Weekly Mill Creek SOAR'n Updates

Dear Caregivers,

We hope this newsletter finds you all enjoying a beautiful Sunday! Thank you to all of our families who pivoted last Monday to make our first remote learning day a success. Our teachers provided engaging lessons and most of our students were able to attend live sessions! It was a great day!

Last Friday, we had a large group of randomly selected 4th grade students who represented the state of West Virginia by taking the NAEP assessment. This is a national assessment that 4th graders across the nation have taken. We had representatives from the NAEP organization proctor this assessment. They had several glowing remarks about the behavior and work ethic of our students. We are so proud that these students were able to demonstrate the great work we do at Mill Creek each day!

As a reminder, we are also currently registering our first group of kindergarteners and preparing for boundary changes for the 2026–27 school year. Our kindergarten open house is on April 20. Families will be assigned a time after online registration is complete. It is an exciting time to be a Mill Creek Cardinal as we transition to being one of the first K-5 schools in Berkeley County in over 25 years. For more information on kindergarten registration click here. To see where your student will attend school next year, please check your address here.

We will celebrate the success of the 3rd nine weeks on Friday. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our fundraisers to help support this event!

Let's have another great week!

Mrs. Beth McCoy, Principal

emccoy@k12.wv.us

Mrs. Erin Butler, Assistant Principal

ebutler@k12.wv.us

Monday - Mar. 23
• D & D Meats Raffle

Tuesday - Mar. 24

• D & D Meats Raffle

Wednesday - Mar. 25

• D & D Meats Raffle - All money due
• Family Dance Forms will go home - Money & Forms are Due April 3
• Dental Clinic
Thursday - Mar. 26
• Family Dance Forms being collected- Money & Forms are Due April 3

Friday - Mar. 27

• 3rd nine week SOAR reward
• Family Dance Forms being collected- Money & Forms are Due April 3

Poor House Farm Park

8:00AM: registration and activity stations open

Register here

9:00AM: walk or run the park's three-mile trail as a family or school team

• testing tips and information

• i-Ready characters

• music & entertainment

• giveaways

• water & snacks

We are starting a raffle fundraiser on Monday, March 9th and it will end on Wednesday, March 25.

The raffle is for 1 $350 D&D MEATS GIFT CERTIFICATE!

Each student will receive a flyer stating the directions and a bag with 5 tickets to sell. The price of the tickets is $5 for one ticket and $20 for five tickets. The completed tickets and money are due at the same time. If you need more tickets, please turn in what you have sold, and let the office know if you need more tickets.

Tickets and money are due Wednesday, March 25th! It is CASH ONLY fundraiser. No checks will be accepted. The drawing for the winner will take place on Friday, March 27th on our Mill Creek Facebook page.

Flyers to send home will be sent home on Monday, March 9.

Thank you for supporting our school to raise funds that will go directly back to our students!

Please plan to join us for our Annual Family Dance! We will be having an evening in the Enchanted Forest. Light refreshments will be served. Dancing is encouraged and having fun is a must!

When: April 17

Time: Choose the time that works best for you: 5:30-6:30 OR 6:30-7:30

Cost: $5 per person OR $20 per family (Each student must have a paying adult in charge of them for the evening. We encourage this to be a family event.)

Forms will go home on Wednesday, March 25. All forms and money will be due on April 3.

Students will vote to see which staff member they want to see dressed like the Easter Bunny by donating $1 for an egg. The top three teachers with the most eggs will dress up like bunnies on

Friday, April 3. We will be collecting donations from March 25-April 2.

All proceeds go to American Cancer Society.

Below is a list of participating teachers:

3rd Grade: Stone, Baker, Astorino, Williams, Coleman, Henderson, Robertson

4th Grade: Craig, Varros, Crable, Pittinger, Jeans, Hott

5th Grade: Stambaugh, Mason, Sneathen, Thompson, Tetzloff, Kirchner, Reardon

Over the past several months, Berkeley County Schools has shared information regarding boundary changes in the South Berkeley area connected to the opening of Mountain Ridge Primary School for the 2026–27 school year. Based on Board action taken on December 15, 2025, Bunker Hill Elementary, Valley View Elementary, and Mill Creek will serve grades K-5 beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

Each Mill Creek family should have received a message on Feb. 6, stating where your student is slated to attend school next year. Some families will remain at Mill Creek while others will be transferred to the Bunker Hill and Valley View district. We recognize that school transitions and boundary changes can bring uncertainty, and we appreciate your patience and partnership as we work through these changes together.

