The Weekly Duck - 8-23-24

 

Welcome From School Administration

It’s finally here! Our building has been buzzing this week with staff who are eager and cannot wait to welcome our students back to school on Monday the 26th! 

This newsletter is packed full of a lot of information. Please pay particular attention to arrival and dismissal procedures so we can establish safe routines on the first day of school. Please expect longer arrivals and dismissals for the first few days. If everyone follows the procedures, we can have a very safe, efficient and speedy arrival and dismissal time. Please be patient with us during the first few days of school.

On that note, we highly recommend sending your child to school on the first day in the same way as will be their normal daily routine. We know the first day of school, especially kindergarten, brings a range of emotions for families and we are prepared and ready to support all student emotions. We ask that you give your goodbye hugs and well wishes at the bus stop or before the students enter the building.

Our doors open at 8:30 am and all students should be in the building and ready for instruction by 8:45 am. All children who are not in the building and in their classrooms ready for instruction by 8:45 am are considered late. All children who arrive late must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and signed into school in the front office using the Lobby Guard system. 

We truly value a strong home-school connection. We encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns, and to stay informed about your child’s studies, assignments, and school activities. We extend a special, yearlong invitation to our families to join us at school activities and events whenever possible. We certainly look forward to the exciting, collaborative journey ahead. From the entire Manor Woods staff, we welcome you and look forward to a very positive and productive 2024-2025 school year together!

Enjoy your weekend and we look forward to the first day of school! 

 

Kelli Jenkins, Principal

Jennifer Zinn, Assistant Principal

 

 

WILL YOUR CHILD(REN) DISMISS AS A CAR RIDER THIS YEAR?

Will your child(ren) dismiss as a car rider this school year?  If so, please complete this brief survey as soon as possible.  If you have more than one child dismissing as a car rider, please complete the form for EACH child.

If your child(ren) will not dismiss as car riders for the 24-25 school year, we ask that you please refrain from driving students to and from school on the first day.  It is important that students follow their normal daily routine starting the first day of school.

If your child(ren) will be bus riders we ask that they ride the bus on the first day.  We know the first day of school, especially kindergarten, brings a range of emotions for families and we are prepared and ready to support all student emotions. We ask that you give your goodbye hugs and well wishes at the bus stop or before the students enter the building.

MWES Carloop Dos_Don'ts .docx.pdf

MWES Car Passes.pdf  ~ Car riders will receive two copies at arrival on the first day.  Please complete and have them on your dash for dismissal.

2024-2025 BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS

AUGUST 

• 26 - School Opens for Students 

• 27 - GT Program Overview, 4:45-5:15 pm

• 27 - Kindergarten Parents/Guardians ~ Back to School Night, 5:30-6:15 pm

• 27 - Grade 1 & 2 Parents/Guardians ~ Back to School Night, 6:30-7:15 pm

• 28 - GT Program Overview, 4:45-5:15 pm

• 28 - Grade 3 Parents/Guardians and GT Math ~ Back to School Night, 5:30-6:15 pm

• 28 - Grade 4 and 5 Parents/Guardians ~ Back to School Night, 6:30-7:15 pm

SEPTEMBER

• 2 - Labor Day - Schools & Offices Closed

• 4 - Instrumental Music Orientation, 6:00 pm

• 5 - Burleigh Manor MS Back-to-School Night, 6:00 pm

• 5 - Mount View MS Back to School Night,  6:00 pm

• 10 - Individual Student Pictures

• 18 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early (Professional Work/Wellness Day), 12:15 PM

HCPSS Calendars

There will be no printed 2024-2025 calendars. Staff, students, and families may add our online calendar to their own mobile/online calendar by

1. Going to School System Calendar – HCPSS

2. Scrolling down to Subscribing to a Calendar

3. Right-clicking on the calendar you wish to subscribe to

4. Selecting Copy Link Location/Address/Shortcut

5. Adding to your calendar of choice (See your calendar for specifics on adding a new calendar)

2024-2025 Academic Calendar Monthly Format

• English Calendar 

• Calendario del año escolar 2024-2025 

• 2024–25学年行事历 

• 2024–25학년 학사력 

MWES ~ Fridge Sheet

Please download, print and add the above MWES Fridge Sheet  to your fridge, calendar, office or place you keep important information for easy access. Throughout the school year, you can find the MWES Fridge Sheet on the website. 

