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Dent Dolphin Details

Family Issue #18

Dent Dolphin DetailsFamily Issue #18

A Week: 1/6-10/2025

Greetings LMDES Families,


Happy New Year! We hope the winter break provided many opportunities for creating special memories, time with loved ones, and fun and laughter.


As we transition back to school this week, teachers and staff will provide opportunities for our students to review and practice our schoolwide expectations. Ask your child how they can be respectful, responsible, and ready in each area of our school (including the bus)!


We are all excited to welcome our students back to school tomorrow. It will be a Dynamite Day to be a Dolphin!


Kindly,

Mrs. Lindsay G. Brenfleck, Principal

Mr. Joseph D. Farrell, Assistant Principal

📄 In This Issue 📄

Attendance Matters!

December Average Daily Attendance (ADA) Update

Congratulations to 2nd grade (primary PK-2) and 5th grade (intermediate 3-5) who won the monthly attendance challenge by having the highest Average Daily Attendance (ADA) throughout the month of December.


MSDE expects our Average Daily Attendance (ADA) to be 94% or higher. LMDES fell below that goal in December with an ADA of 91.37%. Our Aug-Dec ADA is 92.89%.


Please make regular school attendance a priority as we strive to reach an ADA of 94%!


When you're well, be here before the bell!

Link: Absence Reporting Form
If your child needs to miss school, you must report the absence. Complete the linked form OR email ldbattenfield@smcps.org with the reason for the absence.

Notable Dates

  • Mon, Jan 6 - Schools Reopen
  • Tues, Jan 7 - Final Due Date for Letters of Support
  • Wed, Jan 15 - Classic Group Photos
  • Fri, Jan 17 - Last day of Marking Period 2
  • Mon, Jan 20 - No School, MLK Jr Day
  • Jan 16-27 - PTA Boosterthon
  • Tues, Jan 28 - Report Card Distribution
  • Fri, Jan 31 - Professional Day; No School for Students


Movement Mondays:

Wear athletic gear!


Fridays are School Spirit Days:

Wear Red & Gray or an LMDES Shirt!

LMDES TOY & ESPY Winners

Mrs. Emily Repenning

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2024-2025

LMDES

Teacher of the Year

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Recommendation Letters

.............................................

Would you or your student like to write a letter of support for either of our LMDES nominees for the SMCPS titles?


If so, please write and submit it to lgbrenfleck@smcps.org

by 5:00 pm on Monday, January 6.


Thank you!

Mrs. Kelly Moody

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2024-2025

LMDES

Educational Support Professional

of the Year (ESPY)

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Model UN Opportunity for 5th Graders

Abby Sparks, the Public Coordinator for SMAMUN (St. Mary’s County Association of Model United Nations), asked us to share this opportunity with our 5th grade students and families.



The SMAMUN hold an annual conference for grades 5-12 to represent a country and embody diplomacy. It's an amazing experience for our students!


The conference is 2/7-2/8 at Leonardtown High School. Registration closes January 24th. We hope to have some LMDES representatives at the conference!


Follow the link to the conference website.

Flags for 1st Graders Program

The Southern Maryland American Legion presented the "Flags for 1st Graders" on December 12. Students learned about the origination of our country's flag and received a stick flag and block, presidential ruler, and "Our Country's Flag" book.


Thank you, American Legion!

PTA News & Information

PTA Boosterthon

Save the Dates!

The LMDES PTA Boosterthon runs from Thursday, January 16 - Monday, January 27, 2023.


The Fun Run is Monday, January 27.


Look for more information in early January!

Check our Nutrislice Webpage to:


  • View Helpful nutrition info
  • Download our FREE mobile app!
  • Print menus
Meal Benefit Application
Children need healthy meals to learn. SMCPS offers healthy meals every school day.
Breakfast costs $1.75; lunch costs $3.00.
Your student may qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Please complete the meal benefit application.
My School Bucks
SMCPS families may pay for school meals with MySchoolBucks! View balances and purchases, schedule automatic payments, receive notifications when your student's meal balance is low, and make payments on the go with the mobile app.
Food Services Updates
What's New With School Meals?

Helpful Information Worth Repeating

LMDES School-Wide Expectations

Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary is a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) School.


We encourage you to ask your child about "Dolphin Dollars" and our LMDES Schoolwide Expectations!

Bus Safety & Expectations

Please take a few moments to view the video below and review the Student Rules for Transportation with your student(s). Student safety on the bus is the shared responsibility of students, parents, bus drivers, and the school.


Regularly reviewing bus expectations with your student will help ensure a safe ride to and from school each day. Riding the bus is a privilege; it takes all of us to safely transport our students each day. Thank you for your support!

SMCPS Policies and Guidelines

Box Tops for Education App

Download the Box Tops for Education app, scan your receipts, and earn cash for our school!


Thank you for your support!

Technology Information

LMDES_SMCPS Student Laptop Expectations
Please review the laptop expectations with your student.

Digital Citizenship Resources

Join us in promoting a healthy, positive approach to technology use!



Please consider sharing these social emotional learning and digital citizenship conversation starters in the car, at the table or at another time you can have a connection to learn more about your child and guide them to the best version of themselves:

Sharing time with your student discussing such important thing can lead to a calmer, more confident child.
Link: Directions to Receive Text Alerts
Stay up to date on events, closings, and alerts from LMDES and SMCPS.

Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary

Mrs. Lindsay G. Brenfleck, Principal

Mr. Joseph D. Farrell, Assistant Principal


We welcome your questions and inquiries. Please call 301-472-4500, refer to the SMCPS Website, or our LMDES website for additional information.


Website: https://lmdes.smcps.org/

Twitter X: @lmdes_smcps


Phone: 301-472-4500

LMDES School Vision
LMDES strives to create a nurturing and inclusive community where every student thrives socially, emotionally, and academically. We prioritize strong relationships among all stakeholders, open communication, and meeting students' diverse needs. We aim to develop well-rounded, future-ready learners who embrace lifelong learning and contribute positively to our community.