THE WEEKLY DUCK
Fri, 09/01/2023 - 3:56pm
We want to thank each of you for an amazing first week of school. While we had some challenges with bus transportation to begin the week, there have been improvements by the end of the week. We are so thankful for your collaboration this week. Together, we were able to create the very best first week of school for our students. Throughout the week, we focused on community building and setting the expectations for the school year. Next week will be focused on learning more about the academic strengths of our learners.
Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns you may have.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Kelli Jenkins, Principal
Jennifer Zinn, Assistant Principal
2023-2024 BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS
SEPTEMBER
4 - Labor Day - Schools & Offices Closed
5 - Instrumental Music Orientation Night, 6:00 pm
7 - Burleigh Manor MS Back-to-School Night, 6:00 pm
7 - Mount View MS Back to School Night, 6:00 pm
12 - Individual Student Pictures
12- Hispanic Heritage Month Starts (9/12-10/15)
15 - Rosh Hashana - Schools and Offices Closed
20 - K-2 Standards Based Instruction and Reporting Family Night, 5:30-6:30 pm
25 -Yom Kippur - Schools and Offices Closed
28 - PTA Restaurant Night ~ Crazy Mason, 4:00-7:00 pm
NEW INFORMATION TO SHARE
MWES Community Engagement and Volunteering
We would like to kick off this school year at Manor Woods by engaging our families in the most meaningful way. Please take a minute to respond to the following questions to help us understand how you would like to participate this year. This survey should take no longer than 5 minutes. If you have more than one child at Manor Woods, please complete one form for each child. Thank you!
Back to School Night Presentations
We had a great attendance at Back to School Night for each grade level as well as our GT overview. Thank you to the many parents/guardians who were able to attend. We hope you found the night to be informative. Below you will find the BTSN presentations for each grade level as well as the opening from administration.
Kindergarten/New Student Orientation
Band and Orchestra Registration
Join the Mighty Duck Orchestra or Band! Please visit manorwoodsmusic.weebly.com to register your child for band (grades 4-5) or orchestra (grades 3-5) by Friday, September 8th.
Parents/guardians who are new to these programs are invited to Instrumental Music Orientation Night on Tuesday, September 5, at 6:00PM in the cafeteria. Questions or concerns? Email nicholas_marini@hcpss.org for Band and bonnie_zeitler@hcpss.org or sarah_lahan@hcpss.org for Orchestra.
School Picture Day
Save the date: September 12, 2023 (Tuesday)
Click here to view the order form: Picture Forms
Howard County Recreation and Parks
Fall 2023 Howard County Recreation & Parks After School classes for students at Manor Woods ES.
These classes provide fun, structured, educational, and enriching activities for students, benefitting both the child(ren) and parents!
Please click here to view classes: Manor Woods Elementary Fall After School Flyer (1).pdf
Sensory Friendly Story Time
Thanks to a continued partnership between OEIS, the HCPSS Family Support & Resource Center, and the Howard County Public Library System, we are pleased to announce the return of the Sensory Friendly Story Time & More series. These monthly classes provide an opportunity for families to experience stories, music, and movement in a supportive environment. Classes will rotate throughout the County at different HCPL branches each month. Space is limited and registration is required. The first classes are coming up on 9/13/23 and 10/11/23, please see these fliers for details & share with families! Sensory Stories_September 2023 and Sensory Stories_October 2023
Community News & Events
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
WEEKLY DUCK ~ REPEATED INFORMATION
Policy #9460
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students. Preventing bullying is an important part of this goal. HCPSS Policy 9460 states that bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation are prohibited in HCPSS. The BCHI Reporting Form should be used to report all alleged incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation that occur at school or have a connection back to the school setting that create a risk of harm to other students while they are at school, or interfere with the educational environment. An online version is available and can easily and confidentially be used by students, staff, and family members. Hard copies of this form are available in the main office, staff workroom, school counseling office, media center, and health services office. If you believe that a student has been bullied, please complete and submit this form as soon as possible.
Once the form is submitted, school administrators will ensure the parent/guardian of both the alleged target and alleged offender are aware of the report and will begin an investigation within two school days of receiving the report. Parents/guardians can expect a school administrator to reach out to them during the investigation. Once the investigation is completed, parents/guardians will be provided written notice of the outcome of the investigation within fifteen days of receiving the compaint, excluding extenuating circumstances.
I want to take a moment to specifically lift up cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying using electronic media like computers, cell phones, and game systems. Our digital interconnectedness makes bullying different and more damaging than it’s ever been before. It allows hatred and publicly humiliating gossip or photos to be instantly far-reaching and inescapable as electronic media is everywhere. It can NOT simply be ignored. In October 2013, the State of Maryland enacted Grace’s Law, making misuse of interactive computer services a criminal offense. Its purpose is to prohibit anyone from using electronic media (computers, tablets, phones, etc.) to maliciously engage in conduct that inflicts serious emotional distress on a minor and/or places that minor in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury. A person who is found guilty of violating this law is subject to imprisonment and/or fines. While this will be reviewed with students at school, we are asking you to do the same at home. Thank you for your partnership.
More information can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.
Lunch Information
New! Student Meals & Payments
New for the 2023-2024 school year, HCPSS no longer will use Nutrislice for school menus or MySchoolBucks for payment. Instead, we have a new parent site for all things food and nutrition. LINQ Connect is a secure, online portal that allows families to make online payments to their child’s meal account, monitor their child’s account, schedule automatic recurring payments, set up low balance alerts, submit a Free and Reduced Meals program application, and more.
Please note: MySchoolBucks meal balances were automatically transferred to LINQ Connect. If your child had a balance at the end of the 2022-2023 school year, when you add your child to your profile, that meal balance will be displayed. To request a refund of meal balances at any time, complete this brief online form.
For the 2023-2024 school year, students whose families do not qualify for free or reduced lunch will be required to pay the daily meal price.
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Breakfast - $2.00
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Lunch - $2.80
MWES Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Information and Application for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs)
The HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Qualification is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free meals regardless of income, and students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Those eligible for Free and Reduced Meals receive both breakfast and lunch for free.
Parents/guardians must submit a new application every school year to maintain their student’s eligibility. Click the button below to apply.
https://www.hcpss.org/food-services/farms/
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 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
Elementary Student Cell-Phone Usage Policy
Families are reminded that students must abide by Board of Education Policy 8080 Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media, and specifically Standard E. Student Use-Technology, which states that “HCPSS permits students to bring personal technology devices to school, according to the following rules:
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Elementary Schools – Students will keep personal technology devices in backpacks during the school day, unless otherwise authorized by school administrators or instructional staff.
Volunteers ~ Reminders/Information
All visitors and volunteers must complete the following documentation prior to volunteering: Confidentiality Training Course and Child Abuse Training course. Parents should print out the certificates associated with these trainings (below) and hand them in to the Front Office. Confidentiality Training Certificate and Child Abuse Training Certificate
Cub Scout Pack 333 – Please join us!
Is your son or daughter interested in becoming a Cub Scout? Here’s a great opportunity at the Pack 333 Meeting on Tuesday, September 19th at 6:30pm (St. James United Methodist Church at 12470 Old Frederick Road). Your entire family is welcome to join.
Adult leaders will be there to answer questions and talk with you about the fun plans that are lined up for the year and our Webelos (4th graders) will be hosting a CARNIVAL for all cubs/prospective cubs. Boys and girls K through 5th grade welcome! For more info, contact Becky Ciecka (bciecka@c-cured.com) or sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4EA8AD2FA6FA7-iaminterested