Mudd Matters
Family Edition
January 2022
As we celebrate the beginning of a new year, I can’t help but look back at all the wonderful happenings at Dr. Mudd for 2021. I feel so fortunate to be a part of a community that works together as a family to provide enrichment and support to all of our children. Once again, we have demonstrated that “Together Everyone Achieves More.”
As we review the past year, we can see that our efforts have been extremely productive. I commend our staff, parents and families for doing an outstanding job in providing all of our children with so much in the way of academic support, encouragement and love. I look forward to our continued partnership in making Dr. Mudd Elementary School a place where all children meet with success.
Here’s wishing you a wonderful, prosperous new year that is filled with happiness, lots of love and good health.
With my sincerest appreciation,
Orlena Whatley, Principal
Introducing a New Voice at Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School
Deborah Booze is the new Attendance/Registration Secretary at Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary. She has been employed by Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) since 2019. Prior to employment with the county, she worked over 20 years in the private industry for IPMA-HR, and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE).
Ms. Booze is a native of Louisa, Virginia but has lived in Maryland over 30 years. She resides in Waldorf with her husband and two sons. She looks forward to working with staff, students, parents, and the community to ensure that Dr. Mudd continues to be a school of character and excellence.
Email: dbooze@ccboe.com
Student Recognition for Personal Responsibility
Yaretzy is also involved in several school activities such as our Destination Imagination Team and Band where she plays the flute. Outside of school, you can find Yaretzy reading, drawing, riding her bike and spending time with her family.
Exemplary Employee
Lea Flynn Halmon has been serving as an Instructional Assistant at Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School for 19 years. Throughout her tenure, she has been a dedicated and valued member of our school family who seeks to build relationships and make connections to both students and staff. At the center of her work are our students. Their best interest is at the heart of her work and everything she does.
Lea is a role model for other Instructional Assistants and is often helping them navigate through the system as a source of support. She pays it forward because that is who she is. If you ask Ms. Flynn-Halmon why she dedicates so much time to learning about our families, helping others, and giving so much of herself, she simply states, “Our staff and families deserve nothing less.”
New Year's Resolution
January is a great time to reflect on the areas in our lives where we felt successful during the past year. It is also a time to consider how to make changes in areas where we would like to improve.
Here are some tips to help students start the New Year off on a positive note.
· Get plenty of sleep. Scientists have found that students who do not get enough sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and do not do as well in school. Recommended amounts of sleep range from about 8½ to 11 hours a night for elementary students.
· Eat healthy. Eat more fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Drink at least 8 (8 oz) glasses of water every day. Limit the amount of sodas and snack foods you eat.
· Exercise your body and your mind daily.
· Follow the Golden Rule - Treat others (children and adults) the way you would like to be treated.
· Time + Effort = Achievement –Take the time to carefully complete all assignments at school and home; ask questions when you do not understand a task; demonstrate perseverance (that means keep trying – even when the work is difficult), and eliminate the word “can’t” from your vocabulary. Make it a goal to do your personal best at school every day.
· Read, read, read – Success in school depends, in large part, on a student’s ability to read and understand what they have read. Students should read a variety of books, including folktales, poetry, biographies, fiction, and more.
o Read to get information, read for fun, read to someone in your family…just read!
· Attend school regularly and on time. Remember the school building opens at 8:25 AM and school officially begins at 8:45 AM.
· Write out your Plan for Success. The plan may include getting better grades, making new friends, studying harder, staying out of trouble, etc.
o Share your Plan with someone who can help you to reach your goal.
Have a fantastic year!
What's happening this month?
Safety & Security- COVID-19
- Students benefit from in-person learning, and in-person instruction continues to be a priority.
- All* students (ages 2 years and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status must wear masks.
- All staff and students are required to wear a mask to school that fits appropriately. Please make sure to send in extra masks as sometimes throughout the day, students need to replace their masks.
- In addition to universal indoor masking, CDC recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms to reduce transmission risk.
- Screening testing, ventilation, handwashing and respiratory etiquette, staying home when sick and getting tested, contact tracing in combination with quarantine and isolation, and cleaning and disinfection are also important layers of prevention to keep schools safe.
- Students, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any infectious illness and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care.
- This guidance emphasizes implementing layered prevention strategies to protect students, teachers, staff, visitors, and other members of their households and support in-person learning.
Transportation
TIPS FOR KEEPING KIDS SAFE ON SCHOOL BUSES (ON AND AROUND)
On the bus have your children
- Keep the noise down — loud noises could distract the driver
- Stay in the seat
- Keep all your body parts in the bus
- Wear your masks
- Keep aisles clear of books and bags
- Gather belongings together before reaching your stop
- Wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat
Around the bus
- Parents walk young kids to the bus stop, wait with them until it arrives and make sure the driver can see the kids.
- Have kids stand at least three giant steps back from the curb as the bus approaches, let it come to a complete stop and board the bus one at a time.
- If your child needs to cross the street to get to the bus stop, make sure to arrive before the pick up time. If you are late to the bus stop, be safe. Do not run, look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.
- Instruct younger kids to use handrails when boarding or exiting the bus. Watch for straps or drawstrings that could catch in the door. If your child drops something, they should tell the bus driver and make sure the bus driver is able to see them before they pick it up.
Reminders During Arrival and Dismissal
- When dropping students off in the morning along Stone Avenue, your child(ren) should exit from the passenger side of the vehicle.
- When crossing the street, always use the crosswalk.
- Drive the speed limit at all times. Speed limit is 25 mph.
- Always wait in line. During arrival and dismissal there is only one lane of traffic. Passing vehicles is an unsafe procedure.
- Once you have dropped your child(ren) off or picked them up, please continue in the same direction.
- During arrival, if you choose to walk your child up to the school, please do not park in the drop off line.
Score a Touchdown with Good Bus Behavior
Bus 33
- Shaniya Thomas 3rd grade
- Edwin Alfaro 3rd grade
Bus 86
- London Kelly
- Mitchell Brown
Bus 92
- Skyler Queen
- Adara Sullivan
Bus 117/14
- Gabriel Covington
- Zoe Bennett
Bus 137
- Kaliyah Sutton
- Landon Ferguson
Bus 172
- Keeva Walker
- Aaron Harvey
Bus 185
- Xavier Simmons
- Tiara Gainer
Bus 337
- Brandon Reyes Lazo
- Tysean Washington
Bus 610
- Arya hanna
- Mikyiah Wright
Bus 1004
- Za'karia Kyler
- Jaiden Noble
Congratulations to the 2021-2022 Dr. Mudd Elementary Safety Patrols
Jason Taylor
Amaya Emory
Damiano Roberson
Khai Bui
Dylan Wilson
Zion Bannister
Cory Hodge
Neha Mahato
Landon Ferguson
Ari Zellars
Drew Malloy
Ariel Jacques
VERY IMPORTANT
Please make sure you write your student’s name on the inside of coats, jackets and on lunch boxes. The lost & found is quickly filling up with items that have no names in them. All unclaimed and unmarked items are donated to charity.