Montgomery Virtual Academy K-5 News
Week of November 29, 2021
A Note from the Dean's Desk
Greetings Montgomery Virtual Academy Voyagers!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I want to thank everyone who took a moment last week to send one or more staff members a "Grateful Gram"! Your messages of gratitude really brightened everyone's spirits and helped our staff feel appreciated. If you didn't get a chance to send one, it's not too late! https://forms.gle/htXiWjWhThneo5MJA
For many, Thanksgiving kicks off the start of a busy winter holiday season. It is a time to celebrate many wonderful traditions, connect with family and friends, and enter into a season of giving. It is also a great opportunity to promote cultural awareness and teach our children about the diversity of holiday traditions around the world. Families interested in exploring this topic with their children may enjoy reading some books together. This book list from Teaching for Change has some great ideas to consider!
https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/early-childhood/holidays/
And since Hanukkah begins tonight at sundown, I also want to take a moment to wish a very Happy Hanukkah to all those who celebrate! May all eight nights be festive and full of light and love!
Mrs. Cassandra Heifetz
Dean
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Daily: Semester 1 Materials pick-up from 8 AM- 3:30 PM daily- No appointment needed
- November 30: Deadline for Grade 3 and up to change password
- December 1: Deadline to request a return to in-person learning on December 13
- December 7: Save the date! MVA Parent Information & Update Meeting
- December 10: Deadline to request a return to in-person learning on January 3
- January 10: Deadline to request a return to in-person learning on January 25
Requesting to Return to In-Person Learning from the Montgomery Virtual Academy On or Before Marking Period 3
The following message was emailed to all families on Friday, November 19.
The purpose of this message is to communicate the process to request to return to in-person for Marking Period 3. Additionally, now that vaccines are becoming more available, we are aware there are some students who may wish to return prior to Marking Period 3 which begins in late January. While we hope families will choose to stay with us until the end of the year, we recognize there are many reasons you may want to have your child attend in-person learning.
There are three possible dates to return to in-person learning between now and Marking Period 3.
December 13, 2021 (Interims)
January 3, 2022 (following Winter Break)
January 25, 2022 (start of Marking Period 3/Semester 2)
To provide us notice of your intent to transfer, and to ensure we can provide a smooth transition for your child, please complete this survey by the deadlines indicated below so that we can coordinate with your child’s school.
https://forms.gle/VfJb6X7KSojAJbvh6
- To return on December 13, 2021 complete the form by December 1, 2021
- To return on January 3, 2022 complete the form by December 10, 2021
- To return on January 25, 2022 complete the form by January 10, 2022
Following completion of the form, notification emails will be sent to the school and confirmation emails will be sent to you.
Saturday School Open House-December 2
This is a great opportunity for parents to learn more about the programs including Grade-level tutoring for Pre-K - 5 and more! Click on the Eventbrite link below to register and you will receive the virtual zoom link in the confirmation email.
ACTION NEEDED: November 30 is the New Deadline to Change Passwords for Grade 3 and Up
To minimize potential disruption, the deadline for students to change their password in Grade 3 and above has been extended to November 30.
Starting this school year, students in Grades 3 and above are responsible for annually changing their passwords. For students who do not update by Nov. 30, passwords will be automatically changed by the system. To prevent disruptions we would like to get all Virtual Academy students to reset their password before this deadline. Students will not be able to login or access Zoom if they do not reset their password. The single password change will update students’ mcpsmd.org and mcpsmd.net accounts.
Here’s how students can change their password:
- Navigate to SPM.mcpsmd.org
- Log in to SPM with their current user ID and password
- Enter a new password
For technical support, the Community Help Desk mailbox at communitytechsupport@mcpsmd.org.
Student passwords must be changed at least once every year. Students will receive several notices to do so through their Google.net accounts.
The support guide for students is here and linked from the button below.
MEALS
Families can now pre-order meals using the same link each week. (Please see below.) The link will open on Mondays and will close temporarily over the weekend so that the data can be accessed by our Food Services partners. Please note the form is not managed or maintained by the Virtual Academy.
These kits will provide 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 7 Suppers and 7 Snacks. These kits will be distributed every Friday from 11:00am - 1:00pm at most locations (see the form for details).
The kits need to be reserved by Friday 12:00 p.m. one week in advance to ensure availability.
Confirmation of order will be sent via email.
Questions regarding meal kits can be sent to the meals drop box:
DFNSMealKitOrders@mcpsmd.orgWe are so grateful to our partners in Food Services!
Parent Volunteers
There are a few steps to complete before beginning your service as a volunteer in the Virtual Academy.
- Complete the MCPS Volunteers in the Virtual Classroom form.
- Complete the mandatory online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training.
- Contact an administrator, counselor, or your child's teacher and provide the following:
- Your completed MCPS Volunteers in the Virtual Classroom Form and
- Your online course grade sheet that will show 100% for completing the online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training and an 83.3% for submission of the vaccine attestation (a total of 183.33%).
More details and support guides are available at: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/student-leadership/volunteer.aspx
Technology Support for Virtual Academy Families
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
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
ENSURING STUDENT SAFETY – PERSONAL BODY SAFETY LESSONS
MCPS implements Personal Body Safety Lessons (PBSLs) with grade-level, age-appropriate content for students in every grade from Pre-K to 12. These lessons were developed with input from national stakeholders and County partners, and are designed to empower students to recognize and report suspected cases of abuse without fear of reprisal. The Chief of the State’s Attorney’s Office—Special Victims Division has commended MCPS on the PBSLs and shared publicly that these lessons are making a difference in children reporting incidents of abuse and neglect. In addition, embedded in the MCPS elementary and secondary health curriculum are age-appropriate lessons on safety and injury prevention, family life and human sexuality, cyberbullying and social media, healthy relationships, harassment and intimidation.
Lessons will be provided by the Virtual Academy School Counselors during students´ extensions class schedule one day during the month of December. Please see attached letters about Personal Body Safety Lessons.
- Learn more about MCPS efforts to Prevent, Recognize and Report Child Abuse and Neglect
- Parent Elementary Personal Body Safety Lessons Overview and Resources
- MCPS Webpage Overview (contains PBSL Curriculum Information by Grade Level)
CaringMatters Grief Support Upcoming Family Night
Registration is open for the next Virtual Family Night for grieving families on Thursday December 9th at 6pm.
We know holidays are particularly challenging for grieving families and Family Nights are helpful in supporting them as the holidays approach. Our next Family Night is connected with the winter holidays and special days. Registration deadline is December 3rd.
See linked flyers for details:
Podcasts for Parents
Notes from the Backpack: A PTA Podcast
Social Media & Cyberbullying
From the cyberbullying risks to dangerous social media challenges, many parents feel terrified when their child enters the world of social media. How can families have proactive discussions about navigating the online world responsibly? Dr. Sameer Hinduja, director of the Cyberbullying Research Center joins the show to share practical tips and respond to some of your most commonly asked questions!
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
COVID-19 Vaccinations for Ages 5-11:
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/children.html
Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center:
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/gilchrist/
Food Giveaway Events this week:
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/get- help/food.html#events
Family And Friends Mental Health Support:
http://namimd.org/family__friend_support
Health Care for the Uninsured (English): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FoOQWe-GVr6ljzHjIxYRcl5VxtdBQCHN/view?usp=sharing
Health Care for the Uninsured (Spanish):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15Pss-kVuL1IDh7cG1o47PrF0ZWImn1GY/view?
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Find us at...
Email: Cassandra.Heifetz@mcpsmd.net
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/virtualacademy/
Location: 15 West Gude Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-6060
Twitter: @MVA_DeanHeifetz