LINTON'S NEWS & NOTES

Email: LSEAttendance@carrollk12.org
Website: https://lse.carrollk12.org
Address: 375 Ronsdale Road, Sykesville, MD, 21784
Phone: 410-751-3280; Fax: 410-751-3285

November

November 3rd: Schools & Offices Closed--Election Day

November 4th: Early Dismissal for Students--Dismissal begins at 12:20 p.m.

November 6th: 5th Grade Field Trip to Maryland Science Center

November 11th: Quarter 1 Report Cards go home; Grades for 3-5 posted to HAC

November 13th: 2nd Grade Field Trip to Maryland Science Center

November 17th: CCPS/CCPL Regional Literacy Night at Eldersburg Library @ 6:30 p.m.

November 18th: LSE PTA General Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. in media center

November 20th: Early Dismissal for Students--Dismissal begins at 12:20 p.m.

November 25th: Early Dismissal for Students--Dismissal begins at 12:20 p.m.

November 26th & 27th: Schools & Offices Closed--Thanksgiving Holiday

December

December 3rd: Parent-Teacher Conferences--Sign Up Link to come soon

December 7th - 11th: LSE Book Fair Preview Week

December 9th: Midterm for Quarter 2: Interims go home for K-2; check grades in HAC for 3-5

December 14th - 18th: LSE Book Fair Buying Week

December 14th: Early Dismissal for Students--Dismissal begins at 12:20 p.m.

December 17th: 3rd Grade Field Trip to Mt. Airy Bowling Lanes

December 23rd: Early Dismissal for Students--Dismissal begins at 12:20 p.m.

December 24th - December 31st: Schools & Offices Closed--Winter Break

For a complete list of early dismissals, holidays and school closures, please use link below:

CCPS 2026-2027 SCHOOL CALENDAR

Carroll County Public Schools recognizes the relationship between good attendance and academic achievement. All students are expected to maintain a regular, daily attendance rate of at least 96 percent. When students are absent, arrive late, or leave school before the scheduled dismissal time, their parents are requested to provide an explanation to the school via a written note, fax, e-mail, or phone call. A parent/legal guardian must provide an explanation of the absence within 5 school days of the student’s return to school or the absence will be coded as unlawful.

Tardiness is treated in a similar manner as lawful or unlawful absences as it can be a serious disruption to a student’s educational progress. Student attendance requirements are described in the Annotated Code of Maryland and Code of Maryland Regulations. These absences are considered lawful and therefore excused with a parent explanation of the absence:

• Death in the immediate family

• Illness of the child

• Court summons

• Observance of a religious holiday

• Suspension.

If your child is absent, please send an email to the school at LSEattendance@carrollk12.org or send a note with your child upon their return to school. The note/email should contain the dates of the absence, reason for the absence, the student’s name and the teacher’s name. If a reason for the absence is not provided, the absence will remain unverified.

It is strongly recommended that parents plan vacations for times when school is not in regular session. It is recognized, however, that occasionally students are absent for necessary or important family activities.

When this occurs, an excused absence may be requested in advance, through the school principal. Advanced requests may be sent to LSEAttendance@carrollk12.org or GlenMessier@carrollk12.org. Even though the absence may be excused, students are required to make up work missed during that time. It must be kept in mind that grades may be affected if students fail to follow through with make-up work. Some school work missed, such as class participation or laboratory experiments, does not lend itself to make-up. Missing such assignments may also affect a student’s grade. Doctor’s notes may be required for absences when excessive or unlawful absences occur.

Supporting Young Children and Families from Birth to Kindergarten

Do you have questions or concerns about your child's development or learning?

The Birth to Kindergarten Program connects Carroll County families with early intervention, evaluations, preschool special education services, and other supports for children from birth through age five.

👶 Birth to Age 3

The Carroll County Infants and Toddlers Program (CCITP) provides early intervention services for eligible children under age 3. Services and evaluations are provided at no cost to families when determining eligibility.

Referral:
📞 410-876-4437
🌐 Online Infant & Toddler Referral

🧒 Ages 3–5

Child Find helps identify children who may be eligible for preschool special education and related services.

If you have concerns about your child's development or learning, you do not need to wait for someone else to recommend a referral.

Referral options:
🌐 Online Child Find Referral
📞 410-876-4437
📧 BirthtoKindergarten@carrollk12.org

🌐 Learn More

Visit the Birth to Kindergarten Program webpage for information about services, supports, referrals, and resources:

Carroll County Public Schools — Birth to Kindergarten Program

Questions?
Birth to Kindergarten Program
📞 410-876-4437
📧 BirthtoKindergarten@carrollk12.org

The Bullying Reporting System or Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form should be used to report alleged incidents of bullying, harassment, or intimidation that occurred during the current school year on school property, at a school-sponsored activity or event off school property, on a school bus, on the way to and/or from school, or through electronic communication on or off school property.

