Meadow Hall Staff Newsletter

Well done with the "heavy lift" of the first couple weeks of school! By week three we are hopefully getting into a routine and feeling a bit more settled in with teaching and learning. Walking the hallways, it is evident that staff are engaged with students, developing relationships and setting expectations.

New playground equipment will be installed on September 15 and 16 in the empty mulch area of Playground B. Please make sure students stay clear of the construction. Playground B should still be useable, just not near where they are working.

If you have parents not getting PTA emails, those families could request to be added by emailing info@mhespta.org.

Here is a link to a list of the MHES meetings for the whole year. Any changes will updated on this list, the master calendar, and shared via email and newsletter.

As you have noticed, core team members are getting into classrooms as often as possible. We hope to make this a regular practice, so staff and students will be comfortable with having classrooms open to visitors. Plan to also see some central office guests join our walkthroughs in the coming weeks!

There are three stipends available for staff around restorative justice and wellness. If you prefer, staff members may choose to share the responsibilities and stipend of one of the positions. See below for details. If you are interested, please let Ilana know by Wednesday, September 21st!

1. Restorative Justice Coach - $3,000 total

• Click here to read about Restorative Justice Coach Role and Responsibilities

2. Wellness Coordinator - $2,000 total

• continue and expand the work of wellness initiatives at the local school level.
  

3. Wellness Data Tracking - $1,000 total

• support the work of data tracking and reporting specific to student well-being initiatives
  

** the wellness coordinator and wellness data tracker could be combined into one person/stipend of $3,000 OR shared by more than one person.

Here is a link to the updated online services passcodes for our school. They need to be used on an MCPS account (student or staff) in order not to violate the terms of use.

New this year:

• Pebble Go Next - Good news: content for Gr. 3-5, Bad news: not in Spanish language translation……yet?
• National Geographic Kids – mainly pdf magazine content

Focus groups in grades 2-5 will begin on September 21. The first three days may be used for getting-to-know you and relationship building activities. Instruction should begin on September 27. Consider using the half day on September 14 to plan focus groups. Focus group recommendations can be found in the Articulation Document created at the end of last year.

Ilana will be reaching out to the team leaders of grades 2-5 to touch base and get ready for the start of focus groups:)

Students will no longer be assessed by the domains of science. Grading and Reporting now aligns with the expectations of the Next Generation Science Standards for three-dimensional learning: students engage in the real-world practices of scientists and engineers.

There are 4 measurement topics to assess student understanding of science. They are as follows:

• Questioning and Information

• Modeling and Investigation

• Data and Analysis

• Explanation and Argumentation

In order to assist teachers with the new grading and reporting expectations, a screencast has been created to provide further guidance.

• The link to the screencast can be found using this link

The MP 1 Gradebook Naming Conventions document provides teachers with the lesson number, student task, grading rubric, associated measurement topic, and gradebook naming convention.

Optional Science CPD Courses

Elementary teachers are invited to build their understanding of content and instruction aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards via Fall 2022 Continuing Professional Development courses:

• PDO Course #90522: CPD SC-57 Understanding & Instructing Physical Sciences Using the Next Generation Science Standards

• PDO Course #91048: CPD SC-59 Understanding & Instructing Life Sciences Using the Next Generation Science Standards

​Please note: Each course will be offered in a hybrid format, and teachers will need to register soon on PDO, as space is limited. If you have questions, please contact Jennifer L Orodeckis.

Pacing Guide Updates

Pacing guides for the 2022-2023 school year are now available in the Eureka Math classroom. As you review the pacing guides for this year, please note:

• The number of Foundational Support Days has decreased to allow for the inclusion more of the supporting and additional content at each grade level. Kindergarten and first grade pacing guides will not have Foundational Support Days, and will include ALL of the grade level content.

• Guidance on Honing for SEL has been added to pacing guides for the first topic in each module. Most modules are done; if one is missing at this point, it will be added soon.

• The following guidance has been added to the Kindergarten pacing guide:

• Standards from the Counting and Cardinality domain are considered major content in kindergarten, and proficiency with these standards is developed throughout the year.

• The Kindergarten Counting and Cardinality Benchmarks and Proficiencies (REVISED 2022) document is provided to assist teachers in gauging students’ progress toward end-of-year proficiencies in Counting and Cardinality and diagnosing specific needs along the way.

Providing Enriched Learning in Elementary Mathematics

The asynchronous course, Tiered Enrichment Strategies for Honing the Lesson in Eureka Math is available again this fall. Teachers who have not taken this training should register in PDO using course #90413. Please note that participation in this course is for clock hours only.

Upgrades to Tier ll and Tier lll enrichment:

• A bank for teachers to add Tier ll problems they’ve created has been linked in the Providing Enriched Learning in Elementary Mathematics document, along with guidance for its use.

• Additional Tier lll supplemental instructional tasks have been added to the Tier lll bank and are linked in the enrichment document as well.

