Lower School News

May/June News

Thu, 01 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Dear Lower School Families,

With only 14 days left of school, we sure do have a lot of fun planned. The end of year craziness sneaks up on us, I want to provide detailed information regarding a few of our upcoming events. Much of this information was in the May email, but I’m hoping detailed reminders are helpful. To save multiple emails, I compiled the information all in one. I also wanted to send an enormous thank you to all of the parent volunteers that helped to make the tea possible along with the many generous contributions of desserts and items needed for the tea. I appreciate each of you.

Take care,

Heidi

Summer Work

All students should have brought home their summer work. We have provided hard copies of the work, but it will also be posted on our school website if these copies are misplaced. The assigned activities are to help students keep their skills sharp over the summer months, so they can pick up where they left off when they return. Summer work is required for all rising first through fifth graders. Summer work will be graded for completion and are the first grades entered at the beginning of the year. We will be offering our summer help sessions again this year for any rising first-fifth grade students that would like some support with their summer work. Summer help sessions will be offered from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, and 7/30. If you would like to register for a summer work session for your child, please email me at hmerryman@calvertonschool.org to confirm your child’s spot.

Although summer work is not required for PreK and K students, we have provided many suggested activities for summer learning fun.

Supply Lists

School supply lists will be placed on our Calverton website. Last year we tried to work with a company that provided supply list ordering online. That was very unsuccessful, so we are returning to the old school way of the list and a trip to the store with your child, which they likely enjoy. The items on the supply lists can also be found online through Walmart and Amazon.

Ninja Day – 5/22

We are excited to share that Zoey Fowler, our Head of School for the Day, has declared May 22, 2025 as Ninja Day at Calverton! On this special day, students are encouraged to wear their best ninja attire. However, we kindly ask that students leave their ninja swords and other weapons at home for safety reasons. We look forward to a fun-filled day where students can showcase their ninja skills on an exciting ninja course! Students will even have to use ninja skills to make their way down the hallway. Many thanks to Miss Fowler for this fun opportunity.

K-5 Skate Zone Field Trip – 6/3

Students in grades K-5 will be traveling to Skate Zone in Crofton on Tuesday, June 3. Students will need to pack a snack, ready-to-eat lunch in a disposable bag, and water bottle for this trip. If your child has skates, helmet, and/or pads, they are welcome to bring their own. We do ask that all items are placed in one clearly labeled bag with your child’s name and grade level. Skate Zone will also have skates available for us to use. We will be departing Calverton promptly at 8:45, so please ensure your child arrives to school on time. The Calverton teachers are very excited about this trip since we will all be going together (even Nurse Sara will be joining us). Students may wear athletic bottoms and spirit wear top. We recommend having students wear tall socks to prevent the skates rubbing against their ankles.

All School Field Day – 5/30

Field Day will take place on Friday, May 30. For families that haven't yet had the opportunity to experience Field Day, it is a day where our students show positive sportsmanship and use the skills learned with Mr. C throughout the year. Students participate in several stations and enjoy the friendly blue/gray competition. Parents are invited to join us for the fun and cheer on our blue and gray teams. Thanks to our wonderful and generous CPA, snacks and cheese pizza lunch will be provided. If your child doesn't care for pizza, you are welcome to pack them an alternative option. Students should come to school in comfortable shorts and tennis shoes. It is recommended that students in grades 2-5 bring a change of clothing (shoes included), because there are some water activities that will cause them to get very wet. Field Day shirts will be provided for K-5 students and distributed when they arrive on campus that morning. Students are welcome to use hair dye and face paint for added team spirit. We encourage parents to dress in their child's team color too and cheer everyone on! Our PreK students will be in tie-dye shirts to cheer on both teams!

In addition, our Head of Lower School for the day, Gia Alonso, will be working hard kicking off Field Day for the entire school, leading our Field Day Tug-o-War, and announcing our Field Day champions for 2025.

Please be sure your child brings a labeled water bottle and has applied sunscreen at home prior to coming to school. Students are welcome to wear a hat if they would like. Please remember that Field Day is an early dismissal and there is no aftercare.

Dismissal Times:

PreK – 12:45pm
K-5 – 1:00pm
6-12 – 1:20pm
Bus Departure – 1:35pm

A lost and found table will be placed in Founders Hall on Field Day with the many items that have accumulated over the year. Be sure to check it out. I hope to see you at Field Day ready to cheer on our Calverton Cougars!

Fifth Grade Recognition Ceremony

On Monday, June 9 from 10:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m., we will be holding our fifth-grade recognition ceremony in the lower school library. Please plan for students to wear their dress uniform for this event. Delegate Mark Fisher will be joining us to announce the citizenship award recipients, and students will individually be recognized for their achievements this year. Students will share their work as a team to design a Rube Goldberg project as a class. Finishing out the event will be an event to welcome them to middle school, beginning around 11:30 a.m.. We look forward to sharing this special day with family and friends of our fifth-grade class. Following the ceremony, there will be an off-campus class celebration.

Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony

We will hold our kindergarten moving up ceremony Tuesday, June 10 at 11:00 a.m. in the theater. Please plan for students to wear their dress uniforms. Please note that kindergarten students are released to parents following the ceremony to celebrate together as a family for the afternoon.

Calverton Cougar Water Day on June 11!

Please apply sunscreen at home prior to school.
Children should bring a labeled water bottle.
Students should dress comfortably for outdoor water activities. Girls may wear their swimsuit under shorts and a t-shirt. They may wear a one piece or tankini. No bikinis unless they have a shirt over it and shorts. Boys may wear their swim trunks with a comfortable top. Hats are permitted. Uniforms and spirit wear are not required. Students should wear water shoes or tennis shoes. Please no Crocs or sandals for safety purposes.
Please send in a change of clothes (shoes and socks as well) in a grocery bag for easy transportation.
It is recommended to send in a beach towel.
Please pack your child a snack to enjoy to keep them from becoming too hungry during their outdoor events.
Dismissal is at 11:45 for PreK and noon for K-12 with buses departing at 12:35 and no aftercare.

Lower School Faculty Introductions and Well Wishes

As with every school year, we welcome new faculty members and say farewell to some familiar faces. I am excited to introduce our new Lower School teaching team for the 2025-2026 school year!

To support the launch of our second 3K section, we warmly welcome Ms. Cheryl Slocum. Cheryl is relocating from Colorado to Maryland to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. She brings extensive experience as an early childhood teacher and director. Joining her will be Mrs. Amy Ross as the 3K assistant, while Mrs. Jordan Paddy returns as a 4K assistant alongside Ms. Goody.

In kindergarten, Mrs. Michelle Coleman joins us with over 15 years of teaching experience, especially with young learners. She is moving back home to Maryland from New Jersey. We thank Mrs. Ostazeski for her dedication and wish her well as she focuses on family time.

We are also excited to add a new kindergarten assistant position for next year. Mrs. Zenia Wallish will be supporting both kindergarten classes for the 25-26 school year. Mrs. Wallish retired from teaching a few years back but hasn’t yet been able to leave the classroom. Her wealth of knowledge and years of experience will be invaluable to our team.

Mrs. Amanda Lewis will join our second grade team, bringing 7 years of first grade experience from an independent school. She is looking forward to being part of the Calverton community and joining Mrs. Tedesco on the second grade team. Mrs. Dillenback is moving on to new adventures, and we wish her all the best.

For fourth grade, Mrs. Melissa Frys will be joining us. Her background spans from special education at the elementary level to middle school science, making her a strong asset for our program. Mr. Ernest is preparing for a move to Baltimore, and we wish him well.

Sra. Gonzalez has decided to pursue new opportunities outside The Language Project Spanish program. We will continue with this successful full immersion curriculum and look forward to introducing the next native-speaking teacher soon.

Finally, we are deeply grateful to Mrs. Grace Leopold, who joined us in October as our reading specialist and set a high standard for student support. Due to the long commute, Mrs. Leopold will be closer to home next year, and she will be greatly missed.

Dear Lower School Families,

It was such a great start to May with our spring concert and Grandparents/Someone Special Day. I wanted to share this link for the video of student messages to their grandparents. Special guests watched this on Friday, but I know parents would want to enjoy it as well. This is an unlisted link and not visible on our school’s YouTube channel. I hope this brings a smile your way.

