Please click HERE for the overall MVA calendar.

MCPS and the Division of Food & Nutrition Services will be providing bulk meal kits to MCPS students enrolled in MCPS Virtual Academy. The boxes will be distributed at the designated locations listed below. The location selected will be your assigned location to pick up your pre-ordered meal kit.

Please utilize this form to place an order for our Bulk Meal Kits.

Meal Kits will provide 5 Breakfasts and 5 Lunches.

***Distribution & Distribution Sites***

Meal kits will be distributed at each site listed below every Friday (unless otherwise noted) from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.

• Seneca Valley High School
• A. Mario Loiederman Middle School
• Richard Montgomery High School
• Department of Food & Nutrition Services (DNFS) at Turkey Thicket

***Ordering***

All orders for meal kits should be placed a week in advance for distribution the following week.

Meal kit orders must be placed using the google link each week.

The ordering link closes every Friday at noon and reopens Friday at 3:00 pm for the following distribution.

Parents must provide the first and last name & I.D. number of each student if they are requesting a meal kit.

Link to Meal Request form:

https://forms.gle/bPyzKsc9F3My7zad9

***Questions & More Information***

Questions regarding meal kits can be sent to the meals dropbox:

DFNSMealKitOrders@mcpsmd.org (The email dropbox is having technical challenges. Please email Cassandra.Heifetz@mcpsmd.net with meal questions to pass along to food services until the dropbox is repaired.)

LS-MISA and Government exams closed on January 13th and Algebra and English exams close on January 20th. The Spring window will be the next opportunity for students to take this REQUIRED exam.

If your child is scheduled to attend in-person testing this week, or already completed MCAP testing in-person, please make sure to submit an MVA Attendance Form for the dates students will be in-person testing so our attendance secretaries can reconcile and excuse the absence.

Marjorie Cohen, MVA Testing Coordinator is available to parents and MVA students if you have any questions. She can be reached at Marjorie_S_Cohen@mcpsmd.org

Winter MAP Testing is underway. We have already held testing sessions for MAPR, MAPM and a make up session for both. Thank you for reminding your child to test! We had an extremely STRONG turnout.

To minimize learning interruption, we are not offering any more scheduled makeup sessions for the whole school. Make up opportunities will be scheduled with students who still need to complete MAP. Marjorie Cohen, MVA Testing Coordinator, will be working to connect with students/families that still need to complete MAP testing.

Any questions about MAP testing should be directed to Marjorie Cohen, MVA Testing Coordinator at Marjorie_S_Cohen@mcpsmd.org

Is your child registered for the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy test? Are you wondering what’s next? Please encourage them to come to one of our informational sessions!

The Seal of Biliteracy Diploma is an official way to let others know you are bilingual.

Please attend our last informational meeting to learn more about the testing process.

Tuesday, January 17th from 12:35 pm - 1:00 p.m.

Find out more about scheduling the assessment, taking the practice test, and preparing for test day.

Questions: Contact Aba Anyomi - World Language Content Specialist

Seal of Biliteracy Information Session Zoom

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/84812563481?pwd=bFoxckwvNlhVSEtXOVVQaFFKZGhWdz09

Meeting ID: 848 1256 3481

Passcode: VAWL

Is your junior or senior bilingual and has NOT registered?

The Seal of Biliteracy Diploma is an official way to let others know your child is bilingual. Your child can register to take the Seal of Biliteracy exam with the MVA by attending our registration session on

Monday January 9th & Thursday, January 12th from 11:35-12:05.

This is a drop-in session.

It only takes 10 minutes to register and take advantage of this opportunity for your child’s future.

Questions: Contact Jill Schuck - English Language Development (ELD) Resource Teacher

Seal of Biliteracy Registration Zoom

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/9285690938?pwd=Ylh4VVdHc1o5MldLV3dSOGQreGhmdz09

Meeting ID: 928 569 0938

Passcode: mva

On Thursday, January 5, MVA families received a message regarding the process and timeline to request to return to in-person learning for the start of Marking Period 3 (January 30). All requests were to be submitted by January 13, 2023.

The window to make a request has now closed. The next opportunity to request to return to in-person learning will be for the start of Marking Period 4.

