We are a family of learners who trust each other and work together

to ensure all are safe and successful.

Dear PES Families,

We hope everyone is having a great weekend!

We are pleased to announce that our annual Academic Night will be held on Wednesday, 11/20, starting at 6:00 PM! This is our most well-attended night of the year! This year, we will launch our second One School, One Book Journey on our Academic Night as Humphrey the Hamster adventures continue! We will have multiple food trucks on hand, outdoor eating, games for families, raffles and giveaways, and much more! Our Preston Panther PTO will also be coordinating our food vendors at Academic Night! This week, we will begin our advertising campaign, so stay on the lookout for social media and website blog posts, emails, and paper copies of our flier coming home very soon! We hope you can join us for this amazing night!

This week, we shine our PES Educator Spotlight on Ms. Veronica August. Ms. August teaches 4th and 5th grade ELA and 5th Grade Science and Social Studies. She has taught for 22 years here at PES. She has a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with a concentration in SPED from Penn West Clarion and a Master’s in Implementing Technology in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. Ms. August plans to keep teaching her heart out and educating students well into the future! We are so thankful that Ms. August has made the Panther Pride Den her home! #PESEducators #PESPantherPride

Our school is continuing to take part in an exciting, community-wide shared reading event. Today, after our newest special school-wide assembly, your child received a copy of the book—Friendship According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney—and again is being asked to read it with his or her family at home over the next few weeks. We ask you to make the time to read the book together so your family can participate in this fun reading experience. The information in our newsletter below is being sent home with all students, can be found on our website and blog, and has been emailed to all families

Please read our full newsletter for all the latest PES and CCPS news. This includes information from our school, the larger school district, and some of our community partners offering resources to our families.

Please download the CCPS App from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store as soon as possible. CCPS and PES use our app as our primary method of communication. It is a hub for news, posts, emails, calls, and more, enabling our families to stay up-to-date on the latest CCPS news.

Important upcoming events included in this newsletter are:

1. Picture Retakes - Tuesday, 11/19/24

2. PES One School, One Book Academic Night - 6:00-7:15 PM - Wednesday, 11/20/24

Transportation—It is stressful when your child's bus is delayed. When a delay occurs, our priority is to ensure student safety and correct the issue causing the delay. However, we will try to send a CCPS App call or email to advise of a delay. Please ensure your contact information is accurate by calling our front office staff with any changes.

Health & Wellness—Please be assured that the staff is here to help in any way possible. If you or your student would like to speak with a school counselor, administrator, or staff member at the School-Based Health Center, please ask. We have the resources at hand to ensure students have a healthy and successful school year.

If you have any questions related to the happenings at PES please reach out to me via email (angeloni.antonio@ccpsstaff.org) or by calling the school directly.

Here are the contents of this week's newsletter:

• PES Updates Message from Mr. Angeloni - UPDATED - 11/17/24

• PES Academic Night - 11/20/24 - NEW

• One School, One Book 2024! - NEW

• Picture Retakes - 11/19/24 - NEW

• PES Teacher Spotlight! - Ms. Veronica August - NEW

• The PES PTO Corner - UPDATED - 11/17/24

• CCPS 24-25 Calendar - REPOST

• CCPS Title I Parent Survey - REPOST

• Powerschool Information Updates - REPOST

• CCPS - Universal Breakfast and Lunch - REPOST

• CCPS Code of Conduct - REPOST

• Download the CCPS App today! - REPOST

• Choptank Health - November Newsletter - NEW

• Cook Center Resources - REPOST

• Attendance Reminders - REPOST

• Update on CCPS Lunches - REPOST

• CCPS Food Backpack Program - NEW for 24-25

• Promoting a healthy and safe environment for ALL students and staff - REPOST

• PES School Improvement Plan and Family Engagement Home Compact - UPDATED

• PES Parent Title I Information - REPOST

We appreciate the patience, kindness, and flexibility our community continues to show our staff!

Sincerely,

A.J. Angeloni

Dear PES Families,

Join Us for Academic Night at Preston Elementary!

When: Wednesday, November 20th

Food Trucks & Warm Drinks will be available starting at 5 PM with outdoor seating

Doors open for Games, Book Raffles & Fun at 6:00 to 7:15 PM

Bring the whole family for an evening of learning, laughter, and community connection! Plus, we’re excited to support a food drive sponsored by the Ruritan Club. Donate a canned good or non-perishable food item at the event, and each student who donates will be entered in a drawing for free ice cream or snacks from the cafeteria! Winners will be announced the next day.

We can’t wait to see you there for a night of fun and giving back! #PESPantherpride

Hello PES Families!

Our school is continuing to take part in an exciting, community-wide shared reading event. Today, after our newest special school-wide assembly, your child received a copy of the book—Friendship According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney—and again is being asked to read it with his or her family at home over the next few weeks. We ask you to make the time to read the book together so your family can participate in this fun reading experience. The information below is being sent home with all students, will be emailed to all families, and can be found in our newsletter.

