WMES News You Can Use
November 2022
A Letter From The Principal
It is hard to believe that it is already November and that the first marking period is coming to an end. Our dedicated teachers are working harder than ever to ensure that each student gets the best education possible.
Parent Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences present an excellent opportunity to find out how your child is adjusting to the school year and to get to know his/her teachers. Here are some general tips on how to have a successful conference:
Be Prepared: Write down everything that you want to talk about at the conference.
Be On Time: Arrive promptly or a few minutes early.
Stay Focused: Avoid lengthy discussions of topics that are not related to the purpose of the conference.
Cold Weather is Coming
Recess provides an important break for students and is a chance to recharge energy for the remainder of the day. Students will go outside for daily recess unless the temperature or wind chill factor reaches below 32° F. Therefore, all students need to dress appropriately for the weather conditions.
Finally, with Thanksgiving upon us, we often think about the things for which we are most grateful. At Watkins Mill Elementary, we are especially thankful for our students, their families, and our staff members, all of whom play an essential role in shaping our school community. Thank you for your continued support.
November Events
Family Market Day
Tuesday, November 1
4:00pm-6:00pm
5th Grade Kingsley Environmental Center Field Trips
Wednesday, November 2-Friday, November 4
9:30am-1:30pm
Pre-K & Head Start Parent Resource Night
Thursday, November 3
5:30pm-6:30pm
No School
Monday, November 7 & Tuesday, November 8
Virtual Parent Cafe
Thursday, November 10
7:00pm
Corner Bakery Fundraiser
Monday, November 14
7:30am-8:00pm
Holiday Giving Application Deadline
Monday, November 14
2nd Grade Strathmore Field Trip
Wednesday, November 16
9:30am-1:00pm
Virtual Bedtime Stories
Thursday, November 17
7:00pm
MCPS Girls On The Run 5K Marathon
Sunday, November 20
9:00am
Early Release Days
Monday, November 21 & Tuesday, November 22
Parent Teacher Conferences
Monday, November 21 & Tuesday, November 22
No School
Wednesday, November 23-Friday, November 25
Save The Date!
School Updates
THIS MONTH'S FUNDRAISER: Corner Bakery
Please consider purchasing breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack from Corner Bakery in Gaithersburg on Monday, November 14 any time from 7:30am-8:00pm! All sales that mention Watkins Mill Elementary School will have 20% donated to our school! Funds raised will be used towards assemblies, events, and materials for our students and families. Thank you for your support!
This Month's Market Day
Pre-K & Head Start Parent Resource Night
Last Call for Holiday Giving Applications!
Holiday Giving is a program available through different agencies in Montgomery County that provide support for families in need during the Thanksgiving and December holidays. If you are in need of support for the holidays, please complete the Holiday Giving request at the link below, and a WMES Family Support team member will submit an application for you.
If you would like support completing the application request, please call or visit the school and a staff member will support you.
Deadline for December applications: November 14
*Only ONE application request per household will be accepted
FRIDAY BAGS
Watkins Mill Elementary School is excited to continue our Friday Bags program in partnership with Watkins Mill High School and Manna Food! Every Friday, students who have signed up for Friday Bags will receive a bag of food to take home for the weekend. The amount of food and food items in the bag will vary based on each week's distribution.
If you would like your student(s) to receive Friday Bags this school year, please contact your student's teacher or a member of our WMES Family Support Team!
CLASS DOJO
If you have not yet created a Class Dojo account, be sure to sign up today! Class Dojo is a great way for families to communicate with school staff and receive updates about school, county, and community events and resources! If you would like support creating a Class Dojo account or are in need of your student's class code, please reach out to your student's teacher or a member of the Family Support Team!
Class Dojo is available on the web and as a free app on Apple and Android cell phone!
Click here to access the Class Dojo website
Click here for a helpful video tutorial about setting up and managing your Class Dojo account
PARENTVUE
Families are also recommended to activate an account using ParentVue, which is also available as a website and as a free app on Apple and Android cell phones. ParentVue is an MCPS app that families will use from elementary school through high school and gives access to student grades and report cards, county updates, and more!
Each parent/guardian has an individualized activation code to create an account. If you have not received your activation code, please reach out to your student's teacher or a member of the Family Support Team to activate your account!
WMES SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES
We are excited to promote our social media presence this year to increase communication with our families and community! Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates on school and community events, resources, and more!
Twitter: @WMESCommunity
Facebook: @WMESCommunity
WMES Spirit Wear
Every Friday will be Watkins Mill SCHOOL SPIRIT DAYS! Create your customized design for t-shirts, sweatshirts, zip-ups, polos, pants, shorts, face masks, or accessories! Don't miss out!
Click HERE to start your order!
Congratulations to this month's Wolf Paw Winners!
Shout out to WMES Fall SAM Soccer Team on a great season!
Washington Wizards 3rd Grade Basketball Clinic
WMES Community Cares Day
MCPS Updates
Free Tutoring Available to All MCPS Students
FEV Tutor
More information linked in English and Spanish
To set up tutoring: mcps@fevtutor.com
*Offers tutoring without cameras for students in grades 3-12 who learn best without a camera.
