SPECIAL PROGRAMS NEWSIES
Winter 2022
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Is it really February? I can't believe we are in our second semester of our 21-22 school year. Although our year began with a few bumps here and there, we are starting to feel a smoother road. We have some exciting news coming out of our elementary schools. The Student Services Division has provided the first layer of Conscious Discipline professional development for grades Prek-5. Conscious Discipline® is a comprehensive classroom management program and a social-emotional curriculum that equips educators to integrate social-emotional learning, discipline and self-regulation. Prek and K will be participating in the next layer of professional development in March. If you are interested in learning more about Conscious Discipline, please go to consciousdiscipline.com or youtube.com and search for Dr. Becky Bailey/Conscious Discipline.
As always, a big thank you to our collaborative team of educators, parents and community organizations that engage and empower our diverse learners to develop their maximum potential in their school and community.
Best,
Elizabeth
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
On January 26th, elementary special education teachers and staff members participated in in-person training for Conscious Discipline to support our students with their social/emotional development. In this training staff learned and experienced the transformational skills, powers and structures of Conscious Discipline in an interactive, brain-smart environment. This professional development will continue throughout the year and following school years.
ATTENTION UPCOMING!!!!!
Each year, our Special Education Citizens’ Advisory Committee (SECAC) hosts an event that enables special education students and their families to say thank you to specific staff who have made a difference in their lives. In the past, students have chosen teachers, administrators, and support staff such as bus drivers and assistants as their special honorees.
If you would like to nominate a staff member and highlight the impact they have had on your student, please complete the form below or fill out this google link: https://bit.ly/5thstaffCCPS
Nomination window: March 15th to April 15th, 2022
Contact for more information: Family Support Center clark.christina@ccpsstaff.org at Denton Elementary School
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES - SPECIAL EDUCATION CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SECAC)
SECONDARY TRANSITION
Greetings to all our Secondary Transition Stakeholders,
Our year continues to roll along with selected students from Colonel Richardson and
North Caroline High Schools participating in our first college visit of the year. On November 17 th, we traveled to Salisbury University for an information session and tour. We were able to visit a majority of the program buildings including a visit to the massive The Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons library facility where students visited several specialized academic programs, including the Writing Center, Center for Student Achievement and Mathematics and one of the impressive Computer Science learning labs. Students were also able to visit a dorm suite, check out the recreation and dining facilities, and wrapped up the day with lunch at the Commons. Plans are in the works with Chesapeake College and UMES to secure dates for a tour and information sessions later this Spring Semester.
Also in November, Secondary Transition and our Family Support Center had
collaborated to bring our parents, families, and community stakeholders an information session on area agencies and post-secondary opportunities. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstance that Zoom session needed to be postponed. Our Family Service Coordinator and Transition Specialist are working to reschedule the session and are planning to bring our agency representatives together soon for a make-up session (hopefully with an in-person option).Family Support Services and Transition were able to attend the Harvest Community Festival on Nov. 13 at the International House of Worship in Federalsburg where Mrs. Clark (FSS Coordinator) and Mrs. Wittman (Transition Specialist) met with members of the community to dispense information and hold conversations about their programs and coordinating agencies. It was a great opportunity to meet in-person with families and community stakeholders.
Finally, we are thrilled to announce our first Support Services internship developed in
consultation with CCPS. Similar to a “grow our own” concept that Caroline County uses to
motivate and recruit graduates for teaching positions, Secondary Transition is working with
Support Services to identify students on schedule to graduate and recruit for Support Services internships in order to “grow our own” support staff. We recently started with our first internship placement in the custodial area and hope to expand into other areas such as
maintenance and food services.
If you have any questions regarding Secondary Transition or services with adult agencies (DORS, DDA, BHA, or MDL), please feel free to email Mrs. Wittman at wittman.margaret@ccpsstaff.org.
INFANTS AND TODDLERS
Children develop in certain predictable ways, called developmental milestones. Milestones help you understand how your child learns and grows. While the timing of these is unique for each child, you can watch for these developmental milestones and refer a child for help if there are any concerns. Below is a link that families can use to determine how their child is progressing and developing. The Caroline County Infants and Toddlers Program can support families who may be concerned about their child’s development. Missed milestones could be a sign of a problem. If you notice that your child is not meeting milestones you can contact the Caroline County Infants and Toddlers Program and request a developmental evaluation at 410-479-3246. Or, you can complete the referral process online by clicking this link https://referral.mditp.org.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
GIFTED AND TALENTED
February is Gifted and Talented Month! Our gifted and talented teachers will be sharing information that highlights tips for teachers of our gifted and talented students. As parents, it is important to remember that gifted and talented students do not fit into a definition that is “one size fits all”. It is important to be familiar with and understand the characteristics of gifted students. Students come from all ethnic groups, they are boys and girls and they are not always straight-A students. Below is a graphic with a list of other characteristics that describe our gifted students.
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
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 484 English learners enrolled in Caroline County Public Schools and our enrollment continues to increase. 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.
Our EL students are taking the ACCESS for ELLs test which is administered every year to our English learners in Kindergarten through 12th grade. This test monitors students’ progress in learning academic English. During this assessment, students are testing in the four language domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. You will receive a copy of your child’s test results during the summer. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
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