Wednesday, August 22, 2012
An 'ounce of prevention' is the key to safe travels to and from school.
With the start of a new school year, school safety is heavy on the minds of parents—which these days may mean worrying about possible violence at school. But studies show school-age children are nine times more likely to be unintentionallly injured—on the playground or elsewhere—than to be victims of violence at school, according the National Safe Kids Campaign (Safe Kids USA). The group estimates that each year 2.2 million children ages 14 and below are injured in school-related accidents. School-related accidents can be prevented, if parents prepare students and stay on the lookout for potential hazards. Here's a list of safety tips from Safe Kids, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Maryland Safe Routes Program: Walking to and …
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
New school opens; longer school days on tap for middle school students.
The Prince George's County Public School system opened its doors Monday to more than 123,000 students--plus a new school building and an array of new academic programs. PGPCS is the first major DC-area system to open for the new school year. "We are pleased that the school year got off to a smooth start and look forward to a great year,” said Verjeana M. Jacobs, chair of the Prince George’s County Board of Education. “Students came to school today ready to learn, thanks to our outstanding faculty, staff and parents. Teachers and principals spent countless hours up until the first bell rang to prepare their classrooms and students. In dealing with all of the moving parts that a new school year brings, parents have been patient and flexible…
Monday, August 20, 2012
Share your photos of your first day of school in Prince George's County.
Today is the first day of school and emotions are running high for both students and parents as they arrive at school. Tell us how your child's first day went and share your photos with us by adding them to this post. Was it nervewracking? How long did it take your child to find the right outfit? Did anything go wrong with school buses or scheduling? Tell us in the comments!
Friday, August 17, 2012
A senior-level administrator from the District of Columbia's Public Schools will act as Prince George's County Public Schools' interim superintendent.
A 32-year veteran educator from the District of Columbia's Public Schools (DCPS) will serve as the interim superintendent in Prince George's County. The Board of Education named Dr. Alvin Crawley as the temporary replacement for William R. Hite, who recently accepted a position with the School District of Philadelphia. The announcement was made Friday, just three days before the new school year is set to begin. "I am excited to lead Prince George’s County Public Schools at this critical time,” Crawley said. “The school system has made significant academic strides in recent years and I look forward to helping students and teachers continue on that path. I will work with the Board of Education over the next few weeks to address immediate …
All the back-to-school information you need for Prince George's County Public Schools' students.
The first day for the county's public school students is Monday, Aug. 20. Don't panic. Whether you're new to Prince George's County or sending your child to grade school for the first time, the Prince George's County Public Schools' website offers information you need to know for the first day. School Registration: Parents who still need to register their child for school can find out which school their child should attend by searching by their home address. Bus Stop Location and Schedules: Call the PGCPS Transportation phone bank daily 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 301-952-6570. If your child was not registered for school by Aug. 10, they will not receive their schedule for transportation until Aug. 27, according to the site. Class schedules: …
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Briefs from around Prince George's County.
Patch is on top of the news in the eight municipalities that we cover, but here's some other highlights from around the county: New Carrollton Middle School Awarded $40 K Charles Carroll Middle School received a $40,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation on Aug. 9. The money will be used toward the Innovative Learning Schools program, which will promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among its students. Carroll Middle is one of the four schools in Prince George's County that is participating in the Transforming Education through Digital Learning project. Students receive an iPad and have access to MacBook laptops so teachers can distribute materials virtually and students can create and learn with the newest technology…
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Last school year, the Prince George's County Police Department issued 349,233 speed camera tickets in the county's school zones.
Motorists will need to keep their lead-foot in check starting Monday, when children across Prince George's County return to school. Many children walk to school with the help of parents or crossing guards, so drivers will have to be on the lookout for traffic slowing down in school zones across the county, not only to prevent injury to pedestrians but also to prevent from getting snapped in a speed camera's image. According to the AAA Mid-Atlantic, the Prince George's County Police Department issued 349,233 tickets last school year in the county's school zones. Each violation cost a motorist $40 and the county raised more than $5 million dollars in revenue from the tickets. The state raised around $13.9 million, the auto club reported…
Friday, August 3, 2012
Should the state pass stricter requirements when it comes to regulating and treating student athlete concussions?
Sports practices for public schools in Prince George's and Montgomery counties start up soon—but new state regulations may mean changes for athletes and coaches. The state school board passed new requirements last week that say athletic coaches in Maryland must be trained in identifying serious head injuries, The Baltimore Sun reports. Thomas Hearn, a Montgomery County parent, spoke to the state school board in May after his son sustained a concussion, and pushed for members to consider limiting the number of contact practices in a week, The Sun reported. Hearn also plans to continue pursuing even stricter requirements than those passed by the state from Montgomery County’s school board, according to The Sun. Earl Hawkins, the director …
Summer Leadership Conference preps county principals for new school year.
Prince George's County principals, administrators and county school officials spent the last four days in a sort of an annual boot-camp designed to give school managers a leg up on the incoming year. Called the Summer Leadership Conference, the four day event helps new and returning principals hit the ground running. This year's conference focused on leadershing in times of change. In training sessions, administrators participated in team-building exercises and development sessions that focused on curriculum, systemic goals, collaborative planning, parent involvement, performance management, special education, multicultural education, and more. During a wrap-up session which reviewed the skills taught to the principals and assistant …
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Tips from local moms on kid-friendly, healthy and easy school lunches.
School is about to start, and one big decision other than what the first-day outfit will be is whether or not your child will eat a packed lunch or buy lunch from school. The great thing about packing lunch is that you know what your kids will be eating, and you can cater the meal to their allergies and preferences. Patch spoke to some local moms—and Patch contributors—and came up with a few tips every family can use. How to get your kids excited about packing a lunch: Make a deal with your kids. Give them a certain amount of money each week and explain they can either buy school lunch with it, or save it and bring their lunch from home for free. — Lezlie Crosswhite, contributor One big thing kids seem to be into these days is bento box …
MARSHALL
5:17 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
SPEED CAMERAS IN "SO CALLED" SCHOOL ZONES ARE MONEY MAKERS.....NOTHING MORE.....IF YOU NOTICE....MOST CAMERAS ARE AT THE VERY END OF THE ALLOWABLE SCHOOL ZONE.....1/2 MILE.....STUDENTS WHO WALK TO PUBLIC SCHOOL ONLY WALK WITHIN A DISTANCE OF 1/4 MILE OR LESS.....IF "90% OF ALL SPEED CAMERA MONEY" HAD TO GO TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.....YOU WOULD SEE 90% LESS SPEED CAMERAS.....IN MY OPINION.....THEY … more ›