PAC JUDY CENTER NEWSLETTER
The Patuxent-Appeal Elementary School Judy Center Early Learning Hub
Appeal Elementary School
11655 HG Trueman Rd
Lusby, MD 20657
443-550-8077
Website: Judy Center - Patuxent Appeal Elementary (calvertnet.k12.md.us)
Thursday July 16, 2026
5:30 - 7pm
Appeal Elementary School (outside)
Join us for a fun night outside making bubble art, playing bubble musical chairs and other bubble fun!
Registration required. Register here: Books and Bubbles July 16, 2026 5:30pm - 7pm – Fill out form
Tuesday July 14, 2026
5:30 - 7:00pm
Imaginarium Solomons
Meet us at the Imaginarium where the kids will have pizza and playtime!
🚨Parents are responsible for the safety of their children! 🚨
Registration is required.
Register here: Pizza & Play at the Imaginarium July 14, 2026 5:30pm - 7:00pm – Fill out form
Tuesday July 21, 2026
10am - 11am
Imaginarium Solomons, MD
Meet us at the Imaginarium where we will have 1 hour of unstructured playtime and make lots of new friends!
Registration is required. Register here: Imaginarium July 21, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am – Fill out form
Wednesday July 15, 2026
5:30 - 6:30pm
TEAMS online
Join us for Meals with Mayea, a fun and interactive virtual cooking class designed for families! Together, we'll explore simple, delicious, and healthy recipes that everyone can enjoy making at home. Mayea will guide you step-by-step through each dish, sharing cooking tips, tricks, and ways to get kids excited about helping in the kitchen.
This month's recipe is Black Bean Burgers!
The PAC Judy Center will provide ingredients to confirmed registrants. Ingredients will be available for pick up at the Judy Center prior to the event. Once your registration has been confirmed by a Judy Center staff member, you will be sent a link to join online and details regarding ingredient pickup times and dates.
Registration is required. Register here: Meals with Mayea July 15, 2026 5:30 - 6:30pm – Fill out form
Tuesday July 7, 14 & 28, 2026
Wednesday July 22, 2026
10:00am - 11:00am
Our Side-by-Side Playgroups bring together both Cruiser and Preschool playgroups in one shared experience that supports learning, social interaction, and family engagement across age groups. By integrating younger and older children together, families can participate in activities that encourage peer modeling, cooperative play, school readiness skills, and meaningful family connections. This blended approach allows siblings to learn alongside one another while creating a welcoming environment where all children can explore, play, and grow together.
Registration is required. Register here:
July 7: Tuesday July 7 Side-by-Side Playgroup 10:00 am - 11:00 am – Fill out form
July 14: Tuesday July 14 Side-by-Side Playgroup 10:00 am - 11:00 am – Fill out form
July 22: Wednesday July 22 Side-by-Side Playgroup 10:00 am - 11:00 am – Fill out form
July 28: Tuesday July 28 Side-by-Side Playgroup 10:00 am - 11:00 am – Fill out form
Thursday July 2 & 9, 2026
9:30am
Appeal Elementary School Gym
Sight and Sounds of African Percussion with Kofi Dennis
Participants take an imaginary trip to visit the queen mother of an African village and explore the sights and sounds of various traditional percussion instruments while experiencing the “djembe-storytelling” tradition. This highly energetic and interactive experience involves a lot of role-play, singing, drumming, and dance movements!
Thursday July 2, 2026
9:30am
Registration is required. Register here: Wolftrap and Arts for Learning Maryland presents: Sight and Sounds of African Percussion – Fill out form
Silly Songs with the Barnyard Bard
In the assembly “Silly Songs with the Barnyard Bard,” Mr. Alden uses various animal-themed songs like ‘Everybody’s Wakin’ Up,’ along with vibrant visuals and animated narratives, providing students with an enjoyable way to develop an understanding and appreciation for farms. This interactive experience includes activities like ‘The Breakfast Game’ and the ‘Where Did it Come From?’ game, designed to highlight farms’ significant role in our daily lives.
