One of my favorite months is among us, November! I love the opportunity it gives to take time to say thank you to those I appreciate and am so thankful for. At the top of that list is definitely the community of Shepherdstown! Thank you families for all you do for our staff and students and how supportive you are with your service, kindness, and generosity. Our school is special because of all the people who choose to fill the halls as well as those of you who send us your children for not only the best education but to gain positive social and emotional connections to be happy and service minded citizens. I am thankful for every staff member, student and family that makes coming to work a pleasure every single day. In receiving a new school to care for and develop, I am even more thankful of our county's commitment towards this experience and gift. I hope that each family in S.E.S. finds their list long and full of those they are thankful for and appreciate during this very special month. 

I want to thank each person who supported our Tats for Staff fundraiser in October. Every single staff member in the school was inked by a student! We raised $982! This money will be used for several things including outdoor cafeteria tables for our outdoor eating space in the new school! The staff were good sports and there are pictures below showing their tats purchased for them! Although it took me a bit of time to stick 69 tattoos on before school began, I had little compared to some of our staff! Mrs. Mitchell wore 189 tattoos, Mrs. Austin wore 168 and Mrs. Hebert had 153 all marking an impression left of students from past and present!

As we enter our last weeks of school in our Church Street school, please be prepared for some flexibility and understanding! Teachers will be teaching, packing and preparing a new room as winter break approaches, and we will need to be even more understanding and supportive of our staff and our students during this transition. Classrooms are starting to fill with boxes and we want to be sensitive to our students' anxiety that may occur as well as be prepared and collaborate with the movers and teams assisting our move.  Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding!

Please be sure to return the letter from me that will be coming home either November 3rd or 4th concerning changes in our school's December schedule, upcoming new school meetings and opportunities to visit the new school, and return the new arrival/dismissal form attached to the letter as soon as possible before the deadline of November 14th.  letter for asynchronous.docx

May this Thanksgiving holiday approaching us be filled with all the people, time, and occasions that bring your family thankfully and lovingly together.

Mrs. Payne

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 - K, 1, 5 Bank Day at S.E.S.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 - 2, 3, 4 Bank Day at S.E.S.

Friday, November 7, 2025 - Interims

Friday, November 7, 2025 - Club Shep 6-8:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 - Veteran's Day - No School

Monday, November 17, 2025 - S.E.A. Mtg. 

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - Kings Spirit Night 4-9:00 p.m. (mention S.E.S for fundraising!)

Monday, November 24 - 28, 2025 - Fall Break, No School.

Monday, December 1 - 5, 2025 - Holiday Shop at S.E.S.

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - New School Meeting for 1 parent per child only 5:00 (grades k-2)and 5:45 (grades 3-5) p.m.

Thursday, December 4, 2025 - Picture Retake Day

Thursday/Friday December 18-19, 2025 - Asynchronous Days (no in-person school)

December 22 - January 5 - Winter Break

Monday, January 5, 2026 - 4-6:00 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

Monday, January 26, 2026 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5-7:00 p.m.

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 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.

We begin dismissal at 3:25 p.m. for walkers & 3:30 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 park in the parent parking lot and pick up your children at the Kindergarten dismissal doors at 3:25 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.

ENTERING SCHOOL BUILDING:

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, etc. 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:

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.

We have 30 school days left of school until we make a new home for ourselves in Shepherdstown! I was able to view our beautiful school a few times this month and it is clean and ready for its furniture to be built!

The month of November has many days off from school for breaks including Veteran's Day to honor our Veterans and for Thanksgiving break.  During this short month, it's important to be in school all day, every day when school is in session.  Students should strive to not miss any school days during November!

Our Staff were such good sports! Thank you again families for this opportunity to help us raise money to supply our school with outdoor cafeteria tables to enjoy this spring!

Last chance to order keepsakes and gifts that feature your child's artwork!

DEADLINE: 11/7/2025

Shop Online square1art.com/shop

Need to find your child's art?  Use the online Art Search

So much has happened this year, and we want to take a moment to share some highlights: 

In September, students had the unique opportunity to experience what soldiers went through during the Battle of Harpers Ferry. 

STEAM is an approach that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills through hands-on projects that connect different subjects. The students loved creating towers out of spaghetti and marshmallows. 

In Math, we've been expanding our skills in multiplication and decimals. 

In ELA, we've been exploring personal narratives and poetry. We are now excited to jump into learning about informational writing! The most exciting thing this week is discussing legends and folklore of West Virginia! 

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!