Friday Focus
August 23, 2019
From Mrs. Barry:
If your children are like mine, you might be frustrated when you ask about their day. My kids would say their day was "fine" or, if I asked about their favorite part or a good thing that happened, I would get "recess" or "lunch." Sound familiar?
Things changed when I started asking my kids specific questions, going through their day. I'd ask, "What happened/what did you learn in language arts today? How about math? What did you do in science?" This helped me have a better picture of what they were doing, thus having better discussions about the things they were learning.
Once I was armed with my children's daily schedules, I was much better able to have them go through their day, step by step, class by class, period by period. In our house, they couldn't say "I don't remember" - there was no opting out, though they could ask to pass and come back later - and everyone went around the dinner table, sharing their day. Eventually, my kiddos didn't need prompting - they would just start in on their day, period by period. We started this in elementary school and continued all the way through high school. It's funny how even now they follow this procedure when we ask about their day, their classes, their jobs.
In the September grade level newsletters, daily schedules will be included. Consider asking your children to go through their day, telling you what they did or what they learned in each subject. You might be surprised at the depth of conversation that ensues!
Thank you for all of your support! Welcome home to Meadow Wood!
Welcome home, Ms. Solis-Smith!
I am delighted to announce the addition of Ms. Stephanie Solis-Smith to our third grade team. Ms. Solis-Smith is coming to us from Tiger Trail, where she taught pre-kindergarten. Ms. Solis-Smith is new to Spring Branch ISD but comes to us with 17 years of teaching experience in California. She is going to be an amazing addition to this already outstanding team!
We have scheduled a “Meet and Greet” at 3:30 p.m., Monday, August 26th, in the third grade pod. This will be an opportunity to meet Ms. Solis-Smith in the classroom.
A little more from Ms. Solis-Smith:
I was born and raised in California. My husband I moved to Houston 1 year ago. I come from a family of educators. This is my 17 year of teaching. My last 15 years have been in kindergarten. I am married with 2 fur babies. I am excited to join the Meadow Wood Family!
Community Circles
In the mornings, every classroom is conducting community circles. Circles are a time for students to build relationships with their teacher, express themselves, and learn about their classmates in a nonjudgmental setting. Every morning on announcements, a question is asked to start the circle discussion. After the announcements, the teacher will lead the circle allowing everyone to voice his or her opinion. As students develop a greater understanding of other people’s feelings, they develop stronger social and emotional skills. Circles are intended to help students identify their own strengths and areas of growth; and develop problem solving skills and conflict resolution strategies.
No Place for Hate
Meadow Wood earned the distinction as a No Place for Hate® School for the 2018-19 school year. This is our seventh consecutive year to earn this recognition. The No Place for Hate® initiative helps to create and sustain inclusive school environments where all students feel valued and have the opportunity to succeed by promoting respect for individual difference. Throughout the year, schools must focus on intentional, sustained practices that promote respect, empathy, and kindness. We are proud of the concerted efforts of our staff, students, and parents in promoting a safe and caring learning environment, which allowed us to earn the No Place for Hate® recognition. We will continue our efforts this year with the support of our PTA, Student Council, staff, student body, and community. Your involvement in this initiative demonstrates your commitment to ensuring that all school community members feel welcome on our campus.
Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) testing
Our students have started taking their beginning-of-year MAP® Growth™ tests in Reading and Math. These tests determine the skills and topics your child is ready to learn and also measure their growth during the school year (and from year to year).
MAP tests are taken on a computer or tablet and adjust to your student’s learning level. This means the questions become more difficult when your child answers a question right and becomes easier when a question is missed. MAP Growth tests specifically target what your student already knows and is ready to learn next. Since the questions on the test are aligned with the Spring Branch ISD curriculum, they cover the topics that your child is learning in school.
Your child’s MAP Growth results are represented as RIT scores. RIT stands for Ready for Instruction Today. This helps teachers know what a student is ready to learn, regardless of a student’s grade. As a result, we can accurately measure students’ growth in between tests and understand if they are performing on, above, or below grade level. RIT scores allow teachers to recognize where to focus attention to improve your child’s learning and to monitor their progress.
You will receive a copy of your child's MAP scores at our October conferences. To learn more about MAP, visit: NWEA.org/Parent-Toolkit.
MWE Food Sharing Table
We are excited to start a food sharing table in the cafeteria! The table is located to the right of the stage. Students who do not want items of their food are able to put it on the sharing table for others to take if they are still hungry. Please still follow cafeteria expectations and have students raise their hand/ask to put food on the table or to get food from the table. This will only be used during lunch times and not breakfast. It will start on Tuesday, September 3rd.
Only the following items are allowed for sharing programs:
· Any item still in the original, unopened, and undamaged packaging.
· Any whole and intact fruit.
· Any beverage in the original, sealed container.
Opened items such as bags of vegetables or fruits, items that are served without any packaging, packaged items that are designed to be opened then resealed, and perishable items when proper temperature controls cannot be put in place must NEVER be shared.
Only students (no adults or staff) are allowed to take items and they may take as many as they wish.
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!
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!
August 26
Spiral begins
Meet Ms. Solis-Smith (3:30 - 3rd grade pod)
August 27
Spirit Night at Chick-Fil-A
Girl Scout Rally (6 p.m. - cafeteria)
August 28
Room Parent Coffee (9 a.m.)
CIT meeting (3:30)
Watch DOGS Pizza Kick-off (6 p.m.)
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
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
CIT meeting
September 26
Picture Day
September 30
Author Max Brallier at MWE (5 pm) - details coming soon!
MWE Shorts re-order
Watch DOGS
Now that school is back in session, it's time for the annual Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) Pizza Night Kickoff Event!
The event takes place next Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the MWE Cafeteria. Pizza Night is an opportunity for dads and their kids to come out for some free pizza and learn more about the Watch D.O.G.S. program. The focus is on registering new members and educating them about the program, but you can also sign up to volunteer as a Watch Dog. If you can’t make it to Pizza Night, the online sign-up list for 2019-20 is available here.
Finally, we are still looking for a few dads to join the Top Dog team who are willing to help out with next week’s pizza night. Let us know if you are interested. Also, if you’re willing to share a few quick words about your experience as Watch D.O.G.S. and you relish speaking in front of large groups, let us know.
We hope to see YOU there!
Meadow Wood 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! Look for information on signing up soon!
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