White Marsh Elementary School

We begin this week with a holiday on Monday, as we recognize Labor Day. Students will attend school Tuesday through Friday. We will have our first PTA meeting of the year on Wednesday evening at 6:30. Please join us in person in the Media Center (the exterior door to the Media Center will be open) or virtually (see the link below). All families are welcome to join!

-Mrs. Steele

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. This meeting will be in person in the Media Center, but a virtual option will be available if this is more convenient.

PTA Meeting Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 889 2175 4203

Passcode: sbgB5z

We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones at the PTA popsicle social, scheduled for September 14 at 6 pm. This free event is outdoors, and is allergy friendly.

Sep 5 Labor Day Holiday, No School for Students

Sep 7 PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm, Media Center (also offered virtually)

Sep 14 SpiritWear Sale Begins

Sep 19 Grade 4 to Elms

Sep 19 Cord and Myers to Sotterley

Sep 20 Wathen and Arnold to Sotterley

Sep 22 2 hr Early Dismissal

Sep 23 Professional Day, No School for Students

Oct 4 Fall Picture Day

Breakfast is available for our students, and is announced when they come into the building each morning. A reminder that breakfast is not free, unless your student is eligible for Free or Reduced Meals. The price of breakfast for Elementary students: $1.45; lunch is $2.75. Please discuss this with your student whether or not this is something you wish for them to purchase. Milk that does not come with meals is is 50 cents, and cannot be charged. Students must be eligible for Free or Reduced Meals, or have money on their account to purchase milk by itself.

School Meal Benefit Forms: School Year Meal Benefit forms for SY 2022-2023 are now available online! Easily fill out your new meal benefit form by visiting https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application on the www.smcps.org website. Families can request more information by contacting SMCPS' Food and Nutrition Services Office at 301.475.4256, Option 5, or via email at foodservice@smcps.org.

"My School Bucks" is a program that allows families to pay for lunches or other school payments via their computer or smartphone. To register for My School Bucks, click here.

Please be aware that lunch choices may change frequently, due to supply issues with certain items. We will do our best to notify you of any changes through Dojo.

You should have received the family Handbook in Wednesday Folders last week. Be sure to read it in its entirety, as it contains important information regarding WMES and SMCPS practices and policies.

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.

This year, we look forward to the return of the Bear Crawl! This event will be conducted monthly. All students with perfect attendance for the previous month may participate. They must have been present "Bell to Bell", with no late arrivals or early sign-outs. The Bears love roaring down our hallways to start their day!

We also hope to bring back the Running Club, and School Dance! Both activities are after school, and will require parent pick up. Limited spaces are available for each, so it will be important to be on the lookout for future information and return permission slips quickly. Student participation is related to good behavior and attendance.

Beginning this year all school volunteers must apply annually for approval. The School Volunteer Portal is now open for applications. The application process will begin on August 1 and end on May 1 of each school year. There is no application fee for school volunteers.

Our school's student attendance suffered greatly last year. Approximately 50% of our students had 10 or more absences, and this does not include Covid related absences. As you can imagine, missing school is not conducive to academic achievement. Our students need to be in the building all day, every day, so that they can receive the instruction our teachers provide. Please familiarize yourself with the SMCPS Attendance information, specifically lawful and unlawful absences. As necessary, WMES will follow up with excessive absences and chronically absent students with the Pupil Services Team, Pupil Personnel Worker, and the Department of Student Services.

Attendance Information: SMCPS Student Handbook

Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to and from school daily. Please have it marked with your student's name!

Schoology New Parent/Guardian Provisioning: New Schoology parent/guardian accounts will be created in the coming weeks. We hope to have accounts created and parents/guardians connected to their students in Schoology by Friday, September 2nd. Parents that have difficulty accessing their pre-existing accounts should contact schoology@smcps.org and include the student name and ID number for troubleshooting.

ALL students in SMCPS must have a completed Acceptable Use Agreement on file for School Year 2022-2023.

These are due by September 15th.

Elementary (PreK-5th) Link: https://bit.ly/22022-2023_Elementary_AUPForm

Click here for the electronic copy! Please review the handbook carefully. It contains much important school information, including Student Attendance, Transportation, and changes to the Personal Electronic Devices (cell phones) practices.

Student Resource Accountability: Students are responsible for the care and upkeep of all of their SMCPS assigned resources: print and technology. The student accountability document is also linked in this SMORE.

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.

Has your phone number changed? Has your daycare changed? Have you had a change to those people you have listed as emergency contacts? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, please call the Main Office (301.472.4600) to have those changes made in our system.

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