Family Update Issue #8

Recess - J.F. Cook Campus


Academics

NEW! MAP Testing - Next Three Weeks

SY22-23 Class Group Rotation

Events & Activities

Board Meeting Agenda - Sep 29

Communications, Information & Questions

NEW! Enhancing School-Families Communications

NEW! Spanish and English Academic Volunteers

Continue Being Ready for the New School Year

Health & Safety

Attention Drivers! Calle Ocho Campus

Attention Bikers! J.F. Cook Campus

School Services

Fees for Snacks and School Meals

Extended Day Program Reminders

Community Announcements

News From Padres - J.F. Cook Campus Parent/Caregiver Organized Group

News From Comunidad - Calle Ocho Campus Parent/Caregiver Organized Group

School Calendar and Upcoming Events

Family Handbook

SY22-23 School Calendar


ACADEMICS

NEW! MAP Testing
Next Three Weeks

In the next three weeks, all students from Kinder through 5th grades will take the Measures of Academic Progress assessment (MAP). MAP is an assessment to measure their Math, English, and Spanish growth and proficiency.

Our instructional staff uses this as one data point to help inform instruction for all students. Click on the images to enlarge.

SY22-23 Class Group Rotation

Class Rotations are only for 1st through 4th grades. Click here: SY22-23 Class Group Rotation


EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

This Week - Board Meeting
Sep 29, 6:30-8:30pm

The Mundo Verde Board of Directors will be holding a regular Board Meeting on Thursday, September 29. All regular and special board meetings are open to the public, providing the opportunity for stakeholders to observe board operations. The meeting will take place virtually from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

The topics for this meeting are as follows:

  • Finance & Calle Ocho Facilities Discussion and Vote

  • Report on School Year Launch (from school/campus leaders)

For questions related to the meeting, email board@mundoverdepcs.org.


COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION & QUESTIONS

NEW! Enhancing School-Families Communications

It is exciting to announce we are starting to use ParentSquare as the new platform for communications between the school and parents/caregivers! ParentSquare provides a simple and safe way for everyone at school to connect. Check your ParentSquare account and see if you received this Family Update Issue #8. Let the school know your account is working, and ‘appreciate’ the post by clicking the heart icon.

If you have not activated your ParentSquare account, please do so using this QR code.

Click here to read everything you need to know to GET STARTED WITH PARENTSQUARE (English / Spanish) from activating your account to training resources, tips, and support.

Our team wants to acknowledge that while everyone (teachers, staff, parents, caregivers) is likely eager to use ParentSquare, we will also all be learning how to use it. Teachers and families received access to the system last week and the team is testing the system for the next two weeks as part of Phase I.

NEW! Spanish and English Academic Volunteers

Volunteer parents and caregivers are crucial collaborators in creating and maintaining a school community that is welcoming, diverse, and inclusive of all; and serve as catalysts for the success not only of their child, but of each and every student in the school, and with this, the success of our school as a whole! 

This year, we are excited to open our classrooms to receive support from volunteer Spanish/English Academic Helpers! Academic Helpers are volunteer parents/caregivers that support students during the Personalized Learning Time (PLT) block.

If you are interested, please fill out this form. Feel free to reach out to your campus principal with any questions.

Note: Criteria and eligibility details are being finalized and will be shared soon.

Continue Being Ready for the New School Year

Our goal is for all families to be prepared for the start of the new school year. Please visit the Families Portal (password: crew) to find information about:

  • School Services (Extended day program, meals, uniforms, and Kids Ride Free Program)

  • School Communications (Weekly Family Updates, and letters from school leadership)

  • Health and Safety (Arrival & dismissal routines and Covid protocols)

  • Family Engagement (Engagement opportunities)

  • School Calendar

  • Policies and Handbooks

  • Directories and Forms


HEALTH & SAFETY

Attention Drivers! Calle Ocho Campus

As community members, we must show respect to our neighbors and observe signage. Community members have reported unsafe driving during arrival and dismissal. To keep our children safe as they walk across the street to enter school, please remember the following:

  • Pedestrians must use crosswalks either on 10th Street or on the corner of Varnum Street

  • Parking is NOT allowed at the Washington Jesuit School

  • No parking in the alleys

  • No 3-point turns in the middle of Varnum Street

  • No parking in staff parking spots. Please see attached the two parking lots available on 8th Street NE and Varnum Street. Please use both lots beside and behind the Biomedical building. See the visual attached.

Please review the Calle Ocho Campus Arrival and Dismissal Procedures.

Attention Bikers! J.F. Cook Campus

We ask families biking to the campus to dismount leading up to campus to prevent accidents. Use caution and always YIELD the right-of-way to pedestrians. 

