The Wolf Howl
May 2023
Letter From The Principal
Happy May! As the weather gets warmer, walking home with friends rather than riding the bus may seem preferable to students. Please know that a child is never permitted to make this choice without written permission from a parent. Additionally, students may not ride busses other than the one to which they are assigned. Each of these precautions is in place to make sure all our students arrive home safely.
Grade 5 Promotion Ceremony - Thursday, June 15 at Watkins Mill High School during the evening. Please join us as we celebrate the promotion of our grade 5 students as they transition to middle school.
As we begin to think about summer, we realize it is important for all our students to maintain the growth they have made in reading and math this year. Please consider signing up for our summer program!
May Events
BOGO Scholastic Book Fair
Monday, May 1-Friday, May 5
Family Market Day & Book Fair
Tuesday, May 2
4:00pm-6:00pm
Virtual Parent Cafe
Thursday, May 4
7:00pm
WMES Community Carnival
Saturday, May 6
11:00am-2:00pm
Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday, May 8-Friday, May 12
& Pizza Fundraiser
Tuesday, May 9
4:00pm-8:00pm
Safe Routes To School: Walking Wednesday Celebration
Wednesday, May 17
8:30am-9:00am
Virtual Bedtime Stories
Thursday, May 18
7:00pm
Instrumental Music Concert
Wednesday, May 24
7:00pm
Colgate School Dentist Visit
Thursday, May 25
Career Day
Friday, May 26
WMES & WMHS Youth Football Clinic
Saturday, May 27
12:00pm-2:00pm
No School
Monday, May 29
Save The Date!
School Updates
WMES Community Carnival May 6
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Spirit Week!
Colgate School Dentist Visit
We have partnered with Colgate to provide FREE dental cleanings and exams for our students. NO insurance information necessary! If you have not already registered your student to be seen by the Colgate dentist and are interested, please contact a member of the Family Support Team.
2023-2024 Kindergarten Registration OPEN NOW!
ELO Summer School Registration Open NOW! Registration Closes May 26
Free WMES After-School Program for Summer School Students!
This Month's Market Day
This Month's Fundraiser
This Month's Parent Cafe
BOGO Scholastic Book Fair
WMHS & WMES Youth Football Clinic
Save The Date!
5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
Wellness Words of Wisdom
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
MCPS 2023-2024 Pre-K & Head Start Program Registration OPEN NOW!
Registration is open for Prekindergarten and Head Start for the 2023-2024 school year. Children must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2023, and families must be income eligible to apply. Families can register their children online or in person. For families who want to register in person, weekday and weekend locations are open through March 31. Registration is also still open for the current 2022-2023 school year.
For more information about eligibility guidelines, required documents and how to register online, call 240-740-4530 or visit the MCPS website.
How to Find Mental Health Resources and Supports in MCPS
You can easily find valuable district information and community resources for students, staff and families on the MCPS homepage and at the top of every school website. MCPS is committed to the physical, social and psychological well-being of its more than 160,000 students and over 24,000 employees.
Student & Family Support / Mental Health Resources
Be Well 365 Resources by School
Mental Health and Crisis Support
MCPS Stronger Student mobile app
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 English Classes for MCPS Parents
In collaboration with MCPS, the Literacy Council of Montgomery County (LCMC) is offering free English as a Second Language classes for MCPS parents. Parents with questions regarding class availability and the sign-up process should email Kevin Ralph from LCMC at kevin@lcmcmd.org or call 240-665-0471.
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.
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
Montgomery Village Recreation Summer Camps
Montgomery Village Recreation's Summer Camp Registration is OPEN NOW!
Great News!
FREE Ride On Tokens Available at WMES! If you would like Ride On tokens, please contact Mrs. Aceves
FREE 3-Week Karate Program in May!
Previous Newsletters
Missed one of our Parent Cafes? No problem! Check out the presentations below!
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