Dear Otter Community,

We had a GREAT Fun Run event on Friday morning! The weather was perfect and fun was had by all! Thank you to those that volunteered to be "lap markers" and put yourself between kids and their next lap! Also, thank you to everyone who came out to support us. It is always nice to have impromptu opportunities to interact and connect with families.

We are currently at almost $19,000 raised of our $20,000 goal. The donation platform will stay open until Wednesday to accept donations and hopefully get us to our goal.

I started my Tuesday message for students this week. I covered the topics listed below. I share this with you so that you can connect home to school and have conversations with your child about these things. Starting this week, I will be monitoring the group bathrooms throughout the week. If they are "LEGO" clean, they will earn a large Lego block. When all the group bathrooms have 3 large Lego blocks, the whole school earns 10 minutes of extra recess. "LEGO" clean means the floor is clear of debris, the toilets are flushed, the sinks are clear of debris, and the stall walls are clean.

• Cupcake Breathing
• Aligned with our implementation of Zones of Regulation
• It is a strategy that students can use quickly anywhere they are to help regulate their emotions so they are ready to focus and learn.
• Ask your child to share Cupcake breathing with you so they can teach you!
• Group Bathroom Expectations
• Do your business
• Keep it clean
• Wash your hands
• Go directly back to class
• School Bus Expectations
• Sit in your assigned seat
• STAY seated throughout the bus ride
• Use a voice loud enough to speak with your seat partner
• Use kind words and actions toward others

Monday is Picture Day! Envelopes with information on how to order pictures was sent home with students last week

Remember that this Thursday is an early release day. Students will be dismissed at 1:45 pm. Please arrange your schedule accordingly, especially for PreK and K students at the bus. Remember, an adult must be present at the bus stop to pick up PreK and K students from the bus. The bus driver will bring PreK and K students back to school if no one is at the bus stop. Parents will be contacted to arrange pick at the school immediately.

Otterly Yours,

Mrs. Anderson

5th grade students are seen here discussing with different classmates why they chose their source of energy. Students had to write a letter to a town council to provide a plan for a town to use either wind energy, sun energy, or water energy. They provided their plan and 3 reasons they felt it would work.

The office will be open Monday - Friday from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Please click on the links below to access public calendars.

Online Emergency Information Update Messaging: 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.

Oakville does not have a parent to serve as a member of the Educational Equity Citizens Advisory Committee (EECAC). SMCPS strives to have representation from each school. The next meeting is schedule for 9/17/2024 from 4:30 - 6:00. If you are interested in representing OES on this committee, please let me know and I will put you in touch with SMCPS representative.

The new Executive Board are parents from LHS, PPES, and GWCES. The committee focus is on school attendance.

Keep this list somewhere handy!

The online application process to apply for free and reduced meals for the 2024-2025 school year is open. Click HERE to access information about the process and the application.

Monday, September 16th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Fall Picture Day
• PTA Spirit Night at MOD Pizza

Tuesday, September 17th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

Wednesday, September 18th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Spirit Day - Color War Day - Wear class colors

Thursday, September 19th

9:00 am - 1:45 pm

• Two-Hour Early Release Day - Professional Responsibilities

Friday, September 20th

Professional Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

September 16th

October 28th - November 1st

St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) students use the Internet and other instructional computer resources in school. It is important that you and your student review this information each year. Within this policy is the Google Workspace for Education Additional Services Agreement. Students in grades PreK - 5th grade do not need to complete an AUP this school year. They will not be accessing additional services within Google Workspace for Education beyond the core features.

Now is a great time to find your laptop and charger. Please run all of the updates and make sure that it is working order. Chargers are to remain at home.

All SMCPS laptops come with the same responsibility of care and upkeep as any other loaned resources. Textbooks, novels, laptops and chargers can incur a debt if lost or damaged. Please refer to the student accountability newsletter that has been added to our weekly school newsletters.

Hello OES Otter Families,

I am Hannah Pratz, and I am so excited to be returning to the OES family this school year! I have been a school nurse for 25 years and have loved every minute! I love what I do and my door is always open! Don't hesitate to pop in the health suite or cut through!

All medications must be accompanied by an order before they can be given at school. We CANNOT give any medication without the medical order. Please contact me beginning on August 14th with any questions.

See you all soon!

FAQ for the start of the year:

When should I keep my child home from school?

• Fever >100.0, vomiting, diarrhea, or pink and crusty eyes
• Symptoms of COVID-19 like illness OR symptoms or an illness that do not resolve after home interventions
• Your child has been directed to quarantine by the local health department

One community committed to the learning and safety of all children.

Community is important to us. We strive to have the words "goal-oriented", "fun", "inclusive", and "thriving" used to describe our community. We believe that children learn and adults work best in an environment where they feel respected and safe. We are focused on four areas in our development of community: 1) Cultivating respectful, supportive relationships among students, teachers, and parents, 2) Emphasizing common purposes and ideals, 3) Providing opportunities for service and cooperation, and 4) Providing opportunities for independence and influence.

Email: lpanderson@smcps.org
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/oes/
Location: 26410 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 373-4365
Facebook: facebook.com/smcps.org