LA PLATA, Md. (Aug. 22, 2016)—The 2016-17 school year for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) officially begins on Monday, Aug. 29 for students in grades kindergarten through 12. The school system expects more than 26,500 students to fill hallways and classrooms next week. These students will join the more than 2,000 teachers who reported back to class today and are busy preparing for another year of teaching and learning.
CCPS is still working to fill classroom vacancies for the coming year. As of today, 197 new teachers have been hired for the school year. There are 41 vacancies, mostly in critical shortage areas like science, mathematics and special education.
The system's youngest learners—those enrolled in the prekindergarten and three-year-old programs—start their school year on Tuesday, Sept. 6. CCPS has a special back to school page on the system website at www.ccboe.com/backtoschool2016.php . The following information includes important back to school details.
Register your child for school
Registration is currently taking place at all schools. Parents will need the following information in order to register their child for school:
A physical examination by a physician or a certified practitioner (completed between nine months prior to and six months after entering school).
Proof of required immunizations—a list of required immunizations for students is available on the CCPS website at www.ccboe.com/community/parents/health/vrequirments.php .
Proof that the student has completed the grade prior to the one in which the parent is seeking enrollment, such as a report card marked promoted.
Child's birth certificate or other acceptable proof of birth (e.g. passport/visa; physician's certificate; baptismal or church certification; hospital certificate; or birth registration).
Two proofs of domicile (address)—a list of acceptable proofs is posted on the CCPS website at www.ccboe.com/community/parents/register.php .
New school websites
Charles County Public Schools recently launched new websites for all schools. The new sites feature a school specific events calendar, photo slideshow and up-to-date news for parents, students and the school community. The new sites replace all school Edline websites and include a link to the Edline/Grade Book portal where parents and students can log in to view their class assignments and grades.
To access your child's new school website, visit ccboe.com and select the Schools tab from the main menu at the top of the home page and click on the name of the school.
Updated vaccination requirements for some students
Maryland law requires students to have minimum immunization levels to attend school. The number of vaccines required depends on the age and grade of the child. Required vaccines include DPT, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib, Prevnar, Tdap and meningococcal. Last school year, the Maryland State Health Department added additional requirements for kindergarten students and students entering seventh grade. For the 2016-17 school year, all kindergarten, first- and second-grade students are required to have two doses of the varicella, or chickenpox, vaccine, and all seventh and eighth graders, as well as high school freshmen, must have a Tdap and meningococcal vaccines. Students can receive all required vaccines at their physician's office.
Students can be admitted to school without completed immunizations, but have to show proof of an appointment occurring within 20 calendar days. Students without updated immunizations must show proof of an appointment occurring on or before Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. Questions about vaccines can be directed to the school nurse or to your child's physician.
Call the bus hotline with transportation questions
The school system is sponsoring a bus hotline for parents to call with questions about bus routes. The hotline can be reached at 301-932-6655, and is available Aug. 25-26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Aug. 29-30 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parents can access bus route information through the School Locator feature available on the CCPS website at schoollocator.ccboe.com/ .
Open house events
Open house events have been scheduled for all schools. Click here for a complete schedule: www.ccboe.com/pr/open-houses-planned-for-schools-centers/ . Contact your child's school with questions.
Lunch prices increase by $0.10 for students
Lunch prices for all students increased by $.10 this school year. There is no change in the cost of breakfast for students this year. For elementary school students, lunch is $2.65 and breakfast is $1.25. For middle and high school students, lunch is $2.90 and breakfast is $1.40. Menus are available at all schools, and on the CCPS website at ccboe.nutrislice.com/ .
The school system uses a cafeteria prepayment system called MyPaymentsPlus, which is a secure, Internet-based system that allows parents to deposit funds electronically in their child's cafeteria account. Visit mypaymentsplus.com/default.aspx for more information.
2016-17 Parent Handbook/Calendar is now available
Students and staff will receive a copy of the 2016-17 Parent Handbook/Calendar during the first week of school. The calendar is available on the Charles County Public Schools website at www.ccboe.com/aboutus/calendar/201617CCPSCalendar.pdf .
We Care program kick-off
School resource officers at each of Charles County's seven public high schools are helping to launch the "We Care" program on Wednesday, Aug. 31. The program is a safe driving initiative for teens by teens with guidance from the Charles County Sheriff's Office and CCPS. Police officers will be at each high school Aug. 31 to distribute safety flyers to all student drivers. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kimberly Hill and Sheriff Troy Berry will greet student drivers at La Plata High School on Aug. 31 as they arrive at school.
Technology for our youngest learners
CCPS is launching a new program that will provide hands-on learning for the school system's youngest learners. The new program, a Title I initiative supported by school system funding, will provide each prekindergarten student who attends a Title I elementary school with an iPad for the school year to use at school and home. The goal is to connect students with technology at an early age and to support parental involvement. Schools will also hold hands-on iPad trainings for parents. Program kick-off celebrations are planned for Sept. 2 at systemwide Title I elementary schools.
Celebrate 100 years with the Board of Education
The Board of Education of Charles County is celebrating its 100-year anniversary with special events to highlight the history of the Board and education in Charles County. A three-part educational lecture series is planned for September and October. Follow the celebration on Twitter @CCPS through #ccboe100 or on the Charles County Board of Education Facebook page. Details for the lecture series and other anniversary events are on the 100-year anniversary website at www.ccboe.com/100years/ .
Help us name the next elementary school
Help us name the next Charles County Public elementary school! CCPS is seeking community input and suggestions for the name of a new elementary school that will open for the 2018-19 school year. The school is planned on a site off Billingsley Road in White Plains, located near the Greenhaven Run and Worthington neighborhoods. Visit www.ccboe.com/pr/system-committee-seeks-names-for-next-elementary-school/ to learn how you can provide a name to the school naming committee.