WHES Weekly News
Week of December 18, 2023
🗣️📣 Input Needed: Draft - WHES Revised Mission and Vision
Our mission is why we exist:
To inspire a contagious spark for learning and empower students to reach their full potential – one relationship at a time.
Our vision is how we accomplish goals:
To establish Windy Hill Elementary School as a leading educational institution within CCPS. At WHES, we will uphold a commitment to fostering a sense of belonging with a strategic focus on systems that ensure continuous growth for all community members. At WHES, all members of the community will make an unprecedented, collaborative effort to inspire a contagious spark for learning and ensure all students achieve success.
🗣️📣Please use the following link to complete the two-question survey, below so that we can include your input in this important task:
Reminder Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Students dropped off after 9:25 a.m. will need to be signed in at the school office. Staff cannot receive students in the parking lot after 9:25.
🚗 Arrival/Drop Off Procedures: (REPEAT)
- There will be two (2) drop-off lanes in all three rows of the parking lot (white arrows).
- Please do not arrive in parking lot prior to 9:00 to support traffic flow.
- Staff will be out to receive students starting at 9:15. Please wait for staff/safety monitor's signal to release your students.
- Students will walk towards the school using the cross walk with the support of safety monitors.
- Once all of the cars in a row are unloaded, staff will direct each lane to exit, please look out for the stop/slow signs. Only one row at a time will be dismissed by staff.
- Any students arriving after the arrival window of 9:15 - 9:25 will be required to park in the elementary / middle school parking lot. Parents/Guardians must accompany their students safely by walking from their vehicle into the main office. Please do not park on the “downhill” at any time (red bar/ bus exit route). All parking MUST be in parking spots.
🚗 Dismissal/Pick up:(REPEAT)
- For all car riders, the arrival window for pickup is 3:55 - 4:05. Park your car in either the WHES parking lot or if all spaces are full, the overflow lot at WHMS and walk up to the cafeteria/ external side entry door, marked by the location arrow, below.
- If parking at WHMS, you may walk along the dotted lines as pictured. There is a crosswalk in the WHES parking lot that should be used for parents/guardians parking in this lot for pickup.
- Car Rider pickup will be at the side/external entry door of the cafeteria. Counselors and supporting staff will check your ID at this side door and present you with a card for the number of students you will be picking up. Parents/guardians will then wait for students to be called for dismissal. We are able to manage Non-Daily Car Riders but we are still not able to accommodate Drop in, Surprise Car Riders after 3:45 p.m.
- Parents/Guardians must support safety by accompanying their children to their cars using the cross walks and designated spaces, below. Please be mindful of safety & staff supporting to ensure this is a successful process
Upcoming Events
We are halfway through the 2nd Quarter already! Please remember to check your child's progress on HAC!
December
The Book Fair will continue this week, ending on the 21st.
21 – 2-hour Early Dismissal
22-29 – Schools Closed for Winter Break (through January 1)
January
1 – Schools Closed for Winter Break
2 – No School for Students
3 – Schools Reopen for Students
11 - Family Literacy Night 5:30 - 7 pm
15 – Schools Closed for MLK, Jr. Day
16 - Mental Health Awareness Workshop at NHS (see flyer below)
19 – End of Q2
22 – 2-hour Late Arrival (TWT)
26 – Q2 Report Cards Distributed
Spotlight on Learning
This week we are spotlighting students who are
demonstrating their learning through the arts.
The rest of our student body also exhibited respectful & responsible choices during the performance!
☃️Winter Extravaganza ❄️
📖 Next Up, Family Literacy Night 📚
Counselor's Corner
The NED Show yo-yos are still available for purchase at school to support the free show and message. If your student has already purchased a yoyo, here is an important link to help them get off to a good start with proper string length adjustment, click here.
Additionally, here are a couple of our favorite follow up home resources from The NED Show website. You may want to use these with your child as they are designed to go hand in hand with the program.