This year we will be spotlighting our PES Teachers in our front office for our community to see! In our PES Front Office we have a new showcase board, and every week this board will feature a different PES teacher. This showcase will highlight the educational and professional accomplishments of our amazing PES teachers, and the journey that has led them to our Panthers. We will also share the PES Teacher Spotlight in our newsletter every week!

This week, we shine our PES Educator Spotlight on Ms. Veronica August. Ms. August teaches 4th and 5th grade ELA and 5th Grade Science and Social Studies. She has taught for 22 years here at PES. She has a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with a concentration in SPED from Penn West Clarion and a Master’s in Implementing Technology in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. Ms. August plans to keep teaching her heart out and educating students well into the future! We are so thankful that Ms. August has made the Panther Pride Den her home! #PESEducators #PESPantherPride

Upcoming Events:

• PTO Movie Night - Friday, 12/13/24

You can reach the PTO at:

info.prestonpantherpto@gmail.com

Last year, our Title I Parent/Family Engagement funds provided important resources to our students and families, including family academic nights and engaging materials for all elementary schools. Each year we base our programs on your feedback. Please help us again this year by taking the Title I Family Engagement Survey.

Current Family Engagement Plan: English | Espanol | Kreyòl ayisyen

Please see this important article with information on how to update your PowerSchool information for your student(s).

All Caroline County Public School students may eat breakfast and lunch free of charge this year, with no application needed. CCPS now participates in the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows free meals for all students in schools in low-income areas. There will still be a charge for extra items such as snacks. School menus may be found on the Caroline Schools, MD free mobile app and on all CCPS websites.

In addition prices for snack items in CCPS have increased:

Doritos are now 1.00

Baked Chips are now 1.50

Juice Boxes are now 1.25

Code of Student Conduct:

https://5il.co/2t9gg

Parent Guide to the Code of Student Conduct:

https://5il.co/2twdh

Parent Guide to the Student Technology Obligations

Parent coaching can be that breath of fresh air that guides you to sunnier days. Parent Coaching is a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL resource provided by your school district that connects you with a coach and content created by therapists. All coaching correspondence is HIPAA protected. Click here to register for on-going support from a coach: https://cookcenter.info/coaching

Después de un largo invierno, llega la primavera con esperanza. Asesoría para Padres puede ser la brisa fresca que te guía a días más soleados. Asesoría para Padres es un recurso GRATIS y CONFIDENCIAL disponible en su distrito escolar que lo conecta con un asesor y contenido creado por terapeutas. Toda la correspondencia de asesoría está protegida por las leyes HIPAA. Presione aquí para registrarse y recibir apoyo continuo de un asesor https://cookcenter.info/coaching

An important message about attendance:

Good attendance for your student begins on the first day of the school year. Consider the following facts:

• Chronic absenteeism may prevent children from reaching early milestones.

• Chronically absent students have difficulty keeping up with the pace at which they are expected to learn and grow.

• Students who are absent even a day or two every few weeks fall behind their peers.

• Irregular attendance can be a better predictor of whether students will drop out before graduation than test scores.

• Consistent, on-time attendance is a habit that lasts into adulthood.

In addition to wanting the best possible education for your child, we also closely monitor absences because Maryland law requires that children ages 5-18 attend school. Students may be withdrawn if not attending school regularly; students not enrolled or attending will be considered truant.

How Can Parents Encourage Good Attendance?

• Build good attendance habits early so children know that getting to school on time every day is important!

• Set a regular bedtime & morning routine, laying out clothes and backpacks the night before.

• Avoid scheduling appointments & trips when school is in session.

• Don't let your child stay home unless he/she is truly sick.

• Consider that sometimes a stomach ache or headache is a sign of anxiety. If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to the school about helpful resources.

Please see the flyer and the link to the form for food backpack registration directly below the flyer.

Parents please see the following link for PES and all CCPS school lunch menus:

CCPS/PES Lunch Menu Dashboard

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.

PES Families,

Please see our 23-24 School Improvement Plan and Family Engagement Home Compact for your reference.

PES 23-24 SIP Plan

PES 24-25 Family Engagement Home Compact

PES 24-25 Family Engagement Home Compact Translated

PES Parent Involvement Plan/Letter 24-25

PES Parent Involvement Plan/Letter 24-25 Translated

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.

If you have any Title I questions please do not hesitate to school the school directly.

Principal: A.J. Angeloni

Assistant Principal: Deanne Waters

Email: angeloni.antonio@ccpsstaff.org
Website: https://www.prestones.org/
Location: 225 Main Street, Preston, MD, USA
Phone: 410-479-2897
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prestonelementaryschool/

Caroline County Public Schools prohibits discrimination in its educational programs, and in employment, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or disability.