School staff will address incidents that occur at school or have a connection or nexus back to the school setting that create a risk of harm to other students while they are at school or interfere with the educational environment.

If you are a student, the parent/guardian or caregiver of a student, a close adult relative of a student, a school staff member, or a bystander and wish to report an incident of alleged bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation, please complete this form online or print a hard copy of the form and return it to the school principal. You may contact the school for additional information or assistance at any time.

Definitions:
Bullying– unwanted, demeaning behavior among students that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or is highly likely to be repeated, over time. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be intentional and include: 1) An imbalance of power (students who bully use their physical, emotional, social, or academic power to control, exclude, or harm others), and 2) Repetition (bullying behaviors happen more than once or are highly likely to be repeated based on evidence gathered).

Cyberbullying– bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through texting, apps, or online via social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or hurtful content about another student. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation.

Harassment – includes actual or perceived negative actions that offend, ridicule, or demean another student with regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, family/parental or marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, ancestry, physical attributes, socioeconomic status, physical or mental ability, or disability.

Intimidation – any communication or action directed against another student that threatens or induces a sense of fear and/or inferiority. Retaliation may be considered a form of intimidation.

CCPS - Bullying Reporting System

The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Carroll County Public School System are seeking nominations for the annual Outstanding Teacher Awards. The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. You are encouraged to submit your nomination in a timely manner as forms cannot be accepted after the nomination window closes.

Please note that the nomination process is beginning earlier this year. Periodic reminders will be sent prior to the deadline. The nomination form has been updated to enhance the clarity and efficiency of the nomination process.

The Outstanding Teacher Awards recognize the teachers of the Carroll County Public School System who represent excellence in the profession. Any full-time teacher, including specialists and resource teachers, in the Carroll County Public School System is eligible for nomination. Carroll County Teacher of the Year winners are not eligible to be finalists. In addition, school counselors are not eligible for nomination under Maryland State Teacher of the Year eligibility requirements.

Any parent/guardian, student, fellow teacher, supervisor, school administrator, or community member may submit a nomination.

Please click here to access the online nomination form.

Nominators are urged to nominate teacher(s) who exemplify the very best of the education profession and answer three questions explaining why their nominee deserves this recognition. Once the nomination window closes, each nominee will be notified of the nomination and asked to submit a brief biographical form. PLEASE NOTE: Teachers will not be eligible for recognition or able to receive an award if they do not submit or choose not to submit their required form.

The nominated teachers will be recognized during the Chamber’s awards program on Tuesday, March 16, 2027, when eight finalists will be named. These eight teachers will be eligible for the Carroll County Teacher of the Year Award presented by Carroll County Public Schools.

Questions/Concerns:

1. Please contact your child's classroom teacher via phone or email.

2. If your question/concern cannot be resolved by contacting your child's teacher, please contact school administration via phone or email.

For all general inquiries, please email LSEAttendance@carrollk12.org.

Missed a call from school?

Staff will always leave a voicemail when attempting to contact you. Please listen to the message before returning the missed call. Please regularly check to make sure your voicemail box is not full.

School Messenger

CCPS and LSE communicate with families through the School Messenger platform. Parent/Guardian emails and phone numbers assigned to a student will receive email blasts. If you are not receiving any emails, please contact the school's office staff.

For the safety of our students and staff, we kindly ask:

• Students choose one of the following options only, Bus Rider, Car Rider, or on-site/van Daycare ONLY.
• Please avoid late arrivals and early pickups as much as possible to minimize classroom disruptions.

Late Arrivals

Students arriving late must be brought to the front office by a parent and signed in for the day. They will be marked tardy for that day.

Early Dismissals

• Parents must sign any child out as an early dismissal by 2:50 p.m., in order to avoid our bus and parent pick up traffic.
• Any student picked up before 3:05 p.m. will be marked tardy.
• Dismissal notice must be provided to the front office by 1:00 p.m. on the day of dismissal by written note OR email to LSEAttendance@carrollk12.org.
• REMINDER: Photo ID is required to sign out your child. If someone other than parent/guardian is picking up your child, written permission in the form of a note or LSEAttendance@carrollk12.org email is required before we are able to release that student.