On Thursday, January 5, 2023, MCPS released the Montgomery Virtual Academy application for the 2023-2024 school year.

• Families who previously completed the Notice of Intent form and indicated a request to remain in the Virtual Academy next school year do not need to apply again.
• Families who did not complete the form, or who had indicated a desired to return to the home school, but now wish to remain in the Virtual Academy, must apply on ParentVUE using the new application.

The open application period began on January 5, 2023, and will run through February 2, 2023. You can read the full announcement from MCPS on our website at this link: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/virtualacademy/news-index/fy24-application-announcement/

The WIDA ACCESS test window is January 9 - February 17. All ELD students are required to take the test in-person at their home school. Please check your email and remind your child to check their email for communication from your home school. Home schools will begin contacting families after December 16th with information regarding test dates and times. The test usually takes two half days. Student’s attendance will be recorded at the home school and reconciled at the MVA to be marked present.

Want to help your child maximize their ELP score or exit the ELD program?

We can help you!

All ELD students are encouraged to attend our MVA WIDA ACCESS Prep and Practice Sessions which will be held each Wednesday through the month of January during Advisory time. Students that attend will receive credit for Advisory attendance. The WIDA ACCESS Prep and Practice Sessions will be hosted by Jill Schuck from 12:35-1:00 on Wednesday, 1/18.

Questions: Contact Jill Schuck - English Language Development (ELD) Resource Teacher

WIDA ACCESS Prep & Practice Zoom

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/9285690938?pwd=Ylh4VVdHc1o5MldLV3dSOGQreGhmdz09

Meeting ID: 928 569 0938

Passcode: mva

Inspiring Person of the Week

The Virtual Academy has launched the Inspiring Person of the Week Campaign. The campaign is designed to elevate the diverse people who have contributed their knowledge and talents to the United States.

Students can earn 2 SSL hours by submitting a slide to the Inspiring Person of the Week committee. Student submissions must have the student's name and MCPS ID number, a title, a summary, a picture of the inspiring person, and links to additional information about the inspiring person.

Students can email their slides or Canva poster and reflections to Mr. Henrique Vissotto: henrique_vissotto@mcpsmd.org. Because this is a school-hosted SSL opportunity, we will keep a log of the students who submit posters along with their reflections.

Here is this week’s Inspiring Person of the Week: Martin Luther King Jr

The Pearls of Hope Community Foundation, Incorporated (POHCF), is pleased to announce our new Scholarship Program! In 2023, this exciting scholarship program offers scholarships ranging from $1,000-$8,000 over four years to graduating high school seniors. We are currently seeking high school seniors to apply for a variety of scholarships that exemplify our values in community service, entrepreneurship and social action, and pursuing higher education.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Download the Application PDF here, and visit the website:

https://www.pearls-of-hope-community-foundation--inc.org/scholarships

If you are in need of a winter coat for you or your children, please connect with your school counselor. MoCo Coats of Olney, Maryland is providing coats to families.

MVA Counselors 22-23SY

Winter Break is a great time for students to participate in SSL opportunities! SSL opportunities available during the month of December can be found at the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/102YffrxZCM_ZhBw7UEN9gSeqjGd-pL9rLm5Z1dk5UWc/edit?usp=sharing

SSL opportunities - https://bit.ly/SSLOpportunities and https://bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020

SSL forms, resources, and guidelines - https://bit.ly/SSLHubMCPS

SSL program overview - https://bit.ly/SSLOverview2020

Step-by-step directions for viewing student SSL record on StudentVUE - https://bit.ly/SSLonVUE

Introduction to SSL Handout:
English | Español | 中文 | Français | tiếng Việt | 한국어 | አማርኛ | Portuguêse

Students who had their picture taken on the September 30 make-up day can pick-up their child's ID from our offices 7:30 AM -4:30 PM, M-F.

We are aware that some of our students have been experiencing challenges with accessing instruction in the recent weeks. We have been in close contact with our partners in the technology office to try to identify what might be causing some of the specific issues. To support this work, we have been gathering data from our staff to try to identify any patterns. As we work to find a more comprehensive solution, we shared some tips at the MVAPTC meeting this past week. The tips that were shared address obstacles that we typically see, as well as the current issues with the password resets and Zoom functionality issues. These tips have helped some of our students, but not all. In most cases, the issue is not with the device itself and does not require a device swap. Please continue to reach out to our main office at 240-740-6060 and email the Community Help Desk mailbox at communitytechsupport@mcpsmd.org . We thank you for your continued patience and willingness to help problem-solve.

