Handbook 2026 - 2027 Student Rooted in Purpose, Growing the Wildcat Way 34404 Old Ocean City Road Pittsville, Maryland 21850 Pittsville Elementary & Middle School 410 - 677 - 5811 Mrs. Kaytlin Curren, Principal Mrs. Heather Smith, Assistant Principal
Vision Mission Rooted in kindness, competence, and a sense of family, we cultivate a nurturing community where every child grows in knowledge, character, and confidence to build a lasting legacy. At Pittsville Elementary & Middle School, we nurture a culture of kindness, collaboration, and high expectations where every student is known, challenged, and supported. We empower students to take ownership of their learning, engage in meaningful discourse, and grow as confident, capable, and compassionate learners—rooted in purpose and growing the Wildcat Way. Rooted in Purpose, Growing the Wildcat Way! A Message From Your Princpal Kaytlin M. Curren Welcome to Pittsville Elementary & Middle School- Home of the Wildcats It is an honor to welcome our students and families to another year at PEMS. As a school community, we are committed to creating a place where every student feels known, valued, challenged, and supported. As a Wildcat, come each day ready to learn, grow, collaborate, and lead. Take ownership of your learning, make positive choices, build meaningful relationships, and take advantage of the many opportunities available to you both inside and outside the classroom. We are proud of our Wildcats and excited for all that this year will bring. Together, we will continue to grow, celebrate one another, and live out what it means to be a Wildcat!
Arrival & Dismissal 7:30 A.M Instructional Day 8:00 - 2:45 2:45 P.M Doors opens 6 -8 move to th th first period 7:40-7:50 A.M 8:00 A.M Instruction Begins Dismissal Begins TIME EVENT Bus Riders Bus riders are dropped off and picked up at the front of the building. For the safety of our students, cars are not permitted in the front of the building for student drop-off or pick-up while buses are present. Visitors should park in the parking lot on the front east side of the school. Breakfast Elementary Students Students go directly to their homeroom upon arrival & have breakfast in the classroom. Middle School Students Students report to the cafeteria upon arrival. Brekfast is provided from 7:308:00 in the cafeteria. All students have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast at school Car Riders Car riders are dropped off and picked up in the back of the building. During arrival and dismissal, the car rider lot can become congested. Please be considerate of others by following the traffic flow, avoiding non-parking areas, and pulling forward to the end of the covered ramp to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently. Change in Transportation A written note from the parent must be given to the main office if your child is to take a different mode (car rider v.s. bus rider) of transportation on a particular day. Phone call regarding change of transportatin will be honored for emergencies only. Please note that students may not request to ride a bus different from their assigned bus. *When picking up a student, report to the front office. Any adult who signs a student out must be on the student’s contact list. Visitors ALL visitors MUST report to the main office to receive a visitor’s badge before proceeding to any location in the building. A valid picture ID is required to receive the visitor’s badge. This procedure is designed to protect the children and staff. Visitors must clearly display the badge provided and may only enter the area approved at sign-in.
Attendance Absences & Documentation Tardiness & Early Dismissal Chronic Absenteeism A note is required for an absence to be considered excused. Acceptable documentation may include a doctor’s note, court summons, or obituary. Parent notes may be submitted for illness-related absences that do not require medical attention; up to five parent notes (covering five days) will be accepted per school year. Notes must be submitted within five school days of the student’s return. Family vacations require a written request at least 10 school days in advance and, if approved, may not exceed three lawful days per school year. Students must be seated and ready to learn by 8:00 a.m. Students arriving after 8:00 must report to the office for a late slip. Tardies include late arrival to school and individual class periods. Repeated tardiness will be addressed according to the Wicomico County Code of Conduct. Early dismissals require a parent/guardian note stating the reason and anticipated dismissal time. Early dismissals count toward attendance and require appropriate documentation to be excused. Students will be called to the office when their parent/guardian arrives. A student who misses 5 or more days during a marking term is considered chronically absent and is required to participate in an Attendance Intervention Plan (AIP). Chronic absenteeism includes both excused and unexcused absences. Did you know? Missing just 10% of the school year—about 18 days—can mean nearly a month of learning lost. Every day of attendance matters! Regular attendance is essential to student success. Families are encouraged to review guidelines for excused and unexcused absences. Parents/guardians will receive an automated call and email when a student is absent or tardy. Students absent from school may not participate in school activities that day or evening, including athletics, clubs, dances, band, or choir. Questions or concerns regarding attendance? Contact Sherry Johnson Gray, Home & School Liaison sjohnsong@mywcps.org
Lunch Procedures Remain in the cafeteria during lunch unless given permission to leave. Remain seated at your assigned table and do not move between tables or cut in line. Students may not leave campus or have outside food delivered. Energy drinks are not permitted; beverages must be in their original, unopened packaging. Food and drinks must remain in the cafeteria. Students bringing lunch from home may not use glass containers. Due to limited cafeteria space, visitors, including parents and guardians, are not permitted to eat lunch with students. 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 10:40-11:05 10:45-11:10 11:09-11:34 11:13-11:38 11:57-12:22 Lunch Schedule Each student is provided with a school-issued laptop. Any laptop damage will be the responsibility of the student and family. Students must.... Be responsible for the care of the laptop. Bring their fully charged laptop and charging cord to school each day. Follow all guidelines as outlined on the “Wicomico County Public Schools Laptop Loaner Device Agreement” and the “Wicomico County Public Schools Acceptable Use Policy.” Laptops Cell Phone & Personal Electronic Device Guidelines To maintain a safe and focused learning environment, students may not use personal electronic devices during the academic school day, which begins with the first bell and ends with the dismissal bell. This includes instructional time, lunch, passing periods, and all other school related activities during the school day. A personal electronic device is any device not owned by Wicomico County Public Schools (WCPS), including but not limited to, cell phones, AngelSense devices, earbuds, headphones, smart watches, wearable technology, and devices with camera, audio recording, or communuication capabilities (e.g. smart glasses or recording pens). Students must keep all personal electronic devices powered off or silenced and stored out of sight during the academic school day unless authorized by school administration or required by a student’s documented educational (Individualized Education Plan or 504 Plan) or medical plan. Secondary students may use cell phones before the first bell and after the dismissal bell only. Students may not use personal electronic devices to photograph, video record, or audio record others without authorization. Recording or sharing fights, confrontations, or other inappropriate activities is prohibited. Audio recordings must comply with Maryland law. Elementary students are not permitted to have personal electronic devices on school property.
