Medlock Bridge Mustang Message
We educate and inspire all students to be lifelong learners!
From the Principal's Desk
Medlock Bridge Community,
I am writing you from the labor and delivery room! My wife and I will likely welcome our second little girl sometime this week. Everyone is doing well so far. I will keep this message brief as I need to get back to my wife, but I will keep you posted! Once our child is born, I will take a few weeks of leave to care for my wife and daughters. Bill Thompson, a retired, veteran Fulton County principal, will act as principal in my absence. As always, our Assistant Principal Dr. Ingrid Parham will be available to you as well.
We are so very thankful for your incredible generosity during our Runapalooza fundraiser. We have raised more than $21,000 so far. These funds are essential to supporting student focused learning at MBES through upgraded instructional technology and flexible learning environments. We are so very grateful for the support of our community! The Runapalooza event on October 3rd is a wonderful blend of fitness and fun. We hope you join us!
We have been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 thru October 15) through our morning announcements and media lessons. As part of that celebration, we are looking forward to our first author’s visit this year. Carmen Agra Deedy, a Cuban born childrens’ author, will join us on September 25th. Her message focuses on the importance of knowing yourself and keeping your voice. It is a message that fits nicely with our 7 Mindsets message this week. You can hear her speak at a national literacy event here https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WLtvD99YftA
On Mindset Monday, students will explore more topics around the central theme of “Everything is Possible.” 3rd thru 5th grade students will “Embrace Creativity” and Kindergarten thru 2nd grade will discuss the importance of “Believ[ing] in Yourself.” Next week, students will “Think Positive” and develop an “I Can” mentality. We love Mindset Monday!
A few parents have recently requested clarification on attendance policy. Regular attendance is essential to the learning process. To maximize instructional opportunities, regular school attendance is expected. Students should be present every day unless illness or other extenuating circumstances exist.
The Georgia Board of Education lawfully excuses students for the following reasons: personal illness, death in the immediate family, religious holidays, and other educational days as pre-approved by the school principal.
The principal has, at his/her discretion, by Board Policy to further approve a maximum of six (6) days per student per school year in extenuating circumstances. Parents/guardians must notify the principal of their request in writing or email prior to the absence. Submission of parental/guardian request does not grant automatic approval. Typically I will respond to the email, acknowledge the request, and ask for a signed, written copy of the request. The parent will then see confirmation of the absence approval in Home Access Center. If there is an issue with the request, someone from the front office will notify the parent.
A student who is absent or tardy must bring a written excuse signed by the parent or guardian the day the student returns to school. Written excuses are kept on file at school.
Per Fulton County policy, emails and phone calls are not acceptable for excuse notes.
A student must be in attendance more than one half-day (11:10 a.m.) before he/she can be counted present during that day.
Parents will receive written notification of the accrual of 5 unexcused absences, 10 excused absences (at which point medical excuses will be required for all further absences), and 15 tardies.
Until next Mustang Message, be well Medlock Bridge Community!
Your Proud Principal,
Matt Vance
Important Dates
September 15 - October 15
Hispanic Heritage Month
Tuesday, September 25th
Author’s Visit From Carmen Agra Deedy
Thursday, September 27th
Picture Day
Spirit Night - Abbotts Grill
Tuesday, October 2nd
5th Grade Trip Parent Meeting - 7:45am - 8:15am
Wednesday, October 3rd
Runapalooza
Spirit Day - Students Wear Your Grade Level Shirt or Color!
Thursday, October 4th
No school for MBES students. Other Fulton County schools may be in session.
Friday, October 5th
Teacher Workday - No Students
Monday, October 8th
Columbus Day - No Students
Tuesday, November 6th
Changed to a Teacher Work Day in Fulton County. No school for students
Friday, March 8th
Changed to a regular school day in Fulton County. Was previously a teacher work day.
Picture Day is Coming
All Medlock Bridge students will be photographed on Thursday, September 27th. You should have received an envelope with the prices and the different picture packages. If you choose to purchase pictures on picture day you may send the money in the envelope with your child to school on picture day. If money is not received on picture day, you may order your portraits online at mylifetouch.com. Picture Day ID: AG208065Q0.
Curriculum matters
By Patty Neumeister, MBES CST
Email: neumeisterp@fultonschools.org
Website: https://mbescurriculumsupport.weebly.com/
Twitter: @mbescst
What’s all this “BASing” going on at MBES?
Part 3
What Has the 3rd Edition of the Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) Meant for Students and Teachers at Medlock Bridge?
This is a continuation of Parts 1 & 2 from the last two Mustang Messages.
A message from literacy leaders Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell about the BAS 3rd edition.
“We (also) created new comprehension conversation rubrics to more clearly define the criteria for each comprehension score. The new (guidelines and) rubric will enable teachers to sharpen their observation of students’ reading behaviors and strengthen the connection from assessment to instruction. With refinement comes reflection - reflect on your assessment analysis and observations, and engage in a discussion with colleagues to plan rich and comprehensive literacy experiences that meet learners where they are and bring them forward with intention and precision.”
So, what does this mean for the teachers and students at MBES?
At the beginning of the school year, Medlock teachers were trained in the new comprehension conversations and rubrics. The comprehension conversations and rubrics were refined by Fountas & Pinnell to provide for a more rigorous administration, analysis, and scoring of the BAS. Specifically, the comprehension questions were adjusted to more clearly determine students’ strengths and weakness when answering questions Within the Text (“Right There” questions requiring a lower depth of knowledge), Beyond the Text (showcasing a student’s ability to demonstrate higher order thinking by inferencing, making predictions, analyzing characters, for example), and About the Text (demonstrating a student’s ability to speak to the text itself – for example, author’s craft, genre, use of a certain writing style, and so forth).
