Dear Families of Millersville Elementary School,
Welcome to our new year!!!! Here we are, only the first week of January and we have SNOW for the 3rd time this school year!!!!! It was soooooo disappointing to have school closed those last 3 days prior to our Christmas vacation. The blizzard was exciting, but we had so many holiday celebrations scheduled that I know that the children were disappointed. We are looking very hard at an opportunity to reschedule, Polar Express Day, if possible. We may have to modify it in some fashion, but if we can in fact get it on our calendar, I’ll be sure to provide all of you plenty of notice.
I’ve always found that January is one of the best months to teach; the excitement of the holidays is over and believe it or not, studies show that students show tremendous growth during this time of year. As always, there is a lot going on here at MES over the next few months. The Science Club will start up again next month and we are hoping for more interest in the Spanish Club. Information for both will be coming home soon.
Here are some events happening soon:
· January 13th – Donuts for Dads
· January 18th – Closed for Martin Luther King Day
· January 19th – 22nd – Closing 2 hours early
· January 25th & 26th – CLOSED for students
· January 29th – PTA sponsoring Skate Night
· February 2nd – Chick-Fil-A Night (5 – 8) to benefit “Run, Jump & Throw!”
· February 5th – “Movie Night” sponsored by the Human Relations Club
· February 6th – “Pancakes at Applebees!”
As I hope all of you are aware, students enter the building at 8:35 a.m. each morning. There were some recent concerns raised regarding the time the busses were arriving in the morning and then the time the children were entering the school. We have contacted the head of transportation for the Old Mill feeder system in regards to those busses that are incorrectly dropping off students between 8:22 – 8:25 in the morning. Those bus companies have been contacted and were once again reminded that students should not be dropped off until 8:30 (meaning…letting students OUT of the bus at 8:30). Regardless..…Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. All students should be wearing outer clothing that keeps them warm enough to stand outside for at least 5 minutes until the bell rings. For those of you who drop your child off in the morning, you know that I am out there every morning (in every type of weather); so I know how cold it can be. Thank you for your understanding and support in this area.
A friendly reminder, the Maryland State Assessment for grades 3rd, 4th & 5th will be given March 9 & 10th for Reading and March 16th & 17th for Math. It is IMPERATIVE that all students in these grades not miss these days. Please…..PLEASE check future appointments to make sure they do not conflict with the dates above!!!!!
Another reminder on vacations: AACPS does not have a “legal” code for student absences during family vacations. However…..if I know in advance, I have the option of coding these absences to that they are technically NOT “illegal.” So….please let me know in advance if you are planning to take your child out of school for 1 week or longer. Teachers will collect work during your child’s absence for him/her to complete once they return.
Finally, many families have asked if the school year will be longer due to the “snow absences.” At this point, we still have 1 more day built into the school calendar. However….during the blizzard, Maryland was recently declared in a State of Emergency – so…hopefully we will not be held responsible to make these days up in June. More to follow on this.
With half of the school year complete it is going to be so exciting to see where the next months take us!!!! Enjoy this month and once again –
Happy 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Tammy L. Brendle
Principal, MES
