Dear Otter Community,

Dr. Recess will be visiting us this week. On Wednesday, 11/6, we will have two 45-minute assemblies, one for K-2 and one for 3-5. In the assemblies, Dr. Recess will teach the students developmentally appropriate games they can play at recess. After the assemblies, he will set his games up on our playground for the students to play during recess. Click HERE for his website.

Online Federal Impact Aid Forms are now available through the Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online Impact Aid form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. The form can now be accessed in Spanish by clicking on the Globe in the top right-hand corner once the form has been started. The deadline for the online submission of Federal Impact Aid Survey forms is Friday, November 15, 2024.

Remember that schools are closed on Tuesday, November 5th; Friday, November 8th is an early release day; and all schools and offices are closed on Monday, November 11th.

Finally, attendance letters for the first marking period are being completed and will be mailed home to families of students who missed 10% or more school days since the beginning of the school year. A copy of the letter will also be placed in a student's cumulative record.

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 94.2% (+/-0.0%). The goal is 94%.

Below are the attendance rates for each grade level for the period of October 28th - November 1st.

PreK: 95.7% (-0.6%)

Kindergarten: 90.2% (+0.2%)

1st Grade: 94.3% (-0.4%)

2nd Grade: 96.3% (+2.1%)

3rd Grade: 86.9% (-7.3%)

4th Grade: 95.6% (+0.4%)

5th Grade: 93.6% (+1.5%)

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!

Monday, November 4th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• PTA Yearbook Cover Contest
• PTA Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser

Tuesday, November 5th

• No School for Students and 10/11 Month Employees

Wednesday, November 6th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Dr. Recess Assemblies
• Marking Period 1 Report Cards Available in HAC
• PTA Yearbook Cover Contest
  
• PTA Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser

Thursday, November 7th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• PTA Yearbook Cover Contest
  
• PTA Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser

Friday, November 8th

9:00 am - 1:45 pm

• Two-Hour Early Dismissal Day - Professional Responsibilities
• PTA Yearbook Cover Contest
  
• PTA Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser
• PTA Movie Night - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Individual picture makeup day is Friday, November 15th.

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