Dolphin Whistle

Whatever holidays your family celebrates, we hope that they are enjoyable.

Winter break is from 12/24/25 to 1/4/26. School reopens on Monday, January 5, 2026.

The next Dolphin Whistle will be Thursday, January 8, 2026.

Hi everyone! My name is Sarahi Villasenor Hernandez, and I’m excited to join the school counseling team as the substitute counselor, primarily working with grades 3–5. I’m a recent graduate of the University of Maryland who decided to stay on the East Coast, and I’m a proud Mexican—so you might hear me switch between English and Spanish from time to time! I love baking and traveling, and I was lucky enough to visit Japan this past spring with many more adventures to come. I’m really looking forward to collaborating with students, staff, and families!

Please remind your children to look for their lost clothing, water bottles and lunchboxes in the Lost and Found. Items will be on display in the main hallway tomorrow during the Tides Winter Wonderland fundraiser. All remaining items will be donated after school closes for WInter Break next Tuesday.

An increasing number of students are arriving late for school. A few minutes may not seem like much, but here are some of the ways a late arrival affects a student:

• Breakfast is no longer being served after 9:30am.

• When a student orders lunch in the office there is no guarantee he or she will receive the lunch they want. Depending on when you arrive, the kitchen staff may have already prepared the meals for that grade level. Your child will have to take whichever item is left.

• Students feel like they are playing catch-up and a bit lost since they missed the beginning steps.

Missing a few minutes a day adds up to days missed and lost learning time.

• 5 mins/day: ~3 days missed per year.

• 10 mins/day: ~7 days (over a week) missed.

• 15 mins/day: ~10-10.3 days (over two weeks) missed.

• 30 mins/day: ~20-22 days (over a month) missed.

Please make sure your students arrive at school on time each day.

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.

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:

• 1/7/26 4:20-5:50 pm am in Mrs. Ehrenstein's room, #225
• 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)

Join the POD by clicking here.

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