Believe it or not, we have five weeks remaining in the school year. There is always so much to do in these final weeks. Please look over the important information below. Reach out with any questions you have.

Kindly,

Heidi

Congratulations, Leaders!

During the months of March and April, lower school students focused on the leadership trait of showing good sportsmanship. Upper school students Aurora Casey and Reagan Krukar, student-athletes and team captains for multiple Calverton varsity teams, spoke to lower school students about the importance of showing good sportsmanship and strategies they use to lead their teams regardless of the score on the scoreboard.

We would like to congratulate our lower school leaders for month of April.

3K – Ava Kohler

4K – Amran Aklilu, Jackson Dohman, Warren Ims & Avery O’Shea,

K – Julian Levin & Black Jones

First – AJ Parrish & Zoie Matthews

Second – Leo Alonso & Jack Candido

Third – Brooks Merryman & Havyn Rye

Fourth – Talula Anderson & Elijah Windham

Fifth – Aria Dillenback

CPA Meeting

The final CPA monthly meeting of the school year is Friday, May 16, 2025, at 8:15 a.m. in the lower school library.

Middle School Buddies

Our final visit with our middle school buddies was on Monday, May 5. Students enjoyed a game day, where they had a variety of game options to enjoy playing with their buddies. We had a great time this year welcoming the middle school to join us in the lower school for buddies and other events. We are looking forward to continuing this for years to come.

Lower School Spring Tea

Calverton’s etiquette tea is a signature experience for all lower school grades. This unique experience is led by Mrs. Chloe Ewalt, former Calverton faculty member, who teaches the importance of table etiquette, manners, and kindness. The Spring Tea will take place on Monday, May 19, Tuesday May 20, and Wednesday, May 21. We invite students to dress to impress for this event. They are not required to wear school uniforms but may if they prefer. Students may change into their regular school uniform following the tea if they would like. The Spring Tea will take place in Founders Hall. Each grade level will have an opportunity to enjoy a three-course tea, while Mrs. Ewalt teaches the important lessons of table etiquette. If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign up HERE. If you sign up to volunteer and would like to stay after your time or come early before your volunteer time in order to enjoy the tea with your child, we welcome your participation.

We are in need of a variety of desserts for this event. We are asking for desserts that are nut-free and would appreciate a few gluten-free options as well. If you are able to contribute a dessert, please send it in on Monday, May 19 so it can be shared on all three days. Please be sure to include your child’s name and grade on the dessert being sent in.

Tea Schedule

Monday, May 19

10:00-10:45 Fifth

11:00-11:45 Third

1:15-2:00 Fourth

Tuesday, May 20

9:00-9:30 3K

9:40-10:10 4K Gensic

10:30-11:00 4K Goody

11:15-12:00 Kindergarten

Wednesday, May 21

9:00-9:45 Second

10:10-10:55 First

5th Grade Musical

Our fifth-grade students have been preparing for their musical performance, Wright! Families are invited on Thursday, May 15 at 4:00 p.m. in the theater for this special performance. Fifth grade will also hold a performance just for lower school students during the school day. This performance is sure to bring lots of smiles your way.

Ninja Day Announcement!

We are excited to share that Zoey Fowler, our Head of School for the Day, has declared May 22, 2025 as Ninja Day at Calverton! On this special day, students are encouraged to wear their best ninja attire. However, we kindly ask that students leave their ninja swords and other weapons at home for safety reasons. We look forward to a fun-filled day where students can showcase their ninja skills in an exciting ninja course! Many thanks to Miss Fowler for this fun opportunity.

Memorial Day – No School

School will be closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. We hope everyone has a safe and fun long weekend.

Math Day and Biz Kid Fair!

On Thursday, May 29, we’re thrilled to combine our traditional K-5 Math Day with a brand-new event: the Biz Kid Fair! Students will kick off the day by rotating through various math-focused stations that include engaging games, creative art projects, scavenger hunts, and much more. In the afternoon, students will participate in Calverton’s very own Biz Kid Economics Fair. Each class will create a product to sell and will market it through commercials and posters. Leading up to the event, classes will watch the commercials to get a sneak peek of what they might want to purchase! Students will receive tickets to use for their purchases, enabling them to make economic choices and learn about concepts such as goods, services, supply, and demand. This promises to be a memorable day filled with learning and fun!

Field Day

Calverton will be holding its annual Field Day on Friday, May 30. A Field Day shirt will be provided for students in K-5 representing their team colors of blue or gray and passed out the morning of Field Day. PreK students will design their own tie dye shirts as a class. This is a fun day and a favorite for most of our students. Please apply sunscreen at home prior to coming to school and send in a hat for some extra sun protection. We also recommend bringing a change of clothes (including shoes and socks) for students in grades 2-5. There are some activities where they will get wet. Students should also bring a water bottle as well. Thanks to our CPA, pizza and snacks will be offered. Please make note this is a 12:45 p.m. dismissal for PreK and 1:00 p.m. dismissal for K-12 students with no aftercare and buses departing at 1:35 p.m.

Roller Skating Fun!

Students in grades K-5 will be traveling to Skate Zone in Crofton on Tuesday, June 3. Students will need to pack a snack, lunch, and water bottle for this trip. If your child has skates, helmet, and/or pads, and they would like to bring their own, they are welcome to do so. We do ask that all items are placed in one clearly labeled bag with your child’s name and grade level. Skate Zone will also have skates available for us to use. The Calverton teachers are very excited about this trip since we will all be going together (even Nurse Sara will be joining us). Reminders will be sent home as the date approaches.

Publishing Party!

We will hold our annual publishing party to celebrate our student authors on June 5. This year we will be adding in a little extra excitement with a picnic theme. Get your pens ready because these authors will be excited to sign their autographs. We are so proud of their work on these. A huge thank you to the teachers and their support through the writing and illustration progress.

PreK End of Year Celebration

3K and 4K Cougar Cubs will have their end of year celebration at Dunkirk Park on Friday, June 6. Each student will need an adult chaperone to accompany them. Students, parents, and teachers will meet at 9:00 a.m. at Dunkirk Park for their morning of fun, games, and memories. More details will be communicated as the date approaches.

Fifth Grade Recognition Ceremony

On Monday, June 9 from 9:30-11:45 a.m., we will be holding our fifth-grade recognition ceremony. Please plan for students to wear their dress uniform for this event. Delegate Mark Fisher will be joining us to announce the citizenship award recipients, and students will individually be recognized for their achievements this year. Students will share their work as a team to design a Rube Goldberg project as a class. Finishing out the event will be an event to welcome them to middle school. We look forward to sharing this special day with family and friends of our fifth-grade class. Following the ceremony, there will be an off-campus class celebration.

Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony

Calverton Cougar Water Day on June 11!

Water Day is comprised of a variety of stations where our students work together as a team to play games, reach goals, and have fun. This event is loved by students and teachers alike. It is a wonderful way to finish out the last day of the school year. More detailed information will be sent out as the date approaches, but we will be asking you to pack an extra pair of clothes for your children because they will be getting wet! June 11 will still be an 11:45 dismissal for PreK and a noon dismissal for K-12 with buses departing at 12:35 and no aftercare.

iPads, Laptops, and Chargers

Beginning on June 2, all iPads, laptops, and chargers will need to stay at school. If your child’s charger has been staying at home, please make sure that it is returned. Each child was provided a device and charger at the beginning of the year.

End of Year Items

As the year comes to a close, you will notice some items slowly making their way home. Teachers will be sending items home during the last few weeks to save students from carrying big bags of work, supplies, and items found hidden in lockers/cubbies.

Summer Work

Calverton summer work will be sent home with students the week of May 19. The assigned activities are to help students keep their skills sharp over the summer months and continue to emphasize the importance of regular reading and writing. Summer work is required for all rising first through fifth graders. We have provided many suggested activities for our rising PreK and K students as well. We will be offering our summer help sessions again this year for any students that would like some support with their summer work. Summer help sessions will be offered from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. on 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, and 7/30. If you would like to register for a summer work session for your child, please email Mrs. Merryman at hmerryman@calvertonschool.org to confirm your child’s spot. Students will need to bring their work with them to the session.

