Weekly Outlook
April 15th - April 19th
This is an A Week
Upcoming Events
- April 16th: Salted Scoop Fundraiser for the Musical 4-8pm
- April 16th: 7th Grade Vaccination Clinic @ 8:45am - info below
- April 18th: 3rd Grade Performance @ 1:30 in the gym
- April 19th: Wear Purple to Celebrate the Month of the Military Child at Community Gathering
- April 20th: Spring Yard & Seedling Sale
- April 22nd - 25th: ELA MCAP for Grades 3-8
- April 24th: Campbell Field Trip to Elms
- April 25th: Sage & Mullins Field Trip to Elms
- April 26th: CPCS' Frozen Musical at 6pm @ Leonardtown Middle School
- April 27th: CPCS' Frozen Musical at 1pm and 5pm @ Leonardtown Middle School
- May 3rd - 11th: Online Auction
- May 11th: Casino Night - Info below
- May 18th: Running Crab 5K - info below
Tomato and Pepper Surprise Seedling Sale
Advocacy Action
Dear CPCS Families,
You have been busy and your voices are being heard! We are thrilled with the impact you have had on our legislators in passing the Facilities Bill out of the Senate Budget and Tax Committee and anxiously await the votes on the floor to see if this bill makes it into law. Thank you and keep going!
Locally, our St. Mary's County Commissioners voted at their 3/19 Budget Work Session to approve (in a 4-1 vote) raising Income Tax from 3.0% to 3.2% in the county in order to fund the school system with an additional 7 million dollars. While this budget cycle will still present its challenges to CPCS, this amount certainly helps us to keep our doors open. This will not be the most popular decision, so we need to ensure there is support at the Public Hearing on April 23rd at Great Mills High School at 6:30 pm. Please speak out and stand up your support in order to keep a vibrant and functioning school system in St. Mary's County funded and focused on our students at the level they deserve. A strong school system builds a strong and sustainable community!
Amended School Calendar for 2023-2024
Virtue focus of the month: Be Honest
At home, support our core values by talking about, modeling, and recognizing the following behaviors that align with this month's CRABS virtue:
know (and acknowledge) when I have done the right thing and when I have made mistakes
know (and acknowledge) when I bother others or upset them
identify when my actions do/do not help me succeed
Applications for STEM 6, STEM 7, STEM 8, STEM 9, AVPA & GIS Open April 2nd
Applications for STEM 6 will open on April 2 and close on April 30, 2024. No late applications will be accepted. The online application will be found on the Academies page of the SMCPS website.
Applications for AVPA, GIS, STEM 9, STEM 8, and STEM 7 will open on Tuesday, April 2nd, and close on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. No late applications will be accepted. The online application will be found on the Academies page of the SMCPS website.
Quidditch Club is Starting!
Starting Wednesday April 10th the CPCS Quidditch Club is back. This is open for 4th through 6th graders. Come out and learn how to score goals, dodge bludgers, and snatch snitches! The club meets Wednesdays after school from 3:00 - 4:00. Parents/Guardians will be responsible for picking their students up on time. We ask that students wear appropriate shoes, bring water, and dress for the weather. Please fill out the form below to sign up to participate. Contact Mrs. Erin Gray and Mr. Ricky Carey with any questions or concerns. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePEnN88y6n-mCpGWv6eRfU3v6VFNnr2fjyPxTgLJmL4ouThg/viewform?usp=sf_link
CPCS Yard Sale will be held on Saturday, April 20th
Time to do a little spring cleaning! The CPCS Yard Sale will be held on Saturday, April 20th from 7A-11A indoors in the gym, and we need your donations! Please bring any donation items to the gym on Friday, April 19th directly after car line from 3:30PM - 6:00PM. Large items cannot be accepted unless pre-coordinated. Please contact CPCSFundraisingCommittee@gmail.com with any questions and to coordinate large items.
Uniform Policy Reminders
As the weather changes, we wanted to send a reminder of our uniform policy. This is for all students in all grades. Please take a few minutes to review this with your child(ren). Thank you!
Summer Sports Academies
SMCPS and SMC R&P have partnered to offer the new Summer Sports Academies. Campers will be instructed by area high school coaches. Camps are held Monday - Thursday. Click below for more information. Registration begins March 1st. Don't miss this opportunity.
Rising 7th-Grade Vaccination Clinic
Rising 7th-grade Vaccination Clinic is being provided at CPCS by the Health Department on April 16th at 8:45 am.
Please see the flyer and registration link attached if you want to register your student.
Contact Nurse Hickey if you have any questions.
School-Based Health Centers are Opened for SMCPS students and staff
The School-Based Health Centers are open for SMCPS students and staff during school hours. Please follow the link for more information.
CPCS Presents Disney Frozen Jr. April 26th and April 27th
Running Crab 5K is Saturday, May 18th
The Running Crab 5K is back on for Saturday, May 18 at Historic St. Mary’s City! Register by May 1st to guarantee a shirt by race day. Click here to sign up for the race, buy extra tshirts, and become a family sponsor!