The NED Pledge
Champion Choices
If you'd like additional resources, they are available here.
And don’t forget to ask your student what they learned in the show about Never giving up, Encouraging others and Doing your best!
Educating together!
https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/EQ317-165 (Link to purchase yo-yos)
Mrs. Pirchio and Ms. Whitaker
Lunchroom Monitor Needed!
We are in need of a lunchroom monitor. Hours are 11:30 am - 2 pm. Please apply if interested. Lunchroom Monitor - WHES
Substitute Positions at WHES!
Interested in a substitute position at Windy Hill Elementary School? Come join our team! Please email Ms. Schmidt if you are interested or have already completed the application process at the CCPS website.
Apply online
♥️Volunteers♥️
We LOVE our Volunteers and couldn't do without YOU!
EVERYONE must reapply for being a volunteer. The system was cleared out and you must reapply each year. Remember, if you want to be a chaperone or work events, you must be approved. If you are an employee of CCPS, you still need to complete the volunteer process for participation in events at school.
Even if you are not sure if you will be able to attend anything, please sign up early. Here’s the CCPS link of info:
Become a Volunteer - Calvert County Public School District (calvertnet.k12.md.us)
Wizard Need to Knows
Absent Note Template
Upcoming Community Events
NHS Poms and Dance Clinic
The Northern High School Patriot Poms Dance Team is hosting their annual Poms and Dance Clinic on Saturday, January 20th from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for students in grades 3-8. Girls participating will have the opportunity to perform at the Friday, January 26th Varsity Girls Basketball game with the current NHS Patriot Poms. Register by January 12th for a reduced registration fee. Late and walk-in registrations will be accepted.
I am happy to introduce our 2023-2024 PTO Board.
President
Holly Norton
Vice President
Destiny Sweeney
Secretary
Michele Katsaris
Staff Member at Large
Theresa Flaim
Treasurer
Paul Krutsch
Click here to learn more about our PTO Board.
Additional Information and Resources Previously Shared
For information about family events and youth activities taking place in our community, visit www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/flyers. Please note: These events and activities are not sponsored by the Calvert County Board of Education or Calvert County Public Schools. We provide equal opportunities to outside agencies to distribute materials that offer opportunities to students and/or their parents, but that permission should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by the school district.
Nondiscrimination Statement
Calvert County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry or national origin, familial status, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or genetic information in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
- Director of Student Services
- Director of Human Resources
443-550-8000
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
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Anti-sexual, Anti-racial and Anti-disability Harassment Statement
Discrimination can manifest itself in behaviors such as bullying, harassment, or intimidation of individuals.
Calvert County Public Schools does not tolerate any form of harassment including, but not limited to, sexual, racial, or disability. Any individual (student, employee, or community member) who believes that he or she has been subjected to any form of harassment is encouraged to report the allegation of harassment. Students, parents, and community members may report allegations of harassment to: Ms. Cecelia Lewis, Director of Student Services, Calvert County Public Schools, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Employees may report allegations of harassment to: Mr. Zachary Seawell, Director of Human Resources, Calvert County Public Schools, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.
Calvert County Public Schools is committed to conducting a prompt investigation for any allegation of harassment. If harassment has occurred, the individual will be disciplined promptly. Disciplinary actions for students found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or expulsion. Disciplinary actions for employees found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or termination.
Calvert County Public Schools encourages all students, parents, employees, and community members to work together to prevent any form of harassment.
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
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Calvert County Public Schools Antiracism Statement
Calvert County Public Schools explicitly denounces racism, bullying, discrimination, white supremacy, hate, and racial inequity in any form within our school community. Furthermore, CCPS will not tolerate the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism.
Each member of the district, individually and collectively, is responsible for creating and nurturing a safe, antiracist learning environment where each student, staff member, and community partner is a respected and valued member of the CCPS community.
Owings Maryland 20736
Phone 443-550-9790
Fax 410-286-4023