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EMS Weekly Update

October 16, 2023

EMS WeeklyUpdateOctober 16, 2023
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Celebrate!

Congratulations to the following students for making the St. Mary’s County All-County Honor Orchestra:


Emmet H.

Isabelle A.

Kaily W.

Chloe D.

Hadley V.

Blessed D.

Erica L.

Laurell F.

Brynn K.

Keneth M.

Serenity R.

Important Information

Monday, October 16th, will be an A DAY.


Wear Orange for Unity Day on Wednesday, October 18th!


Friday, October 20th, will be a two-hour early dismissal for students.

Impact Aid Informaiton

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. Once the form has been started, the form can now be accessed in Spanish by clicking on the Globe in the top right-hand corner. The deadline for the online submission of Impact Aid Program Survey forms is November 14, 2023.

Online Emergency Information

Effective communication is critical to the success of St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS). This will be crucial for emergencies and 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. Please contact Charissa Shultz at crshultz@smcps.org with any questions.
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Picture Day is Coming!

Our Fall Picture Day will take place on Wednesday, October 25th. Flyers will be coming home with students on Tuesday, October 10th. You can skip the order form and Click Here to Pre-order. The online code is esperanza23.

After-school Activities

Monday - NJHS, Running Club, and Wiffle Ball Intramural

Tuesday - Symphonic Band, Field Hockey Intramural, Tennis Intramural, and Musical Callbacks

Wednesday -Jazz Band, Math Counts, Wiffle Ball Intramural, and Running Club

Thursday - Civil Air Patrol, Tennis Intramural, Field Hockey Intramural, and Musical Crew Interviews

Friday - None

Don't forget to your order your EMS Yearbook!

Career Advisor Corner

Please welcome Ms. Susan McGhee to EMS. She is our Career Advisor. Below is an update from her on her work so far.


During September, I introduced myself to the 6th graders in their homerooms. The students learned about the opportunity to use tools in NAVIANCE to discover things about themselves. In middle school, Naviance will help students discover preferences, explore careers, and plan for their future. Each 6th-grade student also participated in an activity to think about their preferences in work environments. We played “Would you rather?” with career-related choices. I will complete Naviance lessons and other activities with each grade level throughout the school year. I look forward to updating you!

Upcoming Events

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Red Ribbon Week October 23rd - 27th

We will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week from October 23rd through October 27th. Red Ribbon Week highlights the importance of living a drug-free life. It presents an opportunity for parents, educators, and communities to reinforce the drug-free messages they share with their children throughout the year. We will be celebrating with the following spirit days:


Monday - Don't be Caught Sleeping, Say No to Drugs: PJ Day (Must be school-appropriate. No blankets or stuffed animals).

Tuesday - Support Each Other to Say No to Drugs: Twin Day

Wednesday - Team Up Against Drugs: Jersey Day

Thursday - Turn Your Back to Drugs: Backwards Day

Friday - Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug-Free. Wear Red Day

Upcoming Dances

Event Information

8th Grade Dance

This dance will take place right after school for 8th-grade students ONLY; students must be picked up at 4:00 p.m. Parents will not need to come inside to pick up students. Students will be released to the parking lot at 4:00 p.m. to go home. The permission slip to attend the dance will be in the October 30th SMORE and available in the cafeteria starting Monday, October 30th. The cost to attend the dance is $5.00. Students must have their $5.00 and signed permission slip during homeroom on Friday, November 3rd, to get their dance wristband. No dance wristbands will be sold after homeroom, and no students can call home to get permission to attend the dance.

When?

Friday, Nov 3, 2023, 02:00 PM

Where?

Esperanza Middle School, Maple Road, Lexington Park, MD, USA

Save the Date: This year’s SMCPS STEAM Festival will be held on Saturday, October 28th, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds. Admission is free and open to the public. Wrap up the fall festival season with a day of learning, food trucks, and STEAM-related fun!

EMS Staff Member of the Month Nomination Form

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Link your Harris Teeter VIC Card!

If you shop at Harris Teeter, please link your VIC card online or tell your cashier during your checkout that you want to link to the Esperanza Middle School account. The account number is 4621. Once the account number is linked, every time you shop 5% of your Harris Teeter brand purchases will be contributed by Harris Teeter to the Esperanza account. It is that easy!

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SMCPS Student Mental Health & Wellness

Use this link to visit the SMCPS Student Mental Health & Wellness resource page.
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Student Lunch Accounts

Use this link to put money on your child's lunch account.
EMS Fundraisers SY24
As stated in our back-to-school letter, fundraisers throughout the school year will always be publicized in the SMORE before they occur. Please click the link above for the most up-to-date EMS Fundraiser information.
My School Bucks and the EMS Library in SMCPS
New for 2022, families have the option to pay for lost or damaged resources in My School Bucks. Resources include library books, laptops, chargers, textbooks, consumables, etc.