Dolphin Whistle

We hope you enjoyed Winter Break!

A new year opens the door to a fresh start and new beginnings. The majority of our students have done an excellent job this first week back, so we are celebrating with a WLES Spirit Day tomorrow! Students can join us in wearing WLES gear or blue and white to show that Dolphin pride!

We want to make sure we have enough supplies for everyone in attendance. Please let us know you plan to attend Winter Olympics Math Night by clicking the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdo3Zw2wWPQX85V83MkXepCIL4dYuCvDlzZbZsQ0etOxqhwVw/viewform

Happy New Year from our Community School Liaison, Mrs. Creef. Click the following link to view the newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/j5p6t

Happy New Year from our Health Room staff, Mrs. Lange, our Community School Nurse, and Mrs. Zimmerman, our School Health Room Technician. Please see the newsletter below.

We are almost halfway through the school year. Can you believe it? Winter Assessments began this week. The only preparation is a good night's rest.

• Emergent Multilingual Learners will be taking the WIDA ACCESS Assessment to determine their English Language Proficiency. This test is state-mandated and is weighted as equally as MCAP and MISA! It has it's own special area on the Maryland Report Card.
• All students will be taking MAP tests for math and students in grades 3-5 will also be taking MAP test for Reading. The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) is a type of computer-based test used to measure students’ growth in math and reading over time. It is an adaptive test, meaning it relies on students’ performance to adjust itself to be harder or easier.
• All students will be taking CKLA Tests. Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) is the language arts curriculum for Grades PreK–5 that combines a multi-sensory approach to phonics with rich texts carefully sequenced to build content knowledge—so that students learn to read and read to learn at the same time. Built on the Science of Reading research, CKLA sequences deep content knowledge with research-based foundational skills.
• Students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 and those who are reading below grade level will be taking the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) test. It is a set of quick, research-based assessments used in schools to measure students' early reading skills, like phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading fluency. These short fluency measures help educators identify students at risk for reading difficulties, monitor their progress, and guide reading instruction by flagging areas needing more support, such as decoding or sound recognition.

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.

MCPS is hosting a community meeting next week for parents/guardians to preview instructional materials for the third quarter. The meeting, scheduled for 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at Summit Hall Elementary School, will cover materials for the elementary and secondary curricula. Summit Hall is located at 101 W. Deer Park Road in Gaithersburg. A second preview event will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18 at Ritchie Park Elementary School.

Mrs. Cynthia Alvarado, Registrar

Cynthia_Alvarado@mcpsmd.org

Mrs. Evelyn Campos

Evelyn_R_Campos@mcpsmd.org

Mrs. M. Deneise Hammond, Principal

MDeneise_Hammond@mcpsmd.org

(240) 753-9472 work cell

Mr. David Kim, Assistant School Administrator

David_K_Kim@mcpsmd.org

Mrs. L. Orinda Nelson, Assistant Principal

L.Orinda_Nelson@mcpsmd.org,

Mrs. Padma Radhakrishnan, Administrative Secretary

Padma_Radhakrishnan@mcpsmd.org

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.

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.

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 Ms. Kwon's room, #111
• 3/4/26 8:00-9:05 am in Ms. Tung's room, #169
• 4/7/26 4:20-5:50 pm in Ms. Buckley's room, #131)
• 5/6/25 8:00-9:05 am in Mrs. Armogida' s room, #205
• 6/2/26 4:20-5:50 pm Ms. Jones' room, #241)

Thank you to our NAACP representative, Mrs. Tate, and our MCCPTA Seneca Valley Cluster Representative, Ms. Richards-Holmes, who worked with the NAACP Parent Council to create an IXL Parent Resource. IXL is an online learning program that helps elementary students practice important skills in math and reading at their own pace. It can help students strengthen skills, build confidence, and get comfortable with what they’re learning in school. Check it out by clicking here.

Join the POD by clicking here.

Click here for the Back to School version of the PODcast.