GES SEPTEMBER FAMILY NEWSLETTER

GES fosters a collaborative community within a rigorous environment where students are empowered to advocate for their learning.

In partnership with family and community, Greensboro Elementary School will motivate and challenge students to attain educational excellence.

September 2nd: School Closed for Labor Day

September 3rd: Board of Education Meeting 6PM

September 4th: PreK Orientation - see flyer below

September 5th: First Day of School for PreK Students

September 12th: Band Instrumental Rental Night 6 PM

September 24th: GES Back to School Night 5:30-7 PM

September 27th: No School - Staff Professional Development

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 Students may be withdrawn if not attending school regularly; students not enrolled or attending will be considered truant.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 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.

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

8:45 – Building opens to students

9:00 - School Day Begins

3:40 – Car riders and Bus 6 first shuttle dismissed

3:45 – All students dismissed

You may soon notice a change in our organization name… we are now a PTO, Parent Teacher Organization!

We have compared the costs and benefits of the PTA affiliation to the costs and benefits of remaining independent, and unanimously voted on which model works best for us.

What does that mean? Our PTO’s goals are still the same… to encourage interaction between family and school, serve as a source of support, and work with teachers, staff, and the community to improve our children’s educational experience.

Moving forward, you will see PTO membership forms coming home from school, as well as information on PTO sponsored events and fundraisers. Be assured, we are the same group of parents just like you, lending a helping hand to our school!

With any questions, or to be added to our email list, email us at greensboropto@gmail.com!

Dear Greensboro Elementary School Families,

Choptank Health joins us in welcoming your family to

the 2024-2025 school year, with a reminder to set your

students up for a healthy, successful year by ensuring

they are enrolled in our School-Based Health Center.

School-Based Health Centers function like a typical

doctor’s office, with medical providers assessing and

diagnosing illness, writing prescriptions, performing

lab tests—including for strep, influenza, and

Covid—and physicals including routine well visits and

sports physicals. Dental services include screenings,

cleanings, sealants, fluoride treatment, and emergency

visits.

Appointments can be made by calling your student’s

health center at 410-482-9148.

It’s never too late to help your child enjoy a healthy school year by enrolling them in School-Based

Health.

Use these links to enroll your student in School-Based Health, with more information also at

www.choptankhealth.org/schoolbased.

English Enrollment Form

Spanish Enrollment Form

Creole Enrollment Form

Parent Workshop: Understanding SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

Wednesday, September 11 – 5:30 to 7:30

Dinner Provided

Topics to be covered:

• What is SSI

• Ways to maximize SSI

• How to apply for SSI

• How to increase your chances of approval

• What to do if you are denied

• And more!

Location: Board of Education, 204 Franklin Street, Denton

Guest Speaker: Michael Dalton, High Note Consulting, LLC

Register now with Casey Irby: irby.casey@ccpsstaff.org

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.

Front Office Hours: 8:30 – 4:00
Teacher Hours: 8:30 – 4:00

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.