The Wolf Howl
March 2024
A Proud MCPS Community School!
Letter From The Principal
With the month of March comes the end of winter. March also marks the end of the third marking period. This is a great opportunity to discuss student progress with teachers. I would also encourage regular conversations with your children about how they are performing and what they are learning.
How You Can Help at Home: Even as students are showing growth and mastery, many still must reach end-of-year reading and math goals. Please listen to your children read aloud. Encourage reading and ask questions about what was read. Have students write in journals and respond to questions about their reading and in math, students must master their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts.
Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP): This year, students in grades 3 through 5 will take the MCAP tests. The MCAP test measures how well students are meeting academic expectations and learning the knowledge and skills they need to stay on track in school and after high school – in college or a career. The test measures complex skills like critical thinking, persuasive writing, and problem-solving. The MCAP test is just one of many ways that teachers and schools measure whether your child is on track for success. Teachers use the scores to improve teaching and learning, and to customize instruction to meet each student’s needs. Parents receive one report for English Language Arts and one for Mathematics.
March Upcoming Events
Early Release Day
Friday, March 1
Virtual PTA Meeting
Tuesday, March 5
Mobile Colgate Dental Van Visit
Wednesday, March 6
Family Market Day
Tuesday, March 12
4:00pm
Family STEAM Night
Thursday, March 14
6:00pm-8:00pm
Ledo Pizza Fundraiser
Monday, February 19
4:00pm-9:00pm
Spring Break - No School
Monday, March 25 - Monday, April 1
WMES UPDATES
Family STEAM Night
Come out and join us for our WMES Family STEAM Night on Thursday, March 14 from 6pm-8pm! There will be complimentary dinner served from 6:00pm-6:30pm followed by lots of fun games and activities that revolve around Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics!
WMES Ledo Pizza Fundraiser
Our Spring WMES fundraiser this year will be at Ledo Pizza in Montgomery Village Tuesday, March 19 from 4pm-9pm. Support Watkins Mill Elementary School by placing an order for dine in or carry out! See attached flyer for more details.
Yearbooks On Sale Now!
Don't miss a single memory from this year! 2023-2024 yearbooks are on sale now and available for purchase online. Visit freedpics.com and enter the password WM2324YB to place your order! All orders must be placed by May 21. If you have any questions, please contact Leshia_M_Murray@mcpsmd.org. See attached flyer for more details!
FREE PEP Classes for WMES Families!
Free Parenting Class for Parents/Caregivers! Learn tools to help your children handle stress and setbacks. Join the nonprofit PEP’s (Parent Encouragement Program) free 8-week online program for parents/caregivers of children aged 5-18, in English, Spanish, or Amharic. Learn to support your children’s mental wellness and resiliency and connect with other parents. Complete at least 5 sessions and the evaluation to receive a $50 gift card. Classes start in March, register today: tinyurl.com/mufkp5yd
WMES Culture Night
Join us at WMES on Thursday, April 18 from 6-8pm for our second annual Culture Night! Complimentary dinner will be served from 6-6:30pm followed by presentations from local high schools and tables hosted by our very own students and families! If you are interested in hosting a table, please reach out to Ines_C_Campero@mcpsmd.org. See attached flyer for more details.
Kindergarten Registration Open March 18-April 12
Children age 5 by September 1 on the first day of school are eligible for Kindergarten enrollment in the 2024-2025 schol year. To register, sign-in to your MCPS ParentVue account and use the “Online Registration” tab to begin registration OR come to WMES during one of our registration open house dates OR call to schedule an appointment for a staff member to support you! Open house dates are on March 18, 20, 22 and April 8 and 12 from 9am-11am. See flyer below for more details!
Pre-K & Head Start Registration Opens March 1!
Children turning 3 or 4 by September 1, 2024 are eligible for Pre-K and/or Head Start enrollment in the 2024-2025 school year. To register, sign into your MCPS ParentVue account OR in-person registration is available Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm at Rocking Horse Road Center - 4910 Macon Road, Rockville, MD 20852. For more information, visit https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/dtecps/earlychildhood/prek/
Save the Date!
Join the WMES PTA!
