PES Panther Family Newsletter

We are a family of learners who trust each other and work together

to ensure all are safe and successful.

Dear PES Families,

We hope this message finds you well! We are down to the final week of school for our Panthers, and it has truly been an amazing year!

As I sit down to write what will be my final newsletter message as Principal of Preston Elementary School, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we have shared together over the past seven years. Serving as your principal has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. I have had the privilege of watching our students learn, grow, and achieve amazing things, while partnering with families who care deeply about their children and our school community.

There has always been something special about Preston Elementary School. It is more than a building: it is a family. The support, kindness, and commitment shown by our students, staff, and families have made PES a truly remarkable place, and I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished together.

While I am excited to begin a new chapter as principal of Greensboro Elementary School, please know that Preston Elementary School will always hold a special place in my heart. The memories, relationships, and experiences we have shared will stay with me forever. Once a Panther, always a Panther.

I would also like to share that the next message you receive from Preston Elementary School will come from Mrs. Mary Jo Kerr, who will be serving as your new principal. Mrs. Kerr is an outstanding leader who cares deeply about students, families, and staff, and I know she will continue to build upon the strong traditions and success of PES.

Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your unwavering support throughout these past seven years. It has been a privilege to serve this community and to be part of so many meaningful moments in the lives of our students and families!

With heartfelt gratitude,

A.J. Angeloni - PROUD Principal of Preston Elementary School

Below is a summary of upcoming important information and events:

PTO Yearbook Signing and Ice Cream Social - Tuesday, June 16th!

All students will have, courtesy of our Preston Panther PTO, an Ice Cream Social on Tuesday where they can sign yearbooks! If a student does not have a yearbook the PTO will be providing paper for all students to gather signatures.

Last Day of School - Wednesday, June 17th!

The Last day of school will be on Wednesday, June 17th, with a 1:00 PM dismissal.

CCPS and PES are using Rooms!

We’re so glad to have your children with us for the 2025–2026 school year! To keep you informed and involved, we’re continuing to use Rooms, our two-way communication tool that helps you stay connected with your child’s teachers and school staff. Please read about how to connect with Rooms in our newsletter! PES Teachers are ALL on Rooms! Please see the information in our newsletter and what we have emailed home on how to connect!

If you have any questions related to the happenings at PES please reach out to me via email (angeloni.antonio@ccpsstaff.org) or by calling the school directly.

Thank you!

A.J. Angeloni - Principal

✅ School Hours: Students arrive at 8:45 AM and dismissal is at 3:45 PM.

✅ Arrival/Dismissal:

• Car Riders → Drop off/pick up on Noble Ave. side entrance

• Bus Riders → Front of the school

• Walkers → Front entrance near Kindergarten wing (dismissal begins 3:40 PM)

1. PTO Yearbook Signing and Ice Cream Social - Tuesday, 6/16/26

2. Last Day of School - 1/2 Day - Wednesday, 6/17/26

🌞 PES Families – Summer Camp 2026 Registration is Open! 🌞

Caroline County Recreation & Parks is once again offering a FREE Summer Camp program for students currently in Kindergarten to 5th grade, and spots will fill quickly!

📅 Camp Dates: June 29 – July 30 (Monday–Thursday)
📍 Location: Camp will be held at Preston Elementary
🍎 Meals Provided: Breakfast and lunch included daily
🚌 Transportation: Bus service available within Caroline County

This year’s camp promises engaging weekly themes, hands-on activities, and a fun, safe environment for all students.

👉 Register here:
https://www.carolinemd.org/696/Summer-Camp-2026

Don’t wait—spaces are limited and fill quickly!

Our local Girl Scout Organizations are partnering with GotSneakers, a sneaker recycling organization dedicated to keeping shoes out of landfills while helping schools raise funds. We are collecting new and gently used sneakers of all sizes on their behalf, and every pair donated helps support our school while making a positive impact on the environment. Our goal is to collect 75 pairs of sneakers! Donations can be sent to school and dropped off with Mrs. Daffin, who will be collecting all sneaker donations. Thank you for helping us make a difference—one pair at a time! 👟💚

It's time! Enrollment is now open for eligible Pre-K and Kindergarten students, and all other students new to Caroline County Public Schools.

Please note:

• If your child is currently in a Caroline PreK class, there is no need to enroll again.

• If your child is currently in PreK-3, they need to be enrolled for PreK-4 at their school of residence and requalified.

For more information about the enrollment process and PreK / Kindergarten, please visit carolineschools.org.

#CarolineFamily

Dear PES Families,

To help ease congestion on Main Street and Noble Avenue—and to keep our arrival and dismissal times running smoothly—we are introducing a new car rider drop-off and pick-up traffic pattern. Safety is always our top priority, and this new system will make our process even smoother for students, families, and the community.

Please review the map attached and the step-by-step directions below.

Traffic Flow & Procedures

1. Station 1 – Wait Zone
   Vehicles will line up along Noble Road and in the gravel lot near the tennis courts. Cars at Station 1 will wait until an opening is available beyond the intersection. Vehicles may continue through the intersection and toward the tennis court parking lot.

