CES Judy Center Newsletter

Calvert Elementary School

1450 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

443-550-8077

Collaboration and partnerships with the community lie at the heart of Maryland's Judy Center Early Learning Hubs. Judy Centers are not childcare centers but a comprehensive hub where families can participate in family learning experiences and receive services and support. In Title I and high-needs elementary schools in every Maryland jurisdiction, Judy Centers empower a child's first teachers - their families - by supporting child development and early learning skills for our youngest learners from birth to kindergarten.

Just a friendly reminder that all families must sign in on Raptor in the school's main office before attending any Judy Center groups. This is a CCPS safety requirement. Thank you for your understanding!

For the safety of every child, family, and staff member, all parents, caregivers, and visitors are required to take a few minutes to sign in through the Raptor Visitor Management System in the CES front office whenever they come to playgroups at the Judy Center. This is a Calvert County Public Schools requirement.

Why Do I Need to Sign In?

Signing in helps the school to:

• Know who is in our building. Raptor maintains a visitor record so staff can identify who is on campus and the purpose of the visit. [raptortech.com]
• Keep children safe. The system provides identity verification and can screen visitors against safety databases established for visitor management. [raptortech.com]
• Respond effectively during emergencies. Accurate visitor records help school personnel account for people who are in the building during an emergency, evacuation, or reunification situation.
• Provide consistent school security. Requiring everyone to follow the same check-in procedure helps ensure that visitors are properly identified and authorized to be in the building.
• Protect our entire school community. Signing in may take an extra moment, but it adds an important layer of safety for our children, families, visitors, and staff.

Because the Judy Center is located within the school, parents, caregivers, and visitors participating in Judy Center activities must follow the school's visitor safety procedures. Please sign in through the Raptor system when entering the building, even if you are a familiar face or visit the Judy Center regularly.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, welcoming, and secure environment for every child and family.

Hello Judy Center families! Recently, some issues with families receiving our newsletter have been brought to our attention. To ensure you are receiving the newsletter, please be sure to adjust your spam settings to include emails from the following email addresses:

Elaina Sherwood-Lopez - sherwoodlopeze@calvertnet.k12.md.us

Christina Herrick - herrickc@calvertnet.k12.md.us

We hope that this will resolve the issue with our emails being delivered to spam boxes.

Friendsgiving with the Judy Centers

November 19, 2026
5:30-7:30pm

St. Leonard Elementary School Cafeteria

Join the CES, PAC, and SLES Judy Centers for a fun night of food and activities celebrating Friendsgiving! The SLES Judy Center will be hosting us all in the St. Leonard Elementary School cafeteria.

Registration is required. Register here: CES Judy Center Friendsgiving! November 19, 2026 5:30pm - 7:30pm SLES Cafeteria – Fill out form

November's activity kits will be about Thanksgiving. If you would like to participate, please register at the link below!

Registration required. Register here: November Activity Kits – Fill out form

Harvest Party

Thursday, November 12, 2026
1pm - 2pm

Join us for a garden harvesting party! We will be harvesting our garden's veggies and making something delicious with them.

Registration required. Register here: Harvest Party Thursday, November 12, 2026 1pm - 2pm – Fill out form

Adventures at the Firehouse with HIPPY/Healthy Families/PAT

November 12, 2026
10-11am

We are joining HIPPY/Healthy Families/PAT on a visit to the Prince Frederick Firehouse. Families are invited to meet us there to explore the firehouse with our local firefighters.

PFVFD 450 Solomons Island Rd Prince Frederick MD
Space is very limited!

Registration required. Register here: Adventures at the Firehouse with HIPPY/Healthy Families/PAT November 12, 2026 10-11am – Fill out form

Wednesday November 18, 2026
5:30 - 6:30pm

TEAMS online

Join us for Meals with Mayea, a fun and interactive virtual cooking class designed for families! Together, we'll explore simple, delicious, and healthy recipes that everyone can enjoy making at home. Mayea will guide you step-by-step through each dish, sharing cooking tips, tricks, and ways to get kids excited about helping in the kitchen.

This month's recipe is Butternut Squash Mac-n-Cheese!

