The Weekly Wave

At Beach Elementary School our vision is to create “A Great Place for Kids”, where all learners will learn to think critically, collaborate with others, communicate clearly and problem-solve creatively.

Our mission at Beach Elementary School is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for all school members, encouraging them to reach their full social, emotional, and academic potential. Appreciating that each member is unique, we strive to meet individual needs to foster a love of lifelong learning. We provide all learners with the necessary skills and opportunities to become supportive, successful members of our community, making Beach Elementary School “A Great Place for Kids.”

3/18 2-hour early dismissal

3/25 Spring Picture Day

3/30-4/6 Spring Break- no school

4/8 End of Marking Period 3

4/10 2-hour early dismissal

4/20-24 MCAP ELA

*5/1 Weather make up day (E Day)

5/4-8 MCAP Math

5/7 5th Grade Panorama Picture

5/13 5th Grade West River field trip

5/15 BES Field Day

5/18 BES Spring Concert (Band/Strings/Chorus) 7pm @ Mary Harrison Center

5/25 No school- Memorial Day

5/26-27 5th Grade Reed build

6/3 2-hour early dismissal

6/4 2-hour early dismissal

6/8 BES 5th grade Recognition at Mary Harrison Center (morning)

*6/12 (2- hour early dismissal) last day of school for students(B Day)

Want to learn how CCPS supports early reading? Our Ready to Read Act page shares what families need to know about Maryland’s early literacy requirements, including screening and the new PreK–3 Literacy Policy.

We encourage you to visit the page to see how we’re working together to help every young learner become a confident reader.

Ready to Read Act - Calvert County Public School District

Sincerely,

Melissa Huffman

Help us show our teachers how lucky we are to have them with a green themed lunch. Please sign up below. Nonperishables can be dropped to the office the week of March 17th. Perishables should be dropped March 17th before 10:30 am. Please label all dishes and plan to pick up in the office after the event. If you'd like to help but are busy, please consider a donation which will be used to purchase catered items. You can venmo @denisemariemoon. Thank you for all your support, Beach Elementary families. If you need information or assistance, please text Denise Moon 201-988-4815

signupgenius.com

Items from our lost and found will be on tables at the front of the school after our early dismissal on 3/18 from 1:45-3:30pm. Any unclaimed items after this date will be donated during our Spring Break.

Thank you!

Dear Calvert County Public Schools Community,

A new recognition program is shining a light across Calvert County Public Schools. The Superintendent’s Lighthouse Award honors individuals whose leadership, character, and dedication guide and inspire our school community.

Like a lighthouse that provides direction, stability, and hope, this award celebrates CCPS students, educators, educational support professionals, and leaders who go above and beyond to serve others, inspire excellence, and embody CCPS core values. Each month, the Superintendent will recognize those whose actions, character, and commitment help light the way for our schools and community.

Each month, the Superintendent’s Lighthouse Award will recognize one honoree in each of the following award categories:

• Student: For students who show exemplary character, leadership, work ethic, or service.
• Educator: For educators who demonstrate instructional excellence, innovation, and dedication to student growth.
• Educational Support Professional: For educational support staff in schools and departments whose work keeps CCPS strong and student-centered.
• Leadership: For school or district leaders who exemplify servant leadership and inspire a culture of excellence.

We invite students, staff, families, and community members to nominate individuals who:

• Inspire excellence through service, leadership, or innovation
• Serve as positive role models
• Demonstrate creativity, collaboration, and ethical stewardship
• Support safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environments for all

Nominations are accepted year-round through a simple online form. Nominations submitted by the 20th will be considered for the monthly recognition. The nomination form is also available on the CCPS website; paper forms are available at schools.

Our inaugural nomination cycle is now open, and we look forward to celebrating the first individuals who illuminate the way for others in CCPS.

Superintendent's Lighthouse Award Nomination Form

Thank you for helping us recognize the people who truly inspire excellence and light the way in Calvert County Public Schools.

