Schools around state crack down on tag

You've gotta be kidding me....in the age of a fast food restaurant on every corner, both parents working and too busy to cook nutritious meals, and school systems strapped for money and time just to meet the academic requirements much less provide adequate time for physical education, we are now going to tell all the overweight, latchkey kids they can't run around and play tag at recess? What is this world coming to? It's not like a mandatory requirement at recess, it's OPTIONAL!!

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008
By MEGAN A. CONLAN

Capital News Service

ANNAPOLIS — Maryland elementary schools are restricting the types of games students can play at recess, causing some people to worry that administrators are eliminating the very activities that let kids be kids.

Although most schools already prohibit games like dodgeball and tackle football, stringent no contact policies are, in some cases, affecting more basic childhood games as well. Tag is one game being questioned at more Maryland schools.

Read more HERE

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

NOTES: Board Meeting 12/9/08

The Board Meeting Tuesday, December 9th will be re-broadcast on Channel 96 on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

IMHO, nothing major happened at this meeting. All the reports are online by clicking on the link above. Only votes taken were minutes from the last meeting, minutes from a teleconference call, and personnel. All motions passed. Here's a breakdown of topics...

Superintendents Report
Board Correspondance - heard from libraries about opportunities
EACC Update
Student Board Member
CIP Status
Construction
Bridge Plan Update

Legislative Meeting On Again!

Okay, now the meeting is on again. Looks as though we have Delegates Jameson, Levy, and Murphy attending a meeting with the Board of Education Members on Thursday, December 18th at 10:00 a.m. at the Starkey Building.

Abell too Hold Q & A

Charles County Board of Education member Jennifer Abell will hold a question & answer session for interested residents the second Thursday of every month from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at Unique Sports Academy, 109 Post Office Road, Waldorf. The next scheduled meeting is December 11th.
Call Jennifer Abell 301-659-4112 or e-mail abell4edu@verizon.net .

REMINDER: Board Meeting 12/9/08

Reminder... there is a Board Meeting Tuesday, December 9th. Can't attend...you can watch it live on Channel 96. It will also be re-broadcast on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

**Please see the link to the agenda above. I profusely apologize for not getting this posted sooner and for not posting regularly. I have been extremely busy of late and promise to do better after the new year.

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

Area Schools Reach for a Higher Bar On State Tests

By Daniel de Vise
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 27, 2008; Page A01

Half of elementary students in Northern Virginia and a third in the Maryland counties that surround Washington are scoring at the highest levels on state tests in reading and math, blowing past the goals of the No Child Left Behind law.

The finding, based on a Washington Post analysis, suggests that area schools have ambitions beyond the federal education mandate and don't need the threat of sanctions to reach them. It could also allay fears among some parents and academics that the 2002 law would dumb down public education by forcing schools to focus on low achievers.

Read more HERE

Meeting with Legislators

While it's not the normal legislative breakfast we've held annually for years, it is what we have for this year.

Board of Education Members will be meeting with Senator Thomas Middleton and Delegate Murray Levy on Monday December 8, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building to discuss our 2009 legislative packet.

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

Legislative Breakfast...NOT

The Board of Education, Commissioners, Delegates, and Senators, will NOT be meeting for their annual legislative breakfast this year because it is too difficult to accomodate everyone's busy schedules. So if your thinking we will all be on the same page when legislative issues come up for the next year...think again.

NOTES: Board Meeting, 11/18/08

The Board Meeting Tuesday, October 14th will be re-broadcast on Channel 96 on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.

Executive session - 12 p.m. (Closed to the public)

Call to order - 1 p.m.

• Pledge of Allegiance, Thomas Stone High School's JROTC unit

REPORT - Superintendent's Update to the Board

• All high schools have met AYP & the system at every level
• Bridge Plan woking well
• Transfers into our system in senior year remains a problem
• North Point graduation ceremony to take place at the school per the principal. She believes it can be accomodated. (I believe this to be a mistake) All others will remain at Show Place Arena for this year. Roads will be an issue because the county has not completed them.
• Working with CISCO for telepresence
• JROTC Military Ball 6-11 p.m. on 12/5. at North Point, formal

REPORT - Board Member Updates

• Pedersen - MABE draft legislative positions
• Carrington - Barnhart for Freedom day; construction going well
• Wise - Jenifer Elem DARE graduation last year; Mudds was yesterday
• Pedersen - Middleton's Freedon Day event impressed her
• Carrington - Mt Hope Nanjemoy senior luncheon outstanding

