White Marsh Elementary School

This week, on Tuesday, we will recognize those students selected for being Focused and Fair at the Character Tea. Congratulations!

The Robotics Club will meet on Wednesday. Students should be picked up at 4:30 at the Media Center door

Friday is a WMES Spirit Day! Students are encouraged to wear blue or their White Marsh clothing.

Have a great week!

Congratulations to the following students for being recognized!

Focused

Kindergarten: Raelynn M, Kori C

Grade 1: Nora S, Noa D

Grade 2: Brenna B, Savannah C

Grade 3: Mason R, Angelica T

Grade 4: Aubree C, Collette M

Grade 5: Nina M, Taliah D

Fair

Kindergarten: Townsend K, River F

Grade 1: Asher L, John L

Grade 2: Albert A, Caralee G

Grade 3: Kylen Q, Colt S

Grade 4: Gabe B, Maxwell F

Grade 5: Bennett B, Wyatt C

See the graph below for the Bears' attendance for January.

Thursday, March 7 is our Winter Concert! Our Kindergarten, First and Second grade students will perform at 10 am. Doors will open at 9:40; please walk around to the rear of the gym. The Bears are eager to perform for our families, and will be putting everyone in a joyful mood! Students not performing will be viewing the concert at an alternate time, and will not be permitted to leave class to attend with families.

Feb 14 Robotics Club; 3:45 - 4:30 pm

Feb 19 Presidents Day Holiday

Feb 21 Robotics Club; 3:45 - 4:30

Feb 22 All County Elementary Band/Strings Honor Concert- CHS

Feb 28 Battle of the Books, 3:45 - 4:30

Mar 1 Professional Day, No School for Students

Mar 5 Dress for Success Day!

Mar 6 PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm

Mar 7 Winter Concert (Kindergarten, First and Second Grade students), 10 am

March 8 WMES Site Based Volunteer Training, 9:30 am

Mar 11 - 15 PTA Penny Drive

Mar 21 Spring Pictures (Class Photos)

Mar 22 Virtual Instruction Day and 2 hr. Early Dismissal

Mar 25 - Apr 1 Spring Break

Band and Strings students are asked to bring their instruments to school every Wednesday! Sincerely, Mr. Guy

SMCPS is once again offering School-Based Counseling Support in the evening for SMCPS students. Counseling support focuses on the following areas: Healthy Relationships, Social Skills, Self-Esteem, Stress Management, Worry, Sadness, and Emotional Regulation. Services will be located at Margaret Brent Middle School and Greenview Knolls Elementary School on Tuesday evenings from 4-7:30 p.m. Please complete the Parent Contact Form for Evening Counseling to request services.

SMCPS has put together a list of commonly used resources so that families have a better understanding of what they are and how they are used in our schools. Take a look at the SMCPS Instructional Terms and Resources.

In order to volunteer and/or chaperone at WMES you must do the following annually:

1) register to be a SMCPS volunteer

2) attend a WMES Site Based Volunteer Training.

The SMCPS Volunteer information can be found on the WMES Family Links document, and the next WMES Site Based Volunteer Training can be found on the WMES website by accessing the calendar.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) is requesting your permission for your student to use the Internet and other computer resources in school. It is important that you and your student review this information. Click here to access The Acceptable Use Agreement.

Please remember that our school day begins at 9 am and ends at 3:45 pm. Early sign-outs and late arrivals contribute to missed instruction. In addition, students need to be present all day, every day, in order to participate in the Bear Crawl each month. Please support the importance of the academic day by only having your student miss school when absolutely necessary.

Be looking for a paper version of the WMES Family Handbook to come home the first week of school. In addition, we have created this electronic version of the WMES Family Handbook for you to view. It has important information about school policies and practices, including Volunteer Information, Breakfast and Lunches, School Celebrations, and more!

We have created a document for families with links to important system and school information. Check out this link and be sure to bookmark it! We will update it periodically so that you can have quick access to needed information.

• Student Laptops and Chargers

• Accountability Newsletter

• Print and Resource Accountability for SMCPS Students

From the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)-

Chronic Absenteeism: Students are chronically absent when absent 10% or more of the school days while enrolled at that school. For example, a student who is registered to attend a school for 30 days and who is absent 3 of those 30 days is considered chronically absent.

WMES will follow up with chronically absent students through the Pupil Services Team, Pupil Personnel Worker, and the Department of Student Services. In order to reduce the number of our students with Chronic Absenteeism, incentives to encourage good attendance include participation in the Bear Crawl, Running Club, and School Dance.

SMCPS Text Alerts are a great way to get information quickly. They are not sent often, and usually only in the event of an unexpected school delay or closure. On occasion, WMES will send a text alert about a late bus, substitute bus, or school event. Click the link for information about registering for text alerts.

Julia Steele, Principal

Email: jwsteele@smcps.org
Website: wmes.smcps.org
Location: 29090 Thompson Corner Road, Mechanicsville, MD, USA
Phone: (301)472-4600
Twitter: @wmes_smpcs