Eagle Updates
September 13, 2020
Happy Birthday, Ms. Vendetti!!
In this Issue:
- A Message from Mrs. Barry
- A Few Distance Learning Reminders
- A Few In-Person Learning Reminders
- Second Nine Weeks Learning Model Selection
- Campus Improvement Team - We need you!!
- From Advanced Academics
- Kids Heart Challenge
- iKids Meet and Greet
- Virtual Author Visit
- MWE One-pager (General Information)
- LearnSBISD
- A Message from the President
- First PTA Meeting of the Year THIS WEEK!
- Spartanaire Spaghetti Supper
- Playground Update
- Join the PTA Today!
- Create a Membership Toolkit account
- Eagle Excellence Fund
- Yearbooks!
District Information
- Superintendent's Message - For Distance Learning Families
- Superintendent's Message - For In-person Families
From Mrs. Barry:
The more things change, the more things stay the same. This adage is certainly true for school this year! Though some things look very different, we are still conducting business as usual - just in a different way! This week, we will begin with our required formal assessments for all grade levels. Our students in kinder through fifth grade will take MAP, or Measure of Academic Progress, tests in reading and math. Fifth grade students will also take a science assessment. MAP tests are taken on the computer, and questions on the tests become more difficult as the students answer correctly and less difficult the when questions are answered incorrectly. MAP results are reported in RIT (Ready for Instruction Today) scores. This is a different type of score than a typical test that provides a percentage correct. MAP 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. MAP is designed to help personalize your child’s learning, and is done three times during the school year. A schedule for MAP testing for distance learners will be sent to parents this week.
In addition, our students will participate in a reading assessment called a Running Record. A Running Record provides insight into a student’s reading. These are conducted one-on-one with the teacher. Running Records give information on reading accuracy, fluency, reader’s errors, self-correction, and comprehension of text. Running Records help determine a student's reading level, as well as provide information to guide instruction. Formal Running Records are conducted three times during the school year, with informal assessments ongoing throughout instruction.
Finally, whether we are virtual or in-person, grades are still reported! The progress report window opens on September 17th. Progress reports will be sent home on September 25th. Regardless of instructional modality, all teachers must follow the SBISD Grading Expectations. These guidelines can be found at www.springbranchisd.com/studentsfamilies/course-catalog/grading-expectations.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. Together, we are Growing Great Minds at MWE!
A few Distance Learning Reminders
- Please remember that being present for Zoom meetings/instruction is very important! Though we realize it is sometimes hard for your child to be in front of the computer for extended periods of time, the synchronous time with teachers is critical to student success! Concerns? Contact your child's teacher!
- Please review our Zoom expectations with your child. Designed to protect our students AND to maximize learning, these are non-negotiables!
- Reminder: All specials classes are now asynchronous. Your child should be working through ItsLearning to complete these assignments. Your child will receive their art, music, and health fitness grade through these submissions.
- A gentle reminder: We thank you, parents, for facilitating your child's online learning. Please remember that you are an observer and facilitator, rather than a participant. Just as you would watch without interjecting if you were in the physical classroom, we ask that you follow the same guidelines in the virtual setting. Please utilize a teacher's conference period for asking questions, etc., rather than class time. Thank you!
A few In-Person Learning Reminders
- Our building opens at 7:30 a.m. Please do not drop students off before this time as there is not supervision.
- Students are tardy if not in class at 7:55. Parents will need to sign tardy students in, and students must have a tardy slips to enter class.
- Please label your child's water bottles before sending them to school!
- Please do not send medications in student backpacks; rather, make an appointment with the clinic and fill out appropriate paperwork.
- Please be sure your student comes to school with a clean mask!
- Parents may not drop items off at the school during our school day, including food items.
Forgot mask-we have extra!
Forgot water bottle-we have extra!
Forgot homework-it can wait until tomorrow!
New: Technology Office Hours
Second Nine Weeks Learning Model Selection
For families who selected Distance Learning for the first nine weeks, and would like to change the learning model for the second nine weeks, may do so beginning on Sunday, Sept. 20. The window will close on Sunday, Sept. 27 at midnight. Please watch for district communication.
The second nine weeks begins on Monday, October 19, 2020.
Campus Improvement Team - We need you!!
