Mustang Express

10/12- Two-hour Early Dismissal; Parent Conferences

10/12- PTA Weeding & Spreading Mulch (2:30-4:00 PM)

10/15- PTA Meeting (6:30 PM)

10/16- Schools Closed for Students

10/20-Boosterthon

10/29- End of Quarter 1

10/30- Two-Hour Early Dismissal- 6 PM Trunk or Treat

11/3- School's Closed

Stay tuned! There is more to come.

November

• 11/3- School's Closed for Election Day
• 11/10- Individual School Picture Retakes
• 11/11- No School for Students/Parent Conferences
• 11/17- 11/24 Book Fair
• 11/20- Book Fair Family Night 4:30-6:30 PM
• 11/24- Book Fair/ VIP Day (VIP schedule forthcoming)
• 11/25-11/27- Schools Closed for students (Holiday Break)

Stay tuned! There is more to come.

Please join us in celebrating Ms. Stallings and her students, whose classroom entry (BREAD) was named Grand Champion and earned a Blue Ribbon at the County Fair. What an incredible accomplishment!

This achievement is a wonderful example of Mustang Magic extending beyond our school walls and into the community. Through Ms. Stallings' dedication, creativity, and commitment to providing engaging and meaningful learning experiences each day, her students were able to showcase their hard work and talents in an outstanding way.

We are so proud of Ms. Stallings and her class for this remarkable achievement and the positive way they represent Mt. Harmony Elementary School. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor and thank you for inspiring excellence in our students every day!

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Melaney Sanchez, who was awarded a $1,500 Calvert County School Foundation Grant for her innovative project, Living the Legacy: Bringing Women's History to Life Through an Immersive Library Experience.

This exciting initiative will transform the library into an engaging, interactive learning environment where students can explore the stories, contributions, and impact of influential women throughout history. Through immersive experiences and meaningful learning opportunities, students will have the chance to connect with history in powerful and memorable ways.

We are incredibly proud of Dr. Sanchez's creativity, dedication, and commitment to enriching student learning. We look forward to seeing how this project inspires curiosity, deepens understanding, and brings history to life for our students.

Congratulations, Dr. Sanchez, on this well-deserved recognition and investment in our school

The 26-27 Federal Impact Aid survey opened September 30, 2026. This is an important funding source for our district. Please make every effort to complete surveys (digital or paper) for each of your students. Uncollected surveys could have a financial impact on CCPS. Parents may submit an online pre-populated survey via HAC or complete a paper survey and return it to school. Beginning Thursday, October 1, 2026, parents/guardians will receive communication through School Messenger with directions for completing the Federal Impact Aid Survey. Parents/Guardians will receive an automated phone message on the afternoon of October 1, 2026. Survey forms are due by October 31, 2026. CCPS will send weekly reminders via School Messenger to only those “living with” guardians who have not completed their survey forms. Please complete the Impact Aid survey for each of your children

• A survey is needed for every student. If there are siblings in your building, they cannot copy the survey. All completed surveys must have a parent/guardian signature and date.

o The date on the survey form must be on or after September 30, 2026.

o Every survey requires the employer's complete name and the federal property's name and address.

o Incomplete forms are not valid and cannot be used.

MHES PTA UPDATES

MUSTANG STRIDE FUNDRAISER - OCTOBER 20

Have you signed up for the Mustang Stride yet? Visit MyBooster.com today and be part of the excitement!

School Beautification - Fall Clean-up

Monday, October 12, 2:30p-5:30p (two-hour early dismissal day) we will be hosting a fall clean-up day to mulch, weed, and plant flowers. Click here to sign up for a one-hour time slot.

Do you have a trailer? A wheel barrow? Shovels? We need you! Bring all the equipment you have! And bring the kids! The more hands the better!

TRUNK OR TREAT - OCTOBER 30TH!

It’s officially October, which means Trunk or Treat is right around the corner! Join us Friday, October 30th for one of our favorite MHES traditions!

Register a Trunk! Help make the night extra fun by decorating a trunk and passing out candy and goodies to our MHES Families. Register Your Trunk HERE.

Sign up for a Trunk or Treat Time Slot! To help keep the evening running smoothly families can choose the time slot that works best for you! VIP PTA members will get early access! Reserve your family’s time slot HERE.

Help Feed the Candy Monsters! Our Candy drive will run from October 19-30. Students can bring in candy donations to school once the drive officially begins. Our Candy Monster will be ready to gobble them up!

Want to get a head start or skip the trip to the store? Use our online candy drive link to order now! Your donations will be delivered directly to the PTA Board for drop-off when the candy drive begins. Shop Walmart HERE. Shop Amazon HERE.

