ELC KNOWS

Phone #: 240.776.5804

Fax #: 301.944.1005

Instagram: elc_laplata1

Physical Address:

8730 Mitchell Rd.

Bldg. CL

La Plata, MD 20646

Mailing Address:

5980 Radio Station Rd.

La Plata, MD 20646

Coordinator:

Candice Adam: cvallandingham-adam@ccboe.com

Students enter the building starting @ 9:30am (tardy time: 9:45am)

Students will dismiss @ 4:00pm

We are so excited to be starting our 4th year at the ELC, La Plata and welcoming your child into Pre-K! It is going to be a fantastic year, one that will help your child's educational journey start off moving in an exciting direction. It is SO important to us that we partner closely with you, the family! We have an open door policy, whenever you have questions or concerns to address - please reach out!

All Pre-K students start school on Monday, August 31st. By now you should have an in-take meeting scheduled with your child's teacher to come to the ELC, La Plata. The In-Take Meeting is an opportunity for you and your child to come see the school, the classroom, and sit one-on-one with the staff that will be working with your child this year.

Concurrent Enrollment

The enrollment process can be a frustrating and confusing process, especially when it comes to concurrent enrollment - which is what applies to your child's enrollment. Concurrent enrollment means that your child is enrolled in TWO schools - the ELC, La Plata AND the homeschool. You will continue to get communication all year from your child's homeschool due to the concurrent enrollment. We understand that this is confusing, please reach out with any questions and we would be happy to further explain!

ELC "Knows" Newsletter - STAY INFORMED

This is first ELC "Knows" Parent Edition for the SY 2026 - 2027. This newsletter will be sent out bi-weekly with information for up-coming events, classroom specific updates, lunch/breakfast menus, and other information. There will also be reoccurring information that will remain in the newsletter all year long. This is because Pre-K is constantly receiving new students/families that will need the information from the beginning of the year. So, as we move through the year, the new information will be listed below - that way you do not need to re-read every newsletter from top to bottom. For the first newsletter, please do read it thoroughly!

NEW THIS YEAR - Parent Meeting:

We will have a virtual Parent Meeting every month on topics of your choice! The first meeting is Friday, August 28th @ 3pm. We will talk about ideas to help prepare your child for Pre-K the night before and morning of their first day of school! Please join us! The link will be sent out later this week.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - AUGUST 31st

Please understand that parents will not be permitted to walk students to class on their first day. We have been assisting students with transitioning to Pre-K for awhile and parents coming to the classroom make it harder on the students, yours and others'! Getting students emersed in the daily routine and activities helps them to get past the challenge of saying goodbye to family. In addition to that, it can be confusing and scary for other students to have a lot of new adults and people around. First day pictures are super adorable at the bus stop, on the front step of your house, or by a pretty tree in the neighborhood!

SCHOOL LUNCH

If your child will be eating lunch provided by the school, you can access the payment system at: MySchoolBucks. You can place money on their account using their 6-digit school ID. You can find their ID on your ParentVue.

BUS INFORMATION:

REMEMBER to give our buses some grace during the FIRST week as they get to know the students, families, and the routes. If we anticipate a change in stop times we will send out a message. Otherwise, please plan to be at the stop at least 10 minutes before and after the time that was communicated while the bus settles in!

CAR RIDERS:

Please see procedures outlined below. Families who didn't follow the procedures caused car accidents last year - to be as proactive, and safe, as possible please follow the procedures.

Helpful links:

MySchoolBucks: To put $$ on your child's lunch account

Charles County Public Schools - School Nutrition And Fitness: Free & Reduced Meal Application

In this Newsletter, you will find:

Link to Supply List

Calendar of Events

Breakfast Menu

Lunch Menu

Classroom Info Sections

Link to Parent Handbook

Hear a message from CCPS, access School Supply Lists and much more!

Questions about the bus? Visit this website to find out bus information, fill out a Help Desk Ticket, and more! 👉 Transportation | Charles County Public Schools

Car rider tags are how we know which student to place in which car. Your child's backpack is tagged with the same number on your car tag. Any person who has your car rider tag can pick up your child without being IDed. Anyone who shows up to pick up a child without a car rider tag WILL be IDed, whether we know them or not. This is not to be difficult - it is for the safety of YOUR child and to make sure that we are always dismissing your child to who they are supposed to be dismissed to. Please also relay our procedures to anyone who is picking up your child so that they are aware. We move through our car rider line in 15 minutes or less, please be patient and stay in line.

Car Rider Line Procedures

~ Pull into Parking Lot #2 using first entrance.

~ Proceed to back of parking lot and follow the long side of parking lot along the trees to join the car rider line.

~ Staff will pull cars up 5 or 6 at a time to pull in front of the building.

~ Once you are parked along the sidewalk, staff will help student out of the vehicle and escort them to class.

~ For DISMISSAL: staff will escort the student to the car, but the parent/guardian must buckle the child in (staff are not permitted to do this).

* We are required to unload/load buses before cars. Staff will intermingle cars and buses to keep arrival/dismissal moving. Please make sure to follow staff guidance.

August Events

August 24th: K - 12th grade Students Return

Week of August 24th: In-Take Meetings - Is Your Scheduled?

31st: PRE-K FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

September Events

7th: Labor Day - School Closed

18th: FAIR DAY - No School for Students!

24th: 2 Hour Early Dismissal (Students dismiss at 2pm!)

