May Tidbits #2

Attendance Matters:

Maryland's attendance rate represents the average daily attendance rate of students in grades 1-12. The state's proficient standard for attendance rate is 94% and the advanced standard is 96%.

TCES Currently: 92.7%

The chronic absenteeism measure identifies students that are absent (lawful AND unlawful) 10% or more of the school days while enrolled at that school. For example, a student who is registered to attend a school for 30 days and who is absent 3 of those 30 days is considered chronically absent.

Last year: 32% of students at TCES were considered chronically absent

Currently: 22.4% of students at TCES are considered chronically absent

5/6-5/10 TCES Attendance Rate: 95.5%

5/6- 5/10 Grade Level Attendance Award:

5th grade won the week with 99%. AMAZING JOB, 5th GRADE!

We're grateful to all for your efforts to be here! Every day matters in the pursuit of knowledge.

You can check attendance records in HAC. If you notice any days that are unlawful (marked red), please send an email to smverhaagh@smcps.org, or submit the reason for the absence online through our school website.

Our new incentive program to help make lunch time run smoothly has been a big success! Grade levels earn a ticket for following the school-wide cafeteria expectations. These expectations include raising your hand, not sharing food, cleaning up after yourself, using good table manners, and staying in seats. These tickets go in a bucket, and one ticket will be drawn on Fridays. The grade level whose ticket is drawn gets to hae a golden fork and spoon hung outside their door. The PTO graciously purchased a Yacker Tracker to keep track of the noise level in the cafeteria. When the light turns red, it means the noise level is too high. We are keeping track of the total number of red lights each day.

This week, our Kindergarten class is the winner of the Golden Spoon and Fork! Way to go!!

Ask your child to tell you more about our cafeteria expectations and the new lunch time incentive!

All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will be taking the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) for both ELA and Math during April and May:

3rd Grade Math: May 13, 15 - 17, make-ups May 20 (no school May 14 - Election Day)

We know state testing can be very stressful for students. Below, you will find helpful things you can do to help your child with testing:

• make sure your child attends every day and is at school on time so we can begin testing promptly
• students who are not in the classrooms by 9:15 will not be able to test that day and will have to complete the test on a make-up day
• students are not permitted to leave early for any reason, unless in the event of an emergency; students must stay for the duration of the testing time
• make sure your child eats breakfast- every student is offered free breakfast in the classrooms have your child get a good night's sleep

If you have any questions, please contact the school.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools, in collaboration with Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership, is hosting a Surf the Mental Health & Wellness Wave: A Resource & Education Fair on May 18, 2024, from 10 AM-3 PM, at the James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center. Come interact with and gather information from over 35 Mental Health & Wellness vendors. There will be numerous guest speakers and presentations on several different mental health and wellness topics. Use the QR code in the health fair flyer to view the schedule of events. In addition, there will be food trucks, door prizes, and lots of fun! Please join us!!

Per a recent press release, St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) began accepting Pre- Kindergarten 4 Applications on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future allows for families with children who are 4 years old on or before September 1, 2024, to apply for full-day Pre-Kindergarten. All families are welcome to apply; however, income is the primary qualifier for eligibility. Families with an annual income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or families that are experiencing homelessness are deemed income eligible and will be accepted first. All applications will be screened and identified on a System of Tiers.

The SMCPS website, www.smcps.org, has information and guidance for completing the 2024-

2025 Pre-Kindergarten Application. You may also contact us using the helpdesk form, call 301-

475-5511 ext. 32285, or email Mrs. Charlottis Woodley, Director of Parent & Family

Engagement, at cmwoodley@smcps.org. Spanish language assistance is available.

There are also resources available to facilitate connections to high-quality childcare: The

Promise Resource Center at 240-258-2288, the MSDE Childcare Finder, and the SMCPS’ Judy Center Early Learning Hubs at 301-863-4068.

We'll be adding at-home practice for guardians and students to work on!!!

