Weekly Mill Creek SOAR'n Updates

Dear Caregivers -

It’s hard to believe we’ve already completed our first full month of school! Our students are settling into routines, learning, and growing each day, and we are quickly approaching the end of the first quarter.

I would like to thank all of our volunteers who supported the Book Fair and our 3rd Grade Farm Ag Expo this week. Your time and dedication make these experiences possible for our students—we truly couldn’t do our work without you.

As we move into October, we encourage all caregivers to ensure you are connected to a parent account in Schoology. Staying connected allows you to keep up with your student’s grades, assignments, and attendance so we can partner together for their success.

We look forward to a wonderful new month ahead and appreciate your continued support!

Mrs. Beth McCoy, Principal

emccoy@k12.wv.us

Mrs. Erin Butler, Assistant Principal

ebutler@k12.wv.us

The annual science fair at Mill Creek will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Our students always do such a great job and really let their talent shine as they show their knowledge and discovery through science. Winners in each category will go on to compete in the County Science Fair on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

A science project must answer a question through experiments or data collection. The project will consist of a display board, abstract telling about the project, display of items that tell about the project, and a report.

If you would like to enter a project in the science fair this year, please fill out the form below and bring it back to school by Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

Do you have a career that you think student's would be interested in? We are in the process of gathering volunteers to share their career with our students on Oct. 31. Volunteers would need to be at school from 8:30-10:45 that day.

Our Career Day Theme is "Don't Let Your Future Scare You!" If you would like to volunteer with us, please complete this form by Oct. 4:

https://forms.office.com/r/TMs3skzvEX

All Berkeley County menus can be found here: https://berkeleycountyschools.nutrislice.com/

You can download the Nutrislice app on your phone.

***While we offer two lunch choices each day, please note that limited quantities may mean students do not always receive their first choice. Rest assured, all meals served meet federal nutritional guidelines and provide a balanced, healthy option for every student.

Do you want to volunteer at MCI? You must be a Level 1 approved volunteer. Meghan's Law video must be done annually. Secure Volunteer is good for 2 calendar years. Complete these ASAP to volunteer. (Completing applications is not a guarantee that you will be selected as a chaperone.).

Click here for directions: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/bcs/page/volunteers-chaperones

Mrs. Cecil is in the process of planning our First SOAR Reward for our students. This will take place during the school day on Oct. 16. We are seeking help with this event. We are looking for donations and volunteers. If you are able to help, please click below.

Would you like to volunteer? Click Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A4CACA82CAAF58-51268182-fall#/

(PLEASE NOTE - YOU MUST BE A LEVEL 1 VOLUNTEER TO VOLUNTEER. SEE SECTION ABOVE TO SEE HOW TO COMPLETE THAT APPLICATION).

Would you like to donate items? Click Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A4CACA82CAAF58-58786496-fall#/

We have partnered with our business partner, Jefferson Security Bank, to provide students with the opportunity to learn the importance of financial literacy and saving money. Parents can complete the below form for someone from Jefferson Security Bank to reach out about opening a Youth Savings or Youth Checking account for your student. You may also stop by their Inwood branch for more information. Students will be able to make monthly deposits into their accounts at school or they can go by the bank at anytime. Jefferson Security is donating $5 per each account opened to be the first deposit!

Banking Deposit Days at Mill Creek:

Oct. 14

Nov. 18

Dec. 16

Jan. 13

Feb. 10

Mar. 10

A goal of Berkeley County Schools’ Department of Attendance is to ensure every student attends school every day. School attendance has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is important for success in school and in life.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school— regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically.

• Families are encourages to STRIVE FOR 5! Miss less than 5 days per semester of school.
• Caregivers must send in a note for everyday their student is absent. When possible, please get a doctor's note. By policy, you are only allowed 10 parents notes per year. After those 10 are used, you will be required to obtain a doctor's note for absences to be excused.
• Berkeley County Schools no longer accepts a leave of educational value for excused absences. These absences may count toward the 10 parent notes.

TutorWV offers every West Virginian no-cost access to personalized tutoring and drop-off review services, test prep and self-paced resources, and job search assistance. Click the link above from any device, and you’ll get connected to a live expert tutor and resources!

Schoology will be our main platform for daily communication. We will not be using Class Dojo this school year. Please note that you should not send time sensitive information through online platforms or email. Teachers may not get these notes while they are teaching. If you have information that is an emergency, please call the front office or send in a written note to your child's teacher.

It is vital that you set up your parent account. All parents will receive an individualized code to set up your student's account if you aren't already connected. YOU MUST LOG IN WITH YOUR PARENT ACCOUNT TO SEE TEACHER MESSAGES. YOU CANNOT USE YOUR CHILD'S ACCOUNT.

Schoology is also where you can stay involved with your child's academics. You will be able to see your child's grades, missing assignments and assignments that are due.