Date: July 9, 2026
Time: 9:30
Registration is required. Register here: Wolftrap and Arts for Learning Maryland presents: Silly Songs with the Barnyard Bard – Fill out form
Thursday July 30, 2026
10:00 - 11:00 am
**This playgroup will be for ages 0-13 months.**
Spend a relaxing hour with your baby while enjoying the company of other parents! Fun activities include Infant Massage techniques and developmentally appropriate activities, plus you will receive a free book to build your child's home library, or a developmentally appropriate toy.
Registration is required. Register here: Tummy Time – Fill out form
Thursday July 23, 2026
10:00 - 11:00 AM
A 1-hour interactive support group to learn the benefits of mindful parenting, deep breathing, journaling, how to handle tough moments with a clear mind, and so much more.
**Children are welcome🙂**
Registration is required. Register here: Mindfulness & Me (Mindful Moms) 10:00am - 11:00am PAC Judy Center – Fill out form
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of several products designed for infants and children. Stop using the products listed below and keep them away from children. More details about each of the product recalls can be found using the links provided. Find more recalls at cpsc.gov.
- Vevor Retractable Baby Gates
- Tubby Tots Fizzy Flask Bath Magic Bath Foam Set
- Christmas-Themed Magnetic Chess Games
- Trankerloop Baby Bath Sets
- Magnetic Chess Games
- Bicystar High Chairs
- Grtard Magnet Stick Figure Men Toy Sets
- TheKiddoSpace:
- Children's Story Books
- Print and Cursive Handwriting Kits
- Fingerpainting Kits
- Reusable Water Balloons
- Children's Flashcard Talking Toys
- Children's Montessori Egg Toys
- LED Soccer Hover Balls
- Peg Dolls in Cups Toys
- Children's Sensory Swing
- Children's Christmas Tree Toy Play Sets
- Zelbuck Magnetism Ball Game Toys
- Joyreal Busy Board Toys
- Concord 360 Degree Rechargeable Light-Up Bike Helmets
- Evajoy 48-Inch and Taller Above-Ground Pools
Parents can enter the Healthy Families program prenatally or before a baby is three months old. Family Support Workers partner with parents to help build a nurturing relationship between parent and child, provide information on how children develop, and suggest ideas for activities for parents to engage with their child. Services are provided where it is most convenient for the participant – usually at home.
Healthy Families Participants receive:
- Connection to needed services such as help with food, housing, medical, education and training so that parents can focus on themselves and their children.
- Information on how children develop and learn.
- Materials and ideas for activities to do with children to strengthen the bond between parent and child.
- Knowledge and skills to help parents prepare children for success in school.
- Support for parents with children up to age 5.
Home Instruction of Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
Support through Healthy Families can continue until a child is age three and eligible for the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program. Parents of children ages 2-4, not already enrolled in the Healthy Families Program, may be eligible to enroll in HIPPY. The HIPPY Program continues to focus on supporting parents through home-visiting but with an emphasis on school readiness.
HIPPY Home Visitors meet parents weekly for 30 weeks providing the HIPPY curriculum, books and educational materials. Parents are trained to use the curriculum and educational materials with their child, supporting the parent’s ability to be their child’s first teacher. The curriculum provides activities for parents to do for 15-20 minutes daily for five days. The suggested activities include language/literacy, math, science and motor activities.
For more information:
Learning begins at home HIPPY | Home Instruction for Parents and Preschool Youngsters (hippyus.org)
Infants and Toddlers is birth to age 3 years of age and provides an array of early intervention services for children and their families birth to the age of three. Children, birth through the age of three, who are experiencing a developmental delay, or who have an established condition or disability are eligible. Early intervention services are family-centered, functional and based on individual family routines and activities. Services may include Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Special Instruction, Audiology, Family Counseling and Training and Vision Services. The goal of the Calvert County Infants and Toddlers Program is to provide family-centered support and services to infants and toddlers with delays/disabilities to help them reach their potential and be prepared for school.
