Weekly Mill Creek SOAR'n Updates

Dear Caregivers -

Tomorrow, September 22, marks the Fall Equinox, the official start of autumn!

We’re also excited to host our School Book Fair this week. Students will have the chance to shop during their PE and Library times—what a great opportunity to discover new stories and favorite books!

In addition, all of our 3rd grade students will get a hands-on science experience with the WV Mobile Ag Ed Science Lab. They’ll have the chance to conduct experiments and explore the world of science in an exciting way.

It’s shaping up to be a fun and educational week for everyone!

Mrs. Beth McCoy, Principal

emccoy@k12.wv.us

Mrs. Erin Butler, Assistant Principal

ebutler@k12.wv.us

MCI 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 PE class times during the week of September 22-26. Participation is optional. There will be a family shopping time on Thursday, September 25th, after school from 4-6.

As soon as the fair is set up, pictures will be posted on Schoology for browsing. Flyers will be sent home before the fair starts, during library classes.

The fair is already open online for online shopping. More information to shop online for home delivery can be found here:

Link to MCI Literati Book Fair

We are in need of parent volunteers to help with various tasks during the book fair. You must be already registered with Secure Volunteer and have completed the Megan’s Law training (the same as being a chaperone for a field trip). Sign up here to volunteer at the book fair: sign up to volunteer HERE

Payment for items from the book fair can be made using cash, credit, or prepaid digital gift cards. There will be 6% WV sales tax collected from all purchases. More information to set up a prepaid digital gift card can be found on the book fair webpage listed above or through this link: Literati gift card link

Link to Preview items: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGzcAa0GrU/JAy3LE-5iNe6dqokD_gAmw/view?utm_content=DAGzcAa0GrU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer

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.

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: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/bcs/page/volunteers-chaperones

We have partnered with our business partner, Jefferson Security Bank, to provide students with the opportunity to learn the importance of financial literacy and saving money. Parents can complete the below form for someone from Jefferson Security Bank to reach out about opening a Youth Savings or Youth Checking account for your student. You may also stop by their Inwood branch for more information. Students will be able to make monthly deposits into their accounts at school or they can go by the bank at anytime. Jefferson Security is donating $5 per each account opened to be the first deposit!

Banking Deposit Days at Mill Creek:

Oct. 14

Nov. 18

Dec. 16

Jan. 13

Feb. 10

Mar. 10

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.

TutorWV offers every West Virginian no-cost access to personalized tutoring and drop-off review services, test prep and self-paced resources, and job search assistance. Click the link above from any device, and you’ll get connected to a live expert tutor and resources!

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.

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

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.
• 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

• Jan. 28, 2025

• Apr. 15, 2025

September

• 22-26 - 3rd Grade - WV Farm Bureau Ag Experiment Truck
• 22-26 - Book Fair
• 24 - LSIC @ 4pm
• 25 - Parent Night for Book Fair - 4-6pm

October

• 1 - 2hr. delay for students
• 2 - 3rd grade students will receive dictionaries from the Rotary of Martinsburg
• 6 - 4th grade field trip (Hott, Pittinger, Jessee, Jeans)
• 8 - 4th grade field trip (Painter, Craig, Varros, Crable)
• 13 - end of the 1st nine weeks
• 14 - Bank Day w/ JSB
• 15 - PD Day - No School for students
• 16 - 1st Nine Weeks SOAR Fest
• 20 - Report Cards go home
• 22 - LSIC - 4pm - Library
• 23 - Parent / Teacher Conferences 5-7pm
• 28 - MCI Make-Up Pictures
• 28 - MCI Trunk or Treat - 6-8pm
• 31 - MCI Career Day - Dress for your future career - Don't Let Your Future Scare You!

November

• 3-19 - Canned Food Drive
• 10 - Veteran's Day Breakfast
• 11 - No School - Veteran's Day
• 12 - 2 Hr. Delay for students
• 13 - World Kindness Day
• 14 - Interims - Check Schoology for student's grades
• 18 - Bank Day w/ JSB
• 19 - LSIC
• 24-28 - No School for students - Thanksgiving Break

December

• 4 - MCI Strings & Choir Concert @ MMS - 6:30
• 8-12 - Secret Santa Shop
• 15 - Cookies & Crafts with Santa - 6-7:30
• 16 - Bank Day with JSB
• 19 - 2nd nine weeks ends
• 19 - 2 hr delay for students
• 19 - Winter Holiday Homeroom Celebrations
• 19 - 2nd nine weeks SOAR reward
• 22-Jan. 5 - No School - Winter Break