Dear Otter Elementary School Families,

Welcome back! We hope you all had a restful and joyful winter break filled with moments of connection, relaxation, and celebration. As we step into the new year, we are thrilled to see our students’ smiling faces and hear their laughter fill our classrooms and hallways once again.

Over the break, winter made its presence known with plenty of cold weather and even a few unexpected snow days! These snowy surprises remind us of the magic and fun that winter brings—snowball fights, sledding, building snowmen, and cozying up with a favorite book or hot cocoa. We hope you and your family had the chance to embrace the beauty and excitement of these winter moments. I enjoyed seeing all the pictures shared showing Otters having "snow" much fun!

As we begin this next chapter of the school year, we are filled with energy and optimism for all that lies ahead. From classroom projects and learning adventures to special events and community-building opportunities, we can’t wait to see what 2025 brings for our students and families.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we will make this a wonderful and memorable year for all. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance as we transition back into our routines.

Wishing you a warm and happy start to the new year!

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.

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 6th

SNOW DAY!!

Tuesday, January 7th

SNOW DAY!!

Wednesday, January 8th

SNOW DAY!!

Thursday, January 9th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

Friday, January 10th

9:00 am - 3:45 pm

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