Eagle Updates
February 9, 2020
From Mrs. Barry:
Ah, Valentine’s week, when love is in the air! Between Hallmark cards and Hallmark Channel movies, I’ve been inundated with images of romance, love, and passion. As an educator, when I think of passion, I don’t think of this commercial version of the word. Rather, I think of interests that provoke excitement and a meaningful commitment to action.
This week is also Random Acts of Kindness Week. A random act of kindness is a non-premeditated, inconsistent action designed to offer kindness towards the outside world. Tradition has it that it all started in a Sausalito, California restaurant in 1982 when Anne Herbert wrote “practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” on a place mat. Since that time, Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) week has been established as a world-wide celebration, promoted by the RAK Foundation. Though RAK week takes place the second week of February each year, spreading kindness wherever you can on a daily basis is the ultimate goal.
In author Corbie Mitleid’s words, “We are all meant to leave this place better than we found it; the best way to do that is pass on our purpose and passion in some form.” What a great quote that links the two events we are celebrating this week! Thank you for your passion for and commitment to Meadow Wood! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Welcome home to MWE!
Mid-Year Survey for Parents
Character Without Question
The award is in its fifteenth year. One student from each SBISD campus is identified as an outstanding person of character. At Meadow Wood, we select nominees from our fifth grade class. Those selected are recognized for making a difference in their school, in their community, and in the lives of others. These students prove that character counts and we honor them at the annual Character Without Question Award ceremony at the February Board of Trustees meeting.
The characteristics of these students include:
- Honesty/Integrity: to speak and act in a manner free from deception; truthfulness; to conduct oneself according to a sense of what is right and wrong; to consistently choose an ethical course of action
- Responsibility/Dependability: to accept the need to act or respond when appropriate, and to accept accountability for one’s acts and deeds; to merit reliance and trust by others
- Respect: to show consideration for others regardless of social, economic, ethnic or cultural background; age; or gender
- Perseverance/Effort: to continue one’s effort in spite of difficulties
- Courage: to exhibit the mental or moral strength to persevere in difficult situations
- Caring/Kindness: to feel concern; seek understanding; and demonstrate friendliness, empathy, and politeness to others
- Citizenship/Civic Virtue: to show extraordinary involvement in the community and society
We are proud to announce that Meadow Wood's 2020 Character Without Question representative is Sage Biehl! All nominees will be honored at a special breakfast at MWE later this month.
Random Acts of Kindness Week
February 10th through 14th is Random Acts of Kindness Week.
Throughout the week teachers and parents will encourage students to demonstrate acts of kindness through their actions, words, and behavior. Activities for the week are all aimed at encouraging students to display acts of kindness both at home and school.
Our theme this year is Be the “I” in KIND. We encourage students to pose by the KIND display (located on the wall outside the cafeteria) and be the “I” in KIND. Parents, we encourage you to take advantage of this photo opportunity with your child.
On Monday we will kick things off with a food drive. We will be collecting non-perishable food items all week that will be donated to the Houston Food Bank. Items can be dropped in the Houston Food Bank box located in the front office. Please check out the Kindness Bingo board below. This is a great at-home activity to get ready for Random Acts of Kindness Week. Students who turn in completed bingo boards will have their names posted by the KIND display in the hallway.
On Tuesday, we encourage students to wear their Kindness t-shirts. Parents, please help your child locate the t-shirt that were made earlier in the school year. If you were not able to make a t-shirt at that time, now is the perfect opportunity to help your child create a t-shirt with positive messages written on it.
Thursday is Dream of Kindness Day/Pajama Day. Our Eagles are encouraged to wear pajamas as a reminder to dream of a world full of kindness.
Remember that a simple act of kindness can brighten someone’s day. It can be something significant, like donating items to our food drive, or something smaller, like holding a door open for someone or saying a warm hello.
Playground Update!
The permit for our playground construction has finally been issued by the City of Houston! Mobilization is beginning now. This includes constructing a fence around the area. This privacy screen construction fence will take one set of swings out of play for underground work, but the swing equipment will not be changed - see below image for placement. Please remind students to STAY AWAY from the fence. Teachers and staff will enforce this during school hours, and we will rely on you to spread the word and help enforce this strict rule. Mobilization, fencing, etc., should take approximately a week. Construction will enter through a temporary opening on Fern Street.
The next portion of construction is the completion of the underground storm detention and all concrete work. Drainage and underground infrastructure installation will take several weeks, with completion projected for around Spring Break.
Play equipment and the blue squishy safety surface will be the final stage of the project. We hope to have a playground Grand Opening in April. However, this schedule is weather dependent.
We will keep you updated on progress! Thank you for your generosity to PTA that has made this a reality!
Lawrenz Fitness Extravaganza
The Lawrenz Fintess Extravaganza is an amazing opportunity for students to try three different sports and interact with others from all over the district. It is open to first through fifth grade and only costs $15. Students are dropped at Northbrook High School at 8am and picked up at noon. Coach Hollmann will be there leading the boot camp along with coaches from other elementary, middle and high schools leading sports aligned with their specialties.
This is the only fundraiser the Health Fitness department holds. Proceeds help fund trainings and purchase equipment. Your support is greatly appreciated! Registration is due by end of day Tuesday, February 11th along with payment, cash or check made out to SBISD. Application and additional details are in below.
