White Marsh Elementary School

The Bears had a busy week celebrating Red Ribbon Week. Thanks for your support!

This week, there is no school on Tuesday. Schools are closed for Election Day.

Report Cards will be distributed on Wednesday. Running Club will also meet after school for those students in Grades 3-5 that have signed up. Pickup is at 4:20 with a photo ID. There is also a PTA meeting on Wednesday. All are invited to join virtually or in person at 6:30 pm.

Friday, November 8 is a 2 hr. Early Dismissal. White Marsh will dismiss at 1:45 pm.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Principal Steele

Report Cards will be distributed on Wednesday. Please take time to review both the Standards Based Report Card and the Comment Sheet. It is an excellent way to be updated on your child's progress in the first marking period of school. It is not too late to schedule a conference with your child's teacher if you have not done so already.

Please continue to support your student with their learning as the year progresses. The rigor of instruction will increase as the year goes on. Student attendance weighs heavily on student progress, and is also one of the measurements for our School Report Card from Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Currently, student attendance for White Marsh is very concerning. At the end of the first marking period, 19% of our students meet the criteria for Chronic Absenteeism, missing 10% or more of instructional days. While we know that some absences are unavoidable, many students have absences marked as unlawful. Our students need to be here to benefit from the high quality instruction that our teachers provide. Please reach out to Nurse Parrish with any health related questions.

Attendance information for your student is available for you to view on Home Access Center. Contact the Main Office if you need access information.

This week, we will have the Bear Crawl for those students with Perfect Attendance (Bell to Bell) in October! Students will get to crawl like bears and ROAR down our hallways! Please be sure to check your students' attendance on HAC. If they have an absence that you feel should be excused to allow them participation in this event, email Principal Steele with the date(s) and the reason for the absence by 3 pm on Monday, November 4.

On November 14, 2024, Frank Kros will present, Wonder Words: Using the Power of Language to Help Kids Learn and Thrive from 6 pm- 8 pm at the Forrest Career & Technology Center, Dohrman A. The workshop is free but registration is required via email to partnersforsucess@smcps.org

Online Federal Impact Aid Forms are now available through the Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online Impact Aid 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 Federal Impact Aid Survey forms is Friday, November 15, 2024.

Nov 5 Election Day, No School for Students

Nov 6 Running Club, Gr 3-5, Pick up at 4:20

Nov 6 PTA Meeting, 6:30

Nov 6 Report Cards Distributed

Nov 8 2 hr. Early Dismissal

Nov 11 Veterans Day, No School for Students

Nov 13 Running Club, Gr 3-5, Pick up at 4:20

Nov 18 PTA Fundraiser- Ledo Pizza

Nov 19 All County Elementary Honor Chorus Concert, 7 pm at LHS

Nov 27 - 29 Thanksgiving Break

A Week: Wednesday and Friday

B Week: Wednesday and Thursday

Students should bring their instruments and supplies with them on Wednesday. It's not expected for students to have all supplies and materials the first week or two of instruction. Students who are interested in renting an instrument from WMES will be notified if an instrument is available to rent from the school.

In order to participate, Band and Strings students must have their supplies!

Click Here for Band Supplies

Click Here for Strings Supplies

Our staff is also impacted by new guidelines regarding the use of cell phones during instruction. Please know that if you reach out to teachers during the day via Class Dojo or email they may not receive the message until after dismissal. For changes to your student's dismissal procedures, or other important messages, please call the Main Office.

Here Comes the Bus®

Available to parents of students riding SMCPS School Buses

• View the real-time location of your child’s bus
• Access the app from your smartphone, tablet or computer
• Receive push notifications or email alerts
• Send your child to the bus stop at just the right time, every time

How to get started:

1. Download the Here Comes the Bus app* or visit herecomesthebus.com
2. Click the Sign Up button
3. Enter school code (86563) and click “Next” followed by “Confirm”
4. Complete the “User Profile” box
5. Under “My Students,” click “Add.” Enter your child’s last name and student ID number
6. Once you confirm your information, you’re ready to begin using Here Comes the Bus!

All absences count towards a child's school attendance, including both lawful and unlawful. Remember, students missing 1 day will miss 7 hours of instruction. We need the Bears here all day, every day. See the Student Handbook for more information on absences. Feel free to reach out to Nurse Parrish if student health concerns/questions arise.

You will receive a weekly Smore newsletter from Principal Steele on Sunday evenings. The newsletter will be sent to the email we have on file in the Main Office. Newsletters are also posted on our website. Please be sure to be familiar with the information in each newsletter; current information is kept at the top, and review information is posted under the "General Reminders" section.

In addition to the School Newsletter, your child's classroom teacher will communicate with you on a regular basis. You are invited to sign up for the Class Dojo.

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!

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.

A copy of the current School Supply List can be found on our school website. Feel free to have students bring their school supplies to Open House so that they don't have to carry them on the bus the first day of school.

As a reminder, returning students should have their devices (and charger) at home. Students in Grades 3-5 will transport their device to and from school daily. Students in Grades 1 and 2, wait for information from your teacher about bringing your device to school. This device is checked out to your student, and families may be responsible for replacing the device if damaged or lost.

For more information including replacement fees, see the SMCPS Student Device and Resource Accountability document.

Please note- when signing out a student from school you will be asked to present your photo ID every time.

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.

Julia Steele, Principal

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