Otter Families!

Weekly Attendance Rate Check: 94.98% attendance rate for the SY. As a reminder, the state of Maryland expects schools to maintain at least a 94% attendance rate for the school year. Over the past couple of weeks, our attendance rate has been decreasing.

This SMORE will cover two weeks of the school year. The upcoming week (11/13 - 11/17 - A Week) and Thanksgiving week (11/20 - 11/24 - B Week).

Tuesday, 11/14, is the last day to complete the Federal Impact Aid form. All needed links can be found below.

As a reminder, students are considered late to school if they arrive after 9:15 a.m. We have PreK transfer buses arriving from MES and DES after 9:15 and that is why adults have been outside in the mornings. If your child is arriving by car after 9:15 a.m., you will need to park in the parking lot and walk your child into the building to sign them in.

"Otterly" Yours,

Mrs. Anderson

Our schools are heavily impacted by federally connected students – those parents/guardians who work on federal property in Maryland, live on federal property in Maryland, and/or are active duty military personnel. Because of this impact, we receive federal grant funds to operate and maintain our schools and enrich school programs. To receive these funds, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) requires us to survey each student to determine eligibility. SMCPS is encouraging all parents/guardians to please take the time to access and complete the Impact Aid Survey Form online, located in the Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. The form can now be accessed in Spanish by clicking on the Globe in the top right-hand corner once the form has been started. The deadline for the online submission of Impact Aid Program Survey forms is November 14, 2023.

The office will be open Monday - Friday from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

WEDNESDAY, 11/22: SCHOOL ACCESS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Dear Families,

We are thankful for you!

As we prepare to take time off from school Wednesday, November 22nd - Friday, November 24th for the Thanksgiving break, we are grateful for everyone who has helped to restore a routine for showing up to school while supporting students and families.

Daily routines are essential for reducing stress and creating a sense of security for students and adults.

Please take steps to keep your child healthy and send them to school unless they are truly sick. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect to peers and their teachers.

We thank:

· Our students and their families who do their best to show up to class every day even when it isn’t easy.

· Our teachers who have gone above and beyond to help make school a welcoming learning environment where students can thrive.

· Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.

May these upcoming days off next week be restful and healing.

● If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to Mrs. Curtis (School Counselor) and Hannah Pratz (School Nurse) for help.

● We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes on Monday, November 27th.

Thank you for partnering with us!

All SMCPS laptops come with the same responsibility of care and upkeep as any other loaned resources. Textbooks, novels, laptops and chargers can incur a debt if lost or damaged. Please refer to the student accountability newsletter that has been added to our weekly school newsletters.

All parent(s)/guardian(s) must complete an Acceptable Use Policy each school year. Click HERE to complete the Google form. School staff will be in touch with all families to complete the form throughout the month of August and September.

Effective communication is critical to the success of St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS). This will be crucial not only for emergencies but for our ability to communicate with families in general. Online Emergency Information Update Forms are now available through the student’s Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. It is vital that all information is updated in eSchool. The deadline for the online submission of Emergency Information Update forms is November 14, 2023. Please click here for the Blank Emergency Form. If you have any questions, please contact Tiffany Shreve at tkshreve@smcps.org.

Bus 505 will permanently change to Bus 532. The driver and route will remain the same.

There are so many fantastic things happening in our efforts to support SMCPS students with disabilities. Please use this survey to share your praise, story, or news about successes in your school or department!

This survey is generated and reviewed by the SMCPS Department of Special Education.

A WEEK

Monday, 11/13

8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

• Honey Baked Ham orders are due!
• ES All County Honor Chorus All Day Rehearsal

Tuesday, 11/14

8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

• ES All County Honor Chorus Concert @LHS, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 11/15

8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Thursday, 11/16

8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Friday, 11/17

8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

• Community Gathering
• PTA Movie Night @5:30 pm

B WEEK

Monday, 11/20

8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

• PTA Red Robin Spirit Night

Tuesday, 11/21

8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

• PTA Honey Baked Ham Pick-Up from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Popsicles and Extra Recess for PAWSitivie Office Referrals @3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 11/22

• No School for Students and 10 and 11 Month Employees. School Access by Appointment Only.

Thursday, 11/23

• All SMCPS Schools and Offices Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Friday, 11/24

• All SMCPS Schools and Offices Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Hello OES Otter Family,

I am Hannah Pratz, and I am so excited to be returning to the OES family this school year! I have been a school nurse for 24 years and have loved every minute! I love what I do and my door is always open! Don't hesitate to pop in the health suite or cut through!

See you all soon!

We are looking forward to a great school year!

President: Beth Johnson Hill

Vice President: Stefanie Wines

Treasurer: Kim Burroughs

Secretary: Megan Russell

One community committed to the learning and safety of all children.

Community is important to us. We strive to have the words "goal-oriented", "fun", "inclusive", and "thriving" used to describe our community. We believe that children learn and adults work best in an environment where they feel respected and safe. We are focused on four areas in our development of community: 1) Cultivating respectful, supportive relationships among students, teachers, and parents, 2) Emphasizing common purposes and ideals, 3) Providing opportunities for service and cooperation, and 4) Providing opportunities for independence and influence.

Email: lpdietz@smcps.org
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/oes/
Location: 26410 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 373-4365
Facebook: facebook.com/smcps.org
Twitter: @OES_smcps

Fall School Yearbook Pictures

Tentatively scheduled for September 26th

Retakes are tentatively scheduled for November 8th

More information will be provided as the dates draw closer.