MVES Weekly News - 10/10/24

Ms. Westbrook's Weekly Newsletter

October 10, 2024

To keep up with the latest news and photos of your favorite Jr. Trojans, follow us on Twitter!

To receive school-wide text alerts for special events, text @hc-mves to 81010.

mves.hallco.org

SUBMIT A SAFETY TIP

To send an anonymous tip of a text or photo please send text to 678-865-6282.

To submit an anonymous tip over a phone line call 770-503-3232, or call your school principal.

For immediate threats please call 911 or complete the form below.

https://schoolsafety.hallco.org/submit-a-tip/

TO VIEW THE DISTRICT'S SAFETY WEBSITE: https://schoolsafety.hallco.org/

Dear Parents,

On Friday, we announced our 2025 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Kaitlin Smith, and our 2024-25 Classified Staff Impact Award Winner, Mrs. Teresa Barnett (pictured above). Mrs. Smith works with students and teachers in all grades as part of our special programs team, and Mrs. Barnett works with K-3rd grade students as part of our connections team. Congrats to Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Barnett!

Thank you for your participation in last week's PTO Pumpkin Picnic! Next week, we have another parent involvement opportunity for fathers and father-figures on Thursday for Watch DOGS Pizza Night. Please see below for more information and to RSVP.

Congrats to our September Readers and Students of the Month (pictured below)!

3rd, 4th and 5th graders who are interested in the Hall County Technology Competition should turn in forms by October 25. See below for more information.

Tomorrow is our next optional hat day (with $1 PBIS donation)! Hat day funds will go towards PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). Hats should be appropriate for school and follow our dress code expectations in the handbook.

I look forward to seeing our Jr. Trojans in their school spirit colors tomorrow as we join the North Hall cluster to celebrate (rescheduled) Homecoming 2024! Unfortunately, parents will not be able to watch the parade on the MVES campus due to space and student supervision. However, the parade (beginning at 9:30 a.m.) is open to the community on Mount Vernon and Jim Hood Roads between North Hall High School and Odum Smallwood Road.

You should receive your child's 1st quarter report card tomorrow. I hope your families enjoy Fall Break next week , October 14-16. We look forward to seeing our Jr. Trojans back on Thursday, October 17. Don't forget to RSVP for Watch DOGS Pizza Night below.

Go Trojans!

Jennifer Westbrook

Principal

Click here to view the 24-25 HCSD Calendar

Click here to view the 24-25 MVES Handbook

Wear School Spirit Colors on Fridays

Important Dates to Remember:

October 7-18 - Food Drive Challenge
October 11 -
- NHHS Homecoming Parade
- $1 Hat Day for PBIS
- 1st Quarter Report Cards
October 14-15 - Holiday for Students/Staff
October 16 - Teacher Workday (no school for students)
October 17 - 6:00 Watch DOGS Pizza Night
October 21-25 - Bus Driver Appreciation Week
October 28-November 1 - Sources of Strength Week
November 5 - Teacher Workday (no school for students)

Click here to RSVP for Watch DOGS Pizza Night!

IMPORTANT INFO FOR PARENTS OF 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS:

Georgia Milestones Individual Student Reports from spring '24 have finally populated in SLDS, following the public release of math scores. Please see THIS link for directions on how to locate these reports.

October MENU

Click here for information about the Hall County Technology Competition for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.

Congrats to our September Students of the Month! COMPASSION

Congrats to our September Readers of the Month!

Congrats to our September Teacher and Staff Member of the Month,

Mrs. Ann Harper and Mrs. Jennifer Vandiver!

Thanks to our partners at Sullivan and Schlieman Wealth Management for sponsoring this monthly recognition for our team!

The last day to purchase a 2024-25 MVES yearbook is February 28!

