White Marsh Elementary School

It's Teacher Appreciation Week!

We love our teachers, and think that they are the best around! Please drop them a note or email this week- I know it would be very much appreciated!

State testing continues this week, and our students will show what they know in Math. Please be sure that students are well rested, and come to school with a charged laptop. The Schoolkidz sale starts on Wednesday. This is a fantastic way to avoid the crowds at stores when school shopping for next year! Order from Schoolkidz and your child will receive all of their school supplies in time for the beginning of school next year! See more information below. Also on Wednesday, the Running Club will meet. Immediately following Running Club, the PTA Family Fun Night will begin at 4:30, and end at 6:00 pm. There will be food trucks, free popsicles, and a Book Swap! Please see the important information below about dismissal from Running Club.

On Thursday, our Kindergarteners will enjoy a field trip to Elms.

Friday is a Virtual Instruction Day, and 2 hr. Early Dismissal. Students will work from home on Friday. Please remember that attendance is taken through Schoology. WMES students will again log on to a Google Meet at 9 am, and will follow with an asynchronous Schoology assignment.

Have a great week!

We are making slight changes to try to avoid parking lot issues this week that may arise on Wednesday. If you are planning to attend the PTA event immediately after Running Club, please do not arrive to pick up your student until 4:30. Everyone else should plan to pick up at the normal time of 4:20. We are trying to keep the parking lot as clear as possible.

If needed, there is some parking available on the grassy area by the trailers.

Thank you in advance for your patience and support!

We are pleased to again partner with the Schoolkidz company! They will gather the needed supplies for your student and have them ready and waiting for them at Open House next fall! Orders can be made online; the window opens Wednesday, May 10 and will close May 24. Click on the photo below for more information.

Hello everyone! The Book Fair will be here in a few weeks, and we are in need of Volunteer Support! Please sign up for as many days as possible. Tuesday and Thursday I have students, so those are the days I need the most assistance! Please click this link to sign up----> Book Fair Volunteers

*A reminder that all volunteers must be approved through SMCPS and have attended the WMES Volunteer Training.

May 17 Running Club, Last Day!

May 18 Spring Dance!

May 24 PTA Bike Safety Night, 5-6 pm

May 25 Spring Concert- Band, Strings, Chorus 10 am

May 29 Memorial Day Holiday

May 30 - Jun 6 Book Fair!

Jun 2 Field Day

Jun 6 5th Grade Fun Day

Jun 8 K - 4 Awards Assemblies; Times TBD

Jun 9 2 hr Early Dismissal, Last Day of School!

Please be thinking about a safe place to store your child's laptop for the summer. Students will bring them home for the summer, and will be responsible for their safety. Students will use the same laptop next year.

Suggestions and information:

1. Keep your laptop in a secure place. The laptop should not leave home or be taken on vacations.
2. It is your responsibility for the care and upkeep of your device.
   
3. A school laptop costs 500.00.
4. Laptop charger replacements cost 40.00.

If you break a laptop, there is a repair cost. Please take care of your device.

See more information in the general reminders section below.

Band and Strings Rehearsal Schedule:

A Week: Wednesday and Friday

B Week: Wednesday and Thursday

Parents and guardians should be mindful of all debt that their students accrue throughout the 2022-2023 School Year. Student debt could take any one of the following forms:

• Lost/Damaged Computer Devices

• Lost/Damaged Textbooks

• Lunch Debt

Parents/Guardians play a key role in monitoring not only their student's actions but also their fiscal responsibilities regarding lost/damaged issued devices (such as computers and textbooks) and/or food purchases made by your child in our school cafeteria. Payment can be made in the form of cash or check and should include your child's five-digit Student ID# (e.g., #12345). For further convenience, families may also pay by credit card online at http://www.myschoolbucks.com/. All questions and concerns should be directed to the school bank or the principal's secretary.

Please consider joining the PTA; the membership form is here.

ALL students in SMCPS must have a completed Acceptable Use Agreement on file for School Year 2022-2023.

Elementary (PreK-5th) Link: https://bit.ly/22022-2023_Elementary_AUPForm

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.

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