Week at a Glance / August 29 - September 2
This is a RED week
(Grade 3-5)
Monday
8/29/16 /
- First Day of School! Let the Adventure Begin!
Tuesday
8/30/16 /
- Back to School Night for Grades 1-2 (6 -7 p.m.)
- Volunteer Training (7 p.m.)
Wednesday
8/31/16 /
- Back to School Night for Grades 3-5 (6 -7 p.m.)
- Volunteer Training (7 p.m.)
Thursday
9/01/16
Friday
9/02/16 /
- Enjoy the Labor Day Weekend!
School Messenger
Throughout the year, parents receive e-mail and phone messages from our notification system.Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are taken from the emergency contact information provided by parents at the beginning of the school year. School Messenger will greatly enhance our communication with parents and our school communities.
Parking Lot & Parent Pick-Up Requests
We thank those of you who use our very safe and efficient school bus transportation to send your children to and from school each day. We are hopeful that the large number of Parent Drop-off/Pick-up students will decrease this year so that our parking lot remains safe for everyone.
*Please note that, if you choose to use the Parent Pick-up procedure for dismissal, certain rules must be followed to keep our children safe:
- We all must wait our turn in line. Do not park your car and remove your child from the Parent Pick-up line in order to beat the traffic. Everyone’s time is valuable.
- Please know that “Lobby Pick-up” should only be requested for special circumstances and not as a regular daily dismissal procedure. Additional bodies in our front lobby space easily creates a disorganized and sometimes unsafe situation for our students as they begin traveling to their cars and buses at dismissal time.
- It is extremely important that if your child’s dismissal procedure is changing on any given day that the front office be informed prior to 3:30 p.m. Children (and adults) are often confused with last minute changes and our first priority is to keep our children safe and comfortable. Please do not request any changes in daily transportation procedures after 3:30 p.m.
- If you choose to drive you student, please be advised that the bus loop attendants may not be able to open the door for your child.
- SCHOOL BUSES ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY!
Thank you!
Cafeteria News!
Please be sure to join us every day for a delicious, healthy breakfast and lunch. We have been busy making your school high tech and better than ever. Here are some things that we think you need to know to enhance your cafeteria experience.
Didyouknowthatyourchildhasacafeteriaaccount?Everystudentwhogoesthroughourcafeterialine will useaunique,PersonalIdentificationNumber(PIN)toaccesstheiraccount.Parentshavetheoptiontoaddany denominationtothe accountforthepurchaseofmealsand snackitems.Itisaconvenientwaytoensurethat moneyis notlostor forgottenduringthathecticmorningrush!
Ok,sowhatisthePIN?Eachstudenthasbeenissuedaunique,5 digitPINnumber.Pleasehelpthemrememberthisnumber!Itmakesthelinemovefasterand ensuresthateveryonehasplentyoftimetoenjoytheir meal.If theydohappentoforgetthenumber,thecashierwill be abletofinditfor them.
HowdoIput moneyontheaccount?It’seasy!
Visit toadd anyvaluetotheaccountwitha creditcard.(Thereisa smallserviceproviderfeeforthetransaction.)You’llneedyourchild’sPINnumbertocompletethesimpleregistrationprocess.Pleasenote:onlinepaymentsrequire 24hourstoprocessbeforeyourchildcanaccessthe money.
Youcanstillsendinachecktoyourschool’scafeteria.Thecafeteriamanagerwilladdittotheaccount.
ThemoneyaddedtotheaccountcanbeusedtopurchasemealsANDsnackitems.
Andofcourse…wewillstillacceptcash!Cashtransactionswill alsorequireyourstudenttoentertheir PINnumber.
CanI monitorwhatmychildispurchasing?Sure!Visitand setupaFREE account.Onceyoucompletethesimpleregistrationprocess(you’llneedyourchild’sPINtogetstarted)youcansetuplowbalancealertsandmonitorwhattheyarepurchasing.
Youcanforgetaboutuseitor loseit!Anymoneythatisleftonyourchild’saccountwillcarryoverfromyear toyear.
If you are sending cash or check to school, please include this form:
Sendingcashorchecktoschool?Includethisformwithyourinitialpayment.
Student’s Name ______
Homeroom Teacher ______
Amount Enclosed ______
____Please place ALL of the money on my child’s general account for the purchase of either meals, milk, or snacks.
____Please place the money on my child’s account, but I want to specify:
$______for Breakfast and Lunch
$______for Milk or Snacks
______
Portable Electronic Devices
The Board of Education recognizes that the use of personally-owned portable electronic devices plays a beneficial role in the educational process. Carroll County Public Schools allows for the use of portable electronic devices owned by adults and students in grades 3-12 during the school day when used within established guidelines. The use of these devices is voluntary. Examples of portable electronic devices include, but are not limited to: laptops, tablets, netbooks, mobile phones, mp3 player, and eReaders. School staff members are not expected to assist students with troubleshooting problems with personally owned devices.
Carroll County Public Schools assumes no responsibility for the loss, damage, theft, or charging of personally owned portable electronic devices and/or related accessories brought to school or on the school buses. Students bring these devices to Carroll County Public Schools at their own risk.
Gifted and Talented Program
The CCPS Gifted and Talented Program is designed to meet the needs of highly able learners and maximize student achievement. Gifted and Talented teachers, in collaboration with classroom instructors, will continue to provide a continuum of interventions designed to meet the needs of Gifted and Talented Education Program participants. This may include in-class instruction, pullout groups, and/or resource development with classroom teachers. A Referral and Review Team will determine student eligibility for interventions. Indicators for participation include observational checklists, standardized test scores, work samples, and classroom performance. Although students are not formally identified until the beginning of third grade, Gifted and Talented teachers will continue to provide a range of services for grades K-5.
Mechanicsville Safety
At Mechanicsville, safety of our students is one of our number one priorities.Please remember that all of our exterior doors, including the front doors, are locked during the instructional day. All visitors and volunteers must sign-in with a driver’s license in the front office upon arrival at each visit. Once signed-in, all visitors and volunteers will receive a time-stamped badge that must be worn at all times during that specific visit. We welcome and appreciate all of our wonderful volunteers and community support. Thank you for allowing us to provide a safe learning environment for your children.
Carroll County Public Schools has adopted a new standard response protocol when responding to emergencies. The protocol uses four easily identified commands. Each command is accompanied by a recognizable symbol. At Mechanicsville, each room has the protocol posted and teachers and staff have been trained on its use.
For more information, please visit the I Love you guys foundation at
Use of Student Work on Websites or in Publications
There may be times throughout the year when the Carroll County Public School System wishes to display student work on school websites or in publications. If you do not wish to have your child’s art, poetry, writing, etc. appear on school websites or in publications, please notify the school principal in writing. It is assumed that parents and guardians consent to their child’s work being displayed on school websites or in publications unless such notification is received.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry or national origin, religion, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The CCPS provides nondiscriminatory access to school facilities in accordance with its policies and regulations regarding the community use of schools (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts). The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Gregory J. Bricca
Director of Research and Accountability
125 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland21157
410.751.3068