The Montgomery Virtual Academy’s World Languages Department has a new website!

MVA language learners and anyone interested in American Sign Language, French, and Spanish can access a rich database of digital resources. Fostering our MVA vision for an innovative, personalized virtual learning community, this website enables students to engage with the MCPS World language curriculum outside of the “traditional” modes.

Students will receive up-to-date announcements on all the happenings in our department and ways they can engage with their peers in the virtual or in-person community. The website has over 30 web pages, a growing database of videos, and a plethora of stock images to engage our Gen-Z learners.

Please watch the following promo video and access the website.

The Montgomery County Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services program offers mental health services for children and adolescent residents of Montgomery county who are uninsured or have Medical Assistance. We try to help as many people as possible, because we know how challenging it is to find mental health services. This list is intended to help you find treatment elsewhere if we are unable to help you. We hope you find it useful. Please see this link for more information!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RXnchVKKvLyPlUIG_4O4HwnvmMBhqvK7FlNoNAGGn2I/edit?usp=sharing

Virtual Cafe Zoom Link

Contact Jill Lynch at Jill_E_Lynch@mcpsmd.org for more information!

Research indicates that meaningful personal engagement with their teachers and peers is one of the most important predictors of student learning and achievement.

As a result of a review of the research, the Montgomery Virtual Academy (MVA) presents the following revisions to its policies and expectations around student engagement, participation, and attendance for the 2022-2023 school year and beyond.

1. All students are expected to appear on camera for the majority of every class
2. Students should actively demonstrate engagement throughout each lesson.
   
3. Students who demonstrate no engagement for the entire class period may be marked “Absent” for that class period.
   
4. The MVA continues to expand opportunities for students to engage meaningfully with teachers, staff, and each other outside of the classroom.
   

For more detailed information on these expectations, please see this document. Thank you for your support and encouragement as we work together to connect students with their teachers and each other!

Virtual cafe is held from 11:45 to 12:30 each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If you are interested in being a student leader to help host, please let us know. Clubs are starting this week, see your sponsor for more information!

Did you know we have a separate newsletter for students, to help them keep up with all the important events and offerings in various areas of the MVA? Use this link to visit, and make sure your children are getting our updates each week.

Use this link or click the logo to the left to access a full list of Virtual Academy teachers with their Zoom links and Outlook email addresses. If you have general questions, or you need a live human to assist you, please call us at 240-740-6060 during school hours.

Students need 75 student service learning (SSL) hours to graduate from Maryland public schools. Every month, Dr. Simarjeet Sandhu, the Virtual Academy SSL Coordinator, provides a listing of SSL opportunities that are virtual and in-person. Click on the link and get your child involved in these fun and rewarding service opportunities.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1764q8pQb_cmLSrj8X05ZV_eHaPc0skgSlxdAy2HoBAc/edit?usp=sharing

MORE OPPORTUNITIES:

Latino Student Fund Tutoring

Four Seasons World Dance Auditions

Arise & Flourish:

Students will need to visit the Montgomery County Volunteer Center (https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteercenter/) and in the red box “Find a Volunteer Opportunity”, type in Arise and Flourish. Students will find the volunteer opportunity for the cycle of addiction video review project. This SSL opportunity has been approved by the MCPS SSL department. Please let the students know NOT to use their MCPS email address as we will not be able to respond to them.

Once students respond for the volunteer opportunity on the site, we will send the student/parent permission slip and detailed volunteer information. Please make sure the students do NOT use their MCPS email address as we will not be able to respond to them. Students will watch two video presentations provided by our organization. One video is our speakers who are people in recovery who share their personal experience. The second video is the presentation on the cycle of addiction which has information on how addiction happens.

Students have the ability to earn the following for the quality completion of this project:

1. Earn 1 SSL hour for watching one speaker video and the video for the cycle of addiction and completing one paper or artwork or;
2. Earn up to 4 SSL hours for watching up to 4 speaker videos along with the one video for the cycle of addiction and completing 4 papers or 4 artworks.

