Vienna Elementary School is pleased to share this month’s FREE virtual Mental Health Series from ParentGuidance.org / The Cook Center.
📚 Educate. Inform. Empower.
Explore this month’s virtual sessions covering today’s most important parenting topics. Join as many sessions as you’d like! Sessions are offered at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. (ET).
️ August Session Topics
Monday, August 3 – Your Child’s Anxiety
Tuesday, August 4 – Building Your Child’s Confidence
Wednesday, August 5 – Tools to Support Your Child’s Mental Health
Thursday, August 6 – Bullying: Stop the Cycle
Monday, August 10 – Emotional Regulation: Recognizing What’s Wrong
Tuesday, August 11 – Social Media: Protecting Your Child
Wednesday, August 12 – What Parents Need to Know About Suicide Prevention
Thursday, August 13 – Establishing Healthy Boundaries
Monday, August 17 – Everyday Happiness
Tuesday, August 18 – Compassionate Parenting & Self-Compassion
Wednesday, August 19 – Body Positivity: Nurturing Self-Image
Thursday, August 20 – Understanding Loneliness in Children
Monday, August 24 – Emotional Regulation: Strategies to Replace Negative Emotions
Tuesday, August 25 – Helping Your Child Succeed: Three Parenting Styles
Wednesday, August 26 – Why Our Children Self-Harm
Thursday, August 27 – Understanding Eating Disorders
Monday, August 31 – Recognizing Child Abuse
⭐ Special Live Events
🗣️ Ask A Therapist Live
August 25 at 8:00 p.m.
🔗 Register: cookcenter.info/ATLAug25
👨👩👧 Watch Together Series
August 12 at 8:00 p.m.
🔗 Register: cookcenter.info/WTPAugust
🔎 Discover the Mental Health Series
Visit: parentguidance.org/mhs-catalog/
📧 For support or questions, contact: info@cookcenter.org
These resources are designed to help families support children’s emotional well-being, build resilience, and strengthen positive mental health habits at home.
What a wonderful event at the North Dorchester Math 24 Tournament County Competition on May 21, 2026, hosted by Hurlock Elementary School!
A huge thank you to our outstanding Math Coaches — Mr. Shane Abbott from Vienna Elementary School, Mrs. Caroline Marshall from Hurlock Elementary School, and Mrs. Janelle Koski from Warwick Elementary School — for planning and organizing such a successful event. Your dedication and hard work made this competition a memorable experience for all of our students.
We are so proud of all the amazing mathematicians from Vienna, Hurlock, and Warwick Elementary Schools in grades 1–5. Their enthusiasm, teamwork, and problem-solving skills were truly impressive!
Thank you as well to all the teachers, principals, custodians, and parents for your continued support and encouragement of our students. It truly takes a community working together to create opportunities like this for our children.
We are so proud of everyone who participated and represented their schools with excellence! #withJOY ❤️💚💙💙🐢❤️💚💙
In March, students in PreK 3, PreK 4, and Kindergarten at Vienna Elementary had a special visit from Lucky the Leprechaun.
Lucky helped teach our young learners about the dangers of household products that can sometimes look like candy or drinks. Students had fun learning how to stay safe and practiced “stamping out” dangerous items on their activity sheets! 🚫🧴
Thank you to Mrs. Marcia Spicer, school health nurse supervisor, for coming to share this important and life-saving information with our Vienna Terrapins! 🐢
👏 A special shoutout to our fabulous school nurse, Mrs. Shelby Melton, for supporting this meaningful learning experience!
😊 And we have to ask… who remembers Mr. Yuck from their childhood? That bright green sticker is still helping keep kids safe today! ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙 #withJOY
🐢Career Day in May was an inspiring event that opened our students' eyes to a world of possibilities. It provided them with a valuable opportunity to explore diverse careers while preparing for their futures in college and beyond.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Winn for her incredible planning and organization of this impactful event. We are also grateful to the dedicated professionals who shared their personal journeys and insights, helping to guide our students toward their goals.
Participating organizations included:
- Sheriff's Department
- Salisbury Medical Laboratory Science and Chemistry Department
- Maryland Diesel and Fuel Injection
- Poultry Farming
- Health and Wellness
- Business Owners
- Registered Veterinary Technicians
- Emergency Management Services
- Neuroscientists
- Tile Installation
- Zoologists from Salisbury Zoo
Your contributions made a significant difference in inspiring the next generation! ️ ️❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙 #withJOY
Each day, the VPA set up fun treats and games in the staff lounge for everyone to enjoy. It was a delightful way to celebrate!
