About our School → Principal's Message

    Principal's MeSSAGE, 2025

    August 1, 2025

    Dear Wheaton Woods ES Community,

     I am looking forward to a brand new year with all of you! I hope many of you have had a great summer with family and friends. If you traveled, I hope your travels were safe and fulfilling. We have been busy here at school getting ready for all of our students & families to return.

    This year our theme for the year will be Lights, Camera, Action...starring our students! I look forward to highlighting the sound teaching, learning & celebrating that will occur as we continue to grow and strengthen our skill set for improved student outcomes. We are future ready!

    As we begin our year, there is a change from years past. The district is introducing what is called a Transition Day scheduled for Monday, August 25, 2025. The purpose of Transition Day is to welcome our new Kinders and new 1st - 5th grade students into our school. This transition time helps reduce the anxiety for any new student joining our school community. The Open House will be scheduled for Monday, August 25 when doors open from 2:00 - 3:00 pm! You can meet your child's teacher and gain an idea of the class environment your child will be learning in. You'll also get to attend our Back to School Fair which will be held inside the building. During this time, you'll get to meet various community partners, have access to resources and receive a backpack for your child, if you're in need. This information will be shared in our Welcome Back to School Community Letter that will be sent via email, Remind App and through ParentSquare.

    ParentSquare is system the district has adopted to aid in parent communication. ParentSquare replaces the Remind app  app. We will contnue with Remind Appuntil Dec 2025. Then, the district will adopt ParentSquare as our new communication platform.

    As we begin a new year of learning, know that our new motto will be a complement to our vision and mission: Every person counts. Every moment matters. Therefore, we have put in place a parent input box in the front office to gather feedback from you. There is a note sheet that is offered in both English & Spanish. We want to hear from you on the following: What is working & why? What's not working and why? Who would you like to celebrate & why? Take a moment to complete that note sheet and place it in the box.

    Mrs. Levy, our new Assistant Principal, & I are committed to our cornerstones: Connect with all, Create conditions for increased access & opportunity, Cultivate leadership opportunities for students & staff and Elevate expectations based on the potential we see in our students, our staff and our families. We look forward to these cornerstones taking root in our every day interactions.

    Schoolwide, our larger focus will be on improved attendance, increased engagement (students & families) and parent feedback. We believe that these foci will help offer better results on our student growth and achievement data. We want our students to soar to higher heights in their future. That begins with us here in elementary school today!

    A bit about me for our newer families who don't know me. Concurrent to classroom teacher and team leader for 15 years, I’ve served as Director of Education for Trinity Youth Services, Inc (Washington, DC), a group home for abused and neglect black male youth for 5 years. Inclusive of these experiences, I’ve served two schools within MCPS as a Staff Development Teacher (6 years), while also serving as NAACP Parent Liaison at Benjamin Banneker MS (SY12-13) and PTA President at Paint Branch HS (SY15-17). I was previously Assistant Principal and Principal Intern here at Wheaton Woods ES. During my time here, I’ve grown to love and value the school, the community and the relationships I’ve consciously created.

    As a community-based Title 1 school, I recognize the importance of not only serving as an instructional leader but also ensuring the community is kept as the foundation in the work and growth we collaboratively accomplish together. It is my goal to continue the focus of anti-racism, trauma-informed practices and social emotional wellness for all, embracing high expectations as the binding factor.

    Born and raised in New Jersey as the youngest of 5 children and relocating here for my bachelors and masters degree studies @ Howard University, I now consider this area home. Being mom to two sons is my highest calling, my pride & joy and my greatest stretch. As a result, my unified experiences have made me a more experienced educational leader.

    Here’s to a brand new school year! I look forward to our continued, engaged efforts as a Wildcat Family!

    Highest Regards,

    Ms. Collins

    Nora E.Collins, M. Ed.