Dear Otter Community,

This week, we are proud to celebrate American Education Week, a time to recognize the vital role education plays in shaping the future of our children and our society. Established nearly a century ago, American Education Week highlights the importance of providing every child with a high-quality education and acknowledges the hard work of the teachers, staff, and families who make this possible.

Education is more than academics—it’s about fostering curiosity, building strong relationships, and nurturing the skills students need to become lifelong learners. This week is an opportunity to reflect on the power of collaboration between schools and families in creating an environment where all students can thrive.

As we celebrate, we encourage families to take a moment to talk with your children about what they are learning and to express appreciation for the educators and staff who support them every day. Together, we are building a strong foundation for the future.

Thank you for your partnership in supporting our students’ success.

Otterly Yours,

Mrs. Anderson

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

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 93.6% (-0.2%). The goal is 94%.

Below are the attendance rates for each grade level for the period of November 12th - November 15th.

PreK: 93.4% (+3.1%)

Kindergarten: 94.2% (-0.3%)

1st Grade: 93.9% (+1.8%)

2nd Grade: 94.7% (+2.3%)

3rd Grade: 91.2% (+2.0%)

4th Grade: 95.0% (+0.7%)

5th Grade: 94.2% (+7.3%)

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

Mr. Labows is running low on empty plastic baby food jars with lids. He is asking for donations. Please send any clean empty plastic food jars with lids with students or drop off in the main office.

An example is pictured below.

Thank you!

Monday, November 18th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• American Education Week

Tuesday, November 19th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• American Education Week
• PTA Spirit Night at Texas Roadhouse - 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
• Elementary School All-County Honor Chorus @LHS @7:00 pm

Wednesday, November 20th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• American Education Week

Thursday, November 21st

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• American Education Week
• Spirit Day - Favorite Thanksgiving Food

Friday, November 22nd

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• American Education Week
• Community Gathering

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