DES Family News

I hope you are having a restful long weekend, we certainly have a lot going on at DES this week! Please take a moment to carefully read school and county-related updates, policies, and information.

Sincerely,

Sarah Crebs

Principal of Denton Elementary School

Included below is a link to for Strawbridge photography. This link allows parents to sign up to receive updates via email regarding their child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, parents should be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.

WALKER UPDATES

• Our new walker process began on Monday, October 16th.

• Walkers continue to enter DES the same way, however dismissal for walkers is now located at the side doors (PreK entrance).

• We have sent home walker forms for families of our current walkers. Students will receive an assigned walker number. This number should be presented to staff at the walker dismissal area and staff will call for your student to be dismissed. We appreciate your patience as we work through this new process to ensure student safety. If you need a walker number please contact Mrs. Amy Barnes at DES (410-479-1660).

CAR RIDERS

• A few reminders -Efficiency is key for a SAFE and smooth car rider line.
• Have students ready with their book bag and other items ready to exit the car.

• Practice getting in/out of their car seats independently (if your child is too young to do this independently, please try to be as quick as possible, as not to hold up the car rider line-or wait to pull up to the front of the line.)

• DO NOT PASS OTHER CARS IN THE CAR-RIDER LINE. WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT GET OUT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR.

• Parents may not walk up students to the car rider door in the morning. Parents may not walk to the car rider staff to pick up their children. This causes a break in the system of getting kids out of school and safely in vehicles. Safety must remain our number one priority.

• Celebrate our DES team! We sometimes have students (and parents) doing this for the first time. Let's work together with our fellow families and our Dolphin Trainers. We will only get better each day as we continue to work together and each do our part.
  REMINDERS FOR BUS RIDERS: The routes will be adjusted each day for the first few weeks. Please be patient with pick up and drop off times.
  The DES staff and I are honored to be an important part of your student's school journey. Our student's safety, learning and happiness are a top priority. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions, concerns and compliments!
  

Good attendance for your student begins on the first day of the school year.
Consider the following facts:

• Chronic absenteeism may prevent children from reaching early milestones.

• Chronically absent students have difficulty keeping up with the pace at which they are expected to learn and grow.

• Students who are absent even a day or two every few weeks fall behind their peers.

• Irregular attendance can be a better predictor of whether students will drop out before graduation than test scores.

• Consistent, on-time attendance is a habit that lasts into adulthood.

In addition to wanting the best possible education for your child, we also closely monitor absences because Maryland law requires that children ages 5-18 attend school. Students may be withdrawn if not attending school regularly; students not enrolled or attending will be considered truant.

How Can Parents Encourage Good Attendance?

• Build good attendance habits early so children know that getting to school on time every day is important!

• Set a regular bedtime & morning routine, laying out clothes and backpacks the night before.

• Avoid scheduling appointments & trips when school is in session.

• Don't let your child stay home unless he/she is truly sick.

• Consider that sometimes a stomach ache or headache is a sign of anxiety. If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to the school about helpful resources.

All medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, including cough drops and ointments, must be kept in the health room with the exception of state mandated emergency medications. Medications must be brought to school by a parent or responsible adult, be in the original labeled container and must be accompanied by a Maryland State School Medication Administration Form signed by both the prescribing medical or dental provider and the parent or legal guardian. A new medication administration form is required at the beginning of each school year for each medication and each time there is a change in dosage or time of administration of a medication. Any medications remaining after the order is discontinued or at the end of the school year will be destroyed unless picked up by a parent or other responsible adult within the designated time frame.

Healthy vision and hearing is important for your child’s success in school. State law requires school systems to have students’ hearing and vision screened when they enter the school system for the first time and in the first grade. Hearing and vision screenings are scheduled to begin on 10/23/23.