Students of Carroll County Public Schools are required to groom themselves in a manner that is not disruptive to the educational process and is reflective of a learning environment. Students are expected to abide by this dress code from their arrival to the school building to the defined ending of the school day as well as at any school-sponsored or school-sanctioned event. The requirements include, but are not limited to:

Head Coverings

• Be removed upon entering the school building, unless approved for medical or religious reasons.
• Certain headbands, scrunchies, and folded bandannas, which are used to hold hair in place and do not cover the entire head, are permitted.
• One's face must be visible at all times.

Shirts

• Shall reasonably cover the back, the cleavage area, and the entire midriff area.
• See-through or mesh shirts are not permitted, unless worn in conjunction with an appropriate top.

Dresses/Shorts/Skirts/Skorts/Pants

• Shall cover the entire buttocks and private areas while the student is sitting, standing, and bending over.
• Pants shall cover undergarments at all times; that is, the waistline of the pants shall be on the upper hips.

Other

• Appropriate shoes shall be worn.
• No bedroom slippers or pajamas shall be worn.
• Clothing that may endanger health or safety, that may be used as a weapon, or that may cause damage to property shall not be worn.
• Undergarments shall not be worn as outerwear or be visible through outer garments.
• Clothing shall not be worn that would lead school officials to reasonably believe that such attire will materially disrupt, interfere with, disturb, or distract from school activities, the safe operation of the school, or the rights of other students to access and participate in a safe and welcoming educational environment.
• Clothing shall not convey advertisements for or promote the use of condoms or other birth control devices, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or the unlawful use of weapons, stated or implied.
• Clothing shall not convey profanity or symbols/messages depicting, implying, or which are reasonably perceived as promoting intolerance, hatred, and/or a hostile educational environment or harassment/bullying on the basis of age, color, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, ancestry or national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, Confederate Battle Flags and swastikas.
• Clothing and accessories should not depict symbols/messages of groups which are generally recognized as promoting intolerance, hatred, and harassment/bullying, such as the Ku Klux Klan or Aryan nation.
• Clothing shall not convey establishments or products whose names can be directly interpreted or construed as carrying a "double meaning" involving sexual innuendo, gang symbols, or sexual activity.
• Body art, whether permanent or temporary, which would otherwise violate this policy if depicted on attire, must be completely covered during the school day or at any school-sponsored or school-sanctioned event.

Violations

All student dress code violations shall be addressed in a respectful manner. When possible, a student's dress code concerns shall be addressed by a staff member of the student's gender identity. A student found wearing inappropriate clothing will be asked to change or remove the item and will be given an opportunity to do so. Should the student not be able to change or remove the item, clothing may be provided by the individual school. Student failure to cooperate will be referred to an administrator. Any student not complying with the direction of an administrator may be considered insubordinate and subject to appropriate disciplinary action. The Superintendent/designee may enforce additional restrictions in order to maintain a safe and orderly environment.

Request for Exceptions

Exceptions to the dress code for the purpose of school spirit activities by clubs or organizations will occur at the discretion of the school administration.

🔢 5 EASY WAYS TO PRACTICE MATH AT HOME- Part 2

You don't need worksheets or flashcards to help your child become a stronger mathematician. Everyday activities provide opportunities to count, compare, estimate, measure, problem-solve, and explain thinking.

🎲 1. Play Math Games

Use dice, playing cards, board games, or dominoes to practice counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and strategy.

Try: “Who has more? How many more?”

🧱 2. Build & Create

Use blocks, LEGOs, or household objects to explore shapes, patterns, measurement, and spatial reasoning.

Try: “Can you build something with four sides? How many different shapes can you make?”

🌳 3. Measure the World

Measure objects around your home or outside using rulers, tape measures, or even nonstandard units.

Try: “How many inches long is the table? Let's estimate first!”

🧺 4. Sort & Organize

Have your child sort laundry, toys, pantry items, or collections by color, size, shape, or another attribute.

Try: “How many different ways could we sort these?”

💭 5. Ask “How Do You Know?”

The best math practice often comes from talking about thinking—not just getting the right answer.

Ask:

• How did you figure that out?
• Can you solve it another way?
• Can you estimate first?
• How do you know your answer makes sense?

⭐ Remember:

Math doesn't have to feel like homework!

A few minutes of meaningful math conversations during everyday activities can help your child develop confidence, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of mathematics.

Look for math. Talk about math. Do math together!

Some of Ms. Dieter's classes are finishing up their ceramic pumpkins. Be on the lookout for this project to come home in November. They might be on display in the school's display case for a few short weeks before making the journey home.

Many of Ms.Crum-Derr's classes are currently trying to solve an artistic problem. They are creating an ImpoSTAR. (imposters) Since we are the Linton Stars, we are taking star shapes and having them masquerade as something other than a star. Bunnies, turtles, famous sports figures and some book and video game characters have been added to their sketch ideas. We anxiously await the final paper collage ImpoSTARS! They are flexing their creative muscle in art class for the month of November.

