The Seahawk News

📬 Welcome to the Seahawk News – Your Weekly Connection to Sunderland!

The Seahawk News is your go-to source for everything Sunderland Elementary. Delivered every Saturday at 6 PM via text and email, this quick-read newsletter (just 5 minutes!) keeps you informed with:

• 📅 Upcoming events
• 📌 Important reminders
• 🔗 Helpful links
• 🎉 Uplifting school news

This edition of the Seahawk News is your home base for all the info you need as an incoming Seahawk—especially at the start of the year. From supply lists to schedules, we’ve got you covered. An archive of newsletters is kept on our website: The Seahawk News. Be sure to check your inbox weekly for updated information and stay connected!

🎉 A Warm Welcome from Sunderland Elementary!
We’re so excited to welcome you to our vibrant school community—home of the Seahawks! Whether you're new to the area or just beginning your elementary journey, we’re here to support your family every step of the way. At Sunderland, we believe in joyful, inclusive learning where every child can thrive, explore, and build lasting friendships.

📊 Driven by Data, Focused on Growth
Each year, we reflect on our strengths and use data to build the best teams in Calvert County. Our goal? To meet every student’s needs and celebrate their strengths. We’re committed to growing all Seahawks—students, staff, and families—together.

📌 Important Start-of-Year Info

• Peek at Your Seat: All students can drop in to meet their teacher and bring supplies. See flyer below.
• Staggered Start for Pre-K & K: Enjoy 1:1 time with your child’s teacher to ease into the year. See letter below for more details.
• Supply Lists: See flyer below for the Sunderland specific list - a county-wide list is available on the school website.

More details will be shared in our weekly newsletters through the schoolyear. Key info will be repeated to ensure everyone stays in the loop.

📘 Stay Informed
Look out for more on cafeteria updates, technology info, and more in upcoming issues. You can also find helpful resources in the SES Parent Handbook (coming soon).

💙 From Principal Pam Myrick
“Our school mascot, SPIRIT, and the entire staff can’t wait to welcome you to Sunderland. Here’s to a year full of learning, laughter, and Seahawk pride!”

• Pre K and Kindergarten Staggered Start: You will receive an email from your child's teacher to schedule a conference where your child gets to meet the classroom staff and more. Conferences will be held on August 25th and 26th. Half the class, last names A-L, will attend school on August 27th while students with names M-Z do not attend. On August 28th, the M-Z students will attend while the A-L do not. On August 31st, all students attend. This allows our new students to meet others and learn some routines. Your classroom teacher will discuss which staggered start date your child will attend. Please visit this link for more info: Staggered Start Schedule: Head Start, Pre K, Kindergarten
• CCPS Student Code of Conduct: You will receive a folder of information at the beginning of the school year with forms to return to school, including The Statement of Understanding. The Student Code of Conduct will be sent electronically or can be accessed through this link: CCPS Student Code of Conduct. The Statement of Understanding must be completed for all students. It states that you have reviewed the expectations for school and reviewed the Code of Conduct with your child. If you want a paper copy, please email Ms. Patten at pattenl@calvertnet.k12.md.us
• Update on Electronic Devices: If your child has a device (cell phone, tablet, smartwatch) in their backpack, it must be registered with the school via the Elementary Student Cell Phone/Smartwatch Registration Form. It must be turned OFF, not just silenced in school and placed in their backpack. It may not be used during the school day. No pictures should be taken on the bus. Hoods are not permitted to be worn in school. A paper copy of the form to register a device will be sent home the first week of school and should be completed and returned to the teacher.
• CCPS Parent Information: There is a great deal of information on the Parent website: Parent/Guardian Information - Calvert County Public School District (calvertnet.k12.md.us)
• Seat Sacks: Seat Sacks are used for each student to keep their space organized. Online payments for the Seat Sack can be found at our school’s online payment website beginning August 1st: Sunderland Elementary Online School Payments Home. Additionally, all field trips, shirts, events, etc. throughout the year will be paid for through Online School Payments.
• Laptops: All 3rd -5th graders will receive a laptop for school use. Students will be using the device at school. Laptops will not be sent home for use. Homework assignments will not require computer use.
• SES Parent Handbook: A paper copy of the SES Parent Handbook will be sent home the first week of school. Please review it as it contains a great deal of information to help you better understand our school's procedures and routines that support a safe, organized school for all.
• SES Supply List: Please find the supply list for 2026-2027 in the document posted below.

