The Wolf Howl

Watkins Mill families,

Happy New Year and Welcome Back to School!

I hope everyone is refreshed, rejuvenated and ready for an exciting second semester. As I look back at 2023, I am again reminded of the high level of dedication and effort that our staff, students and families, put forth to make Watkins Mill Elementary School the best it can be!

Readiness for potential virtual instruction on inclement weather days is a MUST. If you need an MCPS Chromebook for home use, you must complete the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDNdqO31soXKLffjcEzgVQ9C2Z2koPm6ifKm7-K77e44ZhAg/viewform. Once the form is completed a Chromebook and charger will be sent home with your student for home use. Please complete the link now so we can all be prepared.

Additionally, safety remains our top priority. This is a friendly reminder that the staff is available from 8:40 – 9:00am to supervise student arrival. For safety reasons, you may not drop off your child before 8:40am. If your child arrives to school after 9:00 they are tardy and must be escorted by you into the building. You should then report to the office for a late pass.

Lastly, every Friday is Watkins Mill Pride Day. Get your spirit wear now so you can participate! Visit our online store at https://www.watkinsmillspiritwear.com/ There are over 80 available items and 12 different designs. Personalization is also available!

Have a wonderful January.

Watkins Mill ES student portraits, including make-up day portraits are now online for viewing and ordering! You should have received an email from Freed Photography with your student's private gallery information. If you have not received this (check your spam too), please contact them at support@freedphoto.com or call 301.652.5452.

Membership Form (English)

Membership Form (Spanish)

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

Dear MCPS Community,

With many of you returning from travel and gatherings during an active cold and flu season, here are some health updates and tips as we start the new year. Although we are in a better place as compared to last year’s season, with more tools to prevent severe illness, being aware of current health trends helps keep students and staff ready for teaching and learning.

1. Rates of COVID-19 and influenza (flu) continue to rise, contributing to increased hospital admissions for severe respiratory illness.

   The latest COVID-19 subvariant of interest, JN.1, has been in the news because it has become more common than other Omicron subvariants. So far, there is no indication that it causes more severe disease, and COVID-19 testing, treatments and vaccines work for JN.1. However, as flu and other respiratory viruses are also spreading in the community, it is still important to be careful. Emergency room visits and hospital admission rates for COVID-19 and flu have been increasing in our state since November, especially for older adults (65 years+), infants and young children.

2. The Maryland Department of Health issued new masking guidance for health care settings related to increasing hospital admissions from respiratory infections.

   Face-covering guidance from the county health department has not changed for the general population or other public spaces. The new state guidance applies to health-care settings and is based on the state’s combined hospital admission rates for multiple respiratory infections. You may be asked to wear a mask at a doctor’s office or hospital, and masks are strongly recommended for health room staff in schools. Medical masks will continue to be available for staff and students at school. Please refer to our website for more information.

Healthy habits and staying up to date on immunizations are critical during cold and flu season, especially for those at higher risk for severe disease, or for those who are in close contact with anyone at higher risk or too young to be vaccinated. Testing promptly with symptom onset can also help reduce severe disease, since medicines are more effective when started early. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or have mild symptoms, consider testing before spending time with anyone at higher risk. Schools will continue to make COVID-19 rapid test kits available for staff and students.

MCPS continues to work closely with our county health department and other amazing community partners on a broad range of health trends. COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency, but other important health issues merit our joint attention. Health is about more than not getting sick, and we are best able to learn, teach and support each other when we feel well. The health of our school community is a shared responsibility; thank you for your collaboration and commitment to the health of our staff and students.

Additional Information:

• MCPS COVID-19 Information Page:– Masking and COVID-19 specific procedures
• “Happy and Healthy Holidays!” community message – Prevention and treatment during cold and flu season
• Medical Officer Website: Seasonal Health Information – More information about COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccines

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

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 / 中文 / français / tiếng Việt / 한국어 / አማርኛ / Portuguese

Middle School (English)
español / 中文 / français / tiếng Việt / 한국어 / አማርኛ / Portuguese

High School (English)
español / 中文 / français / tiếng Việt / 한국어 / አማርኛ / 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.

With winter weather just around the corner, remember that MCPS offers numerous ways to learn about school closures, delayed openings and early dismissals when there is inclement weather. Learn more about how weather decisions are made and how to receive information about any changes.

MCPS uses color codes to indicate the six operational status options:

• Normal Operations

• Two Hour Delay

• Early Dismissal

• Schools Closed/Offices Open

• School System is Closed (Schools closed/Offices closed)

• Virtual Learning Day

• After-School and Weekend Activities

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

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.

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.

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