DES Family News
December 10th, 2023
Dear DES Families,
I hope you are having a good weekend. We have exciting things happening in the next two weeks, please take a moment to carefully read school and county-related updates, policies, and information.
Sincerely,
Sarah Crebs
Principal of Denton Elementary School
DES 12 Days of Holiday Celebration
DES PTA Winter Event
DES Bus Lane Safety Reminders
Please do not pull into the bus lane (directly in front of DES) during our arrival and dismissal times:
8:45-9:05AM NO TRAFFIC OTHER THAN BUSES
3:40-4:05PM NO TRAFFIC OTHER THAN BUSES
If you are entering or exiting from the walker area, please do not walk directly out in front of our buses but wait until they completely exit the lot.
Thank you for helping us keep our bus drivers and students safe!
CCPS PreK Calendar Change
Two days that were originally scheduled to be half days for PreK Program students (both three and four year olds) have been changed to full days in the 2023-2024 school year calendar.
- Thursday, February 8 – now a full day
Parents will still have the opportunity to conference with their child’s teacher on regular conference days.
Changes were made due to the logistics of transporting one group of students mid-day while maintaining the full day schedule for the majority of students. In addition, half days for only PreK students had the potential to create a daycare hardship for families.
These changes are now reflected in the one-page calendar on the website.
CCPS Email Information
FOR PARENT EMAILS
Emailing School & District Staff
Spam filters are designed to identify emails that attackers or marketers use to send unwanted or dangerous content. They also throw out malware, malicious, and virus-infested emails and protect user security. Unfortunately, spam filtering is an inexact science that at times blocks legitimate messages.
Should you send an email to a staff member and not receive a reply within a reasonable amount of time (no more than 48 hours), please call the office.
Attendance Information
An important message about attendance
Good attendance for your student begins on the first day of the school year.
Consider the following facts:
Chronic absenteeism may prevent children from reaching early milestones.
Chronically absent students have difficulty keeping up with the pace at which they are expected to learn and grow.
Students who are absent even a day or two every few weeks fall behind their peers.
Irregular attendance can be a better predictor of whether students will drop out before graduation than test scores.
Consistent, on-time attendance is a habit that lasts into adulthood.
In addition to wanting the best possible education for your child, we also closely monitor absences because Maryland law requires that children ages 5-18 attend school. Students may be withdrawn if not attending school regularly; students not enrolled or attending will be considered truant.
How Can Parents Encourage Good Attendance?
- Build good attendance habits early so children know that getting to school on time every day is important!
Set a regular bedtime & morning routine, laying out clothes and backpacks the night before.
Avoid scheduling appointments & trips when school is in session.
Don't let your child stay home unless he/she is truly sick.
Consider that sometimes a stomach ache or headache is a sign of anxiety. If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to the school about helpful resources.
Wellness Updates
CCPS Medication Policy
All medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, including cough drops and ointments, must be kept in the health room with the exception of state mandated emergency medications. Medications must be brought to school by a parent or responsible adult, be in the original labeled container and must be accompanied by a Maryland State School Medication Administration Form signed by both the prescribing medical or dental provider and the parent or legal guardian. A new medication administration form is required at the beginning of each school year for each medication and each time there is a change in dosage or time of administration of a medication. Any medications remaining after the order is discontinued or at the end of the school year will be destroyed unless picked up by a parent or other responsible adult within the designated time frame.
Hearing and Vision Updates
Healthy vision and hearing is important for your child’s success in school. State law requires school systems to have students’ hearing and vision screened when they enter the school system for the first time and in the first grade. Hearing and vision screenings are scheduled to begin on 10/23/23.
Students who should not be included in the screenings include:
Those whose parents/guardians object in writing to the screenings on the grounds that it conflicts with the tenets and practice of a recognized church or religious denomination of which they are a member;
Those with known hearing loss, including but not limited to, students with cochlear implants or hearing aids; and
Those who present evidence of testing within the last year.
If your child falls into any of these categories or if you have any questions, please reach out to the school nurse directly at 410-479-2916 or via email at miller.rachel@ccpsstaff.org
Birthday Celebrations
23-24 Lunch Update
LUNCH IS FREE FOR ALL CCPS STUDENTS
All Caroline County Public School students may eat breakfast and lunch free of charge this year, with no application needed. CCPS now participates in the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows free meals for all students in schools in low-income areas. There will still be a charge for extra items such as snacks. School menus may be found on the Caroline Schools, MD free mobile app and on all CCPS websites.
Important Updates/Events
DES Office HOURS: 8:00-4:15 pm Monday-Friday
DES Teacher Hours: 8:30-4:00 pm Monday-Friday
Instructional Day: Doors open @ 8:45 and dismissal begins at 3:40 pm
December
December 11th, PTA Meeting @ 6:00pm-CANCELLED
December 14th, Winter Concert @ NCHS 6:30 pm
December 20th, DES Community Caroling beginning at 5:30pm
December 22nd, Early Dismissal for all CCPS Schools
December 25th-January 1st All CCPS Schools Closed for Winter Break
As changes and or more updates arise we will keep families informed on Apptegy.
P.B.I.S Update
Communication Information
Instructional Resources
IMPORTANT LINKS AND UPDATES
DES Title I
DES is a Title I School receiving federal funds to improve instruction in math and reading.
Parents of students attending Title 1 schools may request information about the professional qualifications of their child's teachers. Parents of elementary students may request in writing to the school principal information about their child's teacher including:
* Any college or university degree or certification held.
* The subject area of the teacher's degree or certification.
* Whether the teacher is certified by the State of Maryland to teach a grade level or subject area.
* Whether the teacher holds a provisional certificate.
* Whether the child is served by paraprofessionals and, if so, parents may request their professional qualifications.
DISMISSAL CHANGES
NON DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Principal Crebs
Email: crebs.sarah@ccpsstaff.org
Location: 303 Sharp Road, Denton, MD, USA
Phone: 410-479-1660
Assistant Principal Mrs. Lindsay Grow
Email: grow.lindsay@ccpsstaff.org