With appreciation,
Calvert County Public Schools
Office of the Superintendent

🌱 Green School Garden Volunteers Needed 🌱

As part of our effort to become a Green School, we are looking for classroom and family volunteers to “adopt” sections of the gardens around our school. Students will be provided with gloves to assist with light weeding, and signs will be displayed to recognize the classes or families responsible for beautifying each garden area. Occasional class time can be used for this purpose. Families are welcome to work on gardens after school and weekends as well.

If you are interested in volunteering, please let us know, as we will be ordering the garden signs soon. The county has already completed fall beautification, and we are hoping to maintain the gardens through the winter until spring beautification begins.

Thank you for helping keep our school grounds green and growing!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we continue to nurture a safe and positive learning environment, we want to partner with you in supporting your child’s well-being—both in school and online. Social media plays a significant role in students’ lives, and while it can be a great tool for connection, it also comes with challenges such as cyberbullying and negative online behaviors.

Important Insights from Our Fall Panorama Survey

• 30% of students in 4th and 5th grade report that they have been bullied.
• Only 68% of 4th and 5th graders feel comfortable talking to someone about being bullied or about someone else being bullied.

These numbers remind us how critical it is to work together to create a safe and supportive environment for every child.

Here are a few tips to help you check in on your child’s social media use:

• Review privacy settings: Ensure your child’s accounts are set to private and that they only connect with people they know.
• Monitor activity regularly: Take time to look through posts, comments, and messages together. Encourage open conversations about what they see and share online.
• Discuss digital citizenship: Remind your child that words and actions online have real-world impact. Encourage kindness and respect in all interactions.
• Watch for warning signs: Sudden changes in mood, withdrawal, or reluctance to use devices may indicate bullying or cyberbullying.

Understanding Cyberbullying and Bullying
Cyberbullying involves using technology to harass, threaten, or humiliate others. It can happen through social media, text messages, or online games. Bullying—whether in person or online—can deeply affect a child’s emotional health and academic success. If you suspect your child is experiencing or engaging in bullying, please reach out to us immediately.

Our Pledge: Be an Upstander
We are committed to creating a culture where every student feels safe and valued. We encourage all families to join us in pledging to:

• Speak up against bullying and cyberbullying.
• Support children in being upstanders, not bystanders—standing up for peers and reporting harmful behavior.
• Model kindness and empathy in everyday interactions.

Helpful Resources for Families:

• https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it
• https://www.commonsensemedia.org/social-media
• https://www.pta.org/home/family-resources/safety/internet-safety
• https://www.connectsafely.org/parents-guides/

Together, we can make a difference. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure our students thrive in a positive and respectful environment.

If you have any questions or need additional support, please contact us and please let us know that you support these efforts by taking the pledge (below).

Why Attendance Matters

Missing just 2 days of school each month adds up to 18+ days a year, putting students at risk academically. Chronic absenteeism—missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason—affects learning, social-emotional growth, and future success.

Why It’s Important:

• Students who attend regularly are more likely to read on grade level by 3rd grade.
• Consistent attendance supports middle school achievement and high school graduation.

Calvert County Data:

• As of October 2025, Calvert County’s chronic absenteeism rate is 14.4%, which is better than the Maryland average of 16.9%, but still above the statewide goal.
• Maryland’s goal: Reduce chronic absenteeism from 30% to 15% by June 2026.

How Families Can Help:

• Set consistent routines for mornings and bedtimes.
• Schedule appointments outside school hours when possible.
• Communicate with us early if challenges arise.
• Celebrate attendance milestones with your child!

Together, we can ensure every student has the best chance to succeed.
Questions or need support? Contact the school office—we’re here to help!

MSDE requires each LEA to send a housing survey annually to identify student needs. It helps us identify and support students who may be experiencing housing instability. Responses are confidential and not shared outside of CCPS.

https://forms.office.com/r/2eM0dadwGw

Consistent and timely attendance is essential for your child’s academic success. Elementary school lays the foundation for lifelong learning, and it begins as early as Pre-K. Every day in school builds critical skills in reading, math, social development, and routines that shape future learning habits.