Thank you once again to our incredible parents and the VPA for your unwavering love and support. Your efforts truly make a difference, and we deeply appreciate all that you do for us. #withJOY ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙
Uniform Reminder
Tops: Solid dark navy blue, light (pastel) blue, light (pastel) yellow, or white polo shirts, sweatshirts, or sweaters (no logos or designs).
Bottoms: Khaki (not brown), navy blue, or black pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, jumpers, or dresses.
👖 Jeans are only permitted on designated HOUSE days.
Hooded sweatshirts are allowed; however, for safety, students may not wear the hood over their heads while inside the building.
🎒 Don't Forget!
Students should bring:
💧 A clear water bottle
🎒 A clear backpack
📌 Save the Dates!
🏫 County-Wide Elementary Open House
Thursday, August 20, 2026
🕒 3:00–5:00 p.m.
🎒 PreK3, PreK4 & Kindergarten Student & Parent Orientation
(Attend ONE session)
• Monday, August 24 – 1:00–2:30 p.m.
OR
• Tuesday, August 25 – 9:00–10:30 a.m.
🎉 First Day of School – Grades 1–5
Monday, August 24, 2026
☀️ First Day of School—PreK3, PreK4 & Kindergarten
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
We can't wait to welcome our amazing Terrapins back for another fantastic school year filled with learning, growth, friendship, courage, and dreams! ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙
Vienna Elementary School 2026–2027 School Supply Lists
🍎 PreK3 and PreK4 Supply List
4 jumbo purple glue sticks
2 boxes of regular crayons
1 box of washable markers
2 containers of Play-Doh
1 pack of multi-color construction paper
1 watercolor paint palette
1 bottle of liquid glue
1 fitted crib sheet (for rest time mats)
1 clear (see-through) backpack
1 clear (refillable) water bottle
1 complete change of uniform clothes, including underwear and socks (to remain at school)
❤️ Optional, but greatly appreciated:
Boxes of tissues
Disinfectant wipes and/or hand sanitizer
Gallon or sandwich-size Ziploc freezer bags
🍎 Kindergarten Supply List
• 1 fitted crib sheet
• 5 fat (thick) black dry erase markers
• 1 plastic pencil box
• 1 clear (see-through) backpack
• 1 clear (refillable) water bottle
• 2 three-prong pocket folders
• 2 packs of #2 pencils (not mechanical)
• 2 boxes of regular crayons (16 or 24 count)
• 2 large glue sticks
• 1 pair of scissors
• 1 set of iPad-compatible headphones
• 1 complete change of uniform clothes (including underwear and socks) to be kept at school
❤️ Optional, but greatly appreciated:
• Ziploc-style freezer bags (quart or gallon)
• Disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizer
• Paper towels
• Tissues
🎒 PreK3, PreK4 and Kindergarten Student & Parent Orientation (Attend ONE session)
• Monday, August 24 – 1:00–2:30 p.m.
OR
• Tuesday, August 25 – 9:00–10:30 a.m.
