MWES Newsletter

Fri, 03/03/2023 - 3:33pm

 

 

Dear Manor Woods Families,               

During its Feb. 23 meeting, the Howard County Board of Education adjusted the start times of schools for the 2023-2024 school year. There is no impact to the current school year. All changes will take effect in August.

The exact start time for each school will be determined this spring and shared with the community as transportation routes are finalized. However, Manor Woods is part of Tier 2, which means our school start time will be approximately 8:40 a.m. next school year. If your child will attend a different school next year, the start times for all schools can be found on the HCPSS website. I want to reiterate the words that HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano shared: “finalizing and fully implementing this plan will be a months-long process.” Much more information will be provided to students, staff and families from HCPSS and our school throughout that process.

I encourage you to read more about the process to evaluate school start times on the HCPSS website. I know you may have questions; however, please note that there are many impacted pieces as a result of this decision and all details will not be available right away. We are working with HCPSS central office staff on the logistics related to the implementation, and additional information will be provided to you as it becomes available. 

 

Fondly,

Carol DeBord, Principal

Jennifer Zinn, Assistant Principal

 

                       ​​​​​​​

 

Important Dates

March

3/7/23 - Spring Pictures   
3/9/23 - Spirit Day: Marvelous Math Day 
Wear a shirt or jersey showcasing your favorite numbers, patterns, or shapes
3/15/23 - Schools Closed 3 Hours Early
3/31/23 - Schools Closed 3 Hours Early

 

RA Color Days

 

School News

Math Night 

Do you want to support your child's math thinking, but don't want to just give them more work to do?  Are you looking for fun ways to engage with your child?  Does your child like playing games?  If you answered "Yes!" to any of these questions, please join us Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. for our Family Math Night! 

                                                                          

Math Night will have specific grade-level games as well as cultural math activities for your children to play in the gym or the cafeteria. While your children play the math games, parents may attend a math presentation in the media center with the HCPSS Coordinator of Mathematics, John SanGiovanni.  His presentation will focus on how parents can help their children with math at home.

We hope you will join us for our MWES Family Math Night  on Thursday, March 9th from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

In order to help us prepare for this night, please RSVP with the form below by 2/23/23. If possible, please have your child bring a deck of cards with their name on it for the evening games. Thank you!

Register at:  https://forms.gle/FqkQRXtDesV3aHR19

2023-2024 Kindergarten Registration Opens March 6

Kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year begins Monday, March 6. Parents/guardians of children who will be five on or before September 1, 2023, must enroll their children in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year. Details about the enrollment process are available online. Click here to register: https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2023/03/2023-2024-kindergarten-registration-opens-march-6-2023/

Enrollment Information

Kindergarten Online Registration Week is March 6, 2023.Parents/guardians of children who will be five as of September 1, 2023, must enroll their children in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year.

Gather Documentation

Having all your documentation prepared in advance of registration will keep the process moving quickly. If you are missing documentation, your registration will be denied.**

**If you are a multi-family registration (2 or more families living together), please contact our PPW, Jared Woodley, jared_woodley@hcpss.org, to complete your registration.

Student Identification Documentation

  •  Student’s evidence of birth (birth certificate, passport/visa, physician’s certificate, baptismal or church certification, hospital certificate, parent/s affidavit or birth registration.)
  •  Proof of parental relationship, custody, or guardianship. If applicable, bring legal proof of custody (court order).
  • Any additional paperwork that may be necessary due to special living arrangements or circumstances.

Academic Documentation

  • Student’s most recent grade report, transcript, report card from last school attended at time of withdrawal.
  • Documentation of Special Education (IEP), 504, Psychological Report, or related services.

Parent Identification Documentation

  • Parent picture ID: driver’s license, passport, MVA identification or other legal form of photographic identification.
  • Signed original, current complete lease or complete deed with your address, valid dates, signatures.
  • Current utility bill with name and address (non-cellular telephone, gas and electric, cable bill issued in the last 45 days.)

Health Documentation

HCPSS Summer Course Registration Info.

Synergy online enrollment requests for currently enrolled HCPSS students will reopen Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. for the BSAP Summer Institute, Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development, Innovative Pathways High School (all courses except credit recovery and Gear Up for 9th Grade), and Summer Math Scholars programs.

