The Wolf Howl

As you may already know, this year students in grades 3 through high school will be taking the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) tests. As we approach this year’s MCAP testing period in April, I would like to share with you the days and times that Watkins Mill Elementary School students will be testing. On the dates designated below, students will take a portion of the MCAP test. Instruction will continue as usual for all students not scheduled for MCAP Testing. Please avoid scheduling any out-of-school appointments during your child's designated testing dates. We ask that students are well-rested and focused on testing dates.

WMES Spring Catalogue Fundraiser Begins

Monday, April 8

Kindergarten Registration Open Office Hours

Monday, April 8

9am-11am

Family Market Day

Tuesday, April 9

4pm-6pm

No School

Wednesday, April 10

Parent Cafe

Thursday, April 11

9:00am

Kindergarten Registration Open Office Hours

Friday, April 12

9am-11am

Culture Night

Thursday, April 18

6pm-8pm

WMES Spring Catalogue Fundraiser Ends

Friday, April 19

Asynchronous Learning Day

Monday, April 22

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!

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.

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!

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/

Meeting for all parents of upcoming kindergarteners for the 2024-2025 school year on May 31 from 9am-11am

Membership Form (English)

Membership Form (Spanish)

Nominations for next year’s Watkins Mill Wolves PTA Officers are NOW OPEN! If you or someone you know is interested in running for an officer position (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary) for next school year, please email secretarywatkinsmillwolves@gmail.com and indicate which position you are interested in running for. YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE PTA TO BE ABLE TO RUN FOR AN OFFICER POSITION. The duties of each position are listed HERE.

The PTA must have at least a President and a Treasurer in order to maintain the organization. Membership will vote to install new officers at the May 7th membership meeting and new officers will assume duties on July 1st, 2024.

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.

ParentVUE Quick Guides: English / español

"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

Therapy in Color

ADHD | Español

Anxiety | Español

Autism

Bipolar Disorder | Español

Care for the Caregiver

Child Abuse and Neglect

Depression

Divorce

Eating Disorders

E-Cigarettes

Grief | Grief after a Traumatic Event | Helping Children Cope

OCD

Oppositional and Defiant Disorders

Psychosis

Self Injurious Behavior | Español

Stress

Substance Use | Español | Keeping Youth Drug Free

Suicide | Start the Conversation | Support for Suicidal Thinking and Threats | Español

Tourettes and Tics

Trauma | Español | Adult Survivors of Trauma

Monday, April 22 is now an asynchronous learning day and will be used as a make-up instructional day for students. Students will be sent home with assignments to complete independently.

Asynchronous learning describes educational activities and assignments that engage students in learning without live instruction or the use of technology. Students must complete assignments to count toward their attendance for the day. Additional time for students to complete assignments will be granted for any challenges or unforeseen circumstances. Read More.

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

Enrollment form

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

If your student(s) would benefit from having a use of an MCPS Chromebook device for home use during the school year, you can request a home device HERE.

*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.

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 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

Click here to view instructions in Spanish

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.

Click here to view available MCPS Parent Academy Workshops

This resource guide provides contact information to support students and families in need of community resources. Additionally, it may be used to provide resources for suspended students and students suspected of being involved in gang activity, meeting the related COMAR requirements. School staff may refer students and their families to any of these services, as needed.

New English Conversation Classes

The Gilchrist Center is expanding its free English conversation classes! Four new classes have been added to the roster. These`classes are offered year-round to Montgomery County residents, with no registration required. Participants may attend as often as they wish to practice English. Classes are available online and in person. To view the class schedules, click here.

Spring Registration for ESOL and Computer Classes

Registration for Spring ESOL and computer classes is just around the corner. Anyone interested in teaching or co-teaching classes may submit a volunteer application.

English ESOL classes:

• Evenings ($35) and Saturdays (free)

• Registration will be available online at 1 p.m. on April 8.

Basic Computer classes:

• Classes are free

• Learn about Microsoft Excel, Word, Google Suite, email, and more.

• Registration will be available online at 1 p.m. on April 12.

For information about community resources, visit the Gilchrist Center in person or call 240-777-4940. To receive notifications for upcoming class registration and other programs, sign up here.

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

• 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 Fridays

• E-mail: ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org

• Visit: Department of Family and Community Partnerships (DFCP) at 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850