OCTOBER SPIRIT DAY - SAVE THE DATE

Mark your calendars! 🎃 Join us for our October Spirit Day Fundraiser at Horsmon Farms on Friday, October 16, from 12 pm to 5 pm. Since schools are closed that day, it's the perfect opportunity to enjoy fall fun with family and friends while supporting our school. We hope to see you there! 🍂🍁🐄

SPIRIT WEAR “FIRST” FRIDAY - OCTOBER 9

The first Friday of every month we will count how many students in each class are wearing MHES Spirit Wear or tops with MHES Blue and Yellow. The class wearing the most Spirit Wear will receive a trophy, a prize, AND an extra 15 minutes of recess!!!!

Need more spirit wear? Check out our selection here.

WE NEED LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS!

Our Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade classes need a parent volunteer during their Library time. 30 minute time slots are available all year! Join our Library Volunteers today!

BECOME A PTA MEMBER TODAY!

Thank you to everyone who signed up to be a member at Back to School night. It’s never too late to become a PTA member! Join the MHES PTA

• Individual Membership is $10 for the year.

• A family Membership is $15 for the year - includes 2 adult memberships.

• A VIP Membership is $40 for the year. This includes 2 adult memberships, early access to Trunk or Treat, and other benefits throughout the school year.

You can also Sponsor a Staff Member for just $10 to help us reach all of our staff members this year.

PTA BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS

Business Sponsors serve an integral role in the success of the Mt. Harmony Elementary PTA by providing irreplaceable resources for the PTA to carry out its mission. In return, Sponsors receive exposure in PTA communications and receive a tax-deductible donation. See the different levels and sign up for a Business Sponsorship here.

WE NEED YOU – VOLUNTEER WITH US!

We still have lots of spots available - take a look where you could help:

Volunteer with us

All volunteers must be approved CCPS volunteers and members of the PTA.

Questions? Contact Julianna Campbell and Jessica Lewis at volunteers@MHESPTA.com.

Have a photo for the yearbook? Join our Photo Circles!

Click here to access Photo Circles for your classroom, field trips, clubs, events, and more. Your picture could end up in the yearbook!

MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS - Mark your calendars now!

Our monthly membership meetings are the Third Thursday of every month (except December) at 6:30 pm. Because we know your time is valuable, the meetings in October through April will be hybrid in person (in the library) and virtual (our last meeting in May is in person only in the cafeteria).

Upcoming Events:

• Friday, October 9 - Spirit Wear “First” Friday

• Monday, October 12, 2:30-5:30 pm - Fall Clean-up

• Thursday, October 15, 6:30 pm - October Monthly Membership Meeting (Hybrid)

• Friday, October 16, 12 - 5pm - Spirit Day Fundraiser @Horsomon Farms

• Tuesday, October 20 - BOOSTERTHON!

• Friday, October 30, 6 pm - Trunk or Treat

Dear Parents and Student in Ms. Conklins Class,

I am so sorry to have to end our time together so quickly. I truly enjoyed spending the school days with you and know you will do great in 4th grade, no matter what! I will miss you all. Hope to see you guys at the Veteran's Day performance. Keep being the awesome students you are and have fun!

Ms. Tardy (Long Term Sub)

For the safety and well-being of all students, our staff works diligently each day to ensure that more than 650 students are safely dismissed to the correct bus, car rider line, or designated transportation option.

While we understand that unexpected situations and emergencies may arise, we kindly ask that any transportation changes be communicated via email no later than 2:00 p.m. on the day of the change. Please also include your child's full name. Providing notice by this time allows our staff adequate time to process the request, communicate the change to all necessary personnel, and ensure a smooth and safe dismissal for your child.

We appreciate your partnership and cooperation in helping us maintain an efficient and safe dismissal process for all students.

Early Dismissal

We ask that any student who will be picked up directly from the office for early dismissal, be picked up no later than 2:45 p.m. After that time, our staff shifts focus to coordinating the dismissal of more than 650 students to buses, car riders, and other transportation arrangements.

Picking students up by 2:45 p.m. helps us maintain a smooth dismissal process, minimizes disruptions to classrooms and office operations, and supports the safety of all students. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership in helping us provide an organized and secure end to each school day.

Important Transportation Information for the Start of School

To ensure a smooth start to the school year, it is essential that students who will be riding the bus regularly ride the bus on the first day of school. This helps bus drivers begin to associate each student’s face with their name and address, and ensures that no student is accidentally missed in the days that follow.

Transportation details, including bus number, stop location, and approximate stop times, will be available in your student’s Home Access Center (HAC). This information is based on the guardian’s home address unless a different pick-up or drop-off location has been provided to Mt Harmony Elementary School. If you need to make changes, please contact MHES before the routing software is updated.

Stay Informed with “Here Comes the Bus”
Click the button below to sign up for Here Comes the Bus, a tool that shows the real-time location of your child’s bus, provides schedules, and sends notifications when the bus is near your stop.

