Turtle Talk 03/28/2025

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

Thank you to everyone who is parking and walking to bring their children to school during entrance. Whenever you can, please take the time to talk with other parents, make connections, or plan a playdate with a classmate. We know that our parking lot can be a busy place and appreciate your help in making sure that all our Turtles remain safe!

Ideas about the parking lot have been shared with administration. One of the ideas that we are considering is having students support the movement on the lot through a safety patrol type of experience. We are strongly considering this and will use the community's current response to the adults on the lot to determine if our students would be able to support this safely. We are also considering reinstating the walking bus! This summer, we will be looking for real solutions for t

Here are main reminders:

• 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.

We have noticed the number of packed or fast food breakfasts lowering and more seats are available for students who are enjoying the breakfast provided by Office of Food and Nutrition.

Staff has been asked to ensure that students attending breakfast are eating the provided food so that we have enough seating for all students who need the nutrition provided by the meal service. Thank you for helping ensure all of our students start the day off with a full belly so they can concentrate and be their best selves!

Thank you to everyone who has been able to join us for the Q&A with potential staff members! The structure of these meetings will begin with the candidate sharing information about themselves. Parents and Community members may ask questions during this time and then the candidate will ask questions about your experience at Watershed. Once the candidate leaves, parents and stakeholders are able to provide feedback to administration on their experience.

These events will be virtual through google meet. Students and parents are invited to these Q&A sessions to provide school leadership with feedback about the candidates.

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:

Hearing and Vision – 4/1-4/4

Book Fair – 4/7-4/11

Character parade 4/11

Kindergarten Conference Day (no K students) - 4/25

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

Did you borrow a device for your child to use in case of inclement weather? Please send that device back to the school by spring break! We want to make sure that all devices are ready and in working order for next year and maybe a little less snow? Reach out to the front office if you have any questions.

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

If your child has misplaced a personal item (coats, hats, gloves, water bottles) during the last 3 months, please check the Lost & Found storage locker. The L&F storage locker is outside, to the right of the chicken doors and underneath the exterior staircase. The last day to retrieve items is by noon on Friday, April 4. Any remaining items will be donated.

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 has recycled 291 lbs of plastic this year as part of the NexTrex Recyling Challenge! Way to go! Our goal is to recycle an additional 709 lbs by September 10, 2025. If Watershed recycles 1,000 lbs of plastic in a year, 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!

The next round of Pokémon Club will be for 6th and 7th grade students. The club will occur on Mondays (April 7, 28, May 5, and 12) from 3:15-4:30 . The Pokémon club will run in 4-week cycles. The purpose of Pokémon Club is to learn how to play the card game using math, reading, and problem-solving skills. Students do not need Pokémon cards to participate. The club will be open to the first 10 students using the signup genius link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C49AAAB2EA3FC1-46594247-4th6th

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.

Screening will be done by a Baltimore County Department of Health representative for Kindergarten, First, and Fourth Grades April 1-4, 2025. If your child wears eyeglasses or hearing aids, please make sure they are wearing them during the screening. Please check your email to determine your child's results. If your child failed the screening, information on next steps will be provided through email.

Incoming 7th graders for school year 2025-26 (current 6th graders) are required to have specific immunizations. Your child will need one dose of Tdap vaccine and one dose of the MCV vaccine (to prevent Meningococcal disease), it is usually given at age 11 or 12. Please reach out to your healthcare provider to schedule your child's vaccinations. Letters will go home this week.

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

• To return loaned clothes to Nurse Flor once washed.
• Make sure your child has an extra, clean set of clothes at school.

Dear Watershed Families,

Spring is in full swing, and we are excited for the opportunities ahead! In April, our counseling lessons will focus around social-emotional well-being, helping students build healthy coping skills and resilience.

As we move into May, we will shift our focus to college and career exploration, preparing students to think about their future goals.

One of the highlights of the season will be Watershed's first School-Wide College and Career Day on May 28th.

This exciting day will include:

· A Career Fair for upper-level students, where they can explore different career paths and higher education opportunities.

· Guest career speakers for K-3 classrooms, giving our youngest students a chance to learn about different professions in an engaging way.

We invite parents and community members to participate as classroom speakers or exhibitors at a table to share their career journeys and insights with our students. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up using the link below. Your involvement can help spark curiosity and inspire our students as they think about their futures!