If you are uncertain as to where you are scheduled to be, the new address locator is located here:

https://hmphoar.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=b1dbd419f1194538808976e498c63af7

(Disclaimer: You must clear out addresses before entering a new address in.)

Enrollments at the new schools will happen automatically. Other than updating your annual emergency information like you always do in the fall, families will not need to do anything for the enrollment to occur.

Families wishing to request an in-county transfer should visit the Berkeley County School's website for information and procedures, or contact the Office of Attendance, Enrollment, and School Choice at 304.263.0166. Please note that transfer requests are approved based on staffing and space availability, families are responsible for providing transportation, and requests are reviewed in the order they are received. Students who are granted a transfer must remain in good academic standing, have good attendance, and demonstrate good behavior. Mill Creek will begin receiving transfer forms now but, final decisions will not be made until after August 10, 2026. Your requests can be emailed to our enrollment secretary, Brandy Duvall at brandy.duvall@k12.wv.us. All requests must have the homeschool district approval signature and have all necessary paperwork attached before it will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the parent to obtain all of that information. If your family chooses to request a transfer, please note that transfers are not guaranteed.

We are excited to kick off our school-wide culture challenge inspired by NCAA March Madness! Throughout the month of March, classrooms will compete in a fun, bracket-style challenge focused on attendance, academic effort, and positive behavior. Each week, classes will advance based on their overall performance in these areas.

Our goal is to build school pride, encourage responsibility, and celebrate student success. You can help by ensuring your child attends school daily, completes assignments, and demonstrates positive behavior. We look forward to an exciting month of teamwork and growth!

Starting next year, Mill Creek will be a K-5 School! Help us spread the word about kindergarten registration!

Kindergarten enrollment opened online on March 1, 2026! Families can register their child through the district’s online enrollment system.

Kindergarten Open House will take place at Mill Creek on April 20, 2026. While attendance is not required, it is strongly recommended. Open House gives families a chance to meet teachers, explore the school, and learn more about the kindergarten experience. Families will be assigned a time for open house AFTER they complete the online registration.

Click here for more information!

This spring, we will be taking the General Summative Assessment. This assessment is required by the state of WV and measures grade-level proficiency. The results of this assessment are used for student placement for the school year including honors placements in middle school. In the 2027 school year, the results of the assessment could also a factor grade-level retention or promotion as defined by the Third Grade Success Act. Please encourage your student to do the their best.

We are asking for your support in encouraging student accountability, ensuring your students are well rested, fed and present in school for these dates.

GSA Testing Dates --

• April 14 - 4/5 writing
• April 15 - 3 writing
• April 16/17 - make up writing
• May 14 - 5th Grade Science
• May 18 - 4,5 - ELA; 3 - Math
• May 19 - 3 - ELA; 4, 5 - Math
• May 20-21 - Make Up Tests

https://infogram.com/transportation-user-dashboard-original-1h7z2l81d5gmx6o

Would you like to nominate someone for a Staffulty or Supporter of the Month?

Staffulty:https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=S7AZ4AwzekaLrgn7FzdNajt39ZIVcItDknuBWxdncppUOVJDRVJVUkUxNlgwTU9BQ05IQVVBMDRSTS4u

Supporters: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=S7AZ4AwzekaLrgn7FzdNajt39ZIVcItDknuBWxdncppUNzlONExWQ1I1WEJaOTVGTU9LQjI4TEdaTy4u

All Berkeley County menus can be found here: Click here

You can download the Nutrislice app on your phone or view the images below for this week's menus.

***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.

This is an EXCELLENT, FREE resource. The Cook Center provides support on topics like mental health, physical health, digital safety, relationships, and so much more. BCS highly recommends this resource and it's confidential.

At Mill Creek Intermediate, we believe that students' success begins with taking ownership of their learning. When students develop responsibility by staying on top of their assignments, they not only build valuable life skills but also set themselves up for academic success.

To help foster this accountability, students will have two opportunities to complete any missed assignments. After these two chances, any remaining incomplete work will receive a zero. This policy is in place to encourage students to stay engaged with their work and take responsibility for their education.

Please know that our teachers are here to support every student. We are committed to working together to ensure all students succeed, but we also want to encourage the growth of independence and responsibility that will serve them well throughout their lives.