Tutor Me Education
More information linked in English and Spanish
To set up tutoring: MCPS@tutormeeducation.com or 240-618-2549
FREE ENGLISH CLASSES FOR MCPS PARENTS
In collaboration with MCPS, the Literacy Council of Montgomery County (LCMC) is offering free English as a Second Language classes for MCPS parents. Parents with questions regarding class availability and the sign-up process should email Kevin Ralph from LCMC at kevin@lcmcmd.org or call 240-665-0471.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE MCPS SCHOOL SYSTEM MEDICAL OFFICER
As we head into November and the cooler weather, I would like to share information about health and safety for Halloween and this year’s cold and flu season:
Influenza, RSV and other respiratory infections
Practicing basic health hygiene practices to avoid the spread of germs, like staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and good hand-washing, is more important than ever. They help prevent flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses, in addition to COVID-19. The flu vaccine reduces the risk of getting the flu and having severe symptoms from a flu infection. It is free for anyone older than 6 months, and is especially important for people at increased risk for flu complications.
Currently, there is no vaccine available for RSV. A preventive medication is available for certain infants and children at risk for severe disease (infants born very prematurely, or with congenital heart or lung disease). People at increased risk from RSV infections and their household members should be especially vigilant about preventing respiratory infections, and seek the advice of a health care professional if they develop respiratory symptoms. We will continue to monitor these health trends and keep our community informed.
Additional resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics
FREE CHROMEBOOKS FOR MCPS STUDENTS TO KEEP AT HOME
If your student(s) would benefit from having a use of an MCPS Chromebook device for home use during the school year, you can request a home device HERE.
*Requesting the device implies consent of use in accordance with MCPS policy (IGT-RA) and acknowledgement that the Chromebook, software, and issued peripherals are owned by MCPS.
SCHOOLCASH ONLINE REGISTRATION
SchoolCash Online is an easy to use and safe way to pay for your children’s school fees. Now, with a few clicks, you can pay for your child’s yearbook, class trips and so much more from your own home. All you have to do is register an account, attach your children and in no time you will be able to make payments online.
Click here to view instructions in English
MCPS PARENT ACADEMY TO-GO
The MCPS Fall 2022 Parent Academy To Go session will begin on September 14. Please join us to engage in virtual workshops that will provide tips, tools, and strategies to support your child’s academic progress and social emotional well-being. Please see the schedule and register for upcoming workshops below.
SIGN UP FOR ALERT MCPS
Alert MCPS provides emergency information about school closures or emergencies via text or email messages to devices you register.
INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN MCPS VOLUNTEER?
There are a few steps to complete before beginning your service as a volunteer in MCPS schools:
1. Complete the MCPS Parent/Guardian and Community Volunteer Form or the MCPS Volunteers in the Virtual Classroom form as appropriate. These forms serve as an introduction of yourself, your interests and availability in volunteering, and some important reminders about volunteers in schools.
2. Complete the mandatory online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training. This training is required for any volunteer who regularly supports schools, chaperones a field trip, etc. and is available in multiple languages. When the course is completed, a report is created to serve as proof of satisfying the training requirement.
3. Contact the school(s) where you wish to serve and provide them with a copy of the following: Appropriate MCPS Parent/Guardian and Community Volunteer Form or the MCPS Volunteers in the Virtual Classroom Form and your online course grade sheet that will show 100% for completing the online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training and an 83.3% for submission of the vaccine attestation (a total of 183.33%).
Support guides with complete step-by-step instructions, the link to Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found below.
*If you have an MCPS middle or high school student in your family that is in need of SSL hours and would to volunteer, please reach out to Ms. Aceves!
Community Updates
FREE BOOKS FOR ALL CHILDREN AGES 0-5!
Good news! Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is now open to 20886 zip code residents! This is a FREE program for ANY family that live within this zip code with a child from age 0-5 years old (EACH child in the family has an opportunity to register)!
Families can register online for each of their children to receive one brand new shiny book in the mail monthly until the month of their 5th birthday! Some books are even bilingual!
Items to note:
• Processing takes up to 6 weeks from the time of registration to the time of first book arrival
•Families must notify Imagination Library of address changes to continue receiving the books so books can be mailed to new address
•Families MUST confirm email address after registering before processing begins*
See flyer below to for registration link and more information!
Diapers & Wipes
*So What Else? is a non-profit organization that is able to provide 100 free diapers a month to families in need. To register, go to the address below and your ID and a birth certificate for your child.
701 Russell Ave
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(Entrance located by Ruby Tuesdays – Look for the GREEN door)
Children's Book Fair - RSVP Now!
Health Courses Available at The Equity Center
Previous Newsletters
Quick Links
Watkins Mill Elementary School
Email: Chelsea_J_Aceves@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmilles/
Location: 19001 Watkins Mill Road, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 740-5280
Facebook: facebook.com/WMESCommunity
Twitter: @WMESCommunity
ASK MCPS/SPANISH HOTLINE
Call: 240-740-3000
Provides answers to community questions in English and Spanish from 7:30 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m., Mondays through FridaysE-mail: ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org
Visit: Department of Family and Community Partnerships (DFCP) at 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850