If you are interested in serving on this very important committee, please fill out the appropriate form below and return to Shirley Labiosa at shirley.labiosa@springbranchisd.com. You can also drop it off in the front office. Forms are due by September 17th. We will hold the lottery on September 18th.
Please reach out to Mrs. Barry with any questions!
From Advanced Academics:
Should I refer my child for gifted and talented services?
A community awareness and informational ZOOM meeting will provide parents with information about Spring Branch ISD Gifted and Talented (GT) services and the characteristics of GT students.
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 6:00–7:30 pm
Zoom info:
https://zoom.us/j/97790839388?pwd=d0s5ZWNWWkRxbmdwVGpOc2FzeUpHdz09
Meeting ID: 977 9083 9388
Passcode: SBISDGT
Please note that you are not required to attend this meeting to refer your child for GT evaluation. For questions, please contact kristin.graham@springbranchisd.com.
Kids Heart Challenge
“Calling All Secret Agents – tune into Health Fitness time next week when we receive our First Top Secret Mission from Kids Heart Challenge! We can’t wait for MWE students to receive their instructions and begin completing missions to fight heart disease. The American Heart Association is in a tough battle protecting hearts from disease, and COVID-19 has complicated things. Be sure to join Health Fitness on Monday & Tuesday, Sept 21st & 22nd for all the details!”
Look for an email from Coach Hollmann with TOP SECRET details about the KHC Mission Experience. Get a head-start by signing up on heart.org/KHC or download the FREE Kids Heart Challenge APP.
iKids Meet and Greet
From iKids:
Dear Meadow Wood Parents,
We would like to invite you for a virtual Meet & Greet and Q&A with iKids! The iKids team has been diligently working throughout COVID since May undergoing specific training to remain Covid-Compliant and serve our school. With all of the uncertainties in 2020, we want after-care and enrichment not to be one of them! Join the iKids Team: Wednesday, September 16th at 9:30am CDT via Zoom to learn the ways iKids supports Meadow Wood and your family. Please find the Zoom link below.
In the meantime, feel free to visit the iKids website www.ikidsinc.com or contact iKids (713-665-5200 or support@ikidsinc.com) for more information.
Join the iKids Parent Meet&Greet Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8595383662?pwd=TnV3dHVLNDA4WnpQeEpjeThWMVBnUT09
Meeting ID: 859 538 3662
Passcode: 4OoGEp
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Virtual Author Visit
MWE One-pager (General Information)
LearnSBISD
A Message from the President:
Dear MWE family,
We hope everyone had a great last week, whether you were starting face-to-face instruction or continuing virtual instruction. Many thanks to all of our amazing teachers, staff, and administrators for all of their hard work and flexibility!
I would like to invite you, if you haven't already, to join our PTA! Your dollars go to various programs and events at MWE that provide all sorts of fun and enrichment for our students, from Hands on Science to International Festival. You can go log on to MTK and join. While you are there, we would also appreciate you donating to our Eagle Excellence Fund if you could. This is our fall fundraiser and is a check-writing and donation campaign where every dollar goes directly to our school, no strings attached! We thank you all for your support and generosity.
Next up, please join us for our first schoo-lwide PTA meeting this Wednesday, September 16th at 9 am. This will be a virtual meeting, see below for the message with that Zoom link!
Thank you all for all that you do to support our students and teachers!
Take Care,
Catie Winegar
First PTA Meeting of the Year THIS WEEK!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://springbranchisd.zoom.us/j/99217222714?pwd=SUtMRGJ2S3VpOVV4S3dmUk5IZjFIdz09
Meeting ID: 992 1722 2714
Passcode: 778580
Spartanaire Spaghetti Supper
There is no need to worry about cooking dinner on Thursday, October 1 as the Stratford
Spartanaires and BB Italia have you covered. Supper will be a “Grab and Go” spaghetti
dinner that can be picked up in the east parking lot off of Tully at Stratford from 4:00 to
6:30. All proceeds from the supper support the Stratford Spartanaires. Tickets are $10 and
they can be purchased at www.supportingspartanaires.weebly.com. Deadline to purchase
tickets is Sunday, September 27. We look forward to serving you!
Playground Update
The following is an update for the Meadow Wood ES Playground Project from the SBISD Facilities and Grounds Department.
