January 2022 Newsletter
New Market Elementary
Message from Administration
"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." - Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Dear NMES Families,
Happy New Year! 2022 stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. Opportunity also awaits us in the new year. Opportunity is defined as a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. We hope that each of you find the Opportunity in this new year to make positive change. As administrators, we will take the Opportunity to continue serving our school community and providing the resources needed for a top-notch educational experience for our students. Our teachers will seize the Opportunity to accelerate learning for each of their students. We hope that you will talk with your child about what Opportunity they want to create for themselves and to take advantage of in 2022.
Wishing all our NMES families a year full of hope and opportunity!
Mr. Bowser - Principal
Mrs. McGaha - Assistant Principal
Important January Dates
- Monday, January 3: Schools and offices re-open
- Thursday, January 6: PTA meeting from 7:00 - 8:00 (https://meet.google.com/xev-ubfe-vbi)
- Friday, January 14: Schools closed for students - Teacher Work Day
- Monday, January 17: Schools and offices closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Tuesday, January 18: Term 3 begins
- Thursday, January 27: Report cards issued
*Winter Reading Challenge: January 1 - January 31 (See details below in the Media Center section)
PTA Information
Happy New Year! Please join us for our January PTA meeting in person and via Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/xev-ubfe-vbi). We will be discussing plans for the spring, teacher grants, beautification, Artist in Residence, and other ideas to continue to make NMES the best! Hope to see you there.
Our year-round spiritwear store is up and running. To shop, visit Store link: https://1stplace.sale/44370.
For updates from the PTA, to find membership forms, important dates, visit our upgraded PTA website.... https://nmespta.com/
Thank you, PTA!
PTA provided snacks!
PTA provided lunch!
PTA provided desserts!
Staff Spotlight: Get to Know Ms. Esslinger
What do you most enjoy about your role at NMES? I truly enjoy making teachers' lives easier. I've worked as a teacher before so I have a grasp on the daily challenges teachers face. Anything I can do to simplify their demanding to-do list is my top priority!
What is a fun fact that you would like to share with our NMES community? In college, I majored in Spanish education and minored in music. I love pursuing both of those passions in addition to my love for technology! I just finished up a season of handbell ringing with Frederick Community College and am seeking more ways to use Spanish in the community!
What else would you like to share with our community to help them get to know you? I am the Decision Maker and head Facilitator of the new Girls Who Code Club at our school! I look forward to fostering young minds and helping students learn what they can achieve with computer science!
*The photograph above is Ms. Esslinger. Be sure to say hello and introduce yourself when you see her! She is another one of our awesome staff members here at NMES!
Media Center News
Winter Reading Challenge
From January 1 to January 31, NMES will participate in Beanstack’s Fifth Annual Winter Reading Challenge, “Read for a Better World,” sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group. We challenge our students to read at least 300 minutes during the
month and keep track of their reading on our Beanstack site. Students can access Beanstack by logging onto Clever at the media center homepage at http://education.fcps.org/nmes/mediacenter. For help using Beanstack, please contact our media specialist, Mrs. Siderius, at jennifer.siderius@fcps.org or visit our Beanstack Guide at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TNtB0Mdqtj1vfDsUM9WuTpgf17JKBiV5ukzMPawBdZY/edit?usp=sharing.
Thousands of other libraries and schools across the nation are joining in too, for a chance at winning prizes including book collections, signed books, and virtual author visits. NMES was one of 12 nationwide winners last year! Can we repeat that this year? For added fun, the homeroom that reads the most minutes in January will win a chance to play Knockdown the Snowman against NMES staff during an extra PE visit! Also, Mystery Readers will be on the lookout for students reading throughout the month. Students caught reading will be recognized on morning announcements and receive a free meal from Texas Roadhouse!
Happy reading, NMES Wolves!
January Optional Choice Board
Help your kids discover more about the holidays and events celebrated in January with our optional choice board! With a curated selection of ebooks, videos, articles and games, these websites can help your child learn and grow all month long! The choice board is available at https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Qzwx8VkazDvPOn2US1pOExOCtHJM65rCfZUNA469rU4/present?slide=id.p. Contact Mrs. Siderius, our media specialist, at jennifer.siderius@fcps.org with questions!
Young Authors' Contest
We would like to announce the first place winners of the 2021-2022 Young Authors’ Contest! In 2nd grade, Nate Cockey won for his short story A City Named Hollywood. In 3rd grade, Emma Wood’s short story, This Or That Hat took first place. The 4th grade winner was Caitlin Clark, with her poem Bad Things Can Happen. Finally, our 5th grade winner was Angeline Marttila for her short story, Truth Will Always Come Out.
All of the first place winning entries will move on to compete against other winners from elementary schools across Frederick County. Congratulations to all of the winners and thank you to all of the students who entered the Young Authors’ Contest this year!
Weather Guidelines and Outdoor Recess
It is difficult to set guidelines that fit every circumstance and condition with regards to outside activities during cold weather. Principals use their discretion and good judgment as to whether or not students will go outside, as well as the duration of the outside activity. Sometimes we may opt for a shorter recess period in cold temperatures or specify a temperature above 20 degrees as the cut-off point for going out. Elementary students should not go outdoors for recess or physical education whenever the temperature falls below 20 degrees, including the wind chill factor. The temperature cut-off at NMES is 20 degrees, so please remember to dress your child in the appropriate clothing (labeled coat, hat and gloves).
Visits from Zeke
Thank you, Zeke!
Playing Games!
Zeke and Betty!
Volunteering at NMES
Scenes around NMES
Schoology Resources for Parents/Guardians
- FCPS Schoology Page for Students and Families https://www.fcps.org/student-services/schoology
- FCPS Schoology YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGATg8OciCItdUiqHJyHHrA
- FCPS Schoology Troubleshooting Guide https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OJWzxwXeSumMlev5Ac8_-B0aaKhW5_ofMvuRO3a1pws/edit?usp=sharing
- How To View Grades in Schoology https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HG9UQhjKp3gqu7lj6zJJoPNuALXpsY8GGseM5Gu-yX0/edit?usp=sharing
FCPS Bus Delay Information
Free to-go Supper and Snack Meals
Free to-go supper and snack meals will be available for students to take home at various locations around the county. To-go supper and snack meals for the weekend will be distributed on Fridays. These meals are available at the following schools:
- Ballenger Creek Elementary
- Brunswick Elementary
- Butterfly Ridge Elementary
- Hillcrest Elementary
- Lincoln Elementary
- Middletown High
- Monocacy Elementary
- North Frederick Elementary
- Spring Ridge Elementary
- Sugarloaf Elementary
- Thurmont Middle
- Walkersville Elementary
- Waverley Elementary
- Whittier Elementary
New Market Elementary
Email: Jason.Bowser@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/nmes/
Location: 93 West Main Street, New Market, MD, USA
Phone: 240-236-1300
Twitter: @FCPSNewMarketES