NEES Star News- Parent Update

Welcome to the North East Star News -Family Edition for North East Elementary. Each Sunday, this email will be delivered to your inbox with information about what is happening at North East. We hope to be able to provide you with important information on a regular basis to help you support your student. Please feel free to email us with any questions!

Monday, October 5

• Judy Center Playgroup 10:00 a.m.
• Grade 2 Fair Hill Field Trip
• PTO fundraiser Closes

Tuesday, October 6

• Judy Center Playgroup 9:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, October 7

• Early Dismissal
• Volunteer Training 8:15-8:45 a.m.
• Cedar Hill Community Event
• PTO Meeting 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 8

Friday, October 9

Each year, our school community seeks to assist families that may be in need of support during the holiday season. If you are not receiving assistance from another organization (church, community organization, etc.) for the holidays and would like our support, please click the link below or contact Alicia Kennedy (alkennedy@ccps.org) or Meghan Handy (mahandy@ccps.org) for a paper copy of the form to be sent home.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 8:15 AM

Welcome to the new school year! We are excited to welcome volunteers and mentors into the building for the 2026 - 2027 school year. For safety reasons, all volunteers and mentors helping during school hours are required to attend an orientation every year. At the orientation, volunteers and mentors will complete a background check form that, when approved, is valid for 2 years. If you completed the background check and it was approved last year, you do not need to submit it again this year. However, all volunteers and mentors must complete the volunteer orientation including mandated reporter as well as bloodborne pathogens training every year, regardless of background check status. When your background check is approved, you will be added to our volunteer list for staff members to access.

***Volunteer orientation is not required for field trips during this school year. Please note, however, that all chaperones must have their ID scanned in the main office on the morning of the trip.***

Questions? Contact Jen Stanley jstanley@ccps.org or Alicia Kennedy alkennedy@ccps.org

Our popular "Dads at the Door" program is getting a makeover this school year so everyone in our school community can participate! We are thrilled to launch Rise & Shine: Monthly Morning Greeters for the 2026–2027 school year.

Each month, a different group will have the opportunity to welcome our students, kick off their day with a smile, and bring extra energy to our halls. From grandparents and local first responders to high school athletes and parents, there’s a morning for everyone!

Check out the flyer below for our upcoming dates and themes. If a day applies to you and you're available, please click here to sign up!

Show your school pride and support our students by

purchasing custom spirit wear!

Click the star to shop!

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to me, Alicia Kennedy, at alkennedy@ccps.org or 410-996-6220. An overview of our school counseling program can be found by clicking here. Thank you and have a wonderful school year!

The Cecil County Public School system provides lessons for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade to educate about stranger safety, personal boundaries and privacy, inappropriate and appropriate touches, and how to identify when and who to go to for help when they feel unsafe. These units are what is called, “The Personal Safety curriculum.” The lessons are scheduled to occur throughout the months of November-March. The following topics will be covered at each grade level:

• Stranger Awareness and Safety Rules (PK-5)
• "No, Go, Tell” Response (PK-5)
• Identifying Touches as Being Okay or Not Okay (PK-5)
• Good Secrets vs. Bad Secrets (K-5)
• Examples of Lures (1-5)
• The “Uh-oh” Feeling (2-5)
• Internet Safety Rules (2-5)
• Personal Safety Rules (3-5)
• Personal Safety Vocabulary (4-5)
• Communication Styles (5)

If you would like to view or discuss the Personal Safety curriculum, or opt your child out of these lessons, please contact Mrs. Kennedy at 410-996-6220, no later than November 4th.

Parent Guidance is a free resource available to all CCPS families. Caregivers can access on‑demand videos that support everyday parenting challenges, including anxiety, big feelings, screen-time, and more. Families can also join live sessions and connect with trained parent coaches for personalized guidance.

It’s a simple, supportive way for families to strengthen their child’s social‑emotional well‑being at home. Click the link below to get started today!

Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee: Please join us at the North East Public Library on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 6:00-7:30. Parents will receive information about “Executive Functioning and the Impact on Your Child’s Learning”

Check out the September Cecil County Connections Newsletter to discover free support, services, and resources available to all county families! This month’s edition highlights a variety of helpful programs designed to support our students and caregivers both inside and outside the classroom. Thanks to funding from the Maryland Consortium on Consolidated Community Supports, these services are available to ALL families completely free of charge, regardless of income or ability to pay. Take a moment to explore the link today to see how these wonderful community resources can benefit your family and help your student arrive at school on time, every day and ready to learn!