Dear S.E.S. families/guardians,

First of all I want to say I hope you and your family have enjoyed a quiet, fun-filled, happy, restful, and appreciative winter break together and have rung in 2026 with many hopes and goals to keep you all looking upward and onward in your own personal journeys!

Secondly, welcome to the 2026 school year ahead on Shepherdstown Campus Boulevard where BEARY good things are bound to fill our shiny new halls and walls! All of our staff knows exactly how difficult it is to move schools in the middle of the year and start all over, but those difficulties also fall upon our families. We are stronger in numbers and if we are all going through it, then we all have people to reach out to for support or an ear to listen. I have such high hopes for it all to flow smoothly, but please reach out to me with questions, concerns, and hopefully some hurrahs!

I hope to see many of our students and families on Monday, January 5th from 3:30 – 5:30 for a S.E.S. family open house. At this time, teachers will be very busy putting their finishing touches on their classroom, but will enjoy seeing their students in their new school room, too! It’s just an extra time to help your child navigate the new school and find their classroom before they come the next morning!

We will spend Tuesday, January 6th along with several teaching the students the arrival process, locating all the important places to be in the school, how to walk through the new lunch room, how to dismiss for bus or car dismissal, where to go for drills, and all the things our teachers did to acclimate them to their classroom like they just did in August!

Bears are a symbol of strength and grace, but they also symbolize family, courage, protection, health, and vitality. I will do my very best at modeling and encouraging every person in our building to be the best bear they can be and feel honored to be the first in this beautiful school built for them!

Respectfully,

Mrs. Payne

Monday, January 5, 2026 - 3:30-5:30 p.m. - visit child's new classroom

Tuesday, January 6, 2026 - Students return to school

Friday, January 9, 2026 - Report Cards

Monday, January 19, 2026 - No School

Thursday, January 22, 2026 - Math Field Day

Friday, February, 13, 2026 - 2HR Early Dismissal

Monday, February 16, 2026 - No School for Students/Staff Professional Development

Monday, February 23, 2026 - SEA Meeting 6:15pm

Thursday, March 5, 2026 - Spring Pictures

Friday, March 13, 2026 - No School for Students/Staff Professional Development

S.E.S. is a safe and welcoming community that fosters curiosity, resilience, and collaboration to inspire all to be lifelong learners who are also responsible, respectful citizens.

LUNCH MENU:

https://ses.jcswv.org/o/ses/dining?filter=20741

Click MENU on our school website to see what's for lunch every week, knowing it is subject to change based on deliveries.

TRANSPORTATION:

Parents can visit the Jefferson County Schools website to learn more about student bus information: https://www.jcswv.org/page/bus-procedures-frequently-asked-questions-2025

SCHOOL HOURS: 8:50 - 3:30

Students who are car riders and require breakfast can enter the school at 8:30. All other students and bused students will enter the school at 8:35 and can either eat breakfast or go to their classroom.

The tardy bell rings at 8:50 a.m.

We begin dismissal at 3:30 p.m. for car riders & 3:35 p.m. for bused students.

Please do not pick up your child from school between 3:00-3:25, unless it is an emergency. You will have to enter the car rider pick up line and remain in your vehicle until your child is released by staff to your vehicle after 3:30 p.m. with all other dismissed students if picking up your child then. You cannot park your car in the front bus loop during our dismissal time, either. Thank you for understanding the safety and commotion that occurs if we disregard this important policy.

SUBMIT AN ABSENCE ON LINE:

Every time your child is absent from school, it is very important to submit an excuse within 3 days of their return or it is counted as unexcused. Our preferred and easiest way of submitting an excuse is online. You can even submit doctor's notes by uploading them there as well. Please build this preferred way as your habit of sending in excuses.

Remember, we are STRIVING FOR 5 or less absences per semester for every child!

SES STUDENT & FAMILY HANDBOOK:

Please take time to read our Family and Student Handbook for 2025 - 2026 (link is below). You were to return the signature page found at the end of the handbook to your child's teacher or use the same page to request a paper copy be sent home for your use.

25-26 Family Student Handbook.docx

UPDATE STUDENT INFORMATION ONLINE ONLY!

Please update your child's information so we have current names and numbers for emergency purposes, etc.. All forms that used to be printed and handed out on the first day of school are no longer used. JCS is using this paperless method to have all student and family information.

JCS APP:

If you have not downloaded the JCSWV App to your phone, please do so now! This is where you will receive important school information, bus changes during dismissal, newsletters, and emails in Rooms from your child's teacher.

If you are looking to establish a stronger partnership with SES and its future, or you know of someone who would like to be our business partner in education, please reach out to Mrs. Payne! There are so many ways to partner, collaborate and share our resources, and Mrs. Payne would love to discuss how we can affect more lives and lessons through this establishment! jpayne@k12.wv.us

We already partner with Jefferson Security Bank, Shepherdstown Public Library, Green Tree Reality, and soon we are adding Four Seasons Books!