- Rock installation took place Tuesday and Wednesday of this week and has been completed.
- All grading and final dirt work will be completed by this weekend
- The fall surface was delivered and the installation was started. It will take 4-5 days to complete (weather permitting). Note, that after installation, the fall surface will need 24-48 hours to cure
- Remove the fencing and make sure site is cleaned up, occurring around September 22 (weather permitting).
- This puts the project completion at around September 23 (weather permitting).
- The adjustment/slippage in the completion date is due to inclement weather, which occurred over the last few days.
Join the PTA Today!
Your PTA dollars connect you to the organization and the school and helps make programs, events, and other student/teacher support possible.
Joining is easy! You can download the Membership Toolkit app on your device, or go to https://meadowwoodpta.membershiptoolkit.com and sign up. Thank you for your support!
Create a Membership Toolkit account
You must complete this if you would like to be included in the online directory. There will not be a printed directory.
https://meadowwoodpta.membershiptoolkit.com/login
This will allow you to access:
1. PTA Membership Forms
2. Student Directory
3. Spirit Wear Sales
4. Volunteer Opportunities and Signups
5. PTA Communication
6. Eagle Excellence Family Donation Forms
7. Birthday Marquee Message Purchase
8. Yearbook Order forms
9. … and more!
If you are a returning family and/or already have an account, please log into your account and update your contact information as well as your student(s) current year teacher.Eagle Excellence Fund
EAGLE EXCELLENCE FUND
CHECK WRITING CAMPAIGN 2020
Have you been wishing for a fundraiser that donates 100% back to Meadow Wood Elementary?
● 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.
Since this year is going to be a little different we are adjusting the budget as needed for this unconventional school year. Here are some things your support could go towards:
✔ Staff Appreciation
✔ Spirit Wear T-shirt for each student at MWE
✔ Playground Ground Equipment for MWE
✔ Faculty and Staff support
The easiest and fastest way to donate is when you sign up for your PTA membership under our new Membership Tool https://meadowwoodpta.membershiptoolkit.com. After setting up an account, please visit Eagle Excellence Fund where you can select your contribution amount. If you have any questions please contact Jenny Trahan at (713) 248-3665 or JennyRTrahan@gmail.
Yearbooks!
Superintendent's Message - For Distance Learning Families
Dear Families of Distance Learners,
As we complete our third week of school, I hope that it was a great and fruitful week of learning. This week also marked the return of in-person learners, for those families who chose it. We saw students excitedly return to campuses and do a great job following our health and safety protocols. It warms my heart to know our students are receiving the great educational experience they deserve - whether in person or online.
Each Friday, you will receive an email to update you on any important news for the coming week(s). There is also a webpage that will always contain the most up-to-date information for and about distance learning. Check out the page here. The link is also available on every campus website.
Updates & Important Reminders
No-Cost meals
Beginning Sept. 8 and continuing until Dec. 31 (or until further notice by USDA), the District will provide meals at no cost to all students in SBISD. For more info on Grab & Go Meal Service and proof of enrollment criteria, click here.
Learning model selection deadline
Families who selected Distance Learning for the first nine weeks and would like to change to the in-person learning model for the second nine weeks may do so beginning on Sunday, Sept. 20. The window will close on Sunday, Sept. 27, at midnight. Please watch for more district communication. The second nine weeks begins on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020.
Check for weekly updates
Be sure to check the SBISD Distance Learners webpage each week for updates, reminders and quick links to forms, resources and documents. Updates will be made at the end of each week for the week ahead. The page can also be accessed from the homepage of the SBISD website as well as the homepage of your campus site.
SBISD COVID-19 Dashboard
The SBISD COVID-19 Dashboard provides a summary of active, test-confirmed COVID-19 cases involving SBISD students and staff members as reported to the District. Totals reflect those participating in any on-campus activity. For more information associated with SBISD’s health and safety protocols regarding COVID-19, including isolation, quarantine, and reporting, please refer to the District’s LearnSBISD plan (beginning on page 83).
The dashboard can be found here or on the SBISD Health & Safety webpage by clicking the ‘Active COVID-19 Cases’ button. Data will be updated regularly based on reported information.