2. Station 2 – Noble Avenue Merge
   Vehicles will merge back onto Noble Avenue without blocking traffic. Please wait until space opens and proceed only when safe.

3. Station 3 – Controlled Stop
   All vehicles will stop at Station 3 and enter when it is safe based on the flow of our car rider line or instructions from PES Staff

4. On Deck Section → Station 4
   Vehicles will enter the “On Deck” area and wait to be moved into the drop-off zone. PES staff, as always, will dismiss cars in the drop off zone signaling the move up time.

5. Drop-Off Zone
   Students will safely exit vehicles in this zone. After drop-off, cars will continue around the circle toward the exit “On Deck” waiting area.

6. Exit Area
   When safe, traffic will proceed out onto Noble Avenue as in the past.

A Few Reminders

• Please stay in your car during drop-off and pick-up to keep the line moving.

• Follow all directions from PES staff—they are there to help keep everyone safe.

• Be patient and kind. We’re all working together to make arrival and dismissal as smooth as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making PES a safe and welcoming place for all of our Panthers. With your help, this new system will reduce gridlock on Main Street and keep our students safe.

✨ Stay Connected with PES through Rooms! ✨

All Preston Elementary School teachers are now using Rooms to communicate with families. This is your one secure place for school messages, updates, class announcements, and more.

Why Join Rooms?

• 📢 Get important updates from your child’s teachers and school staff.

• 📱 Choose how you want notifications — text, email, or app alerts.

• 💬 Easily send and receive messages with teachers.

• 📰 Stay up to date with events, menus, forms, and school news.

How to Get Started

1. Open the invitation link sent to you or open the PES School App and tap Rooms.

2. Enter your phone number or email.

3. Select “Sign in with code”.

4. Enter the code you receive — and you’re in!

Need Help?

Check out the Quick Start Guide for Families or contact the school office for assistance.

👉 Don’t miss out! Sign in today and stay connected with PES.

🚗 Car Rider Reminder for PES Families 🚗

We kindly ask all PES Car Rider families to please follow the designated traffic patterns when entering the car rider line. For the safety of all students, staff, and families:

🔹 Do NOT bypass the line
🔹 Do NOT go around other cars

Following the proper flow helps keep things safe, orderly, and fair for everyone. We truly appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together to ensure a smooth and secure dismissal process.

Thank you for being mindful and helping us keep our school community safe! 💙

Upcoming Events:

• Ice Cream and Yearbook Signing Social (in-school) - 6/16/26

💕 Grandparents & Grand-Friends — We Need You!
Join the PES PTO Grandparents Club and be part of the fun!
💬 Contact Julie MacDonald at 410-479-2897 to learn more.

You can reach the PTO at:

info.prestonpantherpto@gmail.com

Our school lunch menu is also available on our website (https://www.prestones.org/o/pes/dining) and on the CCPS app.

We understand many of our families are impacted by the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. We want to reassure parents and guardians that free breakfast and lunch at every school will continue to be available for all students every day. These meals are funded through a separate program and are not affected by SNAP.

In addition to daily breakfast and lunch at school, all of our schools continue to offer

weekend food support through the Backpack Program, made possible by Food for Learning. This program provides shelf-stable food for students to take home on weekends. For more information and to request services, please complete a Backpack Program form.

Lastly, meals at participating afterschool programs will continue to be served.

Additional Resources for Families

• For a local listing of community resources, including food, please visit Caroline Better Together.

• For resources throughout the mid-shore, please visit the Mid Shore Health Improvement Coalition.

• For resources through the state, please visit the 211Maryland website.

If you have any questions or need assistance connecting with these resources, please contact your school’s Community School Coordinator or school counselor.

This information may also be viewed on the CCPS website.

Caroline County Public Schools Food Services will once again be providing free meals for children 18 and under during the summer. Home delivery – 7 days of Breakfast & Lunch delivered

to Your Door Step – 1 delivery per week. Beginning June 29 through August 16 (closed Thursday, July 2). Please either use the forms attached below (which have also been sent home) or use this online Google Form:

https://forms.gle/MzwPngTsoBDf47nM8

Please see this important article with information on how to update your PowerSchool information for your student(s).

Code of Student Conduct and Parent Guide to the Code of Student Conduct: :

CCPS Code of Student Conduct

Parent Guide to the Code of Student Conduct

Parent Guide to the Student Technology Obligations

Reminder: School Delays and Closings

Please remember, for all notifications, parent/guardian numbers and emails are taken directly from information provided by the family in PowerSchool. Staff contact information is taken directly from the Employee Access Center.

School delays and closings are shared via:

• a phone call, text, and email through our notification system

• a message on the CCPS Mobile App the district website (carolineschools.org)

• social media: Facebook (Caroline County Public Schools and all school pages), and Instagram (carolineschoolsmd)

• some local news and radio stations

The process for making weather-related decisions is outlined on carolineschools.org.

