SPECIAL PROGRAMS NEWSIES
DECEMBER 2019
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome Winter! Wow, is it really December? It's hard to believe but we have begun the second quarter of the school year. The first quarter of the school year has been filled with several after school workshops, many community of practice walks and several school based professional development seminars. The attendance has been overwhelmingly positive!
As we approach the holiday season, please take time to enjoy family and friends.
Remember ..." A random act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a tremendous impact on someone else's life."
On behalf of the Special Programs Division at Caroline County Public Schools, we would like to wish all our students and their families a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year!
Elizabeth Anthony
Director of Special Programs
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
Our students have tackled this 1st quarter with persistence and focus, as they have been working hard on their grade level goals, along with their instructional level goals. You should be able to see this progress in your student's progress reports that just came home with report cards. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student's case manager.
Over the past few months, our special education leadership team has been extremely busy providing various types of professional development to a range of educators in Caroline County including:
Co-Teaching Pairs
Intensive Support
Fine Arts
iPads in Action
- Provide access to the curriculum for students with disabilities
- Allow students to demonstrate learning in multiple formats
- Enable special educators to capture data in real-time
Take a peek at pictures below that show a snapshot of the trainings we have offered, as well as an iPad in use to provide access to a writing task.
Learning all the Features
Authentic Application
Stylus = ACCESS
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES - Special Education Citizen's Advisory Committee (SECAC)
SECAC Calendar of Events
January 23, 2020
Thursday from 6pm to 8pm
Easton Chesapeake Bowling
February 20, 2020
Thursday at 6pm
Board of Education
Katie Birmingham & Ann Fink (Transition Specialists - CCPS)
Connecting the Dots: Getting Help from Local Agencies to Support your Child with Disabilities at Home and during Transition to Adulthood
Please RSVP to Cynthia Brummell, Family Support Resource Coordinator 410-479-3609 or brummell.cynthia@ccpsstaff.org if you plan to attend as seats are limited
SECONDARY TRANSITION
Coming soon!
Maryland's Digital Portfolio is coming to CRHS and NCHS! The Digital Portfolio is a platform for students to showcase themselves! The Digital Portfolio allows students to show their personal profile, as well as their education, work, and life profiles. Contact Katie Birmingham if you have any questions. birmingham.katie@ccpsstaff.org
From the Digital Portfolio Website: "The transition from high school to college or employment can be an overwhelming and challenging time for students with disabilities. Students face specific challenges in the transition from familiar special education services provided in middle and high school to the changing scope of these services in the workplace, in post-secondary education or higher education. Learn more about how the Maryland Transition Digital Portfolio can help support students in the transition process." Visit http://olms.cte.jhu.edu/olms2/MarylandTransitionDigitalPortfolio for more information.
Do you find yourself having trouble navigating the adult agencies that could possibly provide support to your student? Contact Katie Birmingham, Transition Teacher Specialist or Ann Fink, Transition Teacher Specialist for more information. birmingham.katie@ccpsstaff.org, fink.ann@ccpsstaff.org.
INFANTS & TODDLERS
Family Resources
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Early Childhood Outcomes and School Readiness
An important outcome of early intervention services is to narrow the gap in development that exists between infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with special needs and their same age peers. If children make developmental progress in three developmental areas: children have positive social relationships, children acquire and use knowledge and skills, and children use appropriate behavior to meet their needs, then they will become ready for school. The Child Outcome Summary - or COS - process that guides schools and families and keeps the focus on school readiness.
GIFTED AND TALENTED / ENGLISH LEARNERS / 504
In 2019, revisions to COMAR 13A.04.07 Gifted and Talented Education were adopted by the Maryland State Board of Education. These revisions required local school districts to add gifted and talented students as an additional student group for accountability and reporting and to develop and implement a policy for this student group. The Maryland State Department of Education created a model policy and guidelines for the identification of gifted and talented students through a continuum of programs and services beyond those normally provided by the regular school curriculum for systems to utilize in their policy creation. The proposed policy for Caroline County Public Schools draws from this document and provides the framework for the school system to ensure that the needs of gifted and talented students are met. At the November 5, 2019 Board of Education Meeting, the Gifted and Talented Policy was approved. A copy of the approved Gifted and Talented Policy can be found at the following link: CCPS Gifted and Talented Policy. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any concerns or questions about our gifted and talented program. I look forward to a continued collaboration with teachers, counselors and administration to implement programs to meet the needs of our gifted and talented learners. English Learners News Caroline County Public Schools continues to ensure that English learners (ELs), including immigrant children and youth, attain English language proficiency and meet the same standards that all children are expected to meet. We currently have almost 500 English learners enrolled in Caroline County Public Schools. CCPS wants to work hand in hand with our EL students and their families to make sure your child is successful in school and that you have the resources you need. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher, guidance counselor or school administrators if you have any questions or concerns. 504 News Please remember to make the school aware of any changes that can have an impact on your child’s 504 Plan. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s school should you have any questions or concerns about their 504 Plan. You do not have to wait until the date of your annual review to ask questions or check in on your child’s progress. Christal Harkowa Supervisor of Instruction English Learners, Gifted & Talented and 504
CCPS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December Happenings
20 ½ Day – Professional Development and Q2 Interims Issued
23-31 No School – Winter Break
January Happenings
1 No School – New Year’s Day/Winter Break
2 School Re-opens
20 No School – MLK Jr. Day
23 SECAC Bowling Evening
28 ½ Day – Grades Q2
29 No School – Transition Day/Professional Development
February Happenings
7 ½ Day – Professional Development/Conferences
10 Q2 Report Cards Issued
13-14 Pre-K Conferences (No Pre-K)
17 No School – President’s Day