CIT Applications Now OPEN
Per SBISD Board policy BQB (LEGAL), the CIT is established at each campus to advise the principal on campus improvement. The team shall be chaired by the principal and shall meet for the purpose of implementing planning processes and site-based decision-making in accordance with Board policy and administrative procedures. The committee shall serve exclusively in an advisory role except that each committee shall approve staff development of a campus nature.
The CITs shall be comprised of a combination of certified professional campus-level and District-level staff, parents of students enrolled in the District, community members, and business representatives.
The CIT shall include the following members:
- Campus-level school staff members
- Non-school members
- The majority are parents
- 1 or 2 are community representatives
- 1 or 2 are business representatives
- Additionally, one District-level professional staff liaison shall serve on each CIT.
Our open positions at MWE for the 2020-2021 school year are:
- 3 parent representatives
- 1 business member (cannot be a current MWE parent)
The pdf below is the application for parents. Business and community members can call Shirley Labiosa at 713-251- 6209 for their applications. Any questions? Please reach out to Ms. Labiosa or Mrs. Barry.
The timelines are as follows:
- February 19, 2020 - Application forms due to Mrs. Barry
- February 21, 2020 - CIT Elections
- Week of March 2, 2020 - Announcement of CIT Members
- March 31, 2020 - Mandatory Training for CIT Members at WAIS (5:30 - 6:30 p.m.)
Course Catalogs for 6th grade now available!
The Middle School Course Catalog is now posted on the SBISD website- https://www.springbranchisd.com/studentsfamilies/course-catalog
Fifth grade students received the single page Spring Forest Middle School 6th Grade Course Selection Sheet, as well as the course description page, when they visited SFMS on Wednesday.
NO VISITOR DATES!
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
Due to campus testing, there will be several dates when visitors (i.e., mentors, volunteers, Watch D.O.G.S, lunch guests, etc.) will NOT be able to visit MWE. Thank you for your understanding as we create the most secure testing environment for our students.
STAAR RELEASE:
Tuesday, February 11th: STAAR Release 4th grade Writing and 5th grade Math.
Wednesday, February 12th: STAAR Release 5th grade Reading.
Note: The regularly scheduled PTA meeting will occur as planned.
Tuesday, March 10th: STAAR Release 3rd and 4th grade Math.
Wednesday, March 11th: STAAR Release 3rd and 4th grade Reading.
Tuesday, March 24th: STAAR Release 5th grade Science.
STAAR:
Tuesday, April 7th: STAAR 4th grade Writing and 5th grade Math.
Wednesday, April 8th: STAAR 5th grade Reading.
Tuesday, May 12th: STAAR 3rd/4th grade Math and 5th Retake Math.
Wednesday, May 13th: STAAR 3rd/4th grade Reading and 5th Retake Reading.
Thursday, May 14th: STAAR 5th grade Science.
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Roundup for Parents
Thursday, February 20, 2020
5:30p.m.-6:30p.m.
MWE Library
Please come and meet our Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers, tour the school and learn about our fabulous early Childhood Program here at Meadow Wood. This event is only for parents new to the grade level for 2020-2021. Please share this information with your neighbors!
February Specials Calendar!
Please mark your calendar for these important events!
February 10 - 14
Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week
February 11
Please note: No Visitors on Campus Today!
Wear Kindness T-shirts!
STAAR Release Testing - 4th Writing & 5th Math
Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night (3 - 8 p.m.)
February 12
Please note: No Visitors on Campus Today except for PTA Meeting!
STAAR Release Testing - 5th Reading
Garden Weeding
PTA General Meeting (9:00 a.m. - Multipurpose Room)
CIT Meeting (3:30 p.m. - Library)
February 13
EARLY RELEASE - Students Dismissed at 12:00
February 14
EARLY RELEASE - Students Dismissed at 12:00
Class Parties
February 17
SCHOOL HOLIDAY - No Classes!
February 19
CIT Applications DUE!
February 20
Pre-K & Kinder Roundup (5:30 p.m. - Library)
Heath Fair (SFMS)
February 21
CIT Elections
College T-shirt Day
Hands on Science - 5th
February 25
Hands on Science - 3rd grade
February 26
Garden Weeding
Parent Night (5:30 p.m. - Library) - Details coming soon!
February 27
Hands on Science - 1st Grade
February 28
Go Texan Day
Save the Date!
Sponsor Spotlight!
Sakowitz Furs is a valued supporter of MWE. Sakowitz Furs has been the leading source for fur jackets, fur vests and fur accessories in Houston for over 80 years. Please show your love and appreciation by visiting Sakowitz Furs to purchase a fur piece, or if you need a resource for fur storage, cleaning or repair. Thank you to Mr. Jerry Gronauer, Meadow Wood parent and Sakowitz representative.
Math/Science Night
On Thursday, March 12th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Meadow Wood will host a Math/Science Night.
Our Math/Science Night is designed to give students and families an opportunity to explore and learn in a hands-on environment. There will be games and experiments that cover different aspects of math and science.
To make this evening a success, we need your help. Volunteers are needed to help students with the experiments and games on the night of the event. You do not need to have a math or science background or have a vast knowledge of either subjects. You will know beforehand the experiment or game that you will be supervising. Volunteers are also needed to help prepare the experiments before the night of the event.
If you are able to volunteer, please contact Keisha Barnes at ksbarnes@gmail.com.