Calvert Elementary School

Hello CES Families!

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! We had a great first week and today has been another great day at CES. I am Dr. Christy Harris, CES Principal. I am excited to serve my fifth year as the principal of CES and my 23rd year as an administrator in CCPS.

We expect to have a great year and continue to increase our academic performance, increase attendance, and maintain our amazing school culture. Check out some of our end of year accomplishments below. You can also access our MCAP results at https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/ . We continue to perform above the state average and in many cases above the CCPS average.

We are here to serve you. If there's anything you need assistance with or have questions,

please call the school at 443-550-9550 or or email our front office staff Mrs. Polko polkos@calvertnet.k12.md.us, Mrs. Gray at grayca@calvertnet.k12.md.us or Dr. Harris at harrisc@calvertnet.k12.md.us.

Other support staff at CES- Ms. Casey Buffenbarger, school counselor, is available as a support to all students. Her email is buffenbargerc@calvertnet.k12.md.us. Our social worker Dr. Holly Briscoe who can be reached at briscoeh@calvertnet.k12.md.us.

SRO - Our School Resource Officer (SRO) is Tyler Bowen. We are so glad to have Officer Bowen joining us at CES. He will be a daily support as he is assigned to CES and CCS. Officer Bowen's email is bowent@calvertnet.k12.md.us.

CES Judy Center supports birth to five in our school district.

The CES Judy Center is available to support families in the CES school district with children birth to five, including our PreK and K students. Our new Judy Center Coordinator is Elaina Sherwood-Lopez (sherwoodlopeze@calvertnet.k12.md.us and our new Family Service Worker is Natasha Cole-Spells (colespellsn@calvertnet.k12.md.us).

Dismissal- Afternoon dismissal is 3:30 – 3:40. Students will be dismissed to parents outside. Parents will be directed by staff to drive through the Kiss and Go circle counter-clockwise and follow the traffic back toward the cafeteria entrance. Cars will be grouped alternately in two lines facing the exit. Please be patient and stay in the traffic line. Avoid backing up or driving around other cars as this presents a safety issue. It can be a little slow getting the PreK and K students into this routine at the beginning of the year.

We are looking forward to an amazing school year. Thank you in advance for your support and partnership this year!

Dr. Harris, Principal

My name is Erik Holm, and I am excited to join Calvert Elementary School as your Assistant Principal. Over the past two weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet many of our wonderful students, staff, and families, and I am truly grateful for the warm welcome I have received. I am honored to become part of the Calvert Eagle community.

I have been an educator, both as a teacher and school leader for twenty-seven years. For the past six years, I served as Dean of Students at Plum Point Middle School, where I developed a deep appreciation for the importance of strong relationships, student growth, and family partnerships. In my new role, I look forward to supporting our students, staff, and families while helping create a positive, safe, and engaging learning environment for all.

I am excited to partner with our school community and look forward to getting to know you throughout the year.

Go Eagles!

The CES Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) calendar was sent home on blue paper and is snipped below.

Sept. dates:

Sept. 2- PTO Meeting 4:00pm

Sept. 7- No school /Labor Day

Sept. 16- 2 hour early dismissal for students

Sept. 24 - Fall picture day

Open House/ Back to School Nights- 5:30 – 6:30

Sept. 22 - Grades 1, 2

Sept. 23 Grades 3, 4, 5

Sept. 23 Band & Strings Open House (gr. 4 & 5) at 5:00pm in cafeteria

We want to keep you updated. Check out updates on CES and read the newsletters.

· CES Website: visit the CES site at https://ces.calvertnet.k12.md.us/

· CES PTO Facebook: CES Families at CES Families | Facebook

· CES Facebook: Calvert Elementary School Facebook can be accessed on our website as well as https://www.facebook.com/CalvertElementarySchoolCCPS/

Another resource for CES Families is our parent handbook.

Parent Handbook SY27.docx

Districtwide Community Emails – Make Sure You’re in the Know!

• Community members (non-guardian and non-staff) who would like to receive districtwide email messages may contact Christy Mullins mullinsc@calvertnet.k12.md.us and provide their name and email address to be added to the distribution list.
• Guardians and Employees - Calvert County Public School District
• Guardians - Calvert County Public School District (non-employees)

CCPS Grading Procedures Guides for Families

This document has been created for CCPS families to provide guidance regarding our grading procedures.

