The Weekly Duck - 5/3/24

Tue, 05/07/2024 - 12:17pm

Dear Manor Woods Families,

The Manor Woods staff is looking ahead to the 2024-25 school year. As part of this process, we would like to give you the opportunity to share some information that you would like for us to consider as we work this spring/summer to finalize class placement for next school year. This consideration form is for you, as parents/guardians, to share specific information about your child that you feel would be beneficial to determine next year's placement.

When placing students, the staff and administration utilize a wide range of criteria, which are supportive of the Howard County philosophy of heterogeneous grouping. Some of these criteria include, but are not limited to:

•    social emotional strengths and needs

•    learning style

•    math, reading and writing strengths and needs

•    assessment results

•    special education requirements; IEP goals

•    structured versus unstructured needs

•    information from previous teachers and school counselor

There are certain concerns that we cannot consider as part of this Consideration Form: therefore we ask that you not use this form to propose the following:

•    specific teacher requests,

•    grouping based on siblings’ experience,

•    grouping based on friends,

•    grouping based on hearsay.

Your input on this form will be used in our planning for your child rather than a letter requesting a specific teacher. Your response is OPTIONAL but is a very valuable source of information to the school staff and to the next teacher.

The form closes on May 15th at 4:00 PM. Thank you for your help. The time, thought, and commitment put into the completion of this form is appreciated. 

Click on the following link to complete the MWES Consideration Form for 2024-25 School Year.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Kelli Jenkins, Principal
Jennifer Zinn, Assistant Principal

 

 

 

 IMPORTANT DATES

 

May

8 - 4th & 5th Grade Chorus Concert
10 - Field Day
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

June

5 - School Close 3 Hours Early (Professional Work Day)
7 - Kindergarten End-of-the-Year Closing (SAVE THE DATE ~ More Information Coming)
12 - School Close 3 Hours Early (Professional Work Day)
13 - School Close 3 Hours Early (Professional Learning Day)
13 - 5th Grade End-of-the-Year Promotion (SAVE THE DATE ~ More Information Coming)
14 - School Close 3 Hours Early (Last Day Of School)

 

INFORMATION TO SHARE                 

   

FIELD DAY

MWES Field Day is May 10th! 

Students are encouraged to wear their Field Day color or MWES spirit wear:  

Kindergarten - Red
1st Grade - Orange
2nd Grade - Yellow
3rd Grade - Blue
4th Grade - Green
5th Grade - Purple

We are looking for parent volunteers for each grade. If you have completed volunteer training and are interested in assisting at a station, please sign up to join us.

All volunteers will need their HCPSS Volunteer Training completed before the event.

2024/2025 School Bus Transportation Registration

Parents/guardians whose children are eligible for bus transportation are asked to register to receive bus service each year. Families whose students have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a Section 504 plan that includes transportation do not need to register.

The transportation registration process is completed online via HCPSS Connect Synergy and must be done for each child eligible for bus service. See the Transportation Opt-In Directions for details on how to complete.

REGISTER FOR BUS TRANSPORTATION HERE

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month

The purpose of National Mental Health Awareness Month, established in 1949, is to increase the awareness of mental health and its impact on our overall health and well-being and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. Check out the resources below to support families' health and well-being.

FindSupport.gov Take the first step to getting help with mental health, alcohol or drug issues

HOCO Children & Family Services Family Workshops May 2024

MEANINGFUL MAY Calendar Action for Happiness

Spring MAP Testing

First and second graders will take the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test for reading and math this month.  The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment is designed to measure a student’s academic achievement and growth over time in reading and mathematics. Together with other classroom-based information, MAP results can help teachers make instructional decisions that match the needs of each child.

MAP is a computer adaptive assessment. In a computer adaptive assessment, as a student responds to questions, the test responds to the student, adjusting up or down the difficulty of the questions presented to the student. This creates a personalized assessment for every student.  

For more information visit https://www.hcpss.org/academics/testing/map-information/ 

Grade 1 Reading - May 9

Grade 1 Math - May 13

Grade 2 Reading - May 21

Grade 2 Math - May 16              

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

KINDERGARTEN, HERE WE COME!

The Howard County Library System will be hosting Kindergarten, Here We Come classes this summer!

  • Offered in July and August

  • 45-60 minute classes

  • Classes include an opportunity for participants to practice boarding a school bus

  • Some classes will be offered in English and some will be offered in Spanish

  • Registration required

                                         

 

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 

 

PTA NEWS   

Yogi Castle 

Mark your calendars for the final restaurant night of the year at Yogi Castle on Monday, June 6! 

Yearbook Purchase

Be sure to purchase a yearbook for the 23-24 school year!

Go to: www.Treering.com/validate

Schoold Passcode 1014749226162236

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​​​​​​​

Family Read the Rainbow

Our next FAMILY Read the Rainbow book club will occur on Monday, June 3rd at 6:00PM and feature the book Twas the Night Before Pride. The book's author, Joanna McClintick, will be present at our book club meeting to answer questions and talk about writing the book. The first 50 families with students in Pre school - 5th grade who register for this book club will receive a free copy of the book sent to their home or media center. This book club is open to anyone who would like to join us - students, staff, parents, and community.

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 4/19/24 Weekly Duck