Dolphin Whistle
WLES Family Newsletter
Friday, January 30, 2026
We are on Snow Day #4!
The Next Three Weeks at the Landing
School is potentially reopening two hours late on Monday, 2/2/26. We will know for sure on Sunday, 2/1/26.
We hope you have been safe and warm over the last week.
We want to thank our Building Services Team for doing an outstanding job of clearing the walkways around our school. It was not an easy task in such low temperatures, but they got it done!
With all of the snow in the parking lot, we have lost a few parking spaces. Please be sure to avoid parking in the school parking lots between 8:30 and 9:00am, so that our staff can park and get into the building to prepare for students to arrive. Thank you for your assistance with this.
Marking Period 3 will begin this week. We are officially halfway through the school year. Report cards will come home 7 days after school reopens. However, grades will be available in Synergy four days after school reopens. We are working on determining the dates for our Quarter 2 Awards Assemblies. Stay tuned!
We have been out of school for over a week. Our staff will be taking extra time to remind students of the school expectations. It would be helpful if you could reiterate the importance of abiding by our school core values of being respectful, responsible and safe at home as well. Learning is hindered when students come to school with a focus other than that school is intended for learning.
We're looking forward to seeing our Dolphins!
NAACP Parent's Council Newsletter
Here is the February WLES NAACP Parent Council Newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/brehp. Please contact Mrs. Tate at waterslandingnaacprep@gmail.com with any questions or suggestions.
Information from the POD
Join the POD by clicking here. Our next meeting is Tuesday, February 3, 2026 from 6:30-7:30pm. It would be amazing if you joined us virtually!
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/84130778754?pwd=bXkBsrH6kcBitahzmMhn6pddd5qkqf.1
Meeting ID: 841 3077 8754
Passcode: 178124
We hope to see you there!
Phone: (240) 740-1020 Fax: (301) 601-0392
School Office Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm
Mrs. Cynthia Alvarado, Registrar
Mrs. Evelyn Campos
Mrs. M. Deneise Hammond, Principal
(240) 753-9472 work cell
Mr. David Kim, Assistant School Administrator
Mrs. L. Orinda Nelson, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Padma Radhakrishnan, Administrative Secretary
Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary starts at the Landing in February
Some of our amazing parents and staff advocated to get the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary program here at Waters Landing Elementary School. Their efforts paid off and the program starts here in February. Over 100 students were invited to attend the program. The first set of paperwork that was sent out stated that the program would be at Watkins Mill Elementary School, That is not the case. It will be right here at the Landing. If you received a packet, an email from Mrs Hammond or a phone call from Mrs. Moore or Ms. Tejada, your child was invited. We need your packet returned or completed online as soon as possible. We don't want anyone to miss out who was initially invited to the program. This program will provide academic support and recreational fun for students.
Free Breakfast and Lunch at the Landing Daily
All Waters Landing ES students qualify for free breakfast and free lunch every day. Students must order their lunch in the classroom after attendance in order to receive their first choice. If they arrive late they may order, but it might be too late to get the meal they prefer.
Interested in Volunteering for Lunch and/or Recess at the Landing?
We appreciate all of our Parent volunteers at the Landing! Please sign up to volunteer at lunch and/or recess by clicking here. Here is the Waters Landing Elementary School Volunteer Handbook. Please review it prior to volunteering at the Landing. Make sure you have done all that is outlined on the MCPS website prior to coming to school to volunteer. Always bring your state identification when you come to volunteer at school. You will not be allowed to volunteer without it.
Are you interested in working with Oceans 25, the WLES Instructional Leadership Team?
Oceans 25 meets monthly. We'd love to have a parent perspective. Feel free to join us on any of the following dates/times to collaborate with us.
- 2/3/25 4:20-5:50 pm in Mrs. Ehrenstein's room, #225
- 3/4/26 8:00-9:05 am in Ms. Kwon's room, #111
- 4/7/26 4:20-5:50 pm in Ms. Tung's room, #169
- 5/6/25 8:00-9:05 am in Ms. Buckley's room, #131)
- 6/2/26 4:20-5:50 pm in Mrs. Armogida' s room, #205
Changes implemented the week of 1/19/26:
Picking students up early and notification of dismissal change: Our office is being overwhelmed at the end of the day with the number of last minute dismissal changes and people coming into the office to pick up students at dismissal time. It has been difficult ensuring students get the message that their dismissal is different and getting students down to the office and out of the door so that the bus loop is cleared for buses. Starting Tuesday, January 20, 2026, all requests to change a student's dismissal must be received before 3:15pm. Also, students who are leaving early must be picked up before 3:15pm.
Parking: WLES Staff have been given parking permits that will be enforced in the parking lots between the hours of 8:30 and 9:00am. We have been having issues with staff members not being able to find a parking space in the morning due to families parking in the parking lot instead of walking to school or getting into the car rider line. Please help us to ensure that staff members are ready to receive our students each morning.
Shared Previously
Illness Rates Rising; Mask Wearing Recommended in Health Rooms
Respiratory illness rates (including COVID-19, flu and RSV) are currently high in the state of Maryland and in Montgomery County, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Based on guidance from Maryland health professionals, mask wearing is recommended — but not required —only while in school health rooms. while these rates remain elevated.
Students will not be denied access to the health room if they are unable or choose not to wear a mask. This temporary recommendation will be lifted once state respiratory illness rates decline.