If you are new to Schoology, this google handbook can help you with everything you need to know. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1w9BxtwoxTJRVXrEj1Tme5SWEkEN5Uq2SyrfW0ya7xZQ/preview?slide=id.g8e952e3ece_0_3

For the safety of our students, we ask that you follow these procedures:

• Buses Arrive: 8:20
• Parent Drop Off: South End Lot 8:20 -8:35. Please do not drop students off until a staff member is on duty. You will drive the loop and drop students off at the sidewalk. Please be cautious and look for staff directing you. There will also be buses in this loop.
• Students Tardy: 8:46 (***Students arriving after 8:35 must be signed in by an adult in the office)
• Dismissal Begins: 3:25 -- If you need to change the way your student normally goes home, please send in a note to your child ’s teacher. We discourage you from calling the office to change information at the last minute. If your child is riding home on a bus with another student, BOTH students must have notes.
• Parent Pick Up: PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR CAR UNTIL 3:25. For the safety of our students, we need to have the sidewalk clear. Please park in a parking spot and not in the fire lane. We ask that families who pick up on a regular basis to please fill out the pick -up form below. Parents will park in the south end lot and come to the music room door to sign student out. Please be prepared to show ID every day.
• Students Leaving Early: To prevent congestion in the office at dismissal time, students will not be allowed to be signed out between 3-3:25. If you have an appointment, please sign your student out before 3pm. When arriving to pick up your student, please report to the front office and be prepared to show your ID.

The Jostens Renaissance Program is a framework of culture where teachers love their job and students thrive in school. It is built on common core values and expectations. At Mill Creek, our Renaissance program is built around the core values of Safety, Ownership, Achievement and Respect. Students and staffulty will receive recognition and rewards when following these core values. Each day, our students will have the opportunity to earn a SOAR point based on these values. You can find the guidelines on the back of their daily folders.

We have partnered with YE Creations again for our school spirit wear. You order online and she will deliver to the school free of charge. Just mark 'pick up' when you check out. Click here to see the newest creations: Mill Creek Intermediate Spirit Wear 2025

The LSIC is a committee that is meant to assist the school and school system in ensuring that parent, family, business, and community involvement is embedded in all aspects of the school and county strategic improvement plans. It will help to develop and promote the school and school system vision for excellence by being catalysts for innovation and it will represent the voice of the community’s education stakeholders.

At Mill Creek, the LSIC will be working collaboratively with the SOAR'n Supporters (PTO) to plan and implement family involvement activities. We invite all caregivers who would like to help with these activities to attend our quarterly LSIC meetings.

All LSIC meetings are open to the public and will start at 4pm, unless otherwise noted. Dates are subject to change. Please follow Mill Creek's NTouch Messaging and Schoology for updates. All meetings will be held in the Mill Creek Library.

Meeting Dates:

• Sept. 10, 2025 - Election of officers meeting

• Sept. 24, 2025 - Organizational Meeting

• Oct. 22, 2025 - Organizational Meeting to review WV Balanced Scorecard Data

• Nov. 19, 2025

• Jan. 28, 2025

• Apr. 15, 2025

October

• 1 - 2hr. delay for students
• 2 - 3rd grade students will receive dictionaries from the Rotary of Martinsburg
• 6 - 4th grade field trip (Hott, Pittinger, Jessee, Jeans)
• 7- Student Council - 7:20am
• 8 - 4th grade field trip (Painter, Craig, Varros, Crable)
• 13 - end of the 1st nine weeks
• 14 - Bank Day w/ JSB
• 15 - PD Day - No School for students
• 16 - 1st Nine Weeks SOAR Fest
• 20 - Report Cards go home
• 22 - LSIC - 4pm - Library
• 23 - Parent / Teacher Conferences 5-7pm
• 28 - MCI Make-Up Pictures
• 28 - MCI Trunk or Treat - 6-8pm
• 31 - MCI Career Day - Dress for your future career - Don't Let Your Future Scare You!

November

• 3-19 - Canned Food Drive
• 4 - Student Council - 7:20am
• 10 - Veteran's Day Breakfast
• 11 - No School - Veteran's Day
• 12 - 2 Hr. Delay for students
• 13 - World Kindness Day
• 14 - Interims - Check Schoology for student's grades
• 18 - Bank Day w/ JSB
• 19 - LSIC
• 24-28 - No School for students - Thanksgiving Break

December

• 2- Student council - 7:20am
• 4 - MCI Strings & Choir Concert @ MMS - 6:30
• 8-12 - Secret Santa Shop
• 15 - Cookies & Crafts with Santa - 6-7:30
• 16 - Bank Day with JSB
• 19 - 2nd nine weeks ends
• 19 - 2 hr delay for students
• 19 - Winter Holiday Homeroom Celebrations
• 19 - 2nd nine weeks SOAR reward
• 22-Jan. 5 - No School - Winter Break