A word about our WAAG - Watershed also uses a cultural calendar to ensure visibility of all holidays, holy days, and national days of recognition, across various backgrounds. Watershed continues to be a space of learning, dialogue, and safety for all people. If you have a comment or correction regarding the WAAG, please contact our Turtle Talk editor, Sage Magness-Hill.

https://cdnsm5-ss3.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_2744/File/Calendars/Edited_2024-2025_School_Calendar_050724-WEB.pdf

It has been an incredible return to school after spring break! Students and staff are well rested, excited to learn and constantly going outside! Today, I spoke with 6th and 7th graders and 2 classes were outside, enjoying the morning and their outdoor education classrooms. You could hear the students in the rain garden (5th grade class) and the sound forest rustling of Ms. Hogan. Ms. Griffin is designing a new outdoor space for our art classroom, adjacent to the sound forest and Mr. Mendel is always hiking to the hollow.

As you know, students have to be here to learn and Watershed staff are more committed to our mission and vision each and every year! Outdoor, hands-on, integrated learning for all students is the way to ensure our young people are prepared for the unpredictability of adult life. We are so grateful that you choose Watershed to educate your children!

Attendance continues to be another space where Watershed students shine! we are able to rise above the state goal and be a continued bright spot for Baltimore County Schools - way to go, Turtles!

Report Cards posted to FOCUS on Thursday April 24th. Please access them through your FOCUS app or request a printed report card from your child's teacher. I have attached information on how to access FOCUS based on created accounts. If you need help accessing your parent portal, please reach out to the BCPS help desk at 443-809-4672 Monday - Friday 7:00am - 4:15pm.

We know that the world is constantly changing and with it, so might your plans for next school year. As soon as you know your child will be attending a different school for the 25-26 school year, please tell the front office. The more time we have to process the withdrawal, the more information we can share with your child's next school. Please note that withdrawal packets will be distributed on the last day of school or your child's last day of attendance.

At the end of fifth grade, every student in the state of Maryland must re-verify their residency information to remain enrolled in their current county. This is required for every student regardless of when they registered in a public school.

Fifth grade students at Watershed must provide residency documentation by June 1 to the front office to remain enrolled for th 25-26 school year. Letters were sent home this past week to all fifth grade students. Please bring your documents to the main office as soon as possible this includes students who are enrolling at another Baltimore County school for the 25-26 school year. We can process your documents in less than 5 minutes minutes if you arrive after 8:30 am (avoiding arrivals).

Hey 7th grade parents - you will have to do this at the end of 8th grade (just a heads up!)

• Always park in a parking space - never the fire lane or in a non-line spot - to pick up your child.
• Slow and steady wins the race (it's how the tortoise beat the hare!) - please make sure your speed is between 5-10 mph on the lot.
• When there is the food pantry, please avoid parking at the end of the parking spot lines so that the pantry line moves easily.

https://bcps.nutrislice.com/menu/bcps-weekly-menus

Watershed is so proud of one of our students, Aamir Snead, whose play BeMORE was accepted to Center Stage's Young Playwrights Festival!! BeMORE is about a young artist who experiences self-doubt and is supported; encourage and inspired by his community and city. The Young Playwrights Festival will be held at Baltimore's Center Stage on Saturday, May 10th beginning at 10AM. The winning plays, including Aamir's, will be performed at 12:30PM in the Pearlstone Theatre. For more information, please visit https://www.centerstage.org/events/ypf40/

More information about these dates will be available from your classroom teachers but here are some of the major events happening at Watershed from now to the end of the year:

• Career Day – 5/28
• Kindergarten Round up (newly enrolling kindergarteners) – 6/2 & 6/3
• 5th grade End of Year (EOY) celebration – 6/6
• 6/7 and 1st EOY celebrations – 6/9
• Earth Field Day – 6/10 (board president chat and chew 8:15-9)
• K EOY celebration – 6/11 AM
• 4th grade EOY celebration 6/11 PM
• 3rd and 2nd grade EOY celebration 6/12

Ms. Lauren has created a plant propagation station in the Watershed front doorway. Plant cuttings are growing in the window and available for anyone to adopt a plant cutting and take it home. Families are also welcome to leave their own plant cuttings for others to take. If you are looking for a new houseplant, check out Ms. Lauren's display!

Watershed is still recycling plastic for the NexTrex Recyling Challenge! Way to go! Our goal is to recycle 1000 pounds of plastic by September 10, 2025. If WPCS reaches our goal, our school would receive a composite bench made out of plastic bags like the ones that we have been recycling. Please help us reach our goal and bring your clean, dry, and food-free plastic to recycle in the 2 tall white containers in the school's lobby. Thank you!