Supply Lists for 25-26 School Year

Supply lists and summer work will be posted on the Calverton School website during the week of May 19. A hard copy of both items will also be sent home but know you can always visit the website if things become misplaced over the summer.

Field Trips:

5/6 – Fourth Grade to Sotterly Plantation

5/6 – Kindergarten to Air & Space Museum

5/14 – Fifth Grade to Blue Crabs Game (uniform bottoms with spirit wear top, bag lunch needed)

5/28 – Fifth Grade to Pax Navel Air Museum (dress uniform and bag lunch)

6/3 – K-5 to Skate Zone (comfortable bottoms, spirit wear top, bag lunch, and water bottle)

Dates to Remember:

May

5/1 – Spring Concert at 10:00

5/1 – Spring Tea Parent Meeting at 11:00 following the concert

5/1 – K-3 Book Break 11:00/1:00

5/2 – GP/SS Day & 3K Parent Visit @9:00

Noon Dismissal for LS Only!

5/3 – Purse Bingo

5/4 – Happy Birthday, Allison!!

5/5 – New Teacher Meeting @ 3:35

5/5 – K-2 Enrichment

5/6 – K to Air & Space, 4th to Sotterly

5/7 – Leader Lunch @ noon

5/7 – Open House 9:00-10:30

5/7 – Specials Division Meeting @ 3:35 in Nicole’s Room

5/9 – Leadership @2:10

5/12 – 3-5 Enrichment

5/12 – Summer Work Sent Out this Week

5/14 – 5th Blue Crabs Trip

5/14 – K-5 Division Meeting

5/15 – 5th grade musical dress rehearsal for LS in am, and performance for parents @4:00

5/15 – 4-5 Book Break 12:30/1:30

5/16 – CPA Meeting @8:15

5/16 – Happy Birthday, Josh Mooney!!

5/19-5/21 – Spring Tea

5/21 – PreK Division Meeting @ 3:35

5/26 – No School!

5/28 – Happy Birthday, Diana Bowen!!

5/28 – 5th to Pax River Navel Air Museum

5/28 – All LS Division Meeting @ 3:35

5/29 – Math Day/Kid Biz Fair

5/30 – Field Day & 2 hour early dismissal

June

6/2 – K-2 Enrichment

6/3 – SkateZone

6/6 – PreK Dunkirk Park Trip

6/6 – Leadership @2:00

6/7 – Graduation

6/9 – 5th Recognition@10:15

6/9 – Leader Lunch @noon

6/10 – K Moving Up @11:00 (K dismiss following)

6/11 – Water Day, Early Dismissal 11:45, 12:00, 12:20

6/12 – Inservice Day

6/13 – Inservice Day

April News

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Dear Lower School Families,  

Happy April!  I hope everyone had a nice spring break and your children were able to enjoy some time for extra fun. With only ten weeks left in this school year, we are packing in the excitement. If you notice some unfamiliar faces around campus this week, we have our AIMS Visiting Team on campus. We are looking forward to their review of our self-study and feedback from their visit.

Please take a moment to read over the information below and reach out with any questions you may have.   

Kindly, 

Heidi Merryman   

Summer Uniform Time 

Students may begin to wear their summer uniform options.  Polo dresses and shorts are now permitted.  Please be mindful of the sock and shoe uniform policy.  There have been shoes and socks that have not been meeting uniform requirements.  We appreciate your understanding with uniform expectations.  If you have questions or are awaiting the arrival of items, please just let us know. Reminders about uniform expectations can be found here.

Spring Clubs

Spring club information was sent home prior to break. There are many new options available, so be sure to review them with your child. Clubs begin the week of April 7 and will continue through the week of May 19. The week of May 26 will be used for any makeup classes. The sign-up deadline is April 5. Sign up here! If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Freeburger at jfreeburger@calvertonschool.org.

CPA Meeting

The next CPA meeting will be held on Friday, April 4 at 8:15 a.m. 

K-5 Report Cards & Conferences   

Report cards will be posted for viewing on Friday, April 4. Teachers in grades K-5 sent out the SignUpGenius links for the end of quarter conferences this week. Conferences begin the week of April 7.  We encourage all families to sign up for a conference on campus and look forward to speaking with you about your child’s progress. Our students in grades 3-5 have prepared their student-led conferences, which is not an easy feat.  Students will lead conferences with parents, with the assistance of their teacher. Students in grades 3-5 should plan to wear dress uniforms on the day of their conference, and only in-person conferences will be offered due to the level of preparation and presentation students have planned for you.  It is always a pleasure to watch them prepare and present their vision of their learning success and growth.     

Middle School Buddies

On Monday, April 7, lower school students will enjoy their monthly visit with their middle school buddies. This month, students will be working together to prepare motivational posters, positive-message sticky notes, and goody bags for our upper school students taking IB tests. These specials surprises will be given out on IB testing days beginning at the end of April.

Mark Your Calendar!  

There will be no school on Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21. 

Earth Day 2025 

The Calverton School will be celebrating Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22.  Students will participate in a variety of activities that remind them about the importance of keeping our planet clean.  Please have your child dress comfortably for the day, preferably in Calverton spirit wear.  School uniform is not required.  Students should wear shoes that are okay to get dirty or bring in a pair of boots to wear during their gardening work.  Apply sunscreen prior to arrival at school and send a hat for working outside.  Students also need a refillable water bottle.  We are in need of parent volunteers for this event. Please email Mrs. Burkhardt if you are available to help with Earth Day stations at aburkhardt@calvertonschool.org.

 Calling All Gardeners!  

We are looking for a few parents that would be interested in volunteering their time to help in our lower school garden beds.  Although we give our garden beds much love during our gardening classes, it could use a bit more.  We are hoping to find some volunteers who would be interested in helping one day a week during the spring and/or summer months to help with weeding, harvesting, and a little extra TLC for our garden beds. If you are interested in lending a hand, please contact Mrs. Merryman and Mrs. Burkhardt.    

Calverton School Auction – Derby Days  

Save the date for this year’s Calverton School Auction on Saturday, April 26 right on campus. The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. Be sure to get your tickets soon!  More information about this year’s auction can be found here.

Earth Day 2025 

Calling All Gardeners!  

Calverton School Auction – Derby Days  

Save the date for this year’s Calverton School Auction on  Saturday, April 26 right on campus. The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. Be sure to get your tickets soon!  More information about this year’s auction can be found here.

Field Trips for April: 

4/14 – Kindergarten to Mt. Vernon (dress uniform and bag lunch required)

4/16 – 2nd Grade to Watkins Park (dress uniform w/ sneakers and bag lunch required)

4/16 – Blue Crabs Baseball Players Visit Calverton

4/23 – 3rd Grade to Historic Annapolis (dress uniform and bag lunch required) 

4/23 – 5th Grade to Dr. Mudd’s House (dress uniform required) 

Save the Date:  

5/1 – Spring Concert for 4K-5 Parents @10:00 a.m.

5/1 - Spring Etiquette Tea Planning Meeting @11:15

5/2 – Grandparents/Someone Special Day for 4K-5, Parent Visitation for 3K & Noon Dismissal for Lower School (no buses or aftercare for lower school students) 

5/5 – Teacher Appreciation Week Begins! 

5/6 – Kindergarten to Air & Space Museum (dress uniform and bag lunch required)

5/6 – 4th Grade to Sotterly Plantation (dress uniform and bag lunch required)

5/14 – 5th Grade Field Trip to Baseball in Education at Blue Crabs Stadium   

5/15 – 5th Grade Musical at 4 p.m. in the Theater

5/20-5/22 – Spring Tea

5/26 – No School

5/28 – 5th Grade to Pax Naval Air Museum (dress uniform and bag lunch required)

5/29 – K-5 Math Day & Biz Kids Economic Fair

5/30 – Field Day & Early Dismissal (12:45 for PK, 1:00 for K-5, and buses depart at 1:35) 

March News

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Dear Lower School Parents,

Wow! March is here already, and these three weeks are sure to fly by. Hopefully, we are on our way to warmer days ahead. Below you will find lower school March events, and as a friendly reminder be sure to “spring forward” those clocks next Sunday. As always, please contact me with any questions.

