahead of time so they know the expectations and where to stand.

We are not able to microwave popcorn in this school due to a student's highly sensitive airborne allergy.

MCPS requires all staff to complete a test security module. It is in the assignments tab of our Meadow Hall canvas page. It is called FY24. You will need to watch the whole video and at the end, there will be a form to print. Our first testing window opens the second week of school, so your certificate is due to Jennifer Binder by Friday, September 1. Please let Jennifer know if you have any questions.

Elementary teachers must complete the online PDO course for their grade level.

Grades K–4: Staff who have not completed the initial Grades K–4 online asynchronous training must complete PDO Course #87892.

Grade 5: Staff must complete synchronous training PDO Course #89415 prior to instruction. An annual online update (PDO Course #90327) must be completed each year thereafter

Training Calendar

Check out some great resources in preparation for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Here's an Optional module on Family Engagement - there is a piece on Back to School Night, too!

Grades 4 and 5 Teachers

Grades 4 and 5 Summer PD on Canvas (Teachers will not receive pay for viewing the modules.)

• Grade 4 Social Studies 2023 Summer Training
• Shared in Commons
• Title: Grade 4 ES Social Studies Training
• Link
• Grade 5 Social Studies 2023 Summer Training
• Shared in Commons
• Title: Grade 5 ES Social Studies Training
• Link

Drop In Sessions

• All grades 4 and 5 teacher are encouraged to attend grades 4 and 5 drop in sessions to address any questions they have related to the implementation of the new curricula.
• September 14, 2023
• 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
• Zoom link

All Teachers

Learning for Justice Professional Learning Cohorts

• Virtual cohorts provide educators, free of charge, the chance to deeply engage with LFJ materials, collaborate with small groups of other educators from across the country and gain insights and feedback on implementation. After six months of learning in community, including seven synchronous sessions via Zoom, educators will present their implementation plans at a virtual Showcase.
• There are two different cohorts being offered that will focus on the following LFJ resources: Critical Practices for Social Justice Education and Teaching Hard History: American Slavery
• More information about the cohorts, including syllabi and how to apply, can be found here.
• Deadline for applying: August 31, 2023

2023-24 Elementary SS Resources & PD Opportunities

Looking for ways to increase engagement in your classroom?

Check out our Engagement Strategy Google Slideshow! New strategies will be continuously added throughout the school year.

From April to June 2023, the Montgomery County Board of Education amended two policies and the superintendent of schools adopted or approved for revision five MCPS regulations. See the attached PDF document.

We use Google Calendars to organize our "school life"! Please make sure you join/access the following calendars.

Master Calendar - check multiple times a week for school-wide events

Special Education Calendar - all IEP and 504 mtgs are listed and held in the conference room

Testing Calendar - windows and due dates for required testing

Staff Roster FY24

** check out our new and returning staff members

Master Schedule

** master schedule will be reviewed in more detail during our staff mtg on Tuesday

Virtual Staff Handbook

** handbook has links to many commonly-used resources and forms

Staff Website

** bookmark the website; this is where you access all the documents and presentations for our meetings

In the past, our entire staff appreciation budget has been used by providing water to the staff and guests of our building. In order to have those funds to contribute to other forms of appreciation, we are establishing a "water club". If you wish to have unlimited access to water (now located in the main office) you may join and pay a $20 fee for the school year. We believe this will cover the cost of water for those interested from now until mid-June.

See Renifer to join the water club!

Those who do not wish to join the water club may continue to utilize the filtered water outside of the APR and the gym.

Join the PTA - only $8 for staff members!

Next PTA meeting - Tuesday, August 29 @ 7pm

Let Desmond and Ilana know if you are able to help with a club or activity for our students!

MHES After-School Activities

If you aren't signed up for a Committee yet, please let Desmond and Ilana know your preference! All MCEA members need to have a committee which will count has one of your three required evening commitments. Back to School Night is your other evening activity. The 3rd one will be your choice of which to attend/help!

Committees

Monday, August 28

- First day of School!

- Woohoo Breakfast for K families @ 9am

Tuesday. August 29

- Town Halls in APR (grades k/1 @ 9:05am; grades 2/3 @ 9:50am; grades 4/5 @ 2:30pm)

- PTA mtg @ 7pm

Thursday, August 31

- Fire Drill @ 10:45am

Monday, September 4

- No School (Labor Day)

Tuesday, September 5

- Leadership Team mtg @ 3:45-5pm

Wednesday, September 6

- Back to School Night @ 6-7:30pm

Click here for the school meeting schedule for this year. These are also on the master calendar.

Please use the link below to send Staff High-5s! This is a simple way to say thank you, congrats or acknowledge someone's hard work. We will return to having a monthly raffle this school year:)

Email: Ilana_N_Simhon@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/
Location: 951 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-5260