Please Complete Family File Information 

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR FAMILIES WHO HAVE COMPLETED FAMILY FILE! THIS INFORMATION IS ONLY FOR FAMILIES WHO STILL NEED TO COMPLETE FAMILY FILE!

Each year, families update/complete their child's Family File with all emergency information. We are currently at 95% and we need to reach 100% complete!  Please complete this info ASAP so that we have this information prior to school starting. This is required EACH year.  We appreciate your assistance!

HCPSS Connect

Family File Directions

Bus Routes

We highly encourage you to send your child to school by bus if you are in the transportation zone. Utilizing the bus helps reduce the number of cars in our car loop. Bus routes are available using the following link Transportation - HCPSS.

Once you click the link above, click the Bus Stop Locator link, and then enter your child/children’s grade, and your home address. The bus number, bus stop location, and pick-up/drop-off time will be listed.

Students who receive specialized transportation through their IEPs will be contacted by their bus driver with bus numbers and pick-up/drop-off times.

For all bus riders, please plan to arrive at the bus stop 10-15 minutes early during the first two weeks of school, to allow the bus the flexibility needed to pick up and drop off all students.

Dismissal Tags

Starting the first day of school, we highly recommend that your child follow his/her normal routine. This is particularly important on the first day because we want to ensure that they arrive home safely. All students will receive a tag on the first day of school that will indicate how they go home. Please help us by having your child keep this on his/her backpack throughout the year. It is a way for us to double check their afternoon dismissal routine.

CAR LOOP AND CAR RIDER INFORMATION

School Hours 8:30 am – 3:15 pm

We are committed to ensuring arrival and dismissal is safe, quick, and efficient.  We thank you in advance for your cooperation, support, and patience.  

ARRIVAL

Doors open at 8:30 am

Students should not be dropped off or let out of your vehicle until 8:30 am.  We do not have supervision available for students before this time.  Before and after care is available through Howard County Parks and Recreation.

Final bell at 8:45 am

All children who are not in their classrooms ready for instruction at 8:45 are considered late.  All children who arrive late must be accompanied by a parent and signed into school in the front office using the Lobby Guard system.

DISMISSAL

Students are dismissed at 3:15 pm

MWES Carloop Procedures

We are committed to ensuring arrival and dismissal is safe, quick, and efficient. We thank you in advance for your cooperation, support, and patience. 

Car riders will be provided with 2 official MWES Carloop Passes. Please complete these passes with your child(ren)’s first and last name and grade. Write LARGE and NEAT. This is how we will identify your vehicle and student(s). This pass will be required for the fastest pick up of your students and will provide staff with “visual confirmation” that your students are being picked up by an authorized adult.

MWES Carloop Dos_Don'ts .docx (3).pdf 

Change of Address

HCPSS parents/guardians are required by Board of Education Policy 9000 Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment to notify HCPSS if they move to a new home address by submitting residency documentation to their student’s current school. Students who have a change of residence on or after the first day of the 2024-2025 school year must request a student reassignment in order to complete the school year at their previous school.

Related Arts

Related Arts and the Color Calendar Schedule

Students participate in Related Arts daily for one hour. There are five related arts classes: Art, Media, Music, Physical Education, and Technology. Related arts classes are scheduled on a color rotation in order to optimize the number of minutes in each related arts class. The rotating schedule is called the Related Arts Color Day Calendar. We rotate days using the color calendar because there are a disproportionate number of days off on Mondays and Fridays. This used to mean students would have up to 6 fewer Monday or Friday related arts versus the other classes and days of the week. Your child's teacher will share their specific color calendar schedule with you and your child. You can refer to the color calendar below. It is very important to make sure your child dresses appropriately for the classes he/she has for related arts, especially for physical education.

