Charles County Public Schools 2020-2021 Parent Handbook/Calendar Charles County Public Schools Contact Us Superintendent’s Welcome Address: Dear Parents/Guardians: 5980 Radio Station Road (Physical address) P.O. Box 2770 (Mailing address) Welcome to the 2020-21 school year. Whether this is your child’s first year with Charles County La Plata, MD 20646 Public Schools (CCPS) or your children are returning students, I am excited to work with you as we Phone: 301-932-6610, 301-870-3814 continue to navigate teaching and learning during a health pandemic. Fax: 301-932-6651 CCPS remains committed to providing an outstanding, quality educational experience. This school Website: www.ccboe.com year, that experience may include a mix of in-person and virtual distance learning. The safety and TV Stations: Comcast Channel 96/Verizon FiOS security of students and staff is a top priority, and we have worked to provide options to ensure that Channel 12 Follow us on Twitter @ccps safety. Since the start of COVID-19, CCPS has implemented guidelines and recommendations from Like us on Facebook at Charles County Public Schools the state and local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the Follow us on Instagram at focusonccps Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Email: [email protected] Kimberly A. Hill, Ed.D. The home-to-school connection has always been essential in the education of a child. More than ever, 24-hour information line: Superintendent of Schools the home-to-school relationship is key if your children are going to stay on track academically and 301-934-7410, 301-932-6656 [email protected] receive a rigorous education that prepares them for life, college and careers. Our teachers are ready, For other contacts, see pages 32-33. On Twitter @ccpssupt and we have set high expectations for students. While we recognize the challenges associated with distance learning, CCPS has plans to meet our students’ virtual learning needs. The 2020-21 Parent Handbook/Calendar is produced by the This year, we will achieve one-to-one computing for all middle and high school students and teachers. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Communications CCPS will issue students and teachers a laptop equipped with a microphone and camera so students Department. Call 301-934-7220 for more information. can participate in virtual learning. CCPS also plans to provide an electronic device to elementary students in need of a device by reissuing the more than 9,000 laptops we loaned to students at the end Writer/Designer: of last school year. Shelley Mackey, APR, Communications Specialist Virtual learning will mirror the school day your child would typically receive while attending school Editors: in person. Teachers will use a new student learning platform to manage virtual learning. The platform, Katie O’Malley-Simpson, APR which is connected to Synergy, will make it easier for students to log in and join online classes. The Director, Communications & Media Relations platform offers a secure Zoom feature where teachers can provide group and one-on-one learning with Sara K. Taylor, Communications Specialist students in live video. Information included in the Parent Handbook/Calendar is subject to change throughout the school year. Visit the CCPS Student accountability with virtual learning is the same as if students were in the actual classroom – website, www.ccboe.com, for the most up-to-date calendar. expectations will remain high, and students will be responsible for their education. Teachers will take attendance, assign traditional grades to assignments and award credit to students. As COVID-19 recommendations are updated, CCPS has plans in place to adjust school schedules. CCPS regularly uses email, text messages and phone calls to communicate with parents throughout the school year. Please provide your child’s school with your current telephone number and email address to ensure that you receive important updates. You can also find CCPS news on our website at Pictured on the front cover, left to right, are Dr. James ccboe.com and our Facebook page under Charles County Public Schools. Craik Elementary School student Briana Lim; Benjamin Stoddert Middle School physical education teacher Brit- Thank you for your support of teaching and learning. tany Aley and student Naveah Davis; and Thomas Stone High School 2020 graduate Arthur Williams IV. Pictured on the back cover is Billingsley Elementary Kimberly A. Hill, Ed.D. School student Elizabeth Nguyen. Superintendent of Schools Staff honored for excellence Index Accident insurance for students ......................................................... 28 Kindergarten ....................................................................................... 8 Administrative office information ...................................................... 32 Library media program ...................................................................... 24 Admissions and immunizations ......................................................... 2 Maryland Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement ...... 18 Animals on school property ............................................................... 28 Middle school ..................................................................................... 8 Anti-teasing/bullying/harassment programs ...................................... 28 Equity and Diversity Committee ....................................................... 30 Asbestos ............................................................................................. 28 Mission ...................................................................... Inside front cover AskCCPS ........................................................................................... 26 Parent visitation/observation ............................................................. 2 Attendance ......................................................................................... 6 ParentVue, StudentVue ....................................................................... 6 Before- and after-school care ............................................................ 28 Photographs/videos ............................................................................ 2 Be the Difference awards program .................................................... 16 Prekindergarten ............................................................................... 8/12 Orlena Whatley, principal of Dr. Samuel A. Board of Education ............................................................................ 4 Project Graduation ............................................................................. 30 Mudd Elementary School, is the 2020 Charles Budget ................................................................................................ 28 Proof of domicile ............................................................................... 30 County Public Schools Principal of the Year. College and Career Centers ............................................................... 20 PAC/PTOs/PTSOs ............................................................................. 24 She was a finalist for theWashington Post 2020 Career and Technical Education programs ........................................ 28 Pupil personnel workers ..................................................................... 22 Cell phone rule ............................................................................. 28-29 Reading partners ................................................................................ 24 Principal of the Year award. CCASC ............................................................................................... 18 Reading program ................................................................................ 12 Channel 96/Verizon FiOS Channel 12 .............................................. 24 Reading review committee ................................................................ 30 Child abuse reporting ......................................................................... 26 Robert D. Stethem Educational Center .............................................. 20 Collection of bad checks .................................................................... 29 School/center phone numbers and addresses ....... 32/Inside back cover Communications ................................................................................ 24 School health program ....................................................................... 22 Community centers ............................................................................ 29 School Locator ................................................................................... 6 Conduct .............................................................................................. 26 School psychological services ........................................................... 22 Copies of student records ................................................................... 31 School resource officers ..................................................................... 26 Dress code .......................................................................................... 29 School Safety Advisory Council ....................................................... 30 Drug-free zones .................................................................................. 29 Searches of students .........................................................................