Cecilton Elementary Update

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year at Cecilton Elementary where we are excited to open our doors to our new and returning students. We are looking forward to helping your child grow and learn each and every day. Over the course of the year, we will see our students embark on many learning opportunities that will allow them to explore the world as they work to achieve grade level expectations and beyond.

Our school continues to have Community Eligibility Status with the US Department of Agriculture so every student at Cecilton will receive a free breakfast and lunch every day. Students who would like to purchase a snack are able to do so and the cost will depend on the item that is selected. As always, families may choose to pack a daily lunch for their children, but that is optional.

Please make sure that someone is available at the phone number that the school has on file, especially on the first day. As a first day practice, our office staff reconciles all arrival and dismissal information with how the child has arrived at school. If there is any question or discrepancy, someone from the main office will verify with a family member a child's dismissal information.

Each week, we will share an updated version of this newsletter with all families to help you remain informed of what is happening at school. Another great way to remain connected is to join our school Facebook page HERE.

A welcome message from our Superintendent, Dr. Lawson, can be found HERE. The weekly Superintendent's Update can be found HERE Inside this document, you can learn about important community events ranging from immunization events to ESOL classes to a special dinner event to learn how to help your child become and independent writer.

Enjoy the Labor Day holiday tomorrow and we will see everyone at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3rd.

Please make sure that students are at their stops at least 10 minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the bus each day. On the first few days, please have your child at the stop at least 15 minutes before is scheduled to arrive. Bus stops are located at the end of driveways so children should not wait on their front porch for the bus to arrive. Please review safe bus information with you child, including waiting patiently for the bus to stop, following all directions from the driver and avoiding being in any of the red zones identified in the diagram below. By the end of the first week, routes should have settled into their rhythm and the bus should begin to arrive at the same time daily.

Car rider sign up information will be sent home in first day packets. Please make sure to fill out the information completely. Please be especially patient in the car loop for the first few days of dismissal as the children new to this process take a few extra minutes to learn their dismissal routine.

We will be welcoming new staff members to our school over the next few weeks. Let's begin with some of the new members of our teaching staff:

Hello Cecilton Elementary! My name is Lexi Critchfield and I am so excited to be your new first grade teacher. I have worked at CCPS for eleven years in first and second grade. It is going to be wonderful working with our community and students this school year and I look forward to meeting the new first graders. I have a first grader and one still in daycare and they love back to school time. We are all excited to get this year started!

Hi! I am Kim Morris, Community School Advisor for Cecilton Elementary School. I have been with CCPS, in various roles, for 27 years and am eager to begin my 28th year working with students and their families in the Cecilton community. My goal is to address and support the needs of students and families to ensure academic success. I look forward to a wonderful school year ahead!

Welcome back Cecilton families! Here are a few reminders as we begin the new school year.

Healthy Start:

• Please send your students with a water bottle every day.

• If your child is sick with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea do NOT send them to school. Call the nurse for next steps or if you have any questions.

Dress for success:

• Dress your student in weather appropriate clothing. At times the building can be a bit chilly so an extra layer that can be removed is helpful.

• Spills, falls, and accidents happen! All students should have a change of clothes in their locker.

Forms:

• Student Health History forms were sent home and should be completed every year by a parent/guardian.

• Physical forms were sent home with every student. Please have your student’s doctor complete the form during their annual visit.

• Blood lead test results are also necessary for students in PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade.

Medications:

• If your child takes any medications, the state of Maryland requires a new form signed by a doctor every year. Please reach out to me if you have any questions.

• Cough drops may be sent into the school but must be stored in the health room. A written and signed note from the parent/guardian is also necessary approving its use.

I look forward to a happy and healthy year! Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

All the best,

Nurse Thayer

Narges Thayer, BSN, RN

Cecilton Elementary School Nurse

410-275-1000 (Phone)

410-275-1271 (Fax)

nmthayer@ccps.org

We need your help! Our school is looking forward to having volunteers support the work that happens in our schools. Please fill out THIS form to indicate your interest and a member of our team will follow-up with you about attending a volunteer training session.

At CES, we are in dire need of Spanish speaking volunteers. If you speak Spanish and want to help at school, please contact us. We have a range of opportunities, both in the building and work from home, that can help support our students. Once the google form is completed, our Community School Advisor, Mrs. Morris, will contact you. Please reach out with any questions!

Our Judy Center is growing again! We are adding MORE playgroups on MORE days of the week. This is a fantastic opportunity for the families of our youngest learners and their siblings who are not yet school age!

Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee: New Year, New Topics! Please join us for our first SECAC meeting of the year on September 26, 2024, from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Administrative Services Building 900 North East Road. We want to hear from you!

Learn to build secure parent-child relationships. This program is open to ALL caregivers.

If you know of new families in our area that may need help with the enrollment process, please let us know. Our new Community School Advisor can reach out to help them with the enrollment process!

Several immunization events have been scheduled by the Cecil County Health Department to help all families have access to vaccinations for their children. Scan to QR code below or call the CC Health Department to schedule an appointment.