Thank you for your support in making this a meaningful experience for our students. Stay tuned for more updates as we head into the final stretch of the school year!

https://forms.gle/tZn6K6xS7uSPE3qn8

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

MCAP testing season is here, and you can help set your student up for success with a few simple steps.

• Ensure they get a good night’s sleep, (8-10 hours ideally) so they feel rested and ready.
• Provide a healthy protein/ good carb-based breakfast to fuel their brain (avoid overly sugary meals to avoid the crash)
• Hydration station - encourage your child to drink a full glass of water when they wake up and have a water throughout the day.
• Encourage a positive mindset by reminding them that effort matters more than perfection.
• Help them practice stress management by taking deep breaths and using calming techniques.
• Make sure they arrive on time, so they start the day feeling prepared and confident.

To support students, I recently visited 6th and 7th grade classrooms to share a lesson on how stress affects our bodies and brains, coping skills for managing stress, and test-taking strategies.

Encourage your student to use these tools to stay calm and focused during testing.

Thank you for your support in helping our students do their best!

As part of our school-wide commitment to character development, we continue to recognize students who embody the Watershed Way Virtues. This month, we are focusing on HONOR—which means acting with integrity, respecting others, and taking responsibility for one’s words and actions.

At school, honor can be seen when students:

🌟Take pride in their work and do their best, even when no one is watching.
🌟Show respect to peers and teachers by listening, using kind words, and helping others.
🌟Keep their promises and take responsibility for their actions.
🌟Stand up for what is right, even in difficult situations.

We look forward to celebrating our March Student of the Month' at our celebration Friday, April 4th! All families will receive an invitation and a message with the invitation link to RSVP. Each student of the month may bring two adults to the breakfast celebration.

March Students of the Month

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.

Can you believe Spring Break is almost here? It’s been an exciting year at Watershed, and we’re gearing up for a fantastic spring packed with school-wide activities! The Third Marking Period wraps up on Friday, April 4, so let’s finish strong and make these next few weeks count before we head into a well-deserved break. When we return, we’ll be refreshed and ready to finish the school year on a high note!

Great news—Watershed is growing! So far, 45 new students have enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year out of 55 open seats from the lottery. We’re thrilled to welcome new families into our community and grateful for the enthusiasm around enrollment. The Watershed Board is excited to see so many families choosing our school!

We’re in the home stretch! Just one final adjustment is needed on the elevator door before we can schedule the state inspection. Thank you for your patience as we work to complete this long-running project—we’re almost there!

Big things are happening at Watershed! We’re making great progress on the Upper School Modulars, and you may have seen early site work, including Geotech test boring, on Friday, March 28. Here’s what’s next:

✅ April: Site work begins

✅ May: Modular units are fabricated

✅ June 1: Units arrive onsite

✅ June-July: Interior fit-out and utility installation

Our goal is to have these new spaces ready for the first day of the 2025 school year! Want to learn more? Join us at the Watershed PTO meeting on April 1 for a detailed update, and stay tuned for progress reports in Turtle Talk. We can’t wait to see this exciting expansion come to life!

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

Don’t forget to join us at our second in-person PTO Meeting of the year on Tuesday, April 1st at 7:00 PM in the Watershed Gym. At this important meeting, we will hold elections for the next PTO Executive Board and talk about upcoming events like Book Fair, Staff Appreciation Week, Rita’s PTO Fundraiser and so much more!

Want to attend the meeting in person but need supervision for your Watershed students? We will have a supervised game area available just outside the cafeteria as we did in December. Spots are limited based on our number of volunteers and require a reservation. You can volunteer to help with the games and/or request a spot for your student by completing this quick form: https://forms.gle/SfRUnQcJ556xYK1p8.

Can't attend in person? No problem! We'll still be hosting the meeting virtually at meet.google.com/uvx-zqmz-rcd

With just a few short days left before the April 1st election, the PTO is still in need of candidates for Executive Board positions!

Many of our children’s favorite school year events such as Fall Fest, dances, book fair, game nights, read-a-thon, and socials are coordinated by the PTO. In order to continue those activities in the 2025-2026 school year, we need dedicated volunteers to step up to leadership positions.