Kindly,

Heidi Merryman

Read Across America Week

This week Calverton is celebrating our love for reading. Mrs. Cooley has organized several activities for the students to enjoy throughout the week, along with fun spirit clothing options. Guest readers, a book swap, origami bookmark making, a reading campout, and a special surprise presentation by the teachers will create a memorable week! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in the tissue box challenge. The final creations are truly impressive. Be sure to visit Founders Hall to check them out. We appreciate your ongoing commitment to emphasizing the importance of reading and modeling this practice for your children regularly.

The Addams Family

Looking for an evening of entertainment? Come see the production of The Addams Family at 6:00 p.m. on March 6 and 7! Interested students in grades 3-12 have been preparing and practicing for this performance for several weeks. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

Kids Heart Challenge

Mr. C facilitated another wonderful Jump for Heart event for our K-5 students in February. The portal for donations is up and running through March 15, so there is still time to donate to the American Heart Association Kids Challenge. You can download the AHA Schools app and sign up by filling in the required information. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. C at dcoffin@calvertonschool.org.

First Grade Musical

Mark your calendars for Calverton’s first-grade musical performance of Bugz! on March 13 at 4:00 p.m. in the theater. We are so proud of the hard work the students are putting into this production. Many thanks to parents for helping with the costume preparation. We are grateful for the work of Dr. Crissman, Miss Murphy, and Mrs. Sakai for all the time, effort, patience, and love they put into preparing the students.

Congratulations to our January & February Leaders

During the months of January and February, students learned about the importance of being a kind leader Students had the privilege of hearing from Maria Nelson, Deputy Director of Cyber Effects Operations Integration for the U.S. Space Force.

Congratulations to the following students who earned the leadership award for the month of February:

3K- Sydney Hutchins & Madeline Steorts

4K- Joshua Avery, Zara Bush-Young, Colton Helms, Aaron Lyle, Joseph Musket, Julian Scales, Caroline Sunderman & Milly Zimmerman

Kindergarten – Sophia Faig-Rodriguez & Kinsey Leary

First- Grayson Gardner & Benjamin Lin

Second- Bianca Hooper & Scotti Winegardner

Third- Sophia Addy & Cora Nelson

Fourth- Samuel Hawit & Andrea Lopez-Bulnes

Fifth- Arie Love

SCI Fair

Congratulations to our lower school students who participated in the 2025 SCI Fair. It was amazing to see their creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking skills put into practice. Way to go!

Congratulation to our participants:

Bitanya Aklilu

Alden Crissman

Juniper Crissman

Maggie Hance

Willow Hutchins

Eva Khatri

Charlotte Leary

Kinsey Leary

Huxton Lyons

A.J. Parrish

Cortez Roman

Tanay Shah

Laila Smith

McKynzie Tippett

Charlie Trentman

End of Second Trimester for PreK

The second trimester concluded on Friday, February 28. Student reports will be sent home on Friday, March 7. A SignUpGenius link will be emailed to parents for conference sign-ups on Monday, March 3. Conferences will begin during the week of March 10. Please note that Wednesday, March 12 is a noon dismissal for PreK students with parent conferences in the afternoon. The majority of conference times will be offered on this day.

NHS Spring Sports Clinic

Calverton’s National Honor Society has planned the Spring Sports Clinic for students in grades K-5 on Friday, March 14 from 3:15 - 5:00 p.m. Students will experience sports rotations. There is a cost of $10 per participant for this event and payment can be dropped off as cash or check (made out to The Calverton School) in the lower school office. You can sign your child up using this link.

Wear Green!

On Monday, March 17, students are invited to wear green tops and uniform bottoms if they would like to join in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. If a green top is not preferred, students may wear their regular uniform on this day.

End of Third Quarter for Grades K-5

The third quarter ends on Friday, March 21 with conferences the week of April 7. Students in grades 3-5 are excited to host their in-person student-led conferences this quarter. You will see a brief teacher comment on the report card, as students will be sharing their reflections on their work from this quarter. SignUpGenius links will be sent out when we return from spring break.

Authors in the Making

Students are working hard to prepare their soon-to-be published books. Order forms for student books will be sent home on Monday, March 10. The final day to return orders is Wednesday, March 19. Students in grades PK-3 are writing a class book. Students in grades 4 and 5 are writing individual books. You may want to consider ordering a few, as these make great surprise gifts for family members.

4K Spring Parent Performance

We invite 4K families to join us in the Black Box Theater on March 21 at 10:30 a.m. for a short performance by our 4K students. We hope to see you there!

Spring Clubs

Information regarding club offerings and signups will be shared prior to spring break. Signups for clubs will begin the week of April 1. Clubs will begin the week of April 7 and finish the week of May 22, with the makeup week being May 19.

Early Dismissal on March 21

Students will be dismissed from school early on Friday, March 21. PreK dismissal is at 11:45, K-5 dismissal at noon, and 6-12 at 12:20. Buses will depart campus at 12:35. There is no aftercare.

Spring Break

Please note that Calverton’s spring break is March 24 – March 31. School resumes on Tuesday, April 1.

Visitors on Campus

Throughout the past year, the faculty and staff at Calverton have devoted considerable time and effort to our AIMS accreditation process. This has been a crucial opportunity for us to reflect on our mission and its connection to all facets of our school. During the week of April 1, you may notice a few visitors on campus for our reaccreditation visit. All of our guests are members of AIMS-accredited schools and have graciously volunteered to be part of our school's accreditation visiting team. We eagerly anticipate their observations and feedback from our comprehensive 200+ page report.

Our Lower School is Growing!

It is so exciting to see the continued growth in our lower school. I am grateful for the continued interest in our program and the many prospective families that it has attracted. Thanks to this, we will be opening a second section of 3K for the 25-26 school year. We are also anticipating opening a second section of our fifth grade as well. Growth also brings the need for additional faculty. We have started the interview process for these positions as well as additional lower school classroom positions. We are sad to see Mrs. Ostazeski and Mrs. Dillenback taking on different adventures next year but know they will be back to visit and help onboard our new hires as the positions are filled. As we get into the hiring season, I will keep you posted on any new hire meet and greet opportunities this spring. If you know of any possible applicants, please feel free to pass along my information. You will see position postings on our website and social media.

March Field Trips

3/11 – Third & Fourth Grade Field Trip to the James E. Richard Science Center (Dress Uniform and a Bag Lunch Required)

3/19 – Third Grade Field Trip to Calvert Marine Museum (Dress Uniform Required – Returning Before Lunch)

Save the Dates for April:

4/1 - Spring Club Signup

4/7 - Spring Clubs Begin

4/7 – K-5 Parent Teacher Conferences

4/14 – Kindergarten Field Trip to Mt. Vernon (Dress Uniform and Bag Lunch Required)

4/16 – Second Grade Field Trip to Watkins Park

4/18 – No School

4/21 – No School

4/22 – Earth Day

4/23 – Third Grade Field Trip to Historic Annapolis (Dress Uniform and Bag Lunch Required)

4/23 – Fifth Grade Field Trip to Dr. Mudd’s House (Dress Uniform Required)

4/26 - Calverton’s Annual Auction – Derby Days!

February News

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

February Buddies

Our lower school students will work with their buddies to create and design valentines for patients at Calvert Health Medical Center. Many thanks to Nurse Kelci Helms who will be delivering these cards for us. Giving to those in our community is a continued focus throughout the year.

Moving Up Night

Join us on Tuesday, February 4 at 5:00 p.m. for Moving Up Night. Learn about what is to come for the 25-26 school year and what your child will experience in the next grade. Childcare will be provided for current Calverton students. Please see the schedule of events and locations for childcare below.

Childcare Locations

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd – 5th

Room 103

3K Classroom

Room 102

Extended Day Classroom

Room 208

Spanish Classroom

Room 101

Ms. Sakai’s Classroom

Room 203

Mrs. Tedesco’s Room

Gym

Parent/Teacher Conferences – Wednesday, February 5

As a reminder, there is no school for students on Wednesday, February 5 for students. This is our parent/teacher conference day. If you haven’t yet, please sign up for a conference with your child’s teacher. We are very thankful for working together for the success of your children.

