SoundOff Back to School insert

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http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! Back To School Supplement August 23, 2012

Back To School

School Support Services and School Liaison are part of Child, Youth and School Services and work in conjunc-tion with the local school communities to address educational issues involving children of military families.

Sarah Bonise, Fort Meade’s school liai-son who acts as a link between the instal-lation and the surrounding school districts, answers the following 11 questions that parents frequently ask.

How do I contact the Fort Meade school liaison?

Sarah Bonise’s office is located at the Child, Youth and School Services School Age Care Center, 1900 Reece Road.

The office is open Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Her telephone number is 301-677-1227. Her email address is [email protected].

Are the Fort Meade schools Department of Defense schools?

No, the schools located on Fort Meade are operated and governed by Anne Arun-del County Public Schools, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.

The AACPS telephone number is 410-222-5000. The website is aacps.org.

The superintendent of Anne Arun-del County Public Schools is Dr. Kevin Maxwell.

What is the Meade Feeder System?The Meade Feeder System is the term

used to designate the elementary and middle schools that “feed” into Meade High School.

This system includes the following ele-mentary schools: Manor View, Pershing Hill, Meade Heights, Seven Oaks, Jessup, Van Bokkelen, Brock Bridge, Maryland City, Hebron-Harmon and West Meade Early Education Center.

The middle schools are MacArthur Middle and Meade Middle.

Where does my child attend school?Your child will attend a neighborhood

school designated by your address.• If you live in Anne Arundel County,

your child will attend Anne Arundel County Public Schools (aacps.org).

• If you live in Howard County, your child will attend Howard County Public Schools (hcpss.org).

• If you live in Prince George’s County, your child will attend Prince George’s County Public Schools (pgcps.org).

How do you enroll in a charter school?

AACPS has two charter schools in the Meade area.

• Monarch Academy Public Charter School in Glen Burnie serves kindergar-ten and grades one through 6.

School Liaison lists most common concerns

Sarah Bonise, Fort Meade school liaison

The telephone number is 410-760-2072. The website is monarchcharter.org.

• Chesapeake Science Point Charter School in Hanover serves grades six to nine.

The telephone number is 443-757-5277. The website is mycsp.org.

Parents must contact each individual school for enrollment openings.

How old does my child need to be to start kindergarten?

If your child reaches age 5 on or before Sept. 1 of the desired school year, your child is eligible to enroll.

Can I enroll my child in kindergarten if the child turns 5 after the Sept. 1 deadline?

A 4-year-old child, who will be 5 years old by Oct. 15, upon request by the parent or guardian, may be admitted to kinder-garten if the child meets the mandated criteria on the required assessments:

• 125 or better on a standardized cogni-tive ability assessment

• 8th stanine or better on a standard-ized achievement assessment

For more information, see early kinder-garten enrollment at aacps.org.

Where can I learn more about home schooling?

Contact the Fort Meade Home School-ing Group at [email protected].

During the school year, the group meets every Friday at the Child, Youth and School Services School Age Care Center, 1900 Reece Road.

What do I need in order to enroll my child at school?

Once you have determined your neigh-borhood school, call for an appointment to register.

You will need to bring your child’s birth certificate, shot record, current physical, two proofs of residency (your lease or mortgage and a piece of mail such as a utility bill or cable bill that has your name and new address), report card from previous school and IEP (Individualized Education Program) if the child has any special needs.

What is the best school?This is a common question from par-

ents to ask the school liaison.Since educational success differs for

each student and family, we cannot rec-ommend the “best” school for you. We can provide guidance on how to select a school. These decisions are based on the needs of the child, academic and extra-curricular interests, and housing/commut-ing decisions.

All area schools have successful stu-dents. We can help families choose a school that can best fit their children.

What if my child needs a tutor or extra help?

The School Age Care Center, Youth Services and the Teen Center all have homework computer labs with onsite staff ready to help children.

To register, call Parent Central Ser-vices at 301-677-1149.

Bus transportation to and from the School Age Care Center and Youth Services is provided from the following area schools: Manor View, Pershing Hill, Seven Oaks, Meade Heights, West Meade EEC, MacArthur Middle and Meade Middle.

The Teen Center is a short walking distance to Meade High School.

• Tutor.com: Military families can get free help from a professional tutor any-time they need it at tutor.com.

Tutors are online 24/7. This service is also available for adults returning to school. The whole family can log on!