For the students, the new BAS 3rd edition comprehension conversations resulted in a more clearly defined hurdle to clear before moving to the next level in the literacy continuum. Most student levels were found to be “overinflated” from the prior year and therefore many student levels naturally were adjusted down one or two levels this year. Students will now be expected to consistently answer more thought-provoking questions to move onto the next BAS level.
Going forward with BAS 3rd edition, MBES teachers will be able to more consistently and precisely assess students’ reading levels, strengths and weaknesses. The information gathered through BAS 3 testing will provide the valuable feedback needed to move each student along on their literacy path.
Thank you for supporting your child’s learning during these formative years. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to their teachers or me with any questions!
Best - Patty
Georgia Milestones Testing Books
Back by Popular Demand!
Georgia Coach Revised GSE Books
Parents continue to ask, “How do I prepare my child for the Georgia Milestones?
What can I do during the school year to review core subject skills taught in the classroom?
What resources may I use over the summer to keep my child’s skills fresh?”
In response to your questions and based on the popularity of the materials last year, we are once again offering the opportunity to purchase grade-specific Georgia Coach GSE Series published by Triumph Learning.
The Georgia Coach GSE Series books provide comprehensive instruction and ample practice on ALL key skills and concepts covered by the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE).
This offer is completely optional. Books are available in Reading/ELA and Math for Grades 3-5 and Science & Social Studies books for Grade 5.
To learn more, please visit the MBES CST website at: https://mbescurriculumsupport.weebly.com/
Books are $16 each including an answer guide
A printable order form is available on the MBES CST website or on the MBES website at http://school.fultonschools.org/es/medlockbridge/Pages/default.aspx .
Order forms must be returned by November 1st to be included in the order.
Books will be delivered in late November or early December.
Please see the Grades 3-5 Order Form for payment details.
Digital Citizenship Webinar
Become a Tech-Smart parent! Digital Citizenship is the ability to think critically, behave safely, and participate reasonably in the digital world.
Mrs. Fowler will be hosting a webinar for Digital Citizenship, and needs your help and questions! She will discuss the 9 elements of Digital Citizenship: Internet Safety, Self-Image and Identity, Information Literacy, Relationships and Communication, Digital Footprints and Reputation, Creative Credit and Copyright, Cyberbullying, and Privacy and Security. She wants parent input on what problems you’re facing in a digital world. For example, how you use the new Screen Time app built in the new iOs. See this article for more info. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/what-apples-new-ios-12-parental-controls-mean-for-you
Send all questions and comments to Mrs. Fowler at fowlerk@fultonschools.org
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is coming back to MBES. Science Olympiad is our competition STEM team and is open to all students in grades 3, 4, and 5. Please see the information below for details and due dates.
Are you ready for some FUN with Science?
Science Olympiad is coming to Medlock Bridge Elementary School!
This is how it works…
Medlock Bridge Elementary School will send 20 student scientists to the Fulton County Schools Science Olympiad in the spring. If our team qualifies, we will continue on to the State Science Olympiad Competition in May.
All 3rd 4th and 5th grade students are invited to try out for the Science Olympiad competition team. This includes experience with activities that will prepare our scientists to compete in county and state Science Olympiad events.
Training Sessions will be held on Tuesday-Thursday 7:10am -7:40 from October 9th through November 1st. Students will only come one morning per week with their grade level:
3rd grade will come on Tuesday, 4th grade on Wednesday, and 5th grade on Thursday
Except the week of October 22nd – 3rd grade will come on Friday 9/26. 4th and 5th will stay the same.
Results from the practice events, attendance at practice, and a written assessment will determine which students are asked to be on the competition team.
If you want to participate follow these steps:
1-Fill out an application- All applications are due on September 28th.
No exceptions will be made for late applications.
Mrs. Bellagamba will meet with all students who turn in an application before the practice sessions start to give information and answer any questions.
2-Come to the training sessions for your grade level starting in October.
Please contact Mrs. Bellagamba, Staff Science Olympiad Sponsor, if you have any questions bellagamba@fultonschools.org
Students should not arrive early for Science Olympiad. Students can come to school on the bus or parents can drop their students off in the carpool line. Please do not bring students to the office early – the office is not staffed to be responsible for students until the bell rings at 7:10
Science Olympiad Application
Science Olympiad- Student Scientist Information
Name: __________________________________Grade : ________________ Teacher________________________________________________________
Parent Email: ___________________________________________________
Parent Phone # ___________________________________________________
I understand that my student is required to attend the morning training sessions in order to be invited to join the MBES team.
If my student is selected for the MBES team, my student will be available to compete in the Fulton County Schools Competition which will be held on a Saturday.
If our team is selected at the Fulton County Competition, my student will be available to compete in the Georgia Science Olympiad Competition one Saturday in May.
I understand that I am responsible for transportation for all off-campus competitions.
I understand there will be a fee for purchasing a team t-shirt if my student is selected for the competition team.
The Science Olympiad is an extracurricular School Sponsored Event therefore the Fulton County Code of Conduct will be enforced. Students who violate the Fulton County Code of Conduct will be dismissed from training and be ineligible for competition.
Parent Signature ___________________________Date____________
Please return this completed application to Mrs. Bellagamba by September 28th.
Medlock Bridge Elementary School
Email: vancem@fultonschools.org
Website: http://school.fultonschools.org/es/medlockbridge/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 10215 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Johns Creek, GA, United States
Phone: 4702542980
Twitter: @MBESPrincipal