The CES Judy Center will provide ingredients to confirmed registrants. Ingredients will be available for pick up at the Judy Center prior to the event. Once your registration has been confirmed by a Judy Center staff member, you will be sent a link to join online and details regarding ingredient pickup times and dates.

Registration is required. Register here: Meals with Mayea November 18, 2026 5:30 - 6:30pm Virtual TEAMS – Fill out form

Tiny Tots (Baby Eagles)

10am - 10:45am

CES Judy Center trailer

* All playgroups will be held at 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM

🚩 Registration is required to attend

Tuesday November 10, 2026 at 10am: Tiny Tots (Baby Eagles) Tues November 10, 2026 10-10:45AM – Fill out form

Tuesday November 17, 2026 at 10am: Tiny Tots (Baby Eagles) Tues November 17, 2026 10-10:45AM – Fill out form

Tuesday November 24, 2026 at 10am: Tiny Tots (Baby Eagles) Tues November 24, 2026 10-10:45AM – Fill out form

Cruisers (Flying Eagles)

11am - Noon

CES Judy Center trailer

* Playgroup is open to children 18 months through age 2 1/2
* Space is very limited, and registration is required.

* If you are unable to attend, please contact us as soon as possible so that we may offer your spot to a family on our waiting list.

🚩 Registration is required to attend.

Tuesday November 10, 2026 at 11:00am: Cruisers (Flying Eagles) Tues November 10, 2026 11 AM - Noon CES Judy Center Trailer – Fill out form

Tuesday November 17, 2026 at 11:00am: Cruisers (Flying Eagles) Tues November 17, 2026 11 AM - Noon CES Judy Center Trailer – Fill out form

Tuesday November 24, 2026 at 11:00am: Cruisers (Flying Eagles) Tues November 24, 2026 11 AM - Noon CES Judy Center Trailer – Fill out form

We welcome you to our playgroup with Kids Art Skool!

Art is fun for all ages! Join us as we explore art in different ways by using a variety of materials and mediums to get the kid’s creativity flowing! Each month will be a different art adventure chosen specifically to aid in your child's physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. Dress for a mess!
This playgroup is combining Baby and Kids Art.

November 23, 2026

10am - 11am

CES Judy Center trailer

🚩 Registration is required to attend. To register, please click here: Kids Art Skool Kids & Baby Art Mon November 23, 2026 10AM - 11am – Fill out form

Join the Judy Center and Garrett Music Academy for a musical playgroup. Miss Krista of Garrett Music Academy will lead this musical playgroup. Come read a book, make some friends, make music and have a blast! Through the use of hand instruments such as shaker eggs as well as using the body like an instrument, to produce rhythmic sounds. This playgroup will help your child build language skills, increase their IQ, support music skills, improve social skills, while learning rhythm and other musical concepts, develops their auditory discrimination, builds fine motor and gross motor coordination, develops body awareness, builds social skills as they work together to create musical sounds and improve attention space and focus.

November 16, 2026

10am - 11am

CES Judy Center Trailer

🚩 Registration is required to attend. To register, please click here: Garrett Music Academy November 16, 2026 10AM - 10:45AM CES Judy Center Trailer – Fill out form

Mindfulness & Me

(Mindful Moms)

November 5, 2026

Time: 10:00am - 11:30am

🚩Location: PAC Judy Center in the Appeal Elementary School building

11655 H. G. Truman Rd. Lusby

A 90 min interactive support group to learn the benefits of mindful parenting, deep breathing, journaling, how to handle tough moments with a clear mind, and so much more.

Mindfulness & Me and Crystal Hall are such a loved resource that we are now opening it up to our Calvert and St. Leonard Judy Center families!

Children are welcome and will participate in fun activities and play next door in the PAC Judy Center playroom.

Registration is required. Please register here: Mindfulness & Me (Mindful Moms) 10:00am - 11:30am PAC Judy Center – Fill out form

🚩Just a reminder that the Judy Center follows all CCPS closures and delays 🚩

CCPS, the Judy Center and the Diaper Bank will be closed on the following date(s):

November 3 - Election Day

November 11

November 25 - 27- Thanksgiving Break

Parents can enter the Healthy Families program prenatally or before a baby is three months old. Family Support Workers partner with parents to help build a nurturing relationship between parent and child, provide information on how children develop, and suggest ideas for activities for parents to engage with their child. Services are provided where it is most convenient for the participant – usually at home.

