In "Otter" News - August Update

Happy August Otter Families!

It is hard to believe the start of the school year is right around the corner! I hope everyone has had an opportunity to enjoy family, friends, and plenty of fun this summer!

This is the August update for In Otter News. You will find all of the beginning of the school year information you are looking for in this SMORE. Weekly SMOREs will resume on Friday, August 25th. So much more information about our focus on "community" will be shared as the school year begins. I wanted to be sure you had all the important information to get your family organized for the start of the year first!

Of special note, a link to the Meals Benefit Application is included in the SMORE. Please be sure to complete the application ASAP to be considered for free or reduced meals at the start of the school year.

We are definitely getting excited to see everyone soon! Here's to an "otterly" colorful year full of curiosity, community, and kindness!

Otterly Yours,

Mrs. Anderson

PreKindergarten (A 2nd full day PreK classroom has been added to OES)

Susan Simonds, Teacher

Molly Gibson, Paraeducator

Patricia Hayden, Paraeducator

Kindergarten

Melissa Karimi, Teacher

3rd Grade

Melissa Lay, Teacher

Special Education

Nikki Lloyd, SpEd Teacher

The office will be open Monday - Friday from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

As we plan our return to school for the 2023-2024 school year 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.

All parent(s)/guardian(s) must complete an Acceptable Use Policy each school year. Click HERE to complete the Google form. School staff will be in touch with all families to complete the form throughout the month of August and September.

The online application process to apply for free and reduced meals for the 2023-2024 School Year:

Begin the application process here.

2023-2024 Instructions for Applying for Meal Benefit

2023-2024 Meal Benefit Application

2023-2024 Meal Benefit Application Parent Letter

I am excited to announce that OES will be an MMFA school for the 2023-2024 school year!

Maryland leads the country in ensuring that students can start the day ready to learn with the Maryland Meals for Achievement (MMFA) program. MMFA provides state funding to supplement federal meal reimbursements so that schools can offer breakfast in the classroom for all students at no charge. A school is eligible when at least 40 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

We will be following the "Breakfast in the Classroom" model.

• Breakfast is delivered in coolers or insulated bags to classrooms.
• Students eat together in their classrooms after the morning bell.
• While students eat breakfast, the teacher takes attendance, collects homework, etc.

Office hours for the month of August will be Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Open House will be held on Monday, August 21st.

Kindergarten: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

• Kindergarten families should plan to attend at any point throughout the 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm time frame. Our Kindergarten teachers will be available to greet students, show them the classroom, and accept school supplies prior to the first day of school.

Grades 1-5: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

• Families of students in grades 1 - 5 should plan to attend at any point throughout the 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm time frame. Our teachers will be available to greet students, show them the classroom, and accept school supplies prior to the first day of school.

The first day of school for students in grades K-5 is Wednesday, August 23rd. PreKindergarten families will be contacted directly about an orientation to the school.

Classroom assignments will be available at the Open House event. Please be aware that no classroom changes will be made on the day of the Open House.

It has been a busy summer here at OES. Our new classroom and office furniture arrived in late June. Each Kindergarten/PreK classroom includes new horseshoe tables and stools, rectangle tables and chairs, and teacher/para desks. Each Grade 1-5 classroom includes a new horseshoe table and stools, student desks and chairs, and a teacher desk. Special area classrooms also received new furniture!

We have also been hard at work prepping and refreshing the metal storage units in our classrooms. A special thank you to Mr. Ferro, Mrs. Curtis, and Mr. Layne for supporting our metal storage unit refresh this summer! We have one more day scheduled to complete the work!

The SMCPS website has information for parents regarding Back to School. Included in the link below is information related to:

• Open House
• Registrations and Vaccinations
• Buses and Transportation
• Student Handbooks
• Food and Nutrition
• Supply Lists
• Back to School Photos

Transportation Information to Start the School Year

Please click the link below for information regarding your child's bus number, bus stop location, and pick-up and drop-off times. If you have specific questions regarding bus transportation, please call the Department of Transportation at (301)-475-4256.

For all parents of PreKindergarten and Kindergarten students: An adult must be present at the bus stop when students are being picked up or dropped off. If an adult associated with a PreKindergarten or Kindergarten student is not present at the bus stop at the end of the school day, the bus driver will return the student to the school and the parents will be contacted to come to the school to pick up the student.

HAC Access

HAC for the 2023-2024 school year will be active for parents at 5:00 pm on August 18th. Please contact the front office if you need assistance accessing your HAC account.

Of special note, our 3rd-grade teachers will be departmentalizing just like our 4th and 5th-grade teachers for the upcoming school year. Your child will be assigned to a homeroom teacher, but they will work with both 3rd-grade teachers throughout their instructional day. Mrs.Lay will be teaching Math and Science and Mrs. Larson will be teaching ELA and Social Studies.

Fall School Yearbook Pictures

Tentatively scheduled for September 26th

Retakes are tentatively scheduled for November 8th

More information will be provided as the dates draw closer.

Click below for the SMCPS Calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.

Please find below information regarding student meals for the 2023-2043 school year.

A link to the Food and Nutrition Services website is below. It has information regarding school meals, including a link to school meal menus.

Hello OES Otter Family,

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 24 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!

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

What are COVID-19 like illness symptoms?

• New-onset of cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
• New loss of taste or smell,
• Fever of 100.0 or higher
• Chills or shaking chills
• Muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Congestion or runny nose

We are looking forward to a great school year!

President: Beth Johnson Hill

Vice President: Stefanie Wines

Treasurer: Kim Burroughs

Secretary: Megan Russell

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: lpdietz@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
Twitter: @OES_smcps