Middleton Moments - Owlet Edition
September 6th - WELCOME BACK Pre-K STUDENTS!!!!!
Principal's Message
Welcome to Arthur Middleton, Pre-K students! We look forward to seeing our youngest owls throughout our halls!
Can you believe we are heading into our second week of school already? Can you believe it is September already? The first week of school flew by! We’ve been very busy learning each other’s names, making rules for our classroom, and learning our daily routines. If there is one thing that is very important in school, it’s routine. All our owls are doing a great job learning this and we will continue to work on it as time goes on. Thank you for your patience as we all continue to adjust to our arrival and dismissal procedures. We appreciate your support in helping all our students arrive and dismiss from school safely. Don't forget that breakfast is served daily from 9:00-9:15. Our instructional day begins right at 9:15, which means this is when breakfast ends. If you want your student to eat breakfast at school, please ensure they arrive right at 9:00 AM so they have enough time.
Please contact our office if you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Nicole L. Hawkins,
AMES Principal
Arrival and Dismissal Procedure Reminders
ARRIVAL: All students will enter through the main doors (walkers, drop off, bus riders, and daycare van riders). Kindergarten teachers will meet all their students out front to the right of the school and walk their classes inside. Doors open at 9:00 AM. All students MUST be in their seats by 9:15 AM or they are considered tardy. Breakfast is served daily from 9:00-9:15 AM. Please ensure our scholars arrive on time daily!
DISMISSAL: Walkers and Parent Pick Up will be dismissed first starting at 3:45PM. Walkers will exit through the back doors of the school where the gym/cafeteria are located. It is understood that as walkers, these students ARE NOT being monitored by school staff once they leave the gymnasium exit doors for the day. They are instructed to walk home and not linger around the school. Parent Pick Up students will meet their pick up person on the side of the school near the trailers. Signs will be set up by grade level and we ask that parents line up behind their signs. If you have students in various grade levels, you will have to go to each grade level to retrieve each of your students. ONLY adults aged 18+ with a photo ID and that are on the child's emergency contact list will be permitted to pick up their student. NO EXCEPTIONS!! This is for the safety of our students and this is the policy of Charles County Public Schools. Bus riders and daycare van riders will dismiss from the front doors at the end of the school day.
School Bus Reminders
CCPS transportation staff is working to ensure all students have bus assignments in School Locator as soon as possible. Click here to access School Locator online. Routes will continue to be added into the first few weeks of school. You can also access the school locator online using the QR code below. As a reminder, kindergarten students must be met at the bus stop in the afternoon by a parent/guardian/adult family member. Please remember to review with your child what bus number they ride to and from school. This will help to prevent students from getting on the wrong bus tomorrow.
Shuttle schedules for students who attend North Point High School out-of-zone for career and technical education (CTE) programs are loaded to the CCPS transportation website at https://www.ccboe.com/departments/transportation.
School Locator is updated regularly with routes and changes as they are made. CCPS encourages parents to check the system for their child's bus information. Due to the volume of students with unassigned bus stops, some information may not yet be available. Please continue to check the system for bus assignment information. If you visit School Locator but receive an error that is a result of high traffic to the site. Please try to access the system later if you receive the error.
Transportation staff is also working quickly to answer help desk tickets. Parents can submit a help desk ticket at https://www.ccboe.com/departments/transportation/help-tickets. Please review the help desk ticket topics prior to submitting a request for assistance. Parents only need to submit one ticket. CCPS is prioritizing transportation needs of students who do not yet have a bus or route assignment and will address all other tickets as quickly as possible.
The bus hotline is available 6 to 10 a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. Please note if you call and do not reach a live person, staff managing the hotline are helping other callers. CCPS will post any bus change information, including substitute bus numbers and delayed buses, to the transportation Twitter page @CCPSBuses.
MyPaymentsPlus - Meal/Lunch Account Support
Parents who want to add money to their child’s meal account should use MyPaymentsPlus to deposit funds. Meal prices, menu items and a link to MyPayments Plus are posted online here. Parents will need their child’s six-digit student identification number to create and use a MyPaymentsPlus account. Please us the QR code below to apply for the free and reduced meals program.
Free and Reduced Meals Application
All families are encouraged to use the QR code below to apply online. This helps maintain funding at our school.
Technology Guide For Students and Parents
Please use the QR code below for technology support.
The Importance of Attendance
AMES teachers and staff are working very hard to become a school where students are achieving at their highest abilities. Regular student attendance is essential to this goal. Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in school success. Learning builds day by day. If your child is not in school he/she cannot learn. Our passion is to teach your children and we need them here. You may be surprised at how much learning happens in one day of school.
Good habits begin early and the most important school habit is regular attendance. By building the habit of daily attendance, you’ll help your child see that school is serious and chances are you’ll also see an improvement in your child’s grades. So make every effort to get your child to school on time every day.
As a school, our goal is for students to miss “10 or less for school success.” Our hope is that each student strives to have perfect attendance. We understand that there are times when students will be absent but these should be limited and under special circumstances. Those special circumstances tend to be medical and with notes from a doctor. Students enrolled in public schools must attend school regularly Monday through Friday.
