Mustang Weekly!

Dear MHES Families and Staff,

We are excited about the week ahead at Meadow Hall Elementary School! We hope your family was able to participate in our first Mustang Moonlight Reading last night. Thank you for joining us as we continue to build a love of reading and strengthen our school community. Be sure to stay tuned for information about our next special guest reader!

As we prepare for a shorter school week, please remember that students will not have school this Friday as our teachers participate in District-Wide Professional Learning to strengthen their instructional practices and support student achievement.

We are also excited to invite all MHES families to our Annual PTA Movie Night this Thursday, October 15, from 6:30–8:30 p.m.! Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, hot cocoa, and family spirit as we gather on the playground for an evening of fun, fellowship, and community. Snacks will also be available for purchase. We are grateful to our PTA for sponsoring this wonderful event and creating opportunities for our families to connect beyond the school day.

Thank you in advance for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to a wonderful week filled with learning, connection, and Mustang pride!

Desmond Mackall

Principal

MHES

12 & 14- Adult ESL Classes

15- Health & Resource Fair

15- PTA Movie Night- 6:30 pm

16- No School For Students (Professional Day for staff)

21-English Conversation Class

23- MHES Fall Festival

30- Marking Period 1 Ends

Next week is Community School Wellness Trainer Appreciation Week!

Next week we aim to recognize the impact of our Wellness Trainer, Ms. Bailey! Whether it is supporting students during rocky morning arrivals, or providing an engaging wellness lesson inside of the classroom - you will always find Ms. Bailey working double time for our students! Please consider sending in a note and sharing what impact she has had on your student(s) or our community!!

Saturday School is FREE for Meadow Hall Students!

Thanks to Community School funds, our Mustangs can attend Saturday School completely free of charge this year! Unfortunately, siblings who attend other schools are no longer allowed to be registered using the same link. This was an unexpected change, and I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our families.

The closest location is right in our neighborhood at Rockville High school! Also new this year- they have a program for kindergarten students!! Saturday School is held most Saturday mornings 8:30-11. Breakfast is provided. I strongly encourage our families to utilize this resource!!

English Registration Link: https://saturdayschoolgbtla.wufoo.com/forms/z1fiwd9709he50a/

Enlace de Inscripción: https://saturdayschoolgbtla.wufoo.com/forms/z198vvga045zv1v/

French Lien d'Inscription:https://saturdayschoolgbtla.wufoo.com/forms/z1obyenj1eh27ca/

Parent Encouragement Program

The PEP Family Resiliency Program (FRP): is a free, 8-week virtual program that helps parents and caregivers of children ages 5–18 support their child's mental wellness, resiliency, and success in school.

Here is what to expect from PEP:

• Weekly tools plus peer support from other parents

• Classes in English, Spanish, or Amharic (each class is taught in one language, with no simultaneous translation)

• A $50 e-gift card for completing 5+ classes and the evaluation

• It is FREE

Classes begin the week of October 12. You can register here: tinyurl.com/PEP-mcps

Community Coffee

We had a great turnout at our Community Coffee last week! Thank you to Mrs. Kepler for the time and effort put into the presentation and hands-on math lesson for caregivers in our community.

In November, our coffee will highlight the importance of building partnerships between families and the school. We will cover the IEP/504 processes, and parent-teacher conferences. We will have a panel discussion that will include parents and staff. Community input will guide this conversation. Please send in your questions, comments, and experiences using this form: Community Questions for November Coffee

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

• Movie Night: October 15, 6:30–9:00 p.m.

• Movie Night Rain Date: October 23

• Wendy’s Dine Out: October 27th

• Fall Harvest Playdate & Parent Social: October 30, 4:30–6:30 p.m. — Calvin Park

Movie Night – October 16, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Bring the family for an outdoor movie night on October 16 at 6:30 p.m. We hope you can join us for a fun evening with the Meadow Hall community! More information coming soon.

Pizza order forms were in your student’s backpack, or you can also fill out an online order form here: https://forms.gle/4byCKfVF5qHiKDvb6.