The Calvert County Infants and Toddlers Program (ITP) serves children birth through two years of age who reside in Calvert County and meet state eligibility requirements. Services are provided year-round at no cost to families. If your child is found eligible, the Infants and Toddlers Program (ITP) can target the following areas:
- Cognition
- Communication
- Social/Emotional
- Self-help
- Fine Motor
- Gross Motor
- Hearing
- Vision
To be eligible for our program, children must have a 25% delay in at least one area of development (cognitive, communication, social-emotional, self-help, fine & gross motor), atypical development, or a high probability of delay due to a diagnosed medical condition. Services offered:
- Audiology
- Family Counseling/Training
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Special Instruction
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Vision Services
Services are provided in home, community, or center-based settings depending on the needs of your family and child. Sessions are scheduled with your individual service provider(s) Monday through Friday.
Infants and Toddlers - Calvert County Public School District
Are you concerned about your young child’s development? Do you think your child has difficulty with movements, talking, understanding, learning, socializing, playing, or eating?
For more information, contact one of the following programs.
Infants and Toddlers Program (Birth to 35 months) Call 443-550-8405 for a developmental evaluation or visit the website at: Infants and Toddlers Program - Calvert County Public School District (calvertnet.k12.md.us)
Child Find (35 months to 5 years/prekindergarten) Call 443-550-8373 for a developmental evaluation or visit the website at: Child Find - Calvert County Public School District (calvertnet.k12.md.us)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income households buy the food they need for good health. Everyone has the right to apply for SNAP. Click here to download the Income Guidelines
Applicants must file an application, be interviewed, and meet all financial and technical eligibility factors prior to issuance of SNAP benefits. Some people who have little or no money may qualify for Expedited SNAP benefits right away. They must have only an interview and verify identity.
File an application with your Local Department of Social Services. You may also file an application by mail, fax, or go to MarylandBenefits to apply online.
The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program provides healthy supplemental foods, as well as nutrition and breastfeeding education and counseling for pregnant and post-partum women, infants and children under age 5. The Southern Maryland WIC Program serves participants in Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties at 5 sites located in White Plains, Leonardtown, Lexington Park, Solomons, and Prince Frederick.
To learn more about WIC: Pages - MD WIC (maryland.gov)
SMILE is located at 10290 H.G. Truman Rd in Lusby. SMILE offers various services to its community.
You Must Register to Receive SMILE Services
- SMILE Food Pantry
- SMILE Thrift Store: Children of registered clients may be eligible to receive a seasonal clothing allotment.
- SMILE Thanksgiving Basket Distribution
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Help to Avoid Foreclosure
HOW TO REGISTER TO BECOME A SMILE CLIENT
A current SMILE ID card must be presented to receive any SMILE services, including the Food Pantry, Thrift Store, and Emergency Services.
To obtain a SMILE card, you must register at the SMILE Thrift Store during its normal hours of operation
What to Bring to Register for SMILE services
The following information is required at the time of registration:
– Description or explanation of need
– Proof of residency in SMILE’s service area (zip codes: 20615, 20629, 20657, 20676, 20685, and 20688). Please be prepared to show one of the following that shows your address: a copy of a mortgage bill, lease agreement, SMECO or Comcast bill, etc.
– Proof of Identification (Driver’s license or other State ID)
Once registered, you will receive a SMILE ID card which is good for 6 months. You must renew and update your registration every 6 months. A current SMILE ID card must be presented whenever asking for any SMILE services, including the Food Pantry and Thrift Store, and when requesting Emergency Services.
Who Can Have a Library Card?
Everyone! Calvert Library cards are free for Maryland residents and are valid for ten years. Out-of-state residents may apply for an account that is valid for one year at a cost of $20.00 per year.