The PTO bylaws do allow for co-positions! With time constraints being the norm for so many of us, running for a PTO executive board position with a friend may be a great option to share the work (and a great excuse for regularly scheduled coffee chats).

If you have specific questions about the duties of any of the roles, we encourage you to reach out to pto@watershedpto.org or you can view officer descriptions on our website!

If you’re ready to jump in, the nomination form can be found here.

Thank you for stopping by the PTO Table during the Unit 2 Showcase. It was great seeing all the families take part in such a special evening. We hope the students and their siblings enjoyed the take home craft kits provided by the PTO’s Hospitality Committee. We also extend our appreciation to everyone who supported the Five Guys fundraiser following the showcase. The PTO raised $691!

Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy some fun, family-friendly competition at the Watershed PTO Family Game Night! We had such a blast challenging our fellow Turtles to some “Minute to Win It” Games, munching on some delicious pizza, and building up our Watershed Community. These events are made possible thanks to the support of our wonderful volunteers and incredible families.

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming April 7-11! You can start exploring the fair together and set up your student's eWallet here.

Students will shop with their homeroom class April 8-10. Make-up shopping will be held on April 11. This year's fair is cashless. All students must use an eWallet to shop during school hours. It’s convenient, simple, and secure. An eWallet must be set up each year and leftover funds can be rolled over.

Be on the lookout next week for the Book Fair take home packet in your child’s Tuesday folder. It will include more information about "Share the Fair", gift certificates, and family after-school shopping on Thursday, April 10th.

To hold the Book Fair, we need volunteers. Lots of shifts are still open. Please sign up here to help our readers!

The Watershed PTO Spring Dance is just around the corner, and we are in need of some awesome volunteers to lace up their dancing shoes and help plan this spectacularly fun event! Sign up here to help bring this event to life. The first planning meeting will be on Thursday, April 10th at 6:00 PM. Hope to see you there!

Another huge thank you to all the Watershed families who participated in this year’s PTO Read-A-Thon! Together, students raised an impressive $8,864, or $6,648 for the PTO, and logged a total of 41,410 minutes of reading.
Our top fundraising class was Mrs. Chapman’s class, with a remarkable $1,455 raised—congratulations!

For those students who earned RAT bucks and made purchases from the Read-A-Thon store, prizes will be delivered in the first or second week of April. The Read-A-Thon Committee will then organize the distribution to students. Thank you for your support and patience as we wrap up this amazing event!

Thank you to all our Watershed Turtles who were able to join us at the super fun Sky Zone Fundraiser. We hope you and your family enjoyed hopping around with friends, participating in a friendly game of dodgeball or getting your ninja on at the ninja warrior course. We had such a blast seeing so many of our community members out there having a great time!

End of the year planning is getting underway and we have some great things in store for our 5th-7th graders. Mark your calendars for the upper school committee meeting scheduled for April 24th, 2025 at 6pm via google meet to receive updates and assist with making this event a success!

Ready to make a big impact at Watershed? Join WPCS for a "Campus Glow-Up" at Watershed Public Charter School on Monday, March 31st, from 8 AM - 12 PM! There will also be a second day to really make our campus shine on Friday, April 4th, from 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM following the half-day dismissal.

School’s out and our campus is calling for some TLC. Come be part of something special—grab a donut and some coffee to fuel your energy, and together, let’s roll up our sleeves and give Watershed the vibrant “Glow-Up” it deserves! 💚 Sign UP HERE!!

Can't make it during these times or can only come for part of the time? No worries! Just indicate in the comments when you can make it! Help is needed at any time!

If you have shovels or gardening tools that you could bring to help that would be amazing as well!!

See you there! 🎉

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to support our school? We are excited to announce that Watershed Charter School is now part of the Box Tops for Education program!

When you buy participating products, use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipt. The app identifies eligible products and earnings are credited to your designated school online. Even if you’re shopping online or doing grocery pickup, you can still submit your digital or email receipt with the Box Tops app and earn. Twice a year, the school gets a check! Box Tops earnings really add up, and the more people that participate, the bigger the impact we can make.

See a list of participating products at BTFE.COM/PRODUCTS. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Melinda Warth.

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 the Fall Fest RSVP, Room Rep Contact Information, volunteer sign-ups, our Mabel’s Labels fundraiser, and more!