Elk Neck Express

Ashlee Groce, Principal, ajgroce@ccps.org

Melissa Pratt, Assistant Principal, mapratt@ccps.org

Website: https://enes.ccps.org/

Location: 41 Racine School Rd., Elkton, MD, 21921

Phone: 410.996.5030

Hello Elk Neck Elementary Families,

Yesterday was World Mental Health Day! We’re happy to partner with families to support students’ social-emotional and behavioral growth. This month’s edition of the Cecil County Connections October Newsletter highlights resources available through The Cook Center for Human Connection to help parents and caregivers navigate the joys and challenges of parenting.

Through ParentGuidance.org, families can access:
- Virtual parent education sessions on a variety of topics
- Personalized parent coaching
- Private virtual therapy sessions

We encourage all families to explore these valuable resources and discover additional ways to support their children’s well-being and success. Together, we can help every student thrive!

As we begin planning the budget for the 2027–2028 school year, your input is vital. We want to ensure our budgetary priorities reflect the needs of our community, so please take a few minutes to share your thoughts, comments, and ideas in our survey (see below). Your feedback directly shapes our decisions as we organize our budget requests. Please submit your responses by Friday, October 23, 2026. 2027-2028 ENES Budget Survey:

As always, we are here to serve our families, students, teachers, and the community. Should you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. Please reference the Who To Contact document to reach the staff member who can best respond to your needs.

Committed to serving our school community,

Mrs. Ashlee Groce, Principal

Ms. Melissa Pratt, Asst. Principal

Open communication between families and school staff is one of the most reliable predictors of academic, social, and emotional success for students. When parents and educators work as a team, students experience a unified support system that reinforces learning both in the classroom and at home.

To ensure that communication remains timely and manageable, the following guidelines for communication apply:

• Email should be used for school-related questions, concerns, and important information.

• Please combine related questions or concerns into one email whenever possible rather than sending multiple messages throughout the day. When multiple emails address the same topic, staff may send a single consolidated reply or request a call/meeting if further discussion is needed. Sending repeated messages will not speed up responses, as staff require time to review concerns thoroughly and accurately.

• Staff will respond to communication during designated work hours (8:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m.) and are not expected to monitor email continuously.

• Staff will generally respond to an email within 24 hours. Responses should not be expected during evenings, weekends, holidays, or school breaks.

• Before contacting the teacher about a grade posted in PowerSchool, please wait until the physical assignment is sent home. Reviewing your child's work and teacher feedback first often addresses most questions or concerns.

• Urgent matters involving a student’s immediate safety should be directed to the school office rather than handled through routine email.

These guidelines establish clear communication parameters while encouraging open dialogue. Our shared goal is to communicate effectively while ensuring staff have the time needed to support every student.

We hope that you'll join us for our Fall Movie Night on Friday, October 23, 2026 beginning at 5:30 p.m.. Students will watch Toy Story 5 on our outdoor movie screen. We will have food trucks available for families to purchase food. Finnegan's Famous, The Wheelie Bar, and Mad Waffle will be there serving up delicious dinner foods and treats! The Book Fair will also be open from 4:00-6:30 p.m. for families wanting to shop together. Look for the flyer below to come home this week!

In accordance with CCPS Regulation KJA-RA, we kindly remind families that birthday party invitations and other personal materials are not to be distributed by students or school personnel during the school day. The regulation states: “Personal materials such as student birthday party invitations are not to be distributed by students or school system personnel and are not the responsibility of the school system.” To ensure a respectful environment for all students, we ask that any invitations be shared outside of school hours and off school grounds. As a system, we are unable to distribute contact information for other families within the school. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Parenting in today's fast-paced world comes with unique challenges, but you don't have to navigate them alone! Through Cecil County Public Schools’ partnership with The Cook Center for Human Connection and ParentGuidance.org, all district families have access to free, confidential 1-on-1 Parent Coaching. Whether you're working through daily stress, behavioral hurdles, or screen-time habits, this service pairs you with a dedicated coach to provide customized tools, guidance, and support. Registration is quick, anonymous, and HIPAA-protected—visit ParentGuidance.org to get matched with your personal coach today.

