Friday Focus
August 30, 2019
From Mrs. Barry:
Happy Labor Day!
This week, I want to give a special shout out to our awesome teachers and staff who work so hard for our MWE students. Being an educator is a lot of WORK! The teachers are creating personalized lessons for your children, being mindful of both their academic and social-emotional needs, while also planning for special activities and projects, completing district required paperwork and professional development, and seeking out resources to make your child’s learning experience the best. They are learning new programs and processes, collaborating with support staff, and building relationships to ensure success of Every Child. Not to beLABOR the point, but these guys are AMAZING!!!
I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy the day off, relax with your families, and gear up for a fabulous September. Thank you for your support - and please join me in thanking our incredible teachers for all they do!
Five Whys
Think about all of the times your child has asked you, "Why?" Now it's your turn! For example as you are reading with your child, you might ask the following questions:
Q: Why were the three bears angry with Goldilocks?
A: Because she ate their porridge and broke their furniture.
Q: Why did she break their furniture?
A: Because she was too big.
Q: Why was she too big?
A: Because the furniture was made for a small bear.
Q: Why was the furniture made for a small bear?
A: Because it was in the bears’ house.
Q: Why was Goldilocks in the house?
A: Because …
This could also be used with non-academic conversations such as after "I hate math!" or "Chick-fil-a is my favorite place to eat!" Asking "why" five times may be a bit too much, but no matter the number of times, the concept remains the same. Thinking beyond the basic or superficial is a critical skill for our students, and this is a great technique for helping them learn it!
September Grade Level Newsletters - Coming TODAY!
- Daily schedules
- Homework policy/procedure
- Discipline guidelines
- Eagle Expectations
- Active Start details
- Teacher email addresses
- Curriculum updates
Future monthly grade level newsletters should be sent home on the following dates:
- October newsletter --> September 27
- November/December/January newsletter --> November 1
- February/March newsletter --> January 31
- April newsletter --> March 28
- May newsletter --> May 1
Please note that additional items will be sent by specific grades as needed.
Curriculum Night - September 19th
Curriculum Night is coming soon! This year, we will have a “conference-style” night. Parents will be able to choose from several different offerings including:
- Grade Level Curriculum Talks
- Title I
- MIZ Grant
- TCRWP
- Counseling Resources
This is a parent only event. Due to the nature of the sessions, we ask that you do not bring your children. A more detailed schedule will be sent home soon.
Spark Park after School
In recent days, many families are coming to our Spark Park after school to enjoy play time and to wait for older siblings to be dismissed from Spring Forest. We ask that you please follow these guidelines after school:
· Our car rider dismissal utilizes the gate and front play area of the Spark Park. Please give right-of-way access to students leaving from this area.
· Students should not be at the Spark Park (including waiting for a sibling) without a parent present. Students should not wait for parents, siblings, and/or babysitters in the park.
· Parents should follow MWE dismissal procedures (i.e., meet at door) even if going to the Spark Park after the bell rings.
· Students should not be playing on the playground equipment (except the swings) prior to car rider dismissal finishing. The gazebo is a great place to wait until dismissal concludes.
Please note that there is NO supervision at the Spark Park after school. These guidelines are to keep all of our students safe! Thank you for helping us in this endeavor.
Bike Riders
Thank you for helping remind your students of this rule!
Drop Off Reminders
Students transported to school by car are to be dropped off
and picked up on Memorial Drive through parent drive. To keep the students safe and prevent disruption of traffic, students should not be dropped off on the streets surrounding the school, including Memorial Drive, Memorial Green, and Fern. Students may not be dropped off or picked up in the parking lots. Thank you for following these rules to ensure our students are safe.
Lunch with MWE Leaders
From 11 to 1, Mrs. Barry and Ms. Vendetti will be in the Multipurpose Room. Bring your lunch and come chat! This is a very informal time without an agenda. Much like a "coffee with the principal," it is meant to give parents the opportunity to talk, ask questions, etc.
Mark your calendar for this come-and-go event! We hope to see you there!
Specials September Rotation Calendar
2019-2020 Credit by Exam & Exams for Acceleration
In SBISD, students are given several opportunities for grade/class acceleration.