The 2024-2025 Color Day Calendar is included here for your reference.

    

MWES Visitors and Volunteers

All visitors and volunteers must check in at the front office.  Please present your driver’s license to complete the check-in process. Volunteers must complete two training sessions. Please follow the steps below to complete and submit the training certificates.

1. Complete the short volunteer confidentiality training here  and then fill out the form linked below and bring it to school or send the form via email to Caroline Chisholm at caroline_chisholm@hcpss.org. We also have some you can complete during your first visit if you don't have access to a printer. Confidentiality Agreement For Conducting Classroom Visit/Observations 

2. Complete this short child abuse training here and complete the certificate linked below and bring to school (we have copies of this if needed) or send the form via email to Caroline Chisholm at caroline_chisholm@hcpss.org. click here for Child abuse and Neglect Training:  abuse_certificate (1).pdf 

HCPSS Credentials for New Manor Woods Students

Beginning Friday, August. 9, families with students new to HCPSS and whose registration has been finalized will begin to receive emails from security_notifications@hcpss.org with the subject “Technology account information for new HCPSS student.” The communication was sent to the parent/guardian email address used during the student registration process and contains personalized and important information regarding new students’ technology accounts.

Families with a child new to HCPSS that do not receive the email and/or cannot locate the email in the junk/spam folder of the email account they used during registration can use the Forgot Password or Username button on the hcpss.me student landing page to retrieve both their child’s username and password.

Direct questions to TechSupport@hcpss.org with any questions.

​​​​​Food Services Information

HCPSS uses LINQ Connect for all things food and nutrition. LINQ Connect is a secure, online portal that allows families to view breakfast and lunch menus, make online payments to their child’s meal account, monitor their child’s accounts, schedule recurring payments and/or low balance alerts, and submit an online application for the Free and Reduced Meals program

LINQ Connect can easily be https://linqconnect.com/main or via mobile app.

• Breakfast - $2.00

• Lunch - $2.80

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/

Supply List for 2024-25

The supply list for the 2024-25 school year can be found on the main page of our school's website using the following link https://linqconnect.com/main.  We encourage you to drop off your school supplies during Open House on August 23rd. Please be sure to clearly label your child's supplies with his/her name. 

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.

Family Guides: What your Child Will Learn this Year

Do you want to get a head start on the school year? We encourage all parents/guardians to visit the link below to learn what your child will learn this year in grades PreK-5! Once you click on your child’s grade level, use the yellow “course navigation” box in the top right corner to navigate standards, free games, and family activities for each subject area. Happy learning!

What Your Child Will Learn Guides 

Policy 9460: Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, and Intimidation Involving Students

Parents, Guardians, and Families,

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. Our administration and staff have been trained and made aware of this policy as well as preventative and responsive measures.

We know how important your role is in not only supporting your children, but also reporting possible incidents as you become aware of them. The Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation (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 your child has been bullied, please complete and submit this form as soon as possible and/or assist your child in doing so.

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. 

There are times when incidents of peer conflict or code of conduct offenses may occur that may not be bullying, but may need follow up action. If you become aware of something that falls under conflict and/or a code of conduct offense, please notify a school administrator via email or phone call so that they can become aware and follow up as needed. 

Lastly, 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 all of this information will be reviewed with students at school, we are asking you to do the same at home. Thank you for your partnership in ensuring all of our students feel a sense of safety and belonging in their school communities! 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.

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:

• Elementary Schools – Students will keep personal technology devices in backpacks during the school day, unless otherwise authorized by school administrators or instructional staff.