Spotlight on Special Education - Survey from MSDE
Parents or guardians of children receiving special education and related services were mailed the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey from MSDE during the week of February 12, 2024. Parents are asked to complete the survey and return it in the postage-paid envelope by May 24, 2024. The Survey may also be completed online. Parent feedback will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in SMCPS. To learn more, please visit https://www.mdparentsurvey.com.
How Can You Help?
Become a Registered Volunteer
Volunteer applications are open for the 2023 - 2024 school year.. Both new and previously registered volunteers must complete a new volunteer application every school year.
CONTACT our Volunteer Coordinator, Christina Jones at cpcsvolunteers@gmail.com to get on the distribution list for all of the volunteer opportunities at CPCS
WE NEED SUBSTITUTES AND ARE HAPPY TO TRAIN YOU! (There is a virtual training on April 12th, April 26th, May 17th, May 31st, and June 14th) Apply here: Substitutes
CHESAPEAKE CHARTER SCHOOL ALLIANCE
Silent Auction Donations Needed
CPCS Fundraising has many exciting events coming up in the next couple of months, and we need your help! We are seeking donations of items and services (gift cards, unused gift baskets, new products, timeshare, vacation home, etc) for our Silent Auction and will be collecting through April 26. Do you own a business? Are you a crafter or make custom goods? Do you have skills that would be useful to somebody (i.e. landscaping/gardening/yard clean up, babysitting services, teach a sewing class, woodworking, etc)? We are looking to have a well-rounded offering and are open to any donations of your time and goods! We will also compile themed class baskets from each of the grade levels, and individual POCs will be reaching out for those. Please contact Ashley Jolliver with any questions and to donate to the auction. CPCSFundraisingCommittee@gmail.com
Casino Night May 11th
The Chesapeake Charter School Alliance invites you to attend their 2nd Annual Casino Night on Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 6PM to 9PM at the Bay District Fire House in Lexington Park, MD. Tickets include free drinks, heavy hors d'oeuvres, chances at raffles and prizes, a silent auction and 250 vintage vouchers good for casino play (NOTE: no cash prizes will be given). This event is a 21+ event and open to the public, so please invite your family and friends to attend! Cocktail attire suggested.
Tickets will be $65/ea or $110/pair. Online ticket sales will end Friday, May 10. Tickets will be available to purchase at the door for $70/ea, but advanced purchase is highly encouraged. All ticket sales are non-refundable.
Families who have pledged in the top Annual Pledge tier will receive 2 FREE tickets to this event. (Annual Pledge donors can RSVP here: https://forms.gle/TodcpnrPQWQ8wTxdA)
Tickets can be purchased at the following link: https://givebutter.com/CPCSCasinoNight2024
Please contact CPCSFundraisingCommittee@gmail.com for any further information or questions.
Counseling Corner
Middle School Families - Permission Forms Needed
This year our school system is continuing work in teaching middle school students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. We are now using a program called SOS Signs of Suicide. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help. We would like all middle school students to participate in the lessons, but we need your permission to include your child. Please complete the attached permission form return it to school or access it here on our Support Services website along with local mental health resources. Lessons will be taking place in April with Mrs. Sayers, our school counselor.
High School Registration
Throughout the months of April and May, our school counselor Mrs. Sayers will be visiting classes and meeting with rising 9th graders to draft high school schedules. Please click here to stay updated with information and dates.
CPCS CARES Packages
Looking for student support?
CPCS 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 Approved Calendars
Materials Fee
Cafeteria Staff Nominations
Did the cafeteria staff go above and beyond for a student or staff member? Fill out this form to nominate them for one of our awards!
MySchoolBucks
MySchoolBucks is an online payment service that provides a convenient way for parents/guardians to pay for school-related purchases such as lunches by using their credit/debit card or electronic check. Please use this link to for more information on how to sign up for a MySchoolBucks account if they do not already have one.
This offering will help us learn strategies that will empower our kids to handle these difficult situations. There are three time slots available. Register here!
Harris Teeter - TOGETHER IN EDUCATION - Passive Fundraiser Update
Chesapeake Public Charter School
Vision - Our vision is a safe and joyful atmosphere which includes compassion and respect for others, and where students become critical thinkers, life-long learners, and global citizens.
CCSA/CPCS DEI Vision Statement 2022-2023-
The Chesapeake Charter School Alliance, and the Chesapeake Public Charter School are motivated by the understanding that students are most successful when diverse experiences, backgrounds, abilities, and interests, in our students and staff alike, are celebrated and respected. We value, strive to create and sustain a diverse environment where each member of our school family is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged, while also being heard, respected, and represented. Each CPCS student is provided with developmentally appropriate resources, supports, and interventions to foster their success while learning in a community committed to holding itself accountable for educational excellence and equity.
Email: jmrayford@smcps.org
Website: https://cpcs.smcps.org/
Location: 20945 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park, MD, USA
Phone: 301-863-9585
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chesapeakecharteralliance
Twitter: @CPCS_SMCPS