Dear Otter Community,

As we gather with loved ones and reflect on the many blessings in our lives, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible partnership we share with each of you.

Your steadfast support, involvement, and care create a strong foundation for our students to thrive. Each day, we are reminded of the extraordinary potential of our children and the power of our school community to nurture their growth. Together, we are shaping not only bright futures but also a compassionate, collaborative, and resilient community.

On behalf of our staff, I want to thank you for entrusting us with the joy and privilege of teaching your children. Your engagement inspires us to strive for excellence, and your trust fuels our commitment to providing a nurturing and enriching learning environment.

May this Thanksgiving bring your family peace, love, and cherished memories. Thank you for being an integral part of our school family.

Otterly Yours,

Mrs. Anderson

This past Tuesday, I was able to attend the ES All-County Honor Chorus Concert, held at Leonardtown High School. Please enjoy several pictures of our OES students involved! It was a great concert with great music and great performances!

The office will be open Monday - Wednesday from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm this week. Our regular hours will resume on December 2nd.

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 93.9% (+0.3%). The goal is 94%.

Below are the attendance rates for each grade level for the period of November 18th - November 22nd.

PreK: 93.9% (+0.5%)

Kindergarten: 94.4% (+0.6%)

1st Grade: 94.5% (+0.6%)

2nd Grade: 93.1% (-1.6%)

3rd Grade: 91.4% (+0.2%)

4th Grade: 96.8% (+1.8%)

5th Grade: 94.1% (-0.1%)

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!

Fifth and Second Grade students will be presenting a concert on Thursday, December 12th, at 10 AM. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend the program. This is a Color War Day, so students should wear a nice outfit that features their class color.

After the program, parents and guardians are invited back to their child's classroom to visit, review student work, and learn about what is being taught. This is a new format for us this school year. We are committed to engaging parents in the curriculum and presenting a realistic view of what instruction looks like in elementary school these days!

Students can practice their songs at home by using the provided videos in this slide show or the practice tracks in their music Schoology page.

Please e-mail me with any questions or concerns- jldrake@smcps.org.

We can't wait to see you at the concert!

Ms. Drake

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

Monday, November 25th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Honey Baked Ham Pick Up, 4:15 pm - 5:45 pm

Tuesday, November 26th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

Wednesday, November 27th

No School for Students and 10 and 11 Month Employees

Thursday, November 28th

All SMCPS Schools and Offices Closed

Friday, November 29th

All SMCPS Schools and Offices Closed

Monday, December 2nd

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

Tuesday, December 3rd

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• PTA Spirit Night @Crumbl Cookies

Wednesday, December 4th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

Thursday, December 5th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

Friday, December 6th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• PTA Cookies and Crafts with Santa @5:30 pm

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