MVLA Parent Newsletter 8/25/2021
Anita Martos Principal
First things First
“Use your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, your hands for charity, your mind for truth, and your heart for love.” Anonymous
“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” Anonymous
Important Reminders & Updates
- NEW GUIDELINES have been sent out about when to keep your child home. Please review them carefully.
- Please do wellness checks on your students before sending them to school. Please do not send them to school if they are feeling sick.
- Please make sure they have masks that they are willing to wear all day.
- Please send kids with water bottles and have them put their names on them. Several students continue to ask for cups everyday.
Bussing Messages
STS-NM has launched a text alert system for late buses! It's live and notifications are going out morning and afternoon for issues such as late buses, route number changes, etc. You can opt in at:
https://my.textcaster.com/asa/default.aspx?ID=e57e7dbf-dd59-4d3c-8437-3e5ce3b26122
Upcoming Events
- The Kids Can After school Program has started. It will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 - 5:00pm. If your child has not registered, they will have to be on a waiting list as the program is now full.
- Picture Day is August 26th. Please have your student dress to impress.
- IMSSA Assessments for Language Arts and Math (These are State mandated formative assessments.)
- OPEN HOUSE - SEPT 1ST
- PTO Meeting Via Zoom Sept 2nd.
- September 7th - Labor Day - No School
Open House Process
6:00 - 6:30 - 6th Grade Parents can come to meet and visit with teachers.
6:30 - 7:00 - 7th Grade Parents can come to meet and visit with teachers.
7:00 - 7:30 - 8th Grade Parents can come to meet and visit with teachers.
If you are unavailable or uncomfortable with this process, please join us at our PTO meeting on Zoom on Sept. 2nd or reach out to teachers via email to plan a separate time to meet and have questions answered.
MVLA Student Conduct
While we have fewer discipline issues at MVLA than other schools, there are still moments when we have to redirect students. The simplest version of what we do here is as follows:
When a student has made a mistake that requires redirection:
1st time - The student is spoken to by staff.
2nd time - If it's possible, the student is given the opportunity to "restore the situation". For example, if they wrote on a desk, they are given the chance to clean it.
3rd time - Parent contact is made either through a phone call, email or a meeting.
4th time - Traditional disciplinary action is taken. They may lose their My Time, have a version of "lunch detention" (usually lunch in my office or at a specific table in the cafeteria) OR for more serious infractions suspension.
Now there are times, when a student has done something that requires that I skip steps. For example, if a student has been physically violent or committed any other type of offense that violates LCPS Rules of Conduct, I am required to progress to a more traditional consequence. That can be followed up by more restorative actions later, but it may start there instead of being progressive.
To review the Rights and Responsibilities, please click here: http://policies.lcps.net/documents/section-j/JI-R_Student_Rights.pdf
At Home Learning
We do have one zoom students can login to Monday - Friday which is Morning Motivation. It will start at approximately 9:05. That zoom link is in the MVLA Student Canvas Course. Students will only be allowed into that zoom if they have their real name on their zoom account.
PTO, SAC and DAC
https://form.jotform.com/211724591338154
If you would like more information about what the District Advisory Council is, please click here:
http://www.lcps.net/community-relations/district-advisory-council/
If you would like to serve as our District Advisory Council person, please email Mrs. Martos at amartos@lcps.net. We do already have some volunteers, but we can always use more in case someone is unable to attend.
Nutrition Services
If your child requires a special diet for any reason, please contact the school nurse Mrs. Hartshorn. You can call 527-6059 and ask for her and she will help set that up.
Also, please DO NOT have food delivered to campus. If you must bring food on occasion because your student has a special diet and forgot their lunch, that is fine, but please do NOT send deliveries, door dash, etc.
Cell Phone Policies
If your child does not feel well, please tell them they need to come see the nurse and she will contact you if they need to be picked up. Students should not be calling or texting parents during the day unless it is from the office with an adult present.
About Us
Email: amartos@lcps.net
Website: https://sites.google.com/lcpsmail.org/mesillavalleyleadershipacademy/home
Location: 821 East Lohman
Phone: 575-527-6059