Watkins Mill High School

Dear Watkins Mill HS community,

I hope you had an enjoyable and restful weekend. This week we will have a full week of school. We have an assembly this Tuesday featuring top BMX athletes in support of bullying prevention. Wednesday we will be distributing report cards and attendance status letters.

We would like to invite all families to our end of quarter Parent/Family/Caregiver Night. We would like all our families to come and provide feedback on our school improvement plan and to see first hand all of the resources and community partnership we have at Watkins Mill. It will takes place on Wednesday, November 20, 6pm - 8pm in our media center. We will have light food and refreshments at 5:30pm in the cafeteria prior to our meeting.

Exciting news! We have our Class of 2025 graduation date! Please plan to celebrate our senior class on Thursday, June 5th, at 10am at DAR Constitution Hall. More information to come.

Families and parents of Seniors. Would you like to recognize your senior student with a Recognition Ad in this school year's yearbook?!! Celebrate your students for their accomplishments and achievements this year! Last day to order is 1/31/25. If you are ready to order your Recognition Ad, click the link here. Select the tab “Yearbook” then “Recognition Ads.” If you need help with designing your Recognition Ad, please call 1.877.767.5217 8AM–5PM CST MONDAY–FRIDAY

Sophomores, the ACES Program is holding a Recruitment Drive event on Tuesday, November 12. If you are interested in applying to ACES or want to learn more about the program, stop by the ACES Office - E107! We will have volunteers available from 8:00am-3:00pm to help you apply and answer any questions you may have.

Students don't forget to your school ID to school. You should have them everyday and to have them visibly on them while in school. We will continue checking for IDs at the front door during arrival and don't forget to bring your chromebooks to school everyday, fully charged.

Thank you for all you do for our students and community,.

Sincerely,

Vilma Nájera

Principal, WMHS

November 4 – No School for students/Grading and Reporting

November 5 – All Schools Closed – Election Day

November 6 – Marking Period 2 begins

November 12 – BMX School Wide Assembly

November 13 – Report Card and Attendance Status Letter Distribution

November 16 - Family Food Market

November 20 – 9th Grade Town Hall

November 20 - Parent Outreach Night 6pm - 8pm

November 25 – Parent/Caregiver Conferences

November 25 & 26 – Early Release Day for students

November 27 – 29 – Holiday

Tardy Policy

Our teachers strive to make every moment of every period meaningful. We expect that students arrive to all classes on time. Please see our tardy policy linked here.

Parents, this past week (on Thursday), we began recording students’ tardiness to all periods, including 1st period. Please note that 1st period begins promptly at 7:45. Please plan for unexpected traffic or delays in dropping your child off at school and ensure that they are in the building by 7:40 so they can be in their 1st period on time.

Attendance

In both homeroom and grade level town halls, we spoke to students about the importance of daily attendance. Research correlates both academic success and school connectedness to daily attendance. Please see the Attendance Works Resource that is linked here: (English/Spanish)The attendance tracker that is linked here (English/Spanish) was shared with all students. We strongly suggest students miss NO MORE THAN 9 DAYS for the ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR. Many general questions regarding attendance are answered in this Frequently Asked Question document (English/

Spanish). Any specific questions about your child’s attendance can be directed to your child’s counselor or administrator at 301-840-3991.

Breakfast and Lunch

Watkins Mill provides free breakfast and lunch to all students. Juniors (Class of 2026) and Seniors (Class of 2025) are permitted to have open lunch, meaning that, with their parent’s permission, they are allowed to leave campus for lunch. Open lunch for juniors and seniors is a privilege and students must ensure they return to school on time to maintain that privilege.

Cell Phone Policy

We expect all students to be fully engaged in their learning. Teachers will explicitly share cell phone expectations with students daily. Students are expected to follow teacher expectations related to cell phones. See the school’s cell phone policy linked here.

Seal of Biliteracy 2024-2025 Information

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_7YR0KiUPqIOFdTxbBkiu2NkBGpqojI3/view?usp=drive_link

24-25 AP Letter to community Exam Only Option

Students interested in taking the exam for an Advanced Placement course they are currently not enrolled in have the option to register by following the steps below.

1. Look at the available exam options by clicking here to view the College Board exam calendar. Students can select any exam even if Watkins Mill High School does not offer the course.

2. Email Ms. Melissa Ashby (melissa_a_ashby@mcpsmd.org) or see her in B127 (Math Office) to register for the exam by October 31, 2024

3. A $17 financial obligation will be assigned to the student’s account. Payment must be confirmed prior to the exam date

AP Exam Requirements and Policies

Please be aware of the following important details regarding the AP exam:

- No-Show Fee: If a student does not show up for the AP exam, including the make-up exam, a fee will be assessed to cover the cost of the unused exam. ($40.00)

- Late Drop Fee : If your student decides to drop the AP exam after November 15th, 2024, a fee will also be assessed to cover administrative costs. ($40.00)

Let's make mental health a priority - your involvement can make a difference!

Mental Health.jpg

Important links

• Watkins Mill College/Career Center

• College Tracks

• Achieving Collegiate Excellence & Success (ACES)

• Program Completer Options

• Social & Emotional Support

• Healthy Habits

• Extracurriculars

We are excited to offer our 9th-grade students an opportunity to explore college life through the Grade 9 College Tour on Thursday, November 21, 2024. Students can choose to visit American University or Coppin State University in person, or participate in virtual college tours through myMCPS Classroom. This experience helps students start thinking about their future education and career paths early.

Space for the in-person tours is limited, so please encourage your child to sign up as soon as possible! Permission forms can be filled out using the Google Form on the attached flyer, or physical copies can be picked up from the Counseling Department. Forms are due by Thursday, November 7, 2024.

