Dolphin Digest
Weekly Update #8
Week of September 13, 2021
WMES Parents/Guardians,
Happy Friday! We look forward to seeing all of our WMES Dolphins for our Family Fun Fair tonight, September 10, 2021, from 5:00-6:30 p.m.! It is a free event for our families. Our staff has put a lot of effort into the games and activities for this fun evening. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Just a reminder, please be at the bus stop 5-10 minutes earlier than the pick-up time, as buses can run 5-10 minutes earlier or later due to traffic and/or the number of students on the bus on any given day. Thank you in advance for your help! If parents are not at the bus stop when the bus arrives, students will be returned to school. Please practice patience the first couple of weeks as drivers are learning our students and new routes. Additionally, we continue to have new students registering daily, who need to be added to bus routes. The safety of all our bus riders is our #1 priority!
Car Riders
Thank you for a speedy car rider arrival and dismissal during these first weeks of school. A gentle reminder to pull all the way up in the car-rider loop, to the crosswalk, when dropping off so that our staff can expedite the process for all car riders. Please make sure your child is on the right side of the car for safety purposes, both when exiting and entering the vehicle. Please also make sure your child is ready to get out of the car with his or her book bag when pulling into the car-rider loop. Your child should practice how to buckle and unbuckle his or her safety belt to ensure a speedy arrival and dismissal. Any changes for afternoon dismissal must be in writing. You cannot call to make changes after 2 p.m.! Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Technology Agreement
Students will be assigned an iPad this year. All parents will need to sign and return the Technology Form Agreement. Just a friendly reminder that students/families are responsible for the care and return of the assigned iPad. Any questions, please contact your child's teacher.
Parent Advisory Agreement
We will be having our Parent Advisory Committee meetings once a quarter on Zoom at 5:00 p.m. Our first meeting is scheduled for October 12th. We invite previous Parent Advisory Committee members, as well as new ones to join! During our PAC meetings, we ask for input and feedback from White Marsh families on various topics to improve the school experience for you and your child. Please email Ms. Seidel ( kseidel@talbotschools.org) if you would like to join.
Water Bottles & Face Masks
We are encouraging families to send a bottle of water to school each day, as our water fountains only have the bottle filling feature turned on and some students have been forgetting to bring their water bottles. Also, please be sure that your child comes to school each day with a mask that fits properly. Some students are wearing adult-size masks that do not properly fit children. Please also be sure to put extra masks in their backpack that they can change should they need a new one throughout the day. We are in need of disposable mask donations for our students. Your donation will be greatly appreciated and will help ensure the safety of all at WMES.
Pink Emergency Cards
Pink Emergency Cards were provided during conferences or sent home during the first week of school. It is important to check over the card, front and back, and make any changes necessary and please SIGN THE CARD! Important items to check are phone numbers, emergency contacts, emails, etc. If there is a change in an address, you must provide the school with new proof of residency. Please note, there is a new section on the card called Military Connected. Please take the time to mark the appropriate selection, if an "N" or "Y" is not indicated on the left side of this question. We cannot express how important it is to update the emergency cards annually. If there is ever an emergency situation, we would need to have the most current, up-to-date information in Powerschool, so that we can get in touch with our parents or a designated adult. Additionally, we would use these cards should we not have access to our computers or our Powerschool system, for any reason. Thank you in advance for your time on this important matter.
Let's just hope for a healthy, safe, and normal school year!
Ms. Seidel, Proud Principal
PLEASE BE SURE TO COMPLETE THE FREE AND REDUCED MEALS APPLICATION- IT BENEFITS WMES AND TCPS!
If you have not already done so, please take the time to complete the application that came home with your student. If you did not receive a form, please contact the main office. This application is a yearly process and a new application must be completed each school year. If you have a form returned to you with a note or highlighted area, please complete those areas and return ASAP. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call the main office (410) 476-3144.
Talbot County Free Library
Kids Fall Paint & Create Art Kit-To-Go- share with families
Fall into autumn and pick up the art kit that will bring fun to the whole family! Stop by one of our branches and get your creative juices flowing with: non-toxic washable paints of yellow, red, and brown, two paintbrushes, two plastic palettes to mix paint, paper plates, and paper. Explore what you can create with this season's inspiration.