Kindergarten:

Comparing characters in one story or from multiple stories

First:

Using text features

Subtracting two digit numbers

Second:

Research writing

Third:

Math MCAP

Fourth:

Research writing

Fifth:

Reading - Determining the theme of a piece of fiction

Math - Division and decimals

Thank you for your support!

Mr. Kent and the TCES family

1. Have a change of phone number, email, or address? Contact the office right away. We need to be able to reach you if your child is ill or has an emergency.

2. Let the office know IN WRITING if you are designating someone other than a guardian to pick up your child at any day and time.

3. Opt-In to the School Messenger Text Messaging Service. For more information, click on this flyer. There is also an FAQ with additional information.

4. Got a birthday to celebrate? Please familiarize yourself with the TCES procedures for Birthday Celebrations.

Help us recognize all of our Treasured Terrapins the whole month of May! Nominate one of our wonderful staff members and let us know what a great job they are doing, how they positively help other staff, families, or our TCES students! Fill out this form to show your gratitude!

Ready to rock some new Town Creek threads? A wide variety of spirit wear is available, from hoodies to sweatpants! We are now offering both our "traditional" white-on-blue selections and a new black-on-heather-gray color scheme. Get yours today!

Select this link to see pictures and detailed descriptions of the items currently available in both youth and adult sizes. You can check out the samples in the case in Town Creek's lobby, too!

To order, you can print this form and send cash or check, or you can order everything online in the My School Bucks School Store. For directions on how to order through the MSB School Store, please select this link.

The items will be delivered to your student at school as soon as they arrive at TCES. Hats are immediately available!

**NOTE: Do not put money into the lunch money account for this purchase! That is a separate account from the School Store and can NOT be transferred.

Parents or guardians of children receiving special education and related services were mailed the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey from MSDE during the week of February 12, 2024. Parents are asked to complete the survey and return it in the postage-paid envelope by May 24, 2024. The Survey may also be completed online. Parent feedback will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in SMCPS. To learn more, please visit https://www.mdparentsurvey.com.

SMCPS and SMC R&P have partnered to offer the new Summer Sports Academies. Campers will be instructed by area high school coaches. Camps are held Monday -Thursday. Click below for more information. Don't miss this opportunity!

https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/recreate/camps

https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/docs/thescoop.pdf

Camp Dare is being offered to students who will be in 5th Grade for the 2024-2025 School Year. Camp will run this summer from July 29 - August 2. Camp applications can be found on www.firstsheriff.com. Contact campdare@stmaryscountymd.gov for more information.

Thank you to everyone who turned out to support our efforts during Teacher Appreciation Week!

Please join us and participate in the next meetings! They will be on Wednesday, May 22, with the Board meeting beginning at 5:15 p.m. and the General meeting beginning at 6:15 p.m. in the TCES Media Center. The elections for Board Positions for next school year will take place at the general meeting. We encourage all current members to attend!

The minutes of our April 16 meetings are available for reading here.

Want to get more involved? Be sure to fill out the membership application and join the PTO!

Questions? Contact PTO president Lydia Rivera at towncreekesptopresident@gmail.com.

Our Crumbl Cookie Spirit Night will be May 15 from 4-7pm!

"To-go" meals for will be available over the summer at LHS, CHS, OES, and SRMS. These schools will be offering 5-day meal pick-up on Mondays starting June 10th. Parents must pre-register their children by filling out this form or bringing them to the site when they pick up meals.

• May 14th - Primary Election Day - No School for Students
• May 21st - Joe Corbi's Fundraiser Delivery/Pickup
• May 23rd - TCES Spring Concert at 6:30 p.m.
• May 27th - Holiday - Memorial Day - All Schools and Offices Closed
• May 31st - Field Day and Career Day
• June 6 - Last Day for PreK Students
• June 6 - Two-Hour Early Dismissal for All Students
• June 7 - Last Day for K-12 students (Two-Hour Early Dismissal Day)