Elementary School Grading Procedures Guide for Families .pdf

REPEAT: Info. below in this section was included in previous newsletter. Repeated for benefit of new families.

Attendance Information: CES wants all students to be in attendance all day, every day, unless they are sick or are out for another lawful reason. For students to maximize their learning and progress they need to be in school.

Here is some essential information regarding attendance in alignment with CCPS Attendance Policy #3005:

· A note is necessary upon a return from absence. Notes must include your child’s name, the date(s) of absence, the reason for absence, and a parent/guardian’s handwritten signature. An email will be accepted as an attendance note if coming from the parent’s email and is signed by the parent.

· Absence notes must be provided within 3 days of the student’s return.

· Please notify teachers via phone, email, class Dojo, etc. when students will be out, when possible.

· After 14 days of combined absences, notes from medical, dental, and mental health providers may be required.

· A note is also required for partial day absences. “Fill in the blank” notes, for absences, are available in the front office. Signing In/Out in the front office is not used to make a partial day absence lawful.

· Family vacations are not recognized as legal absences.

· Students should complete and submit any missed work in a timely manner.

· More information about attendance can be found in the Calvert County Public Schools Students’ Rights, Responsibilities and Code of Conduct.

CCPS Transportation Information Transportation information may be found in your student’s Home Access Center (HAC) data; bus #, bus stop location and approximate bus stop times.

• Bus stop information is based on guardian’s home school. Please contact your child’s school to make any corrections to the student database.

• Sign up for the “Here Comes the Bus” (HCTB) website and app to find the most current bus stop information for your student. Here is how to get started: o Download “Here Comes the Bus” (link below)by Synovia Solutions, LLC from your app store or visit www.herecomesthebus.com. (Follow the steps to set up your account. (You will need to know your child’s Student ID#.) Our district code is 87557.

Especially on the first day of school, we ask that students ride the school bus they are assigned. As students arrive by bus, we will greet them and tag their backpack with their bus number to make sure they know which bus to ride home at the end of the day. As a reminder, there will be no “guest riders” permitted again this year.

All students must self-assess their health before leaving home each day. When children are symptomatic of illness, they should stay home for appropriate care.

School Supply Lists can be found on the CES website at: Home - Calvert Elementary (calvertnet.k12.md.us) > About us > Our Parents> Supply Lists (scroll to bottom).

Medications occasionally must be administered to students by our school nurse, Nurse Lauren Gaylord. According to Maryland state guidelines, any medications – including over the counter medications – must have a “Physician’s Authorization Form” on file in the health room before they can be administered at school. They must be in the original container and have the child’s name on the bottle. Medications must be brought to school by the parent or guardian. You may bring medications to school during “Meet and Greet".

Our instructional school day is from 8:45 to 3:30. Car riders and buses begin arriving at 8:35 and all buses will be here by 8:45 am. Announcements will begin on WCES at 8:45. Students who arrive after 8:45 are considered tardy and MUST be signed in by the parent/guardian in the school office. Students may not be dropped off before 8:35am.

Dismissal- Afternoon dismissal is 3:30 – 3:40. Students will be dismissed to parents outside. Parents will remain in vehicles and will be greeted by a staff member to sign out your student(s). Please be prepared to show ID to staff upon arrival. If someone other than the parents or guardians will be picking up students, the school must be notified in writing of this change by 3:00 pm the same day. Parents will be directed by staff to drive through the Kiss and Go circle counter-clockwise and follow the traffic back toward the cafeteria entrance. Cars will be grouped alternately in two lines facing the exit. The car tag needs to be displayed where staff can see it, this helps speed up the dismissal process while we call students. Students will be called to the cars in order of arrival so that traffic flows through the parking lot. We cannot allow parents to park in the spaces.

Daily Car Riders: Parents who will be picking up daily will be asked to complete an “Everyday Car Rider” form. We will be piloting a digital daily car-rider checkout through our Raptor safety system a few weeks into the school year. More information will be forthcoming.