Healthy Families Participants receive:

• Connection to needed services such as help with food, housing, medical, education and training so that parents can focus on themselves and their children.
• Information on how children develop and learn.
• Materials and ideas for activities to do with children to strengthen the bond between parent and child.
• Knowledge and skills to help parents prepare children for success in school.
• Support for parents with children up to age 5.

Home Instruction of Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)

Support through Healthy Families can continue until a child is age three and eligible for the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program. Parents of children ages 2-4, not already enrolled in the Healthy Families Program, may be eligible to enroll in HIPPY. The HIPPY Program continues to focus on supporting parents through home-visiting but with an emphasis on school readiness.

HIPPY Home Visitors meet parents weekly for 30 weeks providing the HIPPY curriculum, books and educational materials. Parents are trained to use the curriculum and educational materials with their child, supporting the parent’s ability to be their child’s first teacher. The curriculum provides activities for parents to do for 15-20 minutes daily for five days. The suggested activities include language/literacy, math, science and motor activities.

For more information:

Learning begins at home HIPPY | Home Instruction for Parents and Preschool Youngsters (hippyus.org)

Infants and Toddlers is birth to age 3 years of age and provides an array of early intervention services for children and their families birth to the age of three. Children, birth through the age of three, who are experiencing a developmental delay, or who have an established condition or disability are eligible. Early intervention services are family-centered, functional and based on individual family routines and activities. Services may include Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Special Instruction, Audiology, Family Counseling and Training and Vision Services. The goal of the Calvert County Infants and Toddlers Program is to provide family-centered support and services to infants and toddlers with delays/disabilities to help them reach their potential and be prepared for school.

The Calvert County Infants and Toddlers Program (ITP) serves children birth through two years of age who reside in Calvert County and meet state eligibility requirements. Services are provided year-round at no cost to families. If your child is found eligible, the Infants and Toddlers Program (ITP) can target the following areas:

• Cognition
• Communication
• Social/Emotional
• Self-help
• Fine Motor
• Gross Motor
• Hearing
• Vision

To be eligible for our program, children must have a 25% delay in at least one area of development (cognitive, communication, social-emotional, self-help, fine & gross motor), atypical development, or a high probability of delay due to a diagnosed medical condition. Services offered:

• Audiology
• Family Counseling/Training
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Special Instruction
• Speech & Language Therapy
• Vision Services

Services are provided in home, community, or center-based settings depending on the needs of your family and child. Sessions are scheduled with your individual service provider(s) Monday through Friday.

Infants and Toddlers - Calvert County Public School District

Are you concerned about your young child’s development? Do you think your child has difficulty with movements, talking, understanding, learning, socializing, playing, or eating?

For more information, contact one of the following programs.

The Judy Center at Calvert Elementary School (Ages 0 to 5 years old). Call 443-550-8077

Infants and Toddlers Program (Birth to 35 months) Call 443-550-8405 for a developmental evaluation or visit the website at: Infants and Toddlers Program - Calvert County Public School District (calvertnet.k12.md.us)

Child Find (35 months to 5 years/prekindergarten) Call 443-550-8373 for a developmental evaluation or visit the website at: Child Find - Calvert County Public School District (calvertnet.k12.md.us)

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program provides healthy supplemental foods, as well as nutrition and breastfeeding education and counseling for pregnant and post-partum women, infants and children under age 5. The Southern Maryland WIC Program serves participants in Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties at 5 sites located in White Plains, Leonardtown, Lexington Park, Solomons, and Prince Frederick.

To learn more about WIC: Pages - MD WIC (maryland.gov)

Have you been thinking of finishing or continuing your education?

The Judy Center is offering resources to assist parents in starting Adult Education classes.

For more information contact the Judy Center at 443-550-8077.

Judy Center programming is developed with funds from the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood

The content and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the grantee and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Maryland State Department of Education.