Pep Rally – Go Cougars!

On Thursday, February 6, students will enjoy a K-12 pep rally thanks to your generous Giving Tuesday donations. We will unveil the rock wall and spread Calverton school spirit. The seniors have requested our Pep Rally be a blackout in honor of their class color. Students are permitted to wear all black in support of our senior class.

CPA Meeting

Join in the February CPA meeting on Friday, February 7 at 8:15 in the conference room.

Calverton Art Show

We welcome you to join us at the CalvART Gallery on February 7th from 4-6 pm for Calverton School's Student Art Reception in Prince Frederick next to Dreamweaver Cafe. The show, titled "Art with Heart," showcases student artwork from all grade levels, centered around their love of art and creating, perfect for this Valentine's Day. Artwork will be displayed at CalvART for the entire month of February. Be sure to stop by to celebrate our students’ amazing talents.

Black History Month

Throughout the month, students will participate in a variety of activities to celebrate Black History Month. Our fourth and fifth grade classes will be traveling to see a theater presentation about the Civil Rights Movement at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts. In addition to classroom instruction, projects, and activities, students will also experience learning from our US students through a prepared presentation, a Kahoot game, a step performance, and a scavenger hunt. Many thanks to Mrs. Trott and the Kaleidoscope Club for helping our lower school students learn and celebrate this month.

Jump for Heart

Thanks to Mr. C, grades K-5 will enjoy our annual Jump for Heart event to support the American Heart Association this month. A date will be communicated once it is finalized. Students are permitted to wear comfortable athletic wear in their team colors. Information about these colors will be sent home by the classroom teacher. Smiles and laughter are sure to fill the gym as students rotate from one station to another while putting their jump-roping skills to use.

Valentine’s Day Exchange

Students will participate in a classroom Valentine exchange and treat on February 13. Details will be sent from your classroom teachers.

Winter Break

Calverton’s winter break will take place from Friday, February 14 through Monday, February 17. School will resume on Tuesday, February 18.

Maryland Science Center Visit

Maryland Science Center is coming to Calverton! On February 18, lower school students will participate in the Let’s Science That program. Students will learn about the scientific process through physical and chemical changes, experience light reflection, light absorption, and shadow creation, as well as observe the formation of new substances as a result of chemical reactions. Students will be talking about this visit for months.

100th Day of School

Can you believe we have almost reached 100 days of school? The lower school will be celebrating the 100th day of school, unless more snow days get in our way, on Wednesday, February 19. Stay tuned for details from classroom teachers.

Reenrollment Contracts

It is reenrollment season! I hope that you choose to continue to be part of our Calverton community, and I recognize the level of commitment required. If you have any questions as your family is making your decisions for next year, please do not hesitate to reach out. You will be receiving the reenrollment packet via a DocuSign email. Contracts are due by February 18. You have the option to use a credit card link in the online enrollment packet or drop off a check made out to The Calverton School in the admissions office with Dawn Rhoads. If you have questions regarding your contract, please reach out to Dawn Rhoads at drhoads@calvertonschool.org

SCI Fair

We are enthusiastic about the applicants for our SCI Fair. A big thank you to Mrs. Burkhardt for her preparation and communication regarding this opportunity for students in grades K-5. All SCI Fair projects are due back to campus on February 24. If you have any questions along the way, please email Mrs. Burkhardt at aburkhardt@calvertonschool.org.

A Day in the Life Of…

Calverton students will be enjoying the third year of our “A Day in the Life Of” event. Students will meet a variety of local professionals from different backgrounds to learn about what a day is like in their line of work. During the week of February 18, students will learn about different careers and the work that goes into them while also participating in a hands-on learning activity connected to each profession. We are looking forward to welcoming these special guests to Calverton.

Calverton Students Love to Read

This year Mrs. Cooley prepared a new challenge for Read Across America Week. Join us in the Tissue Box Challenge! Students are invited to decorate a new, unopened tissue box to look like a book character. Students will also need to write an accompanying summary of the book connected with the character. Prizes will be awarded and judged upon creativity, character representation, and book summary. Completed tissue boxes and summaries are due on February 27 to Mrs. Cooley. There are even more exciting activities and surprises to come during the week of March 4, including dress-up days. Details about this will be coming soon. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Cooley at scooley@calvertonschool.org.

Uniforms

Please be sure your children are adhering to the school uniform policy. I know it can get tricky as they are constantly growing. Here are some quick reminders.

· Black, brown, or navy dress shoes, athletic shoes (in plain white, black, gray, or navy blue – no colored laces or soles), or top-siders in brown or navy may be worn daily. Boots, Uggs, crocs, open-toe shoes, shoes with heels, open-heel shoes, and wedges are not permitted at any time. If boots are worn to school during the winter months, students must change into appropriate shoes prior to class.

· Boys in grades 3-5 should be wearing a belt every day with shirts tucked in

· Girls should wear leggings under their jumper. Leggings should not be worn as pants for the school day.

· Calverton hoodies are for spirit wear days only. A Calverton fleece, sweater, or sweater vest must be worn Monday-Thursday if students are cold.

Save these March Dates:

3/3 – 3/7 –Read Across America Week

3/10- PreK Parent Teacher Conference Week Begins

3/11 – Third & Fourth Grade Field Trip to the James E. Richard Science Center – Dress Uniform and a Bag Lunch Required

3/12 – PreK Only Early Dismissal at Noon for Conferences

3/13 - First Grade Musical Performance @ 4 p.m. in the Black Box Theater

3/19 – Third Grade Field Trip to Calvert Marine Museum – Dress Uniform and a Bag Lunch Required

3/21 – Early Dismissal 11:45 a.m. PreK Dismissal, 12 noon Dismissal for K-5, 12:20 p.m. Dismissal for 6-12

3/24-3/31 – Spring Break

January News

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Middle School Buddies Welcome Us Back!

On Monday, January 6, our buddies will be joining us for a visit. This month, lower school students and their buddies will kick off our first stay back with a game of winter bingo. We will definitely be hoping this will help bring snow our way.

Cold Weather Attire

With winter officially here, we ask that all students come to school with appropriate outdoor clothing for recess. This includes a jacket, hat, and gloves. Please label your child’s belongings. Students will be going outside as long as the feels like temperatures are above freezing. Although the school fleece is wonderful for inside the building, this should not be considered a jacket during the colder months. Students without appropriate outdoor clothing will not be able to join their class outside for recess.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

School is closed on Monday, January 20 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We will be discussing the significance of this day in class through stories and activities surrounding equality. If you would like to spend some time on January 20 talking with your children about the importance of this day, there are several YouTube videos and wonderful picture books for children that share his story.

It’s Time for Winter Clubs!

Beat those winter blues with a wonderful winter club! Winter clubs begin the week of January 13. Club information will be sent home this week, so be sure to sign up quickly! An email from Mrs. Freeburger will also be sent home soon.

K-5 Report Cards and Parent Teacher Conferences

The second quarter ends on Friday, January 17. Report cards will be available for viewing the afternoon of Friday, January 31. You will receive a SignUpGenius from your child's teacher for the upcoming parent teacher conferences, which take place during the week of February 3. Please note that February 5 is a designated day off school for students as we hold parent-teacher conferences. Although we will have a few additional dates and times that week for conferences, February 5 is the main conference day. We ask parents to plan to attend these conferences in person on campus. Hopefully, this advance notice will allow you to join us. We look forward to sharing the progress and development of our students over this past quarter. There is always so much to celebrate!

Interested Friends, Neighbors, or Coworkers?

Do you have friends, neighbors, or coworkers who have shared an interest in learning more about Calverton? If so, please encourage them to reach out to me or complete an online inquiry form. We are thrilled with the continued interest in our lower school, and so much of that is due to your help. The $1,000 referral incentive is still available, so be sure to have those interested include your name on the application.

In addition, with some classes headed toward a waitlist for new enrollments next year, seats are limited. We do provide priority to our current families, so if you have been considering sending a younger child that is of PreK age, please contact our admissions department as soon as possible.

