Superintendent's Update

Dear CCPS Families -

October is always one of the busiest and most rewarding months in our school calendar. As the rhythm of the new school year settles in, we see our students, staff, and families working hard and achieving great things.

As a reminder, Interim Reports for the first marking period were sent home to all families on October 7. This report provides a valuable snapshot of your student’s performance midway through the grading period. I strongly encourage you to review the interim reports and reach out to your child's teacher or school counselor if you have any questions or would like to discuss strategies for continued success.

We are officially entering the exciting season of Senior Nights! These special events are already underway, honoring the hard work, dedication, and leadership of our seniors across both Fine Arts and Athletics. Whether they are performing their final time on the field or competing on the court, please join us in celebrating these incredible young people and their families.

This month, our schools are also focused on Bullying Prevention. Creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where every student feels valued is our highest priority. This is not just a week of awareness; it is an ongoing commitment woven into the daily life of our schools. As part of this effort, we are observing Unity Day on Wednesday, October 22. We encourage all students and staff to participate by wearing the color orange to visibly demonstrate our collective stance against bullying and our commitment to inclusion and unity across all CCPS schools.

Finally, October is National Principals Month, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the dedication and tireless work of every CCPS Principal. Our principals are the instructional leaders, visionary administrators, and compassionate champions who guide our schools every day. They set the tone for culture, safety, and academic excellence. On behalf of the entire CCPS community, thank you for your leadership, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to our students and staff.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to make this a successful and enriching year.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey A. Lawson, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

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BrightPath Cecil, the Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) digital student wellbeing hub, has received renewed funding from the Maryland Department of Health Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC). The initiative, launched in collaboration with Cecil County Public Schools and Upper Bay Counseling Support Services will continue for another year, ensuring that all students and parents/guardians in Cecil County know exactly where to go to find the student mental health resources or support they need, whenever they need it.

Press Release

The Safe Sleep Symposium registration is officially open to anyone in the community!

Register here: https://forms.gle/Ekz4WP2yPTaaoJZS8

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has announced the themes and prizes for its 2025-2026 Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen audio essay competitions. This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their patriotism and win significant scholarships. The competitions are open to all eligible students; VFW membership is not required.

Contest Details

This year’s shared theme is “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”

VFW Voice of Democracy is open to students in grades 9-12. The first-place national winner will be awarded a $35,000 scholarship.
VFW Patriot’s Pen is for students in grades 6-8. The first-place national winner will receive $5,000.

Submissions are first judged at the local VFW post, with winners advancing through several levels to the national competition.

How to Enter

All entries must be submitted by October 31, 2025.

Email: Send your entry to Post8185Scholarship@gmail.com. Please note: If you email your essay, you should receive a confirmation email. If you don't, contact the contest coordinator.
Drop-off: You can also drop off your entry at your local VFW Post.

For any questions, please contact Shiela Malatesta at 443-928-9189.

Learn more at https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships

We’re excited to share that Ms. Dianna Taylor’s Summer 2026 trip to Ireland, Scotland, and England still has spots available! To make this opportunity even better, families who enroll by September 30th will receive $100 off before the tour price increases.

If you’d like to learn more, Ms. Taylor can be contacted directly at dtaylor@ccps.org.

Enrollment link: https://www.eftours.com/tour-website/2834879FK

CCPS Public Information Office

Email: pio@ccps.org
Website: www.ccps.org
Facebook: facebook.com/ccpsmd
Twitter: @ccpsmd

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Superintendent's Update

October 10, 2025

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