As of July 1st, SPES welcomes a new principal, Mrs. Emily Abell. We look forward to collaborating with her throughout the school year and working on hosting a meet and greet near the end of summer. Please see a special note from her below. 

Dear PTO,

I am incredibly honored to join the vibrant SPES community as your new principal. As both an educator and a parent of three young children, I deeply value the importance of connection, support, and being present during these formative years. I look forward to partnering with you to build upon a school culture where we listen with intention and lead with purpose. Together, we will cultivate an environment rooted in collaboration and care—one where every student, staff member and family can truly shine. 

Your proud principal,

Emily Abell

Yes, we already have our gears turning for programs and events in the '25-'26 school year. There are some volunteers who have already raised their hand, and others who have committed to stay on for another year. However, we still have committee lead vacancies to fill. 

We invite you to check out the list of opportunities and if anything speaks to you feel free to reach out to have a conversation. Not available or interested in taking a lead role (we get it), there are still ways to provide secondary support. Complete a volunteer interest form and your information will be passed on to that specific committed so they can reach out with more details on how to become involved. 

In addition to our 5th grade class, three beloved faculty and staff are moving on from the hallways of SPES. 

We wish a fond farewell and best wishes for a happy retirement to:

Mr. Gross, Chief Custodian, who received a cheerful parade from students as he made one last ride through the halls on his Zamboni. 

Mrs. Hayes, 5th Grade Teacher, who shared endless dedication and energy with students for over 10 years. 

Mrs. Strauss, Special Education Teacher, who is actually re-retiring! We are grateful she shared a bit more of her talents with us. 

New to volunteering?
There's no shortage of volunteer opportunities at SPES. For the safety and security of all, only individuals who have completed the AACPS Commercial Background Check are permitted to volunteer in the school. Simply view the instructions on the AACPS website to complete your check. This is valid for 2 years to the date of completion. 

There is also an option to complete a fingerprinted background check which will be valid the entire time your student attends AACPS schools. This can be done by appointment at the county office on Riva Rd in  Annapolis and includes a processing fee.

Are you an old pro?
If you're familiar with this process but not sure if your check is still valid you can easily connect with the SPES Administration Office (Lisa Sykes or Dawn Boring) and they can check for you. Or simply go online and complete a new one for a 2-year refresh. 

This is some great housekeeping to complete over the summer so that once school starts again you are ready to roll!

Did you know SPES families can join our email list without being a member? Feel free to spread the word to help others stay informed about PTO news, events, volunteer opportunities, and much more!

As of July 1st, Membership Toolkit account holders will be prompted upon log-in to review and verify their profile information. This is an annual maintenance check to ensure you and your family are assigned the correct tags for grades and receiving appropriate information when applicable.  

Below is a list of upcoming event dates to track. Some of these are PTO led. Other events are directed by the school/county and will be identified accordingly. In those instances, we help to amplify and spread awareness.