REPORT - Education Association of Charles County Update

• Met with commissioners about funding
• Retained independent financial analyst to review county budget
• Still waiting for response to the 11/5 questions submitted via email
• legislative packet; labor relations board - supports; asks for us to delay position

REPORT - Student Board Member Update (no link available)

• Students from Thomas Stone HS and La Plata HS attended the MASC High School Leadership Conference South River High School on Saturday -Students attended workshops on diversity, public speaking, ethical decision making, student advocacy, and environmental affairs
• November 7 meeting for Safe driving successful. Viewed Alive@25 presentation and Sheriff Coffey spoke
• Requested 10 minutes at December Board meeting for presentation

REPORT - Deputy Superintendent Update - Personal Responsibility; Student Behavior

• See Report

REPORT - Supporting Service Update - CIP update ; Enrollment Analysis

• Barnhart on target; completion expected early
• Gale-Bailey and TC Martin - state has approved contract award
• Effective 12/1/08 - Scotland Heights Div. will be assigned to a middle school by Superintendent for the Spring semester until redistricting can be completed for the 09/10 school year
• Town Center South middle school will be assigned
• CCPS will seek approval for leftover funds from all day kindergarten projects to secure and install 8 relocateables at North Point and Davis
• Redistricting committee to be formed for 09 fall enrollment for the areas
• Bailey - asked for additional information to be provided in update
• Pedersen - absolute number of students North Point can hold
• Wineland - doesn't want to answer and set a limit because building is very versatile
• Pedersen - exhausting current energy supply; how would we produce more
• Wineland - purchase transformer from SMECO
• Pedersen - Referred to Policy 1700; do we adhere
• Wineland - yes

REPORT - Human Resources Update - Teacher Recruitment

• See power point
• Hired 110 new experienced teachers; 117 new graduates (38 from U of MD)(15 from Towson)
• Lots of statistics; very informative; highgy recommend viewing this document

REPORT - Instruction Update - Health Curriculum Report; Curriculum

• See report
• Abell - on committee; want to remind board members that this is a high school curriculum and is an opt-in only. Students must have parents signture. Teachers must be comfortable speaking and presenting the sex education portion. They are not forced to teach if they are not.
• One board member proposed changes. Consensus of board to accept those changes (link not available yet)

REPORT - Finance Update - Food Services Update; Presentation

• See report - lots of statistics and information
• Pedersen - crowded schools; more lunch shifts; part-time employees - how are we dealing
• Staff - case by case basis
• Abell - do certain schools prepare food and transport to others for warming before serving or do ALL schools prepare their own food
• Staff - ALL schools prepare their own food
• Abell - Discrepancies on food options from school to school. We need to ensure that students are aware of side dishes that are already included in the price of the meal. Not all know they are available without additional charges.
• Cook - Whats on the menu is not always what is actually served; nugget and fries days - lines are too long 2 get lunch
• Pedersen - People losing jobs - can families enroll in free/reduced lunch mid year
• Staff - Yes

REPORT - Legal Update - Legislative Issues

• Abell - Seat belts on school buses and labor relations - consider removing Opposition opinion on these until further information
• Schwartz - seat belts do not mean safer
• Pedersen - labor board too expensive for state at this time
• Pedersen - not sure if she supports or opposes
• Abell - exactly why we shouldn't oppose; Ms. Pedersen stated she was undecided
• Wise - doesn't think this is a productive measure and supports the opposition

Motion to accept positions on legislative matters by Wise
Second by Pedersen
Yes - Bailey, Carrington, Cook, Pedersen, Wade, Wise
No - Abell

REPORT - Communications Update - School Locator

• Abell - great; thank you
• Pedersen - new subdivisions added
• Staff - added and updated at midnight

UNFINISHED BUSINESS -

• Wade - Student Recognition in clusters per semester as opposed to quarterly
• Wise - Time to try something new due to poor attendance
• Consensus is yes

NEW BUSINESS -

• Richmond - porposal on school calendar change for inauguration day; 20th off for students; liberal leave for teachers; 23rd would be a regular school day

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -

• Abell - Alternative schedules requested report and analysis that Mr. Cunningham referred to at the December 07 board meeting. This item was brought up Jan 07, Dec 07, July 08 requested via email by a member of the public; 8/08 requested via email by Pedersen; 10/08 requested via email by a member of the public; and now I'm requesting.