We treasure and value our time with your child and feel that regular, on-time attendance is an important piece of the academic and social development of your child. Please let us know if we can help: We hope to work together to improve your child’s attendance this school year.
Tips to prevent absences:
¨ Talk about family expectations about school attendance.
¨ Discuss family expectations for earning a high school diploma.
¨ Praise positive behaviors and achievement in school.
¨ Look for attitudes from your child that indicate unhappiness with school or fear of attending school. Listen to what they say and ask questions. Address issues of concern with the school. Start with the teacher or the counselor.
¨ Work with your child to create morning and bedtime routines.
¨ Identify a “back up” plan for getting to and from school.
Make a commitment to ensuring your child is in school EVERY DAY!
Attendance Matters
Please use the QR Code below for the Charles County Policy on attendance.
Dates To Remember
September 5th -Labor Day, Schools closed for staff and students
September 6th - First day for Pre-K Students
September 11th - Grandparents Day and Patriot Day
September 13th - CCPS Board of Education meeting
September 16th - Schools closed for students, teacher professional development day
September 28th - 2 hour early dismissal, students begin dismissing at 1:40 PM
Open House 6:00-7:30 PM
October 10th - Columbus Day, Schools closed for students, parent teacher conference day
October 31st - Halloween
CCPS Dress Code Policy
Suggestive, provocative or excessively tight clothing is not allowed to be worn to school or to school-sponsored
activities. CCPS does not allow clothing to be worn on school property or to school-sponsored activities
which displays messages or images that are offensive, vulgar, harassing, or otherwise inappropriate for the school
setting. Clothing that is judged by the school administration to be disruptive to the orderly school process either
by virtue of the design or in the manner in which it is worn is also forbidden.
Members of the Charles County Association of Student Councils, in collaboration with parents, staff, and
community members, developed the following system-wide dress code, as amended and approved by the Board
of Education.
1. Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education, science labs,
wood shop, and other activities where unique hazards exist.
2. Shorts and skirts are permitted as long as they reach the middle of the thigh, defined as shoulders relaxed
and arms straight down alongside the body where fingertips touch the thigh. Slits in the skirt may not rise more
than two inches above fingertips.
3. Clothing must cover the chest area, cleavage, torso, and undergarments. Tops may not be lower than midback.
4. Spaghetti straps and garments that are both strapless and sleeveless are not permitted during the school day.
5. Undergarments must not be visible at any time.
6. Pants must be secured no lower than mid-hip.
7. Ripped pants are permitted as long as rips fall below the shorts length criteria, are limited to the front side
of the leg, and do not exceed three inches in diameter above the knee. Skin exposed by all other rips must be
covered by opaque clothing that is not underwear.
8. Leggings, biker-type/spandex shorts, or joggers must be opaque and worn with a top that meets the length
expectations of shorts and skirts (see #2).
9. Backless and open-toed shoes with a hard sole are permitted as long as the shoes do not pose a safety hazard.
Foam and similar soft-soled shoes, such as flip-flops or beach footwear, are prohibited.
10. Headwear is not permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, hats, skull caps, visors, bandannas, sweat
bands, shower caps, and hoods. Scarves may be worn as a headband only. (Exceptions may be granted based
on religious and medical reasons with proper verification.) Sunglasses are not permitted except during outdoor
activities.
11. Sleepwear and sleepwear-type clothing are only permitted for certain activities, such as overnight field trips
and spirit days.
12. Clothing that displays or symbolizes any language or material that is inappropriate for school or offensive
to any group is not permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, material relating to drugs, alcohol, profanity,
obscenity, racism, gang activity and violence.
13. Formal attire must not be disruptive or distracting. Spaghetti straps and strapless formal garments are acceptable
as long as adequate coverage is maintained during the activity. Slits in skirts or other garments must
meet the expectations for the same in rule #2. Transparent attire is prohibited. Necklines may not fall below
mid-sternum. Backless garments are permitted at any formal affair.
14. The dress code is in effect for participating students at all school-sponsored events on and off campus.
Note: Administrators have the flexibility to exercise their judgment to determine if a student’s attire is considered
disruptive, distracting, or a safety hazard. Exceptions may be granted for medical or religious reasons.
Cell Phone Policy and Procedures
Charles County Public Schools allows the possession and use of cell phones and other personal electronic
devices by students. It is the intent of the Superintendent to ensure that this allowance does not disrupt the learning
environment, after-school activities, or the safe transportation of students. Students are permitted to use cell
phones while attending (but not participating in) general public events that occur after-hours and are open to
the community. The following conditions outline the standard expectations for the possession and/or use of cell
phones by students at school, on the bus or on other school-chartered vehicles.
Elementary School
- Students may only bring their phone or device with approval from the principal.
- Once approved, student must keep their phone or device powered completely off (not on vibrate or silent mode) and inside their book bag, locker or cubby throughout the entirety of each school day, unless other storage arrangements are made with the teacher.