Lower School Leaders

During the months of November and December, we focused on the leadership trait of kindness and generosity. Congratulations to the leaders. Our leaders will enjoy a special Leader Lunch this month. January’s leadership theme is…leaders embrace challenges. We are thrilled to welcome Maria I. Nelson NH-IV - BSIT, CISM, CGRC, Deputy Director of Cyber Effects Ops Integration for the United States Space Force as our January leadership speaker.

3K – Brooke Bennett & Shai Walker

4K – Zachary Fowler, Isabelle Hardy, Tess Trentman, & Isabelle Windham

K – Tucker Backes & John Gabretti

1st – Capri Buckler & Tanay Shah

2nd – Grace Tedesco & Charlie Trentman

3rd – Conor Backes & Charlotte Leary

4th – Baleigh Chase & Emmet Clas

5th – Colton Bailey

Lower School Science, Creation, and Innovation (SCI) Fair

Information about this year’s SCI fair for our K-5 students will be sent out on Thursday, January 16. Students are invited, but not required, to participate in the SCI Fair. Mrs. Burkhardt will be discussing the details with students in class and begin their brainstorming process together. Below is the timeline of dates for this year’s event.

Mrs. Burkhardt shares details with students – week of 1/13

Paperwork/email home – 1/16

SCI Fair proposals due to Mrs. Burkhardt – 1/21

Final product due to campus – 2/24

Sneak A Peek Event

Just as you will learn about what awaits your child in their upcoming grade level on Moving Up Night, we want to offer our students a similar experience. This month, students will have the chance to visit their future classrooms and meet the teachers. They will engage in a fun game and discover the exciting activities that await them. We have tentatively scheduled this enjoyable visit for January 22.

January Field Trips

1/29 - First and Second Grade to see the Rainbow Fish performance (Dress Uniform required)

Save these Dates in February:

Tuesday, February 4 is our Moving Up Night, and we invite parents back to campus in the evening. You will have the opportunity to hear from your child’s upcoming teacher and learn all about the new adventures that await. Childcare will be offered for this event. Details for Moving Up Night are still being finalized. More information will be sent as it becomes available.

Mr. C is excited to share that he is still planning for our annual American Heart Association Jump for Heart event in February. Students will have the opportunity to wear team colors and raise money for this great cause. More details and information will be sent home in the upcoming weeks. Many thanks to Mr. C for his work in making this event happen.

Winter break is from Friday, February 14 through Monday, February 17. Campus will reopen on Tuesday, February 18.

December News

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Service Learning

Thank you so much for your kindness in helping the children participate in the Change Challenge supporting Calvert Animal Welfare League. The lower school raised $1,528 in just one week thanks to the Pencil Pull and Change Challenge at the book fair. Congratulations to Mrs. Keegan’s class for raising the most money! This is over double what was raised last year! Our fifth grade will be visiting C.A.W.L. this week to share the amazing news and drop off all donations.

Many thanks for participating in our Scholastic Book Fair. I hope the children enjoyed their newest additions to their home libraries. Thanks to the book fair success, the library has earned $4,834 in Scholastic Dollars to use for items in the library.

Giving Tuesday

Continuing with our leadership focus of service learning, on Tuesday, December 3 students will participate in grade-level service learning projects. Students experienced the positive ways we can give to those in need in our community. Please take some time at home to speak with your children about their classroom projects and ways they can help at home, in their neighborhood, and in their local community.

PreK Cougar Cubs – Creating goodie bags for troops.
Kindergarten – Creating thank you bags for local fire department.
First Grade – Creating thank you bags for the Calvert County Sherriff’s Office and learning about the work of a police officer with a visit from local Sherriff’s Deputies, Deputy Clas and Ms. Murphy’s brother, Deputy Murphy.
Second Grade – Creating ornaments for shelter residents at Project Echo in Prince Frederick.
Third Grade – Making no-sew blankets for residents at Asbury Solomons and delivering them in person along with performing some holiday songs.
Fourth Grade – Organizing and filling birthday bags for Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry following a visit from the organization to our fourth grade class to share the importance of their support for those in our local community.
Fifth Grade – Sorting and delivering C.A.W.L. Animal Shelter donations and writing persuasive letters to possible adopters about the animals in the shelter. We are still accepting donations through the morning of December 3.

Join Us This Giving Tuesday!

We invite you to support our school's mission and make a difference in the lives of our students. Your generous contributions during our Giving Tuesday campaign will help fund essential programs, resources, and activities that enrich our educational experience. Together, we can create a brighter future for our community. Every donation counts, no matter the size! Help us unlock challenges along the way thanks to your donations. If 85% of the lower school families donate, students will have the opportunity to cover me in Silly String! It’s all about our students, your children! Click HERE to give!

December and January Lunch Orders

Please remember to complete your December and January order and send in payment by Tuesday, December 3.

December CPA Meeting

The December CPA meeting will take place on Friday, December 6 at 8:15 a.m.

Holiday Shoppe

It is time for our Lil’ Shoppers Holiday Shoppe! Detailed information and forms about the Lil’ Shoppers Holiday Shoppe will be sent home on Monday. As you will see on the information page, students in grades K-5 will have the opportunity to browse the shop on Monday, December 9.

If you choose to have your child participate, please fill in the family members you would like your child to shop for on the Wish List under "Shopping For..." and include a budget for each item or provide a total budget. This is very helpful and a real-life math application when the students browse. Most items are priced $5.00 or less, but there are a few items that can exceed this amount. Please send the Wish List back to school by Friday, December 6. Students will then have the opportunity to shop beginning on Tuesday, December 10. Please note that browsing is difficult for our youngest cougars in PreK because they want to take things with them that day. They do not always understand having to wait to purchase, so to make this easier, we do all browsing and shopping on one day for 3K and 4K students. Please note that the items listed on the Lil’ Shoppers website are not necessarily items that will be sent to us. Please do not use these items to browse with your child at home. Below is the schedule for shopping.

We are in need of parent volunteers to help with this event. If you are able to sign up to assist in shopping and wrapping, we would very much appreciate it. Please use THIS LINK to volunteer.

Tuesday, December 10

8:20-10:20 Kindergarten
10:20-12:00 Second Grade
12:30-2:00 First Grade
2:00-2:50 Fifth Grade

Wednesday, December 11

8:20-10:00 3K & 4K
10:20-12:00 Third Grade
12:30-2:30 Fourth Grade

Candy Cane Grams

Students have the opportunity to send out Candy Cane Grams to friends and teachers again this year. The message forms will be sent home on Monday, December 2 in backpacks. For $1.00 per message, students can write a special note, which will be attached to a candy cane and delivered to the recipient on Friday, December 20. Candy Cane Grams can be dropped off with Mrs. Freeburger in the lower school office up until Thursday, December 12. Attached is a copy of the form if you need additional pages to print.

Winter Concert – Elfis and the Elves Get All Shook Up!

The month of December always seems to pass so quickly, so be sure to mark your calendars for the 4K-5th grade winter concert, “Elfis and The Elves Get All Shook UP,” on Thursday, December 19. There will be one performance at 10 a.m. Doors will open at 9:40. We will record (not livestream) the performance and send a link which you are welcome to share with other family members to view over the holidays. Students may dress to impress for this concert in their holiday finest. Following the performance, students will have the opportunity to change into their regular uniforms for the remainder of the school day. If your child has lines to memorize, they were sent home prior to Thanksgiving break. Please have your children practice their lines at home.

DECEMBER 20 - PJ Day, Classroom Celebrations, PreK Program & Noon Dismissal

Students are invited to wear pajamas on the last day before break as a comfy way to head off into the winter break. Thanks to our amazing CPA, students in the lower school will enjoy hot chocolate and cookies on December 20. Our 3K & 4K students will perform their holiday show for their families at 10:00 a.m. in the theater! There will be a noon dismissal with buses departing at 12:35 p.m. There will be no PM extended day.

Prepared for Colder Weather

As the cold weather continues to creep in, please be sure that students have proper jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves available at school. If possible, please label these items to avoid having them end up in the lost and found bin. Recess will continue outside as long as the feels-like temperature is 32 or above. Please take a moment to review the uniform policy, especially information regarding the approved colors of leggings, socks, and shoes. As a reminder, skorts and polo dress are not winter uniform.