Frequently Asked Questions about Birthdays:

If you would like your child's class to celebrate his/her birthday at school, please communicate in advance with the teacher. Buying the class ice cream or sending in store-bought birthday treats (ex. cupcakes, donuts) can be planned ahead with the teacher. The teacher will distribute the treats at the appropriate time. We are unable to distribute invitations at school.

VISITORS & VOLUNTEERS:

Hall County Schools and MVES encourage family involvement in our schools. Parents will be invited to participate in special school and PTO events during and after school.
School visitors must have ID and be listed on the student's Infinite Campus approved contacts.
Visitors should not take/post pictures of other students.
A schedule for lunch visits will be available after Labor Day. Visitor seating will be scheduled on a limited basis due to space.
- no outside food will be permitted in the MVES cafeteria
- only 2 guests per student (unable to bring siblings from another grade)
- must have ID and be listed on IC approved contacts
- sit with their student at visitor tables
School and field trip volunteers must complete the HCSD application with volunteer modules through Checkmate. The application will be available online and at the front office beginning September 4 between 8:30-1:00 and 3:00-3:30.
2024-25 VOLUNTEER APPLICATION LINK:

https://campus.hallco.org/campus/checkMate/volunteerSignUp.jsp?appName=hall

Keyword for the volunteer modules: HallVolunteers

Due to district guidelines, volunteer applications and modules will be required each school year.

Following the first day of school, students arriving by car should come through the car rider line off Odum Smallwood Road. The front and front lower parking lots should only be used by buses and staff during arrival and dismissal times.
If you need to check out your child from school (we ask that you limit check-outs as much as possible), please notify the child's teacher and the front office staff in advance from a parent/guardian email address and call 770-983-1759 to confirm:
- missy.odom@hallco.org

AND

- marisa.chester@hallco.org

LUNCH VISITOR SCHEDULE (see *visitor guidelines above) - September 3 - October 11

*Volunteer applications are not required for lunch visitors.

Please review the available slots below, and click on the button to sign up.

Here is the link to the lunch visitor schedule for September 3 - October 11.

Here is the link to the lunch visitor schedule for October 17-December 20.

MVES is excited to welcome our parents/guardians for lunch with your students! ALL lunch visitors will be required to have a reservation due to very limited seating. Visitors are limited to signing up for only 1 time during the dates below. A new sign-up will be shared for the next dates following Fall Break.

For the safety of students, please note the following:

· For your child’s lunch visit, 1 or 2 adults (must have ID and be on student IC contact list) may join the same reservation (no school-age siblings; younger children should be in lap or stroller to help with limited seating).

· Siblings from other grade levels cannot be combined into the same reservation, but a parent can sign up 1 time during these dates for each child.

· Outside food will not be allowed to be brought into the MVES cafeteria (HCSD guideline).

· Lunch visitors will eat in the visitor seating area located outside the office, across from the learning commons.

· Lunch visitors will meet their child in the hall as his/her class goes to lunch and sign-out in the office after the lunch period ends (student will rejoin his/her class at the end of the lunch time).

· Visitors may purchase lunch in the cafeteria for $5.00 each (cash or check).

· Lunch visitors may have lunch with your child only. Other students cannot join your lunch visit.

Exact lunch times for each homeroom class may be viewed HERE.

Please contact our front office with questions. We look forward to seeing you at MVES!

Car Rider Reminders

For morning drop-off, please have your student gather belongings, water bottle, etc. so he/she is prepared to exit the car quickly with all belongings READY when your car arrives at the sidewalk for drop-off.
Please pull up as far as possible in the car rider line. The unloading/loading area is the entire length of the sidewalk.
Please have students load/unload from the PASSENGER SIDE if possible. This saves time and is safer than having students cross between cars.
Please remain in your car when unloading AND loading students. If you need to buckle students into car seats, please pull into the spaces next to the hill after you exit the loading area.
A current car rider tag is required for pick up in the car rider line.
Our campus (including the car rider line) is a drug free/tobacco free campus.
It is unsafe for children to hang out of car windows or stand up through the sun roof while in line.