Shepherdstown Elementary School

S.E.S. Family Newsletter

May 2025
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From Principal Payne

Here it is, the last newsletter of the year! We have had a very full, progressive, and energetic year this year that we are all very proud to be a part of! We hope our families know how much your children mean to us and even though they leave their current classroom walls, that their well-being, success and happiness remain a part of all of our hearts, always!

I have some thank you's to end this year with - starting with our community! Our entire staff and students were so proud to take our stroll on April 9th during our annual Story Book Parade, and be welcomed by so many present, past, and friendly faces who consistently support SES! I am already making plans for how this can be accomplished next year to continue this wonderful event we all look forward to! Thank you also to our incredible SEA who continually plans, shows up, creates and assists in tasks all year long related to our building, the staff, students and families! For our LSIC and community volunteers who have our students' and school's best interest at heart always - thank you for your time and many talents! Thank you families for learning to communicate through ROOMS this year and making sure your child's teacher or our office is always able to reach you and work together.

I am happy to be able to let you that we are formally preparing to move into our new school building and begin teaching there when we return from winter break next school year. We will have several opportunities for you to come to the building beforehand in our grand opening ceremony and another at an introduction to changes in processes such as car arrival/dismissals, etc. I am very excited about the progress they have made and the way the entire building is shaping up as the new home of the Shepherdstown Elementary Black Bears! We are so fortunate for this incredible opportunity and we will make it as smooth of a transition for your family.

Our 3rd-5th graders have finished their reading state test and we still have more to complete in the next 2 weeks ahead. Our schedule is as follows:

3rd Grade: May 8 - Writing; May 15 - Math

4th Grade: May 8 - Writing; May 14 - Math

5th Grade: May 7 - Writing; May 13 - Science; May 15 - Math.

One of our goals this year circulated among attendance and we are happy to note we have had a great decrease in our chronic absences when compared to last year. We decreased these absences from 16.13% to 11.54% We will continue to work with families next year to diminish these absences even more in order for Shepherdstown Elementary School to keep our priority of well-being and academics aligned with expectations and policies. Being chronically absent means students have missed 10% of the school year. Unfortunately, all absences are considered in the chronically absent rate, even if a doctor's note is submitted. Our focus here is to work with communicating to families if absences are impacting a child's education and how we can help in making sure the children can get to school for the opportunities and experiences that are crucial in their overall growth and social-emotional well being.

I want to thank all 52 parents who completed the online school survey this winter so that I can see your perspectives on the education and environment here at SES. As I compile information from all responses, I hope you see your replies in the coming year where I also feel growth is needed and how celebrations reach areas that are commendable. Your time and thoughtfulness is much appreciative in helping SES flourish.

It is teacher appreciation week next week (May 5-9), and this is a perfect way to say thank you to your child's teacher who grew a relationship with your child over the past 9 months and worked incredibly hard to give them a consistent and strong foundation for the next year to come! This staff is bursting with qualified, professional, compassionate, and friendly women who work well beyond the expectations to do what's right, needed, and fun for our students! It is also National Nurse's Day on Tuesday, May 6! We are so fortunate to have the best nurse in the county, so please be sure to remind her of our appreciation of her on her special recognized day!

Just like last year, all K-4 students will have a step-up day in May where they go meet the next grade level's teachers and visit with them in those rooms. On the last day of school, attached to their report card will be the name of the teacher who they are assigned to for the 25/26 school year. We work so many hours on these class lists to make sure they are as balanced as possible considering many factors including needed supports, behaviors, and grade level abilities, etc. etc. Please respect these decisions and know we have your child's best interest at heart when deciding placements.

I hope to see as many of you as possible at our upcoming concerts, picnics, fieldtrips and award ceremony as listed below! I hope that this summer is your family's best one yet and it has a wonderful balance of rest, leisure, fun and excitement!

Mrs. Payne😊

UPCOMING EVENTS!

5/1/2025 - 6:00 Band Concert at SES

5/5/2025 - Daycare visits upcoming Kindergarten!

