September 1st- Holiday, No School

September 4th- MDES Open House 3:30-5:30 PM

September 26th- Early Release- 12:30 dismissal

October 13th- Holiday, No School

October 17th- Early Release, Elem. school only- 12:30 dismissal

Principal's Note:

Welcome back, everyone!  Teachers, staff and I are so happy to see our students' back in school. A very warm welcome to the 11 new families who have joined our MDES community this year—we are thrilled to have you!

This year, our staff is united by a school-wide goal: Clarity. This focus was directly informed by the school climate survey that many of our parents, students, and staff members completed last spring. We are working to establish and implement clear and consistent behavioral expectations across all classrooms and common areas. By ensuring everyone understands and is supported in meeting these norms, we can create a more positive and effective learning environment for all.

One of our key focus areas is school attendance. We will be sharing clear expectations for communicating student absences and outlining the protocol for excusing them. You'll receive all the details at our upcoming Open House.

Please make sure to add these key dates to your calendar:

• Open House: Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 4th. This is a great opportunity to connect with teachers and staff and get important information for the year. Middle school parents, please note: We will be holding a required laptop session from 5:00-5:30 p.m. during the Open House. Your attendance at this session is mandatory for your student to be able to take their laptop home.

• 6th Grade Field Trip: Our 6th graders are going on an exciting, foundational trip to Schoodic Education Adventure (SEA) Camp from September 10th-12th. This multi-day, two-night residential experience is a staple of our 6th-grade year, providing a unique opportunity for students to build strong relationships with one another and with their teachers. Students will become scientists for a few days, engaging in hands-on, curriculum-based programs led by Acadia National Park educators. The SEA program is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and integrates subjects from math and science to social studies and art. Students will get a chance to use and contribute to real scientific research while practicing teamwork and communication skills against the beautiful backdrop of Schoodic Point's shoreline and forests.

Just a reminder about our office hours: The main office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Please note that calls received after 4:00 p.m. will go directly to voicemail.

We are so excited for all the learning and growth ahead. We look forward to partnering with you this year!

Thank you,

Heather Dorr, M.Ed.

She/Her

Principal, 

Mount Desert Elementary School 

Welcome back to MDES!

Just a few housekeeping items for the 25-26 school year.

Please log into your parent account on PowerSchool and update student forms, contacts and permissions. These are VERY important, so please do so as soon as possible.

Remind your children about their after school plans the night before or the morning of.  If any changes are necessary, please email their teacher and include me Miranda.clough@mdirss.org prior to 1pm.

If your child is going somewhere other than home on the bus, PLEASE send a bus note for the bus driver.

School Committee Agenda

Athletic Calendar subject to change.

Athletic Calendar

Coaching Opportunities

Please contact Justin Norwood for more information

2025-2026 School Calendar

Mustang Cafe

Art News

Music News

Note from Nurse Ashley: Tick season is here! Encourage your children to do a tick check as part of their daily routine. 

• Key areas such as ears, in armpits, along the hairline, at the waist, and at the backs of the knees and thighs are all common areas ticks like to hide. 

• Remember to wear protective clothing:

  • Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from getting on your legs under your pants. 

  • Wearing light-colored (white, khaki, etc) clothing makes ticks easier to see as they crawl on you. 

• Use bug spray that is approved by the EPA for repelling ticks. 

  • The four types of EPA approved repellents for use on skin are Picaridin, DEET, IR3535, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Permethrin is approved for use on clothing.

• Check pets for ticks as well. Even pets that are treated for ticks may carry them into the home.

Garden News

The school garden has had a wonderful summer! Flowers are everywhere, the morning glories are blossoming on the garden trellis, sunflowers stand tall~making the birds, bees, hummingbirds and butterflies very happy! The children will have cucumbers, corn, kale, potatoes, sweet peppers, tomatoes, squash, carrots, a few pumpkins and lovely herbs to harvest when they return to the school at the end of August! Some folks have asked about visiting the garden~every Saturday until school begins, I am in the garden all day-afternoons are the best time to visit~adult volunteers would be appreciated to pull a few weeds, too!

Follow us on Facebook~ https://www.facebook.com/MDESSchoolgardenproject

Library News