In collaboration with the Caroline County Health Department and Choptank Community Health, we are working to prevent the spread of colds and flu in our schools. Please review the following measures that will aid in keeping your family healthy.

• If your child is sick, especially with a fever*, keep him or her at home until he or she has been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication.

*Fever: oral temperature of 100° or more, or ear or forehead temperature of 100.4° or higher

• Follow up with your child’s health care provider if he/she becomes ill.

• Encourage your child to cover his/her mouth and nose with tissues when sneezing or coughing. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into the bend of the elbow.

• Remind your child to wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

• Remind your child to keep his or her hands away from the face.

• Avoid being around people who are sick.

• Make sure your child and family members receive a seasonal flu and COVID vaccine if recommended by their doctor.

• Make the school aware of new or changed contact numbers so that we may reach you promptly.

The staff at each school will be reinforcing these measures with the students. In addition, we are asking that if your child is at home sick with a fever and symptoms of an influenza-like illness (cough, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose), please let your child’s school nurse know. This will enable CCPS to track and identify patterns of illness more quickly.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school’s Health Room, or your school’s School Based Health Centers.

School Based Health Centers Open This Summer / Sports Physicals Available

June 12, 2026 - Choptank Community Health School Based Health Centers (SBHC) are open this summer for student services including sports physicals. Hours for all locations are 7:30 am until 4:30 pm with the following schedule:

• Lockerman Middle School: Monday through Thursday, June through August
  Call for Appointments: 410-479-3075

• Federalsburg Elementary School: Monday through Thursday, June through August
  Call for Appointments: 410-754-5857

• Greensboro Elementary School: Monday through Thursday, June through August
  Call for Appointments: 410-482-9148

• Preston Elementary School: Monday through Thursday, June and July
  Call for Appointments: 667-238-8050

• Ridgely Elementary School: Monday and Thursday, June and July
  Call for Appointments: 410-634-9153

Caroline students enrolled in School-Based Health Care can receive medical, behavioral health, nutrition care, and sports physicals.

New student registrations are accepted.

Contact info and registration forms available on the Choptank Community Health Center’s School-Based webpage.

Caroline Families, registration opens April 1!

Start your summer planning now with a FREE PROGRAM for rising 6th, 7th 8th and 9th graders!

Summer Career Enrichment Program

Session I: July 6 – July 16

Session II: July 20 – July 30

Location: North Dorchester High School in Hurlock

Free bus transportation

Breakfast & lunch provided

This program will engage students in hands-on activities that lead to career paths in cybersecurity, media arts, video design, health, computer science, and engineering.

Classes offered will include: Animation, App Development, Chess, Cyber Security, Drones, Media Arts, Presentation/Graphic Design, and Robotics.

The program is in partnership with People for Change Coalition, Mid-Shore Regional Council, Rural Maryland Council, and Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot County Public Schools.

For more info: contact@pfcoalition.org, 310-772-1552

Caroline County Public Schools is aware of concerns regarding recent changes to U.S. immigration policy and enforcement. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has provided guidance which reinforces our own belief that every student—regardless of immigration status—receives the support they need from our educational system. Please visit the CCPS website for complete information.

An important message about attendance:

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.

CCPS is committed to providing a safe, respectful, nurturing educational environment where the worth and dignity of individuals are valued and their safety and rights are protected. Behaviors that compromise this environment, interfere with school operations or are otherwise contrary to the basic mission of our public schools will not be tolerated. Bullying, hazing, harassment or other discrimination affecting a student or a staff member should be reported by a victim, parent/guardian, witness, staff member or other person having knowledge.

Staff members with knowledge of such conduct are required to promptly report it to the building principal.

Please see our 24-25 School Improvement Plan and Family Engagement Home Compact for your reference.

PES 24-25 SIP Plan

PES 25-26 Family Engagement Home Compact

PES 25-26 Family Engagement Home Compact (Translated)

PES Parent Involvement Plan Letter 25-26

PES Parent Involvement Plan Letter 25-26 (Translated)

The Federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) contains several provisions that promote a parent/school partnership through communication. One such provision gives parents the right to ask for and receive information about the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers. A parent may request the following information:

• Any college or university degree, major or certification held by the teacher

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

• Whether the teacher holds a conditional teaching certificate

• The qualifications of the paraprofessionals serving the student

If you would like to request the professional qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers or paraprofessionals, please submit a written request to the principal. The principal will provide the information to you within 30 business days of the date of your request.

Parents may also request information on the level of achievement and academic growth of their child, if applicable and available, on each of the State academic assessments.

Parents will receive timely notice if the student has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet applicable State certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned.

If you have any Title I questions please do not hesitate to school the school directly.

Principal: A.J. Angeloni

Assistant Principal: Deanne Waters

Email: angeloni.antonio@ccpsstaff.org
Website: https://www.prestones.org/
Location: 225 Main Street, Preston, MD, USA
Phone: 410-479-2897
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prestonelementaryschool/

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.