Welcome to Mechanicsville Elementary! Grades 1 and 2 Back to School Night

Introductions Administration Mr. Glen Messier, Acting Principal Mr. Josh Davidson, Acting Assistant Principal Office Staff Ms. Ginger Halvorsen, Secretary Ms. Sheryl Morelock, Secretary Ms. Judy Scanlon, Secretary Ms. Betty Parker, Nurse Ms. Denise Preller, School Counselor PTA Ms. Lori Kerr, PTA President

Our 1st Grade Team Ms. Tianne Collins Ms. Nanci Karner and Ms. Danielle Fieni Ms. Monic Mull, Team Leader and Ms. Brianna Finch

Our 2nd Grade Team Ms. Susan Basham Ms. Kati Stauder, Team Leader and Ms. Mary O’Meally Ms. Kirsten Thurston

Resource and Special Areas Team Specials Teachers Ms. Barbara Anastasion, Instr. And Vocal Music Ms. Stefanie Goldsmith, Media Ms. Karen Kohn, Art Ms. Kathy Koslowski, Health Ms. Kim Lomax, Part-time Art Ms. Erin Murphey, PE Ms. Miriam Presley, Vocal Music Mr. John Tumulty, Part-time PE Special Education Teachers Ms. Myra Dorsey, Speech-Language Pathologist Ms. Liz Milnes Ms. Jess Morelock Ms. Jasmine Wallace Resource Specialists Ms. Christina Storie, ELA Specialist Ms. Caroline Chucko, Math Specialist GT Teacher Ms. Erin Thomson

Schedule for Today Grade 1 Grade 2 6:30 – 6:55 Teacher Presentations in the Media Center Teacher Presentations in the Gym 7:00 Volunteer Training (Please have a valid ID)

Vision and Mission Vision Statement Mechanicsville Elementary School fosters life-long learning for all members of our community as we become globally competitive and caring citizens. Mission Statement: Mechanicsville Elementary School empowers all children to master challenging academic goals by providing diverse, authentic learning experiences that emphasize creative and critical thinking while respecting all individuals.

Mr. Messier’s Core Values and Beliefs Be Positive Raise your own expectations Relationships Every child, every day

Our Focus and Priorities Engage in meaningful small group instruction that is differentiated to meet the unique learning needs of our students Bring FUN back into elementary school!

Attendance Doors open for students at 9:00 a.m. Dismissal begins at 4:00 p.m. Students must be in their classrooms by 9:30 to avoid being marked as tardy. If your child is absent: Please send in a note when your child returns Email mesattendance@carrollk12.org (link on MES website) Parents/guardians will receive an automated attendance phone call each day your student is absent, unless prior communication has been provided. Students who leave school prior to 4:00 p.m. will be marked tardy for the afternoon.

Transportation Bus transportation is available for every student. We have a very small parking lot. Please help us decrease the volume of traffic and keep our students safe, by riding the bus! Please adhere to the directions of our staff members in the parking lot.

Breakfast and Lunch Prices Student Breakfast: $1.50 Student Lunch: $2.50 Milk: $.60 Snacks and Ice Cream New Ice Cream this year—Hershey’s Ice Cream Most Ice Cream is $.75 (Ice Cream cones are $1.00)

Cafeteria Lunch Guests—You are always welcome! We ask that lunch guests please wait 2 weeks to allow our staff to establish routines Lunch Guests must sign in at the main office. A note must be received in advance for anyone other than a parent or guardian requesting to have lunch with a student. Visit www.myschoolbucks.com to load money on your child’s lunch account! Links are available on the MES and CCPS websites.

Birthday Celebrations In accordance with the CCPS Wellness Policy, food items cannot be provided to other students to celebrate your child’s birthday.

School Wide Initiatives We are a Green School! Trash-Free Tuesdays will continue this year Email communications vs. paper documents when available PBIS We were recertified as a PBIS Gold School! CARE tickets are awarded for positive behaviors MES CARE Students and Character Stars Pep Rallies to celebrate student success Goal Sheets

Our PTA is Awesome! Ms. Kerr, President mesptamustangs@gmail.com www.mespta.org Fun family events Digi-blocks Computer carts Carpets for classrooms Funds for classroom teachers LCD projectors/document cameras Outdoor classroom Flip cameras Recess equipment Field trip funds New playground Bird box camera

Benefits of Joining our PTA Get to know the staff and your child’s friends and classmates through volunteer opportunities. Become informed about issues and challenges faced by MES and the county public school system. Attendance at PTA Meetings gives you a voice. Help decide what the PTA does and how the money is spent. If you are new to our school community, PTA meetings are a great way to meet other families and help with your transition. Opportunity to meet wonderful people and make new friends.

Secure Online School Directory Contains contact information for all participating families PTA Supported and Driven 100% Parent control over what information is shared Communication tool-parent to parent and PTA to parents More information will be sent home detailing how you can participate Purchase PTA membership online

PTA Meetings and Events PTA Meetings – Bi-Monthly on the third Wednesday evening of the month First Meeting is September 21st at 7pm Events include: Ice Cream Social – September 8th Fall Fun Run – September 30th Book Fair – October 31st – November 4th Parent/Grandparent Breakfasts (Fall and Spring) Mardi Gras – March 25th Jump Rope for Heart February 10th, 17th, and 24th Play Day June 2nd Staff Appreciation Events (spring)

Other Ways our PTA Supports Us Classroom Volunteer Resource Room – (MVP Room) In School Cultural Arts Presentations Field Trips School Supply Kits School Nature Trail and Outdoor Classroom Parent Education and Information Initiatives Purchase of Agenda books and other materials the school needs

Fundraising Restaurant Nights Activities and events help us have fun while raising money needed to fund programs. Restaurant Nights Redemption Programs (Grocery Stores, Target, Box Tops) MES Fun Run—Our fall fundraiser Mardi Gras Spring Carnival and Silent Auction

Volunteer a little or a lot! A Few Good Volunteers Volunteer a little or a lot! Homeroom parents Choose your committee or event Tell us about your skills and talents At home volunteer opportunities are available too! Some Areas of need currently are: Classroom volunteers Parent/grandparent breakfast committee members Mardi Gras Staff appreciation events

Come Join Our PTA! Complete the simple membership form--$10 membership fee Learn More… Come to a PTA meeting Read our PTA newsletters Visit www.mespta.org Find us on Facebook! Contact us with questions/comments: Lori Kerr, President, mesptamustangs@gmail.com Sharon Wallace, Vice President Jen Peterson, Treasurer Colleen Kelly, Secretary

Let’s Have a Great Year!