We welcome library cardholders of all ages, but a parent or guardian must sign for applicants under the age of 16 to obtain a full borrowing privileges card. A child must be present to sign the card. Your signature indicates that you accept responsibility for supervising your child’s use of the library. The borrower or adult is responsible for the card’s security, for any materials checked out and for any charges incurred.
We offer special library cards for children that allow them to check out up to five books fine free and have access to downloadable items and premium online resources.
- Kid’s card – no proof of address required, no parent/guardian signature required.
- CRAB card – the virtual CRAB card is automatically issued to Calvert County Public School students.
CRAB cards: Calvert Research Access & Books
All Calvert County Public School students now have special Calvert Library accounts. Virtual CRAB cards give every child access to:
- Calvert Library online research databases
- Free online homework help
- Bookflix – digital literacy resource that pairs more than 120 animated stories from Weston Woods with a best-selling nonfiction eBook from Scholastic on a similar subject. The fiction and nonfiction pairings are designed to strengthen early literacy skills while exposing young learners to real world concepts.
- Foreign language programs
- Hoopla ebooks, audiobooks, comic books, streaming media
- Testing Help
- ebooks & audiobooks & eMagazines
- LinkedIn Learning – leading online learning platform covering business, technology and creative skills.
AND
Checkout up to 10 print books, including audiobooks, from any Calvert Library location with NO FINES!
To login to Calvert Library research resources with your CRAB card use the prefix: calv and your student ID. ex: calv23456. Your initial password is your 8 digit birthdate (MMDDYYYY) and can be changed at any time.
Southern Branch
13920 HG Trueman Rd
PO Box 559
Solomons, MD 20688
(410) 326-5289
Branch Manager
Meg Faller
meg.faller@calvertlibrary.info
- All families currently receiving assistance from the Calvert Diaper Bank will be required to reapply.
- Changes have been made to qualifying requirements.
- Families in need of diapers will need to contact the Diaper Bank each month to set up their pickup date and time.
- Diaper Bank contact Cecily Crawford by phone at 443-550-8082 or via email at: crawfordc@calvertnet.k12.md.us
PLEASE NOTE:
- We are unable to serve walk-ins. Appointments only.
- You must contact the diaper bank via phone or email to ensure that we have sizes in stock.
- This is a monthly service, we cannot provide diapers more than once per family, per month.
- The Diaper Bank is a donation-based program and as such, our sizes and availability vary. We do not guarantee diapers will be available.
Did you know that the Judy Center is a hub for the Maryland Diaper Bank? The diaper bank provides support to families across Calvert County. Maryland Diaper Bank participants will receive 50 free diapers and a set of wipes each month. There are qualifications to be able to access the diaper bank. To see if you or another family qualifies, please contact Cecily Crawford at crawfordc@calvertnet.k12.md.us
This easy mango popsicle recipe for toddlers is the perfect healthy treat to serve all summer long! Made with real fruit and coconut milk, these homemade popsicles are a great way to cool down on a hot day with no added sugar!
Healthy Mango Popsicle Recipe for Toddlers & Kids - Healthy Kids Recipes
🚩Just a reminder that the Judy Center follows all CCPS closures and delays 🚩
CCPS, the Judy Center and the Diaper Bank will be closed on the following date(s):
Friday July 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, & 31st
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's development, we would love to help.
Need a referral to outside agencies or clothing/food/financial assistance? Please feel free to contact us.
Karen Jordan
Judy Center Multi-Site Program Coordinator
Phone: (443) 550-8083
Email: Jordank@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Jennifer Bendfeldt
Judy Center Program Coordinator
Phone: (443) 550-9697
Email: bendfeldtj@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Cecily Crawford
Family Service Worker
Phone: (443) 550-8082
Email: crawfordc@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Christina Herrick
Judy Center Multi-Site Administrative Assistant
Phone: (443) 550-8077
Judy Center programming is developed with funds from the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood
The content and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the grantee and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Maryland State Department of Education.