Meadow Hall Staff Newsletter
Week of January 29
January 29 - February 2
January 29 is a professional day to complete report cards. It is telework eligible!
MP2 MHES Grading & Reporting Guidance
This week is our Mobile Science Lab. Please check the schedule in the newsletter. It is important to arrive on time to the mobile lab.
Zooming into Code Purple PD
Never taught virtually? Need a refresher since you have a mental block from those "covid days"? The thought of a code purple day makes your heart pound? Join us for an optional PD session on Monday, February 5th at 3:30pm in the Media Center. We will be covering the following:
- zoom basics and best practices
- document cameras during virtual instruction
- applications to support virtual learning such as: flipgrid, peardeck, whiteboard
- posting on myMCPS classroom
**We will have multiple facilitators, so if staff need differentiated support, we can accommodate it!
Budget Freeze
Given the current budget freeze, we are asking staff members to use Copy Plus as much as possible. Printer and Copier ink is very expensive, so any way to lower costs will be helpful. thank you!
New Reading Curriculum Update
- The committee is looking for a curriculum that will have:
- Explicit foundational skills (like RGR)
- ELD component
- Differentiation opportunities
- Resources for ELD Students.
- Writing resources (this is a requirement)
- Curriculum reviewers will include over 100 stakeholders from many different roles.
- Review of materials by selected stakeholders will happen during the week of February 5-10, 2024
- Everyone will be allowed to the vendor presentations.
- The ELA Team will bring forward the new curriculum to the Board of Education for approval on March 19, 2024.
- Two Tier One summer training days will be planned for Summer 2024.
- The goal is to select a program for 3 years with an option for extensions.
- The PreK Curriculum will be included.
Family Dance Night
Sign up for the Lip-sync contest at the Family Dance on Friday, February 16! Click the picture below to sign up or use this link.
Opportunity to be a Study Circles Facilitator:
SEIU - American Fidelity Open Enrollment
It’s time for the SEIU Local 500 Annual Benefits Review and Enrollment!
This year’s benefit enrollment begins January 22nd, 2024, with our partner, American Fidelity, who provides products and services designed with the specific needs of employees in the education community which can all be payroll deducted.
SEIU Local 500 members can choose the following benefits:
For more info on SEIU Local 500 Benefits, Click Here!
· Disability Insurance
· Accident Insurance
· Cancer Insurance
· Life Insurance
· Group Critical Illness
· Hospital Assist
Click here to Schedule your appointment today!
Garrick Alden will be here in person on January 31st and February 1st to meet with SEIU members in the staff lounge.
Family Game Night
Family Game Night is rapidly approaching. It is scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 1st. We would love to borrow board games and reading/math related games. If you would like to donate games for the raffle or loan us your games, please drop them off in room 40. Label them with your name if you would like us to return them or mark them as donate if you would like for us to raffle them off. We appreciate your support.
Additionally, we are looking for volunteers to help on the night of the event. Please use the sign up sheet in the workroom or email Casey. We are looking for staff members as well as a few trustworthy middle and high school students looking for SSL hours.
😊 The Family Game Night Committee
Mobile Science Lab
Our Mobile Science Lab will be January 30 - February 2. Each class is assigned a time slot on a particular day. Please see the attached schedule below. Classes are scheduled for either 60 or 30 minutes and are not easily changed. If there is an error, let Ilana know by January 18th.
5th Grade Bake Sale!
We need your help! Please consider supporting our fabulous 5th graders by donating to the 5th grade bake sale that will be at the Game Night and Science Fair on February 1st from 6pm - 7:30pm. All money raised will be going toward the 5th grade promotion and celebration activities at the end of the school year. Both baked good and store bought items are welcome. Home baked items must be wrapped individually and an ingredients list must be provided. All donations can be dropped off at the main office now until January 31st. Thank you for your support!
Winter Testing Schedule
Please check the testing schedule daily at the link below. It will be updated frequently. Many ELD teachers, SPED teachers and Paras will be used for testing, so schedules will shift.
PTA News
February
-Thursday, 2/1, is the MHES Game Night and Science Fair. Come see some great work and play some games!
-Friday, 2/16, come move your feet and have some fun at our MHES Family Dance. Snacks, beverages, and baked goods will be available for purchase.
-Friday, 2/23, is the annual Ice Skating Party at the Rockville Ice Arena. Tickets will be on sale shortly and a portion of any purchases from the concession stand will go to the school.
To Do Items
Check the Mobile Science Lab Schedule
Frequently check Testing schedule throughout this month
Update grades - Finalize grades by January 29!
Calendar Items
Monday, January 29
- Professional Day (no school for students)
- MP2 grades due
January 30 - February 2
- Mobile Science Lab (check the schedule!)
Thursday, February 1
- Game Night and Science Fair
Friday, February 16
- Family Dance Night! Lipsync contest!
Friday, February 23
- Ice Skating Party @ the Rockville Ice Area
