Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back to a new school year! It was a longer

than usual summer but it still seemed like it went by

very quickly! Our teachers and staff have been working

hard to prepare for the upcoming school year. Mrs. Da-

vis and I are excited to see all our students and look

forward to another wonderful year of learning and fun!

Last year, we all focused on “Making the Magic Happen”

at Crofton Elementary through building relationships

and getting to know all our students. This year, we will

“Stay the Course” and continue to be intentional about

everything we do in order to grow and inspire our stu-

dents.

Please mark your calendars for Back-to-School Night

on Wednesday, September 6th at 6pm. This is an im-

portant informational night which provides parents with

the opportunity to visit their child’s classroom and find

out about the daily schedule, curriculum, homework pol-

icies, and much more. We look forward to seeing you

there!

Sincerely,

Jazmin Lawhorn

Principal’s Message

Labor Day; Schools

and Central

Offices CLOSED

September 4

1st day of School

(1st-5th, ACC only) September 5

Back to School

Night; 6PM; Café September 6

First full day for

ECI September 8

First full Day for

Kindergarten September 12

Watch Dogs

Kickoff and Pizza *FOR DADS/

FATHER FIGURES*

6-8 PM

September 13

Individual Class

Picture Day September 22

Scholastic Book

Fair

September 27–

October 6

PTA Movie Night

Field; 6-10 PM September 29

Mrs. Jazmin Lawhorn, Principal

Mrs. Dessolene Davis, Assistant Principal

“His School, Her School,

Our School”

The Crofton Communicator Crofton Elementary School

September 2017

The Anne Arundel County Public School System does not discriminate on

the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual

orientation or familial status in matters affecting employment or in

providing access to programs.

The Anne Arundel County Public School System does not

discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin,

religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or familial status

in matters affecting employment or in providing access to

programs.

My future depends on my actions

today, so I will DO my best to BE

my best and BE NICE.

Working in collaboration with students, staff, families and

community,

Crofton Elementary

Empowers lifelong learners by using

challenging and engaging instruction in a

Safe, respectful, and culturally responsive environ-

ment

Ms. Jazmin Lawhorn, Principal

Ms. Dessolene Davis, Assistant Principal

Administration

410-222-5800

Ms. Heather Webster

School Counselor

410-222-5800

Mission Statement

School Pledge

Ms. Charm Herring

Principal’s Secretary

Ms. Denise Claytor

Attendance & Enrollment Secretary

Mrs. Renée Georges

Part Time Secretary

Secretaries

410-222-5800

Ms. Anne Laible

School Nurse

Ms. Michelle Nesbit

Health Room

Student

Breakfast (Full Price, All schools) $1.50

Lunch (Full Price, Elementary schools) $2.75

Lunch (Reduced, All Schools) $.40

Milk, 1/2 Pint, (A la Carte) $.55

Adult

Breakfast (Full Price, All schools) $1.90

Lunch (Full Price, Elementary schools) $3.65

School Meal Prices

2017 — 2018

Visiting Crofton Elementary. Crofton Elementary welcomes parents and guardians to visit our

classrooms . We ask parents to set up a time with the teacher, at least 24 hours in advance, as to not

disrupt instruction. We do require that you check in with the Front Office with your government

issued photo ID. You must be on the student’s Emergency Form in order to visit the school. (Please

notify the teacher of your plans to visit ahead of time by contacting the teacher via e-mail.

Their e-mail address is listed on our website.)

In addition, anyone coming to pick up a student during the school day, must present photo ID and be

on the student’s Emergency Form.

Emergency Contact Information—In an effort to maintain constant contact among parents, school,

and Central Office staff, please make sure we have all current contact information. This includes your

phone numbers, your email address, and any change in persons you wish to have pick up your child in

the event of an emergency. If you have any questions, please contact the Front Office @ 410-222-

5800.

Be sure your child knows what they are to do at dismissal. Keeping the routine as consistent as

possible is best for your child. Please try to have all plans made BEFORE your child comes to school.

If your child is staying after school for an extracurricular activity, make sure that you both are

aware of your pick-up plan.

Hug and Hop: Due to concerns regarding student safety, and in line with procedures used across

Anne Arundel County, students will say goodbye to their parents outside the front doors of the school

and enter the building independently, just like the bus riding students. Staff will be in the halls every

morning all year long to assist students who need help managing belongings, carrying supplies or

finding their room.

Instruction begins at 9:15 am. Please have your child here, at their desk, and ready to learn by that

time. The doors open at 8:55 am.

There is no supervision outside the school building before 8:55 am. Please do not drop off your

children prior to 8:55 am. Children will be let into the building when the bell rings at 8:55 and our

teachers begin their school day.

We dismiss at 3:40 pm. If your child does not ride a bus home from school, please pick them up

promptly at 3:40 pm.

Attendance Policy. There are lawful reasons for absence from school. Whenever your child is absent

your must provide a note of explanation to the school within three days of your child’s return.

Absences due to illness in excess of five consecutive days require a physicians note. Lawful absences

include death in the family, illness, religious holiday, court appearance, suspension from school, and

lack of authorized transportation.

