RES Family Update
Sunday, January 16, 2021
CCPS Calendar Changes
The 2021-2022 school year calendar has been amended as detailed below. Changes impacting student days are highlighted with BOLD.
Jan. 25 and April 1, 2022 are currently scheduled as half days for students so teachers may complete grading for the end of the semester. All teachers will now have the option to work virtually after students are dismissed.
March 4, April 13, and May 27, 2022 have been changed to half days for students, with April 13 and May 27, 2022, early dismissal for all staff.
For complete details of these changes, please see the news release (Board Amends 2021-22 School Year Calendar) on the CCPS website.
COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11
For complete information about the vaccine, now available for children ages 5-11, please visit the Caroline County COVID-19 website which includes FAQs: COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11 and Vaccine Clinic Information.
Update Regarding Potential COVID-19 Impact
Please see the message from Dr. Simmons regarding the possibility of short-term classroom/grade or school closures. Please note:
Teachers will post on their Google Classroom if the class will be synchronous (live instruction online) or asynchronous (assignments posted in Google Classroom).
Teachers will be taking attendance for synchronous classes just like they do for regular school days. Asynchronous class assignments will be used to record attendance for those classes. If a student is unable to log in for a synchronous class, the student should email the teacher requesting work so that the teacher knows the student is engaged in learning.
Students will follow the same class schedule as they do in person.
To prepare for the possibility of a virtual day:
Check that your child is bringing home their device each day.
Designate a space at home for your student to work with a power source nearby to charge the device.
If you do not have internet or your internet does not work well enough, please contact the front office at the school directly to ask about a Kajeet (hotspot) device.
Calendar:
January 17
NO SCHOOL - MLK Jr. Day
January 18
Board Work Session Virtual Meeting
January 25
1 PM Dismissal Day for Students
End of Quarter 2
January 26
NO SCHOOL for Students
February 1
Virtual Board of Education Meeting - 6 PM
February 3
Q2 Report Cards distributed to students
No School for Pre-kindergarten students - Pre-k Parent Conference Day
February 4
No School for Pre-kindergarten students - Pre-k Parent Conference Day
1 PM Dismissal Day for students
PM Parent Conference Day for K - 5 parents
February 14
Valentine's Spirit Day - wear red, white and/or pink
February 15
Virtual Board Work Session
February 21
NO School - Presidents' Day
Updated Quarantine and Isolation Guidance for PreK-12 *
Fully Vaccinated Individuals (completed primary series or booster) who test positive-
Must isolate for 5 days from symptom onset (or from date of test if asymptomatic)
Can return to work/school on day 6 with no symptoms or symptoms resolving and fever free for 24 hours prior
Must wear a mask around others for an additional 5 days
Unvaccinated Individuals who test positive-
Must isolate for 7 days from symptom onset (or from date of test if asymptomatic)
Can return to work/school on day 8 with no symptoms or symptoms resolving and fever free for 24 hours prior
Must wear a mask around others for an additional 3 days
Fully Vaccinated Individuals (completed primary series or booster) who have close contact with a positive individual-
Are not required to quarantine as long as they remain asymptomatic
Continue to wear a mask when around others
Unvaccinated Individuals who have close contact with a positive individual-
Must quarantine and monitor for symptoms
Can return to work/school:
after 10 days (return on day 11) from exposure and symptom free or
after 7 days (return on day 8) if a negative PCR test is completed on or after day 5 from exposure and symptom free
*At this time, no changes are being made to protocols for student athletic programs. These updates apply only to the regular student day.
Contact Tracing Updates
Contact tracing will be completed in settings where masks are removed such as the cafeteria and high school sports programs.
Principals will send an email to the parents/guardians of students who have been identified as close contacts in unmasked settings.
The general positive notification will continue to be sent to all students and staff.
Caroline Board Begins Superintendent Search Process
The Caroline County Board of Education is moving forward in its search for a new superintendent. Earlier this school year, the Board, through its search consultant, the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), conducted a survey for staff and community that inquired about the characteristics they desired in a new superintendent. Once that was completed, the following timeline was created:
- December 27, 2021 – Application materials will be made available
- January 31, 2022 – Application deadline for first consideration
- February and March 2022 – Interviews conducted
- Spring 2022 – Board approves superintendent contract at a regularly scheduled board meeting
- July 1, 2022 – Superintendent begins
Any questions regarding the position should be directed to William Middleton, search consultant at MABE (wmiddleton@mabe.org).
Related News: Caroline Board Begins Superintendent Search Process
Please be sure your children wear sneakers/tennis shoes in their scheduled PE day during the week.
Please remind your children not to bring toys to school.
CCPS have partnered with Edmentum again this year utilizing Exact Path and their coaches to monitor, guide and support your students throughout the program. Parents will receive individual letters regarding the recommendation for their child followed by a phone call from the Exact Path coach to get started.