We must all work together
As we move forward, I want to reiterate the importance of each and every member of the SBISD Family (Distance and In-Person!) working together to protect each other, our campuses and our community. I encourage that as you go out in public, continue wearing your masks and practice physical distancing, good hygiene and hand washing. I know you will rise to the occasion to set an example for others.
I also ask you to keep in mind the importance of kindness and respecting the privacy of our fellow students, staff and families. We trust in and are counting on all families and staff to be honest in reporting COVID-19 related test-positive cases and exposures. This is imperative to keeping our schools open and safe!
I look forward to seeing this unique year be an extraordinary school year for all!
With appreciation,
Jennifer Blaine, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Superintendent's Message - For In-person Families
Dear Families of In-Person Learners,
A new school year is always exciting, but this week’s return to in-person instruction was a unique one! This week, months of work and planning by the SBISD team culminated in welcoming over 17,000 students back to our campuses and into our classrooms. We also continued great distance learning instruction for families who chose this option.
Thank you to each and every student and parent/guardian who did a great job following our health and safety protocols this week. Your cooperation in ensuring we continue to be as safe as possible is critical.
Each Friday, you will receive an email to update you on any important news or safety protocol changes for the coming week(s). There is also a webpage that will always contain the most up-to-date information for and about in-person learning. Check out the page here. The link is also available on every campus website.
UPDATES & IMPORTANT REMINDERS
SBISD COVID-19 Dashboard
The SBISD COVID-19 Dashboard provides a summary of active, test-confirmed COVID-19 cases involving SBISD students and staff members as reported to the District. Totals reflect those participating in any on-campus activity. For more information associated with SBISD’s health and safety protocols regarding COVID-19, including isolation, quarantine, and reporting, please refer to the District’s LearnSBISD plan (beginning on page 83).
The dashboard can be found here or on the SBISD Health & Safety webpage by clicking the ‘Active COVID-19 Cases’ button. Data will be updated regularly based on reported information.
Daily Health Screener
The SBISD Health Screener must be completed prior to attending school each day. It can be accessed via the district website (there is a blue box on the homepage titled ‘HEALTH SCREENER’ or by clicking here.) For your convenience, the login page also features quick walkthrough videos on how to login, complete the screener and how to save the page to your phone’s home screen.
Parents, it is critical that you report to your child's school if your child has tested positive or has had prolonged (15 or more minutes) direct exposure to someone who is COVID-19 positive or displaying symptoms of COVID-19. Please complete the health screener and report to your school attendance office or nurse immediately. Please be sure to provide your contact information including a daytime telephone number where you can be reached.
Complete Your Forms
Be sure that you have completed all required forms via Skyward Family Access. If you have problems accessing the forms or have specific questions regarding any required forms, please contact your child’s campus.
No-Cost Meals
Beginning Sept. 8 and continuing until Dec. 31 (or until further notice by USDA), the District will provide meals at no cost to all students in SBISD. For in-person learners, the only change is that students will no longer be required to present a district ID badge when receiving breakfast or lunch.
Learning Model Selection Deadline
Families who selected In-Person Learning for the first nine weeks and would like to change to the distance learning model for the second nine weeks may do so beginning on Sunday, Sept. 20. The window will close on Sunday, Sept. 27, at midnight. Please watch for more district communication. The second nine weeks begins on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020.
Check for Weekly Updates
Be sure to check the SBISD In-Person Learners webpage each week for updates, reminders and quick links to forms, resources and documents. Updates will be made at the end of each week for the week ahead. The page can also be accessed from the homepage of the SBISD website as well as the homepage of your campus site.
We Must All Work Together
As we successfully move past the first week of in-person learning and on to the rest of the school year, I want to reiterate the importance of each and every member of the SBISD Family working together to protect each other, our campuses and our community. From completing the daily health screener and wearing your masks, to practicing physical distancing, good hygiene and hand washing, I know you will rise to the occasion to set an example for others.
I also ask you to keep in mind the importance of kindness and respecting the privacy of our fellow students, staff and families. We trust in and are counting on all families and staff to be honest in reporting COVID-19 related test-positive cases and exposures. This is imperative to keeping our schools open and safe.
I look forward to seeing this unique year be an extraordinary school year for all!
With appreciation,
Jennifer Blaine, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools