Middleton Moments - Owlet Edition
September 1, 2023
Message From Principal Hawkins
Week 1 is in the books! Our students and staff (and our parents, too!) have all worked very hard to establish routines and procedures with our students. We will continue into week two and our instructional routines will also become more intense! Can you believe it is September already? WOW!!!! Pre-K students begin on September 5th! Don't forget that schools are closed on Monday, September 4th in observance of Labor Day. Our open house for all students is scheduled for September 6th from 5:00-6:30.
Thank you for your patience with buses this week. We know this can be extremely frustrating for all and we want to assure our families it is our goal to work with transportation and families to get our students to and back home from school safely each and every day. For your general knowledge: Bus #222 is listed as Bus #530 for parents in Synergy. Bus #222 will be the one transporting students from Middleton for those routes. Bus #120/531 could also be bus #107 or bus #540. While this can be confusing, remind our students that the buses pull into the same slots at the school and should also have the true bus # of 120/531 posted in their front window each day.
Please know that while the Middleton staff welcomes communication with our Middleton families, it is always good practice to schedule a meeting with the staff rather than to do an impromptu meeting at arrival and dismissal through parent pick up or by coming into the school requesting to speak with staff. If you personally would like to schedule an in-person meeting with administration, please reach out to them via email at nhawkins@ccboe.com, wskallerup@ccboe.com , and pmooring@ccboe.com and include Ms. Andrews, secretary, on the email at sandrews@ccboe.com. You can also call the school to schedule an appointment with the front office staff based on the availability of administration at 301-753-1749. In addition, our standard operating procedures for arrival and dismissal do not allow us to meet/talk with parents anytime before 10:00 AM daily, nor between the hours of 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM daily. Our main priority at those times are to get all our students into the building for instruction and home safely. Thanks for this consideration!
Please contact our office if you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Nicole L. Hawkins,
AMES Principal
AMES Spirit Wear Sale (Ends September 29th)
PTO News - Please Join!
"Welcome back AMES families if you are looking to have an impact in our school, please consider joining our PTO! Use this link to sign up https://forms.office.com/r/B4BR3PQV28 to join please bring $5 OR 10 canned goods. Please feel free to complete the registration and bring your cans or dollars to Back to School Night Wednesday or send them in with your child. WE look forward to an amazing school year full of fun, come visit our table next Wednesday for more information!"
Ms. Green's 5th Grade Class Adoption News!
Ms. Green's 5th Grade class was the winner of Adopt a Classroom from Kids by the Bay Dental along with several other Charles County Public School teachers. Dr Jo and his amazing staff adopted the entire 5th grade class and purchased items off the Amazon Wishlist created by Mrs. Green. Dr. Jo personally delivered the items on the 1st day of school! They also were the winner of adopt a class for a year by the Alpha Chi Psi Sorority, who purchased supplies needed for the class, as well! We appreciate our sponsors!!!!
Student Computer Passwords Changing - September 1st
Password Change - Visible August 28th in ParentVue
The technology department of CCPS is giving parents, guardians and students the head’s up about upcoming system-wide password changes. Students will have to access their CCPS accounts using a new password starting 4 p.m., Sept. 1. Students use their password to log in to 1:1 laptops, Micrsoft365 and Synergy. The new password will be visible to parents in advance in Synergy on Monday, Aug. 28. In addition, schools can distribute passwords to students. Any student new to CCPS will not have their password reset. The current CCPS student password is in ParentVUE/StudentVUE accounts under Student Information when using a web browser. If using the mobile app, click Student Info/Additional Information to access the information. The new password will be in the same areas of ParentVue/StudentVue on Sept. 1 (as highlighted in the above graphic).
Welcome to AMES, Ms. Jackson (counselor in training)
Hello all!
My name is Gina Jackson, and I am so excited to be with Arthur Middleton for this first semester, as a counselor in training alongside the amazing Mrs. Spriggs. I am coming to you all with 8 years of experience working with children, with my last few years being a 2nd grade teacher at William A. Diggs Elementary. I am looking forward to getting to know the entire school community and can’t wait for all the fun I know we will have together this semester!
Please feel free to reach out at gjackson@ccboe.com
Supply Lists
Arrival and Dismissal Procedure Reminders
ARRIVAL: All students will enter through the main doors (walkers, drop off, bus riders, and daycare van riders). Doors open at 9:00 AM. All students MUST be in their seats by 9:15 AM or they are considered tardy. Breakfast is served daily from 9:00-9:15 AM. Please ensure our scholars arrive on time daily!
DISMISSAL: Walkers and Parent Pick Up will be dismissed first starting at 3:45PM. Walkers will exit through the back doors of the school where the gym/cafeteria are located. It is understood that as walkers, these students ARE NOT being monitored by school staff once they leave the gymnasium exit doors for the day. They are instructed to walk home and not linger around the school. Parent Pick Up students will meet their pick up person on the side of the school near the trailers. Signs will be set up by grade level and we ask that parents line up behind their signs. If you have students in various grade levels, you will have to go to each grade level to retrieve each of your students. ONLY adults aged 18+ with a photo ID and that are on the child's emergency contact list will be permitted to pick up their student. NO EXCEPTIONS!! This is for the safety of our students and this is the policy of Charles County Public Schools. Bus riders and daycare van riders will dismiss from the front doors at the end of the school day.
No cars are permitted in the main lot during arrival and dismissal - we have a lot of students dismissing and coming from various directions during these times. To keep all our children safe, we cannot allow any cars to move through our lot during these timeframes. For the safety of all our students, we ask that you PLEASE DO NOT pull into the main lot of the school. Thanks for your cooperation!
An essential element of the education process is the safe and efficient transportation of students as they travel between home and school. The success of this undertaking relies on the collective responsibility and efforts of drivers, students, parents, schools, bus contractors, and CCPS (Charles County Public Schools) Transportation. Bus information for the 2023-2024 school year will be posted on the school system website (www.ccboe.com) on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. The CCPS Bus Hotline, 301-932-6655, will be active from Aug. 21-25 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Aug. 28-29 from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Included below are answers to frequent questions about online bus information. Please be advised that bus routes and times will change throughout the week. We recommend that you check School Locator prior to the start of school to ensure your pickup and drop off times did not change. CCPS is launching the Where’s the Bus program this year in which parents can download a mobile app to monitor their child’s buses daily. Visit https://www.ccboe.com/departments/transportation/wheres-the-bus to learn more.
What if I do not have access to the Internet?
Contact your child’s school to request transportation information and/or assistance in submitting Transportation Help Tickets.
How do I find my student’s bus information?
Go to www.ccboe.com and click on school bus icon for CCPS Transportation. Follow the links to the School Locator and enter your street number and street name in the appropriate fields. The school eligibility, closest bus stop, bus number, and pick up/drop off times will be listed for this address. Please note: the School Locator will only list school eligibility until route information is posted on Monday, Aug. 21. Additionally, School Locator does not include bus information for special needs students, which must be arranged through the IEP process at a child’s school. Students requiring special needs transportation will be contacted directly by transportation staff.
What if no bus stop is established for my address or if there is an issue with the established stop?
Go to www.ccboe.com and click on the school bus icon for CCPS Transportation. Follow the links to Transportation Help Tickets and complete a Bus Stop Concern form. Complete the requested information in as much detail as possible and submit. A Transportation representative will respond to your request.
We are moving. What do we need to do to secure transportation at our new address?
If you are moving, please update your student’s school with your new address. The school will then update your address in the Synergy student database. The Synergy database connects with the School Locator nightly and updates any modified records. Please do not use the Transportation Help Ticket portal to update your permanent address.
How do I update my student’s pick up and/or drop off address?
Go to www.ccboe.com and click on the school bus icon for CCPS Transportation. Follow the links to Transportation Help Tickets and complete a Bus Change Request form. Complete the requested information in as much detail as possible and submit. Transportation can modify either the AM pick up address, PM drop off address, or both to align with your before/aftercare needs that follow a Monday-Friday schedule. It is important to make sure your student’s before/aftercare address information is updated using the Transportation Help Ticket portal so that CCPS is always aware of your student’s location in case of an emergency. Please allow at least five (5) business days for the requested changes to be made. Students cannot be transported to daycare outside of the zoned school.
Important information for parents
• All bus pickup and drop off times posted on the School Locator are approximate. Students should be standing at their assigned bus stop five minutes before the scheduled bus arrival time in the morning.
• Students should never cross a divided road to access a bus stop. This includes major highways such as Route 301, Route 228, Route 5 and Route 210, and divided roads within communities such as Quailwood and St. Charles.
• Students should wait for the school bus in a safe and orderly fashion at the assigned stop location.
• Students should wait at their designated bus stop until the bus has completely stopped before moving toward or boarding the bus. Students who must cross the roadway to board the bus should wait on their side until the bus arrives and only cross the road when the red warning lights are activated, and the roadway is clear of traffic.
• Follow us on Twitter @CCPSBuses for transportation information and service updates as we receive them.
For more transportation information and resources, visit CCPS Transportation (www.ccboe.com/transportation)
Bus Safety Is Key (review letter with your children)
MIDDLETON IS A CEP SCHOOL - ALL STUDENTS GET FREE BREAKFAST & LUNCH THIS YEAR!
MyPaymentsPlus - Meal/Lunch Account Support
During the 2023-2024 school year, CCPS will provide the opportunity for students to purchase breakfast and lunch daily. At the elementary-school level, breakfast is $1.35, and lunch is $2.80. At the middle- and high-school levels, breakfast is $1.50, and lunch is $3.05. CCPS posts daily meal options for students on the front of the website at www.ccboe.com. Look for the meals icon under the main slideshow. Meal accounts can be monitored at www.mypaymentsplus.com. Parents can also use www.mypaymentsplus.com to deposit funds on their child’s meal account.
CCPS is participating in a federal meals program this year through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program provides for meal funding at schools in areas where families meet a certain maximum income level. The CEP program will be available at 12 schools this year. Find out more about the CEP program here.
Student Devices Support
Student devices
CCPS provides all students with a learning device. Returning students will continue to use the same device, while new students will be assigned a device once the school year begins. Students who already have a CCPS-issued device should turn on and inspect it prior to the first day of school to ensure there are no technical issues.
If a student needs technical assistance, parents can fill out an Ask CCPS ticket on the CCPS website here, or bring the device to school for assistance by a computer analyst. CCPS-issued learning devices includes content filters and monitoring applications to ensure the safety of students while they are online.
Students should carry their laptop in a CCPS-approved sleeve or carrier. The graphic shows the types of carriers that are approved to be used by students.
Homework Guidelines and Tips
Purpose of Grading
Grading serves the following purposes or functions:
• Information: to inform parents and students regularly of the student’s success in learning and mastery of standards and skills
• Guidance: to promote and maintain desirable patterns of behavior and achievement and to identify areas of special ability as a basis for realistic student self-appraisal and future educational and occupational planning.
• Motivation: to encourage the student toward maximum achievement and realistic self-appraisal for future educational and occupational planning.
• Administration: to provide data for use in educational planning and decision-making
At Arthur Middleton Elementary School, we have aligned our Grading Policy to the vision, mission, and core values of Charles County Public Schools. The Grading Policy defines the grading and reporting policies and procedures that will ensure academic grades are based on clearly defined criteria representing the student's attainment of content knowledge and skills.
Homework
Homework includes all assignments designed to be completed entirely at home. The purpose of homework is to improve student learning and provide opportunities for extending learning time beyond the school day by providing practice, developing proper study habits, and fostering positive attitudes toward school work outside the school day. Current research reveals “no clear-cut consensus on the benefits of homework at the early elementary levels” and very small positive effects on student achievement in cases where it has been measured (Marzano and Pickering, 2007). Still, advocates of homework at the elementary level argue homework can help young children “develop good study habits, foster positive attitudes toward school, and communicate to students the idea that learning takes work at home as well as at school” (Cooper, 1989).
Multiple facets of student home life should be considered when assigning homework: availability of adult supervision and support with homework, amount of time dedicated to homework commensurate with the age of the student, and consideration of after-school/home activities.
When assigned, homework should be purposeful, adjusted to the level of the individual child, and related to specific subject objectives. Assignments should provide practice or extension of skills already taught or prepare students to begin a new topic or part of the course.
Assignments should be made with consideration given to a student’s schedule and should be coordinated across subject areas at each school to avoid overloading students at any particular time.
• Feedback should be provided regarding any assignment sent home for completion. Homework should be based on only content standards taught, assigned, and completed recently or spiral review at a level of difficulty that can be completed independently by the student.
• Homework should be directly related to the standards and specific learning targets.
• Homework should be viewed as formative in nature, allowing for the practice of new skills and knowledge.
• Homework may be provided as an enrichment activity for the material mastered in class.
• Homework expectations should be communicated and homework should be differentiated according to student needs.
• Homework should not be assigned as a punishment or consequence related to behavior.
• Homework guidelines, not including additional reading assignments:
v Pre-K – 2nd grade should be 10 – 20 minutes per day
v 3rd grade – 5 grade should be 30 – 60 minutes per day
Homework is given as an extension. There is NO rule that homework has to be given daily.
Teachers are NOT required to provide additional work for practice. If you have a specific concern, please contact your child’s teacher.
When your child has homework:
• Find a quiet place for your child to work.
• Provide support, but allow your child to complete the assignment unless the directions state for you to assist.
If your child does not have homework, below is a list of suggested tasks for them to complete for extra practice:
• Read for 30 minutes
• Practice reading and writing sight words
• Practice Math Facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division)
• Complete DreamBox, Waggle, Imagine Learning, or My Path lessons independently
• Complete other Apps found on Office 365/Clever (i-ready)
• Practice your handwriting in manuscript or cursive
• Physical Activities such as riding a bike, sports, dancing, jumping rope, walking, etc.
• Everyday activities such as helping with dinner, organizing items around the house
Tutoring Support
Parents/Guardians who are looking for additional academic support for their student may reach out directly to our counselor, Mrs. Spriggs, to retrieve this year's Tutor list. This list provides name and information regarding certificated CCPS staff who provide tutoring services to students. In addition, this year students will be able to utilize FEV tutoring for additional support outside of school. You can request a session directly through Clever within your students Office 365 account. Please take a look at the image for more information.
Absent From School? Can I Be On Campus?
As a reminder, if your student is absent from school for the day, they CANNOT be on school grounds unless you sign them in as a late arrival. In other words, if they are home sick for the day and there is an awards ceremony, they cannot attend the ceremony (even with the parent) unless you sign them in to attend school for the day. If students are sent home from the Nurse, there is a timeframe given for when they are eligible to return to school (given by the Nurse). Thanks for cooperation with this as we work hard to keep all our students healthy!
The Importance of Attendance
AMES teachers and staff are working very hard to become a school where students are achieving at their highest abilities. Regular student attendance is essential to this goal. Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in school success. Learning builds day by day. If your child is not in school he/she cannot learn. Our passion is to teach your children and we need them here. You may be surprised at how much learning happens in one day of school.
Good habits begin early and the most important school habit is regular attendance. By building the habit of daily attendance, you’ll help your child see that school is serious and chances are you’ll also see an improvement in your child’s grades. So make every effort to get your child to school on time every day.
As a school, our goal is for students to miss “10 or less for school success.” Our hope is that each student strives to have perfect attendance. We understand that there are times when students will be absent but these should be limited and under special circumstances. Those special circumstances tend to be medical and with notes from a doctor. Students enrolled in public schools must attend school regularly Monday through Friday.
We treasure and value our time with your child and feel that regular, on-time attendance is an important piece of the academic and social development of your child. Please let us know if we can help: We hope to work together to improve your child’s attendance this school year.
Tips to prevent absences:
¨ Talk about family expectations about school attendance.
¨ Discuss family expectations for earning a high school diploma.
¨ Praise positive behaviors and achievement in school.
¨ Look for attitudes from your child that indicate unhappiness with school or fear of attending school. Listen to what they say and ask questions. Address issues of concern with the school. Start with the teacher or the counselor.
¨ Work with your child to create morning and bedtime routines.
¨ Identify a “back up” plan for getting to and from school.
Make a commitment to ensuring your child is in school EVERY DAY!
Attendance Matters
Please use the QR Code below for the Charles County Policy on attendance.
CCPS Dress Code Policy
Suggestive, provocative or excessively tight clothing is not allowed to be worn to school or to school-sponsored activities. CCPS does not allow clothing to be worn on school property or to school-sponsored activities which displays messages or images that are offensive, vulgar, harassing, or otherwise inappropriate for the school setting. Clothing that is judged by the school administration to be disruptive to the orderly school process either by virtue of the design or in the manner in which it is worn is also forbidden.
Members of the CCPS Code of Student Conduct Committee, in collaboration with parents, staff, and community members, developed the following system-wide dress code, as amended and approved by the Board of Education.
The responsibility for the dress and grooming of a student rests primarily with the student and their parent/guardian.
Allowable Dress & Grooming
- Students must wear clothing including both a shirt with pants or skirt, or the equivalent and shoes.
- Shirts and dresses must have fabric in the front and on the sides.
- Clothing must cover undergarments.
- Fabric covering all private parts must not be see through.
