Meadowcreek Community Newsletter

November is Native American Heritage Month!

November 13-17- American Education Week

November 15 &16- Parents Pick Up Thanksgiving Meals 9:00AM-12:00PM

November 15- The Nutcracker at Greater Atlanta Christian School (Grades 3-5)

November 16- ESOL Parent Workshop 10:30-11:30AM

November 20-24- THANKSGIVING BREAK

November 28- Spirit Night @ Stevi B's @ 5:00PM

November 29- Little Learners Academy @ 10:30AM

December 5- Winter Concert @ 6:00PM

December 5- District Assessment ELA (Grades 1-5)

December 6- District Assessment Math (Grades 1-5)

December 6- Holiday Luncheon

December 7- District Assessment Science (Grades 3-5)

December 7- Holiday Luncheon

December 8- District Assessment Social Studies (Grades 3-5)

B2Anywhere is providing 10 FREE Meals for all Meadowcreek Elementary students! Parents/guardians, you are invited to come to the school on Wednesday, November 15th and Thursday, November 16th between 9am-12pm to pick up the meals. Meal pick up will be in the car rider lane. Thank you so much for your cooperation!

It’s American Education Week, and we’re celebrating every member of #TeamGCPS for their commitment to excellence, empathy, effectiveness, and equity in education.

Throughout this week, we join the National Education Association in appreciation for our support professionals and our families:

• Education Support Professionals Day– Wednesday, November 15
• National Parent/Family Involvement Day– Thursday, November 16
• Substitute Educators Day– Friday, November 17

Thank you to our staff members, families, and community for your support and contributions to our schools to help ensure that #EachAndEvery student feels welcome, safe, accepted, valued, and prepared for the future.

Check out our National Family Involvement Month Wall of Fame!

The Cosmobots Robotics team is excited to tell you about a new project we have been working on. As part of our First Lego League competition we were tasked with having to solve this problem: How can you use technology and the arts to help engage others or increase participation in what you love to do? We decided that we wanted to create a website where students could ask for or give sports equipment so more students can participate in sports.

If you have extra sports equipment that you no longer use or have outgrown, please consider listing it on our website as a “give”. If we have someone who needs your item, we will send home a note asking you to send the item to school. Then, we will deliver it to the person who requested it.

If you need a piece of sports equipment, fill out the form on our website and “ask” for the item you need. If we find a match for your request, we will deliver the item to you at school.

Click Here for the Sports-Share Google Site!

Click Here to Submit the Sports Share Ask & Give Form

MUSTANG SPORTS-SHARE

“Because Sharing is Caring!”

​Parent Mentors Present: “Navigating the Holidays and Avoiding Caretaker Fatigue”

​Who: Parents/Guardians of students receiving Special Education services

​What: Parent Mentors Present: “Navigating the Holidays and Avoiding Caretaker Fatigue”

​When: Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 10:00 – 11:30am or 6:00 -7:30pm

​Where: In-Person registration link for 10:00am session: https://forms.gle/6bwcdCb281JDfP8XA

​ Zoom registration link for 6pm session: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqceyurD4qGdTXWqHoQhZO54oOlKAvCbJK

​Please use the following link to access the parent letters: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qeEB5IbdW78zqM3qYhwvjCcQ8jpYn-0h?usp=share_link

Parent Mentors Present: “Behavior Strategies to Support Your Child”

Who: Parents/Guardians of students receiving Special Education services

What: Parent Mentors Present: “Behavior Strategies to Support Your Child”

When: Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 10:00 – 11:30 AM or 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Where: In-Person registration link for 10:00am session: https://forms.gle/YZjXo3657CtcPvim6

Zoom registration link for 6pm session: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAqc-2urT4jE9Pb6zB8fFjvggXchheoWM77

Please use the following link to access the parent letters: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JqBdymkTdBm_3ohwBj83msAQlhUOyFHB?usp=drive_link

Please join us on Thursday, November 16 from 10:30-11:30AM for our ESOL Parent Workshop! During this workshop, parents will learn how to increase English Language Skills for English Learners. We look forward to seeing you there!

We hope our students and school staff have a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving Break! We look forward to welcoming students and staff members back to learning when classes resume on Monday, November 27.