Canvas Course for Paraeducators

Please share the following information with paraeducators. PDO course #91190: Supporting Services, SPT10:Eureka Math 101 for Paraeducators is now open. This course is designed to introduce paraeducators to the Eureka Math classroom and instructional resources. Participants will learn about each component of the Eureka Math block and how their role as a paraeducator supports student learning. We recommend waiting to begin this course after August 24th when the Navigator access will be restored. Any additional questions can be directed to Rachel Orgel and Sally Murek.

Math CPD Courses for Fall 2022

Our office will offer two 3-credit CPD courses this fall.

Teaching and Learning Mathematics K-2 (PDO course #90513)

Teaching and Learning Mathematics 3-5 (PDO course #90514)

Participants, which include teachers of mathematics in grade K-2 (for MA-92) and 3-5 (for MA-93), as well as special education, teachers, ESOL teachers, paraeducators, and math instructional leaders, will enhance their understanding of mathematics content and pedagogy within the K-2 or 3-5 grade band. Participants will study the Standards for Mathematical Practice and the NCTM Mathematics Teaching Practices, and how they relate to effective instruction in the classroom.

Both courses begin in October. Registration opens in PDO on August 22.

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming up soon from September 16 through the 23! The PTA would like to help you get books to supply your classrooms. There are a couple of ways that we can help!

• We have $5 coupons for you to use on personal $20 purchases. These will be in your mailboxes shortly before the sale begins.
• If you are a PTA member (join here: https://www.mhespta.org/membership/join-the-pta), you can get reimbursed up to $50 for supplies and needs for your classrooms (this includes books!)
• We plan to make "Teacher Wishlists" so that parents and students can take the opportunity to donate books to your classroom. If this is something you would like to participate in, first go to https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/parent-store.html/ and look through the book catalogue. Select individual books (no packs please) that you would like for your classroom and email a list of those items to Whitney Swain (whitneyswain@gmail.com).

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage month. Facts about Hispanics and Hispanic-Americans will be shared each day during announcements. Staff is encouraged to highlight and use information about all cultures in their lessons. However, if we can find ways to implement facts about Hispanic culture during this time that is great!

Handbook

ALL teachers need to check the Staff Expectations Document for updates as it has been updated. Please see the section on Student Behavior.

Survey

Complete Survey on the Current State of MHES Instruction

Class Dojo

• Send out the FARMS notice via Dojo
• Invite Desmond Mackall, Ilana Simhon and Jennifer Binder to your class on Dojo!
• Share with families that we have backpacks if families need them (Please call or send a message)

Preservice Feedback Form

Please remember to fill out our feedback survey on pre-service this week.

https://forms.gle/YJGssBm9pYiG7AWw8

How to Make My Day

All staff, please complete the "how to make my day" google from so fellow staff members, the PTA and parents know how to spoil you!

Click here for How to Make my Day Form

Test Security Training

The Meadow Hall Canvas course (myMCPS classroom) has the FY23 Test Security video published. All staff members involved with testing will need to watch the test security video, print the nondisclosure agreement at the end and sign it and give to our SDT, Mrs. Binder. Kindergarten teachers and anyone helping to proctor the KRA must complete this prior to the start of KRA testing.

Calendars

Please make sure you have access to the following calendars. By clicking on the link for each calendar, it should be added to your Google Calendar list and therefore you’ll be able to see the important events:

Master Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=bWNwc21kLm5ldF9iM2w2a2hwMnRxZzY1ZW9hZG8xaDFicGIzb0Bncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t

Testing Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=bWNwc21kLm5ldF9uODlzZmZsMDBjZW05ZzFmdWRpamp2c29hOEBncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t

SPED Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=bWNwc21kLm5ldF9saDFwNThlbXRmNGQxNmY3czdzYmRtaHNjZ0Bncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t

Health Awareness Trainings

• ALL SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS must view the presentation, PDO course number 91273 Level 1: Introduction to Anaphylaxis by Friday, September 23, 2022.

• ALL MCPS STAFF MEMBERS must complete Professional Development Online (PDO) course number 91179, Level 1: Overview of Diabetes 2022-2023, by Friday, September 23, 2022.

• ALL SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS must view the presentation, PDO Course Number 91182 Opioid Awareness and Response 2022–2023, by Friday, September 23, 2022.
• Bloodborne Pathogens - https://mcps-md.safeschools.com/login (log in with Outlook username) ** required

Tuesday, September 13th

• Staff mtg for all Professional Staff - 3:45-5pm

Wednesday, September 14th

• Early Release - 12:55pm (no recess)
• Early Release lunch schedule - 10:55 (gr 4), 11:00 (gr K), 11:35 (gr 2/3), 12:10 (gr 1/5)

Friday, September 16th

• Book Fair begins!

Tuesday, September 20th

• Equity PLC for all Professional Staff - 3:45-5pm

Friday, September 23rd

• Ice Cream Social - 7-8:30pm

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