Cheetah Chatter Parent Update
Chapel District Elementary School August 13th-20th
Gearing Up for August 30th Start!
Chapel Families,
Welcome to our new Chapel Cheetah families for the 2021-2022 school year! We are so excited to have you be a part of the Chapel family! We are a dedicated school community committed to your child's success and we look forward to meeting you soon. We are busily preparing for the 2021-2022 school year. A reminder that the first day of school is Monday, August 30th.
We are planning for a full in-person return to school 5 days a week! (Please see Dr. Griffith's message further down in the Cheetah Chatter for specific information.). Also, please check out CDES's Important Upcoming Dates further down in the newsletter as well. We have some exciting events planned!
Teacher assignment letters have been mailed for all incoming Pre-K and Kindergarten students, as well as any NEW families who have completed all paperwork for official registration in grades 1-5. Teacher assignment letters were sent home with students in grades 1st-5th on the last day of school. A reminder that we cannot take parent requests for teacher assignments. If your child is newly registered and you did not receive a letter, most likely your child's registration packet is not complete. Please call the school at 410-822-2391 to check on your child's registration status.
Your child’s teacher will be contacting you the week of August 23rd to schedule your parent/teacher conference. At this time, we are planning on giving parents the option of virtual or in-person conferences. If you choose an in-person conference, you may also bring your child, so they can see their classroom. These conferences will take place on August 26th and 27th. Teachers will be reaching out to you to determine which date/time works best with your family’s schedule. During your conference, teachers will be asking parents a series of questions in order to best meet your child’s needs for the start of school on August 30th. Teachers will also inform you of your child's bus pick up/drop off times, bus number/color, and answer any questions you may have.
We look forward to seeing all of our Chapel Cheetahs in two weeks!
Sincerely,
Dr. Kari M. Clow
CDES Principal
Fall 2021 Return to School Update (From Dr. Griffith, TCPS Superintendent of Schools)
At this time, we continue to confer with the Talbot County Health Department (TCHD) on a daily basis and consider the recommendations from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics in determining how to safely reopen schools even when social distancing may not be possible.
Consideration is given to the status of risk transmission rate based on new cases and testing positivity data, number of staff already vaccinated, the percentage of vaccinated people in our local community, and the ongoing precautions we have established.
TCPS will also continue to implement the following mitigation strategies:
Promote frequent hand washing
Enhanced cleaning protocols
Social distancing of 3 foot whenever possible
Self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms
Implement contact tracing and quarantining protocols
With all data and research considered, we plan for a full return to in-person learning in all schools while highly recommending universal masking inside all buildings. This decision will be re-visited on a weekly basis with the hope that we will return to a lower transmission risk rate and achieve a higher vaccination rate in order to eliminate the recommendation for universal masking. Masks will be required for all students and staff on school buses according to the Federal mandate.
Please note the importance of being vaccinated and masked, as anyone who is vaccinated and is identified as a contact of an individual who tests positive will not be required to quarantine unless they experience symptoms. An individual who is unvaccinated and unmasked and is identified as a contact may be required to quarantine for at least 14 days.
Rapid Testing will be available in all schools through a partnership with Choptank Community Health and the Talbot County Health Department.
We appreciate your support and look forward to a successful school year.
Kelly L. Griffith, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Bus Information for 21-22
Chapel Families-
Bus route information will be posted in the parent portal of your student's PowerSchool account by 8/19/21 by the TCPS Transportation Department. You will also be provided information on your child's bus number/color and pick up/drop off times at your Parent Teacher Meet and Greet Conference on 8/26 and 8/27. Thank you!
ALL TCPS STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR THE ENTIRE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR!
Important Upcoming Dates
AUGUST
*8/19- All teachers report
*8/26 and 8/27- Parent/Teacher Welcome Back Conferences
*8/30- First Day of School!
SEPTEMBER
*9/1- Grandparents Club Meeting 6:00 p.m. (You may attend in Media Center or on Zoom)
*9/6- NO SCHOOL- LABOR DAY!
*9/8- TCPS BOE Meeting 6:00 p.m.
*9/13- CDES Panera Bread Spirit Night 5-9 p.m. (must mention CDES to get credit)
*9/14- Parent Advisory Committee Meeting 5:00 p.m. (Zoom)
*9/14- PTO Meeting 6:30 p.m. (You may attend in Media Center or on Zoom)
*9/15- Back to School Night! 6:00-7:30 p.m.
*9/17- PTO Family Cornhole Tournament 6:00-8:00 p.m.
*9/20-9/24- Fall MCAP Testing (Grades 3-5)
*9/23- Interim 1 Ends
*9/29- Interims Issued
*9/30- Picture Day!
OCTOBER
*10/1- Early Dismissal/Parent Teacher Conferences PM- 12:20 p.m. dismissal
*10/6-Grandparents Club Meeting 6:00 p.m. (You may attend in Media Center or on Zoom)
*10/12- Parent Advisory Committee Meeting 5:00 p.m. (Zoom)
*10/12- PTO Meeting 6:30 p.m. (You may attend in Media Center or on Zoom)
*10/25-10/29- Red Ribbon Week
*10/29- CDES Halloween Celebration, Early Dismissal 12:20 p.m.
CDES Recognizes Our Custodial, Maintenance, and Cafeteria Teams!
CDES Spirit Night at Panera Bread 9/13
Want an easy way to help CDES raise money for the upcoming school year? Bring the whole family and participate in our Panera Bread fundraiser on September 13th from 5-9 p.m. Please be sure to show the flyer to mention to the cashier that you are supporting Chapel District Elementary School, in order for our school to get credit. 20% of sales will get donated back to CDES, which will be used for our PBIS incentives for students! Thank you for supporting CDES!
For an online Rapid Pick-up/ Curbside order to count towards your fundraiser night, customers MUST enter the promo code “PRFUND” on the promotional flyer when checking out. If the code is not entered, we will be unable to track and record the transaction.
If you place a delivery order, your order must be placed through panerabread.com delivery service. Just like RPU/ Curbside, the Promo code must be entered at checkout. We cannot track orders placed through DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, or Postmates.
First Day of School- August 30th- Mark Your Calendars!
Available Designs- CDES Online Spirit Wear Store!
CDES PTO Updates
PTO Officers:
Co- Presidents: Bernadette Golt and Taren Knopp
Vice President: Katie Callahan
Treasurer: Julie Callahan
Secretary: Ashley Foster
PTO Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Meetings held in person in the Media Center OR you can attend virtually on Zoom!
*Next PTO Meeting: Tuesday, September 14th at 6:30 p.m- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4701100564
*Please email any questions or comments to cdespto@gmail.com
Please link your E-Vic Card TODAY! You must renew your membership each year. Thank you!
Support Our PTO- Re-Link or Link Your Harris Teeter E-Vic Card! Must renew this annually!
CDES Grandparents Club Info
President: Mike Butler
Vice President: Carla Callahan
Treasurer: Cindy Doupnik
*Meetings will take place the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Meetings held in person in the Media Center OR you can attend virtually on Zoom!
Next Grandparents Club Meeting: September 1st at 6:00 p.m
Zoom link- https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88366253821?pwd=RUJHb1JzRUVDeXoxRlFKWDNFZURsdz09
Please be sure to print out the Grandparents Club membership form below, complete, and to pay your $5 dues to be a member! We are looking for new members!