We appreciate your support as we guide our students in becoming accountable learners! You can help us support your student by monitoring grades and assignments in Schoology. If you need help with Schoology, please call the school and we will help support you.

Do you want to volunteer at MCI? 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

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.

BCS Attendance Verification form: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/bcs/page/absencenote

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Schoology will be our main platform for daily communication. We will not be using Class Dojo this school year. Please note that you should not send time sensitive information through online platforms or email. Teachers may not get these notes while they are teaching. If you have information that is an emergency, please call the front office or send in a written note to your child's teacher.

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.

Link to SOAR'n Newsletter about Schoology: https://secure.smore.com/n/tuazj

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

• Buses Arrive: 8:20
• Parent Drop Off: South End Lot 8:20 -8:35. Please do not drop students off until a staff member is on duty. You will drive the loop and drop students off at the sidewalk. Please be cautious and look for staff directing you. There will also be buses in this loop.
• Students Tardy: 8:46 (***Students arriving after 8:35 must be signed in by an adult in the office)
• Dismissal Begins: 3:25 -- 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.
• Parent Pick Up: PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR CAR UNTIL 3:25. For the safety of our students, we need to have the sidewalk clear. Please park in a parking spot and not in the fire lane. We ask that families who pick up on a regular basis to please fill out the pick -up form below. Parents will park in the south end lot and come to the music room door to sign student out. Please be prepared to show ID every day. IF YOU NEEED A PARENT PICK UP FORM, PLEASE CLICK BELOW OR EMAIL MRS. MCCOY FOR A FORM.
• Students Leaving Early: To prevent congestion in the office at dismissal time, students will not be allowed to be signed out between 3-3:25. If you have an appointment, please sign your student out before 3pm. 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 will have the opportunity to earn a SOAR point based on these values. You can find the guidelines on the back of their daily folders.

We have partnered with YE Creations again for our 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: Mill Creek Intermediate Spirit Wear 2025

The LSIC is a committee that is meant to assist the school and school system in ensuring that parent, family, business, and community involvement is embedded in all aspects of the school and county strategic improvement plans. It will help to develop and promote the school and school system vision for excellence by being catalysts for innovation and it will represent the voice of the community’s education stakeholders.

At Mill Creek, the LSIC will be working collaboratively with the SOAR'n Supporters (PTO) to plan and implement family involvement activities. We invite all caregivers who would like to help with these activities to attend our quarterly LSIC meetings.

All LSIC meetings are open to the public and will start at 4pm, unless otherwise noted. Dates are subject to change. Please follow Mill Creek's NTouch Messaging and Schoology for updates. All meetings will be held in the Mill Creek Library.

Meeting Dates:

• Sept. 10, 2025 - Election of officers meeting

• Sept. 24, 2025 - Organizational Meeting

• Oct. 22, 2025 - Organizational Meeting to review WV Balanced Scorecard Data

• Nov. 19, 2025 - CANCELLED - Will be Rescheduled

• Jan. 28, 2026 - RESCHEDULED DUE TO SNOW DAY

• Apr. 15, 2026

DATES ADDED FOR MEETINGS THAT HAD TO BE RESCHEDULED:

• MARCH 12, 2026
• MAY 13, 2026

March

• 16 - NAEP Assessment for select 4th Grade Students
• 18 - CD Day - No School for Students
• 19 - 3rd Nine Week Report Cards will go home
• 25 - D & D Meats Gift Card Raffle Money is Due
• 27 - 3rd Nine Weeks SOAR Reward
• 31 - Battle of the Books Competition - Hosted at Mill Creek

April

• 1 - 2 hr delay for students - Faculty Senate
• 6-10 - Spring Break
• 14-15- GSA Writing Assessment
• 15 - LSIC & SOAR'n Supporters - 4pm - Library
• 16 - 3rd Grade Team 1 to library
• 17 - Family Dance - An Evening in the Enchanted Forest
• 20 - 4th Nine Weeks Interims
• 20 - Kindergarten Registration at Mill Creek
• 21 - Student Council - 7:20 am
• 23 - 4th Grade Watershed Field Trip (Jessee, Varros, Jeans, Crable)
• 24 - 4th Grade Watershed Field Trip (Hott, Pittinger, Painter, Craig)
• 30 - Strings and Singing Cardinals Concert