The Falcon News Nest

Welcome back! We’re so glad to have your children with us for the 2025–2026 school year!

To keep you informed and involved, we’re continuing to use Rooms, our two-way communication tool that helps you stay connected with your child’s teachers and school staff.

And this year, Rooms has improved some of their features:

• SMS Text Notifications
  You’ll now receive text message notifications whenever a new message or announcement is sent in Rooms. Each text includes a direct link to view the content in your mobile browser or in the app.
  
  → Click here to learn how to set your notification preferences.

• One Messaging Inbox
  Our school app has been updated to give you one, single place to see all of your messages across all children. From this inbox, you can read, reply, or start new messages. This feature is available through the CCPS App, available in the App Store and Google Play.
  
  

• Upgraded Messaging Features
  Our messaging experience now lets you react to messages with emojis, respond in threads, send photos and videos, mute group messages, and more!

Check out this overview of the new experience, or watch this short video (video in Spanish or click on Haitian Creole) to learn more about what’s new for this year.

We’re here to help make communication simpler, more consistent, and easier to manage this year! Please let us know if you have any questions.

Please remember, for all notifications, parent/guardian numbers and emails are taken directly from information provided by the family in PowerSchool.

School delays and closings are shared via:

• a phone call, text, and email through our notification system

• a message on the CCPS Mobile App the district website (carolineschools.org)

• social media: Facebook (Caroline County Public Schools and all school pages), and Instagram (carolineschoolsmd)

• some local news and radio stations

The process for making weather-related decisions is outlined on carolineschools.org.

Beginning November 1, 2024, CCPS will start holding students accountable for damaged or missing technology equipment, including laptops, iPads, carrying cases, chargers, and charging cables. The CCPS Student Technology Obligation Program encourages responsible use of technology and curbs rising repair costs through a tiered pricing system.

For questions and program details, please visit the link below: Student Obligation information

Caroline County Public Schools is aware of concerns regarding recent changes to U.S. immigration policy and enforcement. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has provided guidance which reinforces our own belief that every student—regardless of immigration status—receives the support they need from our educational system. Please visit the CCPS website for complete information.

August 29th, Meet the Teacher at FES 2:00-3:30

September 1st, Labor Day

September 2nd, First Day of School for K-5

September 2nd, Board of Education Meeting, 6:00 pm

September 7th, Arts in Education Week

September 8th, PreK 3/4 Orientations (10:00 am or 2:00 pm)

September 9th, First Day of School for PreK 3/4

September 11th, Patriot Day

September 15th-October 15th, Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15th, Community School Coordinators Week

September 16th, IT Professionals Day

September 18th, Back to School Night 5:30-7:00

September 22nd, First Day of Autumn

The Federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) contains several provisions that promote a parent/school partnership through communication. One such provision gives parents the right to ask for and receive information about the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers. A parent may request the following information in writing from the school principal:

• Any college or university degree, major, or certification held by the teacher

• Whether the teacher is certified by the State of Maryland to teach a particular grade level or subject area

• Whether the teacher holds a conditional teaching certificate

• The qualifications of the paraprofessionals serving the student

Caroline County Public Schools prohibits discrimination in its educational programs, and in employment, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or disability.