Family Update

This week, we are excited to celebrate our nation's history, civics, and future with a district-wide Spirit Week honoring America’s 250th anniversary and Constitution and Citizenship Day! We encourage all students, staff, and families to join in the fun as we mark this special occasion together. Be sure to check out the graphic below for details on each day's theme!

**PLEASE NOTE: As we begin a full-week of spirit days, please remember that participation is completely optional!

We are reaching out to ask for your help—currently, we have about 40% of our families who have completed the annual contact information update. Having accurate details on file is crucial so we can reach you with emergency alerts, school news, and important updates.

If you have not done so yet, please complete the brief update by following these steps:

1. Locate the Email: Search your inbox for an email sent the week of August 24th containing instructions to log into or create a PowerSchool Enrollment account.

2. Update Your Details: Log in to review and submit your family's current contact information.

Note: If your child is brand new to CCPS this school year or transferred between CCPS schools over the summer, you do not need to take action. Your information was recently collected.

Thank you to everyone who has already submitted their updates, and thank you all for helping us keep our school community connected!

Volunteers are needed to support our first House Color Run/Walk! Please reach out to Mrs. Tahiya James, School Counselor, at tecooper@ccps.org, if you are able to help!

We are making progress with the timeliness of our car rider loop! Please remember the following in order for a safe and smooth drop-off / pick-up:

• Arrival begins at 8:45. Students should remain in cars until the bell rings and adults are present.
• When possible, students should sit on the right side of the car. This allows for staff to open doors and welcome students onto the sidewalk as walking between cars can be unsafe.
• Car rider tags should be visible to staff- hanging from the front mirror is best! If you do not have a car rider tag or need additional tags for additional drivers, please email Bill Clouser at wlclouser@ccps.org.
• Please pull all the way up, unless directed by a staff member. This allows us to load and unload students quickly.
• Please do not pass other cars unless directed by staff. This allows for everyone's safety.
• Family members are asked to remain in cars and staff will assist with students.

We have a large amount of students who are car riders and working together will allow us to remain safe and swift!

The new school year is officially here, and our readers are ready for fresh stories, bigger vocabularies, and exciting discoveries! We are thrilled to partner with you to help your child grow a lifelong love of reading.

Try some of these strategies to support literacy at home:

• The "Book & Snack" Routine: Pair afternoon snack time or bedtime with a read-aloud. Even older elementary kids love listening to a chapter book while they unwind!

• “Talk Back to the Book”: Ask 3 questions after reading, like

• What surprised you?

• What made you laugh or feel upset?

• What do you predict will happen next?

Free Literacy Resources for Your Home

• Local Library Card Sign-Up: Cecil County Public Library offers free library cards for ALL students & free access to thousands of audiobooks and e-books right from your phone or tablet. Here is how you can access the CCPL website:

• Go to https://www.cecil.ebranch.info/

• Select My Account

• Log in. Instructions for using your virtual library card are below.

• From there, you can choose an e-book or audiobook in their digital library. Hoopla and the Libby app are both options for connecting to the digital library texts and can be downloaded for free to your phone, tablet, or other device.

The Holly Hall Judy Center Early Learning Hub supports families with children age birth through five, not yet enrolled in school within the Holly Hall Elementary School attendance area. We offer free programming including weekly family/child playgroups, monthly workshops and family engagement events. Additionally, we can connect families to resources including but not limited to food, shelter, medical insurance and more!

Do you have a child birth through age five and not yet enrolled in school? We would love to have you join our weekly playgroups. Our playgroups are one hour long with 45 minute intentional play and a 15 minute group activity. We always end with bubbles!

Please reach out to our Judy Center Staff for more information.

Alexis Gunston, Family Service Coordinator

agunston@ccps.org

Jenna McGowan, Site-Based Coordinator

jlmcgowan@ccps.org

Follow us on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/ceciljudycenterhollyhall/

Check out the September Cecil County Connections Newsletter to discover free support, services, and resources available to all county families! This month’s edition highlights a variety of helpful programs designed to support our students and caregivers both inside and outside the classroom. Thanks to funding from the Maryland Consortium on Consolidated Community Supports, these services are available to ALL families completely free of charge, regardless of income or ability to pay. Take a moment to explore the link today to see how these wonderful community resources can benefit your family and help your student arrive at school on time, every day and ready to learn!