The Weekly Duck
Fri, 04/12/2024 - 3:42pm
Dear Manor Woods Families,
It is hard to believe we have started our final quarter of SY23-24. Tuesday, April 9th, was the final day of the third quarter. Our staff have been busy finalizing grades and working on report cards. HCPSS third quarter report cards will be viewable via HCPSS Connect on April 17th @ 4:00 PM. Our staff have been collaborating and planning to ensure we are finishing this school year STRONG with our students and as a Manor Woods Community. This is a great time to talk with your child(ren) about setting goals for the fourth quarter and finishing the year strong too. Fourth quarter is very busy with activities, events, assessments, etc. as well as after school activities, sports, etc. Now more than ever, it is important to maintain as much structure and consistency for our students as possible.
Thursday, April 18th is our PTA Sponsored Culture Night at Marriotts Ridge High School from 6:00-8:00 PM (see image below). This is going to be an amazing celebration of so many cultures from around the world. It is a great way to experience the world without leaving Ellicott City! Thank you to all the volunteers, families and students who are going to showcase their heritage through food, performances or crafts! We hope you can join us! This is an event you do not want to miss!
Wishing everyone a wondergul weekend!
Kelli Jenkins, Principal
Jennifer Zinn, Assistant Principal
IMPORTANT DATES
April
17 - Report Cards to View on HCPSS Connect, 4:00 PM
18 - Culture Night @ Marriotts Ridge High School, 6:00-8:00 PM
May
10 - Field Day (May 13 rain date)
14 - School Closed -Primary Election
17 - Schools close 3 hours early -Professional learning Day
20 - 5th Grade Simulated Congressional Hearing
27 - Schools and Offices Closed -Memorial Day
INFORMATION TO SHARE
2024-2025 School Year Bus Transportation Registration Opens Monday, April 8
Parents/guardians whose children are eligible for bus transportation are asked to register to receive bus service each year to help the school system plan for student transportation needs. The transportation registration process will open at 9 a.m. Monday, April 8 through May 31, and will be completed online via HCPSS Connect Synergy. Registration must be done for each eligible child.
To be eligible for bus service, your child’s home address must be outside of a school’s walk zones. You can verify address eligibility in the HCPSS School Attendance Area Locator. After inputting your address, a window will appear that will indicate either bus or walk for each school level. Please note, the attendance area locator also includes a link for the bus stop locator, which is set for the current school year. Bus stop information for the 2024-2025 school year will be available in August.
You do not need to take any action if:
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Your child is not eligible for bus transportation
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Your child receives transportation as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan, or
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Your child is a graduating senior
Details on bus transportation registration, including a guide to register and scenarios families may see when registering, can be found online.
MCAP
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that states administer annual state assessments to all students in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics in grades 3-8 and once in high school.
Manor Woods students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will take the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) in both ELA and math. The MCAP provides information to educators, parents, and the public on student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards. For more information, visit https://www.hcpss.org/academics/testing/mcap/.
The MCAP assessment window is Thursday, April 4 - Friday, May 31. Specific testing dates are below for each grade level. Please make every effort to have your child attend school on testing days and to refrain from scheduling any appointments during these times to minimize missing instruction due to make-up testing. There is no need to study for the MCAP. To prepare, have your child get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time.
** The 3rd and 4th Grade MCAP ELA testing date on April 23 has been adjusted in observance of Passover. Third and fourth graders will take MCAP ELA on April 17, 19, 22 and 24. **
MCAP ELA
3rd Grade - April 17, 19, 22, and 24
4th Grade - April 17, 19, 22, and 24
5th Grade - April 9, 12, 15, and 16
MCAP Math
3rd Grade - May 3, 6, 7, and 8
4th Grade - May 3, 6, 7, and 8
5th Grade - April 26, 29, 30 and May 1
Poem in Your Pocket Day
MWES will be celebrating National Poem in Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 18th!!!
Students and staff will have the opportunity to read and share poems throughout the day that are kept in their pocket, so please encourage your child to wear something with a pocket on April 18th. Students are welcome to bring poems from home, write their own poem, or select from the collection of poems that their classroom teacher will have for them. MWES Cultural Night is the evening of April 18th, a fun connection for students would be to create their own poem or find a poem related to their culture and/or write or find a poem using a flag from their culture.
MSDE PARENT SURVEY ~ PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH IEPs
Parents of students with IEPs,
Please take time to complete the MSDE Parent Survey that was recently mailed to you. This survey provides HCPSS the information about how well we are partnering with you and promoting parent involvement. Your feedback will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in HCPSS. Please access the survey using this link: https://www.mdparentsurvey.com/.
Kindergarten and New First Grade Enrollment
It is that time of year when we enroll kindergarteners and new students to first grade for next year! If you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1st, please enroll them now! If you know anyone who has a child this age, please have them enroll their child now! The official date to begin enrolling was March 4th, and the enrollment link remains open for registration. The link to on-line enrollment is below!
