Welcome to Mechanicsville Elementary School

1. Welcome to Mechanicsville Elementary School Back to School Night Wednesday, August 30th, 2012 Grades 3-5

2. Introductions Administration: Nick Shockney, Principal Ms. Jensen, Assistant Principal Ms. Preller, School Counselor (filling in for Ms. Jensen) Office Staff: Ms. Halvorsen, Secretary Ms. Morelock, Secretary Ms. Scanlon, Secretary Ms. Parker, Nurse Ms. Pettit, School Counselor (filling in for Ms. Preller) Ms. Quinn, Cafeteria Manager

3. MES PTA • Ms. Weaver, President • www.mespta.org

4. CCPS Parent Guides • Mr. Bob Lord • Ms. Cindy Lord • guide@lordindustries.com

5. The Third Grade Team • Ms. Davis • Ms. Gentile • Ms. Houseal • Ms. Ridgely • Ms. Stauder (Ms. Rites, Intern)

6. The Fourth Grade Team • Ms. Batanglo • Ms. Chucko • Ms. Darnley (Ms. Weyforth, Intern) • Ms. Dorsey • Ms. Purper

7. The Fifth Grade Team • Ms. Buchman • Ms. Gill • Ms. Potter • Ms. Thurston

8. Resource and Special Areas Teams • Resource Teachers • Special Areas Teachers

9. Schedule for Tonight 6:00-6:30 Introductions, PTA, and Parent Guides 7:10-7:30 Volunteer Training (Gym)

10. Mission and Vision Our Vision: To become a model school of caring, sharing, and high student achievement. Our Mission: To work together to promote high student achievement and lifelong learning for all by providing a quality education in a safe learning environment.

11. Our Values • Collaboration among and across all stakeholders • Positive learning environment for our students • Life-long learning for all • The success of each individual student

12. Our Priorities for 2012-2013 • Improve First-Pass Instruction • Focus on the Essentials (new curriculum) • Be Results-Oriented and Action-Oriented with Data Check out the MES School Improvement Plan!

13. Attendance • Doors open at 9:00 AM. Will transition to 9:10 AM Monday. • Dismissal begins at 4:00 PM. • Students need to be in their seats by 9:30 AM to avoid being marked tardy (late). • If your child is absent, a note must be sent in when your child returns. If a note is not received, the absence will be marked as unverified. • After a period of time, unverified absences are coded as unlawful. • Students who leave prior to 4:00 will be marked tardy for the afternoon. • Extended absences require prior approval.

14. Transportation • Thank you for your support! • Please use CCPS transportation. • We have a very small parking lot. Please help us decrease the volume of traffic in our loop. • Please yield to the buses and provide space for them to make the turn on Route 32.

15. Cafeteria • Lunch Guests-Please wait at least 2 weeks. • Lunch guests must sign in at the office and receive a guest sticker. We must have a note in advance for anyone other a parent or guardian requesting to have lunch with a student (Grandparents, etc.). • Please consider purchasing lunches through the prepay lunch program. This can be done for a few meals, the month, or the year. • Pre-pay forms can be found on the MES website. • Breakfast available daily. • Ms. Quinn, Cafeteria Manager

16. Lunch Prices • Student lunch: $2.25 • Milk: $0.50 • Ice cream $0.75 • Student breakfast $1.25

17. Birthday Celebrations/Special Activities • Please do not send in food items for Birthdays. • Special activities involving food items must be pre-approved by the teacher. • A good alternative: consider purchasing snacks in the cafeteria for the class at $0.75 per child. • An even better idea: pencils and stickers.

18. Student Dress • Please make sure students are dressed appropriately and comfortably for learning. • Student dress should not be a distraction to the student or other students. • Appropriate shoes should be worn daily. Students will be going outside daily for recess and PE. • Coats

19. Parent and Guardian Involvement • PTA meetings, activities, and events • PTA committee chairs • Classroom volunteers • Help at home • Field trips • Guest speakers • Volunteer training • We need your help!

20. Thank You PTA! • Fun family events (Ice Cream Social, Mardi Gras, etc.) • Cultural arts programs • After school clubs • LCD projectors • Digi-blocks • Computer carts • Carpets for classrooms • Bird box camera • Outdoor classroom • Flip cameras • Recess equipment • Funds for classroom teachers • Field trip funds • New playground

21. MES is a Green School • REDUCE/REUSE/RECYCLE • Recycling projects • Conservation projects • Send lunch items in plastic containers instead of baggies. • Rain garden, butterfly garden, song bird garden, nature trail, and outdoor classroom. • Curricular connections. • Please have your children ride the bus to conserve fuel and help reduce emissions!

22. Partnerships • Professional Development School • Stevenson University • 5 Senior Interns • 8 Sophomore Student Field Experiences • 2 Carroll County Career and Tech Center Students • CHANGE Volunteers

23. MES Website: www.carrollk12.org/mes • School information • Calendar • Staff email addresses • Newsletters • PTA website link • Student handbook • Menus and meal plans • Supply lists • School improvement plan • Media links

24. PBIS • Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports • Background • CARE • Expectations • CARE tickets • Over 48,000 CARE tickets awarded last year • Student incentives and recognition • Communication

25. Misc. Information • Alert Now email system • Update contact information when changes occur • E-School Plus (Home Access Center) • Field trips • Chaperones (volunteer training) • Please no “shadowing”

26. Thank You! • We are looking forward to a wonderful year! • Please feel free to contact us at school if you have any questions.