Additional Resources:

• Click the button below to learn more about CCPS transportation services.
• See the attached document for transportation rules and regulations.

Please remember that each student may only have one pick-up and one drop-off location.

While we will continue to accommodate car riders, we encourage families to consider using CCPS Bus Transportation whenever possible.

DAILY DISMISSAL:

• If you are picking up your child at the end of the school day, we ask that you send us an email by 2:00 pm each day letting us know. This email should be sent to MHESForms@calvertnet.k12.md.us. If we do not receive email, your child will most likely get on the bus. We do not call students from the classrooms for dismissal at the end of the school day.
• Note: If you plan to pick up your child every day at dismissal – send an email to MHESforms@calvertnet.k12.md.us letting us know, and you will not need to send an email each day by 2 p.m.

CAR RIDERS - Drop Off – Arrival begins at 8:35. If you drop your child off at school, the Kiss N Go line is open from 8:35 – 8:45. The line closes promptly at 8:45 (cones will block the entrance to the Kiss N Go area at 8:45) After 8:45, you will need to park in the lower parking lot and walk your child to the front door of the school, please do not pull into our bus lane. If your child arrives after 8:45, you will need to sign them in at the kiosk located in the front office. Students who arrive after 8:45 will be marked tardy. Students will only be permitted to exit from the driver’s side of the vehicle. This will ensure students and staff do not walk between vehicles. If your child cannot get out on the driver’s side, you will need to park in the lower parking lot and walk them to the front door of the school. Be sure your child is ready to get out of the vehicle i.e. shoes on, backpack readily accessible, jacket on etc.

Car Riders Pick-Up – PLEASE BE PREPARED TO SHOW IDENTIFICATION. There are 2 ways to pick up your child at the end of the day – A Mustang rider placard or as a Daily Surprise Car Rider.

· Mustang Riders – starts Monday, August 31 - limited to 50 placards.

·A Mustang Rider placard is for parents who will be picking up their child from school every day.

• We do allow carpooling with another family if you do not get a placard. Your child would ride home every day with the family who received a placard.

·Mustang Rider and Daily Surprise car rider pickup time is 3:30 – 3:45

Surprise Car Riders- Parents must send an email to MHESforms@calvertnet.k12.md.us by 2 p.m. if they plan to pick up their child.

Note: If you plan to pick up your child every day as a Surprise Daily Car Rider – send an email to MHESforms@calvertnet.k12.md.us and let us know, you will not need to send an email every day by 2 p.m.

· Photo ID is required to pick up your child

· If someone other than you will be picking up your child, include that information in your daily email to MHESforms@calvertnet.k12.md.us by 2 p.m.

· No ID, No student pickup, no exceptions

· Pick up location is in the Art hallway (see location below)

Menus, nutrition information, payment methods and information, and photos of food served are accessible online on the CCPS Website on the Child Nutrition page.

This year, student breakfast is $1.85 and lunch is $3.00. Students may purchase milk or water and funds will be deducted from a computerized account. You can deposit money online using your child’s 5-digit student ID number or you can send in cash or checks ranging from $10 on up made payable to MHES Cafeteria. Students will eat in the cafeteria. ID numbers are in HAC, but if you can't find or access it, please call the school for help.

As a reminder, students will have opportunities to purchase snacks in the cafeteria using their lunch funds. You may want to have a discussion as a family about what you will permit them to purchase, how often, and how much they can spend.

Click HERE for information about LINQ, where you can manage payments, view menus, and more!

All students are expected to enter their lunch numbers independently. Please see the sample keypad below to assist with practicing at home.

School Security measures have been put into place for the safety of all students and staff. All outside doors will always be locked. Visitors and parents coming into the building will need to bring ID and ring the doorbell outside the main entrance of the school. The office staff will grant them access into the building by “buzzing” them into the school where they can sign in at the office once they have stated the purpose for their visit. Please do not allow anyone else into the building should they arrive at the same time as you.

This application allows you to view student grades, assignments, and attendance in a real-time environment. Grades will typically be visible in HAC within one week of the assignment due date. Additional time should be provided in the case of assignments that may take longer to grade (e.g., projects, research papers, etc). Parents/Guardians who have never logged into HAC must self-register to create a HAC account. If you have an existing HAC account and can’t remember your HAC credentials, please use the “Forgot my Username or Password” link. If this does not work for you for some reason, please contact the main office.

There are many military families who live in our community and who have children who attend our school. If you are a military family, please click the link below to let us know. We will be working on helping military families connect with each other this year and of course, we will support any military families who experience a deployment.

Connecting with Military Families at MHES – Fill out form

Military Child Education Coalition: Homepage - Military Child Education Coalition® (MCEC®)

Volunteer with us! CCPS uses the Raptor system for volunteers and visitors to sign in and out of schools. All volunteers (anyone interacting with children for activities such as field day, field trips, VIP Day, etc.) will need to review the volunteer handbook, watch the volunteer training video, and apply to be an approved volunteer each year before volunteering in any school. Click HERE to become a volunteer!

