DES Family News

I hope you are having a good weekend and staying warm. It's hard to believe January is coming to an end! Please read on for important dates, events and information related to CCPS and DES happenings.

Kind regards,

Dr. Crebs-Oberdorf

Caroline County Public Schools is happy to announce that nominations for both the 2025-2026 Teacher of Year and the Support Employee of the Year are now open. All staff, students, student families and community members are invited to submit nominations. (Submissions may not be made by a relative of a nominee.)

Program website page

Nominations for both awards must be submitted no later than January 31, 2025.

• Teacher of the Year Nomination Form

• Support Employee of the Year Nomination Form

For additional information, please email Communications Officer Sandi Barry, barry.sandra@ccpsstaff.org or Supervisor of Human Resources Rob Willoughby, willoughby.robert@ccpsstaff.org.

● Previously: March 21, no school for students; professional development for staff

Amended: MARCH 21, HALF DAY FOR STUDENTS;
Half day professional development for staff

● Previously: April 16, half day for students

Amended: APRIL 16, FULL DAY FOR STUDENTS

● Previously: April 17, schools and offices closed

Amended: APRIL 17, HALF DAY FOR STUDENTS

Anyone picking up students as walkers or car-riders must present your assigned number. If you forget your number you will be sent to the front office where Mrs. Barnes is happy to help you get another copy of your number. At anytime you can request additional copies, but our procedures are for the safety of our students. While we are always looking for ways to improve our procedures, profanity toward staff or the school on school property is not tolerated.

If you have any questions or concerns related to transportation, please contact Mrs. Amy Barnes our Transportation Secretary. She can provide assistance with all things related to car-rider, walker or bus rider information at DES. The school office is open from 8:30-4:00 pm each day.

January 27th, Schools Closed for all students

January 28th, PTA Meeting 6:00 pm

January 31st, Quarter 2 reports cards emailed

February 4th, BOE Meeting 6:00 pm

February 14th, Early Dismissal for CCPS Students

February 17th, No School, President's Day

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.

The Maryland Governor's Commission on South Asian American Affairs is committed to supporting the educational success and growth of our community. We would love to hear about your experiences and perspectives on education. Your valuable input will help us develop initiatives and strategies to better support students, families, and educators in the South Asian American community across Maryland and ensure that no one is left behind. After inputting your responses, please remember to click "Submit" to have your responses submitted anonymously.

Please click here to complete the survey.

Survey link: https://forms.office.com/r/vCLGkeweWM

Click here for more information on the Commission.

Attention parents, guardians, caregivers, and daycare providers of children ages birth to eight! Join us for a four-part workshop to learn strategies used in PreK and beyond, and how these strategies can be used at home.

All details available at: carolineschools.org/article/1920932

#Caroline Family

The 2024-25 Student Benefits Form (Household Income Data Collection) information is used to help provide school meals at no charge to all students, along with other districtwide services. It also provides individual benefits to students and families such as:

• discounts for summer and recreational programs

• Discount internet access

• Discounted fees for SAT and AP testing and college applications

• Increased scholarship opportunities

• eligibility for Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)]

• Increased funding to the school system to support instruction, technology, student services, and programs like Community Schools, tutoring and free meals.

Questions? Please email student.services@ccpsstaff.org.

Student Benefits Form

CCPS uses an online form (no paper!) to verify or update student information through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. The process typically takes less than five minutes per student, and allows families to verify that all of the student's data is correct and provide updates for any important data that has changed. This process replaces the old paper form sent home in previous years.

Please note: If the student’s address has changed, proof of residence will be required. This may be uploaded through PowerSchool or provided directly to the school.

For more information, please see the CCPS news post on this topic.

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 and again in first and eighth grades. Hearing and vision screenings are scheduled to begin on October 16, 2024.

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 at 410-479-2916 or via email at miller.rachel@ccpsstaff.org

Beginning November 1, 2024, CCPS will start holding students accountable for damaged or missing technology equipment, including laptops, iPads, carrying cases, chargers, and charging cables. The CCPS Student Technology Obligation Program encourages responsible use of technology and curbs rising repair costs through a tiered pricing system.

For questions and program details, please visit the link below: Student Obligation information

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