RES Family Update
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Tutoring for Quarantined Students
Afterschool Tutors Available for Quarantined Students
Quarantined students in need of help with assignments may now connect with a tutor at their school.
Elementary School: 4:00 to 5:00 pm, Monday through Thursday, beginning Thursday, September 23
Zoom links for tutors may be found on student’s Google Classroom.
School Meals for Quarantined Students
Posted on September 25, 2021
Students who are not in school due to being quarantined as still eligible for free meals. Families interested in receiving meals may complete a form:
Student Meal Form, English
Student Meal Form, Spanish
Questions or concerns may be directed to Caroline County Public Schools Food Services, 410-479-3261.
The form also has information about Caroline Helping Hands which is a volunteer-based organization in partnership with Caroline County Public Schools, serving the children of Caroline County with holiday & weekend food bags.
If requested on the form, this program will provide children in need with a nutritious care pack of food to have as a supplement for weekend meals. This program is provided by generous donations and will continue to serve the community as long as funding is available. This program is absolutely FREE, there is no cost to the family.
Please Keep Students with Symptoms of Illness at Home
We are doing our very best to keep students in school but we need the help of our families. We are finding that some students who come to school with symptoms of illness are then testing positive for COVID-19. This leads to having to identify close contacts who then must be quarantined, meaning more students are missing school.
PLEASE help us keep students safe and in school as much as possible. Keep your child at home if they have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or other illness or have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
Subject: Viral Social Media Challenges Affecting Schools
Dear Families,
There are currently various social media challenges affecting school campuses across the nation. In September, a viral trend called “Devious Licks” encouraged students to steal or damage items on school property and then post photos or videos online. This behavior impacted several schools in Caroline, resulting in a significant cost to replace damaged or stolen property, and maintenance and custodial staff time to repair or replace equipment.
It has recently come to our attention that there are more challenges posted on social media that span the remainder of this school year, and we are reaching out to our families to enlist your help. These are not harmless pranks; most, if not all of the challenges, have the potential to result in serious consequences including suspension, expulsion, police involvement and monetary fines.
Please talk with your children about these challenges, and how harmful and destructive they can be to other people and property. Also stress with them how much is at stake for students considering participation. If you or your child feel the need to report a potential violation connected to a social media trend, contact your school administrator.
We appreciate your support in this matter and look forward to working with you to encourage a positive school culture.
Dr. Derek L. Simmons
Interim Superintendent
Calendar:
October 4 - 8
Book Fair
October 4
Grade 5 ELA MCAP Assessment
Board of Education Meeting - 6 PM
October 5
Grade 5 ELA MCAP Assessment
October 6
Grade 5 Math MCAP Assessment
October 8
national Sports Day Spirit Day - wear something showing your favorite sports' team.
October 13
Grades 3 - 5 Quarter 1 Interim Reports distributed
October 15
NO School
October 19
Board Work Session - 6 PM Virtual
October 29
Halloween Parade into town - 9:30 AM
1 PM Dismissal for students
Ridgely Elementary School Fall Book Fair October 4-8, 2021
Countdown to Your Next New Read
We’re Having a Book Fair!
- Students may shop in person during Media Center class time, and designated times throughout the day.
- Parents and grandparents may shop online or purchase gift cards for students to use. See flyer to purchase gift cards.
- Check out the flyer to see the wonderful selection of books.
- Purchases may be made by cash, checks, credit cards, or Follett Gift Cards( https://www.follettbookfairs.com/gift-cards/)
- Please be sure to include 6% sales tax.
- Visit the online fair @ efairs.follettbookfairs.com
- Use the code Z2DXE or visit ridgelyes.org> Media Center Page> Click on the online book fair button.
- All proceeds benefit the R.E.S. Media Center for new books.
Car Rider Line-up Change at Dismissal
PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK OR USE OUR NEIGHBORS' DRIVEWAYS TO TURN AROUND IN DURING CAR RIDER PICK UP.
Due to the increased number of car riders at the end of the day, following consultation with the Ridgely Police Department and our School Resource Officer, and in an effort to lessen the traffic concerns during dismissal, effective Tuesday, September 28, 2021, the car rider AFTERNOON DISMISSAL pickup line will change.
We are now requiring car rider families to access Hog Lot Road from either Oakland Road or River Road. Once on Hog Lot Road, families will turn on to Seward Road and come to the school. Families will be driving on Seward Road toward Central Avenue. You will then be directed to turn left into the side parking lot in the opposite direction of the current procedures. Families will pick up the children and exit back onto Seward Road. When in the line, please pull over to the side of the Seward Road.
Always be sure to check your surroundings when pulling in and out of line and in and out of the parking lot.
The AFTERNOON car rider pick up line will no longer use Central Avenue to wait in line.
Morning car rider drop off will remain the same.
Please see the map below.
We appreciate your cooperation and support.
Again: this change begins:
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Substitute Teachers Needed
BackPack Program
Look for the Caroline County BackPack Program Registration/Renewal Form in your child's backpack, call Mrs. Buffenmyer to request a form or get additional information or use the link below to complete the form online.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYSOvXNI-lNSkn_57ko6dJaRvvJyMkfVFGZuos0jFDONi-eg/viewform
Draft Reopening Plan and Survey
Posted on August 12, 2021
Accessible View on CCPS Website
All Maryland school systems are required to provide a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (Reopening Plan) that addresses the reopening of schools for the 2021-2022 year. This plan must provide for the continuity of services that address and maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and staff. There are 11 requirements necessary for a complete plan that will be submitted to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The draft document is intended to provide an overview for public input. The final document will include more detailed information and reflect insight from our community survey.
We would appreciate you reading through the draft Reopening Plan and completing the survey that follows. Should you have any difficulty with the survey, please email PIO@ccpsstaff.org (Public Information Officer) for assistance.
Mask Information
Masks are required because we want our students to stay in school, in person. If a child is not wearing a mask and tests positive for COVID-19, the unvaccinated students around that child (masked or unmasked) are then required to be quarantined. However, if all students are masked and at least three feet apart in the classroom, only the child testing positive would miss school days. There may be other settings such as the bus or the cafeteria where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Our best chance at keeping classrooms and schools safe and open is to require everyone to wear masks and maintain three feet whenever possible.
Student Information Update Form
CCPS uses an online form (no paper!) to verify or update student information through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. The process typically takes less than five minutes per student, and allows families to verify that all of the student's data is correct and provide updates for any important data that has changed. This process replaces the old paper form sent home in previous years.
Please note: If the student’s address has changed, proof of residence will be required. This may be uploaded through PowerSchool or provided directly to the school.
For more information, please see the CCPS news post on this topic.RES Office Hours
School office hours are Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM.
RES is a TITLE I School
RES is a progressive community of learners collaboratively supporting each other through intentional planning in a risk-taking and trusting environment, leading to rigor, student autonomy, and mastery of content standards in all learning settings.
For more information, feedback, or input on the School Improvement Plan, please contact the school.
Lee Sutton, Principal
Email: sutton.lee@ccpsstaff.org
Website: ridgelyes.org
Location: 118 North Central Avenue, Ridgely, MD 21660
Phone: 410 479 3243