Principal's Message (June 7, 2026)

hurtful words
speak up protocol
Good afternoon, Viers Mill families! This is Mr. Hawkins, Principal of Viers Mill Elementary School, with our weekly Sunday message!
 
Our Jaguars participated in a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, June 1, where we reviewed our schoolwide expectations and discussed the importance of creating a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive school community. Together, we reinforced the idea that every student deserves to feel valued, supported, and a sense of belonging, and that our school is a place where kindness, respect, and acceptance guide our actions each day. Any hateful language and racism will not be tolerated at Viers Mill Elementary School.
 
Please refer to the images above and ask your children if they can tell you more about their significance. We demonstrated the negative impact hurtful words have by crumpling up a paper hurt and then unfolding it to reveal that, while the heart is still whole, it is impossible to truly repair the damage that was caused. With the Speak Up Protocol, we emphasized how students should "interrupt" any hurtful words or hate speech while also providing other responses.
 
Please read our message below for additional reminders and information.
 
june 2026

Events this Week!

Here are the events/activities taking place this week:
 
  • Monday, June 8: Field Day for PreK and PEP Collaboration Classes
  • Tuesday, June 9: Family Market (4:30-5:30 p.m.)
  • Thursday, June 11: 5th Grade Picnic
  • Friday, June 12: Jaguar Market (8:45-10:00 a.m.)
  • Friday, June 12: PEP Fun Day (9:40-11:10 a.m. and 1:35-3:05 p.m.)
 
We will continue to include a full list of events/closures for the upcoming month at the bottom of each Sunday Message.
 

Wednesday, June 17: Fifth Grade Promotion Ceremony

Our Fifth Grade Promotion Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 17 at 9:30 a.m. in our All-Purpose Room. After the ceremony, our fifth grade students will walk throughout our school for a "clapout" and then join their families in our courtyard for a reception. We anticipate concluding this event by 11:00 a.m. Your fifth grade child should still arrive to school between 8:45-9:00 a.m. Finally, please be aware of and adhere to the "no parking" signs posted throughout our school neighborhood.
 
Important to Know
We have 83 fifth grade students this year which is our largest grade level. In order stay under our All-Purpose Room's maximum occupancy level, we cannot accommodate younger Viers Mill siblings in the ceremony area. Instead, younger Viers Mill siblings will remain in their classrooms where all students and staff will be able to watch the ceremony via Zoom using a closed link for in-school viewing (i.e., not available to the public). If you would like these younger Viers Mill siblings to join your family in the courtyard for pictures and celebration in our courtyard area after the "clapout," that is permitted. Please write a note or e-mail to your child's teacher so that they know to provide your child with a pass to the courtyard.
 
Sample Questions & Answers
  1. Can my VMES school-age child (e.g., PreK-4th grade student) attend the ceremony in the All-Purpose Room? No. They can join the reception afterwards in the courtyard.
  2. Can I bring my infant/toddler to the ceremony in the All-Purpose Room? Yes.
  3. Can I bring my middle school or high school-age child to the ceremony in the All-Purpose Room? Yes.
  4. Can I bypass this rule by not sending my VMES school-age child to school and, instead, bring them with me to the ceremony? No. Please remember that we must stay under maximum occupancy levels. Your school-age child will enjoy watching the ceremony in their classroom. While other schools often restrict attendees to 2 family members per student, we believe that this small adjustment will allow us to still accommodate everyone.
 

MCPS Website Updated with BOE-Adopted Boundary Reassignments

The boundary website has been updated with the Board of Education-adopted boundary reassignments beginning in the 2027-2028 school year for both boundary studies.
Families can find more information about the middle and/or high school boundary reassignments, as well as the Board of Education-adopted implementation timeline. The interactive map tool with the Board-adopted boundary reassignments is available with the existing elementary, middle and high school assignments and Board-approved middle and high school reassignments beginning in the 2027-2028 school year
 
 
 

School’s (Soon) Out, Giving Back Is In

Join us for the 25th annual Drive for Supplies from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. on Friday, July 24 at Gaithersburg High School, 101 Education Blvd. in Gaithersburg. Families are invited to join us for a fun and meaningful day of support, community and connection. Pick up free gently used school supplies. In addition, the UpCounty Hub and Rise-N-Shine Foundation will be distributing food boxes to families, and there will be opportunities to sign up for vital services, such as SNAP benefits, free and reduced-price meals and summer support programs.
 
