The Dolphin Current

As we move into another exciting week at DES, I want to thank you for your continued partnership and support. Our students continue to grow, learn, and achieve because of the strong connection between home and school, and we are grateful for the role you play in their success each day. Please take a few moments to review the information in this newsletter so you can stay informed about upcoming events, important reminders, and opportunities to get involved.

Sincerely,

Dr. Sarah Crebs-Oberdorf

• If you have questions about transportation please call Mrs. Amy Barnes.
• If you have questions about enrollment and attendance please call Mrs. Christina Clark.
• If you have questions about Special Education meetings please call Ms. Laurie Hannegan.
• Please remember to update your information: 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.

• School Benefit Forms

  The Student Benefits Form was sent home last week. We ask all families to complete and return it, even if you do not believe you qualify for benefits. This important form helps secure funding for student meals, programs, and services that support our school community and your student.

  Stay Connected with Rooms

  DES teachers and staff use Rooms for two-way communication with families. If you have not connected yet, please review the information in our newsletter. Staying connected through Rooms is a great way to receive important updates and stay engaged in your child's learning.

President: Christina Clark

Treasurer: Sarah Cook

Secretary: Amanda Zinner

Thank You to John and Amy Conneely for their generous donations to the PBIS SWIM cart

Building Stronger Connections for Our Dolphin Families

At Denton Elementary School, we believe that learning extends beyond the classroom. As a Community School, our goal is to partner with families, local organizations, and community members to ensure every child has the support they need to thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.

A Community School is built on the belief that when schools, families, and the community work together, students achieve greater success. Throughout the year, we'll work to connect families with valuable resources, provide engaging family events, strengthen partnerships with local agencies, and create opportunities for every Dolphin to succeed.

We are excited to have Mr. Drew Davidson serving as our Community School Coordinator. Mr. Davidson is dedicated to supporting our Dolphin families by building meaningful partnerships, connecting families with resources, and helping create opportunities that strengthen our entire school community.

🌊 What You Can Expect This Year

• Family engagement events and activities
• Community partnerships and volunteer opportunities
• Information about available family resources and services
• Student enrichment opportunities
• Health, wellness, and academic support programs
• Updates on how our Community School initiatives are making a difference at DES

Be sure to look for the Community School Cove in each edition of our newsletter! We'll share upcoming events, available resources, success stories, and ways you can get involved as we continue to build a strong, connected community for all of our Dolphin families.

Please reach out to Mr. Davidson if you have any questions or needs davidson.drew@ccpsstaff.org

Together, we're making waves and creating opportunities for every Dolphin to succeed! 🐬💙

Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, Farm to School Month, Bullying Awareness, Waste Prevention Awareness

October 6th, BOE Meeting 6:00 pm

October 12th, National School Lunch Week and Columbus Day

October 16th, No School

October 19th, National School Bus Safety Week, Safety in our Schools Week and Digital Citizenship Week.

October 22nd, 5th Grade County Wide Spelling Bee, 7:00 pm (Denton Library)

October 23rd, Trunk or Treat-PTO Event

October 28th, National First Responders Day

October 30th, Early Dismissal

October 30th, DES Character Parade 9:30 am

November 1st, Daylight Savings (Fall Back)

November 2nd, National School Psychology Week

November 3rd, BOE Meeting, 6:00 pm (DES Band/Chorus leads the pledge)

November 3rd, No School for Students

November 6th, PreK Field Trip

November 9th, Stem in Schools Day

November 9th, DES Math Night, 5:00-6:30pm

November 9th-13th, DES Fall Book Fair

November 11th, Veteran's Day

November 12th, DES Parent Visitation Day (more information to come)

November 13th, No School for Students, Parent Teacher Conferences

November 16th-20th, American Education Week

November 17th, Fall Picture Retake Day

November 25th-19th, Fall Break CCPS Closed

It's time! Enrollment is now open for eligible PreK 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

To enroll under COSSA, families are required to submit a new application annually between March 1 and June 1.

The 2026-2027 COSSA application will be available online only. As part of the application process, you must upload current proof of residency. Applications submitted without the required documentation will be denied.

A list of acceptable proof of residency documents is provided within the application.

If a COSSA application is not received by June 1, your child will be expected to return to the school serving your residence for the 2026-2027 school year.

Appeals will not be granted for applications submitted outside of the required timeframe.

Students approved for COSSA are expected to maintain compliance with attendance, behavior, and academic progression requirements as outlined in the application. Specifically, students must

maintain:

Regular attendance (no more than five unlawful absences per semester),

Appropriate behavior (no more than two suspension incidents or a long-term removal), and

Satisfactory academic progression.

Failure to meet these requirements may result in a return to the student’s home school at the next natural break (quarter or semester).

For additional information regarding Change of Student School Assignments and to access the COSSA application, please visit: carolineschools.org/page/student-services#assignment

All COSSA applications will be submitted to Mr. Kirk Howie, Director of Student Services, for review and approval. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Services at 410-479-3253.

We need your immediate support in addressing ongoing safety concerns in our front parking lot during morning bus arrival times.

Recently, we have experienced increased safety issues due to vehicles pulling through the bus lane to drop off students. Please be reminded that the bus lane is designated strictly for buses during arrival times. For the safety of all students and staff, families should not use the bus lane as a drop-off area.

If you plan to walk your child into the building, you must park in a designated parking space. Please do not park behind other vehicles or along curbs, as this creates visibility concerns and unsafe conditions for students exiting buses.

For a quicker and safer option, we encourage you to utilize our designated car-rider drop-off area. Mrs. Amy Barnes can assist you with obtaining a car-rider number, allowing for an efficient drop-off process where staff members are present to supervise and ensure student safety.

Please note: The front parking lot is not the designated car-rider drop-off area, and using it as such is creating increased safety risks during a very busy arrival window.

The safety of our students is our top priority, and we truly need your partnership to ensure arrival procedures are followed consistently. With everyone’s cooperation, we can maintain a safe and smooth start to each school day.

Thank you for your understanding and support in keeping our students safe.

• Walkers and car-riders are required to have a number, so please make sure you still have your assigned numbers or call the school and talk with Mrs. Amy Barnes for assistance. All car-rider and walker numbers MUST be displayed by 9/16, in order to safely pick up your student.
• Please do not get out of your car in the car-rider lane, it is very dangerous for our students and the flow of the car-rider lane. If you need to get out to put your student in the car, please let our car-rider staff know and they will allow you to pull up to do so.

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.

We love having parents volunteer at DES! Please consider completing the volunteer paperwork to help out at events, support students in the cafeteria, read with students etc.

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.

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.

At Denton Elementary School, we know that regular attendance is one of the most important factors in a child's academic success. Every school day provides valuable opportunities for learning, building relationships, and participating in classroom experiences that cannot be fully replicated when a student is absent.

We understand that absences are sometimes unavoidable due to illness or family circumstances. When your child is absent, please be sure to notify the school and provide any required documentation so that our attendance records remain accurate. Keeping the school informed helps us support your child and ensures we can work together to address any concerns that may arise.

We encourage all families to review the district's attendance policy and reach out to our Attendance Secretary with any questions regarding absences, tardiness, or attendance procedures. Our goal is to partner with you to help every student be present, engaged, and successful.

Thank you for making attendance a priority and for your continued support of our students and school community. Together, we can make every day count!

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.

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.

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