Welcome to Mechanicsville Elementary School

1. Welcome to Mechanicsville Elementary School Back to School Night Thursday, September 1st, 2011 Grades 1 and 2

2. Introductions Administration: Nick Shockney, Principal Nicole Jensen, Assistant Principal Office Staff: Ms. Free, Secretary Ms. Morelock, Secretary Ms. Scanlon, Secretary Ms. Parker, Nurse Ms. Preller, School Counselor Ms. Quinn, Cafeteria Manager

3. MES PTA • Ms. Julie Weaver, President • www.mespta.org

4. CCPS Parent Guides • Mr. Bob Lord • Ms. Cindy Lord • guide@lordindustries.com

5. The First Grade Team • Ms. Blank • Ms. Ecker • Ms. Escamilla • Ms. Purper (Ms. Grieves, Intern) • Ms. Rampata

6. The Second Grade Team • Ms. Buchman (Ms. Geiman, Intern) • Ms. Heim (Ms. Barnes, Intern) • Ms. Lynch (Ms. Shipley, Intern) • Ms. Miksa • Ms. Winebrunner (Ms. Leidy)

7. Resource and Special Areas Teams • Ms. Wallace, Special Education • Ms. Nott, Special Education • Special Areas Teachers

8. Schedule for Tonight 6:00-6:30 Introductions, PTA, and Parent Guides 7:10-7:30 Volunteer Training (Gym)

9. Mission and Vision Our Vision: To become a model school of caring, sharing, and high student achievement. Our Mission: To work together to promote high student achievement and lifelong learning for all by providing a quality education in a safe learning environment.

10. Our Values • Collaboration among and across all stakeholders • Positive learning environment for our students • Life-long learning for all • The success of each individual student

11. Attendance • Our doors open for students at 8:15 AM. • Dismissal begins at 3:05 PM. • Students need to be in their seats by 8:35 to avoid being marked tardy (late). • If your child is absent, a note must be sent in when your child returns. If a note is not received, the absence will be marked as unverified. • After a period of time, unverified absences are coded as UNLAWFUL. • Students who leave prior to 3:05 will be marked tardy for the afternoon. • Extended absences require prior approval.

12. Transportation • Bus transportation is available for every student. • We have great bus drivers! • Riding the school bus is statistically safer than riding in a car. • We have a very small parking lot. Please help us decrease the volume of traffic in our loop. • Please adhere to the directions of our staff members in the parking lot.

13. Cafeteria • Lunch Guests-Please wait at least 2 weeks before coming in to have lunch with your child. • Lunch guests must sign in at the office and receive a guest sticker. • If at all possible, please purchase breakfast/lunches through the prepay lunch program. This can be done for a few meals, the month, or the year. • Pre-pay forms can be found on the MES website. • Breakfast available daily.

14. Lunch Prices • Student lunch: $2.00 • Milk: $0.50 • Ice cream $0.75 • Student breakfast $1.25

15. Birthday Celebrations/Special Activities • Please avoid bring in food for Birthdays (no homemade food items). • Special activities involving food items must be pre-approved by the teacher. • A good alternative: consider purchasing snacks in the cafeteria for the class at $0.75 per child. • An even better idea: pencils and stickers.

16. Student Dress • Please make sure students are dressed appropriately and comfortably for learning. • Student dress should not be a distraction to the student or other students. • Appropriate shoes should be worn daily. Students will be going outside daily for recess and PE. • Coats

17. Parent and Guardian Involvement • PTA meetings, activities, and events • PTA committee chairs • Classroom volunteers • Field trips • Guest speakers • Volunteer training • We need your help!

18. Thank You PTA! • LCD projectors • Digi-blocks • Computer carts • Carpets • Bird box camera • Outdoor classroom Flip cameras • Recess equipment • After school clubs • Ice cream social • Spring picnic • Mardi Gras

19. MES is a Green School • REDUCE/REUSE/RECYCLE • Recycling projects • Conservation projects • Send lunch items in plastic containers instead of baggies. • Rain garden, butterfly garden, song bird garden, nature trail, and outdoor classroom. • Curricular connections. • Please have your children ride the bus to conserve fuel and help reduce emissions!

20. PDS School • Professional Development School • Stevenson University • 9 Senior Interns • Sophomore Student Field Experiences • 2 Senior Interns from McDaniel College in Physical Education

21. MES Website: www.carrollk12.org/mes • School information • Calendar • Staff email addresses • Newsletters • PTA website link • Student handbook • Menus and meal plans • Supply lists • School improvement plan • Media links

22. PBIS • Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports • CARE • Expectations • CARE tickets • CARE goal sheet • Student incentives and recognition

23. Misc. Information • Flu/H1N1 mist will be combined • Alert Now email system • Update contact information when changes occur • E-School Plus (Home Access Center)

24. Thank You! • We are looking forward to a wonderful year! • Please feel free to contact us at school if you have any questions.