
White Marsh Elementary School
2022 - 2023
Week of March 27 - 31, 2023
B Week
Greetings, White Marsh Families!
Can you believe it- this week marks the end of the Third Marking Period! It is so hard to believe that there is only one quarter left of this school year!
There will be a flurry of activity this week as our students finish up their assignments for the marking period. Please be sure to check your student's missing assignments and encourage their completion before Friday.
Friday will be a 2 hr. Early Dismissal. WMES will dismiss at 1:45 pm. We are looking forward to Spring Break! Schools will be closed April 3 - 10, and will reopen on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
Have a great week!
Penny Drive
Calendar Changes- important!
These changes involve the early dismissal days on April 21 and May 12. If approved, these days will become virtual instruction days, meaning students will work from home on their computers on these days.
Because we did not use any snow days this year, there is also a proposal to move the last day of school up to Friday, June 9, 2023.
Again, this has not yet been fully approved, but I wanted you to be aware. I will let you know as soon as any changes are official!
Running Club is filled!
Picture Day!
Yearbooks are coming!
More tissues needed!
Thanks in advance!
Upcoming Events:
Apr 3 - 10 Spring Break!
Apr 11 PTA Meeting, 6:30
Apr 12 WMES- ELA MCAP Begins
Apr 12 Online yearbook Sales begin
Apr 13 Spring Picture Day
Save the Date!
Apr 19 Report Cards Distributed
Apr 20 PTA Spirit Night- Rita's
Apr 21 2 hr. Early Dismissal
Apr 26 Online Yearbook Sales end
May 2 Grade 1 to Elms
May 3 WMES- Math MCAP Begins
May 3 PTA Meeting, 6:30
May 10 PTA Popsicle Social/Book Swap
May 11 Kindergarten to Elms
May 12 2 hr. Early Dismissal
May 25 Spring Concert- Band, Strings, Chorus 10 am
May 29 Memorial Day Holiday
May 30 - Jun 6 Book Fair!
Jun 2 Field Day
From SMCPS:
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.
Spring Break!
The following are general reminders:
From the Music Room
A Week: Wednesday and Friday
B Week: Wednesday and Thursday
From SMCPS:
Student Accountability
Students are responsible for the care and upkeep of their laptops, chargers and school-issued textbooks and novels. Please see this NEWSLETTER in regard to all accountability of print resources and technology.
Please note: Fines are assessed for any damage, loss or repair on our school-issued devices. When a student is assessed a fine, the fine is populated in My School Bucks. Cafeteria funds cannot be used to pay for school invoice fines. Please do not add money to a food/cafeteria account as it cannot be applied to school invoices.
Practice at Home...
Other reading activities can include:
- Reading with a Parent or Family Member
- Listening to Someone Read
- Partner Read
- Phone a friend (literally!) and read with him/her
- Read to a family pet
- Audiobooks
Schoology for Parents
PTA News
Please consider joining the PTA; the membership form is here.
Attendance Letters
Absences can be reported with a note sent in to the Main Office, or by clicking the link on our website. Please refer to the SMCPS Student Handbook for more information about Attendance.
In an effort to communicate with parents and keep you informed about student absences, we send home letters every marking period to those students with 5 or more absences. We understand that a variety of illnesses continue to surround us, and appreciate your communication with Nurse Parrish, teachers, and the Main Office about your children's health.
Volunteering at WMES
A reminder that all Volunteers (including Field Trip Chaperones) must be approved through SMCPS. Beginning this year, this will be an annual requirement. At WMES, those volunteers being asked to support students and teachers in the building must also complete a site based training session. Thank you to all of our parents and guardians that have completed these sessions. There are no more training sessions scheduled this school year.
Acceptable Use Policy
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
Chronic Absenteeism
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.
Proper Care of Electronic Devices
Text Alerts
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.
Mrs. Julia Steele, Principal
Email: jwsteele@smcps.org
Website: schools.smcps.org/wmes
Location: 29090 Thompson Corner Road, Mechanicsville, MD, USA
Phone: (301)472-4600
Twitter: @wmes_smpcs