The Wolf Howl

Watkins Mill Families,

Happy New Year and Welcome Back to School!

I hope everyone is refreshed, rejuvenated and ready for an exciting second semester. As I look back at 2024, I am again reminded of the high level of dedication and effort that our staff, students and families, put forth to make Watkins Mill Elementary School the best it can be!

Readiness for potential virtual instruction on inclement weather days is a MUST. If you need an MCPS Chromebook for home use, you must complete the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDNdqO31soXKLffjcEzgVQ9C2Z2koPm6ifKm7-K77e44ZhAg/viewform.

Once the form is completed a Chromebook and charger will be sent home with your student for home use. Please complete the link now so we can all be prepared.

Additionally, safety remains our top priority. This is a friendly reminder that the staff is available from 8:40 – 9:00am to supervise student arrival. For safety reasons, you may not drop off your child before 8:40am. If your child arrives to school after 9:00 they are tardy and must be escorted by you into the building. You should then report to the office for a late pass.

Lastly, every Friday is Watkins Mill Pride Day. Get your spirit wear now so you can participate! Visit our online store at https://www.watkinsmillspiritwear.com/ There are over 80 available items and 12 different designs. Personalization is also available!

Have a wonderful January.

No School

Wednesday, January 1

Ledo Pizza Fundraiser

Tuesday, January 7

4pm-9pm

Family Market Day

Tuesday, January 14

4pm

Quarter 3 Virtual Bedtime Stories

Wednesday, January 22

7:00pm

https://tinyurl.com/363t9n3z

English Class Assessments (Option 1)

Thursday, January 23

6-8pm

English Class Assessments (Option 2)

Tuesday, January 28

9-11am

WMES is partnering with MCAEL to offer adult English classes to adult family members of WMES students this Winter! If you are interested in registering for the classes, please see the attached flyer for more information. Assessments are required for placement to determine levels, and all classes are in-person and free!

Virtual Bedtime Stories are back at WMES this year! Each quarter, we will have a Virtual Bedtime Stories event on Zoom to bring our school community together and celebrate the joy of reading! On Wednesday, January 22 starting at 7pm, join us online to listen to Mrs. Simon read a bedtime story! See attached flyer for more details. Here is the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/363t9n3z

Attendance matters! We are working hard to make sure we are coming to school on time each and every day at WMES! If your child is sick, please be sure to send in a note and report student absence form on our website.

Each day, the grade level with the highest percentage of students present (unexcused absences do not count) get to move forward in the race! The first grade level to reach the finish line gets a special reward!

Our next Family Market Day is on Tuesday, December 10 starting at 4:00pm. Please bring your own bags or boxes, all items will be distributed on a first come first serve basis. As a reminder, there is NO PARKING anywhere on school campus that is not in an available parking space.

Membership Form (English)

Membership Form (Spanish)

Families new to MCPS are encouraged to sign up for a ParentVUE account. ParentVUE is the online parent portal that serves as the primary communication vehicle for schools to share information regarding grades, attendance, scheduling, access to myMCPS Classroom and more.

ParentVUE Quick Guides: English / español

There is a new interactive menu platform for Montgomery County Public Schools breakfast and lunch menus. Students, caregivers, school staff, nurses, and community members will have digital access to menus and meal information. MealViewer will launch on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Portable document format (PDF) menus will remain available through December 2024. Starting January 1, 2025, PDF menus will no longer be available. WMES MealViewer: https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/WatkinsMillES

The Board of Education has approved the traditional and innovative school year calendars for the 2025-2026 school year.

Key Highlights:

• Student Transition Day Introduced: Scheduled for Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, this new non-instructional full day is designed to support students transitioning to new school levels or schools by fostering a sense of belonging and preparedness.

• Traditional Calendar Overview:

• First day of school: Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.

• Last day of school: Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

• Includes 181 instructional days, with six contingency days built in.

• Key holidays and breaks align with state requirements, including Labor Day, Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks, and other observances.

• Innovative Calendar for Arcola Elementary:

• Features 206 instructional days, beginning July 8, 2025, with an extended break in August.

• Aligns with the traditional calendar for holidays and closures, while incorporating additional instructional days and unique scheduling features.

See the calendars.

• VISIT the MCPS homepage.

• CALL 240-740-3000. Staff take calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish (240-740-2845)

• READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS News page.

• FOLLOW the MCPS social media pages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in English and Spanish.

• http://twitter.com/mcps
  https://www.facebook.com/mcpsmd
  https://www.instagram.com/mcps_md

• https://www.facebook.com/mcpsespanol
  https://twitter.com/MCPSEspanol
  https://www.instagram.com/mcpsenespanol/

• SIGN UP for emails and text alerts and make sure your ParentVue information is up to date.

• WATCH the MCPS cable channels Comcast 34 (1071 HD), Verizon 36 or RCN 89

Prekindergarten and Head Start Registration Open for Income-Eligible Families

• School calendar
• Parent resource page
• News and Information page/Noticias en Español
• Latest photo galleries
• MCPS TV videos
• MCPS TV español

If your student(s) would benefit from having a use of an MCPS Chromebook device for home use during the school year, you can request a home device HERE.

*Requesting the device implies consent of use in accordance with MCPS policy (IGT-RA) and acknowledgement that the Chromebook, software, and issued peripherals are owned by MCPS.

Take advantage of virtual Parent Academy sessions this winter to stay informed and empowered as a partner and advocate for your student’s education. Parent Academy TO GO workshops provide families with useful information and resources to support their children's academic and emotional well-being, as well as help them to be college and career ready.

Visit the parent academy website for a full schedule and to register.

SchoolCash Online is an easy to use and safe way to pay for your children’s school fees. Now, with a few clicks, you can pay for your child’s yearbook, class trips and so much more from your own home. All you have to do is register an account, attach your children and in no time you will be able to make payments online.

Click here to view instructions in English

Click here to view instructions in Spanish

This resource guide provides contact information to support students and families in need of community resources. Additionally, it may be used to provide resources for suspended students and students suspected of being involved in gang activity, meeting the related COMAR requirements. School staff may refer students and their families to any of these services, as needed.

Mrs. Brooke Simon, Principal

Ms. Alejandra Olavarrieta, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Frances Avila-Miller, Assistant School Administrator

Email: Chelsea_J_Aceves@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmilles/
Location: 19001 Watkins Mill Road, Montgomery Village, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 740-5280
Facebook: facebook.com/WMESCommunity
Twitter: @WMESCommunity

• Call: 240-740-3000
  Provides answers to community questions in English and Spanish from 7:30 a.m.
  to 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays

• E-mail: ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org

• Visit: Department of Family and Community Partnerships (DFCP) at 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850