Conference and staggered enrollment dates for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and early childhood intervention

• Aug. 27-29: Conferences for half-day prekindergarten• Aug. 27 and 28 only: Conferences for kindergarten and full-day prekindergarten students• Aug. 29-31: Staggered entrance for kindergarten and full-day prekindergarten• Aug. 30-31 and Sept. 4: Staggered entrance for half-day prekin-dergarten• Sept. 4: First day for all kindergarten and full-day prekinder-garten• Sept. 5: First day for all half-day prekindergarten

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil August 23, 2012 SOUNDOFF! Back To School Supplement �

Back To School

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Meade High School’s first class of 49 graduating seniors in the Homeland Security Signature Program received diplomas in June.

All of the program’s graduates are either going on to college or entering careers in the active-duty military.

The HHS program, which started in Sep-tember 2008 with more than 70 students, prepares young people for careers in security, technology and engineering by offering an innovative, theme-specific curriculum and co-curricular activities that are relevant to the 21st-century workforce.

Meade High was the first of 12 Anne Arundel County high schools to offer its own signature program. The theme of homeland security was selected because of the school’s location on Fort Meade, the Base Realign-ment and Closure process, and the large num-ber of businesses and defense companies in the area that specialize in homeland security.

The HSS program’s Integrated Community Stakeholder’s Team is composed of industry leaders, government agency representatives, community leaders and parents who have partnered with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools to assist with the HSS curricu-lum and co-curricular activities.

The HSS curriculum consists of two core

courses that are offered to students in the freshman and sophomore years. Tina Edler, the HSS lead instructor, said that for the remaining two years, students are encouraged to pursue courses that lead to careers in crimi-nal justice and public service, engineering or geospacial information systems.

The core courses focus on the latest devel-opments in areas such as terrorism, cyber secu-rity and food safety, and also expose students to various careers in the field.

Through ICST and other program partners, several notable guests have participated in the program including Bob Droggin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning freelance reporter specializing in homeland security issues, and a chief cal-ligrapher with the Central Intelligence Agency who gave each student a polygraph in the classroom.

In addition, students attended a youth conference hosted by Gov. Martin O’Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and have met with Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin and Rep. Elijah Cummings. They also have visited the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis and Princeton University in New Jersey.

The ICST is working on developing project-based learning projects for the Meade cluster schools to prepare elementary and middle school students for HSS at the high school level.

Homeland Security Signature Program prepares students for the 21st-century workforce

• Meade High School: Sept, 13, 6 p.m.

• MacArthur Middle School: Sept. 18, 6 p.m.

• Meade Middle School: Sept. 18, 6 p.m.

• Manor View Elementary: Sept. 5, 5 p.m.

• Pershing Hill Elementary: Sept. 5, 6 p.m.

• Meade Heights Elementary: Sept. 20, 6:30 p.m.

• Seven Oaks Elementary: Sept. 18, 6:45 p.m.

• Jessup Elementary: Sept. 20, 6:30 p.m.

• Brock Bridge Elementary: Sept. 11, 6 p.m.

• Maryland City Elementary: Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m.

• Hebron-Harmon Elementary: Sept. 12, 6 p.m.

• Van Bokkelen Elementary: Sept. 5, 6 p.m.

• West Meade Early Education Center: Sept. 6, 6 p.m.

Back To School Nights

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

The Fort Meade Police continues to enforce an on-post curfew for juveniles in an effort to promote youth safety and curb crime.

The policy states that no person age 17 years old or younger may be in a public place on the installation after 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; or before 5 a.m.

The curfew policy was established three years ago after several residential neighborhoods were hit by a rash of larcenies in homes and vehicles that were left unlocked, said Russell Wilson, chief criminal investigator for the Fort Meade Police.

The police suspected the activity was due to a group of teens who were out

late at night without adult supervi-sion.

“Crimes of opportunity are signifi-cantly down,” Wilson said. “A good portion of the juveniles that the patrol officers have interacted with have been in compliance with the new policy, and most of the parents in the community have been in support of it.”

The exceptions to the curfew policy are minors accompanied by a parent or adult guardian, and minors who have written permission from a parent or adult guardian explaining the cir-cumstances for not being home during curfew hours.

The written permission must include the parent or guardian’s name, address and phone number for verification by the military police.

First-time violators of the policy will be taken by police to the Director-ate of Emergency Services where their parents or adult guardians will be noti-fied and advised of the policy, and the minor returned to the care of adults.

Repeat offenders will be processed as curfew violators and reported in the post’s daily police blotter. Minors who are family members of service mem-bers or DoD civilians will be required to appear before the installation’s Juvenile Misconduct Review Board.

The MPs also will notify the unit commander and Garrison Command-er Col. Edward C. Rothstein if the child of an active-duty service member has repeatedly violated the curfew.

