Mill Creek Elementary

Dear Caregivers,

The BOOK FAIR is here and it's time to shop! Parents, we have an evening opportunity to visit the Book Fair on Thursday, Sept. 24th from 4-6pm. Also, on Thursday at 4pm, we are having our 1st LSIC in the Library where we'll highlight our school's events.

This past Wednesday, we successfully walked across the street to the Middle School for our Pep Rally. Mrs. Cecil had the brilliant idea of pairing the younger classes with the older ones and these kids behaved better than when we had only 3-5th graders. So proud of them! This walk also serves as practice for an evacuation if we should ever need to leave the building.

Looking ahead, Mill Creek's 1st PTO meeting will be Monday, October 5th at 6pm. We will discuss parent ideas that were submitted & elect officers.

Most Importantly, if you have not updated your child's yearly information for the 2026-27 school year (even if it stays the same, it has to be redone), then they will not be permitted to go on their field trip. Almost every grade has scheduled a trip so PLEASE update the information ASAP. https://bcswv.jotform.com/253635646781972

Last but not least, we are officially half-way through the 1st nine weeks. Kindergarten-2nd grade parents please check Seesaw for updates. Parents of 3rd-5th grade students, please make sure you log into Schoology and check their grades. Take some advice from me... If you question your child's current grades and the response is that he just turned in some missing work.... It's always a RED FLAG when the question is not answered. LOL! Log into Schoology, please!

Mrs. Erin Butler Principal

ebutler@k12.wv.us

Mrs. Jennifer Pownell

jpownell@k12.wv.us

Kindergarten:

Ms. Baker--Delilah Pritchett

Ms. Coleman--Rylee Shaffer

Ms. Hewett--River Pugh

Ms. Robertson--Stella Snapp

1st Grade:

Ms. Houck--Roh-Haye Williams

Ms. Meier--James Intorre

Ms. Welch--Lillian Sekula

2nd Grade:

Ms. Jeans--Mckinley West

Ms. Jessee--Valynn McIntire

Ms. Thompson--Roman Banzet

3rd Grade:

Ms. Astorino--Kai Brayshaw

Ms. Henderson--Remy Gipe

Ms. Higgins--Aisley Rockwell

Ms. Stone--Melanie Romero Umana

4th Grade:

Ms. Craig--Rikka Payne

Mr. Hott--Nevaeh McIntire

Ms. Painter--Amelia Noll

Ms. Pittinger--Trace Holmes

5th Grade:

Ms. Baker--Amber Foster

Ms. Belcher--Addyson Grimes

Ms. Grant--Zoey Fincham

Mr. Sneathen--Connor Freyman

MCE Literati Book Fair is coming soon!

Students will have the opportunity to shop for books and other related items from the fair during their library and P.E. class times during the week of September 21-25. Participation is optional. There will be a family shopping time on Thursday, September 24, after school from 4-6. Profits from the fair benefit our school library and P.E. programs. Click the picture below for more information!

All Berkeley County menus can be found here: https://berkeleycountyschools.nutrislice.com/

You can download the Nutrislice app on your phone.

***While we offer two lunch choices each day, please note that limited quantities may mean students do not always receive their first choice. Rest assured, all meals served meet federal nutritional guidelines and provide a balanced, healthy option for every student.

***If your child JUST wants a milk with a packed Breakfast or Lunch, it's 25 cents. Your child should let their teacher know they just need to buy a milk at breakfast & milks for packers or EXTRA milks are announced after the lunch line finishes. We will double check the packers this week to ensure they get their milk.

Fake decorated pumpkins will be sent home after the week they are judged unless they placed! Winners are displayed at our Trunk or Treat on Oct. 26th!

Kindergarten & 1st Grade Students are due Oct. 5th (only judged 1 week)

2nd Grade & 3rd Grade Students are due Oct. 12th (only judged 1 week)

4th Grade & 5th Grade Students are due Oct. 19th (only judged 1 week)

Do you want to volunteer at MCE? You must be a Level 1 approved volunteer. Meghan's Law video must be done annually. Secure Volunteer is good for 2 calendar years. Complete these ASAP to volunteer. (Completing applications is not a guarantee that you will be selected as a chaperone.).