2023-2024 WMES Family Market Days
Sign Up For ParentVUE
Families new to MCPS are encouraged to sign up for a ParentVUE account. ParentVUE is the online parent portal that serves as the primary communication vehicle for schools to share information regarding grades, attendance, scheduling, access to myMCPS Classroom and more.
Mental Health Resources
"Where can I learn more about children's mental health?"
Always seek immediate help if a child engages in unsafe behavior or talks about wanting to hurt themselves or someone else. Refer to this list of local and national resources: Where To Get Help
It can be hard for families to tell the difference between challenging behaviors and emotions that are consistent with typical child development and those that are cause for concern. In general, if a child’s behavior persists for a few weeks or longer, causes distress for the child or the child’s family, and interferes with functioning at school, at home, or with friends, then consider seeking help.
Listed below are informational resources on a variety of mental health topics to help families and educators support student success.
What is Mental Health? | Español
Supporting Children’s Mental Health | Español
What to Expect: Healthy Mental and Emotional Development
Facts for Families: Early Childhood Mental Health
Facts for Families: When to Seek Help
Facts for Famlies: Well-being and Resiliency
Resilience Guide for Parents and Teachers
The Road to Resilience | 10 Ways to Build Resilience
Parents Guide to Getting Good Care
Finding Culturally Proficient Mental Health Providers
Grief | Grief after a Traumatic Event | Helping Children Cope
Oppositional and Defiant Disorders
Self Injurious Behavior | Español
Substance Use | Español | Keeping Youth Drug Free
Suicide | Start the Conversation | Support for Suicidal Thinking and Threats | Español
MCPS Updates
Second Quarter Report Cards Available on ParentVUE
Marking Period two report cards were distributed to students earlier this week and are now available on ParentVue. Report cards were distributed by schools and sent home with your child. If you did not receive a copy of the report card, you may download a copy from ParentVUE. For information on ParentVue, please click here.
Board of Education Appoints Dr. Monique Felder as Interim Superintendent of Schools
The Montgomery County Board of Education appointed Dr. Monique Felder as interim superintendent of schools at its business meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Dr. Felder brings 32 years of experience in public education, including as superintendent for Orange County Public Schools in North Carolina, where she was nominated regional superintendent of the year. Read more.
Inviting All Students, Staff and Families to Share Your Feedback
We want to hear from you on how we are doing. MCPS is inviting ALL students, staff and parents/caregivers to share your experiences and thoughts on academics, communication, and overall satisfaction with your school and the district and/or experience working at MCPS. Your input and insight is essential in helping us understand what is working well and areas of improvement. Your participation and any identifying information is completely confidential. The feedback collected will be used to inform decisions and help create a more supportive and enriching environment for students, staff, and families in our district.
FREE English Classes available to MCPS Parents
The Class to Community (C2C) organization offers free English as a Second Language (ESL), GED and college prep, and digital literacy classes. Visit the C2C website for more information
MCPS Girls' Summit March 9
Save the Date: Join us for the Girls’ Summit on Saturday, March 9 at Northwood High School. This event will provide informative workshops geared towards middle and high school girls on a variety of current topics. Join us for a chance to network, participate in fun activities, learn valuable skills and enjoy a fashion show presented by White House Black Market celebrating diverse body types.
Free Tutoring Available to All MCPS Students
There are several free tutoring options available to MCPS students. FEV Tutor and Tutor Me Education offer free, virtual tutoring. By logging into their Clever accounts, students can join a tutoring session. Both companies offer the same two services: On-demand homework help that require no scheduling and scheduled, ongoing tutoring for longer term support.
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 Chromebooks for MCPS Students to Keep at Home
*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.
Winter 2024 Parent Academy TO GO Workshops Now Available
Take advantage of virtual Parent Academy sessions this winter to stay informed and empowered as a partner and advocate for your student’s education. Parent Academy TO GO workshops provide families with useful information and resources to support their children's academic and emotional well-being, as well as help them to be college and career ready.
Visit the parent academy website for a full schedule and to register.
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.
Community Updates
MCPS Community Resource Guide
Previous Newsletters
Quick Links
Watkins Mill Elementary School
Mrs. Brooke Simon, Principal
Ms. Alejandra Olavarrieta, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Frances Avila-Miller, Assistant School Administrator
Email: Chelsea_J_Aceves@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmilles/
Location: 19001 Watkins Mill Road, Montgomery Village, 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