Please utilize the bike racks that are provided located in front of the school on P Street and utilize the sidewalk to complete the drop-off and pick-up at the designated location.

Please review the J.F. Cook Campus Arrival and Dismissal Procedures.


SCHOOL SERVICES

Fees for Snacks and School Meals

In order to promote healthy eating habits, Mundo Verde provides a snack to all students in the classroom either before or after lunch. These provided snacks correlate with our wellness policy and ensure all students have access to healthy school snacks. These snacks are available to all students even if they bring their own, forget to pack, or would like to try the school snack.

Families who do not qualify for Free or Reduced Meals (FARM) are charged $20 a month per student. It is not too late to apply for FARM! If you need instructions on how to apply, please check the instructions on our website under school meal services.

A snack fee is added to your Infinite Campus parent portal account under “FEES”. Snack fees are shown on your account and are due on the 10th of each month. Students who participate in after school program receive an additional snack included in the program for no additional cost.

For all families who have children eating school lunches this school year, you will need to add funds to your account to pay for lunch.  Lunch costs the following at each campus:

  • J.F. Cook campus: $4.85 per lunch  ($24.25/week and $97/month on average)

  • Calle Ocho campus: $4.50 per lunch  ($22.50/week and $90/month on average)

Please click on the following link for instructions on how to add funds to your account: English / Spanish.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jack Leng, Senior Food Program Manager at meals@mundoverdepcs.org for assistance.

Extended Day Program Reminders

Programming

Unit 1 Program Schedule for Calle Ocho and J.F. Cook Campuses is available here:

Extended Day Program Payments

If you have not made your payment for September, click here to find the instructions on How to Pay for Extended Day.

Parents/caregivers experiencing temporary or unforeseen financial difficulties may request additional financial support by emailing invoice@mundoverdepcs.org.

Questions?


COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

News From Padres
J.F. Cook Campus Parent/Caregiver Organized Group

Padres Kick-Off Meetings and Free Dinner
Sept. 27 & 28

Padres leadership looks forward to a fun and productive year. We invite everyone to join us at our two kick-off events to learn about various ongoing efforts, help to set new priorities, get involved, and meet your fellow caregivers.

  • Tuesday, September 27 at 5:30pm IN PERSON at the J.F. Cook campus garden. Free dinner will be provided!

  • Wednesday, September 28 at 8:30pm ONLINE. Use this Zoom link.

Join Padres for a Washington Nationals Game, October 2
Both Campuses Are Invited!

As part of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Padres is organizing a fall outing to watch the Washington Nationals take on the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, October 2. Come celebrate Hispanic contributions to the sport of baseball, build community, and root for the Home Team! 

Sign-up in advance to guarantee your ticket. Details and pricing can be found here. Free seats are available for teachers, staff, and families that ticket cost is a hardship. Tickets will be distributed by email the Saturday before the game.


News From Comunidad
Calle Ocho Campus Parent/Caregiver Organized Group

Don’t miss the upcoming Comunidad meeting! September 26 8:00-9:30pm

Hope to see you on the first full Comunidad meeting of the 2022-23 school year, Monday, September 26, 8:00-9:30pm. Comunidad will be kicking off the year virtually but have lots of opportunities to engage in person throughout the year.

Join via Google Meet:  https://meet.google.com/rdm-nhek-kyb

Cafe con Comunidad, September 27 

Join Comunidad for coffee and pastries on the mulch area during drop off from 7:30-9:00am the morning of September 27. Come and chat about Comunidad, Hispanic Heritage Month activities, or just say “hi” and get to know other parents/caregivers.

Check Out the September 15 Edition of the Comunidad Update

Click here to read the Sept, 15 Comunidad Update for the latest information. You can also stay up to date via our website

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!

Hispanic Heritage Month is here, and Comunidad is ready to celebrate. Here are just some of the ways you can get involved over the next month in activities - and stay tuned for more as the month unfolds! 

  • Oct 14: Share Your Pride - Ask your children to share their interest in and love for Hispanic culture by dressing up for school in a way that represents it. This can be colors, flags, specific items or traditional clothing! 

  • Oct 21: Fiesta - We are all Comunidad, and as such everyone is cordially invited to come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Calle Ocho community in person on Friday, October 21 after pick-up. More details to come! (Note: this was originally scheduled for October 14 in some announcements. The date has changed.)


SY22-23 School Calendar


Family Handbook in English and Spanish

Upcoming Events:

  • Sep 29: Board Meeting

  • Oct 7: All Staff Professional Development / NO SCHOOL

  • Oct 10: Holiday, SCHOOL CLOSED