Greetings, Colonel Richardson Middle School families!

As we embark on the second semester, let's rekindle the connection between home and school. Your involvement is crucial in fostering a supportive learning environment for our students. I have an expectation that teachers communicate with you about students' progress and behaviors and want parents/guardians to participate equally in that partnership.

Spring assessments are on the horizon, and we want to ensure both parents/guardians and students are well-informed. Stay tuned for detailed information on upcoming assessments, and any resources available to prepare our students for success.

We're thrilled to announce exciting opportunities for career exploration with Junior Achievement (JA). JA is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering students with the skills needed for success in the professional world. Through engaging programs, students will discover their strengths and interests, laying the foundation for a bright future. All grades, 6th-8th, will have field trips to experience JA in February and March.

Get ready for a semester focused on collaboration, growth, and exploration. Stay connected, stay informed, and let's make this semester a success for every student at Colonel Richardson Middle School!

We wish you well,

Dr. Yolanda Holloway, Principal

Each year, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) releases the accountability report card for all schools in the state of Maryland. Designed to measure the success of schools and identify areas for improvement, the report card was developed in response to the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a federal law that seeks to ensure public schools provide a quality education for all children. For complete information, please visit the MD School Report Card page of the CCPS website.

February 12th--7th Grade Junior Achievement Field Trip

February 12th--6th Grade Vaping Assembly

February 19th--No School. Closed for President's Day

February 21st & 22nd- 8th Grade Tours of CCTC programs (field trip)

We are excited to announce that after-school tutoring is being planned for the 2nd semester. Sign up sheets and other forms will be coming out soon. The goal start date for the tutoring program will be February 20th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school for more details. A flyer will be sent out soon, so check our social media and your emails!!

Caroline County Public Schools is happy to announce that nominations for both the 2024-2025 Teacher of Year and the Support Employee of the Year are now open. All members of the CCPS community, including staff, students, families and community are invited to submit nominations.

Nominations for both awards must be submitted no later than February 15, 2024.

Teacher of the Year Nomination Form – Full-time classroom, resource, or media teachers who spend the majority of their time teaching are eligible. Nominees must have completed a minimum of five years of teaching by June 2022 and be tenured. Caroline County’s selection will automatically represent Caroline County in the Maryland Teacher of the Year program.

Support Employee of the Year Nomination Form – Support employees must have completed a minimum of two (2) years of service with the school system as of June 2022 and must be a regular employee. Support employees are: custodial/ maintenance staff, Family Support Services/ child development staff, Food Services staff, Health Services staff, instructional services staff, secretarial staff and technology staff and transportation staff.

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

Parents, there is a superhero in all of us, sometimes we just need help to find a little courage. Let us help you find your courage and be a protector of your children. Parent Coaching is a free resource that connects you with a parenting coach and content created by therapists.Click here to register for support from a coach: https://cookcenter.info/coaching

Service to the community is a vital part of what it means to be a well-rounded student. According to the Maryland State Department of Education's website, "Service-Learning is an instructional strategy that combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. It is a form of civic education that provides students with opportunities to explore and reflect on what it means to be an active, engaged citizen." Students in 6th-12th grades have the opportunity to complete service learning projects in school, as well as earn independent hours outside of school. This Friday, our school will engage in its first service learning project of the year, which is creating cards with well-wishes and messages of goodwill to local area nursing home residents. Students will learn the value of nursing care facilities in our community, and that individual well-being extends just beyond physical health, and requires human connection as well. CRMS is proud to partner with local area agencies to provide service learning projects to our students and we thank Ms. Charlene Sanders, our Community Schools Coordinator, for organizing this project.

If you don’t know the first thing about vaping, this is for you! As vaping continues to impact the lives of today's youth, staying informed is more critical than ever. In the Cook Center’s January Newsletter: Clear Lungs, Bright Futures (English/Spanish), they highlight the latest insights, trends, and essential information about vaping. Discover why it's crucial for parents to be in the know about this pressing issue and how you can safeguard your children's health.

Also be sure to check out the ParentGuidance.org where you can access free resources including courses led by licensed therapists on more than 50 topics like "Parenting with Purpose." To access the course, simply navigate to ParentGuidance.org and click On-Demand Courses.

Good attendance for your student begins on the first day of the school year. Consider the following facts:

• STUDENTS ARE CONSIDERED CHRONICALLY ABSENT WHEN MISSING 10% OF THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR. For example, if a student has been absent 8 days already, he/she is already considered Chronically Absent by the State of Maryland. EXCUSED and UNEXCUSED absences COUNT AS ABSENCES!

• 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.

Colonel Richardson High School SBHC Tuesday & Thursday 7:30am - 5:30pm 410- 754-0750

Colonel Richardson Middle School SBHC Monday & Wednesday 7:30am – 5:30pm 410- 754 -9580

Dr. Yolanda Holloway, Principal holloway.yolanda@ccpsstaff.org

Mr. Neil Lambert, Assistant Principal lambert.eric@ccpsstaff.org

Mrs. Charlene Sanders, Community Schools Coordinator sanders.charlene@ccpsstaff.org

Ms. Jennifer Blunt, School Counselor 8th Grade and 6th Grade blunt.jennifer@ccpsstaff.org

Mr. Jarrod Moaney, School Counselor 8th Grade and 7th Grade moaney.jarrod@ccpsstaff.org

Mrs. Heidi Plutschak, Administrative Secretary plutschak.heidi@ccpsstaff.org

Email: holloway.yolanda@ccpsstaff.org
Website: https://www.colonelrichardsonms.org/
Phone: 410-479-1462