Please feel free to call the office at 410-313-7165 with any questions!
Register Your Child For School
Counselors Corner
NAMI Howard County
The mission of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is to improve the lives of individuals with mental illness and their families through education, advocacy and support, and to increase awareness of mental illness throughout the community. Visit NAMI Howard County for more information about support group offerings.
Schools Counselors
Ms. Heinlein and Mrs. Salapata, School Counselors, are here to support our students and families. Mrs. Heinlein works with grades K, 1, 4 and 5. Mrs. Salapata works with grades 2 and 3. Ms. Sam Schildt, Counseling Intern from McDaniel College, will be working with us on Wednesdays this semester. Please reach out through email or by calling 410-313-7165 if we can be of assistance. monica_heinlein@hcpss.org; christina_salapata@hcpss.org
Howard Count Recreation and Parks Afterschool Classes
These classes provide fun, structured, educational, and enriching activities for students, benefitting both the child(ren) and parents!
Click here for Flyer
Link for parents to view & register for the Manor Woods ES After School classes:
PTA NEWS
Yearbook Purchase
Be sure to purchase a yearbook for the 23-24 school year!
Go to: www.Treering.com/validate
Schoold Passcode 1014749226162236
Customize Your 2 Free Yearbook Pages by April 11!
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Add photos from your computer, Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive & more.
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Answer fun Memory Questions to help remember the year.
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The 2 Custom Pages are FREE and are printed ONLY in your book.
Want more pages? Each additional 2 pages is just $0.99.
Click Here To View The PTA Newsletter
JOIN THE PTA!
If you haven't already, please take a moment to join the PTA! It's quick, easy and membership funds help to support our school! The PTA funds and supports school-wide presentations, family fun events, teacher appreciation activities, items needed by the teachers for their lessons and classrooms and much more!
Join Today!
https://www.mwespta.com/
Did you know the PTA has a Facebook group to stay up to date with PTA events? Join here today!
Community News & Events
Marriotts Ridge Music BINGO Night Fundraiser – April 13
Join us for our 3rd Annual Bingo Night fundraiser to benefit the Marriotts Ridge High School music department! Make it a family night, friends night, date night - whatever you do - it will be a FUN night!
Prizes are bigger and better than ever, and there is something for everyone to love. Kate Spade & Coach handbags, Solo Bonfire firepit, bone conduction sport headphones, Dewalt tools, Intex inflatable kayak, Yeti cooler, Kendra Scott jewelry, axe throwing, tickets to Toby’s, Gift Card Extravaganza worth over $950 - just to name a few!
Doors open at 6:00PM, and bingo starts at 7:00PM. Arrive early and grab some dinner and dessert at our concessions stand, check out the prizes, and pick your lucky seat!
Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Children under 10 may play with a paying adult for free.
Reserve your seats here: https://mrhsfruit.wixsite.com/fundraising
Sensory Friendly Story Time & More!
Children ages birth-5 with an IFSP or IEP are invited to a free Story Time Class at the East Columbia Library Branch on Wednesday, 4/10/24 at 11:00 AM. These classes are a partnership between HCPSS and the Howard County Library System for families who receive Early Intervention Services. Classes include stories, music, and movement in a supportive environment, and an optional playtime is available after class. Please see this April Story Time flier (also available as PDF version Download PDF version) for details and registration information and share with families!
Spring Family Fun
The OEIS Family Engagement team is gearing up for our Spring Family Fun Party This free event is for children age birth-5 with an IFSP or IEP and their families. There will be a variety of activities for all interests & abilities, including spring crafts, stories, music, & movement. The event will take place on April 20, 2024 in the cafeteria at Running Brook Elementary School and is a drop-in format from 10am-noon. Please share thisSpring Party Download Spring Party flier with families!
HCPSS News
Families are encouraged to visit the HCPSS website for all your needs, including:
HCPSS Student & Parent Handbook
Click HERE for the county's 2022-23 handbook. The Student & Parent Handbook can be found online and outlines districtwide practices and policies related to parents and students, including the Student Code of Conduct, school procedures, student responsibilities and more.
HCPSS Student Code of Conduct
The Howard County Public School System is committed to providing a safe, engaging and supportive learning environment where all policies are enforced fairly and consistently. HCPSS policies and regulations emphasize instruction and rehabilitation rather than punishment and are designed to foster and reward appropriate behavior and keep students connected to school so they can graduate college and career ready. Please read and review the HCPSS student code of conduct with your child(ren) before the school year begins: https://www.hcpss.org/f/aboutus/student-handbook/student-code-of-conduct.pdf
WEEKLY DUCK ~ REPEATED INFORMATION
Click here to access the 4/5/24 Weekly Duck