Exams for Acceleration (EA) offers students in grades 1-8 the opportunity to advance one grade level by scoring 80% or higher in each of the four required subject areas. Students desiring to advance one grade level will need the signature of their parent/guardian as well as the building principal or designee. Testing is free for all enrolled SBISD students. Kindergarten students are not eligible for testing until the summer prior to the first grade year.
Courses required for acceleration:
Grade Level Social Studies
Grade Level Science
Grade Level Math
Grade Level Language Arts
Study Guides for EA and CBE assessments may be found at the following link. Some exams require reading of novels (ELA), participation logs (PE), or portfolios (Art); those requirements are listed in the study guides.
https://highschool.utexas.edu/cbe_study_guides.php
Credit by Exam (CBE) offers students the opportunity to gain course credit in the subject area(s) being tested. CBEs may be taken with or without prior instruction, and testing is free for all enrolled SBISD students. Fall and spring exams are administered at the student’s home campus; summer exams are administered at the SBISD administration building.
Single Subject Acceleration
Single subject acceleration is available only in mathematics, and is provided during the testing windows listed in the flyer below. Student performance data must be included with the application. Students scoring an 80% or higher on the exams are eligible for acceleration. Students only through 8th grade math achieving the required score in October may accelerate immediately; those achieving the required score in March, June, or July may accelerate in August of the following school year.
See flyer below for more details or contact Mrs. Luberger at 713-251-6271.
Please mark your calendar for these important events!
September 2
School HOLIDAY
September 3
Eagle Excellence Check Writing Campaign Kick Off
3rd grade Dictionary Project
September 4
School Store
Boy Scout Information Night
September 6
Lunch with MWE Leaders - NOTE DATE CHANGE!
September 11
MWE Garden weeding
Boy Scout Welcome/Game Night
CIT meeting
September 13
SBEF Style Show
Nottingham Forest Open Golf Tournament benefiting MWE
September 16 - 20
Book Fair
September 19
PTA Meeting
Curriculum Night
September 25
MWE Garden weeding
Parent Info Night: Technology at MWE
September 26
Picture Day
September 27
4th grade field trip (MFAH)
September 30
Author Max Brallier at MWE (5 pm) - details coming soon!
2019 FALL FUNDRAISER
MWE PTA is making school fundraising easy this year. We have listened to your feedback from last year’s survey where an overwhelming number of you said you preferred writing a check over selling wrapping paper, cookie dough or Booster-thon. So our 2019 MWE fall fundraiser will be by donating to the Eagle Excellence Fund. 100% of your contribution will go directly to the PTA general fund which will impact your child’s educational experience at MWE. This year’s goal is $15,000. We value contributions in any amount. Your donation to the Eagle Excellence Fund is tax deductible and may even be matched by your employer if they match charitable donations.
Here are just some of the things that your Eagle Excellence dollars go towards:
New Playground for MWE
Student Field Trips
Faculty and Staff support
Numerous programs including Red Ribbon Week, Milers, Talent Show and many more
Staff Appreciation
Family Point Resources and Sister School Support
The easiest time and way to donate is to go to the Meadow Wood PTA webpage and click on the Eagle Excellence Fund button on the home page.
If you have any questions please contact Jenny Trahan 713-248-3665 or JennyRTrahan@gmail.com
MWE Shorts re-order
School Store
MWE will have a school store again this year! The school store is held the first Wednesday of every month from 7:30-7:50 in the mall area outside the library. Students can purchase small items ranging in price from 50 cents to five dollars.
We need parent volunteers to help us with this once-a-month event! Click here to sign up to volunteer! WE STILL NEED 2 VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR FIRST SCHOOL STORE NEXT WEEK!
Our first school store will be on Wednesday, September 4th. Thank you for your support!
YEARBOOK!!!
It's time to ORDER the 2019-2020 yearbook! Follow the link below to ensure your child's memories are preserved!
https://www.balfour.com/texas/houston/meadow-wood-elementary-school?smi=74023
It's also time for Meadow Wood's Yearbook Cover Contest! Please see details below! All entries are due by Friday, September 27th!
Questions?
Contact Samantha Colquitt: samantha.s.colquitt@gmail.com