Dear Manor Woods Families,
It was great to have another 5-day week with routine and structure! We are well into the third quarter, our clocks spring forward this weekend and warmer weather is on the horizon. With that said, we know this is an important time of year for us to review our DUCK expectations with our students and we ask for your collaboration and support from home to review the expectations too.
The following are ways to Be a Mighty Duck at Manor Woods:
We appreciate your collaboration and support from home as we are intentionally highlighting and discussing these expectations with our students during this time of year.
As shared last week, in order to meet the State-mandated 180 days for students and account for the six inclement weather days used this school year, the Board of Education approved making Monday, March 31 a full day for students. (Schools had previously been slated to be closed for students that day.) The Board also approved moving the end of the third marking period to April 4 and issuing report cards on April 25. Barring any additional inclement weather days, the last day of school will be Wednesday, June 18. Please be sure to update your calendars with these changes.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!
Kelli Jenkins & Jennifer Zinn
Principal & Assistant Principal
2024-2025 IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS
March
12 - PTA Sponsored Assembly ~ Prismatic Magic
14 - Schools 3 Close Hours Early (Professional Work and Wellness Day)
17-21 - Kid’s Heart Challenge Spirit Week ~ P.E. Department
17 - Wear Green
18 - Pajama Day
19 - Can you wear all 6 colors of the rainbow?
20 - Wear Blue or Water-Themed Clothing
21 - Wear Your Favorite Athletic Attire or Team
31 - HCPSS UPDATED CALENDAR ~ Full Day for Students
31 - Related Arts ~ BLUE DAY
April
- 4 - End of Quarter 3
- 4 - PTA Spring Dance
- 10 - Spring Chorus Concert, Marriott Ridge HS @ 7:00 PM
- 11 - PTA Sponsored DEI Assembly
- 14-21 - Schools Closed for Students ~ Spring Break
- 22 - Schools Reopen
- 24 - Multicultural Night
- 25 - Report Cards Viewable @ 4:00 PM
- 30 - PTA Meeting
Related Arts Color Calendar Schedul
MWES NEWS
UNHEARD PERSPECTIVES ~ Investigations of Underrepresented Voices
On February 22nd, students who participated in the 5th Grade G/T Seminar, Unheard Perspectives, presented their final projects at the Howard County Unheard Perspectives Showcase with 17 other schools in the county. This group researched innovators who have made an impact on the lives of people all over the world. Some have made their impact on acting and being the precursor to social media influencers we interact with today, some with the art we love because it represents all different voices, and some with the way women are viewed as athletes.
A big CONGRATULATIONS goes to:
Gold Award winners: Sylvia Corbin, Vivien Rivi, & Giselle Cheikh: Judy Baca: Telling Our Stories Through Art
Sruthika Ganti, Amelia Lee, Chloe Munoz & Callie Salters: The Legendary Life of Wilma Glodean Rudolph
Ryan Zhang, Jiwoo Kim & Timileyin Ogunkoya: James Shigeta: The Heroic Influencer
PICTURE DAY
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Picture Day is coming soon! To order spring photos, you must return the flyer/order envelope on Picture Day. Online pre-ordering is NOT available for spring photos – the envelope must be returned on Picture Day.
Class group photos will be taken on Picture Day for all students. For individual portraits, only students who bring in their envelopes on Picture Day will be photographed.
Please look for the flyer/order envelope that will be sent home with your child soon!
We look forward to seeing your smiles soon on Picture Day!
Lost and Found
Please stop by and check out the Lost and Found area for any missing items.
Lost and Found area is located outside of the cafeteria.
Please consider labeling your child’s coat, sweatshirts, etc. with their full name.
Please be sure to check for any belongings your child may have misplaced during this quarter.
~~~~~~~Any remaining items will be donated~~~~~~~
Kids Heart Challenge
March 17-21st the PE department will host a schoolwide SPIRIT WEEK. Students will also participate in the Kid's Heart Challenge activities during P.E. to celebrate HEART HEALTH. Join the challenge for FREE at heart.org/schools to be entered into the raffle for prizes during the challenge week!
Monday 3/17- Wear green
Tuesday 3/18- Pajama day
Wednesday 3/19- Can you wear all 6 colors of the rainbow?
Thursday 3/20- Wear blue or water themed clothing
Friday 3/21- Wear your favorite athletic attire or team
Information Worth Repeating
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
HCPSS Kindergarten is a full-day program. Registration for the 2025-2026 school year began March 3, 2025. Children must be 5 years old by September 1, 2025 to enroll in kindergarten. Every eligible child must be enrolled in a kindergarten program this fall or have an approved waiver form. Waiver forms will be available in March.