Click here for directions: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/bcs/page/volunteers-chaperones

A goal of Berkeley County Schools’ Department of Attendance is to ensure every student attends school every day. School attendance has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is important for success in school and in life.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school— regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically.

• Families are encourages to STRIVE FOR 5! Miss less than 5 days per semester of school.
• Caregivers must send in a note for everyday their student is absent. When possible, please get a doctor's note. By policy, you are only allowed 10 parents notes per year. After those 10 are used, you will be required to obtain a doctor's note for absences to be excused.
• Berkeley County Schools no longer accepts a leave of educational value for excused absences. These absences may count toward the 10 parent notes.

It is vital that you set up your parent account. All parents will receive an individualized code to set up your student's account if you aren't already connected. YOU MUST LOG IN WITH YOUR PARENT ACCOUNT TO SEE TEACHER MESSAGES. YOU CANNOT USE YOUR CHILD'S ACCOUNT.

Schoology is also where you can stay involved with your child's academics. You will be able to see your child's grades, missing assignments and assignments that are due.

If you are new to Schoology, this google handbook can help you with everything you need to know. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1w9BxtwoxTJRVXrEj1Tme5SWEkEN5Uq2SyrfW0ya7xZQ/preview?slide=id.g8e952e3ece_0_3

Please wait until:

• 8:00 AM to enter the morning drop-off line
• 3:00 PM for afternoon pick-up

For the safety of our students, we ask that you follow these procedures:

• Buses Arrive: 8:20 at the School's Office (South End)
• AM Parent Drop Off: (North End Lot) 8:20 -8:35. Please do not drop students off until a staff member is on duty. Anyone can drop off. Turn at Tudor's and do the loop.
• Students Tardy: 8:46 (***Students arriving after 8:35 must be signed in by an adult in the office)
• Dismissal Begins: 3:20 -- If you need to change the way your student normally goes home, please send in a note to your child ’s teacher. We discourage you from calling the office to change information at the last minute. If your child is riding home on a bus with another student, BOTH students must have notes.
• PM Parent Pick Up: 3:20 (North End Lot)For the safety of our students, we need Parents who will PICK UP EVERY DAY to have an assigned number (unless the school has contacted you about other arrangements).
• Students Leaving Early: If you have an appointment, please sign your student out before 3pm or buses will block you in. When arriving to pick up your student, please report to the front office and be prepared to show your ID.

The Jostens Renaissance Program is a framework of culture where teachers love their job and students thrive in school. It is built on common core values and expectations. At Mill Creek, our Renaissance program is built around the core values of Safety, Ownership, Achievement and Respect. Students and staffulty will receive recognition and rewards when following these core values. Each day, our students follow our SOAR rules.

We have partnered with YE Creations again for our 2026-27 school spirit wear. You order online and she will deliver to the school free of charge. Just mark 'pick up' when you check out. Click here to see the newest creations.

September

21st -25th-- BOOK FAIR & Mountaineer Popcorn Fundraiser

24th-- LSIC Meeting 4pm in Library & Parent Night at the BOOK FAIR 4-6pm

25th-- 1:30 NED's Mindset Mission for 4th & 5th grade (Cafeteria)

Popcorn Orders Due to Homeroom Teachers

28th-- SchoolStore Fundraiser: Ice Age Wildlife Book Buddies

October

5th-- Kindergarten & 1st Decorated (FAKE) Pumpkins Due

D&D Meats Raffle Starts

PTO Meeting @ 6pm

7th-- 2.5 Hour Early Out (12:50 pm dismissal)

9th-- 2nd Grade Field Trip~ Wayside Farm Fun

12th-- 2nd & 3rd Grade Decorated (FAKE) Pumpkins Due

14th-- No School for Students

15th-- 4th Grade Field Trip~ West Oakes

19th-- 4th & 5th Grade Decorated (FAKE) Pumpkins Due

20th-- Report Cards Go Home