25th: Virtual Parent Meeting

28th: Interims Post (K-12th)

30th: Open House (6:00 - 7:30pm)

October Events

Week of 5th: Practice Bus Evacuations

15th: Dental Screenings

16th: Fall Festival Rotations - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

21st: UNITY DAY - Wear Orange to Unite Against Bullying

23rd: Virtual Parent Meeting

28th: Q2 Begins

29th: Fall Picture Day

30th: 2 Hour Early Dismissal (Dismiss @ 2pm) / Book Character Parade

November Events

1st: Daylight Savings - Turn Your Clocks BACK

3rd: No School - Election Day

6th: No School for Students - Parent/Teacher Conference Day

9th: Report Cards Post (K-12th)

11th: Veterans Day - Schools Closed

12th: Sampling of Family Traditions (6pm - 7:30pm)

13th: World Kindness Day

19th: 2 Hour Early Dismissal (Dismiss @ 2pm)

20th: Virtual Parent Meeting

25th - 27th: School Closed / Thanksgiving Holiday

December Events

2nd: National Special Education Day!

3rd: 2 Hour Early Dismissal (Dismiss @ 2pm)

7th: Interims Post (K-12th)

10th: Academic Night (6:00 - 7:30pm)

21st - Jan. 1st: No School - Winter Break

Mrs. DiPietro

Mrs. Imes

Mrs. Willis

Ms. Fowler

Mrs. Oliver

Mrs. Payton

Mrs. Dowtin

Ms. Boling

Mrs. Rybarczyk

Mrs. Chang

Ms. Dozier

Ms. Burroughs

Mrs. Garner

Mrs. McGuire

Mrs. Foard

Mrs. Wedding

Mrs. Keys

Mrs. Morales

Mrs. Biehl

Mrs. Moore

* changes from copy provided in parent folder

Staff have tagged your child's backpack with a tag for what their daily dismissal will be - please do NOT remove the tag. If the tag comes off, please communicate with your child's teacher so that we can replace it. It helps us to ensure that we are getting our students home safely and in the manner you have communicated!

Each and every time that you come to the ELC, bring your photo ID. In order to enter the building and/or pick-up your child, you MUST have an ID. Pictures of an ID on your phone DO NOT COUNT! Please also let others who you may be counting on to pick up your child that this will be required. While this may on occasion be inconvenient - it is for the safety of the staff and students - including yours!

If your child's dismissal needs to be changed from its daily routine, please email your child's teacher and the school secretary, Ms. Brindle, at nbrindle@ccboe.com. We cannot accept changes in dismissal over the phone - it MUST be in writing! This helps to ensure that your child gets home safely in the midst of a change!

When your child is absent/tardy/leaves early, please send an email/note to the school secretary, Ms. Brindle, at nbrindle@ccboe.com. This note will have the absence documented with the appropriate absence code.

Hello! I have been working for Charles County Public Schools since 2007.I have worked at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School and PISOTA. I like to drink sweet tea and my favorite treat is cinnamon rolls. I enjoy talking with students and seeing what is on their mind, and I believe that kids are just special. I spend my spare time with my two sons and three grandsons.

Hello, I have been working for Charles County Public Schools since December 2018. While working for CCPS I have worked at various schools in the county such as Gale-Bailey, North Point, St. Charles, Wade, Malcolm, Neal, Mt. Hope, Gwynn Center, Brown, and Davis before eventually settling here at the ELC. In the rarity that I have free time, I am an avid reader of fiction, a writer, and poet.

Hi! I will be supporting the staff and students at the ELC. I have been teaching in Charles County for 18 years. I most recently was a Kindergarten teacher at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary. I am excited to watch your children grow and learn this year! I have a loving husband and two amazing middle school daughters. I love the beach, reading, and chocolate.

HI! I have been a Nurse for 16 years. I have one son in elementary school. I enjoy nature, relaxing on the porch, and I run on coffee!

Greetings! I came on board with CCPS in March 2025 as a Computer Analyst. I have been in the IT field in various capacities for over 30 years, working with the Department of Defense, Department of Treasury, and commercial banking industries. I am a retired veteran having served in the U.S. Air Force in many worldwide locations. My wife, April, and I have two children, Andre (son) and Adrienne (daughter), and one granddaughter, Maridienne (age 5). I enjoy history, reading, relaxing travel and an interest in board gaming (an old interest being renewed)!

I started as a volunteer for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) sometime around 2004 when my three children were enrolled in the school system. Since January 2006, I have worked in the Food Services department of CCPS in various capacities to include a Food Service Worker, Assistant Food & Nutrition Manager, and more recently, served as the Food & Nutrition Manager at a Charles County elementary school. I look forward to serving as the Food & Nutrition Manager at the Early Learning Center. I have three adult children and three grandchildren.

Hi! I’m Alexis Mocco (think “taco” with an M 🌮). I’m Southern Maryland born and raised and am excited to join Charles County Public Schools as an IEP Facilitator! I have 15 years of experience in special education and love helping students, families, and school teams work together. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, bargain hunting, and probably buying more snacks than any one person needs. I love to laugh, don’t take myself too seriously, and am always happy to help—especially if you need a snack! 😊

Hello, I've been working with Charles County Public Schools since January 2002. During that time, I have taught in classrooms with grades Pre-K through 5th grade. This time has included teaching science, being an instructional coach and an assistant principal. I have 2 children, Jacob (23) and Jackson (15). I enjoy hiking, fishing, and spending time with my family.

Hello! I have been working for Charles County Public Schools since January 2009. I have taught in classrooms from 1st through 6th grade in CCPS. I also taught 6th grade Math and Science in the state of California straight out of college. My husband, Nick, and I have 3 kiddos, 1 boy (Jamison) and 2 girls (Dawsynne & Ellyette). I enjoy reading, hiking, and love coffee and chocolate!