Watershed was founded in a cooperative space - where students, teachers and families work together to ensure that our children are learning and safe. When you applied to Watershed, you agreed to contribute 40 hours each year in service to the school. There are many families to fulfill this requirement every year - and go above and beyond the expectation! This Turtle Talk will be the space where we note the names of the students whose families have tracked hours so far this year. Next Turtle Talk, we will include the number of hours each family has completed. Please track your hours here: https://forms.gle/Z3SposySt2wtbrmt7

Please see the attachment below for a list of students and families that have completed volunteer hours.

Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis, is around the corner. Symptoms occur when airborne irritants enter the eyes, nose and throat, setting off an allergic reaction. In the Spring, flowers and tree pollen are the common culprit. Grass pollen starts in late spring and peaks in the summer months. Ragweed (weed pollen) and mold spores occur late summer and fall. Symptoms include stuffy or runny nose, itchy eyes and nose, sore throat, cough and dark circles under the eyes.

• Have your child wash their hands and face as soon as they come in from playing outside.
• Better yet, have your child take a shower or bath right away after coming from outside or coming from school.
• If showering or bathing is not possible, have your child change clothes right away, to prevent the transfer of allergens from their clothes to the house, couch or bed.
• Outside shoes should stay outside for the same reason.
• Consult with your healthcare provider for the appropriate medication (antihistamine) that can help in decreasing symptoms of seasonal allergy.
• Although Benadryl is an antihistamine, it is not as effective and can cause drowsiness. Most antihistamines take time before becoming effective, the same is the case with your steroid nasal spray. Take the medication as directed until the season is over.

If your child failed Vision screening or hearing screening, a letter will go home in their bookbag. Nurse Flor will also call you.

What to do if your child failed:

Vision: Your child will need a Comprehensive eye exam done by an Optometrist. Please bring the failed letter during the appointment, the optometrist will complete that form for the recommendation or treatment needed and return the form to Nurse Flor.

Hearing: if your child failed Hearing screening, please reach out to your pediatrician/health care provider and let them know that your child failed the hearing screening done at school. Your health care provider will guide you if your child needs to see a specialist (ENT). Please bring the failed letter form during the visit and return it to nurse Flor if recommendation or treatment is needed.

*Nurse Flor will follow up in 30 days after sending the Failed letter notification*

Your child will need one dose of Tdap Vaccine and one dose of MCV vaccine (to prevent Meningococcal disease), it is usually given at age 11 or 12. Please reach out to schedule these vaccinations with your child's doctor or nearby clinic. Letters were sent to students who were missing vaccines as of March. Please make sure that vaccines are completed before school starts this fall, to prevent exclusion of your child.

An updated physical examination form is required for 6th graders in all BCPS schools. If your child is planning to join school sports, a pre-participation form needs to be completed by your HCP/pediatrician. Nurse Flor will send the forms in May. If you need the forms sooner for an upcoming HCP visit, please reach out to Nurse Flor at ftorres@bcps.org

• 24 hrs. fever-free without the use of any medication
• 24 hrs. diarrhea-free
• 24 hrs. vomit-free

• Send in a note, an email, or a doctor's note to your child's homeroom teacher or school nurse when they are absent. You will still receive a BCPS phone call or voice message that your child is absent regardless of notifying school, teacher or school nurse. It is a safety feature.
• If your child received clothes loaned by Nurse Flor, please be sure to wash them and return them to the school.
• Make sure your child has an extra, clean set of clothes at school.

As always, I’m here to support not only our students but also our families. I can share local mental health resources as well as connect families directly to therapists through our school-based mental health partnerships with Thrive Behavioral Health and Lighthouse Youth Services. If I can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out at rhennessy@bcps.org.

Hi Turtle Families!

I hope you had a wonderful spring break with your families! We have some exciting events and student opportunities ahead this spring including our upcoming college and career day, April Student of the Month celebration, and Middle School Student Service-Learning Opportunities!

Thank you to those who signed up to support our upcoming college and career day! We are looking forward to having our parents and community members sharing their career journeys and insights with our students. Stay tuned for more updates to come!

https://forms.gle/tZn6K6xS7uSPE3qn8

Please complete this form if you have interest in volunteering for our college and career day!

Upcoming SSL Hour opportunity with JUMP, Inc: Interested in earning hours?

JUMP Inc. is a Double Dutch nonprofit organization offering Service-Learning hours to students in Baltimore County, through a teaching method that combines meaningful service to the community related to health. See the attached flyer for more details and access the JUMP, Inc Intake Form Here.