The violation can have a negative affect on the service member, particu-

larly if there is evidence of miscon-duct on behalf of the service member, according to the policy.

DES will conduct a meeting with the service member and a unit rep-resentative to determine if punitive action is necessary. In serious cases, the DES can make a recommenda-tion to the installation commander to bar the minor from Fort Meade or have the family removed from military housing, according to the policy.

The policy is punitive and applies to all service members who reside on post or are assigned to the installation.

Repeated violations by minors in a service member’s care can result in judicial punishment under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Post curfew promotes youth safety, deters crime

As parents prepare to send their children back to school next month, there’s one more event to note on the family calendar: Back-To-School Night.More than 77,000 students are expected to enter Anne Arundel County classrooms this year, and Back-To-School Nights provide parents with a chance to learn more about the instruction their children are receiving and the teachers who are providing that instruction.“Helping our children achieve success is a team effort that requires parents to be involved in the educational process,” schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell said.“Back-To-School Nights provide the first of many opportunities throughout the school year for parents to interact with teachers and learn about classroom proce-dures and the things their children will be studying. I would urge every parent to take full advantage of these opportunities.”Detailed information on dates and times for schools in the Meade cluster can also be found on the school system’s website, www.aacps.org.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! Back To School Supplement August 23, 2012

Back To School

By Pvt. Ronald Brink From selling Samoas and Thin Mints

at their annual cookie sale to participat-ing in Fort Meade’s Family Fun Fair, the Girls Scouts Association on post focuses on building camaraderie and community service.

Scouting “is a great way to bring girls together, promote long-lasting friend-ships and build camaraderie,” said Lorrie Short, the GSA service unit manager on post for the past year.

Girl Scout troops have been meeting on Fort Meade since the 1940s.

Currently, eight troops with a total of 90 Scouts meet on post. They include:

• The Daisies for kindergarten through first grade: Troops 742, 089 and 1124

• Brownies for grades two and three: Troops 981, 1016 and 1349

• The Juniors for grades four and five: Troop 1302

• Cadets for grades six, seven and eight, combined with the Seniors for grades nine and up: Troop 1364

All troops meet weekly from 6 to 7 p.m.

Troops 742 and 981 meet Mondays at Argonne Hills Chapel Center; Troops 1124, 1016, 1349, 1302 and 1364 meet

Tuesdays at the Chapel Center; and Troop 089 meets Thursdays at Heritage Park Neighborhood Center.

The fundraiser activity that the Girl Scouts organization is probably best-known for is its annual cookie sale, an event that begins in September and ends around November.

The Scouts also participate in Fort Meade community events such as the annual Massing of the Colors, which is the installation’s Memorial Day Remem-brance, the Family Fun Fair — a Month of the Military Child celebration held annu-ally in April, and National Night Out, an annual event designed to strengthen com-munity participation in local anticrime efforts that is held the second Tuesday in August.

The Girl Scouts have also assisted in sprucing up the housing areas during the Enlisted Spouses Club’s annual Clean Up Fort Meade held annual in April.

It’s not too late to join this school year’s group of Girl Scouts. Registration is open. To register, go to gscm.org.

Volunteers are always needed, said Short.

To volunteer or for more information, call Lorrie Short at 410-305-0232.

Girl Scouts troops active on Fort Meade for seven decades

file photo

Ashley Brooks and Kyla Hay volunteer at the Enlisted Spouses Club’s annual Clean Up Fort Meade Day in April. Eight troops of Girl Scouts operate on post.

Boy Scout Troop 377 meets every Monday at 7 p.m. at the Argonne Hills Chapel Center, Bldg. 7100 Rockenbach Road and Grandea Avenue. The troop, still growing, has been active on Fort Meade since the late 1940s.

Some activities the troops have par-ticipated in include white water raft-ing, fishing and camping at the McMil-lan Woods Youth Campground on the Gettysburg Battlefield.

A wide range of opportunities are available for boys ages 11 to 17 to experience leadership and friendship as well as learning values and working together, using everyday skills such as cooking and keeping track of personal finances, and giving back to their com-munity.

Scouts can take pride in achieving goals they cannot reach elsewhere by earning Merit Badges in areas such as lifesaving, scholarships, pioneering and the newest addition – robotics.

Although Boy Scouts is a boy-run organization, adult Scout volunteers

are always welcome. The adult staff consists of active-duty and retired service members, along with post civil-ians.

Adults act as committee members, Merit Badge counselors and, in gen-eral, advise and support the boys.

