Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School held a back-to-school meet-the-teacher event and a second annual community resource event Aug. 22 at the school. Parents and guardians could meet their child’s teacher and afterwards stop by and grab materials from local businesses and organizations for their families.
Local organizations came out to the school and filled the gymnasium with tables of resources for parents to enjoy. Some organizations present included representatives from the Charles County Department of Health, Charles County Public Library, Newburg Volunteer Rescue and Fire Department, Cobb Island Baptist Church, Girl Scouts, Teen Court and Health Partners.
The goal for this year’s community event was to connect local businesses and organizations to the Higdon community and vice versa. “We are such a distance from the central part of the county,” Shannon Finnegan, Ed.D., principal at the school, said. “Our goal is for our parents to be aware of resources in the community and for county organizations to realize how we do not have a lot of resources down here.”
Attendees were provided with resources such as mental health pamphlets, medication disposal materials, information on co-parenting and raising grandchildren from the health department. “One of the best resources that we have is the parenting handbook, it gives information to parents on what kids may face in elementary school with a way to introduce conversations about bullying and social media and giving kids tools to deal with those things,” Sandra Kelly, health department drug and prevention specialist, said.
“I love that they have all these resources available because I didn't know of many of them,” Sarah Teel, parent of Higdon second grader and member of Higdon’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). “Even though I live in the county, I didn’t know that some of these places were available and around, so I do love that they have it here.”
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).