The Maryland State Department of Education requires that all high school diploma seeking students complete 75 hours of Student Service-Learning (SSL) hours. Students can begin earning hours in 6th grade.

All student service-learning hours must be pre-approved by the school student service-learning coordinator prior to completion to guarantee hours meet BCPS requirements. Students and families can find both the Student Service Learning pre-approval and post volunteer reflection forms on the Watershed Website under "For Families" as well as on the BCPS website. I can also provide hard copies of these forms when requested. For a detailed understanding of SSL hours and the criteria specifications, please visit the BCPS website linked below. Upon completion of SSL hours, student must complete a reflection form, along with their hour verification form signed by the site supervisor and turn into Ms. Rives to be documented into their student Focus portal.

May Virtue of the Month - Determination:

What is Determination, and Why Does It Matter at School?

At Watershed, we believe determination is a powerful virtue that helps students grow into confident, capable learners. Determination means sticking with something—even when it’s hard. It looks like a student who keeps working on a challenging math problem, practices a skill until they improve, or sets a goal and works toward it step by step.

We encourage determination because it builds resilience, self-confidence, and a growth mindset. When students learn that mistakes are part of learning and that effort leads to progress, they become more willing to take on challenges and support one another. Celebrating determination helps our students see that success comes not just from being smart—but from being strong, focused, and never giving up.

April's Student of the Month Celebration - Empathy!

Our April student of the month nominees will be honored at our student of the month breakfast celebration Friday, May 2nd at 8:15 in the auditorium. This month's students are celebrated for showing empathy, understanding and caring about how someone else feels so that we all feel seen, heard, and valued, helping build strong friendships and a kind school community. Our students of the month will receive an invitation with the link to RSVP!

Our April Students of the Month are:

Qairo David

Violet Russell

Treasure Atemkeng

Teagan Jamison

Pheonix Renshaw

Mila Epps

Brandon Hector

Harlee Hines

Maci Taylor

Ahrion Dunaway

Aidan Johnson

Joenais Willis

Calvert Watts

Anisha Aremu

Liam Kendall

Sophia Smith

Alieah Gilmore

Kayden Roy

Journee Kirkpatrick

Benjamin Stevenson

Kamryn Frazier

Jalon Patton

Khalilah DeBellotte

August Cousley

Stella Moro Noriega

Winter Wenck

Avery Doughty

Legacy Simmons

Blake Rembert

Liliana Murray

Priestly Shuler

Izaiah Hall

Storm Scribner

Bria Wilkerson

Ayo Obayanju

Kaedin Ganger

Ayden Francis

Recently, Watershed received a revised project schedule from our contractor, New Edge, which delays the opening of the Upper School Modulars until mid-September. Rather than wait until summer to share this information, the Watershed board is sharing this update now so we can all plan thoughtfully and collaboratively. The new target date for substantial completion is September 19, 2025, with a proposed move-in window of October 13–20. This approach ensures that our students and staff will transition into the new space only once it is fully ready, safe, and welcoming. The Watershed Board is committed to sharing these updates with our community in a timely manner.

Originally, we anticipated that the new modular classrooms would be substantially completed by July 31, 2025, and ready for use at the start of the new school year. However, based on a variety of factors—including permitting delays and supply chain challenges—the timeline has been extended. While some elements of the project (like BGE’s permanent power installation) are progressing ahead of schedule, we now know that the classrooms will not be ready in time for the opening of the 2025–26 school year.

Several key factors contributed to the revised timeline:

• Permitting Delays: We experienced a four-week delay in securing required Archdiocese signatures, which delayed our site permit application. All necessary site permits have now been submitted, and building permits will follow shortly.
• Fabrication Schedule: Modular unit construction is now expected to begin in mid-June, about a month later than originally planned, due to supply chain disruptions.

What’s next? In the coming months, you will see continued activity on Watershed's Campus, including erosion control, utility tie-ins, and the setting of the modular units in early July. We’ll also be working closely with school leadership and staff to plan for the move, which may include changes to the academic calendar, and will share those changes well in advance.

We know that any delay is frustrating, and this decision reflects our commitment to doing the job right—prioritizing student safety, minimizing disruption, and delivering a high-quality learning environment. We are grateful for your continued support and will keep you informed with regular updates as the project moves forward.

Our May Board of Directors meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, May 27 at 6:00 PM. All members of the Watershed community are welcome and encouraged to attend. If you'd like to provide input on the facilities expansion or speak during the Public Comments portion of the meeting, please email board@watershedpcs.org to request time on the agenda.