🍎 Grade 1 Supply List
1 clear (see-through) backpack
1 clear (refillable) water bottle
1 large chunk eraser
6 fat (thick) dry erase markers
2 plastic pencil boxes
2 packs of #2 pencils (not mechanical)
2 boxes of 24-count Crayola crayons
2 large glue sticks
1 pair of scissors
1 set of iPad-compatible headphones
🍎 Grade 2 Supply List
1 clear (see-through) backpack
1 clear (refillable) water bottle
1 large chunk eraser
1 pack of thin dry erase markers
1 pack of fat dry erase markers
1 plastic pencil box
2 packs of #2 pencils (not mechanical)
1 box of 24-count Crayola crayons
1 pack of Crayola colored pencils
1 pack of Crayola thin markers
1 pair of scissors
1 set of headphones (No Bluetooth)
❤️Optional, but greatly appreciated for 1st and 2nd grades:
• Family-size boxes of tissues
• Quart or gallon-size Ziploc-style freezer bags
• Disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizer
• Inexpensive paper towels
🍎 Grade 3 Supply List
1 clear (see-through) backpack
1 clear (refillable) water bottle
2 stitched composition notebooks
1½" 3-ring binder with pockets
1 pack of cap erasers
2 glue sticks
1 pack of dry erase markers
3 folders with pockets
1 pencil pouch with 3 holes
2 packs of #2 pencils (no mechanical pencils)
1 box of Crayola crayons (24 count)
1 pair of scissors
1 set of headphones (no Bluetooth)
🍎 Grade 4 Supply List
1 clear (see-through) backpack
1 clear (refillable) water bottle
2 stitched composition notebooks
2 two-pocket folders (1 red, 1 blue)
1" 3-ring binder with pockets
1 pack of 5-tab binder dividers
1 pack of wide-ruled notebook paper (3-hole)
10 black chisel-tip dry erase markers
2 large glue sticks
5" x 8" pencil box or zippered pencil bag
2 packs of #2 pencils (no mechanical pencils)
1 box of Crayola crayons (24 count)
1 pack of Crayola colored pencils
1 pack of Crayola thin markers
1 pair of scissors
1 set of headphones (no Bluetooth)
🍎 Grade 5 Supply List
2 stitched composition notebooks
1" 3-ring binder with pockets
1 pack of 5-tab binder dividers
1 pack of wide-ruled notebook paper (3-hole)
10 black dry erase markers
2 large glue sticks
5" x 8" pencil box or zippered pencil bag
2 packs of #2 pencils (no mechanical pencils)
1 box of Crayola crayons (24 count)
1 pack of Crayola colored pencils
1 pack of Crayola thin markers
1 pair of scissors
1 set of headphones (no Bluetooth)
❤️ Optional but greatly appreciated for grades 3rd – 5th:
• Family-size boxes of tissues
• Quart or gallon-size freezer bags
• Disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizer
Uniform Reminder
Tops: Solid dark navy blue, light (pastel) blue, light (pastel) yellow, or white polo shirts, sweatshirts, or sweaters (no logos or designs).
Bottoms: Khaki (not brown), navy blue, or black pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, jumpers, or dresses.
No blue jeans except on designated House Shirt days.
Hoods may not be worn on students' heads while inside the building.
Save the Dates!
🏫 County-Wide Elementary Open House
Thursday, August 20, 2026
3:00–5:00 p.m.
☀️ First Day of School for PreK3, PreK4, and Kindergarten
Wednesday August 26, 2026
🎉 First Day of School for Grades 1–5
Monday, August 24, 2026
A printed copy of these supply lists will also be posted on the front door of Vienna Elementary School for your convenience.
Our little Terrapins enjoyed jumping around and learning gymnastics at Beach Bounders, and they had so much fun discovering all the amazing animals at the zoo.
A huge thank you goes out to our kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Jo Ann Dechert; our PreK3 teacher, Mrs. Valerie Friedel, and our PreK4 teacher, Mrs. Sherri Todd, for putting together such a fantastic trip!
We also want to give a big shout-out to our amazing instructional assistants: Mrs. Katie Reid, Ms. Chloe James, Mrs. Carol Malchow, and Mrs. Rebecca Compton. And a special thanks to our special education instructional assistants, Ms. Chela Hernandez and Ms. Ginger Oakes, for all their support!
Let’s not forget Mr. David Higgins, our awesome ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher, who joined us on this adventure. Together, we made some truly unforgettable memories that we’ll cherish for years to come! #withJoy ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙
Students began with the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag, followed by our Pledge for Success. To celebrate their participation, our Terrapins were rewarded with a cool “HOUSE” pencil or a fun “HOUSE” bracelet! #withJOY ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙
Vienna Elementary School is pleased to share this FREE virtual Mental Health Series from ParentGuidance.org. These online sessions are designed to educate, inform, and empower parents with practical strategies to support their children's mental health and well-being.
Sessions are held throughout July at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. (ET).
Join as many sessions as you'd like!
July Topics
July 1: Everyday Happiness
July 2: School Avoidance
July 6: Your Active Child: ADHD
July 7: Emotional Regulation – Interrupting Negative Emotions
July 8: What Parents Need to Know About Suicide Prevention
July 9: Understanding Video Game Addiction
July 13: Navigating Divorce When Children Are Involved
July 14: Effects of Screen Time & Your Child's Mental Health
July 15: Bullying – Stop the Cycle
July 16: Body Positivity: Nurturing Self-Image
July 20: Mindfulness for Improved Mental Health
July 21: Parenting Through Anxiety & Depression
Ask a Therapist LIVE – July 21 at 8:00 p.m. (Registration required)
July 22: Why Our Children Self-Harm
July 23: Recognizing Child Abuse
July 27: Your Child's Anxiety
July 28: Building Your Child's Confidence
July 29: How to Motivate Your Child
July 30: Supporting Your Child After Trauma
Visit ParentGuidance.org to explore the Mental Health Series and register for the Ask a Therapist LIVE event.