Please join us for our fourth Spirit Night of the school year at Stevi B's on Tuesday, November 28 from 5:00-8:00PM! Students should say they are from Meadowcreek Elementary and their teacher's name! The class with the most students to attend will win a pizza party!

YOU ARE INVITED!

COME TO LEARN WHAT EVERY PARENT WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS:

• Expectations for you and your child to be successful at school

• How to support your child with his or her learning

• Hear other newcomer parents share their personal experiences

• Learn about resources available to all our families

These meetings start promptly at 10:00AM. Meetings are for parents/guardians. Classes will be taught in ENGLISH.

Location: The International Newcomer Center

495 Maltbie Street, Lawrenceville.

Community Resources – November 15

Rights and Responsibilities – December 13

Congratulations to our very own, Ms. Mi'esha Reynolds on being announced as a Finalist for GCPS Elementary Counselor of the Year! The winner for the GCPS Counselor of the Year will be announced in February during our annual counselor recognition. We're so proud to have Ms. Reynolds serve the students at Meadowcreek!

Last Friday we hosted our cluster Instructional Technology & Innovation (ITI) Coaches for their cluster meeting. It was a great morning of team building, collaboration and discussion around new technology and best practices for utilizing it to support teaching and learning!

On scheduled DLDs, students access lessons in eCLASS but do not have virtual class time with their teachers.

To ensure that students have a nutritious breakfast and lunch to fuel their learning, our bus drivers will be on the road and at every bus stop to deliver meals prepared by School Nutrition Program staff.

Families should expect buses to run their routes from approximately 10:45 a.m. to noon, beginning at the first stops on the route. These delivered meals are provided at no cost to families, and are provided to anyone 18 years old and under.

• Friday, February 2
  
• Friday, March 15

November is National Native American Heritage Month!

GCPS celebrates #EachAndEvery individual as we cultivate a culture of belonging while leading with empathy, equity, and excellence to ensure that #TeamGCPS students, families and staff feel welcome, safe, accepted, valued, and prepared for the future.

Music at the Movies!

Come see our Winter Concert featuring the 5th Graders and Chorus Club singing songs from some of our favorite seasonal movies!

Meadowcreek Elementary School Gym

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

6:00PM

Our annual Holiday Luncheon will be on Wednesday, December 6 and Thursday, December 7. Please click the link below to view the day and time for your child's class.

Please see the Mid-Year District Assessment schedule below. It is very important that your child is at school and on time each day for testing. We appreciate your support in ensuring we have a successful District Assessment administration!

Tuesday, December 5th: ELA (Grades 1-5)

Wednesday: December 6th: Math (Grades 1-5)

Thursday, December 7th: Science (Grades 3-5)

Friday, December 8th: Social Studies (Grades 3-5)

At Meadowcreek, all of our students have an Imagine Learning account and utilize this online program to improve students' language and literacy skills in the English language. Students utilize this program during instructional time, technology specials with Ms. Mack, and at home. Teachers will be sharing Imagine Learning login information with parents so that students can utilize this resource at home as well. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Each month, our teachers nominate a PBIS Star Student of the Month in their class. These students were nominated by their teachers because they consistently demonstrate positive behaviors that align to our school-wide PBIS expectations. Each student photographed is a responsible, respectful, problem solver. Way to go, Mustangs!!

Also, Congratulations to our Teacher of the Month, Ms. Sadler and Support Staff of the Month, Ms. Reynolds!

Regular school attendance is vital to your student’s success. At Meadowcreek ES, our goal is to ensure that all students fully benefit from their education by getting to school on time (in class by 8:15) and attending school regularly. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. You can help your student learn that going to school on time, every day is important. Consistent attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.

Below are the times we expect students to be at school:

• Students arrive no earlier than 7:40 am
• The bell rings and instruction begins at 8:15 am. Attendance is taken in class.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

• Have your child ride the bus as this assures your child will get to school on time. If you have to drive your child to school, leave yourself extra time in case of traffic or inclement weather. Our doors open at 7:40, so you can drop your child off starting then.

• An unexcused tardy means your child arrived in class late (after 8:15) because of sleeping in, traffic, missing the bus, running late, etc. Examples of excused tardies are illness, health condition, medical appointment, and family emergency. You must come inside the building to sign-in your child with the reason why your child was tardy.
• Arriving late to school/class impacts a student’s learning as well as the classroom atmosphere. Being on time for school/class is a positive goal for each of our students. Research has shown that your child's attendance record may be the biggest factor influencing his/her academic success.