- Once approved for school, students may use their phone or device on the bus or school-chartered vehicle, but use must not be disruptive or cause a distraction to the driver at any time. Sound must only be audible through headphones. Phone conversations are prohibited.
Birthday Treats and School Snacks (brought in from home) Guidelines
Due to allergies, students and their parents/guardians are not allowed to bring to school and distribute any outside food products unless the products are commercially manufactured, individually wrapped in single serving sizes, and are marked with the ingredients and the nutritional facts label. Parents/guardians must obtain permission from their child's teacher or school administrator prior to bringing outside food for distribution so that the teacher/administrator can review the timing and impact on the school day, the benefit and fairness to students, and other considerations.
AMES Staff Notes
Counselor's Corner - Ms. Spriggs
AMES Family we are so happy to welcome everyone back to our 2022-2023 School Year! I am so excited to get to work with your students, and of course, you, as we work collaboratively to make this another amazing school year! Much like last year I will be pushing into classrooms monthly to teach social/emotional lessons to students and our first topic of the year is Growth Mindset! In addition, each day I share a short announcement about our Character Trait of the Month, Trust! I encourage you to take time to chat with your students about both topics. Lastly, I want to personally invite everyone to join our PTO this year so that you can be involved in what is going on here at Middleton. We have a bunch of great events coming and your support is needed! As always, if you need anything do not hesitate to reach out.
The Psychologist's Spot
Greetings parents and students, and welcome. I am Mr. Scott the School Psychologist assigned to Arthur Middleton Elementary School. I wanted to introduce myself and provide you with some information about my role here. Part of my role is to assist in making Middleton a safe environment for all students as well as improving students social/emotional well-being. I consult with teachers, staff, and parents to discuss ways to improve student success. I can work with groups of students or individuals (with parental permission). I am part of many teams, including the Student Support Team, 504 Team, and Special Education Team, all of which work towards providing the best education for each student. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the school!
Learning Resource Teacher
Hello Middleton Family, my name is Celeste Blakeney, and I am the new Learning Resource Teacher. I will be working with students in the Gifted and Talented Program as well as coordinating the testing.
Testing Highlights: Over the next two weeks K-5 students will take their fall assessments. Thank you in advance for ensuring your child comes to school on time (no later than 9:15 AM). Grades 1-5 testing will be Tuesday- Friday, September 6-9. Students will need headphones for the tests.
Testing Tip: Help your child eliminate negative thoughts or self-talk. Tell them to use positive affirmations, like “I am smart – I can do this.” Ensure they get a good night’s rest!
ESOL Teacher
Hola! My name is Mrs. Lee. I am the ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages), teacher at Middleton. I work with our English Learners. We work on speaking, listening, reading, and writing the English language. This will be my 4th year teaching ESOL at MiddletonJ.
Reading Resource Teacher
Hello Middleton families! My name is Ms. G. I am the Reading Resource Teacher at Arthur Middleton and I am thrilled to be here to work with our school community in the area of reading. As the new RRT (Reading Resource Teacher), I am excited to meet your students in the classrooms and infuse a passion for reading, learning and growth mindset! I am a huge advocate for parental engagement and am planning opportunities for collaboration at various upcoming school events! As we embark on a new year, many have already asked what can be done at home to assist their child in the area of reading and writing. My biggest advice is to have a positive attitude towards both reading and writing. Don't make it a chore! Making reading and writing fun and enjoyable is essential. Having a positive outlook on reading and creating an environment where books are loved is the foundation for a students' love of reading to flourish. ❤️
Here are a few resources about how to make reading fun at home:
https://www.signupgenius.com/home/make-reading-fun.cfm
https://www.readbrightly.com/how-to-make-reading-fun-25-ideas-kids-will
Reading Recovery
Hi, I am Ms. Lenharr, the Reading Recovery teacher at Arthur Middleton. As the Reading Recovery teacher, I work with first graders who are in need of a more intensive reading intervention. The goal of Reading Recovery is to provide individualized support and promote accelerated learning. I also provide small group interventions to students across the grade levels. These groups are typically made up of students who just need a little extra support with their reading skills.
Reading Interventionist
Hi, my name is Ms. Waffird (but some of you may already know me!). This school year I am excited to transition from kindergarten to being the Reading Interventionist at Middleton. I will work closely with classroom teachers to provide additional reading instruction for their students. In addition, I will focus on small groups of students to extend their learning on literacy activities such as decoding skills, word study, and comprehension strategies.
Math Interventionist
Hi! My name is Ms. Kay and I'm the math interventionist at AMES. I will be working with students at various grade levels in the area of math. Although I'm new to Middleton, I'm not new to the school system. I've taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade, and I'm so excited to now focus on math exclusively. I am married with two boys, two girls, and a spoiled ShihPoo. I'm looking forward to getting to work with your children this year!
Arthur Middleton Elementary School
1109 Copley Avenue
Waldorf
MD
20602
Feeder Schools: Hanson, Somers, & Stoddert Middle Schools
Total Enrollment: 600
School serves grades PreK-5
Main phone: 301-753-1749 | 301-645-3338
Fax number: 301-944-0881
School hours: 9:15 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.