Students who should not be included in the screenings include:

• Those whose parents/guardians object in writing to the screenings on the grounds that it conflicts with the tenets and practice of a recognized church or religious denomination of which they are a member;

• Those with known hearing loss, including but not limited to, students with cochlear implants or hearing aids; and

• Those who present evidence of testing within the last year.

If your child falls into any of these categories or if you have any questions, please reach out to the school nurse directly at 410-479-2916 or via email at miller.rachel@ccpsstaff.org

All Caroline County Public School students may eat breakfast and lunch free of charge this year, with no application needed. CCPS now participates in the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows free meals for all students in schools in low-income areas. There will still be a charge for extra items such as snacks. School menus may be found on the Caroline Schools, MD free mobile app and on all CCPS websites.

DES Office HOURS: 8:00-4:15 pm Monday-Friday

DES Teacher Hours: 8:30-4:00 pm Monday-Friday

Instructional Day: Doors open @ 8:45 and dismissal begins at 3:40 pm

October 23rd-27th, Red Ribbon Drug Awareness Week

October 26th, 46th Annual County wide, 5th grade Spelling Bee @ DES 7:00pm

October 30th-November 3rd, DES BOOK FAIR

October 28th, National First Responders Day

October 31st, Early Dismissal (begins at 12:40 @ DES)

October 31st, Happy Halloween (Fall Character Parade @ 9:25am)

November

Native American Heritage Month Begins

November 2nd, Fall Academic Night 5:30-7:00 p.m

November 7th, Election Day

November 8th, End of First Quarter

November 8th, Early Dismissal (DES begins dismissal at 12:40pm)

November 17th, Parent Visitation Day (more information coming soon!)

November 22nd-November 27th Fall Break

November 27th, Parent Teacher Conferences

November 28th, PREK EARLY DISMISSAL ONLY @ 1:00 pm

As changes and or more updates arise we will keep families informed on Apptegy.

• Monday 10/30 to Friday 11/3 in the Media Center. Students go during their Media Period.

• Payment for books can only be made by credit card, gift cards, or eWallet. NO CASH will be accepted for purchases.

• Book Fair will be open until 645 PM on Thursday 11/2. If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Online Book Fair.

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/DES

WANT TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP, Sign up

When:

Tuesday, October 31st, 2023 beginning at 9:25am

Where:

As a school, beginning with PreK students, we will walk out the PreK side doors and around the building to the car-rider entrance. Spectators may stand in the bus or car-rider lanes.

Parking: Please park in the DES parking lot or at the Sharp Rd. parking lot. Do not park on private property as you could be towed by the homeowners.

Reminders:

• Please be sure your child’s costume is school appropriate. As always, guns, swords and other weapons are not allowed for our parade.

• Have your child wear their costume to school.

• In consideration of our younger students, we ask that you do not send your child with gory costume accessories. Such as, blood, scars, or anything that may be scary.

• Parents will not be permitted in classrooms before or after the parade.

• Due to safety concerns, only DES staff members are allowed to walk with classes during the parade.

DES is a Title I School receiving federal funds to improve instruction in math and reading.

Parents of students attending Title 1 schools may request information about the professional qualifications of their child's teachers. Parents of elementary students may request in writing to the school principal information about their child's teacher including:

* Any college or university degree or certification held.

* The subject area of the teacher's degree or certification.

* Whether the teacher is certified by the State of Maryland to teach a grade level or subject area.

* Whether the teacher holds a provisional certificate.

* Whether the child is served by paraprofessionals and, if so, parents may request their professional qualifications.

All DES dismissal changes must be made by 12:00pm each day. This allows time to ensure that the teacher, student, and dismissal staff are all aware of the changes.

Caroline County Public Schools prohibits discrimination in its educational programs, and in employment, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or disability.

Email: crebs.sarah@ccpsstaff.org
Location: 303 Sharp Road, Denton, MD, USA
Phone: 410-479-1660

Assistant Principal Mrs. Lindsay Grow

Email: grow.lindsay@ccpsstaff.org