Ideas/Questions/Concerns Contact us at PTO@watershedpto.org

Be sure to join us virtually at the next PTO meeting on Tuesday, May 6th at 7:00 PM. We will be discussing upcoming events like the Spring Dance, Staff Appreciation Week, Repair Shop, End of Year Bash, and more. We will also hold PTO executive board elections for the position of President and Secretary.

We look forward to seeing you there! meet.google.com/uvx-zqmz-rcd

There’s still time to nominate yourself or a worthy candidate for the positions of PTO President and Secretary for the 2025–2026 school year! These executive roles are essential to keeping our PTO running strong next year. If you're ready to get involved, you can submit your nomination using the form linked here.

Voting will take place at the May General PTO meeting.

Love Fall Fest, school dances, the Book Fair, Game Nights, and all the fun community events? To keep these traditions alive next year, we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to take on important leadership positions."

Should you have any questions about the responsibilities of these positions, please feel free to contact us at pto@watershedpto.org or visit our website to view detailed officer descriptions.

Join the Watershed PTO virtually on April 29th from 7-8PM for an introduction to environmentally-friendly home cleaning! This event features Jane Vincent from Ecolistic Cleaning, who will share tips on products that are green, cost effective, and efficient. The session will also explore durable equipment that can help you clean faster while using less water and products. Jane is excited to share some eco-friendly methods and techniques that she and her team have learned while cleaning homes and offices, which will help you clean your home green and in less time.

Ecolistic is a woman-owned, eco-friendly, living-wage company that has served clients in Baltimore County and across Maryland for 20+ years. Use this link to join: https://meet.google.com/nxu-uzsj-jcn

We want to thank everyone for a wonderful Book Fair Week! We are grateful to the staff for their flexibility and support and to our volunteers for the help they offered the student shoppers. We also appreciate the generosity of our community in donating to Share the Fair and purchasing books for staff from their wish lists. We sold close to $10,000 at our fair and raised over $2,250 for the PTO. Thank you!!!

Staff Appreciation Week is quickly approaching and will take place May 5-9, 2025 and Watershed PTO's Hospitality Committee is planning and preparing a week full of activities, treats, and TLC for our staff and teachers. We need your help to make it fabulous.

You can help by volunteering to support an activity or donating something from our list of needed supplies. You can also offer a monetary donation or support your child's teacher by ordering from their Amazon wish list.

Planning for the PTO Spring Dance is underway, and we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join the fun and help make this event unforgettable. Want to be part of the excitement? Sign up to help us bring the celebration to life!

The Watershed PTO Spring Dance will take place Friday, May 16th, at 7:00 PM at Chadwick Elementary School. 1918 Winder Rd, Windsor Mill, MD 21244

Our next planning meeting is on April 30th at 6pm — we’d love to see you there!

Now’s the perfect time to round up those well-loved bikes, scooters, toys, or even that summer shirt missing a button. Let’s breathe new life into your favorite things and help students learn how to repair in the process!

This community-powered event is all about reducing waste and fixing what we have — and it wouldn’t happen without the amazing support of our volunteers and families.

Interested in helping with repairs and showing participants how to fix items? Sign up here!

If you have an item in need of repair, or are interested in your student learning how to repair an item, sign up for a repair slot here!

Reach out to secretary@watershepto.org with any questions.

Let’s get the party started! Planning for our End of Year Bash is about to begin, and we’d love for you to be part of it. This event is our way of celebrating our students’ amazing accomplishments and showing appreciation for the incredible volunteers who make it all possible. If you're interested in joining the committee, please email Elizabethrtrimm@gmail.com.

Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 30th at 7pm. Click http://meet.google.com/grw-pmmq-cgo to join the meeting and be part of making this year's bash unforgettable!

There are just a few more months to get the required 40 volunteer hours in. Sign up to volunteer through the link below and to get a few more volunteer hours in and for a chance to win a $10 in our monthly raffle! We've already selected three lucky winners, and the next one could be you! April sign-ups are now open, with the raffle drawing taking place at the PTO meeting on May 6th.

The more times you sign up, the higher your chances of winning! Don’t wait—sign up today and help make a positive impact at Watershed before summer starts! 👉https://tinyurl.com/Watershed-School-Volunteers

Watershed Public Charter School is now participating in the Box Tops for Education program! To earn some extra box tops, when you download the app, please take a minute and use the QR code or visit here referral code (T8071IUK) and download the app to get started.

Did you know that the Watershed PTO has a LinkTree? Visit https://linktr.ee/watershedpto to find an up to date list of all our links including volunteer opportunities sign-ups, staff appreciation week, repair shop, dance committee sign-ups, the exec board nomination form, and more!