Dear Otter Community,

As we approach the holiday season, we want to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful experiences and achievements of our OES community. This season is a time for celebration, gratitude, and togetherness, and we are so thankful for the support and partnership of our parents and families throughout the year.

We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Wood to our OES family as she joins us to create a new first-grade classroom. Her enthusiasm and passion for teaching will undoubtedly enrich our school community and support the success of our students.

Please join us in congratulating two outstanding members of our staff who have been recognized for their exceptional contributions: Mrs. Boomer, who has been selected as the OES Educator of the Year, and Mrs. Henderson, who has been named the OES Educational Support Person of the Year. These awards highlight their dedication, hard work, and positive impact on our students and school.

We are excited to invite you to our Band, Strings, and Chorus concert, which will be held on the evening of Thursday, December 19th at 6:30 pm in the Cafeteria. This event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students’ hard work and musical talents. We hope to see you there.

As a reminder, all SMCPS schools and offices will be closed to the public for winter break and will reopen on Monday, January 6th. We hope this time brings relaxation, joy, and special moments with loved ones.

Thank you for being an integral part of our OES community. Wishing you a safe and joyous holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Otterly Yours,

Mrs. Anderson

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

ALL SMCPS Schools and Offices will be closed to the public from Monday, December 23rd - Friday, January 3rd. They will reopen on Monday, January 6th when students return from Winter Break.

Please click on the links below to access public calendars.

Our school's overall attendance rate, as reported to MSDE, for the school year so far is 93.7% (+/-0.0%). The goal is 94%.

Below are the attendance rates for each grade level for the period of December 9th - December 13th.

PreK: 86.9% (-7%)

Kindergarten: 90.4% (+2.0%)

1st Grade: 95.1% (+3.0%)

2nd Grade: 94.3% (+3.3%)

3rd Grade: 90.0% (+/-0.0%)

4th Grade: 95.8% (+2.5%)

5th Grade: 92.1% (+2.2%)

The PTA has compiled a directory of contact information for families to use. Please click on the button below to access the directory. Only families who returned to request for information and provided consent to share their information have been included. If you wish to be included, please reach out to the PTA.

Keep this list somewhere handy!

Because of the upcoming Winter Break, all library books are due to the Media Center by Friday December 20. This allows us to start the New Year with a clean slate. Mrs. Cummins is sending out a notice of the books your child(ren) currently have checked out. If you can't locate the book before the Winter Break, maybe look under mattresses or personal bookshelves..etc.. to see if you can locate it during the break. The replacement fee is located on the notice in case you can't locate the book by 2025. I hope everyone has a great break and see you in the New Year!!

The PTA is hosting a Spirit Week the week before Winter Break, December 16th - December 20th.

Monday, December 16th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Spirit Day - Snowman Day
• PTA Mobile Spirit Night at Chick-fil-a

Tuesday, December 17th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Spirit Day - Holiday Cheer Day
• Fire Drill #4

Wednesday, December 18th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Spirit Day - Pajama Day

Thursday, December 19th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Spirit Day - Santa's Helpers Day
• Band/String/Chorus Concert @6:30 pm in the Cafeteria

Friday, December 20th

9:00 am - 1:45 pm

• Two Hour Early Release Day
• Spirit Day - Santa Hat Day
• Community Gathering
• PreK Family Engagement Event

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