HCPSS staff will provide in-person assistance for current HCPSS families who need help submitting their Synergy online enrollment requests for the registration-based summer programs. Support will be provided on Thursday, March 9 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the following elementary schools: Bollman Bridge ES, Swansfield ES, Talbott Springs ES, Waterloo ES, and Waverly ES.

Families can find up-to-date course information and enrollment directions on the Summer Programs web page (https://www.hcpss.org/summer-programs/). Contact the individual program offices with additional questions.

From The Health Room

Important Health & Safety Message

All HCPSS students and staff must stay home if they are experiencing symptom(s) associated with any communicable disease. Families, students, and staff should perform daily health checks and stay home if they have symptoms of a communicable disease, including the seasonal flu, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Families are encouraged to consider taking advantage of flu and COVID vaccines and boosters.

Students Attendance Procedures

MWES would like to remind families about our attendance procedures. If your child is going to be absent from school, or if you need to provide a note to excuse your child’s absence from a previous day, please use our school absence inbox by emailing MWESABSENCE@hcpss.org, put the student name on the subject line.  You may also send in a note the day your child returns to school. 

Your message must include your: 

  • Child’s First And Last Name

  • Grade/Teacher

  •  The Date Of Absence

  • The Reason For Absence

 Please see the policy for attendance here:  HCPSS Policy 9010: Attendance. 

Counselors Corner

Mrs. Heinlein and Mrs. Salapata, School Counselors, are here to support our students and families. Mrs. Heinlein works with grades K, 2, 3 and 5. Mrs. Salapata works with grades 1 and 4. Please reach out to us through email or by calling 410-313-7165 if we can be of assistance. monica_heinlein@hcpss.orgchristina_salapata@hcpss.org 

March Mindfulness Calendar 

Action for Happiness is an organization whose mission is to inspire people to take action to be happier and kinder, together. Use this calendar at home with your family to live mindfully each day. 

Summer Activities for Children

These summer programs offer children a variety of educational and recreational opportunities during the summer to learn, meet new friends and have fun:

HCPSS BSAP Summer Institute

HCPSS GT Summer Institute

Howard County Public Library System

Howard County Recreation and Parks

Howard Community College Kids on Campus

Outdoor Recess Guidelines

Generally, students will be outside for recess when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index reading is less than 95. Children with certain health conditions may need special accommodations during extremely hot or cold weather. Parents of those children should provide medical documentation and may be consulted to determine if other arrangements are necessary.

 

PTA News

YEARBOOK ORDERS

Order your yearbook today at http://www.treering.com/validate and to Enter your school’s passcode: 1014749226162236. Order anytime but customized pages are due by May 3rd. 

RESTAURANT NIGHT - CRAZY MASON, MARCH 13TH

Our next restaurant night is just around the corner and we think this will be a favorite amongst our students! Join us Monday, March 13 at The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar and receive a custom MWES jar with your milkshake order! There are only 120 custom jars, so be sure to hurry in. 

*All milkshake orders after 4:00PM will receive a custom MWES jar, even if it is not the order of an MWES family.

**If the custom jars run out prior to your family receiving a jar, you can purchase a custom jar after the event. If we determine a separate sale is needed, we will provide those details following this event. 

Please reach out to Allie at mwesrestaurantnight@gmail.com if you have any questions!

MABELS LABELS

Tired of your kids' sweatshirts, coats, water bottles, and literally everything else they take to school getting lost?? Or maybe you're getting ready for summer camps already and need to mark your child's belongings? Mabel's Labels has you covered! Mabel's Labels is the best-known brand of durable labels for families and they are currently running a 50% off sale, and 20% of proceeds go directly to the PTA. Follow this link https://mabelslabels.com/ and click "Support a Fundraiser" in the top right corner and search Manor Woods Elementary School PTA. The labels are dishwasher (so label those lunch containers) and laundry safe (hoodies and coats!).

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

To learn more please visit:  https://www.hcpss.org/diversity/#discipline-practices

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - DEI Participation

DEI Participation

As we continue to work on celebrating our differences through cultural events at MWES, we are looking for more parents to participate in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Parent Team. The mission of DEI is a school community where every member feels seen, heard and empowered.     