Please sign up to volunteer or donate: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4FACA72AA4F8C52-58938326-2026#/

Wendy’s Dine Out: 808 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD. Come enjoy a meal while helping us celebrate our students’ achievements! Wendy’s will donate a percentage of all sales to support Meadow Hall’s 5th graders and their end-of-year celebrations.

More details to come soon.

SAVE THE DATE for Halloween Social

Join the PTA at Calvin Park on Friday, October 30, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. Join us for a fun Halloween gathering at Calvin Park. Connect with other Meadow Hall families and learn about ways to get involved, including joining a PTA committee. Children are encouraged to wear costumes! We will have treats for the whole family.

Come browse our selection of gently used costumes to try on and take home. Please drop off any costumes you would like to donate at the Meadow Hall office by 10/29 or bring them with you.

Date: Friday, October 30, 2026, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Location: Calvin Park, 1248 Gladstone Drive, Rockville, MD

JOIN THE PTA

Our PTA works because families and community members share their time, talents, ideas, and energy—and there are lots of ways to help.

We’re looking for volunteers for our 2026–27 committees, events, and activities. Whether you want to chair a committee, help with a single event, work behind the scenes, or simply lend a hand when you can, there’s a place for you.

Join online at https://www.mhespta.org/membership/join-the-pta

As part of Montgomery County Public Schools’ commitment to curriculum transparency and strong partnerships with families, we want to share information about the MCPS Refrigerator Curriculum.

The Refrigerator Curriculum provides families with an easy-to-read overview of the major themes and texts students may encounter during each marking period. It is designed to help parents and guardians stay informed about what their children are learning in school and to support conversations between families and teachers.

Under MCPS Regulation IFD-RA, Curriculum Transparency and Requests to Be Excused from Instruction, parents and guardians may review core instructional materials used in their child’s classroom. The regulation also provides a process for parents/guardians to request that their child be excused from instruction involving a specific core instructional material that substantially interferes with a sincerely held religious belief. If a request is approved, an alternative instructional material or assignment will be provided in a non-punitive manner.We encourage families to review the Refrigerator Curriculum materials for the current marking period. All of the Refrigerator Curriculum documents are available [here].

Families who have questions about specific instructional materials are encouraged to first reach out to their child’s teacher or school administration. Additional information about the Refrigerator Curriculum and the request process is also available through the MCPS curriculum website.

Thank you for partnering with us to stay informed about your child’s learning and supporting a respectful, inclusive learning environment for all of our students.

1. Sign Up For ParentVUE to Stay in Touch With Your School
   Families new to MCPS are encouraged to sign up for a ParentVUE account at the beginning of the school year. ParentVUE is the online parent portal that serves as the primary communication vehicle for schools to share information regarding grades, attendance, scheduling, access to myMCPS Classroom, and more.
   ParentVUE provides a way to view school-related information and data for students. Register for athletics, and special programs, communicate with teachers, and verify your student information annually.
   ParentVUE also allows access to Canvas/MyMCPSClassroom, a digital learning platform. Parents and guardians can view instructional information and resources, and get alerts about assignments and grades.

2. Sign up for Alert MCPS
   Alert MCPS provides emergency information about school closures or emergencies via text or email messages to devices you register. Sign up here.

3. Know These Important System Resources A. GoFan: This online digital ticketing platform offers fast and easy access to tickets for high school events, and allows fans to enter games quickly and safely. For ticketed sports, tickets are no longer sold at the gate and must be purchased online. B. SchoolCash Online: https://www.schoolcashonline.com MCPS has transitioned to this online payment system as its preferred method of payment for all school-related fees. Schools and offices will now use SchoolCash Online for fundraising, field trips, course fees and extracurricular activities. This new payment system is not related to school cafeteria accounts.

1. MySchoolBucks:Use MySchoolBucks to add school meal money to your child’s account. This will eliminate the need for your child to bring money to school every day. This year, meals (lunch and breakfast) will not be universally free. If your student wants to buy lunch in school, they will need a MySchoolBucks account. Families who believe they qualify for free and reduced-price meals can apply here.

Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, MCPS is expanding its “away all day” Personal Mobile Device (PMD) expectations to students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. This means students may bring a personal device to school, but it must remain turned off or put away and unused from the first bell through the dismissal bell. (This includes smartwatches away in in backpacks)

This change is part of MCPS’s effort to reduce distractions, support student learning and engagement, and promote students’ health, safety, and well-being. MCPS is implementing the policy this year to give students, families, and staff time to adjust before Maryland’s statewide phone-free school requirement takes effect in the 2027–2028 school year.

What counts as a Personal Mobile Device?

PMDs include cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, iPads, personal laptops, e-readers, smart glasses (including Meta glasses), video-recording devices, smartwatches, and other personal devices capable of sending or receiving voice, video, or text. This also includes devices with cameras, microphones, speakers, headphones, or earbuds such as AirPods. School-issued devices are not included.

What does “Bell-to-Bell” mean?

The Academic Day begins with the first bell and ends with the dismissal bell. Students may not use personal devices during:

• Classroom instruction
• Lunch and recess
• Passing periods
• Hallways and restroom breaks
• Other parts of the school day between the first and dismissal bells

Students may use personal devices before the school day begins and after the school day officially ends, following school procedures.

What happens if my child has a PMD out and in use during the school day?

We understand that adjusting to the new expectations may take some time. Our goal is to provide students with clear reminders and consistent expectations as we implement the No Cell Bell-to-Bell policy.

• First time: If a student is seen using a personal PMD during the school day, they will be prompted to put the device away in their backpack.
• Second time in the same day: If the device is seen again, the teacher will confiscate the device and send it to the main office (Administration Office).
• Parent/Guardian pickup: A parent or guardian will be required to pick up the device from the main office.

We appreciate families partnering with us to help students understand and follow these expectations. Our goal is to minimize distractions and ensure that all students can remain focused, engaged, and connected to their learning throughout the school day.

How Can Families Help?

We ask families to help us make this transition successful by:

• Talking with your child about the expectation that personal devices must remain put away during the school day.
• Contacting the MHES main office rather than your child directly if you need to reach them during the school day.
• Waiting to respond to non-urgent texts or messages from your child until after the school day.
• Reminding students that staff may confiscate a device if it is being used in violation of the policy.
• Understanding that MCPS is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal devices.

Our goal is simple: students should be present, engaged, and connected to their learning and one another throughout the school day. We appreciate your partnership and support as we implement this important change for FY27. Questions, please visit the FAQ linked below.

MCPS Frequently Asked Questions Document-English (Spanish version will be posted)

We understand that travel plans and family commitments sometimes require extended trips overseas. However, we urge you to consider this policy change when making such plans. Please keep in mind that classroom teachers are NOT REQUIRED to provide extended leave homework assignments, as assignments will be closely tied to daily lessons. Nevertheless, teachers can offer guidance to families on ways to engage their children in learning activities if they choose to do so. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, please reach out to the administration.

We maintain open lines of communication with parents and community members throughout the school year. The phone number for the school is 240-740-5260. You may also email Mr. Mackall at Desmond_Mackall2@mcpsmd.org or Ms. Veronica Munoz at Veronica_E_Munoz@mcpsmd.org.

We can also be messaged instantly once you update your cell phone and email information in ParentVUE. You will have instant access through the ParentVUE app to contact any MHES staff member at any time. All staff emails are also available on the school website at

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/

(Note: We continue to update our website to reflect FY27 changes)

The administration expectation for all staff is to return calls within 24 business hours. If you choose to contact staff over the weekend please know that our expectation for them is to respond during school hours (weekday). We thank you in advance for your understanding!

Email: Desmond_Mackall2@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/
Phone: 240-740-5260

Instagram: @mhes_principal

Email: Veronica_E_Munoz@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/
Location: 951 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-5260

#mustangnation