- Make-up testing

5/6/2025 - 6:30 4th/5th Concert at SES

5/7/2025 - 5th Grade Writing test

- SES Spirit Night - Eat at Tommeez Pizza between 12:00 - 9:00 p.m. & %age goes to SEA!

5/8/2025 - 4th Writing test and 3rd Grade Math test

5/12/2025 - Make-up testing

5/13/2025 - 5th Science test

5/14/2025 - 4th Math test

5/15/2025 - 3rd Writing test & 5th Math test

5/16/2025 - 4th grade Watershed trip

5/20/2025 - K-2 Duck Race with Jefferson Security Bank (9-11:00 a.m.)

5/21/2025 - Field Day K-2

5/21/2025 - SEA Mtg. 6-7:00 p.m.

5/22/2025 - Field Day 3-5 & Rain day for Duck Buck Race

5/23/2025 - K- Blue Farm Field Trip (10-12:30)

5/23/2025 - 5th Field Trip Adventure Park

5/28/2025 - 5th Graduation 9:30 A.M.

5/29/2025 - K Picnic with families

5/29/2025 - 2:00 Sr. Walkthroughs

5/30/2025 - Last Day for Students & 2 Hour Early Dismissal

5/30/2025 - 1st Grade Picnic

PARENT'S CORNER!

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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/find-my-school-and-bus-stop-information Parents can also view live updates on bus status each day by using the following link: https://www.jcswv.org/page/bus-tracker

SCHOOL HOURS:

Students who are riders/walkers 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.

Please do not pick up your child from school between 3:00-3:25, unless it is an emergency. You will have to pick up your children at the Kindergarten dismissal doors after 3:25 p.m. if picking up your child. You cannot park your car in the front bus loop during our dismissal time, either. Dismissal begins at 3:25 for walkers and riders. Bused students' dismissal begins at 3:30. Thank you for understanding the safety and commotion that occurs if we disregard this important policy.

When you drop off your child or items for your child, you will remain outside without having to show your ID and we will come to the door to take your child/items. If you need to pick up your child early or come into the building during school hours because you are volunteering/attending a meeting, you will continue to show your ID at the door before entering. Thank you for your help in being prepared for these instances!

SUBMIT AN ABSENCE ON LINE:

https://app.droplet.io/form/0YPd5K

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 by using this link found on either our school or the county's front page of both websites. You can even submit doctor's notes by uploading them in the link. Please build this preferred way as your habit of sending in excuses.

Remember, you get 10 days of excused absences by sending in a parent note, but after those 10 are used, they become all unexcused.

Please use Link tp review JCS Transfer Process Updates & Application

SES STUDENT & FAMILY HANDBOOK:

Please take time and read our Family and Student Handbook for 2024-25.

SES Family & Student Handbook 2024-25

JCS OFFERS ONGOING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES THROUGH PARENTGUIDANCE.ORG

We're proud to continue partnering with ParentGuidance.org to offer free, personalized coaching for families. Whether you’re seeking advice or just need some extra support, a coach is ready to help. Be sure to check out the January coaching flyer (en español) and consider registering for support today: https://cookcenter.info/coaching.

ANY NOTE SENT TO SCHOOL:

Please include your child's first and last name on any note sent in to school. Thank you!

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.

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ATTENDANCE MATTERS ALL DAY EVERY DAY!

As we are striving to achieve our Attendance Goals at SES and we are happy to see a positive increase these last 3 months!

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In the Halls and On the Walls at SES!

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S.E.A

You can always find the latest information on the "Shepherdstown Elementary School SEA (PTO)" Facebook page, and are welcome to reach out to the SEA Executive Board at shepherdstownSEA2024@gmail.com with any questions, comments or ideas!

The next SEA meeting is May 21 at 6:00 p.m.

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TIPS FROM MRS.SOUTHERN,

S.E.S. INTERVENTIONIST

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LINKS DESCRIBED ABOVE:

PIZZA HUT BOOK IT: http://www.bookitprogram.com/

READ LAB: Reads Lab: Harvard Graduate School of Education

Shepherdstown Public Library

Games for UFLI Foundations

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