More information regarding Kindergarten registration may be found on the HCPSS website.
https://www.hcpss.org/enroll/kindergarten/
Please also feel welcomed to call our front office with any questions or clarifications (410-313-7165) about the Kindergarten registration process.
HCPSS Student Personal Device Changes
On January 30, 2025, the Board of Education approved adjustments to Policy 8080 - Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media that changes the ability for students to use personal devices during the school day. The Board approved the following changes related to the use of personal devices by students at school:
- No students, PreKindergarten-12, will be permitted to use cell phones and other personal technology devices during the student day (first bell to last bell of the day or posted school hours) except for reasons detailed in a student’s IEP, 504, or health plan. Under the prior version of the policy, elementary and middle school students were not permitted to use personal devices during the school day at any time. For high school students, this policy removes access to personal device in between classes and at lunch. For all grade levels, the addition of consequences for violating the policy is new.
- When a personal device is used in violation of the new policy, the device will be confiscated for the remainder of the student day. Following the first violation, the student may retrieve the device at the end of the student day. For all subsequent violations, a parent/guardian must retrieve the device from the school.
- A device that is confiscated during the final period of the student day will be confiscated for the entire next student day. The student may retrieve the device at the end of the day it was originally confiscated to take home but must provide it to the front office upon arrival on the next student day.
- Students may be in possession of personal devices, but they must be “away and silenced,” meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set to make no noise. Additionally, devices may not be a distraction.
- Smart watches will be permitted to be worn to check time but may not be a distraction.
- Personal laptops may be used for instructional activities in high school when permitted by the teacher.
- A staff member on a school-sponsored field trip may permit the use of a personal technology device by a student in limited situations where capturing a picture or video may be appropriate or contacting a parent/guardian is necessary.
- School administrators and school administrators’ designees may authorize use of a personal device in rare instances such as an emergency for communication purposes.
These new expectations will take effect on Monday, March 3, 2025. The complete changes and expectations links to an external site may be found online. Please take time to review these new expectations with your student to ensure they do not violate the new policy.
Our school will adhere strictly to the policy with hopes that the elimination of the distractions that personal devices cause use will result in healthier and more productive learning and social environments during the school day. More information will be shared before the implementation date.
PTA News
PTA Calendar: https://www.mwespta.com/calendar
Please visit the PTA website at https://www.mwespta.com/
Multicultural Night Volunteers Needed
Multicultural Night- Save the Date
Thursday, April 24th 6pm-7pm Mount View Middle School
We are looking for volunteers to bring this event to life! Use the link below to sign-up.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084BA5A92BA0FC1-52283709-mwes?useFullSite=true#/
HCPSS News
Marriotts Ridge High School Mustang Flea Market
March 22nd @ 8AM – 1PM
Marriotts Ridge Music Foundation is hosting the Mustang Flea Market fundraiser on Saturday, March 22nd from 8AM - 1PM in the MRHS cafeteria. We have something for everyone! Clothing, shoes, jewelry, kids’ toys, books, kitchen appliances, household items, electronics, sporting equipment, furniture, and lots more. Come check it out and find a “new to you” treasure! All proceeds benefit MRHS Music.
We are currently accepting donations of gently used items for the sale. Drop off donations at the storage units in the MRHS parking lot near the cafeteria at the following times:
· Saturday, March 8th 11am-1pm
· Friday, March 14th 3-5pm
· Sunday, March 16th 2-4pm
· Friday, March 21st 4-8pm
Please hold furniture and large items until the March 21st drop-off. See the website for additional information about the sale and accepted items: https://www.mrhsmusic.net/fundraising/mustang-flea-market
HCPSS SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCE FAIR
Saturday, March 15, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Cedar Lane School 11630 Scaggsville Road Fulton, MD
The HCPSS Special Education Resource Fair provides families with information available from the community and HCPSS to support their students receiving special education and related services (those who have an IEP or IFSP).
Get connected to:
Recreational Activities
HCPSS Speech, OT, PT, Vision, and Adapted PE
Camps
Community Groups
Service Providers
Transition to Adulthood Information
Assistive Technology
Behavioral Health
Howard County Government Resources
And Much More!
For information, please contact FSRC@hcpss.org. Registration is not required. The event will be cancelled if HCPSS has an inclement weather closure. This event is part of the HCPSS Parent Empowerment Series including training sessions related to special education and events for families of students with an IEP or IFSP.
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: HCPSS Student Code Of Conduct
HCPSS Student & Parent 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 NEWS
Click here for the latest updated hcpss news.