RECOGNITION - 4:30 p.m. - November Recognitions

PUBLIC FORUM - 6 p.m. (Rules)

• None

ACTION - Minutes October 14, 2008; Motions October 14; Minutes October 27, 2008; Minutes November 10, 2008

Motion to accept minutes by Wise
Second by Pedersen
Yes - All

ACTION - Personnel

Motion to accept Personnel by Bailey
Second by Wise
Yes - All

ACTION - Parental Involvement Policy Title 1 Part 1; Part 2

Motion to accept by Wise
Second by Pedersen
Yes - All

No fooling: Experts bemoan loss of kids' play time

By DAVID CRARY
AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - In one classroom, a group of preschool teachers squatted on the floor, pretending to be cave-dwelling hunter-gatherers. Next door, another group ended a raucous musical game by placing their tambourines and drums atop their heads.

Silly business, to be sure, but part of an agenda of utmost seriousness: To spread the word that America's children need more time for freewheeling play at home and in their schools.

"We're all sad, and we're a little worried. ... We're sad about something missing in childhood," psychologist and author Michael Thompson told 900 early childhood educators from 22 states packed into an auditorium last week.

"We have to fight back," he declared. "We're going to fight for play."

Read more HERE

Charles County Announces Temporary School Assignment Changes

Superintendent James E. Richmond has temporarily changed school assignments for students moving into new developments in the Theodore G. Davis Middle School and North Point High School areas and asked for a longer-term plan from a redistricting committee.

The Superintendent told the Board of Education at its Nov. 18 meeting that Davis and North Point are overcrowded and need relocatable classrooms to accommodate both existing enrollment and relief from future growth.

Effective Dec. 1, Richmond has reassigned all new high school and middle school students in an area called Block 3782, which includes the new Scotland Heights development opposite Davis Road on Route 228 in Waldorf. Scotland Heights has 450 building lots; however, no houses have been built. Middle school students moving into Scotland Heights will attend Matthew Henson Middle School, and high school students will attend Westlake High School.

Read more HERE

Charles County School System, All High Schools Meet State Benchmarks

All six Charles County public high schools met their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) school performance benchmarks for 2008, according to school officials. Charles County Public Schools, as a system, also met AYP at each level -- elementary, middle and high school -- for the 2007-08 school year.

The Maryland State Department of Education released results Friday. The high school AYP is based on the results of grade 11 students' scores on the Maryland High School Assessments. Information released Nov. 14 is only for high schools; the state released AYP data for middle and elementary schools in August.

AYP is the gain that schools, school systems, and states must make each year in the proportion of students achieving proficiency in reading and math. To make AYP, schools and school systems must improve in reading and mathematics for all students as well as for nine student subgroups including each of five racial/ethnic groups, students receiving special education services, Limited English Proficiency services and Free and Reduced Meals services (FARMS). AYP also includes graduation rates for high school and attendance in elementary and middle school. A high school's AYP status is based on its performance on the English and Algebra/Data Analysis 2008 High School Assessments (HSAs), the school's participation rate in the assessments and its graduation rate.

Read more HERE

Study of Reading Program Finds a Lack of Progress

By Maria Glod
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 19, 2008; Page A06

Students in the $6 billion Reading First program have not made greater progress in understanding what they read than have peers outside the program, according to a congressionally mandated study.

The final version of the study, released yesterday by the U.S. Department of Education, found that students in schools that use Reading First, a program at the core of the No Child Left Behind law, scored no better on comprehension tests than students in similar schools that do not get the funding.

Read more HERE

School Calendar Change

Charles County Public Schools will be closed for students on Jan. 20, 2009, for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

The Board of Education on Tuesday agreed to change the school calendar, moving the semester break for students from Friday, Jan. 23 to Jan. 20. Schools will be closed for students on Jan. 20 and teachers and staff will be allowed to take liberal leave. Schools are now open on Jan. 23.

Superintendent James E. Richmond told the Board that Maryland law requires schools to be open for a minimum of 180 days in a 10-month period and he needed to adjust the school calendar to make up the day prior to the end of the school year. “The state superintendent of schools does not have the authority to waive the 180-day rule for anything other than an emergency closing,” Richmond said.

The unanimous action by the Board changes the January calendar to the following:

• Jan. 19 – Schools and offices closed, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday observed;
• Jan. 20 – Semester break, moved from Jan. 23. Schools closed for students; staff allowed liberal leave;
• Jan. 21 – School in session for students and teachers; High School Assessment, government makeup;
• Jan. 22 – School in session; High School Assessment English makeup; and
• Jan. 23 – School in session (changed from closed). High School Assessment for algebra and biology makeups.

The end of the second marking period is moved from Jan. 22 to Jan. 16.