Eagle Updates
August 16, 2021
In this Issue:
- From Mrs. Barry
- Water Bottles & More
- First Day of School Procedures
- Transportation - Buses
- School Supply Lists
- From the Counselors-Credit by Exam
- New Parent Orientation/PTA Slides
- Volunteer Registration
- iKids at MWE
- MWE Calendar of Events
PTA Corner:
- From the President
- Last Call for Spirit Wear
- Yearbooks on Sale NOW!
- Yearbook Cover Art Contest
District Information:
- A Message from the Superintendent
- Back to School 2021
- SBISD's Health and Safety Plan
From Mrs. Barry:
Tomorrow is the big day! For some of you, it will be your very first First Day of School for your child. For others, this will mark your last First Day at MWE. I experienced 18 years of First Days as a student, and this will be my 30th First Day as an educator...yet I still get excited about that First Day! It is a day of new beginnings, of promise, of excitement of things to come.
This year isn't starting exactly as we had hoped. Though more "normal" than last year, there is still so much unknown that is causing stress and anxiety. Though I don't have all the answers - and many of the answers I do have aren't perfect - what I can guarantee is that our staff has worked, and will continue to work, to ensure that all of our Eagles not only have the best First Day possible, but that they will continue to receive the absolute best that we can give them. Our amazing teachers put their whole hearts into everything they do, regardless of the circumstances that surround them. Their incredible hard work, dedication, expertise, and desire to excel truly set them apart from the rest! I am incredibly proud to lead this amazing team, and I know tomorrow will be another example of a great First Day at Meadow Wood. We cannot wait to have our Eagles back in the nest!
The picture to the left is me with my Kindergarten teacher taken several years ago. Mrs. Kunkle greeted me on my very first First Day. She taught me how to read, how to write, and how to tie my shoes. She was (and still is) kind, loving, and fun. To me, she epitomizes what a great teacher should be. She would fit in perfectly with our staff here at Meadow Wood!
Happy First Day! It is going to be amazing! Life is good at Meadow Wood!
PLEASE SEND A WATER BOTTLE WITH YOUR STUDENT DAILY!
Water Bottles & More
Please send a water bottle to school with your student daily. We have many refillable water fountains located throughout the building. We ask that you label the water bottle clearly with your child's name. Speaking of labels, students often misplace their belongings so it is VERY important that you put their name on everything - lunch box, water bottle, backpack, jacket, etc.
Thank you for your attention to this detail.
First Day of School Procedures
Because we know how crowded it will be on the first day, we ask that, if at all possible, you walk to school with your child. Please be mindful and respectful of your neighbors!
If you choose to drive and park, please remember to ONLY park in the MWE front parking lot. The back lot is reserved for teachers, and buses cannot navigate Memorial Green when cars are parked along the road. Please do not park in handicap spaces.
We will have a PTA meeting right after the school day starts at 8:15 a.m. We will meet in the cafeteria.
Transportation - Buses
To find your bus stop, as well as the time of pick up in the morning and arrival in the afternoon, go to the transportation website at https://www.springbranchisd.com/studentsfamilies/back-to-school/transportation and type in your address.
If there is no stop and/or time posted, please call the Transportation Department at 713-251-1060.
School Supply Lists
Credit by Examination
New Parent Orientation
Volunteer Registration
- If you are a new volunteer, please complete the application using the link below prior to beginning your service.
- If you are a returning volunteer, you must re-register every year. Please use the link below to do so.
https://www.springbranchisd.com/engage/partnerships-volunteers
Please note that this does not work using your cellular phone! A laptop or desktop is needed!
SBISD requires all persons interested in being a volunteer to agree to a Name Based Criminal History Background Check (NBCHBC) each school year. This is in addition to the Raptor System (V-soft) which compares all visitor names against sexual offender databases and is currently implemented at all SBISD campuses.
By completing and submitting the SBISD Volunteer Registration form, you agree to a criminal history background check. Please use your legal name, and complete all required fields in the correct format. The entire application takes just a few minutes and may take 5-10 business days to be processed. As with any district data, multiple security measures are in place to protect all information. Don’t forget to click submit!