Letters for Santa

If your children are looking to mail their letters to Santa, there is a mailbox in Mrs. Merryman’s office that ships all letters directly to the North Pole. If your child would like to drop off their letter in the mailbox, they are more than welcome to do so.

Holiday Break Activities

As we approach the holiday break, teachers will be preparing and offering an optional academic activity for your child to engage in during this time. This activity is designed to reinforce the skills and concepts we've been learning in class while keeping learning fun and enjoyable. Students are not required to complete it, rather we are offering this for students or families interested in working on a little academic fun over the break. We know there are many other opportunities for experiences and learning that happen with families over this break, so no pressure, just know it is an option.

Tidewater Cotillion

Field Trips

12/3 – Fifth Grade to C.A.W.L. (dress uniform)

12/5 – Third Grade to Calvert Nursing Center (dress uniform)

Looking Ahead

12/23-1/3 - Winter Break

1/6 - School Resumes

1/10 - CPA Meeting

1/20 - No School

1/17 - End of Second Quarter 1/13 - Winter Clubs Begin

November News

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to our Lower School Leaders for the month of October.

During the month of October, our leadership focus was on self-control. Master Kyle Webber from Prince Frederick Black Belt Academy joined us at our leadership assembly to talk about the importance of showing self-control. Congratulations to these lower school leaders for being positive role models to their peers.

3K- Mario Hidalgo & Gianna Mowle
4K – Bristol Freeburger, Nick Jones, Kaley McGrath, Velencia Roman
K – Elliot Fuchsota & Aurora Kaufman
1 – Paisley Po & Alima Sa
2 – Jack Cranford & Piper Ochoa
3 – Juniper Crissman & Nia Howard
4 – Alyssa Fazekas & Arabella Seacat
5 – August Head

November/December Leadership Focus – Leaders are kind and show generosity to others!

For the months of November and December, lower school students will be focusing on how leaders are kind and show generosity to others. As we begin the season of giving, several classes will create thank you cards for service members near and far. They will also start preparing for their Giving Tuesday projects and discussing the importance of service learning. Each grade level will be making something that will be given to an organization within our local community. Our fifth grade recently took a trip to Calvert Animal Welfare League (CAWL) to learn about how the volunteers care for animals at their shelter. Fifth grade will be leading the lower school in a donation drive for CAWL (see below). We will also be taking part in a coin collecting challenge during the book fair week. The money collected will be donated to CAWL. Donation bins are located in Founders Hall until Friday, November 22. Fifth grade will sort and deliver the donated items to the shelters after returning from Thanksgiving break. Thank you for helping our children learn the importance of giving to others in need.

Uniform Reminder

This is a friendly reminder that winter uniform began on November 1. We will be a bit lenient this week and into next as there are some warm days still tossed in. We will be saying goodbye to shorts, skorts, and polo dresses over the next week until spring arrives. Thank you!

Fall Clubs

This week is the last week for a few of our fall clubs. There are some clubs that require a make-up class. The Autumn Fun Club make-up date will be on Tuesday, November 12. The Great Outdoors Club and the Fun and Games Club make-up date will be on Monday, November 18. Please contact Jessica Freeburger with any questions.

Book Fair

The lower school’s Scholastic Book Fair will begin on Monday, November 18 with students having the opportunity to browse. The book fair will remain open until noon on Friday, November 22. We are looking for parent volunteers to help with buying times. Please sign up HERE. We are thankful for your help. We are pleased and excited to offer Scholastic’s eWallet payment option again this year. The eWallet is a free and convenient way for your child to purchase books without sending them to school with cash, check, or credit card. It allows you to set a spending limit of your choice, and you are only charged when your child makes a purchase. Please click HERE. Mrs. Cooley will be sending a letter home with more details soon.

Book Fair Schedule

Mon 11/18	Tues 11/19	Weds 11/20
8:20 Ostazeski	8:30 Dillenback	8:30 Tedesco
8:50 Ott	9:15 Ott	9:15 Murphy
9:20 Murphy	10:30 Grebas	10:30 Gensic
9:40 Sakai	11:00 Goody	11:00 Holmes
10:20 Zinn	11:30 Ernest	11:30 Zinn
10:40 Ernest	1:00 Sakai	1:00 Ostazeski
1:45 Keegan	1:45 Bowen
11:20 Grebas
12:20 Tedesco
12:40 Dillenback
1:45 Keegan
2:15 Bowen

Parent Visitation Day/Veterans Day

Please join us for our annual 4K-5th grade Parent Visitation Day and Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony on Monday, November 11. The morning will begin in the gym at 8:40 a.m., then move to the classrooms. Be ready to go back in time and be a kid again as you enjoy a morning at school. We promise not to be too hard on you. We will finish up classroom visits at 10:45, and the Veterans Recognition Ceremony will begin at 11:00. The assembly will include the Andrews Air Force Base Honor Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance led by our kindergarten students, fourth and fifth grade students performing “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Salute to the Armed Forces,” and special guest speaker, Col Michael “Dino” Dehner, Retired Marine and Calverton parent. This is a noon dismissal day for all students. There is no aftercare. Students will need to wear dress uniforms for this date.

CPA Bowling Event

Join in the family fun on 11/9 with your fellow Calverton Cougars. Learning From One Another On Thursday, November 14 and Friday, November 15 lower school teachers will be observing each other as one more step toward reaching our team goal of growing and learning from one another. Teachers will have the opportunity to observe the instructional strategies of colleagues in specific areas that are interesting to them.

NHS Fall Sports Clinic

Calverton’s National Honor Society is offering a fall sports clinic on Friday, November 15 from 3:15 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. Students will experience sports rotations including basketball, soccer, and cheer/cougar strong. There is a cost of $10 per participant for this event and payment by cash or check (made out to The Calverton School) may be dropped off in the lower school office. Please see the flier sent home Monday. You can sign your child up using this link.

Thanksgiving Friendship Events

Classrooms will take part in friendship activities on November 22 as we make our way into our Thanksgiving break. Our PreK students will be making friendship trail mix or friendship fruit salad. Our K-2 students will be enjoying pie tasting together, and grades 3-5 will take part in a friendship feast. A big thank you to our CPA for making this possible. Please be sure to keep an eye out for information from your child's teacher and room parents.

Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving break is from November 25-29. Enjoy the time with your family.

November Field Trips

11/4 – 5th to CAWL (Dress Uniform Required)
11/13 – TENTATIVE Kinder Community Trip (Dress Uniform Required)
11/20– 4th to St. Mary’s City (Dress Uniform Required)

Here is a look ahead. Mark your December calendars with these important dates

12/2 PK Parent Teacher Conferences begin
12/3 Giving Tuesday Service-Learning Activities in the LS Classrooms
12/4 PreK Noon Dismissal for conferences. K-12 have a regular, full school day.
12/6 CPA meeting 12/9 Holiday Shoppe Week (details to come)
12/13 Candy Cane Grams Due (details to come)
12/19 4K-5th Grade Winter Concert for Families @10:00 a.m.
12/20 Pajama Day, PreK 3 & 4 Holiday Performance & Noon Dismissal
12/23 Holiday Break Begins

Chick-fil-A on Thursdays

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce that Chick-fil-A Thursdays are here in the Calverton Lower School! The LS lunch option will be offered on Thursdays beginning October 17th. This is a parent volunteer endeavor to acquire water bottle filling stations for the school. The profits made from this fundraiser in the lower, middle and upper schools will benefit our entire community.

In order for the process to run smoothly here are some important details.

(1) CFA will offer the following meals to the LS:

*5-pc nuggets with waffle chips and a cookie: $10

*5-pc nuggets with fruit cup and a cookie: $11.50

*Sandwich with waffle chips and a cookie: $12

*Cobb Salad with Grilled Chicken: $12.50

*Southwest Veggie Wrap, waffle chips, and a cookie: $14.50

*16 oz bottle drinks - Tea (sweet or unsweet): $4 / Lemonade (regular or diet): $4.50

(2) Online order HERE.

(3) During the month of October, we will be ordering on a weekly basis:

*10/17 - Order and payment due by 9am on 10/16

*10/24 - Order and payment due by 9am on 10/23

*10/31 - Order and payment due by 9am on 10/30 (4) Starting in November, LS will move into their familiar monthly ordering routine.

*Nov - Order and payment due by 9am on 11/6 (5)

Virtual payments are strongly encouraged and can be done via Venmo or CashApp. Cash can be placed in the CFA bin located in the LS office. We appreciate your support as we not only feed our kiddos but also help enhance our school. Please feel free to reach out to me at imanotarymd@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns. Warmly, Sonja Sampson

October News

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Lower School September Leaders

During the month of September, the lower school focused on the importance of kindness and inclusion. Students had a special presentation from Calverton school counselor, Mrs. Jenifer Duff and learned about her role in our school community and the importance of how kindness and inclusion are important traits as a friend, student, and leader. Congratulations to the September leaders. Way to go! For the month of October, we will be focusing on how leaders show self-control.

3K – Hazel Budhram & Ruth Deitz
4K – Jeffrey Cunningham, Charlotte Curtin, Lilianna Figueroa, & Abigail Law
K – Raegan Ott & Makynzie Tippett
1 – Maggie Hance & Zev Whitely
2 – Breeja Dryer & Bruce Watkins
3 – Hudson Cranford & Knoxin Winegardner
4 – Hailey Budhram & Aiden Chen
5 – Scott Rye

October 4 is National Denim Day.

Students are invited to wear jeans and a spirit wear top this Friday. If jeans are not preferred, students may wear regular uniform bottoms.

Growing our Academic Support Program

I am pleased to share that we are hiring a part-time reading interventionist for our lower school. This position will allow for more focused reading instruction for students in need of additional literacy support. Mrs. Cooley has been working hard to fit students into her schedule, and with our growing lower school population we recognize the need for this additional position to support our students with their reading skills. I am so grateful that we can add this position, and I look forward to sharing details as the position is filled.

Lunch Left at Home?

If your child accidentally left their lunch at home, no need to worry. We have items in the lower school office for those days when an emergency lunch is needed. We do our best to keep items that are well-liked by students in stock. Please do not Door Dash lunch for your child to campus, I promise we will make sure they receive snack and lunch. Thank you!

Uniform

Calverton’s summer uniform months include August, September, October, April, May, and June. Please note that beginning November 1, winter uniform begins. Shorts, skorts, and jumpers are summer uniform only and should not be worn during winter uniform months. Questions about the uniform policy can be found HERE.

D.A.R.E.

Each year, fifth grade students participate in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Program. This year we are excited to welcome Deputy (and Calverton parent) Andrew Clas as our D.A.R.E officer. D.A.R.E begins on October 7 and lasts through October 22. Students will participate in a D.A.R.E. graduation on Monday, November 11 during Parent Visitation Day.

CPA Meeting

Join Calverton parents at the next CPA meeting on Friday, October 4 at 8:15 a.m. We appreciate our CPA and all the work that you do for the students and teachers at Calverton!

Fire Prevention Week

The week of October 7 is Fire Prevention Week. Students will enjoy participating in different classroom activities that connect to fire safety throughout the week. On Thursday, October 3, we will kick off our conversations about fire prevention with a visit from the Prince Frederick Fire Department to learn firsthand about fire safety, prevention, and the job of a fire fighter from Mr. Helms, Calverton parent and fire fighter. Please take some time to talk with your children about the importance of fire prevention and your family’s home escape plan.

Tell Your Friends to Check Us Out!

Calverton’s Fall Open House Calverton is holding our fall Open House on Saturday, October 5 from 10 a.m. – noon. If you know of friends, family, or neighbors interested in learning more about Calverton, please invite them to this event. A $1,000 referral incentive is available for the 25-26 school year if families put your name on their applications in the “How did you hear about us?” section and enroll at Calverton. Be sure to tell your friends and family to let us know that you sent them!

Spirit Week

It’s time to show our school spirit leading up to our Calverton Homecoming. The week of October 14, students have the option of dressing up on different themed days to show their spirit. A few of the days are in conjunction with middle and upper school. For example, on Tuesday, October 15, lower school students will dress as senior citizens, while middle school students will dress as adults off to work, and upper schoolers will dress as babies. The daily themes can be found below. Please do not feel that you have to buy anything special for spirit week. The best outfits come from things you already find around your house. If students prefer to wear their regular uniforms on any of these days, they are welcome to do so. We will finish the week with a K-12 pep assembly led by our upper school SGA.

Calverton Athletics

Please take a moment to check out our middle and upper school athletics calendar HERE. It would be great for lower schoolers to attend a game a cheer on their middle and upper school friends. Homecoming games are especially a great time to come out and support our Cougars.

Class Photos and Picture Retakes

If your child was absent on picture day or the photo didn’t turn out quite like you had hoped, not to fret! Picture retake day will be on October 22. This will also be class photo day. All students should come to school in their dress uniforms and are welcome to bring regular uniforms to change into following pictures. If your child needs their photo retaken, please email Jess Freeburger at jfreeburger@calvertonschool.org.

End of First Quarter

The first quarter of the year will wrap up for grades K-5 on Friday, October 25. Report cards will be posted for viewing in RenWeb on November 1, with parent-teacher conferences following during the week of November 4-8. Classroom teachers will be sending out a Sign-Up Genius to sign up for conferences as the date approaches. PreK Cougar Cubs will wrap up their first trimester on November 15. Information regarding conferences for PreK will be sent at a later date.

Halloween Parade

Our Halloween Parade and Concert will take place on October 25 at 9:45 a.m. in the gym. Each grade will perform a song and there will be time for photo ops around campus. Lower school students will parade through the middle and upper school and finish off the morning with class snack and game prepared by our amazing room parents. Students should come to school dressed in their costumes and have their uniforms/spirit wear ready to change into following the festivities. As your child begins to think about their costume options for the parade, please keep in mind the information below: - Please remember that there are very young children at Calverton (and some sensitive adults), and costumes should not be "too scary" - Costumes must offer appropriate coverage (nothing see-through and skirts should be no shorter than just above the knee) - No weapons (or anything resembling a weapon) or liquid accessories will be allowed on campus - No face paint or hair dye for this event - Parents of Cougar Cubs, please keep in mind that your children will be walking up and down steps as they parade through our middle and upper schools. Long tails, dresses, and pants can be troublesome for our littlest friends

Fall Festival

Join us for our CPA’s fall event on October 25 beginning at 5:00 p.m. Children should come dressed in their costumes. Students can participate in a variety of Halloween-themed games prior to trunk-or-treating. You will not want to miss this event! Keep an eye out for more information from room parents. If you plan to have your child attend aftercare on October 25 and that is not their typical dismissal routine, please contact your child’s teacher and Kasey Cunningham, Director of Extended Day at kcunningham@calvertonschool.org to make them aware and help us plan for an increase in student attendance.

Upcoming October Field Trips:

10/8 - Kindergarten to Greenstreet Gardens (bag lunch required, comfortable pants and spirit wear tops - uniform not required)
10/9 – 1st and 2nd Grades to Rolling Acres Farm (bag lunch required, comfortable pants and spirit wear tops - uniform not required)
10/10 – 4K to Serenity Farms
10/21 – 4th & 5th Grades to One Room Schoolhouse (bag lunch required, uniform bottom, spirit wear tops, tennis shoes or boots that can get dirty)
10/30 – 3rd Grade to Kennedy Center (bag lunch and dress uniform required)

November Save the Date Items:

11/2 – Touch-a-Truck 10:00 a.m.- noon
11/1 – K-5 Report Cards Posted
11/4 – K-5 Parent/Teacher Conferences Begin
11/5 – No School for Parent/Teacher Conference Day
11/9 – CPA Bowling Night
11/11 – 4K-5th Parent Visitation Day 8:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Veterans Day Ceremony 11:00 a.m. (All Parents Welcome) Noon Dismissal for Students 1
1/11 – Book Fair Begins
11/15 – End of 1st Trimester for PreK Cougar Cubs
11/20 – 4th Grade Field Trip to St. Mary’s City
11/25-11/29 – Thanksgiving Break

Lunch Options

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Lower School

Wednesdays - Mission BBQ ($10 a box)

Fridays - Pizza ($1.50 a slice)

Orders are taken monthly. Look for the flyers in your student's Take Home folder. Turn money into Jessica Freeburger in the administrative office.