Students can watch anywhere from 1-4 speaker videos and the video for the cycle of addiction and completing one paper or artwork for EACH speaker video watched.

Project Linus

Project Linus is a national organization with chapters across the country (www.projectlinus.org). Their Montgomery County Maryland chapter works with partner organizations like Holy Cross Hospital, Children's Hospital, A Wider Circle, and the Montgomery County Department of Social Services, to distribute blankets to children who are in the hospital, homeless, in foster care, in shelters, and in other situations where just a small comfort can make a major difference. All these blankets are made by volunteers. See our previous newsletters (linked below) for more information.

You can now access many important resources for Student Service Learning (SSL) at our new website: ​​https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/mva-ssl-opportunities/home.

Here you'll find...

• Contact information for our SSL Coordinator (Dr. Simarjeet Sandhu) and our counseling team
• An introductory video about SLL hours and how to complete them
• The official submission form for reporting hours
• Timely updates on service opportunities within and outside of the Virtual Academy
• and more!
• 
  

• Navigate to https://md-mcps-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login.aspx.
• Select "I am a parent" or "I am a student."
• Enter your User Name and Password, then click "Login."
• Click "Course History" from the left-hand navigation.
• The Course History page shows the student's graduation progress, test requirements, and SLL hours earned. (Students need 75 hours for graduation.)
• Toggle on "Detail" to see full Service Learning details.

You can also stay up to date with SSL reminders, dates, and deadlines using this resource, and. contact Dr. Sandhu with any questions!

Families of students who may qualify for free or reduced-price meals can now apply for assistance for school meals. Eligibility is based on family size and gross income. Students in Maryland who qualify for reduced-price meals will receive free breakfast and lunch meals.
Apply here. Learn more about the program.

If you have any questions about your child's attendance, or if you need to report an excused absence, please contact our Attendance Secretary, Ms. Hikeyya Falden:

• Hikeyya_A_Falden@mcpsmd.org
• 240-740-6060

Activate Your ParentVue Account

This important tool will provide near real-time access to information on assignments and scores, attendance, class schedules, transcripts, graduation status, and more. You may access ParentVUE online, but for the best mobile experience, we encourage you to download the ParentVUE App from the Google Play Store or Apple Store, as this app will replace the current myMCPS mobile application.

Contact Your Child's Administrator or Counselor for your activation letter

ParentVue Directions

Log in to ParentVue

In collaboration with MCPS, the Literacy Council of Montgomery County (LCMC) is offering free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for MCPS parents. The classes will be held virtually and there will be options for all levels of English speakers. They are available to any MCPS parent for whom English is not their first language.

Please see this flyer for details:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CWxRzof4pPS95Fi7SjEadPgf3_w39orL/view?usp=sharing

Parents can complete this Interest form to receive a placement test.

If you are having technology issues, please submit an e-ticket by emailing your question or issue to communitytechsupport@mcpsmd.org or submit a ticket via the Community Tech Support portal. This account is monitored daily and you will receive email notifications throughout the process.

For helpful support guides and screencasts in English and Spanish, please visit https://montgomery.service-now.com/csm.

A support guide for the Community Tech Support portal is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cczbhEXF7x3TBquSMQGUGsxIcqsm_BtG2KBBi_bA0_0/edit

When you submit your SSL forms, it’s really important that you complete all sections properly, so the form does not get returned to you. Check out this video from our SSL committee that demonstrates how to complete the SSL form in its entirety.

Thank you, Ms. Marks, for the helpful video!

https://www.loom.com/share/a9aafe11b7c7475caa166006528bf823

You can now easily review previous publications of this year's Weekly Navigators online:

SEMESTER ONE

• Week of January 17, 2022
• Week of January 8, 2022
• Week of December 19, 2022
• Week of December 12, 2022
• Week of December 5, 2022
• Week of November 21, 2022
• Week of November 14, 2022
• Week of November 7, 2022
• Week of October 31, 2022
• Week of October 24, 2022
• Week of October 17, 2022
• Week of October 10, 2022
• Week of October 3, 2022
• Week of September 26, 2022
• Week of September 19, 2022
• Week of September 11, 2022
• Week of September 5, 2022