White Marsh Elementary School

It will be another busy week at White Marsh!

This week, the Book Fair continues, and will close on Wednesday. It is also Bus Driver Appreciation Week. Please take a moment to thank a bus driver for getting our Bears to and from school safely each day!

On Monday, the Book Fair will be open for parents from 4:30 to 6 pm. Please visit and check out the wonderful selection of books for our students to enjoy! Entry and exit to the Book Fair will be by the side Media door, on the front of our building.

Tuesday is Dress For Success Day! This is a fun day enjoyed by many of our students. Our Bears and Teacher Bears are encouraged to dress nicely for school on this day. Some studies have shown improvement in student achievement and confidence when they dress for success! On Tuesday afternoon, there will be a WMES Site Based Volunteer Training at 3 pm. Any parent wishing to volunteer or chaperone a field trip this year must attend this training annually prior to working with students.

On Wednesday, Running Club will meet for this first time this year. This is an after school club for those students in Grades 3-5 who have signed up already. Please pick up your student promptly at 4:20 with a photo ID. Parents should meet at the gate on the playground side of the building.

Our PTA's Boo Thru is on Thursday! This Family Fun Night will take place from 5 - 6:30 pm; see the flier below. It promises to be a fun filled event!

Finally, Friday marks the end of the first marking period. It is also the Kindergarten trip to the Pumpkin Farm!

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Principal Steele

Can you believe it- we are almost at the end of the first marking period! The last day of the marking period is Friday, October 25, 2024. Now is a good time to check with your child's teacher to confirm that they do not have any missing assignments. It is also a good time to conference with teachers, to see how your student is doing with the demands of his/her current grade level.

White Marsh will recognize Red Ribbon week with a Spirit Week- coming soon! See below for our theme days!

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 October 31st, 2024. Please click here for the Blank Emergency Form. If you have any questions, please contact The Department of Student Services at 301-475-5511 ext.32150.

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

A Week: Wednesday and Friday

B Week: Wednesday and Thursday

Oct 28 - Nov 1 Red Ribbon Week/Spirit Week

Oct 30 Character Tea

Oct 30 Running Club, Gr 3-5, Pick up at 4:20

Oct 31 Parents- Emergency Information Forms are Due to SMCPS

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

Please join us at MBMS on Friday, October 25th from 5-7 PM for our Track n Treat Fall Fundraising Event! This year, we will have face painting, pumpkin painting, Halloween-themed games, trick or treating, costume contests, a food truck, and our 5K race! It is just $5 for kids (3 and under free) and no cost for adults if you have kids with you. If adults want to participate in the 5K, it is a $10 entry. Kids also gain automatic entry into the race with their $5 fee. Please direct any questions toward Patrick James (ptjames@smcps.org) or Summer Wood (smwood@smcps.org). Use this link to sign up through MySchoolbucks. Put on your best costume and come join the festivities!

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.

Now is the best time to submit an application for Free and Reduced Meals. Remember- these applications must be submitted every year.

Information- Meal Benefit Information

Online Meal Benefit Application

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