Tardy If your child is arriving after 9:15 a.m., please provide them with a written note and

direct them to the main office for a tardy slip.

Dogs Are Not Allowed In Our Building or On School Property: We love pets too, but please leave

them at home.

Do not park or leave your car unattended in the Hug and Hop lane and the Fire lanes.

Things to Know

EXCEPTIONAL

TRANSPORTA-

TION

REQUEST

Each year we have a

number of requests to

have students ride a different bus other

than their regularly

assigned one. In order to do this, an

Exceptional Transportation Form must be

completed and turned into the office at

least FIVE school days prior to the date

exceptional transportation is to commence.

The form states the situations that can be

approved:

1. Parent(s) work and pupil goes to a

childcare provider

2. Parent(s) work and pupil goes to/from a

nursery or daycare facility.

3. Parents go on vacation and pupil is to stay

with another adult.

And those that cannot be approved.:

1 Community Athletic Practice/Games

2 Scout or club meetings

3 Music Lessons

4 Religious Training Classes

5 Doctor or Dental Appointments

6 Visiting a friend

7 Tutoring

8 After School Employment

9 Guardian’s Place of Employment

10 Avoiding Integration

Please take some time to read the form so

as to avoid any problems/concerns that may

occur during the school year. If a form is

ever needed, it may be picked up in the

office or downloaded online at

@CroftonESAACPS

Custody Papers

Please be clearly aware that unless legal

papers are on file in our office

granting custody rights to a certain

parent, we cannot deny a parent

from signing their child out of school. If child

custody is an issue in your family, please make

certain that up-to-date custody papers are on

file in your child’s folder.

RaptorWare

The safety of all students and staff in Anne Arundel

County Public Schools is of utmost importance to all of us.

Our school will continue to use V Soft by RaptorWare.

When you visit our school for the first time, you will be

asked to present a government-issued photo ID to a staff

person in the school office. This card will be scanned and

the following information will be collected: your photo, your

name, and your date of birth. This information will be

utilized to check you in, create an ID badge, and compare

your information against sexual offender databases

throughout the country. If your name appears on any of the

lists or you refuse to allow the use of your ID, you will not

be allowed access to the school. On future visits to a

school, in which you have previously registered, you will only

be asked to show your ID as your name will be selected

from an existing list of previous visitors. You will also be

asked to sign out with the office upon leaving the school so

that we know you are no longer in the building. You will be

required to check into the system even if you are only

coming to school to pick up your child. The information

collected will not be shared outside of the school and is

kept on a secure server. Your assistance with this security

Thin

gs to

Kno

w

For safety reasons, non-school aged siblings/children are not

permitted to attend events held in the classrooms or when

parents are volunteering. This allows our volunteers to give

100% of their attention to their volunteer tasks. This same

policy is in effect for classroom parties or activities. We do

not have the space in the classrooms for additional

children. Non-school aged children are allowed when events are

held in the cafeteria, the media center, and the gym. Thank

you for your understanding and for helping us maintain safety Non

-sc

hoo

l Age

d C

hildre

n Po

licy

Birthday Celebrations If you would like to send in a special birthday treat for your child and his/her

classmates, please follow AACPS food policies found under the Food and

Nutrition section of our county website. We strongly encourage healthy

options for the students. Treats may be dropped off at the front office

marked with the student’s name and homeroom teacher. Treats will only be

distributed during your child’s lunch time and only to your child’s homeroom

class. Please be aware that several students have various severe food

Welcome to our New Staff

Members!

Courtney Taylor (3rd Grade), Lindsey

Klunk, (3rd Grade), Michelle Ferre, (4th

Grade), Jenn Lowe (Intermediate ACC),

Leah Murthy (PT Music), Brandi David (PT Art), Renée Georges (Secretary),

Adam Commodore (Custodian), Dondre Scarbrough (Custodian), Lynne Weise

(PPW), Linda Geers (ESOL), and Maryann Romano, (PT SLP)

We would like to extend well wishes to staff members who have been

selected for a new position in the county over the summer: Tracey Esposito,

Susie Zacepilo, Jackie Russell and Cindy Pozdol.

From the School Nurse COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR SCHOOL NURSE

Parents/Guardian—Keep Your School Nurse Up to Date:

1. Be sure to inform the school nurse about your child’s health conditions or other special

health needs in order to plan for safe management at school. Chronic health conditions

including but not limited to: asthma, seizures, diabetes, or life threatening allergies.

2. Remember to provide your school nurse with current emergency contact information.

3. Tell your school nurse if your child’s health condition interferes with school

attendance.

4. Make sure to tell your school nurse about medications and medical treatments your

child requires during the school day.

5. Tell your school nurse about any changes in your child’s health or mobility status, or

about any infectious disease.

Any questions or health related concerns?

Please contact your School Nurse, Michele Billingsley, or Michelle

Nesbit, Health Assistant.

Working together for a Safe and Healthy School Year!

Why is School Attendance Matters Research shows:

Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read

at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

By the end of 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students

at risk for dropping out of school.

By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even

better than 8th grade test scores.

Your children can suffer academically if they miss 10 percent of

the school year or about 18 days. That can be just one day every

two weeks.