- Hats and other headwear must allow the face to be visible and not interfere with the line of sight to any student or staff. Hoodies must allow the student’s face and ears to be visible to staff at all times.
- Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education, science labs, technical education, and other activities where unique hazards exist.
- Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear.
Non-Allowable Dress & Grooming
- Clothing may not depict, advertise, or advocate the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or other controlled substances.
- Clothing may not depict pornography, nudity, sexual acts or violence, or obscenities.
- Clothing may not use or depict hate speech targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any other protected groups.
- Clothing may not include gang identifiers and must not threaten the health or safety of any other student or staff.
- If the student’s attire or grooming threatens the health or safety of any other person, then discipline for dress or grooming violations should be consistent with discipline policies for similar violations.
Note: Administrators have the flexibility to exercise their judgment to determine if a student’s attire is considered disruptive, distracting, or a safety hazard. Exceptions may be granted for medical or religious reasons.
Follow the CCPS website at www.ccboe.com for updates.
Cell Phone Policy and Procedures
Charles County Public Schools allows the possession and use of cell phones and other personal electronic
devices by students. It is the intent of the Superintendent to ensure that this allowance does not disrupt the learning
environment, after-school activities, or the safe transportation of students. Students are permitted to use cell
phones while attending (but not participating in) general public events that occur after-hours and are open to
the community. The following conditions outline the standard expectations for the possession and/or use of cell
phones by students at school, on the bus or on other school-chartered vehicles.
Elementary School
- Students may only bring their phone or device with approval from the principal.
- Once approved, student must keep their phone or device powered completely off (not on vibrate or silent mode) and inside their book bag, locker or cubby throughout the entirety of each school day, unless other storage arrangements are made with the teacher.
- Once approved for school, students may use their phone or device on the bus or school-chartered vehicle, but use must not be disruptive or cause a distraction to the driver at any time. Sound must only be audible through headphones. Phone conversations are prohibited.
Birthday Treats and School Snacks (brought in from home) Guidelines
Due to allergies, students and their parents/guardians are not allowed to bring to school and distribute any outside food products unless the products are commercially manufactured, individually wrapped in single serving sizes, and are marked with the ingredients and the nutritional facts label. Parents/guardians must obtain permission from their child's teacher or school administrator prior to bringing outside food for distribution so that the teacher/administrator can review the timing and impact on the school day, the benefit and fairness to students, and other considerations.
Lunch and Other Items From Home
Please be mindful that when you are dropping items at the school for your student(s) that you bring the items in a bag with their name on it. For outside lunch items, these items must be in a lunch box, lunch bag, or brown bag with the student's name on it. This is the same for food from restaurants (i.e. McDonald's, Chic Fil A, etc.). Not all students have the opportunity to receive meals from outside the school. Therefore, we are asking that if you do drop it for your student(s) that you bring it in a concealed bag that does not display the name of the restaurant and that it has your child's name on it. If the items do not come in this way, they will not be permitted at the school. Finally, we ask that you be mindful of both arrival (9:00-9:30) and dismissal (3:30-4:00) times. The office is very busy during these times and this is not the best time to stop in to drop items or pick up materials. Please handle all office business during the hours of 9:30-3:30 daily. Thank you in advance!
AMES Title 1 Parent Compact
Please click on the attachment to read the AMES Title 1 Parent Compact. The school-parent compact is a written agreement between teachers and parents and provides an opportunity to create new partnerships in your school community. It is a document that explains what families and schools can do to help children reach high academic standards of excellence
Title IX
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in all activities and programs of educational institutions receiving federal funds, which includes Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). Prohibited sex-based discrimination includes discrimination based on gender, gender identity, or pregnancy. It also includes sexual harassment and sexual assault. Inquiries should be made to a school-based Title IX coordinator, Ms. Katrina Spriggs, school counselor, at kspriggs@ccboe.com, or Mr. Matthew Scott, school psychologist, at mscott@ccboe.com. Either staff members can also be reached by calling the school at 301-753-1749. Information regarding the proess for filing a sexual misconduct complaint and/or supportive measures, can be found on the CCPS website at: Superintendents-Rule-Title-IX-Procedure_1.pdf (finalsite.net)
Arthur Middleton Elementary School
1109 Copley Avenue
Waldorf
MD
20602
Feeder Schools: Hanson, Somers, & Stoddert Middle Schools
Total Enrollment: 650
School serves grades PreK-5
Main phone: 301-753-1749
Fax number: 301-944-0881
School hours: 9:15 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.