Younger grades have been doing an artist study on Kusama. They have learned she loved to create pumpkins in sculpture, paintings, and installations. They also learned that she loved polka dots and added them to their pumpkin relief picture. When they have finished up with Kusama they will enter into the fairytale unit where they will use shapes to create a fairytale picture using watercolor relief.

🎃Welcome the fall without welcoming germs! 😷

Fall brings beautiful leaf colors and cooler temperatures. It also brings seasonal allergies and cold viruses, which means runny noses and coughs. We have already started to see several upper respiratory viruses and illnesses at school. It can be hard to navigate when your child has seasonal allergies versus a cold, the flu or COVID.

If your child has seasonal allergies, starting allergy medication in a timely manner will help alleviate some of their symptoms.

COVID symptoms can present like a cold or flu. Have your child tested and if they are positive keep them home to stop the spread of the virus to others.

Flu symptoms occur suddenly and are characterized by chills, fever, body aches, and respiratory symptoms. If you suspect your child has the flu, please keep them at home from school and have them tested by their doctor.

A cold usually has a cough, congestion, and mild muscle aches. Rarely does a cold have a headache and fever.

Review proper handwashing with your child. This is the best way to help prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria. Also review proper coughing/sneezing techniques with your child. Coughing/sneezing into your elbow prevents the spread of germs.

Reminders: Please have your child bring in a seasonally appropriate change of clothes (shirt, pants/shorts, socks and underwear) to have at school. Accidents happen and the nurse’s office does not have extra clothes for students.

Youi can always reach out to Nurse Twigg with any questions at 410-751-3280 or AllisonTwigg@carrollk12.org

Battle of the Books

We are excited to announce that Linton Springs has fifteen Battle of the Books teams for 2026 – 2027 with 108 students participating. This is a record for our school, and we hope to keep the trophy here in our building. Sending out a huge thank-you to all the parents who stepped up to coach and co-coach a team. Looking forward to battle night in April!

Scholastic Book Fair

Be on the lookout for information coming home this month about the Scholastic Book Fair to be held December 14th – December 18th with family night on Thursday, December 17th. There will be opportunities to sign up to help our prekindergarten, kindergarten, first and second graders complete their wish lists and do some shopping.

We’ve had a fantastic start to the school year in music! Kindergarten is exploring songs through movement and beginning iconic representations of beat. First grade has reviewed simple rhythms for duple and triple meter and explored different ways to write those rhythms. Second grade is learning how to read simple songs from written notation using the pitches and rhythms that they know. We have also learned our first tied rhythm! Third grade is has spent some time connecting fractions in math to the rhythms that we know. Fourth and fifth graders are expanding their music vocabulary knowledge while reviewing rhythms and pitches from prior years. They are also making great improvements in their ability to read music through recorder performance. Please continue to remind your 4th and 5th graders to practice their recorders regularly. I am so excited for what the rest of the year holds. Looking ahead, please add our winter orchestra/band and choral concert on your calendar: Wednesday, December 16 at 7pm at Century High School.

Sing-cerely,

Mrs. Ready

Linton Springs has recycled plastics for several years and would now like families to take over the reins. Over the years we have earned two outdoor benches and seed bookmarks. Now it’s your turn to keep the tradition alive at home and in your neighborhood. Here are some ways to involve your family and friends; set a family goal, challenge your neighbors, involve your sports teams, or other organizations. Rather than bringing plastics to school for donation, they can be dropped off at local grocery stores and Walmart as they have receptacles for these materials. Working together, our communities become stronger.

We recognize and respect that whether or not a student has a personally owned portable electronic device is a family decision. Students are not required or expected to bring their own device to school. Students may bring their personally owned devices to schools, as long as they abide by these regulations. Student misuse of his or her device shall result in disciplinary action. Families are expected to work collaboratively with school staff to support the implementation of these regulations. Parents who need to make emergency contact with their child during the school day shall contact the school’s main office.

Students in Elementary School

1. Devices must be silenced and stored (out of sight) upon entry to the school until exit from the school. It is highly recommended that elementary students do not bring personally owned portable electronic devices to school or on the school bus.

2. No portable electronic device shall be used to record, store, or transmit any type of image, sound, or video except for approved instructional activities utilizing CCPS-provided devices with the express permission of school staff.

3. The audible notification sounds and volume of personally owned portable electronic devices shall be silenced or directed through headphones on school buses. It is highly recommended that elementary students do not bring personally owned portable electronic devices to school or on the school bus.

