Royal Report

• 10/27 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 10/26-11/4 - Halloween Candy Collection
• 10/28 - DQ Art Night - Delano DQ 5-8pm - 3rd Grade Swartzer/Steuernagel
• 10/30 - Fall Harvest Parties
• 11/4 - Picture Retakes

Our last day of WMES Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 27th. The online signup is closed. If you need assistance in setting up a conference please contact the ES Office

@ 952-955-0300

Dear Wonderful WMES Families,

It has been another eventful, learning-filled week here at school, and I couldn't be prouder of our students and staff!

We had a busy week celebrating Unity Day on Wednesday, October 21st, where we stood together for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. We also gathered for our very first Royal Assembly of the school year, learning about National Bullying Prevention Month and building community spirit!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our fall conference nights on Thursday, October 22nd. Our second night will be Tuesday, October 27th. We are deeply grateful for our strong school-to-home partnership; working together is truly what helps our children thrive.

Friday, October 30th is the date of Fall Harvest parties; please see classroom newsletters for specific details. Coming up in November, we will be learning about Native American Heritage Month and how cultures and traditions of Indigenous Peoples have contributed to our nation's history.

Thank you for all you do every day to support our students' learning, growth, and success in school!

Growing together, Jody Hansen

Principal, Watertown-Mayer Elementary School

Every Friday a student from each grade level and one staff member will be recognized for demonstrating WMES's Royal Expectations. Students and Staff earn Royal Pride Tickets for being caring, being safe and being a problem solve. Congratulations to this week's winners.

Kindergarten's service project is Socktober!!! Please consider donating NEW, unopened socks for children ages 3 months - 13 years old. These socks will go to an agency that services families in Carver County. Socks will be collected until Friday, October 30th. The Kindergarteners will celebrate the completion of their service project with a SILLY SOCK DAY on the 30th. Donations can be dropped off in the office or in the Kindergarten pod.

Once again, WMES is a donation location for any leftover/unwanted Halloween candy. Blue Star Mothers of Wright County will be collecting candy and handwritten cards for local troop serving our country here and overseas. Please consider dropping of a ziploc bag full or more! Candy and cards will be accepted through November 5th.

This November, all Minnesotans will have a ballot question about one of Minnesota’s oldest sources of public school funding, the Permanent School Fund. This fund was established in 1858 to benefit public education, however, distributions have not kept pace because of outdated constitutional restrictions. Voters this November can vote to increase the fund.

What does this mean?

• Zero tax increase: It does not raise property income or sales taxes. It uses money already sitting in existing investment funds.

• Watertown-Mayer Public Schools would receive approximately $50,000 in additional funding.

• Sends more money to classrooms. The amendment modernizes the formula to increase the annual distribution from 2.5% to 4.5% of the fund's total value, significantly increasing payments to all Minnesota public schools.

What will appear on the ballot?

The ballot title will be “Increasing funding to school districts.”

The question will ask:

“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund, which is a fund that supports school districts without raising individual income or property taxes, effective July 1, 2027?”

An important voting rule

A constitutional amendment must receive “yes” votes from a majority of all voters participating in the election. If a voter casts a ballot but leaves the amendment question blank, the blank response does not count as a “yes” vote and has the same practical effect on the passage calculation as a “no” vote.

More Information: Permanent Fund Information

• Smart Watch/Phone Policy: - Ideally, smart devices are kept safely at home. The school district is not responsible for lost or damaged property. In the case a child needs a device to stay connected to family, it should be powered off and kept in their backpack during the school hours. Smart devices may be used before or after school. In the event that a student uses a smart device during school hours, staff will ask students to place it in their backpack for the remainder of the day. If a student continues to use smart devices during school hours, staff will collect the device and hold it until the end of the day. After multiple instances, the watch or phone will be held in the office. It may be picked up at the end of the day. In some cases, a parent will be asked to pick up the device. Please refrain from texting or calling your child throughout the day; it is disruptive to student learning. Should you need to speak to your child, email their teacher or call the main office at 952-955-0300. In addition, students may not call or text home from their personal smart devices. Access to school phones is not limited--students may come to the office to call home as needed.

• Drop Off/Pick Up Line: - DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR CAR. Say your goodbyes ahead of time. This keeps the line running in a timely manner. If your child is unable to get out of the car on their own please pull into the parking lot, park, and walk your child to the office after 7:45am.

• Attendance: If you child will be absent please call the attendance line at 952-955-0321 or email the attendance line at esattendance@wm.k12.mn.us. Please indicate the reason for absence in your message or email (illness, appointment, out of town, etc.)

• Vacation: If you child will be gone for an extended period of time please fill out the Excused Absence for Family Activity/Vacation Form and turn into your teacher or the office. This form is linked below.

• Snacks: Please make sure to pack a snack for your child everyday!