Black History Month Celebration

The DEI Parent Team would like to thank all the volunteers and families who came and celebrated with us for our Black History Month Celebration. It was a great event! The "soul food" was amazing and the students enjoyed playing and learning about the different instruments used during African Drum and Dance. 

BHM DEI WALL/PADLET

https://padlet.com/MWESDEIPTA/black-pride-ygtzkjhgf973euzv

DEI Slides for African American History Month

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1t8r6BWraLas4SJh6bCNCqhXH0rvBkR6fDj3sr6aKtnY/edit?usp=sharing

RAMADAN

Ramadan will begin in the evening of March 22nd, we are working with our students who celebrate Ramadan in completing posters to share with our school staff and students. Thanks to our parent volunteers, Mrs.Altales and Mrs.Baibars, the posters will be displayed on the school bulletin board starting the first week of March. Please check out the following padlet as well!

https://padlet.com/MWESDEIPTA/tyoqk1dc7xrk38yu

Volunteers Needed

• Book Club - April

• Multicultural Night  - May 11th from 6pm - 8pm at Marriotts Ridge HS

Please contact DD at demikajohnson@gmail.com or Jasmine Brenan at jbrennan1217@gmail.com if you would like to join or have questions.

 

Community News & Events

HCPSS News

Families are encouraged to visit the HCPSS website for all your needs, including:

Audition Opportunity 

Please see the flyer for an upcoming audition opportunity for adults and children!

We are looking to cast 15-20 young actors (rising 2nd grade and up) for the "River City Boys Band" (can be female too), as well as one young male actor to play the role of Winthrop and one young female actor to play the role of Amaryllis. The other characters/ensemble will be adults. For those of you with theatrical kids, this would be a fun experience for the whole family to perform together. 

This show will not interfere with any day camps/work as this production rehearses in the evening or on the weekends.

Visit https://glyndonareaplayers.com/ for more details!

Join us for HebronFest 2023 on March 9th at 6pm

Come experience all that Mt. Hebron High School has to offer! Please join us for HebronFEST 2023 on Thursday, March 9th starting at 6pm. HebronFest showcases all that student and parent groups have been working on beyond the classroom. There will be trivia, games, displays, performances and much more! Make sure to join in on the fun! Everyone is welcome!

2023 Summer Programs Registration Open

Online enrollment requests for currently enrolled HCPSS students will reopen today, March 1, at 6 p.m. for the following programs: BSAP Summer Institute (Entering Grades K-9); Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1-8); Innovative Pathways High School (Entering Grade 9 and Current Grades 9-12) - all courses except credit recovery and Gear Up for Grade 9; and Summer Math Scholars Program (Entering Grades 6-8). Enrollment requests can be made by a parent, guardian, school counselor or school achievement liaison via HCPSS Connect Synergy.

 

School Start Times Adjusted for 2023-24 School Year

The Board of Education voted at its Feb. 23 meeting to adjust school start times for the 2023-2024 year. The exact start time for each school will be determined this spring and shared with the community as transportation routes are finalized. The new start times will take effect beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, slated to begin for students on Aug. 28, 2023. There is no impact to the current school year.

 

Modifications to the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar

The Board of Education modified the HCPSS 2023-2024 academic calendar and approved the 2024-2025 academic calendar at its Feb. 23 meeting. The return date for staff for the 2023-24 school year will be Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, and the last day for students is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The first day for students for the 2024-2025 school year is Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

Positive Solutions For Families

Positive Solutions For Families flier that now includes both a daytime session (at Swansfield Elementary) and an evening session (at Central Library Branch). Registration is now open! 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xhJzZFE0QOqqYIGO_3sgBAvjn6gttsMj/view!

Affordable Internet

 Affordable Connectivity Program to assist with reducing the cost of high-speed internet.

Eligibility
How to apply
Participating Vendors

Comcast               Free Internet with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) | Xfinity

Verizon             https://www.verizon.com/home/free-verizon-internet/

HCPSS Student & Parent Handbook

Click HERE for the county's 2022-23 handbook