School Culture & Safety Student Support Services Conduct All students are expected to follow the Wicomico County Public Schools (WCPS) Code of Conduct and demonstrate Wildcat Pride by treating others with respect, acting responsibly, being ready to learn, and maintaining a safe school environment. PEMS is committed to providing a school community where every student feels safe, respected, and supported. Code of Conduct Acceptable Use of Technology Procedure Bullying, harassment, intimidation, and other behaviors that interfere with a student’s ability to learn are not tolerated. Students, families, and staff can report concerns using the online Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form. Bullying Reporting Form Review the Dress Code in the Code of Conduct. Students violating the dress code will be asked to change or parents will be notified to bring a change of clothing. Dress Code We believe that Showing Wildcat Pride means being respectful, responsible, ready to learn, and safe. To support student success, we will continue implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a research-based approach that promotes positive behavior, achievement, and attendance through clear and consistent expectations. Our PBIS expectations focus on Respect, Responsibility, Readiness, and Safety. Students who consistently demonstrate Wildcat Pride will earn digital rewards and opportunities to participate in school-wide incentive events. Attendance matters, too. Unexcused absences may impact a student’s eligibility for PBIS activities and other school incentives, including sports, clubs, and dances. P.B.I.S Positive Behavior Intervention System Our counselors, student advisor, Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW), Home School Liaison (HSL), and Community School Coordinator (CSC) work together to support students and families academically, socially, and emotionally. Services include academic guidance, behavioral counseling, peer relationship support, mentoring, crisis intervention, and connections to community resources and services. Counselors also assist students with course selection and scheduling. Students may be referred for support by parents, staff, or peers, or may self-refer when they need assistance. Our team is here to help remove barriers to learning and connect families with the support they need to thrive. Elementary Counselor Secondary Counselor School Social Worker Kate Speake Kelly Wolf Courtney Miller School Psychologist Melissa Vega Home School Liason Sherry Gray Pupil Personel Worker Cynthia Waters
Maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA during the relevant term or on the term progress report. Have no more than 5 unexcused absences during the term. Receive no more than 1 referral during the marking period. Be present in school on the day of practices or events. Be picked up within 15 minutes of the end of practice. Repeated late pickups may lead to removal from the program. Participation in an intramural program does not guarantee selection to attend the culminating event. Each event has a limited number of student spaces available, and selection will be based on the criteria established for that event along with observations from coaches. School Culture & Safety Middle School Dance Criteria Intramural Sports Eligibility The following criteria apply to all middle school students attending school dances. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA, as required by county policy. Students may not have served an Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) during the current semester and must meet county eligibility requirements related to cumulative OSS days. Students must also have no more than two unexcused absences during the 45 days preceding the dance; for the first dance of the school year, attendance is evaluated beginning on the first day of school. Outside guests are not permitted.
Academics Instructional Day 8:00 - 2:45 Local Assessments NWEA MAP The MAP Growth diagnostic occurs 3 times per year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) in both ELA and Math. State Assessments MSTAR (Maryland System of Testing) Grades 4-8 participate in state testing in both ELA and Math. In addition, students in grades 5 and 8 will participate in the MISA (Maryland Integrated Science Assessment). 8 grade students also participate in the MSTAR Social Studies. th Review the Evidence of Learning Timeline for assessment window dates. Progress Report & Report Cards Progress reports and report cards are available in the Parent Portal. Click here for log in directions. All passwords are reset after July 1 each year. st Progress Reports: Progress reports are issued midway in the marking period. The progress report is designed to let you know how your child is progressing in their current classes. Report Cards: Report cards are issued four times per year- after the end of each nine-week period. Report cards provide the student and their parents with an account of academic progress. Grades are given in every subject that the student is currently enrolled in. Homework Homework is designed to reinforce classroom learning, build independent study habits, and develop responsibility and time-management skills. Assignments will be purposeful, manageable, developmentally appropriate, and differentiated to meet students’ individual needs. Homework expectations may increase in quantity and complexity as students progress through grade levels. Homework should allow students time for rest, extracurricular activities, and family life, and teachers may adjust assignments and deadlines based on individual student needs. Families are encouraged to communicate with teachers regarding homework expectations or barriers to completion. Our goal is to ensure that homework supports learning while providing equitable opportunities for every student to succeed. Assessments
Communication School Contact Information Strong communication between school and home is essential to student success. Throughout the year, we will use a variety of platforms to share important information, updates, celebrations, and opportunities with families. Please check your email regularly, including our weekly Sunday message; monitor the Family Portal for grades, report cards, and progress reports; and check TalkingPoints for direct communication from the school and your child’s teachers. Thrillshare, our automated telephone and messaging system, will be used to communicate important school-related information, including student attendance, school-sponsored events, PTA activities, emergencies, school closings, and other county-wide announcements. Please ensure the school has your most current telephone numbers and email address so we can reach you when needed. Directions to log in to Family Portal Phone: 410-677-5811 Fax: 410-677-5895 Website: https://pems.wicomicoschools.org Rooted in Purpose, Growing the Wildcat Way!
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