Math Updates
Reading Corner
Attendance
WMES Spirit Wear!!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dGkn_Nu00ROBmbXhwJTliLTBc_ztfrWG/view?usp=sharing
Here Comes the Bus App
The Here Comes the Bus® App will be available to parents of White Marsh Elementary School students mid September! Here Comes the Bus® will allow you to:
View the real-time location of your child’s bus
Access the app from your smartphone, tablet or computer
Receive push notifications or email alerts
Send your child to the bus stop at just the right time, every time
How to get started:
Download the Here Comes the Bus app* or visit herecomesthebus.com.
Click the button.
Enter school code 87314 and click “Next” followed by “Confirm”
Complete the “User Profile” box.
Under “My Students,” click “Add.” Enter your child’s last name and student ID number. The student ID number can be found in the PowerSchool Parent Portal under the Bus Information tab. If you have not yet set up your PowerSchool Parent Portal, please do so using the instructions below. This will be necessary in order for you to access your child’s transportation information in the future.
Once you confirm your information, you’re ready to begin using Here Comes the Bus!
*Available at the App Store and Google Play
Here Comes the Bus® is a registered trademark of Synovia Solutions™ LLC
HARRIS TEETER'S TOGETHER IN EDUCATION PROGRAM!
We need our families to please sign up!!! HARRIS TEETER'S TOGETHER IN EDUCATION PROGRAM!
Earn funds for WMES by linking us to your Harris Teeter VIC card, then shop Harris Teeter brands!
Linking must occur each school year.
Here's the link to register your VIC card: https://www.harristeeter.com/together-in-education
Thank you in advance for your support!
Technology Updates
TECHNOLOGY TROUBLE-SHOOTING TIPS:
If you are having trouble with your device (slow running, not holding a charge, etc), please email wmeshelpdesk@talbotschools.org with the following information: Your name, your school's name, the issue you are having, and your contact information.
VISIT for TCPS Technology Tutorials:
https://www.tcps.k12.md.us/2020-21-news/online-learning-family-tutorials
WMES PTO Updates
*PTO officers:
President/Vice President: Valerie Russ
Treasurer: Lisa Short
Secretary: Carla Beavers
Dedicated Dolphin
This year we are looking for parents, teachers, and community members to nominate a WMES teacher for the Dedicated Dolphin Award. Click on the link to submit a nomination during any time of the year. Dedicated Dolphin Nomination Form:
Important Dates
SEPTEMBER
*9/10- Family Fun Fair! 5:00-6:30 p.m. (Outside Event at WMES on the blacktop based on TCPS Health Metrics)
9/13-WMES PTO Meeting 5:30 p.m. -All are invited to attend!
*9/15- TCPS BOE Meeting 6:00 p.m.
*9/17- Picture Day!
*9/28-9/30- Fall MCAP Testing (Grades 4-5)
*9/23- Interim 1 Ends
*9/28-9/30-Fall MCAP Grades 4/5
*9/29- Interims Issued
OCTOBER
*10/1- Early Dismissal/Parent Teacher Conferences PM- 12:20 p.m. dismissal
*10/4-PTO Meeting 5:30 p.m.
*10/12-PAC Meeting 5:00 p.m.-All Welcome to Attend! A Zoom Link will be shared. Please RSVP!
*10/25-10/29- Red Ribbon Week
*10/29- WMES Character Book Parade, Early Dismissal 12:20 p.m.
White Marsh Elementary School
4322 Lovers Ln,
Trappe, MD 21673
(410) 476-3144
Come One Come All...to the Greatest School of All!
Grandparent's Club!!!
Connect with Kim Seidel and White Marsh Elementary School
Email: kseidel@talbotschools.org
Website: http://www.tcps.k12.md.us/schools/WMES
Location: 4322 Lovers Lane, Trappe, MD, USA
Phone: 410-476-3144
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/wmes21673/about/?ref=page_internal