Dear Otter Elementary School Families,

Our first two short days back from Winter Break and snow days were successful! We are all looking forward to the opportunity to get back into our routine this week!

We will be monitoring the temperatures and state of the playground and fields throughout the week and will have outdoor recess when conditions allow. Please be sure to send students to school with temperature appropriate clothing and accessories!

Finally, our Penny Wars begin this week on January 16th! We had so much fun with this last school year. I am looking forward to all the competition to benefit a good cause. Thank you to the PTA for sponsoring this event and the whole school assembly it will fund!

Otterly Yours,

Mrs. Anderson

The office will be open Monday - Friday from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Please click on the links below to access public calendars.

Our school's overall attendance rate, as reported to MSDE, for the school year so far is 93.7% (+/-0.0%). The goal is 94%.

Weekly attendance rate reporting will continue after the week of January 13th.

Mrs. Curtis and I will be reviewing 2nd quarter and school year attendance this week. Attendance letters will be sent out over the next two weeks. Any needs for in person attendance meetings will be communicated directly with those families impacted.

The PTA has compiled a directory of contact information for families to use. Please click on the button below to access the directory. Only families who returned to request for information and provided consent to share their information have been included. If you wish to be included, please reach out to the PTA.

Keep this list somewhere handy!

Monday, January 13th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

Tuesday, January 14th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

Wednesday, January 15th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• Spirit Day - Color War Day!

Thursday, January 16th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• PTA Penny Wars

Friday, January 17th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

• PTA Penny Wars
• End of 2nd Marking Period

St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) students use the Internet and other instructional computer resources in school. It is important that you and your student review this information each year. Within this policy is the Google Workspace for Education Additional Services Agreement. Students in grades PreK - 5th grade do not need to complete an AUP this school year. They will not be accessing additional services within Google Workspace for Education beyond the core features.

Now is a great time to find your laptop and charger. Please run all of the updates and make sure that it is working order. Chargers are to remain at home.

All SMCPS laptops come with the same responsibility of care and upkeep as any other loaned resources. Textbooks, novels, laptops and chargers can incur a debt if lost or damaged. Please refer to the student accountability newsletter that has been added to our weekly school newsletters.

Hello OES Otter Families,

I am Hannah Pratz, and I am so excited to be returning to the OES family this school year! I have been a school nurse for 25 years and have loved every minute! I love what I do and my door is always open! Don't hesitate to pop in the health suite or cut through!

All medications must be accompanied by an order before they can be given at school. We CANNOT give any medication without the medical order.

See you all soon!

FAQ:

When should I keep my child home from school?

• Fever >100.0, vomiting, diarrhea, or pink and crusty eyes
• Symptoms of COVID-19 like illness OR symptoms or an illness that do not resolve after home interventions
• Your child has been directed to quarantine by the local health department

One community committed to the learning and safety of all children.

Community is important to us. We strive to have the words "goal-oriented", "fun", "inclusive", and "thriving" used to describe our community. We believe that children learn and adults work best in an environment where they feel respected and safe. We are focused on four areas in our development of community: 1) Cultivating respectful, supportive relationships among students, teachers, and parents, 2) Emphasizing common purposes and ideals, 3) Providing opportunities for service and cooperation, and 4) Providing opportunities for independence and influence.

Email: lpanderson@smcps.org
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/oes/
Location: 26410 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 373-4365
Facebook: facebook.com/smcps.org