All approved volunteers will be entered into the district's Raptor system. To complete the process, you must bring your photo id to be verified and scanned into Raptor the first time you visit your campus this year. By US mail, SBISD will notify any volunteer applicant who does not pass the NBCHC.
https://www.springbranchisd.com/engage/partnerships-volunteers
iKids at MWE
iKids U is offered after school at Meadow Wood Elementary!
Register now and secure your spot for the 2021-22 School Year! iKids U offers after-school opportunities onsite at MWE. Participate from 1 to 5 days per week!
Please visit www.ikidsinc.com, contact iKids at 713-665-5200 or email support@ikidsinc.com for more information.
Please note that iKids is not affiliated with MWE or SBISD, but is a district vendor.
MWE Calendar of Events
August 16
First Day of School!!!
General PTA Meeting (8:15 a.m.)
August 24
CIT Meeting
September 1
Room Parent Meeting
September 2
Early Release (12:00 Noon)
September 6
HOLIDAY
September 8
PTA Meeting
September 10
Principal's Coffee
September 13 - 17
Book Fair
September 14
Curriculum Night (Pre-K - 2nd)
September 16
Curriculum Night (3rd - 5th)
From the President
Hi MWE Families,
I hope everyone had a great afternoon on Friday at Meet the Teacher. Thank you to all who stopped by the PTA information tables. It felt so good to be back on campus and inside the building!
If you did not have a chance to pick up your spirit wear order, or field trip t-shirt, please contact Amanda Candler at acandler@gmail.com or (832) 428-9055. Thank you again to Amanda for all her work in getting our spirit wear ready for this year.
A big thanks to Jamie Kelley and Ashley Koletar for organizing a delicious lunch for MWE staff on Friday before Meet the Teacher. We had many fun raffle giveaways thanks to generous parent and community donations.
First General PTA Meeting
Monday, August 16 at 8:15am after walking students into class
MWE Cafeteria
All are invited
Please join us tomorrow, the first day of school - after dropping off your students - for the first general PTA meeting of the year. We will be meeting in the cafeteria at 8:15 am. All parents (and preschool-aged children) are invited to come, grab a cup of coffee, and hear from Mrs. Barry and Ms. Vendetti before learning more about PTA: who we are, what we do, along with information about upcoming programs and events for the year. We hope to see you there!
Don’t forget to check out our PTA website to sign up for PTA, update your contact information for the school year, access the school directory, purchase your birthday marquee, and much more: Meadow Wood Elementary PTA - Home Page (membershiptoolkit.com)
Wishing everyone a great first day,
Kelly Williams
(504) 756-2440
Last Call for Spirit Wear
MWE Families,
If you didn’t get a chance to order MWE Spirit Wear please fill out the form attached below and email it to acandler@gmail.com by August 27th. Thank you!
Yearbooks on Sale NOW!
How to order:
● Go to www.balfour.com
● Click “Shop My School” and type in “Meadow Wood Elementary”
● Follow the prompts to order your yearbook.
● OR Scan here →
Save the Date! Deadline to order at the early-bird price ($30.00) is OCTOBER 31, 2021. Price increases on November 1, and will be available until sell-out (but don’t wait!)
GOT PHOTOS? Our MWE Yearbook depends on parent and teacher contributions! Please send photos to MWEYearbook21@gmail.com throughout the year to help us include a variety of photos into the yearbook. Thank you!
5th Grade Parents: You have the option to purchase a 5th grade dedication ad when ordering your yearbook. This will show at the bottom of the page once you have entered your student info. (Click the 1/18 page ad icon) Once you have purchased your book and ad, you will receive an email with instructions to log-in and create your ad. Submission deadline will be in early spring.