• APPROVED VOLUNTEERS: If you want to attend ANY IN-SCHOOL EVENT such as VIP Day, Career Day, Field Day, field trip chaperones, etc. you will need to be a registered approved volunteer. This is for the safety of all students. Each of the special events that we have during our school day allows you to engage with the students. You are not kept separated, instead, we have interactive activities and will need all adults (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) who plan to attend to be an approved volunteer. Approval can take up to two weeks, so even if you only plan to attend an end-of-the-year event, apply now. Any adult who is not an approved volunteer will be turned away from events.
• The application process takes less than 10 minutes. It is best if you apply using a desktop or laptop computer, not a cell phone. Please watch the training video on the main page before entering the online application AND confirm that you have done so when completing the application questions. You will not be approved if you do not watch the training video. All volunteers must be 21 years or older. Once approved, you will be an active volunteer until June 30, 2027.
• Please register as a VOLUNTEER beginning August 1, 2026. Become a Volunteer - Calvert County Public School District (calvertnet.k12.md.us)

• On the first day of school, our staff will be tagging the student’s backpack to be a bus rider or daily car rider. If your child is only being a car rider due to late registration, please let us know. We will tag them as a daily car rider until a bus is assigned for them. We would then change the tag to a bus tag.
• For Pre K and K families: Please rest assured that we have all hands on deck to make sure students are able to learn their path to their class. Teachers and assistants will be meeting students in the hall to assist them and give them clues to help find their class each day. The students do an amazing job within the first week!
• If you registered after 8/14/26, you may not have an assigned bus. Once transportation sets the route assignments, you will be notified via email.
• Daily Car Riders must complete the following link: SES 2026-2027 Daily Car Rider – Fill out form This information will be used for sign-out. This form is to be completed for those who will be Daily Car Riders only. By listing adults to pick up, you are giving that adult permission to pick up your student only as a car rider at the time of dismissal. If that adult is picking up your student at any other time for other reasons, a note from the parent/guardian must be sent in with the student. We encourage all students to ride the bus.
• Please tell your child that they will NOT have their name called. They are to dismiss when they hear Daily Car Riders are dismissed. This list will be shared with the teachers as well.
• Please have your ID at all times when entering the school to pick up your student. You will need to have your ID out to show the staff, even if we know you!
• Daily Car Rider Procedure: One adult will be expected to come into the cafeteria to sign out their Daily Car Rider student(s). We will open the exterior cafeteria door at 3:50PM (1:50PM on Early Dismissal Days) to allow students to be signed out. Promptly at 4:05PM (2:05PM on Early Dismissal Days), Daily Car Riders will be called to the cafeteria. You and your child will exit. When you sign in, you will be given a card signifying how many students you are picking up. You will turn in your card as you leave the cafeteria. If an adult is not present by 4:05PM (2:05PM on Early Dismissal Days), the student will be sent home on their assigned bus.
• Early Pick-Up: If your child needs to be picked up early due to an appointment, please arrive at the front office before 3:45PM (1:45PM on Early Dismissal Days). Our office staff and duty staff start preparing for Daily Car Riders and bus dismissal at 3:55PM (1:55PM on Early Dismissal Days) We have a 10-minute bus window to dismiss between 600-700 students so we will need to keep our focus on the dismissal process.
• We will permit Non-Daily Car Riders, but we are still not able to accommodate drop-in, surprise car riders. For Non-Daily Car Riders, you MUST send a paper note, NOT AN EMAIL, with your child, EACH day that you plan for them to be a car rider. Please let your child know that they must dismiss with the Daily Car Riders at 4:05PM when announced. We will NOT call individual students down for dismissal. Please do not send a note saying “every Tuesday” instead, send a note every Tuesday. We cannot expect teachers to keep up with all students’ special request schedules. We ask that you send a paper note each day because there could be a sub in the class instead of the teacher.
• Sending in notes for early pick-up, illness, car riders, etc.: Please make sure that all notes sent to the office include the following: Student’s full name, full name of the adult picking up the student, and the date. If someone other than the parent/guardian is picking up a student, please make sure they know to bring their ID.
• Emergency Contacts: Please note that the emergency contact information you provide is used strictly in case of an emergency. Emergency contacts are NOT considered approved pick-up individuals. Only a parent or guardian may pick up a student without prior authorization. Emergency contacts will only be contacted if we are unable to reach a parent/guardian by phone, and they are asked solely to assist in reaching you. Including someone as an emergency contact does not grant them permission to pick up a student. A written note from a parent or guardian must be provided to the school if someone other than a guardian will be picking up a student.