
The Wolf Howl
November 2023
A Proud MCPS Community School!
Letter From The Principal
It is hard to believe that it is already November and that the first marking period is coming to an end. Our dedicated teachers are working harder than ever to ensure that each student gets the best education possible.
Parent Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences present an excellent opportunity to find out how your child is adjusting to the school year and to get to know his/her teachers. Here are some general tips on how to have a successful conference:
ï‚· Be Prepared: Write down everything that you want to talk about at the conference.
ï‚· Be On Time: Arrive promptly or a few minutes early.
ï‚· Stay Focused: Avoid lengthy discussions of topics that are not related to the purpose of the conference.
Cold Weather is Coming
Recess provides an important break for students and is a chance to recharge energy for the remainder of the day. Students will go outside for daily recess unless the temperature or wind chill factor reaches below 32° F. Therefore, all students need to dress appropriately for the weather conditions.
Finally, with Thanksgiving upon us, we often think about the things for which we are most grateful. At Watkins Mill Elementary, we are especially thankful for our students, their families, and our staff members, all of whom play an essential role in shaping our school community. Thank you for your continued support.
November Upcoming Events
PTA Chuck E. Cheese Fundraiser
Friday, November 10
3pm-9pm
Family Market Day
Tuesday, November 14
4pm-6pm
2nd Grade Strathmore Field Trip
Wednesday, November 18
Holiday Giving Winter Holiday Deadline
Friday, November 17
Anti-Bullying Assembly
Friday, November 17
Early Release Days
Monday & Tuesday, November 20-21
No School
Wednesday-Friday, November 22-24
WMES UPDATES
November Parent Cafe
Breakfast with The Principal
Join the WMES PTA!
2023-2024 WMES Family Market Days
All WMES Students Receive FREE Breakfast & Lunch for the 2023-2024 School Year!
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.
NEW! Remind School Communication App
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
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
Virtual Academy Applications Due!
Pathway to College, Career and Community Readiness
MCPS created a new guide to help families, students and teachers work together to ensure student success.
The Pathway to College, Career and Community Readiness helps identify students’ strengths and areas of improvement to ensure each student receives the support they need.
Here’s how it works:
The academic milestones will be used to address any learning gaps before students transition to a new grade level, college or the workforce.
Parents will receive information about whether their child is meeting these specific benchmarks.
School staff, students and families will meet to decide the best way to help the student succeed.
In addition to academic benchmarks, schools will provide opportunities and experiences for students to cultivate core competencies and skills to prepare them for life after high school.
Visit the links below to learn about the milestones.
Elementary Schools (English)
español / 䏿–‡ / français / tiếng Việt / 한êµì–´ / አማáˆáŠ› / Portuguese
Middle School (English)
español / 䏿–‡ / français / tiếng Việt / 한êµì–´ / አማáˆáŠ› / Portuguese
High School (English)
español / 䏿–‡ / français / tiếng Việt / 한êµì–´ / አማáˆáŠ› / Portuguese
We are thrilled to announce the release of three new valuable resources to enhance mental health support for Spanish-speaking communities:
· Culture, Community, and Connection: 2023 BIPOC Mental Health Toolkit - The BIPOC Mental Health Month campaign and toolkit were designed to provide culturally responsive mental health information to highlight three core pillars of culture, community, and connection and how integral they are to BIPOC communities. The toolkit includes factsheets, worksheets, shareable images, and more that can aid community discussion and guide individuals to helpful resources.
· Selfies, Social, and Screens: Navigating Virtual Spaces for Youth: 2023 Back to School Resources - The Back to School campaign and resources were developed to help increase understanding of how online activity affects the mental health of children and teens. The factsheets, shareable images, and other materials in the toolkit can be used to help manage the challenges of virtual spaces and empower youth to make informed decisions for their mental health and well-being.
· New Mental Health Resources Hub in Spanish: Our Spanish-language resources hub provides a comprehensive collection of mental health materials to assist individuals, families, and others in accessing valuable mental health resources for the Spanish-speaking community.
We invite you to download our campaign materials, explore the resources on our website, and share them within your communities. Together, we can foster mental health awareness and support for all.
How to Receive MCPS Emergency Information
MCPS uses color codes to indicate the six operational status options:
Visit the MCPS Operating Status and Color Codes webpage for more information on the colors and their meaning.
- MCPS Homepage
- Weather-related messages are posted in English and Spanish.
- Text and Email
- Alert MCPS provides you with emergency information about school operations. Weather-related messages are sent in English and Spanish. Sign up for Alert MCPS
- Social Media
- Twitter http://twitter.com/mcps, https://twitter.com/MCPSEspanol
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mcpsmd, https://www.facebook.com/mcpsespanol
- Instagram @mcps_md and @mcpsenespanol
- MCPS Cable Channels
- Emergency announcements are posted on the following cable channels:
- Comcast Channel 34
- Verizon Fios Channel 36
- RCN Channel 89
- Telephone Information Line: 301-279-3673
- Recorded emergency information.
- Tune in to local TV and radio stations
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.
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
Upcoming Opportunities at Montgomery College
GED Test Preparation Classes
ESOL for Customer Service
ESOL Classes
Pharmacy Technician Training
ESOL Bridge to Technology
ESOL for Education Careers
Kids Days Out with Moco Rec
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