4. Disciplinary action, as outlined in the Carroll County Public Schools student services manual, shall be taken when a student fails to follow the directions of a staff member regarding portable electronic devices or if a preponderance of evidence exists that the student has violated the terms of the acceptable use procedures and guidelines or other school policy.

Below are MSDE Family Guides for Student Success by grade level. The links provide the QR code that takes you to the grade level guides. Each guide provides great ideas for ways families can support at reading at home.

Pre K

K

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

Per the CCPS Parent and Student Handbook, school staff shall implement interventions and consequences for student behavior that interrupts the education process.

At Linton Springs, we approach student discipline through a learning focus. If a student is misbehaving or not following established expectations, they may earn a stop and think or a discipline referral.

Stop & Think

• Can be given by any staff member
• Tool used to reflect with students on behavioral choices that have interrupted the learning environment
• Parents will be notified
• Consequences may include, apology note, time out from a specific activity, change in seating assignment, or parent conference
• If a student continuously receives Stop & Thinks for the same type of behavior, they will receive a referral.

Referrals

• Can be given for a first-time behavior, if behavior is severe
• Can be given by any staff member
• Written and verbal notification to the parent/guardian that a student has required significant support throughout the course of the school day, this may be a teacher or another adult in the building.
• Consequences may include, apology note, time out from a specific activity/classroom, lunch detention, recess detention, referral to the school counselor, or parent conference.

We appreciate your support, understanding, and partnership in helping our students demonstrate their best behavior during the school day.

Permission to Photograph, Videotape, or Audiotape

Throughout the school year, the Carroll County Public School System frequently covers school activities and may use your child’s photograph, video image, or voice for educational, informational, or public relations purposes, with or without identification by name.

If you do not wish to have your child’s voice reproduced on tape or to have his/her image appear in such things as a video or a photograph, or on the school or school system website or social media, please notify the school principal in writing. It is assumed that parents and guardians consent to their children being audiotaped, photographed, videotaped, or having their image placed on a school website or social media by the school system, unless such notification is received.

There are also occasions when the media cover certain school events (such as when a government leader visits a school). If you do not wish to have your child’s name or likeness published by the media, you should address your concerns directly to the school involved so that the media is so advised. Please be advised that the school system has no control over the media when they are covering activities such as sporting events and musical programs that are open to the public.

Use of Student Work on Websites or in Publications

There may be times throughout the year when the Carroll County Public School System wishes to display student work on school websites, social media, or in publications. If you do not wish to have your child’s art, poetry, writing, etc. appear on school websites, social media, or in publications, please notify the school principal in writing. It is assumed that parents and guardians consent to their child’s work being displayed on school websites, social media, or in publications unless such notification is received.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Board of Education of Carroll County does not engage in discrimination that is unlawful or contrary to Maryland State Department of Education guidance on the basis of age, color, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, ancestry or national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

The Board of Education of Carroll County is firmly committed to creating equal employment and educational opportunities for all persons by providing an environment that supports optimal academic achievement and productive work and is free from any form of unlawful discrimination, including access to school facilities, educational programs, and extracurricular activities.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of Human Resources, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410) 751-3070.

NOTICE OF ASBESTOS

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) management plans for all buildings owned or leased by the Board of Education of Carroll County are available for review at the individual Carroll County school locations and at Office of Plant Operations, located at 191 Schaeffer Avenue, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Management plans are required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and depict the location, amount, condition, and response action projected for any asbestos-containing materials, if any are located in the school building.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

It is the policy of the Board of Education of Carroll County that all schools are required to have a moment of silence or meditation for approximately one minute each school day. During this moment of silence, the Carroll County Public Schools shall neither advance nor inhibit silent religious activity. Following the pledge of allegiance to the flag and before the completion of the opening exercise, all students will observe approximately one minute of silence, before continuing with the day’s activities. In exercising his or her individual choice, each person may meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity which does not interfere with, distract, or impede others in the like exercise of their individual choice. The following is a list of inappropriate activities: (1) talking or any audible sounds, and (2) gesturing, using sign language, or writing notes for the purpose of person to person communication. Administrators shall enact appropriate administrative procedures in the event that individuals do not follow the established policy.

ADA ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or the provision of services, programs or activities. Persons needing auxiliary aids and services for communication should contact the Communications Office at 410-751-3020 or publicinfo@carrollk12.org, or write to Carroll County Public Schools, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, may use Relay or 7-1-1. Please contact the school system at least one (1) week in advance of the date the special accommodation is needed.

Information concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act is available from the Director of Facilities Management, (410) 751-3177, or the Communications Officer, (410) 751-3020, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157.