Dear Oakville Families,

The excitement is building for our Otter Fun Run this Friday, September 11th! We are already 52% of the way toward our $19,000 fundraising goal, and we are grateful for the enthusiasm and generosity of our Oakville families and community.

Funds raised through the Otter Fun Run will help provide:

PAWS rewards and celebrations for students

Free or reduced-cost field trips for every grade level

The Maryland Agricultural Mobile Lab visit in March

A mobile planetarium experience in February, in partnership with our PTA

Continued support for schoolwide and classroom resources

Otter Fun Run Schedule

9:30-10:15 a.m.: 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades

10:30-11:15 a.m.: Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 3rd grade

Families and community members are welcome to attend and cheer on our Otters! Please bring a chair or blanket for seating. Additional event and fundraising information is included in this newsletter.

Our Otters also have an extra incentive to help us reach our goal. If we raise $19,000, I will wear a completely mismatched outfit and allow our staff to style my hair in the craziest way they can imagine, including the color and style. I will keep the entire look for the full school day! I have a feeling our staff already has plenty of ideas, so the challenge is officially on.

Ask Your Otter: “What Are You Learning?”

As the school year gets underway, I encourage families to ask children, “What are you learning?” rather than only asking, “What are you doing?”

An activity is the task a student completes, such as a worksheet, project, experiment, or game. A learning target describes the knowledge or skill the activity is designed to develop. For example, a child might be:

Learning how to write the letter t

Identifying and blending sounds in words

Learning how to calculate volume

Using evidence to explain an idea

Comparing strategies for solving a problem

Follow up by asking, “Why is that learning important?” These conversations help children understand the purpose of their work, explain their progress, and take greater ownership of their learning.

Thank you for supporting the Otter Fun Run, reinforcing learning at home, and helping every Otter shine. I look forward to seeing our students and families on Friday!

With Otter pride,
Laurel Anderson

Office Hours

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Contact Number

(301) 373-4365

Student Arrival

9:00 am

Student Dismissal

3:45 pm

Report An Absence

Click HERE

Please contact the office no later than 3:30 pm with any changes to a student's typical pick up routine.

Attendance

Mrs. Wimmer or Mrs. Thompson

Transportation

Mrs. Wimmer or Mrs. Thompson

Health Room

Mrs. Hall

Records and Registration

Mrs. Wimmer

Family Support

Mrs. Curtis

Student Debt

Mrs. Thompson

General Assistance

Mrs. Thompson

The bus loop is unavailable to the public during the following times:

8:30 am - 9:30 am

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Unauthorized vehicles entering the bus loop during these times will be directed to park in the parking lot.  We appreciate your assistance in this matter.  This is a safety measure to keep all of our Otters and Otter Squad safe throughout the school day.

Student Arrival

Student arrival begins at 9:00 a.m.

If you know your child may have difficulty separating from you or will need an extended goodbye, please park in the parking lot and walk your child to the front awning rather than using the drop-off lane.

Student Dismissal

Student dismissal begins at 3:45 p.m.

Students are expected to follow their established dismissal plan each day.

Your One-Stop Guide for the School Year!

The Oakville Elementary Parent Handbook is your go-to resource for everything you need to know to start the year strong.  It covers school routines, academic supports, behavior expectations, and more.  Whether you're a new family or a returning one, this guide will help you stay informed, connected, and confident

Please note:  Students may bring in cash at the point of sale.  However the cafeteria will not be able to provide change back to the student. For example:  if your child brings in $5 and hands it to cashier in the cafeteria on snack day, that TOTAL AMOUNT will be added to their MySchool Bucks account

This fall, your student will take the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA). The KRA measures early knowledge, skills, and abilities in literacy, mathematics, and social and emotional development. All Maryland public school kindergarten students participate in the KRA by October 10th each year. The KRA helps teachers and caregivers understand what students already know and can do, and highlights areas where they
may benefit from extra support.

Letters from the Maryland State Department of Education are linked below for your review.

School Meals Benefits Do Not Roll Over

Did your children receive free or reduced-price school meals last school year? Please remember that a new FARMs application must be submitted every school year to maintain eligibility. Benefits do not automatically carry over from year to year. To prevent any gap in your child's meal services when school starts, please take a moment to fill out the annual online form. Click the application link below to get started.

SCHOOL PAYMENTS MADE EASY!

From the cafeteria to the classroom, pay anytime, anywhere from your computer or smartphone.

For all parents of Prekindergarten and Kindergarten students: An adult must be present at the bus stop when students are being picked up or dropped off. If an adult associated with a Prekindergarten or Kindergarten student is not present at the bus stop at the end of the school day, the bus driver will return the student to the school and the parents will be contacted to come to the school to pick up the student.

All SMCPS laptops come with the same responsibility of care and upkeep as any other loaned resources.  Textbooks, novels, laptops and chargers can incur a debt if lost or damaged.  Please refer to this Student Accountability Newsletter below.

⏰It’s not too late to sign up! We’re getting closer to reaching our goal of $19,000, but the recipe for success isn’t complete without you! Sign up at MyBooster.com today. ✅Just a few minutes of your time can make a BIG difference!

Every ounce of support is like adding the secret ingredient to create something amazing for our students. Plus, registered families can earn @greatwolflodge day passes when our fundraising goal is reached. Sign up and share your page to help us get there!

Fall yearbook pictures are scheduled for September 21st.  Retakes are scheduled for November 9th.  

More information will be provided as the dates draw closer.

Our PAWS expectations serve as the foundation for a successful school year:

Personal Best – I can set goals and work to achieve them.

Act Responsibly – I can take responsibility for my actions.

Work Hard – I can make choices that make me a successful learner.

Safety First – I can follow routines and procedures.

Throughout the first several weeks of school, our primary focus will be teaching, practicing, and reinforcing routines and expectations. Just as astronauts prepare before launch, students need opportunities to learn the procedures that help our school run smoothly and safely.

Families can support this important work by asking a simple question each evening:

"What PAWS expectation did you learn about or practice at school today?"

You might also ask:

How did you do your Personal Best today?

How did you Act Responsibly?

How did you Work Hard?

How did you put Safety First into action?

These conversations help reinforce our shared commitment to helping every Otter shine.

One community committed to the learning and safety of all children.

Every Otter is a Star

At Oakville Elementary, we are one community committed to the learning and safety of all children.  We believe every Otter has a place in our constellation, something valuable to contribute, and a destination worth reaching.  As a crew, we build a shared understanding of where we are headed, align our actions to support one another, and create consistent experiences that help every student feel they belong, grow, and succeed.  Through PAWS, goal-setting, and high-quality, research-based learning experiences, we help students understand where they are headed, recognize their progress, and reach for their next star.  When challenges arise, we make course corrections, support one another, and keep moving forward together.  Our mission is not perfection, but continuous growth as we launch every learner toward new possibilities.

Every Otter is a Star.  Together we launch into learning.

Email: lpanderson@smcps.org 

Website: https://oes.smcps.org/ 

Location: 26410 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659

Phone: (301) 373-4365

Accessibility  |  Contact Us  |  Equal Opportunity