Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff,
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We are happy to welcome MHS parents and caregivers to the new MHS PTA this year. You can hear from PTAC President Tessie Thomas, MHS PTA Co-Presidents Amy Uhlfelder and Veronica Harris and Principal Jeffrey Freeman in our latest podcast. It is a joy to have parents actively engaged in their children’s school activities. Together we make a difference!
Acadience Webinar for Parents and Caregivers
On Tues., Nov. 16, 7-8:30 PM there is an Acadience Reading Webinar for all parents and caregivers in the district. Acadience Reading is a standardized, universal screening assessment whose measures are quick and easy to administer and most importantly, aid in the identification of students in need of intervention in the area of reading. Learn more about the presentation and how to log on to the Webinar.
MFEE Donates
At our Board Meeting on Nov. 10, MFEE generously presented the district with a $30,000 check for touchscreen computers to be used in conjunction with the Acadience program. We are so grateful for our partnership with the MFEE and its support and fundraising efforts that fuel staff innovation in meeting district goals.
Vaccination Information for Children ages 5 – 11
In partnership with the PTAC, the district will be hosting a workshop about childhood vaccinations on Thurs., Nov. 18 at 7 PM at the Charles H. Bullock School library with Dr. Chris T. Pernell of University Medical Center, Newark, NJ. Dr. Pernell will also answer questions. See flyer. An additional workshop is being planned for Tues., Dec. 7. Details to follow.
Board Meetings/Technology and ECI Update
We have received inquiries about how and where to find information or presentations on our website that have been given at Board meetings. Agendas are posted prior to a BOE meeting; Presentations can be found a day or two after a meeting under Board of Education – Board Reports. If you missed the Board meeting on Nov. 10, please see our Technology report. We are thrilled with our 1:1 initiative and keep moving ahead with infrastructure updates that are poised to maximize technology’s educational benefits for anywhere, anytime learning. The Equity, Curriculum and Instruction Department (ECI) also reported on its goals. ECI is focused on providing a robust, inclusive curriculum that ensures equitable instruction for all students.
Also at the meeting, the Board began a new format for public comment which is in compliance with Board Policy 0167. Public comment will now be heard twice. At the beginning of the meeting directly following the Superintendent’s Report, MEA, PTAC, SEPAC, MFEE and Board Committee Reports, the public will be asked to speak about AGENDA items only. At the end of the meeting, following Board business, the public can again speak on NON-AGENDA items. To speak at a Board Meeting, one can sign up on the agenda sheet or non-agenda sheet placed on the table in the Annex Atrium. The sign-up sheets are available from approximately 6 PM until the start of the first public comment session.
MHS School of Visual and Performing Arts (SVPA)
SVPA’s first showcase, A Night on the Red Carpet, debuts this weekend. Performances are scheduled for Nov. 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7:30 PM and on Nov. 21 at 3 PM in the Little Theater of the George Inness Annex. About 90 students and staff have been working hard to coordinate all aspects of production from stage performers, tech crew, pit band, and more. Hope you have time to enjoy the show. Please visit seatyourself.biz/montclairschoolarts for tickets and COVID guidelines.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jonathan Ponds
Superintendent