The Weekly Duck
Fri, 02/09/2024 - 11:17am
Dear Manor Woods Families,
It was another great week at Manor Woods! We started the week with report cards for quarter two viewable via HCPSS Connect. We hope you had the opportunity to view your child’s report card and celebrate the successes and set goals for quarter three. We ended the week with parent/teacher conferences. It is always great to see so many families during this time. Thank you to our parents for your continued partnership and collaboration.
Lunar New Year is this week! The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a traditional festival celebrated by many East Asian cultures. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is based on the lunar calendar. The date of the Lunar New Year varies each year, usually falling between January 21 and February 20. This year, it falls on February 10th, kicking off the 15-day Spring Festival.
The festival is a time for family reunions, feasting, and various cultural and traditional activities. People often clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and make way for good fortune. Red decorations are prominent, as the color is believed to bring luck and ward off evil spirits. Fireworks and dragon and lion dances are common during the celebration.
The Lunar New Year is not only celebrated in China but also in various other Asian countries, including Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, and others, each with its unique customs and traditions. It is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in the world! Happy New Year to all who celebrate!
We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Kelli Jenkins, Principal
Jennifer Zinn, Assistant Principal
IMPORTANT DATES
February
12 - PTA Meeting, 6:30 PM
13 - PTA Valentine’s “Art with Heart” Night
19 - Schools and Offices Closed - Presidents Day
28 - PTA Black History Month Celebration 'African Americans in the Arts', MWES Cafeteria, 6:30-8:00 PM
INFORMATION TO SHARE
Rising 6th Grade Middle School Information
Fine Arts Requests Between Feb. 1 through Feb. 14, 5th gr. students and their parents/guardians are required to make a first-choice fine arts course selection for 6th gr. AND choose two alternate fine arts courses (2nd and 3rd choices) in HCPSS Connect. Instructions and additional information can be found here:
Middle School Course Request and Placement Information and Instructions
America Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge
Students participated in "Heart Healthy" activities during Related Arts on Thursday There is still time to support the America Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge at Manor Woods! Visit https://www2.heart.org/site/TR;jsessionid=00000000.app30057b?company_id=460329&fr_id=9739&pg=company&NONCE_TOKEN=888E8C13ED6C2F71416BCFD1D1B85D81
MWES Kindness Matters Challenge 2024
We invite all students and their families to participate in the Manor Woods Kindness Matters Challenge during the month of February (and beyond!). This Action for Happiness Feb. calendar provides ideas that you and your children can put into action throughout the month to spread kindness at home, at school and in the community. "Kindness is doing what you can, where you are, with what you have." - Unknown
Trex Recycling Program
Manor Woods is happy to participate in the Trex Recycling program through the end of the year. Please help your student gather and bring the soft plastics on the poster to school. Thanks for helping us make the world a little cleaner!
Did you move? Are you moving?
According to HCPSS Policy 9000 - Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment, and Assignment, "A student attending a public school in Howard County will attend the designated school serving the school attendance area in which the parents have bona fide residence."
If you have moved or are moving soon, please notify us immediately. Whether it be another HCPSS school, a private school, or a school out of the HCPSS district, we are here to help. If you are transferring to another HCPSS school, our front office staff will partner to make the transition as smooth as possible.
If you have an address change, please fill out the attached fillable Address Change Form below and email it back to us with your new deed or lease. This way, we can electronically verify your school district and update your new address on file. If you have any questions, contact our front office.
It is very important for us to have the most accurate information about your residency.
Please Visit The MWES Website: https://mwes.hcpss.org/news/2022/10/absentplanning-move
Download Forms Here:
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!
Link for parents to view & register for the Manor Woods ES After School classes:
PTA NEWS
Art with HEART
Tuesday, February 13th 6:30pm-7:30pm -MWES Caferteria
Yearbook Cover Contest
Yearbook Purchase
Be sure to purchase a yearbook for the 23-24 school year!
Go to: www.Treering.com/validate
School 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.
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
Maryland State Boys
Quality music education and outstanding opportunities for performance and travel await boys who become members of The Maryland State Boychoir. Auditions are now being scheduled. Please call 410.554.8644 for more information or visit: www.marylandstateboychoir.org
The Maryland State Boychoir is now in its 37th season of providing quality music education and outstanding opportunities for boys who love to sing.
We are looking for boys between the ages of six and seventeen who love to sing, have a good ear, and possess a natural singing voice.
We will audition boys privately in person in low-key small groups. A call to our office or reaching out to us by email is all that is necessary.
HCPSS and The Council of Elders (TCOE) Community Academies
HCPSS and The Council of Elders of the Black Community of Howard County (TCOE) have partnered to sponsor the following parent workshops series:
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January 27: Processes for Parent Empowerment
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March 9: Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
Each engaging session is held virtually on Saturdays from 9-10:30 a.m. Please see the save the date flyer for more information.
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 2/2/2024 Weekly Duck