School Security measures have been put into place for the safety of all students and staff. All outside doors will always be locked. Visitors and parents coming into the building will need to ring the doorbell outside the main entrance of the school. The office staff will grant them access into the building by “buzzing” them into the school where they can sign in at the office once they have stated the purpose for their visit. Please do not allow anyone else into the building should they arrive at the same time as you.

CES School Resource Officer (SRO) We expect to have an SRO at CES daily. Officer Jay Johnson will not be assigned to CES this year. We will miss him and wish him luck at Mutual Elementary. I will update you once we are assigned our SRO.

CCPS COVID-19 Guidance To promote a healthy school environment, screening for symptoms of infectious illness such as COVID, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and gastrointestinal infections prior to coming to school continues to be the best way to prevent spread of communicable illness in the school setting. Students, staff, and visitors should not enter if they are experiencing symptoms related to infectious illness.

Calvert County Public Schools is currently mask-optional, except in situations of COVID illness or exposure. Visit the CCPS website for the latest guidance.

Code of Conduct As a reminder, the CCPS Code of Student Conduct outlines rules and regulations for CCPS schools relating to behavioral expectations, discipline, dress code, rules on electronic and communication devices, etc. Please read the Code of Conduct.

School Meals School meal prices for the 26-27 school year have increased. CCPS will continue to use the online payment service, “LINQ Connect” for school cafeteria payments and purchase monitoring. There is no fee to sign up for an account, view purchases, monitor balances, set spending limits or to transfer funds between sibling accounts. Families can set up a LINQ Connect account to view their starting balance for the school year.

Meal Prices:

Breakfast $1.85, Elementary Lunch $3.00, Milk $.65

For additional information, please visit the CCPS website >Quicklinks > School Meal Information.

Students may qualify for free or reduced price meals if their household meets federal income guidelines or if they are in certain catergories (e.g., SNAP/TCA recipients, foster children, homeless, migrant, WIC participants, Medicaid-matched).

Technology devices: Students in grades 3-5 will be issued a device upon their return which will be kept at school.

Volunteer: CES appreciates our volunteers. Update your application! All volunteers in the Raptor system for last school year have expired. Volunteers should have received an email from Raptor detailing that the volunteer process resets every year and that volunteers are required to complete a 2026-2027 CCPS Application found on the CCPS Website- Become a Volunteer. All volunteers will need to review the volunteer handbook and watch the volunteer training video before completing the Online Volunteer Application. Volunteers must be approved and vetted before they can begin service as a volunteer in any school building or be a chaperone on field trips.

Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS): Calvert Elementary is a PBIS school. We focus on positive behavior interventions and supports. Our expectations are the 3 Rs: Respectful, Responsible and Ready to Learn. Expectations and procedures are explicitly taught at CES and positive behavior is encouraged. Students regularly earn Eagle Bucks for demonstrating the 3 Rs which they spend at the CES Eagle Bucks Store.

Boys and Girls Club- Afterschool at CES (Tues., Wed, Thur.). Open to students in Grades 1 – 5. Thanks to a grant that originated by former Senator Jackson, this opportunity for CES students is being offered for only $30 for the year. CES has limited scholarships available for interested students in need of financial support. Contact the CES front office at 443-550-9550 if you are in need of a scholarship. Registration link: https://bgcsouthernmd.my.site.com/portal/s/memberships

CES was designated in May 2025 as a Purple Star School. This will be our first school year as a Purple Star School and we hope to grow our connections with our military families. If you are military connected and new to CES please reach out to CES Purple Star liaison, Mrs. Heather Ferguson, fergusonh@calvertnet.k12.md.us or our school counselor, Ms. Casey Buffenbarger, buffenbargerc@calvertnet.k12.md.us.

Nondiscrimination Statement

Calvert County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, or any other characteristic protected by law in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth programs.

Calvert County Public Schools does not refuse enrollment of a prospective student, expel a current student, or withhold privileges from a current student, or prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student because of an individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Calvert County Public Schools does not discipline, invoke a penalty against, or take any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the program or school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ø Director of Student Services

Ø Director of Human Resources
443-550-8000

For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.