Mustang Message - Open House Info

Mechanicsville Elementary School

August 22nd, 2022

• Bring Supplies with you. You can leave them in the classroom. This will help avoid children having to carry supplies with them on the first day of school.

Kindergarten: 1:30-2:30 PM

• K will begin in the cafeteria.
• Mr. Lynch will welcome families and students and introduce staff.
• Students and their families will then go to their assigned classrooms (either Ms. Parker or Ms. Cable).
• The PTO is providing popsicles on the playground after Kindergarten students are finished in their classrooms.
• Grade 1-5 classrooms are not open until 3PM.

Grades 1-5: 3:00-4:00 PM

• Doors open at 3PM.
• Grades 1-5 may go directly to classes beginning at 3:00 PM. It is not necessary to arrive right at 3:00 PM. Consider spacing out the timing of your visits.

• Doors in the back and front of the building will be open for entrance to the Open House. Most parking is available in the back of the building.

Asta Repenning will be teaching 5th grade ELA and Social Studies.

Menus and Accounts

Menus for School Meals are visible through Nutrislice.

If you want to view your child's meal purchases and add funds, use the My School Bucks link.

Free Breakfast and Lunch Requires an Application

Online applications are encouraged as they are processed more quickly.

• School Meal Benefit Forms: School Year Meal Benefit forms for SY 23-24 are now available online! Easily fill out your new meal benefit form by visiting https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application on the www.smcps.org website. Families can request more information by contacting SMCPS' Food and Nutrition Services Office at 301.475.4256, Option 5, or via email at foodservice@smcps.org.

Volunteer applications are open for new applicants for the 2023 - 2024 school year.

Both new and previously registered volunteers must complete a volunteer application every school year.

August

August 23 - First Day of School! (MES Student Day 9AM - 3:40PM)

Looking Ahead to September

September 1 - Mustang Gallop Kickoff

September 4 - Labor Day - All Schools and Offices Closed

September 21 - Two Hour Early Dismissal – No School for PreKindergarten Students

September 22 - No School for Students

September 20 - (DATE CHANGED) 4th Grade Elms Field Trip. Click here for how to prepare students and more information.

September 25 - Picture Day

ALERT: Beware of Phishing Attempts on SMCPS Student Accounts:

In recent weeks, phishing attempts have been targeted at SMCPS student accounts using methods outside of SMCPS managed services.

Phishing is a method where malicious individuals attempt to trick you into providing them with information about you and your online account information. These methods can take many forms, so staying vigilant for anything that seems out of the ordinary when online is important.

Additionally, please note that SMCPS IT support will never contact you on Discord, Steam, or any other application that is not managed by SMCPS and will never ask you for your account password. If you are contacted on any outside application stating to be SMCPS IT, please DO NOT respond, block/report the individual and inform your site administration so that it can be escalated. Contact your building-level tech or the Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) at your first leisure for more information.

• The carpool registration is now online.
• Carpool riders will go to the gym for AM drop-off and PM pickup this year.
• Carpool applications are not for occasional pickups, but regular PM pickups.
• AM drop-offs do not require a carpool registration if students will ride the bus home.

• Expect minor Bus Delays on the first few days of school as there are often kinks to work out.
• It is recommended to arrive at your AM bus stop about 10 minutes early on the first day. Once the routes and times are consistent, 5 minutes early is sufficient.
• Remember that Kindergarten students must be met at the bus door in the PM, or they will be returned to school.
• Students should always be at the stop safely before the bus arrives. It is not safe to run to the bus stop as a bus is pulling up or after it arrives.

Use the Bus Stop and School Locator to verify your child's assigned bus stop location, bus number and expected arrival times.

Be prepared to share with teachers how your child goes home from school at Open House.

Bus Expectations:

It’s important to discuss bus expectations with your child regularly. Students are expected to stay seated in their assigned bus seats, use a normal talking voice, listen to the driver's directions at all times, and follow all relevant school rules. Parents can help by discussing bus expectations with children and showing them the bus safety video on the SMCPS Transportation Website.

• All regular season tickets are $6.00 (online or card at the gate)

• Online ticketing is highly encouraged prior to arrival

• Employee badges from all three counties will be honored per SMAC Constitution

• As a reminder, No +1 or additional guest per SMAC Bylaws for local employees..

• MPSSAA passes are ONLY accepted for Region and State Playoff games, not regular season SMAC contests or SMAC championships.

• Senior Citizen Cards will only be for St. Mary's County residents.

• Anyone leaving the event without authorization MUST pay to re-enter

• No outside food or drinks are permitted

• No Bags (Other small permissible items such as keys, wallets, cell phones, credit cards, and cash may be carried in a pocket or by hand)