Yearbook Cover Art Contest
We are inviting ALL MWE students to enter their drawings for our yearbook cover contest. One winner’s drawing will be selected to be displayed on the front cover of our 2021-2022 yearbook! {All entries will be included in the yearbook}
ALL ENTRIES MUST:
● Include the words “Meadow Wood Elementary”
● Include the year “2021-2022” ● Incorporate this year’s theme: “LIFE IS GOOD AT MEADOW WOOD”
● Include your first and last name on the back of the drawing
SUBMIT ART ON:
● 8.5 x 11 sheet of white paper
● Vertical orientation
TIPS FOR A GREAT ENTRY:
● Use lots of color, including in the background
● MIx up your medium (crayons, watercolors, markers, etc.)
● Use up your entire sheet of paper
● Be creative and have fun with the theme!
Questions? Contact Samantha Colquitt: samantha.s.colquitt@gmail.com or Glenna Vickers: glennavickers@gmail.com All entries must be submitted by FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8th to either your teacher or the front office, with the completed form attached below.
A Message from the Superintendent
Dear Spring Branch ISD parents and guardians:
We are excited to welcome our students back for the first day of school next week, on Aug. 16.
The safety of our students and staff remains our very highest priority. The district is monitoring the spread of viruses and other infectious diseases and will adjust mitigation procedures as needed. We continue to consult with our local medical advisors and with the Texas Education Agency and are monitoring the situation closely.
Spring Branch ISD has developed a Health and Safety plan for the new school year. Please read the details of the plan here on the front page of our website: https://www.springbranchisd.com/.
Here are some important things to remember regarding our health and safety protocols for this year:
- Masks are optional for students and staff. The governor of Texas and the Texas Education Agency have ordered school districts not to mandate masks in schools this year. While masks are optional, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends masks be worn indoors by all individuals age 2 and older. We strongly urge parents to make the best decision for their children regarding masks at school. Every child will be respected and fully supported in our schools.
- If a child tests positive for COVID-19, the school will conduct a case review and notify the parents or guardians of any student determined to have had close contact with that COVID-19 positive student.
- We will continue to publish on our website a dashboard showing the number of COVID-19 positive students and staff at every Spring Branch ISD school.
- Hand sanitizers or hand washing stations will be readily available in the classroom, common areas and where food is served.
- We will continue the use of hospital-grade disinfectants to clean all flat surfaces and high touch areas.
- Social distancing will be encouraged wherever possible.
- Individuals with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test will isolate at home for 10 days. Students required to isolate at home will be provided an opportunity for online learning during that time.
- Each day individuals are expected to self-screen for symptoms of COVID-19 and other viruses and infectious disease.
We look forward to a great school year!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Blaine, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Back to School 2021
The SBISD Back to School Guide is up and ready to go. You should have received this via email. If you did not, please check your email address in Skyward. The links below take you to specific resources!
Remind communications platform
Visit springbranchisd.com/backtoschool for additional resources.
SBISD's Health and Safety Plan
Strong Start Health and Safety Plan for the
Mitigation of Viruses and Other Infectious Diseases
Spring Branch ISD will continue to implement health and safety guidance from federal, state, and local governmental agencies to ensure a safe and healthy start to in-person learning. As new measures are determined, the District will make adjustments and implement changes and updates as needed.
INCREASED HAND HYGIENE
Make hand sanitizer or hand washing stations readily available in the classroom, common areas, and wherever food is served. Provide time for students to wash or sanitize hands before and after eating, after activities such as PE or recess.
RESPIRATORY ETIQUETTE
Teach and encourage students to practice respiratory etiquette such as sneezing into their elbow, covering their coughs, and washing hands or using hand sanitizer after blowing their nose.
MASKS AND FACE COVERINGS ARE OPTIONAL
Individuals may opt to wear a mask or face covering. All face masks/face coverings shall be free of any images, words, political slogans, with the exception of a SBISD school or district logo or college logo. Current guidance from the CDC recommends masks should be worn indoors by all individuals age 2 and older. Individuals may choose to wear a mask indoors, in crowded settings, when physical distancing is not feasible.
ENHANCED CLEANING PROCEDURES
Continue the use of hospital grade disinfectant to clean all flat surfaces and high touch areas such as doorknobs and light switches on a daily basis. Provide teachers and classrooms with disinfectant wipes or a suitable disinfectant spray (such as Sanicare TBX) and paper towels.