For questions, please contact Ms. Sarah Kessler at Sarah_H_Kessler@mcpsmd.org.

English: Watkins Mill Final Flyer QR Code 112124.pdf

Spanish: Watkins Mill HS Spanish Flyer PDF 112124 (1).pdf

🧡💙SENIORS!🧡💙

SENIOR YEARBOOK RECOGNITION

Recognize your student with a Recognition Ad!! Celebrate your students for their accomplishments and achievements this year! Last day to order is 1/31/25. If you are ready to order your Recognition Ad, click the link here. Select the tab “Yearbook” then “Recognition Ads.”

If you need help with designing your Recognition Ad, please call 1.877.767.5217 8AM–5PM CST MONDAY–FRIDAY

Cap and Gown fees can be paid at school cash online or cash/check with Ms. Holderman in the financial office (before school, after school, STE) The senior cap and gown fee is $65.00.

Cap and Gown Order Form is linked here. All seniors must complete this form. Make sure you have accurate height and weight information and you know your counselor’s name!

Senior Shirts are still for sale! If seniors have purchased a Class of 2025 shirt, they should pick their shirt up in Dr. Cloyd’s classroom after October 23rd. Senior shirts are sale online for $20.00 at school cash online.

SENIOR PARENT MEETING! We were very happy to see so many parents at our senior meeting in mid October! If you were unable to join us, the link to the presentation is here!

This is an APPLICATION to go on the field trip! The Field Trip is offered to only sophomores and juniors only. This is for students with an interest in work based learning and not currently in an apprenticeship. There is ONLY SPACE for 15 students!

What: Apprenticeship Job Fair

Where: Montgomery College Rockville Campus (Transportation will be provided)

When: November 19th in two groups starting at 9:00 am and 10:00 am

Application closes on Nov 8th.

Current Business at the Job Fair (List is growing!): Arts on the Block, SciTech2U Inc, Legend Management Group, Hands On Dental Assistant Training, Auto Therapy LLC, Lib's Grill & Lib's Catering, Property Management Association, SERVPRO Team Gutierrez of Rockville, Cross Community - The Equity Center, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Hands On Dental Assistant Training, The Finishing Trades Institute, Electrical Alliance, WANADA, Montgomery County 9-1-1, Montgomery County Recreation

Link to Application: https://forms.gle/NSDzXwzgpWiB1rkh9

Freshmen/Sophomore College & Career Bulletin 11/8/2024

Junior College & Career Bulletin 11/8/2024

Senior College & Career Bulletin 11/8/2024

We are excited to announce that Watkins Mill High School has become a community school this year! This designation means we will receive additional resources and funding from the state over the next couple of years.

As part of our Needs Assessment this year, we will be collecting data and feedback from students, care givers, and staff to better understand the needs of our school community. We kindly ask all caregivers to complete the following survey to share your thoughts and the needs of your students from your perspective.

Caregivers survey- https://forms.gle/5TZo5fRhTYeckbwM7

As a thank you for your participation, everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a raffle to win gift cards and self-care items!

Thank you for your support

Please join and/or like our social media to stay up to date on upcoming events and meetings. Help us spread the word. Thank you!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2566149090200043/
https://www.instagram.com/wmhs_ptsa/

https://twitter.com/WMRinePTSA

https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/watkins-mill-high-school-new-s/home (PTSA website)

FREE Flu Shots- Watkins Mill HS-Wellness Center

English

We are pleased to announce that the Wellness Center is now offering FREE flu shots for all students and any uninsured siblings. Please come to the health room or call 301-284-4454 to make an appointment and/or fill out the enrollment packet. For more information or if you would like to fill out the enrollment packet online, our website is: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/wmsbwc/

Spanish

Nos complace anunciar que el Centro de Bienestar ahora ofrece vacunas contra la gripe GRATUITAS para todos los estudiantes y sus hermanos que no tengan seguro médico. Venga a la enfermería o llame al 301-284-4454 para programar una cita o completar el paquete de inscripción. Para obtener más información o si desea completar el paquete de inscripción en línea, nuestro sitio web es: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/wmsbwc/

Identity, Inc. | mmorales@identity-youth.org

Mobile: (240) 600-7061 Office: (240) 406-1545x1065

Here are the Cluster Project's Weekly Newsletters for Friday, 11/8/24.

English Version:

WMCP Newsletter

Spanish Version:

WMCP Boletin

Attention Sophomores: the ACES Program is holding a Recruitment Drive event on Tuesday, November 12. If you are interested in applying to ACES or want to learn more about the program, stop by the ACES Office - E107! We will have volunteers available from 8:00am-3:00pm to help you apply and answer any questions you may have.

You can find more information and the link to apply online at https://www.acesmontgomery.org/join-the-program/#apply

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Moxley at Jennifer.L.Moxley@mcpsmd.net

ACES Student Success Coordinator

Watkins Mill High School

240-850-8601

CollegeTracks welcomes juniors and seniors to register to join our program. We provide FREE college and financial aid support to students and families. CollegeTracks does have a capacity limit on the amount of students we serve per class and we are close to meeting that limit. If you have a senior that plans to attend college or trade school and need support through the application and financial aid process have them register for CollegeTracks ASAP. We have begun programming events to ensure students are on track to meet the upcoming deadlines

Dominic Chappell| Program Director

Watkins Mill High School

Mobile: 301.259.1853

Dchappell@collegetracksusa.org l www.collegetracksusa.org

CollegeTracks @ WM | Join CollegeTracks