Students can earn Service Learning hours for volunteering to unpack, sort and repackage supplies before and during the event. Volunteers are needed July 20–July 23.
 
 

Bus Stop Change for the 2026-2027 School Year

Montgomery County Public Schools notified our school that one bus stop will be eliminated from our Green Bus (Route 3108) for the 2026-2027 school year. Effective August 24, 2026, there will no longer be a bus stop at the intersection of Garrett Park Road and Ivy Glen Road. If you have questions concerning these changes, please call Ms. Sharon Stream, depot manager, Randolph Transportation Depot, at 240-740-2610. Families may appeal this decision. Appeals for stop eliminations should be sent using the Complaint from the Public Form (Form 270-8) which can be found on the MCPS website.
 

New MCPS ParentVUE App

Would you like to check your child's grades and attendance on your personal device? If so, please download the upgraded ParentVUE app! An upgraded version of the app was developed last week. A step-by-step guide is linked below and can explain all of the new features, including notification preferences, enhanced account management, and quick access for what you use most. Watch the videoLearn more.
 

Summer Learning Opportunities

Rising Kindergarten through 5th Grade Students
Are you interested in having your rising Kindergarten through 5th Grade child attend a free summer school program? This past week, students received a flyer for our upcoming Extended Learning Opportunities-Summer Adventures in Learning (ELO SAIL) Summer School Program that includes registration information. This free summer school program will run from 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. from July 7-30. Please be aware that there is no summer school on Fridays. Simply return the completed flyer to our main office. Families can also register online through ParentVUE by clicking on the "Online Registration" tab and scrolling down to the "2026-2027 Summer School Year" area shown in the image above. Families are required to register their child for this program so that we have accurate enrollment data and staffing.
 
Rising 6th Grade Students
Our current fifth grade students who will be promoted to sixth grade will also have an opportunity to attend a summer school program. The MCPS IGNITE Middle School Academy is offered at various middle school locations (with Argyle Middle School as the closest location for our students). This academy is a 9:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. program (with afterschool options available) that will run from July 7 - August 6 (no summer school on Fridays). To learn more and register, please click HERE.
 

Prekindergarten Registration for the 2026-2027 School Year

Free prekindergarten is available to income-eligible families with children who will be 3 or 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2026. Prekindergarten and Head Start registration is happening online or in-person at community locationsFor more information, please call (240)740-4530.
 
A chalkboard with the word 'CALENDAR' written in white chalk.

Upcoming Dates and Events

Monday, June 8: Field Day for PreK and PEP Collaboration Classes (9:30-10:30 a.m.)
Tuesday, June 9: Family Market (4:30-5:30 p.m.)
Thursday, June 11: 5th Grade Picnic
Friday, June 12: Jaguar Market (8:45-10:00 a.m.)
Friday, June 12: PEP Fun Day (9:40-11:10 a.m. and 1:35-3:05 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 17: 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony and Reception (9:30-11:00 a.m.)
Wednesday, June 17: Last Day of School for Students in our PEP and Prekindergarten classes
Thursday, June 18: Last Day of School for Kindergarten through 5th Grade Students (Early Release Day with 12:55 p.m. Dismissal)
Friday, June 19: Schools and Offices Closed
Monday, June 29: 4th Marking Period Report Cards Available in ParentVUE (also arriving in the mail after this date)
Tuesday, July 7: First Day of Summer ELO Program
Thursday, July 30: Last day of Summer ELO Program
Monday, August 24: Transition Day for All Kindergarten Students and 1st-5th Grade Students NEW TO OUR SCHOOL (not prior VMES students)
Tuesday, August 25: First Day of School for Kindergarten through 5th Grade Students
 
Main Entrance

Viers Mill Elementary School

Location: 11711 Joseph Mill Road, Silver Spring, MD, 20906
Phone: 240-740-1000
 
Principal: Mr. Matt Hawkins (Matthew_D_Hawkins@mcpsmd.org)
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Alexis Lee (Alexis_R_Lee@mcpsmd.org)