Please avoid scheduling family vacations or trips during the school year, as missed days can disrupt your child’s progress and make it harder for them to keep up. We kindly ask that you send your child to school each day unless they meet the criteria for staying home due to illness or other approved reasons.

Here at Beach Elementary, we implement Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) on a daily basis to support students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional and mental health. One of our biggest positive behavior supports is our school currency, Dojo Points! Students can earn Dojo points from any staff member in the building by following our school motto/rules: S.O.A.R (safety, ownership, acceptance and respect). After they have accumulated enough points, they can spend them at Sal's Shop (formerly known as the Woot Woot Cart)! Here's where you come in! We are in need of parent/guardian/family volunteers to come in on A Days from 11:00 am to 2:45 pm to run Sal's Shop where students can purchase toys and services with their Dojo points. You can find the dates on this survey . We require 2 volunteers for each date. If we do not have volunteers, unfortunately, Sal's shop will not be able to open that day, as all our staff members have duties that they cannot leave unattended. Thank you so much for your consideration!

Elizabeth Conley

Beach Elementary School

General Music & Chorus Teacher

PBIS Coach

conleye@calvertnet.k12.md.us

Please contact Heather Hammett at hammetth@calvertnet.k12.md.us or 443-550-9529 for more information.

Spirit Days are every Friday! Students, family members, and staff are encouraged to participate and proudly wear our BES blue and white or other BES attire!

Traditional spirit wear (shown below) is available for purchase HERE.

There are many military families who live in our community and who have children who attend our school. If you are a military family, please click HERE to let us know. We will be working on helping military families connect with each other this year and of course, we will support any military families who experience a deployment.

Military Child Education Coalition: Homepage - Military Child Education Coalition® (MCEC®)

Volunteer with us! CCPS uses the Raptor system for volunteers and visitors to sign in and out of schools. All volunteers (anyone interacting with children for activities such as field day, field trips, VIP Day, etc.) will need to review the volunteer handbook, watch the volunteer training video, and apply to be an approved volunteer each year before volunteering in any school. Click HERE to become a volunteer!

It would be very helpful if you applied to be a volunteer as soon as possible, even now when you might have a little extra time in the summer. The application and approval process takes a little time and we have experienced issues where volunteers were not approved in time to chaperone field trips. Don't let that happen to you!

We do have a lost and found area at BES, that seems to fill up rather quickly. Families spend a lot of money on jackets and water bottles! Please take some time to put your child's name on their jackets and water bottles so that we can return them. We do purge our lost and found at the end of each month. We donate the unclaimed items so others may use them.

Our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has always supported Beach Elementary. An active PTO has provided several advantages for our students and staff. The PTO has formed closer school and community bonds. The parents and other citizens who have contributed time, effort, talents, and materials have a personal commitment to Beach Elementary. The fundraising efforts of the PTO have helped to improve and enrich the learning experiences for our children by supporting the cultural arts and field trip programs. Our staff has always appreciated the PTO's loyal support and we plan to continue working in this active partnership. Please join the PTO.

Join the BES PTO today to get on our email list, stay up to date on events and volunteer opportunities, and to have your thoughts and ideas heard. Membership is $10 per family, all membership fees are used to fund events including the Ag Lab mobile field trip, dances, and many more!

For information about family events and youth activities taking place in our community, click the Community Events button, below. Please note: These events and activities are not sponsored by the Calvert County Board of Education or Calvert County Public Schools. We provide equal opportunities to outside agencies to distribute materials that offer opportunities to students and/or their parents, but that permission should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by the school district.

Nondiscrimination Statement

Calvert County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, or any other characteristic protected by law in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth programs.

Calvert County Public Schools does not refuse enrollment of a prospective student, expel a current student, or withhold privileges from a current student, or prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student because of an individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national original, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Calvert County Public Schools does not discipline, invoke a penalty against, or take any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the program or school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ø Director of Student Services

Ø Director of Human Resources

443-550-8000

For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.