Attendance Modifications for Quarantined Students
Attendance procedures for quarantined students have been modified as of the 2nd quarter of this school year (Nov. 8). This modification was made based on guidelines set by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
For quarantine students who are unable to participate in academic activities:
An isolated student who is ill and unable to participate in academic activities will be reported as absent, which follows the CCPS attendance policy.
For quarantined students who are able to participate in academic activities:
Quarantined students who are healthy will be reported as present and are expected to participate in meaningful academic activities that advance student learning. CCPS will continue to use Google Classroom for access to class assignments and offer Zoom tutoring to support students who are quarantined.
If a quarantined student does not return to in-person, in-school instruction after the assigned quarantined period, the normal attendance or make-up work policies for absent students will be followed.
Vaccine Information from the Caroline County Health Department
The Caroline County Health Department, in partnership with Choptank Community Health and Caroline County Public Schools, is now offering COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11.
Children in this age range may receive the Pfizer vaccine, which is administered as a two-dose primary series, 3 weeks apart. The children’s vaccine is a lower dose (10 micrograms) than that used for individuals 12 years of age and older (30 micrograms).
Vaccine clinics will be held at schools and at the Health Department’s vaccine center. A parent or legal guardian must be present and must sign a consent authorization at the time of vaccination. Click the school names below or visit our vaccine page to register your child for a vaccine. Future clinics will be added to the vaccine page on an ongoing basis.
Friday, November 12, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at
Greensboro Elementary School, 627 N. Main Street, Greensboro
Denton Elementary School, 303 Sharp Road, Denton
Federalsburg Elementary School, 302 S. University Avenue, Federalsburg
Saturday, November 20, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Caroline County Vaccine Center, 18 Denton Plaza, Denton
Many pediatricians also have received vaccines, and your child may be able to be vaccinated at their doctor’s office.
Have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for children? Check out this helpful Frequently Asked Questions post from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
COVID-19 Testing Available Once a Week in All Schools
Voluntary COVID-19 testing will be available one day a week in all schools, beginning the week of November 8, 2021.
CCPS has contracted with 20/20 GeneSystems in Rockville, Maryland to provide this service. Registration is required prior to participation in the testing program. Parents will be able to register students online with a one-time enrollment, which grants permission for once a week testing for the remainder of the school year.
Testing schedule:
Mondays beginning Nov. 8 - Federalsburg and Preston Elementary Schools, Colonel Richardson Middle and Colonel Richardson High Schools
Wednesdays beginning Nov. 10 - Denton, Greensboro and Ridgely Elementary Schools, Lockerman Middle and North Caroline High Schools
20/20 GeneSystems has developed a Frequently Asked Questions sheet for parents which includes information about the registration process.
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 and Wednesdays, 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.
Back Pack 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.
Promoting a healthy and safe environment for ALL students and staff.
CCPS is committed to providing a safe, respectful, nurturing educational environment where the worth and dignity of individuals are valued and their safety and rights are protected. Behaviors that compromise this environment, interfere with school operations or are otherwise contrary to the basic mission of our public schools will not be tolerated. Bullying, hazing, harassment or other discrimination affecting a student or a staff member should be reported by a victim, parent/guardian, witness, staff member or other person having knowledge.
Staff members with knowledge of such conduct are required to promptly report it to the building principal.
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.
Parents Right to Know
The Federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) contains several provisions that promote a parent/school partnership through communication. One such provision gives parents the right to ask for and receive information about the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers. A parent may request the following information:
Any college or university degree, major or certification held by the teacher
Whether the teacher is certified by the State of Maryland to teach a particular grade level or subject area
Whether the teacher holds a conditional teaching certificate
The qualifications of the paraprofessionals serving the student
If you would like to request the professional qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers or paraprofessionals, please submit a written request to the principal. The principal will provide the information to you within 30 business days of the date of your request.
Parents may also request information on the level of achievement and academic growth of their child, if applicable and available, on each of the State academic assessments.
Parents will receive timely notice if the student has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet applicable State certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned.
Parents May Request Teacher Information
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 provides parents of students attending Title 1 schools the opportunity to request information about the professional qualifications of their child's teachers. Parents of elementary students may request in writing to the school principal information about their child's teacher including college/university degrees of certification held, subject area of the teacher's degree or certification, and Maryland certification status. Additionally, if your child is served by paraprofessionals, parents may request their professional qualifications.
Parent Information Resource Center
Parents are encouraged to visit our Parent Information Resource Center (PIRC) located in the lobby outside of the front office. The PIRC has a variety of parenting resources and informational brochures and flyers. These materials are all free. Parents can find booklets from The Parent Institute on topics such as “Seven Habits of Highly Responsible Students; Help Your Child Balance School and Extracurricular Activities; and Helping Children Learn to Resolve Conflicts.” Parents can also find information regarding Caroline County Recreation and Parks, Caroline County Library, Imagination Library and Maryland Department of Health . Please be sure to check out our Parent Information Resource Center next time you come to 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