White Marsh Elementary School

On Monday, there will be a WMES Site Based Volunteer Training at 9:30. All parents should be a SMCPS approved volunteer and participate in this training each year prior to working with our students.

Tuesday is Dress for Success Day! It is also picture re-take day. If your student did not get their picture taken earlier this year, see the information below. Re-takes are also available. The PTA will meet on Tuesday at 6:30; all are invited!

Friday is a 2 hr. Early Dismissal; WMES will dismiss at 1:45 pm. Also on Friday, we will have a Spirit Day- encourage the Bears to wear blue or their WMES shirts!

Have a great week!

Next Tuesday, December 5, is picture re-take day. If your student was absent from school and did not have a chance to get their school pictures taken, they will be able to do it at that time. We will be sending home an order form to those students that were absent.

If your student had their picture taken, but you would like the picture re-taken, here is the procedure:

If a parent has expressed interest in having their child’s picture retaken, this can also be done on retake day. The student should bring the original photo package, including original envelope and all picture products, to turn into the photographer when they come to sit for a new picture. They do not need to fill out a new order form.

The WMES Winter Concert is scheduled for Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 10:00 am.

Our 3rd grade and 4th and 5th Grade Chorus students will all be performing! This concert will be held in the gym at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:40 am, and guests will enter through the rear gym door. There will be no evening performance.

WMES students will be invited to view the performance at a separate time, and will not be permitted to leave class to attend with family members.

We are looking forward to having an opportunity for our Bears to perform for you!

1. Your student should have brought home a proof similar to the one below

2. Instructions are on the proof on how to order pictures

3. If you did not receive a proof, please contact Classic Photography at 800 869 9515 ext 112

Dec 13 Battle of the Books, 3:45 - 4:30 pm

Dec 14 Winter Concert, Grades 3-5, 10 am

Dec 18 - Jan 1 Winter Break

Jan 2 School Reopens

Jan 3 Joe Corbi's Fundraiser Begins

The SMCPS Calendar Committee is seeking input in the development of the 2024-2025 school year calendar. Please respond to this Calendar Survey to provide your input.

When schools look at Chronic Absenteeism all absences are counted, both lawful and unlawful. Students missing more than 10% of school days are considered chronically absent. Students missing this amount of school fall further and further behind. See more about Student Attendance in the SMCPS Student Handbook.

Band and Strings students are asked to bring their instruments to school every Wednesday! Sincerely, Mr. Guy

SMCPS has put together a list of commonly used resources so that families have a better understanding of what they are and how they are used in our schools. Take a look at the SMCPS Instructional Terms and Resources.

In order to volunteer and/or chaperone at WMES you must do the following annually:

1) register to be a SMCPS volunteer

2) attend a WMES Site Based Volunteer Training.

The SMCPS Volunteer information can be found on the WMES Family Links document, and the next WMES Site Based Volunteer Training can be found on the WMES website by accessing the calendar.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) is requesting your permission for your student to use the Internet and other computer resources in school. It is important that you and your student review this information. Click here to access The Acceptable Use Agreement.

Please remember that our school day begins at 9 am and ends at 3:45 pm. Early sign-outs and late arrivals contribute to missed instruction. In addition, students need to be present all day, every day, in order to participate in the Bear Crawl each month. Please support the importance of the academic day by only having your student miss school when absolutely necessary.

Be looking for a paper version of the WMES Family Handbook to come home the first week of school. In addition, we have created this electronic version of the WMES Family Handbook for you to view. It has important information about school policies and practices, including Volunteer Information, Breakfast and Lunches, School Celebrations, and more!

We have created a document for families with links to important system and school information. Check out this link and be sure to bookmark it! We will update it periodically so that you can have quick access to needed information.

• Student Laptops and Chargers

• Accountability Newsletter

• Print and Resource Accountability for SMCPS Students

From the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)-

Chronic Absenteeism: Students are chronically absent when absent 10% or more of the school days while enrolled at that school. For example, a student who is registered to attend a school for 30 days and who is absent 3 of those 30 days is considered chronically absent.

WMES will follow up with chronically absent students through the Pupil Services Team, Pupil Personnel Worker, and the Department of Student Services. In order to reduce the number of our students with Chronic Absenteeism, incentives to encourage good attendance include participation in the Bear Crawl, Running Club, and School Dance.

SMCPS Text Alerts are a great way to get information quickly. They are not sent often, and usually only in the event of an unexpected school delay or closure. On occasion, WMES will send a text alert about a late bus, substitute bus, or school event. Click the link for information about registering for text alerts.

Julia Steele, Principal

Email: jwsteele@smcps.org
Website: wmes.smcps.org
Location: 29090 Thompson Corner Road, Mechanicsville, MD, USA
Phone: (301)472-4600
Twitter: @wmes_smpcs