MVES Weekly News

Ms. Westbrook's Weekly Newsletter

August 20, 2026

MVES community members who are not guardians will not receive ParentSquare messages.

These community members will need to check this Weekly News Google Site or school website https://mves.hallco.org/ each Thursday for our school updates.

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

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,

Beginning of the year MAP assessments went well this week, and makeups will be available for students who were absent.

Our Jr. Trojans have been visiting the Learning Commons with their classes with Mrs. Ruis, Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Grant. Students are beginning to check out books and will continue doing so throughout the year. Students in K-5th grade have reading time each day at MVES. Please make sure your child also has time to read at least 20 minutes each day outside of school. In addition, it is wonderful for parents to read with their children and for children to see their parents enjoying reading. Grade level teachers will be sharing information regarding recommended homework that will support your child's learning. Please mark your calendar for Curriculum Night on September 10th where families will learn more about their child's grade level expectations and learning opportunities.

Thank you for helping our morning and afternoon car rider line move efficiently each day.

Our SROs and district safety officer have asked us to share these reminders:

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.
For morning drop-off, please have your child 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 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.
Please have students load/unload from the PASSENGER SIDE if possible. This saves time and is safer than having students cross between cars.

To pick up a student in the afternoon car rider line, you must have the student's current car rider tag. Dismissal begins at 2:20 and ends at 2:45. Up to 4 car rider tags are available to parent/guardians with photo ID between 8:00-1:30 and 2:45-3:30. Other FAQ about car riders are included below.

Don't forget: MVES class t-shirt orders are due tomorrow! Volunteer modules and applications for the new school year will be available beginning next week. The lunch visitor schedule begins in September. Below you will find the 1st quarter sign-up link along with a link to our homeroom lunch schedule. Lunch visitors must have ID and be listed on the student's IC approved contacts. Homeroom teachers will be sharing information with families about different volunteer opportunities in September. Please note that due to district guidelines, volunteer applications and modules will be required each school year.

I look forward to seeing our Jr. Trojans in their school colors each Friday. Next Friday, August 28th, will be a staff and student spirit hat day as we kick off the year with help from NHHS with our Trojan Way pep rally!

Go Trojans!

Jennifer Westbrook

Principal

Click here for the 26-27 Hall County Community Resource Guide

Click here to view the 26-27 HCSD Calendar

Click here to view the 26-27 MVES Handbook

MVES Parent Connection Calendar

Wear School Spirit Colors on Fridays

Important Dates to Remember:

August 21 - Class t-shirt orders due MVES Class T-Shirt Order Form
August 24 - Volunteer applications open
August 28 -
- Spirit hat day
- Musical applications due
September 4 - MVES K-5th grade "Families"
September 7 - Labor Day Holiday
September 8 - Lunch visitors begin (see info below)
September 8-11 - Book Fair
September 10 - Curriculum Night (2 sessions)
- Session 1: 5:45-6:15
- Session 2: 6:30-7:00
September 11 -
- 3rd-5th Grade Progress Reports
- K-5th Grade MAP Family Reports
September 16 - Fall Picture Day
September 28 - October 2 - Unicorns vs. Dragons (Childhood Cancer Awareness)
October 2 - Go Gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness

Click here for this month's breakfast and lunch menu

Due to increased costs, purchasing milk for lunch from home will be $1. Students should have money available in their MyPaymentsPlus account to purchase.

Save the Date for your 2026-27 Calendars:

September 10 - Curriculum Night
October 1 - Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) Night
November 11 - Veterans Day Walk & Breakfast
November 19 - 4th & 5th Grade Museum Night
February 18 - K & 3rd Grade Museum Night
March 11 - 1st & 2nd Grade Museum Night

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 (available beginning 8/24/26). The application will be available online and at the front office between 8:30-1:00 and 3:00-3:30. 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 8 - October 9

*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 8 - October 9.

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 $5.15 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!

Reminders from HCSD Transportation Dept:

Download My Ride K-12 for Apple iOS devices

Download My Ride K-12 for Android devices.

Nonresident students including HB251, Magnet and Tuition students, are not allowed to ride the bus to or from school unless it is a school day field trip experience. Nonresident families are required to provide transportation (car rider or MVES approved afternoon day care). Please contact the MVES front office with questions.

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 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.
Please have students load/unload from the PASSENGER SIDE if possible. This saves time and is safer than having students cross between cars.
Please pull up as far as possible in the car rider line. The unloading/loading area is the entire length of the sidewalk.
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.

We appreciate our 2026-27 MVES Partners in Education!

1st Response Roofing

American Family Homes

Anchor Real Estate Advisors

BGW Dental Group

Causey Orthodontics

Chattahoochee Group, Inc.

David B. and Gail Chester

Chick-Fil-A Gainesville

Choice Insulation & Fireplace

Dairy Queen

Dress Up

Fuller Mechanical

Holly Goodman Agency

Timothy and Jill Gorman

Ingles

J. Geyer

JBB Metalworks

Just $2

Koch Foods

Kroger

Lake Hartwell Chevrolet

Lanier HVAC Services

McGarity & Braham Law Firm

Milton Martin Toyota

Nath & Joy Morris

North Georgia IV & Wellness

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Pediatric Associates

The Perry Family

Salon Pure

Schlieman Wealth Management

Shoreline Transfer, Inc.

Signs by Tomorrow

Smith Hulsey Law

Sosebee and Britt Orthodontics

Southern Valve & Pump

Syfan Logistics

Tier 1 Garage Doors

Weaver Law Firm

T.S. Williams & Associates

Wilson Orthodontics

***IMPORTANT 2026-27 MVES PARENT ONLINE PAPERWORK***

These forms/links will take the place of some of your child's required August paperwork.

MVES Parent Signature Form

(26-27 MVES Handbook)

MVES Class T-Shirt Order Form (Gildan Softstyle)

*Additionally, parents should complete all HCSD forms for technology, census, etc. through the Parent Portal IC account (SEE PARENT PORTAL DIRECTIONS BELOW).