It would be very helpful if you applied to be a volunteer as soon as possible, even now when you might have a little extra time in the summer. The application and approval process takes a little time and we have experienced issues where volunteers were not approved in time to chaperone field trips. Don't let that happen to you!

Medications occasionally must be administered to students by our school nurse, Nurse Hill, RN. According to Maryland state guidelines, any medications – including over the counter medications – must have a “Physician’s Authorization Form” on file in the health room before they can be administered at school. They must be in the original container and have the child’s name on the bottle. Medications must be brought to school by the parent or guardian. Cough drops are also to be given to Nurse Hill who can provide them to your child as necessary. Nurse Hill will be glad to answer any questions you may have concerning this policy. You may bring medications to school during “Greet your Seat” or New Student Orientation.

Requirement from the Maryland Department of Health: Kindergarten through 5th Grade students need proof of two Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccines. A parent/guardian must confirm that an appointment has been made for any school-required vaccine by the first day of school in Sept. 2025. If the child has not received the vaccine by the 20th day after school begins, the child will not be allowed to attend until proof of vaccination has been received by our school nurse.

Illness Information:

If your child should become sick or injured at school, he/she will be sent to the school nurse. Nurse Hill will call home to share any injuries from the neck up. Nurse Hill will assess and address minor injuries, headaches, stomach aches, etc. and send students back to class unless she determines that a phone call home is appropriate and necessary. In the event your child needs to leave school, he/she will be made as comfortable as possible until you arrive. Please notify the school of any changes to contact or emergency phone numbers

RETURNING TO SCHOOL AFTER AN ILLNESS

A student may return to school:

• 24 hours after a fever breaks (without the need/use of fever reducers)

• 24 hours after vomiting or diarrhea has ceased.

• 24 hours after starting an antibiotic (i.e., for Pink Eye, impetigo, and strep)

• Following head lice clearance by school nurse

• Following ringworm when exposed area is covered, and the nurse is notified of medication follow-up.

MEDICAL CONCERNS

In the event your child develops new medical concerns or experiences an injury that results in crutches, a wheelchair, or activity restrictions, please contact the school nurse. A doctor’s order clarifying the restrictions should also be shared with the school office.

ILLNESS SCREENING GUIDANCE

Screening is the responsibility of all families and staff members to self-assess for symptoms of an infectious illness such as COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and gastrointestinal infections before entering a school bus or CCPS facility.

• Please click here to visit the CCPS School Health Program page.
• Please click here for the CCPS Health Services Handbook for Families
• Please click here for the latest guidance for COVID.

Spirit Days are every Friday! Students, family members, and staff are encouraged to participate and proudly wear our MHES blue and gold or other MHES attire!

There will be opportunities to purchase spirit. Stay tuned for details!

For information about family events and youth activities taking place in our community, click the Community Events button, below. Please note: These events and activities are not sponsored by the Calvert County Board of Education or Calvert County Public Schools. We provide equal opportunities to outside agencies to distribute materials that offer opportunities to students and/or their parents, but that permission should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by the school district.

Mt. Harmony Elementary School's mission is to educate children academically, socially, emotionally and physically in order to achieve their fullest potential. By providing a child-centered environment created by parent involvement, community support, high academic expectations and nurturing of each individual's self-concept, children will ultimately be well prepared to contribute to society.

Philosophy

The Mt. Harmony Elementary School supports the Calvert County Public School's beliefs and values. We believe that all children can learn through:

• Strong instructional leadership provided by teachers and administration.
• Clearly stated, realistic, high expectations based on students' individual needs.
• Continued monitoring and assessing of school progress and performance.
• A cooperative partnership between school and community.
• Professional development endeavors for staff and administration.
• A clear understanding of mastery teaching and learning.
• A school climate conducive to learning.

Please do not enter the bus lot while students are entering or exiting the buses at arrival and dismissal.

Surprise car rider requests should be emailed to MHESForms@calvertnet.k12.md.us NO later than 2PM

For early dismissals from the main office, please ensure to arrive before 2:45 PM to avoid conflicts with bus arrival and dismissal procedures. Thank you for your attention to this request

Calvert County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, or any other characteristic protected by law in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth programs.

Calvert County Public Schools does not refuse enrollment of a prospective student, expel a current student, or withhold privileges from a current student, or prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student because of an individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national original, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Calvert County Public Schools does not discipline, invoke a penalty against, or take any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the program or school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

• Director of Student Services
• Director of Human Resources
  443-550-8000

For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.

900 West Mt. Harmony Road

Owings, Maryland 20736

Phone 443-550-9620

Fax 410-286-4017

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