Dear Otter Community,

It is Red Ribbon Week! Red Ribbon Week is a national campaign that encourages children to make healthy choices and stay drug-free. During this week we reinforce the importance of saying "no" to drugs and harmful behaviors. We encourage students to make positive decisions, while reinforcing the importance of leading a healthy and safe lifestyle. We encourage families to join the conversation at home by talking about making healthy choices and setting goals for a successful future. Here are some ideas for things to do at home (taken from Red Ribbon Week website).

• Use Red Ribbon Week as an opportunity to continue talking to your kids about drugs. Let them know that alcohol and drug use will not be tolerated.

• Watch Natural High’s free celebrity drug prevention videos with your child and use their discussion questions to have a conversation with them about drugs and alcohol.
• Sign the Red Ribbon Pledge.
  

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

October 28th - November 1st

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 94.23% (-0.03%). The goal is 94%.

Below are the attendance rates for each grade level for the period of October 21st - October 25th.

PreK: 96.3% (+4.5%)

Kindergarten: 90% (-2.7%)

1st Grade: 94.7% (-0.5%)

2nd Grade: 94.2% (+1.8%)

3rd Grade: 94.2% (+9.1%)

4th Grade: 95.2% (+2.0%)

5th Grade: 92.1% (-2.0%)

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.

Online Emergency Information Update Messaging: Effective communication is critical to the success of St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS). This will be crucial not only for emergencies but for our ability to communicate with families in general. Online Emergency Information Update Forms are now available through the student’s Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. It is vital that all information is updated in eSchool. The deadline for the online submission of Emergency Information Update forms is October 31st, 2024. Please click here for the Blank Emergency Form. If you have any questions, please contact The Department of Student Services at 301-475-5511 ext.32150.

Keep this list somewhere handy!

Monday, October 28th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Red Ribbon Week
• PTA Yearbook Cover Contest
• PTA Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser

Tuesday, October 29th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Red Ribbon Week
  
• PTA Yearbook Cover Contest
  
• PTA Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser
  

Wednesday, October 30th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Red Ribbon Week
  
• PTA Yearbook Cover Contest
  
• PTA Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser

Thursday, October 31st

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Red Ribbon Week
  
• PTA Yearbook Cover Contest
  
• PTA Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser

Friday, November 1st

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Red Ribbon Week
  
• PTA Yearbook Cover Contest
  
• PTA Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser

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