SELF-MONITORING
Individuals should monitor how they feel on a daily basis. Anyone who does not feel well, has a fever, or has any of the signs and symptoms associated with viruses or other infectious diseases should stay home when sick and consult with their health care provider for testing and care.
MONITORING STUDENTS
Teachers should monitor their students for signs and symptoms of illness. Any students who do not appear to feel well will be referred to the school nurse for a clinical assessment. The nurse will contact the parent/guardian of a child needing to go home and/or to a physician (or healthcare provider) for further evaluation.
SIGNAGE ENCOURAGING HEALTHY PRACTICES
Update and continue to post signs that show and encourage healthy practices such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, etc.
USE OF PLEXIGLASS DIVIDERS (OPTIONAL)
Plexiglass may be used during small group instruction such as at a reading table between the teacher and students or between students during group activities.
ENCOURAGE SOCIAL DISTANCING TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE
All individuals are encouraged to practice physical distancing, of at least three feet, whenever possible and to the extent possible. When unable to maintain physical distancing, individuals may opt to wear a face covering or mask.
STAFF AND STUDENT WELLNESS
To the extent, possible SBISD will continue to offer opportunities for staff and students to receive vaccinations for respiratory infections such as influenza and COVID-19.
Isolation and Quarantine
SBISD school nurses may exclude students with symptoms of a communicable illness (like COVID-19, flu, or measles) from attending school. The school district and parents are in partnership to keep our community healthy, and together they can prevent outbreaks of contagious diseases.
Individuals exhibiting symptoms of viruses and/or infectious diseases will be referred to the nurse for a clinical assessment and for isolation. The nurse will contact the parent/guardian of a child needing to go home and/or to a physician (or healthcare provider) for further evaluation. Individuals with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test will isolate at home for 10 calendar days from either the date of the positive test or the onset of symptoms, and must also be fever free for 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medication, before returning to school or work.
Fully Vaccinated Individuals
According to the most recent guidance from CDC, fully vaccinated individuals exposed to COVID-19 will not need to quarantine or be tested for COVID-19 unless they are exhibiting symptoms. Individuals with symptoms are advised to follow the CDC guidelines for those who have had possible close contact (within 3 to 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) and to reach out to their healthcare provider if they have questions.
If a fully vaccinated individual tests positive for COVID-19, he or she will isolate at home for 10 calendar days from either the date of the positive test or the onset of symptoms, and must also be fever free for 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medication, before returning to school or work.
Unvaccinated Individuals
Individuals with a known exposure to COVID-19; having direct exposure to respiratory secretions (e.g., being coughed or sneezed on, sharing a drinking glass or utensils, kissing), caring for a person who has COVID-19, or living with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, are strongly encouraged to follow CDC guidelines for someone who has been exposed to COVID-19, quarantine for 5-7 calendar days, provide a negative COVID-19 test (recommendation is to test on day 3-5 post exposure), or clearance from a healthcare provider before returning to school or work.
Individuals with a possible exposure to COVID-19; within 3 to 6 feet for more than 15 minutes with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, but has not had known exposure as described above, should self-monitor for two weeks. These individuals will be advised to monitor their health for two weeks, follow the CDC guidelines for those who have had possible close contact and to reach out to their healthcare provider if they have questions.
COVID Reporting
Students and staff who receive a positive COVID-19 test result, are required to provide a copy of the test results to the campus nurse or supervisor. The state requires that all positive COVID-19 cases be reported each week. Staff, students, and parents can monitor active COVID-19 cases at their campus on the Spring Branch ISD active case dashboard. All individuals, identified with a possible exposure to COVID-19 (within 3 to 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) will be notified. The district will disinfect and clean the affected classroom, workplace, vehicle, equipment, etc., as necessary.
Spring Branch ISD will continue to monitor cases and the spread of infectious diseases in our schools, community, and across the state. If the situation requires, the District will consult with local public health authorities and our health care partners to see if additional mitigation procedures are required.