If your student is going to be absent or late, please contact your child’s teacher. If your student is absent, you will need to send in an excuse letter for the absence.

Meadowcreek is tracking students with perfect monthly attendance! Students with perfect attendance will receive a certificate of perfect attendance by the end of each month. If your student receives a perfect attendance certificate, their name will be entered in a drawing for a NEW BIKE! We will pick the winner at the end of the semester. Good luck!

Ready by Five is a free nine-week program for families with children birth-age 5 that takes place on Saturday mornings from January-March. The Ready by Five program will be held at Ferguson Elementary each Saturday morning from 9:00-11:00 a.m. The program will include read alouds, music and movement, play-based activities, creative expression (art), and special guests from Gwinnett County Parks and Libraries. There will also be giveaways for families at each session.

Parent Lunch

Parents are now welcome to have lunch with their children! Students can have no more than 2 visitors for lunch. Strollers are not allowed in the cafeteria. Parents may sit at the Parent Table with their students during your student's scheduled lunch time. Students are expected to return to their class and teacher when the class dismisses from the cafeteria. If a parent needs to check out a student after lunch; please go to the front office to request a student checkout with your ID. Parent visitation beyond the cafeteria is not allowed. Thank you for helping us to maintain a positive, safe, learning environment for our students.

Strollers

Please remember that strollers are not permitted in the cafeteria during lunch. Strollers have to be left in the hallway next to the cafeteria.

Outside food

Please refrain from bringing in birthday treats and outside food for a class. We want to remain sensitive to classroom allergies. Ice Cream is available to purchase for a class if you desire. Please no cupcakes, balloons, flowers, etc.

Car Rider

During morning arrival, please do not park in the parking lot and walk your child inside the school. Please remain in the car rider lane and drop your child off in line with a staff member. We do not want students and parents walking across the car rider lane. This slows the line and creates a safety concern.

Tardies

Please make sure your child arrives at school on time. Students should be in class and ready to begin instruction by 8:15 am every day. When students are late, it is disruptive to the learning environment. Please help us make sure our students are prepared for daily learning by being on time.

Internet available as low as $9.95 plus tax!

Call 855-846-8376 for assistance.

Meadowcreek Elementary families have the opportunity to connect with the Family Center in person, by phone, or Zoom to become familiar with:

• School procedures

• Check out free educational games and resources to help your child at home

• Familiarize yourself with the new communication tool ParentSquare

• Navigate the Parent Portal

• Complete free/reduced lunch application online

• Support your child with eCLASS/Google classroom

• Make payments on MyPaymentsPlus (cafeteria, school field trips, spirit wear, etc.)

• Anything else that you may need support with!

In-Person: Parents may visit the Family Center Monday - Friday during school hours

Virtual: Click on the following link from 1:00pm-2:00pm on Wednesdays & Thursdays beginning on September 6, 2023: https://gcpsk12-org.zoom.us/j/92626367024

Phone: Mrs. Rosell: 770-638-2374 or Mrs. Pena-Perez: 770-381-4248

We look forward to serving you!

Get news, updates, announcements, school resources, and more! Download the new GCPS App today!

GCPS Tech Tips is a place where GCPS educators offer quick tips and tricks for technology integration in the classroom. Each week, a new video will be released which focuses on how to effectively use your Chromebook and other tips/tricks. Check out the entire playlist here.

• Rhythm and rhyme.
• Repeating words, sentences and refrains.
• Predictable plots. One thing leads to another.
• Events that follow a natural time sequence. First this, then that.
• Familiarity. The plot, characters or character’s actions are relatable for your child.
• Chaining. Events repeat themselves.

Your child's teacher or a local librarian may be able to suggest specific titles.

Brought to you by:

Gwinnett County Public Schools

© 2023 The Parent Institute, a Division of PaperClip Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.

We are so excited to offer Little Learners Academy for our early learners at Meadowcreek Elementary! The program will begin on Wednesday, August 30 at 10:30am and will be held the last Wednesday of every month. This program is NOT open to current Play2Learn families. Please see flyer below for more information. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Pena-Perez at 770-381-4248.

DATES:

November 29, 2023

December 13, 2023

January 31, 2024

February 28 ,2024

March 27, 2024

April 24, 2024