Together, we can support the mental health and well-being of our children and families.
❤️🤍💙 Happy 4th of July! ❤️🤍💙
As we celebrate America's birthday, all of us at Vienna Elementary School wish our students, families, staff, and community a joyful, relaxing, and safe Independence Day.
May your holiday be filled with laughter, cherished moments, and time spent with family and friends.
Happy 4th of July, and here's to 250 years of freedom!
Our first-grade students in Mrs. Margaret Diffenbach's class recently became published authors!
As part of a fun and engaging writing activity, each student wrote and illustrated their very own story. Their hard work was then transformed into a real published book, giving them the exciting opportunity to see themselves as authors.
Once their books arrived, each student proudly shared their story by reading it aloud to the class while Mrs. Susie Price, our principal, cheered them on and celebrated their accomplishments.
A special thank you to Mrs. Diffenbach for always finding creative and meaningful ways to make learning exciting for her students. She truly has a gift for turning everyday lessons into unforgettable experiences! #withJOY ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙
Our PreK 3 students in Mrs. Friedel's class enjoyed a fun-filled day celebrating butterflies and Earth Day!
The students learned all about the butterfly life cycle and had the exciting opportunity to observe live butterflies up close. They were fascinated as they watched these beautiful insects and discovered how butterflies grow and change through metamorphosis.
As part of their Earth Day celebration, the class learned about caring for our environment and how we can help protect butterflies and other wildlife by taking care of the world around us. They also had fun creating their own Earth Day hats!
A special thank you to Mrs. Valerie Friedel and her wonderful instructional assistants, Mrs. Katie Reid and Ms. Chloe James, for working so well together to create these engaging, hands-on, and memorable learning experiences for our youngest Terrapins. #withJOY ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙
At Vienna Elementary School, we really cherish the time spent together as a team! We recently enjoyed a fun celebration at Portside in Cambridge, Maryland, marking the end of another fantastic school year. It was a great chance to kick back, relax, and reflect on all the amazing things we accomplished during the 2025-2026 school year.
A big heartfelt thank you to our incredible Vienna staff for all your hard work and dedication. And a special shout-out to Portside for being such a wonderful host for our celebration! Here's to many more great years together! #withJOY ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙
Goodbye, second grade! Hello, summer!
The second grade teachers at Vienna Elementary School, Mrs. Susan Thomas and Mrs. Kaitlin Carroll, along with their students, are excited for summer break. It has been a wonderful year in second grade.
Thank you to our amazing second grade teachers, Mrs. Carroll and Mrs. Thomas!! #withJOY ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙
We would also like to give a special shout-out to everyone who takes on a fatherly role—stepfathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, adopted fathers, and father figures, as well as our beloved fathers who are no longer with us.
We truly appreciate the love and support you provide to our students. #withJOY ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙
Something is in the A I R at Vienna Elementary School! We just wanted to take a moment to brag about our outstanding students! Each Happy Mail note is color-coded to represent their "HOUSE" color, and our students can earn points for their "HOUSE" by showing off some fantastic positive behaviors, such as:
-Being a good friend
-Showing great improvement
-Showing kindness
-Excellent behavior ALL day
-Uplifting others
-Working well with others
-Helping others
-Following instructions
-Moving up a level in reading
We are so proud of our Vienna Terrapins and all their accomplishments! Keep up the great work! #withJOY❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙
We are so grateful for Mrs. Latrice's dedication to helping our students grow, learn, and thrive. Thank you for always making a positive impact in our Terrapin community! ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙#withJOY
https://youtube.com/shorts/mwM5GpYCfSQ
Congratulations to our PreK 4 Vienna Terrapins! Here we come, Mrs. Dechert.
Thank you to Mrs. Sherri Todd, our PreK 4 teacher, for an outstanding year and for planning and organizing the promotion ceremony, as well as her wonderful instructional assistants, Mrs. Magalene Molock and Mrs. Jodie Condon. Thank you for all you do each day. ❤️💚💙🐢❤️💚💙 #withJOY
