Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope you all feel as fresh as the new spring air after our much needed spring break! I'm hoping staff and students return with the energy and good health that come from a good rest and quality time with friends and families!

Our teachers in grades 3-5 will be encouraging all of their students to feel confident and prepared to begin taking the state summative tests starting the week of April 21st. Each week will be dedicated to a reading, writing, math and for 5th grade only – a science test, to evaluate whether our students have mastered their grade level standards. This letter will also sent be home as we approach testing: 2026 WVGSA Parent Letter - Before Testing.

We have some fun activities ahead to look forward to including a testing pep rally on Friday, April 17th. in which some of our 5th grade students will play a basketball game along with teachers and the Shepherd University Basketball Team! Coach Namolik will be leading the fun that's sure to encourage our students to get their GAME ON before testing begins the following week.  April 20 is  Kindergarten Registration at SES and we are looking forward to all the new families and/or students heading our way! We are looking forward to all the volunteers sharing at our SES Career Day in May. Also, we have our chorus and band concert combined on May 13th beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the Talent Show on May 21st at 6:00 p.m. in our gym! End of the year Field Day and 5th Grade Promotion will conclude our last week of school activities. 

We are starting a new club for our 3rd - 5th grade students after school. This Running Club is going to be lead by staff member Madeline Smiles along with a parent, Corrine Baronner. This club is to encourage healthy habits and fun while being active. The students will meet for 1 hour a week after school for 8 weeks. We hope to continue this club and opportunity for our students to engage and have fun next fall and in the spring as well. For more information on how you can volunteer or sign your child up, please contact Madeline.Smiles@k12.wv.us. Permission slips were sent home before spring break began.

Our new school continues to be an amazing place to learn and grow and we are so thankful for the many amenities it provides us with. We had construction in the back yard of our property during spring break to move the fencing surrounding our trail safely on the trail's outer edge. We are also planning our next phase of playground equipment and shelter with the support and help of our SEA. 

Thank you for your continued communication, support and attention you share in students' best interests for learning and growing,

Mrs. Payne

On March 11, 2026 Shepherdstown Elementary held its 45th Annual Science Fair. There were 72 participates from grades 3-5 displaying 52 projects! The students chose from the topics in the areas of Physics, Earth Science, Environmental, Chemistry, and Biology. Thank you to Fred Dubay for the recruitment of 18 amazing community members to serve as the judges. Students presented their projects through interviews with the judges, staff, and fellow students. That evening family members were welcomed into the school for the Science Fair Open House to see all the wonderful projects! Thank you to Cheryl Lawrence, Science Fair Coordinator for organizing this educational experience for the students of SES!

Mrs. Morrow from the WVU Extension program has been visiting our third‑grade classrooms to teach students about the life cycle of a chicken. Students explored each stage of a chick’s development and examined images showing how a chick grows inside an egg. They also learned how to identify and classify different chicken breeds based on their physical characteristics.

As part of the project, our classes received nine eggs to keep in an incubator for 21 days. Each student has been assigned a specific day to serve as the “egg checker,” monitoring the incubator’s humidity and temperature to ensure proper conditions for the developing chicks.

During today’s visit, Mrs. Morrow guided students through the process of candling the eggs. The students were thrilled to observe the growing chicks inside! In addition, students applied their engineering skills by designing protective carriers for the eggs as part of an egg‑drop challenge.

It has been an exciting and educational experience for everyone!

Alexander Bankhurst receives recognition as one of 15 regional winners of the Smart529 "When I Grow Up" essay contest.  Alexander attended the awards assembly in Charleston West Virginia, where he was presented his award of $500 towards his college education.

Rosey Harvey, Rajiya Johnson, Madilyn Lemaster and Luella Mullens traveled to Charleston, WV to participate in a All-State Children's Chorus.

Braden Smith, 4th Grade, and Colin Sharrer, 5th Grade advance to the State Math Field Day Competition after both place 2nd out of the region of 8 counties!!

Mrs. Sutherland and Ms. Rolin were recognized at the Board of Education Meeting on March 23, 2026.

These outstanding students were nominated by their teacher for SES's Citizenship Award! Congratulations to Everly Denny, Maverick Yambor, Liam Henry, Adlyn Bernazzoli, Charlotte Harvey, Sara Humphreys, J.T. Miller, Keira Martin, Zayn Harhara, Nick Howard, Alex Clipp, Elliott Groff, and Jess Thomas

 In JCS, we use the slogan "Strive for Less Than 5 Absences a Semester."  The reason why we use this slogan is because if a student has less than five absences each semester, that student will have 9 or fewer absences during the school year, which is a 95% or higher attendance rate for the school year. By meeting this goal, our school is meeting and our goal, and the child is not considered a chronically absent child.