Mill Creek Elementary

Dear Caregivers,

Hope everyone had a fabulous 3-day weekend! Besides our students needing an extra day to rest, the adults in the building certainly deserved it too.

About Friday's stormy dismissal: Thank you for your patience when Mother Nature decided to throw a lightning show right at bus time! Safety always comes first, even when it means a few extra minutes of school. And about that bonus phone call you received? That was an (Butler's) "oops" moment—accidentally hit the call button while sending the "buses are rolling" update. Consider it our very enthusiastic (and unintentional) way of wishing all 550 of you a Happy Labor Day! 😊

If you haven't heard, our 2nd Annual Pep Rally was LARGER than last years and the RED team won. A great time was had by all!

Something NEW this school year is that each homeroom teacher will be picking a SCHOLAR OF THE MONTH and September students were selected this past Friday. We will showcase these students in next week's newsletter. September Scholars must excel in all SOAR areas:

S – Safety: Keeps themselves and others safe

Looking ahead, Mrs. Sloan is having our 1st BOOK FAIR of the school year in two weeks and she needs volunteers. Please use this link for more information! https://app.smore.com/n/eb259-fall-literati-book-fair

Mrs. Erin Butler Principal

ebutler@k12.wv.us

Mrs. Jennifer Pownell

jpownell@k12.wv.us

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.

Spirit Week:

Monday--Blue Day: International Anti-Bullying Color

Tuesday--Mismatch Day: Being Different is OKAY

Wednesday--Sports Day: TEAM UP against bullying

Thursday--Hat Day: Hats OFF to no bullying

Friday--Mill Creek Colors (Red, Green, & White): Stand UP against bullying

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.

Sept. 7th-- No School! Labor Day

Sept. 14th-18th-- Bullying Prevention Week

Sept. 16th-- GO GOLD for Childhood Cancer Awareness & 2 ½ Hour Early Out

Sept. 21st -25th-- BOOK FAIR

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

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