The Dolphin Dive
November 2, 2026 Edition 14
Hello WMES Families,
October has come to an end, and we are ready to welcome November! This month brings exciting opportunities, busy days, and the beginning of a holiday season filled with family, traditions, and gratitude. As we move from Halloween into the upcoming holidays, please be sure to review the school calendar and mark important dates. Tuesday, November 3, is a day off for students but a Parent Conference Day. If you would like to meet with your child's teacher, please reach out to schedule a conference.
November is also a time to celebrate thankfulness and recognize the people who make our community special. I want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to our students, staff, and families for making White Marsh Elementary School such a wonderful place to learn, grow, and succeed. Your continued support, dedication, and partnership make a difference in the lives of our students every day!
As the Maryland weather can change quickly, please make sure your child dresses appropriately for the colder temperatures. November also brings the excitement of Talbot County's Waterfowl Festival and our upcoming Thanksgiving Break. Please keep an eye on the school calendar for all scheduled closures and important dates.
I am truly thankful for the opportunity to serve as the principal of White Marsh Elementary School each and every day. It is a privilege to be part of such a caring and supportive school community. Together, we will continue to make a positive difference in the lives of our students. Happy November!
With gratitude,
Corey Devaric
Proud Principal of White Marsh Elementary School
November Behavior Reminder: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe!
As we enter November, please remind students to make positive choices each day by treating others with kindness, using respectful words, following directions the first time, and keeping their hands, feet, and belongings to themselves. Whether they are in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, bathroom, playground, or on the bus, they are expected to demonstrate safe and responsible behavior. Remind them to listen when others are speaking, take turns, include others, and solve problems peacefully. Let's create a wave one ripple at a time by showing gratitude for one another and being our best selves every day!
Assistant Principal
UPDATES FROM THE SCHOOL MANAGER
Lori Milner
Office Manager
FROM THE TECH DESK
Technology Tip: Think Before You Click! Talk with your child about the importance of staying safe online. Before clicking on a link, opening an attachment, or downloading a game or file, children should make sure it is safe and approved by a trusted adult. Some links may look exciting but can lead to inappropriate websites, harmful content, or viruses that can damage a device. If something unexpected appears on the screen, asks for personal information, or claims they have won a prize, remind your child to stop and ask a teacher or parent for help. Encourage your child to make smart choices online by always thinking before they click!
Dionte Hynson
Computer Technician
G.O.L.D. & B.E.S.T. Advisor
Native American Heritage Month
Nov. 3 - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS, Parent/Teacher Conferences, Election Day
Nov. 6 - Judy Center to Emily's Produce
Nov. 9 - 13 - National School Psychology Week
Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day
Nov. 12 - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS, Staff Professional Development
Nov. 13 - ALL SCHOOLS CLOSED
Nov. 16 - 20 - American Education Week
Nov. 25 -27 - THANKSGIVING BREAK
Nov. 30 - Judy Center to Cabin Fever
Thank you for supporting our PTO!
¡Gracias por apoyar a nuestro PTO!
Flu Vaccines
Flu season is here and now is the time to get your flu shot. The vaccine helps protect you and your family from serious illness and reduces the spread of flu. Getting vaccinated also helps protect our school community by keeping students and staff healthier and reducing the risk of illness spreading in the classroom. Contact your pediatrician for my guidance.
Health Office Reminders
Please send an extra set of clothing to keep in your student's backpack in case of a bathroom accident or spill.
Please make sure extra clothes are appropriate for cooler weather.
Parents/guardians may need to be called to bring a change of clothes to school if there are no clothes in the health office.
When to Keep Students Home Sick
Your student should stay home if they have a fever of 100.4F or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, chills/body aches, excessive coughing, lots of nasal congestion with drainage, or redness/drainage of eyes. Illnesses are the most contagious during the first 48 hours of symptoms. A child who has a fever should remain home until they are fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of medications like Motrin or Tylenol to bring the fever down. Keeping a sick child at home will help minimize the spread of infections in the classroom.
Choptank Community Health is at WMES on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you want to have your student seen by the provider, you can call them directly at 410-822-2219.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me.
melissa.smith@talbotschools.org
Melissa Smith, RN, BSN
WMES School Nurse
November Family Support 🍂
Dear WMES families:
As we enter November, I want to remind all of our families that you are not alone! As your Community School Coordinator, I am here to help connect families with resources and support, including food assistance, clothing resources, health services, and other community supports. If your family needs assistance or you’re unsure where to start, please reach out. I am happy to listen, help you explore available resources, and connect you with support. We are here to support not only our students, but our entire school community.
I'd love to connect with you! I'm reachable at leslie.rose@talbotschools.org or 410-476-3144.
Leslie Rose
Community School Facilitator
Fall into Good Sleep Habits!
The changes with daylight saving time can temporarily disrupt kids' sleep and daily routines, typically taking 3 to 7 days for their internal clocks to adjust. When you fall back on November 1st, you gain an hour. Kids often wake up earlier than usual in the morning or crash earlier in the evening before their bodies adjust to the new time. Sleep plays an important role in everyone’s mental health and overall well-being, especially in children. Getting enough sleep helps them regulate their emotions, cope with stressful moments, improve concentration, and build positive relationships. When children don’t get enough sleep, they may be more irritable, anxious, or have difficulty managing everyday challenges. Parents can help by establishing consistent bedtimes, creating a calming bedtime routine, limiting screen time before bed, and making sure bedrooms are quiet and comfortable. Remember, prioritizing sleep is an important way to support your child’s emotional health, learning, and growth. A good night’s sleep can make a big difference!
Reach out by email gail.schmidt@talbotschools.org or phone WMES and I would be happy to talk with you about this.
Gail Schmidt
School Social Worker
Fall Into Reading!
Fall is here, and we're excited to see our WMES readers continuing to grow! Students in grades K–3 have recently brought home their beginning-of-year DIBELS reading reports. Families, please take some time to review your child's reading results and the activities included with the report. These activities are great ways to practice important early literacy skills and help your child grow as a confident reader! If you have any questions about your child's results or ways to support their reading development, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher.
Let's make reading part of the fall fun! As the leaves change colors and the weather gets cooler, it's the perfect time to cozy up with a good book! Try reading a fall-themed story together, hunting for interesting words on a nature walk, or having your child read aloud to a family member. Even 10–15 minutes of reading together each day can help build strong reading habits.
Remember, readers are like trees—they grow a little stronger every day! 🌳
Kathryn Adams
Reading Coach
🍂 November Math: Fall Into Learning! 🍁
Bring math into your fall fun with these simple at-home activities!
🎃 Pumpkin Predictions: Estimate a pumpkin’s weight, height, or how many seeds are inside.
🍁 Leaf It to Math: Collect leaves, sort them by color or size, and create patterns.
🌰 Fall Counting: Collect acorns, pinecones, or sticks. Count, sort, compare, and estimate!
🥧 Math in the Kitchen: Measure ingredients, count scoops, and explore fractions while baking a fall treat.
🍂 Keep it fun, keep it hands-on, and watch your child’s math thinking grow!
Shannon Lindsay✨
Math Coach
As we enter November, let’s continue to make school attendance a priority! Being at school every day, on time, helps students build strong friendships, develop important routines, and stay engaged in their learning. Even missing a few days can make it difficult for children to keep up with classroom instruction and activities. Families can support good attendance by establishing consistent bedtime and morning routines and planning appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. If your family is experiencing challenges that make getting to school difficult, please reach out to the school for support. Every day matters, every student counts, and together we can make waves toward a successful school year!
WMES School Counseling Office