Take advantage of this free resource today! You can register and get matched with your personal coach by visiting ParentGuidance.org.

Registration is entirely easy, anonymous, confidential, and HIPPA protected! To see how a coach can help you navigate modern parenting with greater balance, check out this quick video on How to Register for Parent Coaching.

Supported by the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission and the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports.

Upcoming Spirit Day:

Oct. 21st -Unity Day - Wear orange to show that you are kind, accepting, and try to include others! Our Elk Neck Retrievers are brave Upstanders who stand up for themselves and others who are being teased or bullied.

Red Ribbon Week October 26-30 “Make a Difference, Be a Hero, Stay Drug-Free!” See the flyer below for more information.

Mental Health Resources - ParentGuidance.Org

Check out this amazing free resource for online mental health resources, therapy sessions, on-demand courses, live therapist Q&A webinars, and recordings of on-demand parenting information by topic!

Parenting Advice

Ready for School Routine Tips:

• Create a Family Calendar- include when projects are due, practice days/times, open house, special events, etc…

• Create a Homework Caddy: Including pencils, paper, glue, crayons, etc., necessary to complete the homework

• Create a Morning or After-School Checklist- pack lunch, brush teeth, get dressed, etc. Kids can check off items as they complete them. (Dry erase board works great!)

• Lay out clothes ready the night before- lay out outfits to save time in the mornings

• Pack lunches the night before

• Book bag ready to go the night before- eliminates morning chaos; Be sure to leave in the same spot every night. Examples: by the door, on the counter, or a specific chair

• Encourage older kids to set their alarm to wake up in the morning

• Bedtime routine- ask your child to share before bed…

Help- is there anything they need help with?

Thanks- what are they grateful for?

Wow- what is something good that happened today?

If your family qualified for Free & Reduced-Price Meal Benefits last school year, you must submit a new application for the current school year by Monday, October 12 to continue receiving benefits.

If a new application is not submitted by this date, your meal benefits will expire, and your student will be moved to full-pay meal status.

We encourage all families to complete an application, even if you do not believe you qualify. The application process is 100% confidential, and no information is shared with any outside agencies.

To apply, please visit: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

If you received a letter from the Food & Nutrition office that stated that your family has been approved for Free meals this school year then there is NO need to fill out the application.

If you have any questions regarding meal benefits, please contact the Food & Nutrition Department at 410-996-6257.

We are excited for our second year of implementing Illustrative Mathematics! IM promotes independent problem solving skills while building a deep understanding of mathematics. Families can access the Family Support Hub to find out what students are learning and how to support their learning at home. Check it out!

Cecil County Parks and Recreation wants your input! Click the link HERE to complete a brief survey on the activities you want to see.

Monday, 10/12/26

Fall Picture Day

Tuesday, 10/13/26

Eat for Elk Neck @ Chipotle, 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 10/14/26

PTO Meeting at 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, 10/15/26

Great Shake Out: Earthquake Drill

SECAC Meeting @ North East Library, 6:00 p.m.

Friday, 10/16/26

Professional Day: Schools closed for students.

Monday, 10/19/26

Book Fair Begins! Shopping will occur during special time.

Friday, 10/23/26

CCPS Pink Out Day - Wear Pink

Bubble Gum Day

PTO Fall Movie Night @ 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Monday, 10/26/26

Red Ribbon Week! Wear Red!

Tuesday, 10/27/26

Red Ribbon Week! Wear anything Disney!

Wednesday, 10/28/26

Red Ribbon Week! Wear Neon!

Thursday, 10/29/26

Red Ribbon Week! Team Jersey Day!

Friday, 10/30/26

Fall Walk @ 10:00 a.m.

Red Ribbon Week! Wear sweatpants and/or a sweatshirt!