For more information about Boy Scout Troop 377, call Lisa Yetman, outreach coordinator, at 410-437-7263 or email [email protected] or email Scoutmaster Wendall Lawrence at [email protected].

Boy Scouts take pride achieving goals

Alexander Bryan of Cub Scout Pack 377 salutes during a Boy Scout flag retirement ceremony at the Camp Meade RV Park last year. Boy Scout Troop 377 meets every Monday at 7 p.m. Cub Scout Pack 377 meets at 6 p.m. Both groups meet at Argonne Hills Chapel Center.

file photo

Cub ScoutsFort Meade Cub Scout Pack 377 meets again in the fall on Mondays at 6 p.m. at Argonne Hills Chapel Center.

Cub Scouts are for boys in first through fifth grades. Members learn new skills and earn recognition for their hard work. Scouting also provides leadership opportunities.

Cubmaster Clay Moody leads the pack in various events such as campouts, weekly den meetings and the Pinewood Derby. For the annual event, boys design their own cars and race them against other Scouts.

Cub Scouts also participate in community projects including Scouting for Food, litter pickups and presenting the Colors at various events.

For more information, email Cubmaster Clay Moody at [email protected].

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil August 23, 2012 SOUNDOFF! Back To School Supplement �

Back To School

By Jenelle L. FergusonInstallation Safety Office

The lazy days of summer are not quite over, yet parents have already begun the first round of back-to-school activities — tackling what has become the infamous “school supply list.”

This can turn into a dreaded shopping experience when debates arise over some-thing as simple as what color backpack looks better - neon purple or dark blue.

The one issue parents should not debate is incorporating safety as part of their child’s preparation for the school year.

The start of a new school year has par-ents worrying about how their children will be getting to school safely. Some children are lucky enough to live near the school, but others have to walk long distances, ride the school bus or take public transportation.

Parents, drivers and students all play an important role in safe transportation to school. If your children will be walking to school or must walk a few blocks to a bus stop, make sure to teach them to obey traffic signals and rules if they must cross streets with lights and crosswalks.

According to the National Highway Traf-fic Safety Administration, nearly 24 million students nationwide start their school day with a trip on the school bus. Although NHTSA reports that riding on a school bus is nearly eight times safer than riding in a passenger vehicle, an average of 11 school-age pedestrians are killed by school

transportation vehicles each year.Whether they walk, ride the bus or travel

by car, teach your children these few tips to ensure they get to and from school safely. Following these common sense practices will help your children get off to a safe start for the upcoming school year.

Safety tips for school bus riders:• Have a safe place to wait for the bus,

away from traffic. No “horseplay” while wait-ing for the bus, especially near the curb.

• Line up facing the bus, not alongside it.• Stay away from the bus until it comes to

a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.

• Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.

• If your child rides the bus, tell your child to sit quietly in the seat. Children should fol-low the directions of the driver.

• When exiting the bus, be sure that draw-strings and straps don’t get caught on the handrail or in the door.

• When exiting, take five giant steps away from the bus.

• Never reach under the school bus to get anything that has rolled or fallen beneath it. If something is dropped near the bus, always tell the bus driver.

• Wait for a signal from the bus driver before crossing the street. Walk at least 10 steps away from the front of the bus so the driver can see you.

• Do not play in the street while waiting

for the bus.

Safety tips for walking:• Never walk alone - always travel with a

buddy. Walk on the main sidewalks; do not take shortcuts through woods or empty lots.

• Teach your children how to cross the street. Make sure they know to follow the directions of the crossing guard or safety patrol.

• Pay attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards along the way. Never cross the street against a stop light.

• Give your children a whistle to blow if they are in danger. A whistle will attract attention and may ward off a crime.

Tips for drivers and passengers:• Everyone in the car should wear a seat

belt even if the school is nearby. Most acci-dents occur within 10 miles of home.

• Remind teens to take extra precautions if they are driving to school or riding with another teenage driver.

• Remember: 20 mph in school zones.• Stay alert near bus stops.• Yellow flashing lights: The bus is pre-

paring to stop to load or unload children.• Red flashing lights and extended stop

arm: Stop at least 20 feet from the bus when behind or meeting. The only time stopping is not required is on the other side of a divided highway

• Stop between 10 and 30 feet from the school crossing when a crossing guard directs.

School bus safety awareness: See and be seen

By Jenelle L. FergusonInstallation Safety Office

With little argument, a new backpack is near or at the top of the “must get” list for the upcoming school year. They are a popu-lar and a practical way for children and teens to carry schoolbooks and supplies.

When used correctly, backpacks can be a good way to carry the supplies of the school day. They are designed to distribute the weight of the load among some of the body’s strongest muscles.

However, backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly can cause problems for children and teens. Improperly used back-packs may injure muscles and joints. This can lead to back, neck and shoulder pain, as well as posture problems.

Look for the following to help your chil-dren choose backpacks safely:

• Wide, padded shoulder straps: Narrow straps can dig into shoulders and cause pain and restrict circulation.

• Two shoulder straps: Backpacks with one shoulder strap that runs across the body cannot distribute weight evenly.

• Padded back: A padded back protects against sharp edges on objects inside the pack and increases comfort

• Waist strap: A waist strap can distribute the weight of a heavy load more evenly.

• Lightweight backpack: The backpack itself should not add much weight to the load.

• Rolling backpack: This type of back-pack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. But remember, rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs. They also may be difficult to roll in snow.

To prevent injury when using a back-pack, follow these safety tips:

• Always use both shoulder straps. Sling-ing a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles. Wearing a backpack on one shoul-der may increase curvature of the spine.

• Tighten the straps so that the pack is close to the body. The straps should hold the pack two inches above the waist.

• Pack light. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 15 percent of the student’s total body weight.

• Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back.

• Stop often at school lockers, if possible. Do not carry all of the books needed for the day.

• Use both knees when bending down. Do not bend over at the waist when wearing or lifting a heavy backpack.

School can, and should be, fun and excit-ing for youngsters. Give your children the tools, the knowledge and the resources to take care of themselves when you cannot be there.

Following safety tips can help assure the safety of your children as they embark on another school year.

Don’t let backpacks become a pain in the back

Meade area schools arrival and dismissal

times• Meade High School:

7:17 a.m.-2:05 p.m.• MacArthur Middle School:

8:45 a.m.-3:25 p.m.• Meade Middle School:

8:05 a.m.-2:45 p.m.• Manor View Elementary:

8:05 a.m.-2:30 p.m.• Pershing Hill Elementary:

8:05 a.m.-2:30 p.m.• Meade Heights Elementary:

9:25 a.m.-3:50 p.m.• Seven Oaks Elementary:

8 a.m.-2:25 p.m.• Jessup Elementary: 8:50 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

• Brock Bridge Elementary: 9:30 a.m.-3:55 p.m.

• Maryland City Elementary: 8:10 a.m.-2:35 p.m.

• Hebron-Harmon Elementary: 9:30 a.m.-3:55 p.m.

• Van Bokkelen Elementary: 8 a.m.-2:25 p.m.

• West Meade Early Education Center: 8:40 a.m.-3:05 p.m.

AACPS launches Twitter pageAnne Arundel County Pub-lic Schools has expanded the ways in which it communicates with parents, students and the public at large with the launch of its new Twitter page.Get the latest updates on news from the school system by following @AACountySchools.Postings will include actions by the Board of Education, achievements of students and employees across the system, and notices of emergency closings and delayed openings caused by inclement weather.AACPS also maintains a Facebook page at facebook.com/aacps.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! Back To School Supplement August 23, 2012

Back To School

School Age Services enrich children’s lives

The School Age Care Center at 1900 Reece Road provides before school, after school and hourly care for children in first through fifth grades.

Children are transported to and from Manor View, Pershing Hill, West Meade and Meade Heights elementary schools. SACC provides full day care on weekdays when schools are closed.

SACC has partnered with 4-H and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to offer activities and project to enhance its curriculum and enrich the experiences of children participating in SACC programs.

Clubs and activities within 4-H and BGCA that are currently offered include Kids in Control (which focuses on safety in our homes and community), Focus on Photography, Consumer Savvy, Health Rocks! and special Clover Buds activities for younger children.

In addition to the clubs, SACC offers a variety of arts and crafts, self-help skills development, sports skills clinics, field trips, homework assistance and community service opportunities.

file photo

Fort Meade’s School Age Care Center provides children with a wide range of educational and recreational activities, from arts and crafts and sports skills clinics to self-help skills development, field trips, homework assistance and community service opportunities. The center also has a partnership with 4-H and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

By Rona S. HirschStaff writer

Leaving children home alone requires more than setting aside a plate of cook-ies with instructions to lock the door and start their homework.

State law requires that children must be of certain age before they are left alone or are supervised by older children. Various parental guides also suggest that children know how to respond in an emergency or if a stranger knocks at the door.

Fort Meade’s “Policy on Parental Responsibilities and Supervision of Children and Youth” — updated in April 2007 by the Family Advocacy Program at Army Community Service — provides guidelines that comply with Maryland state law.

But before leaving children alone, parents first must consider whether their child has the maturity to be a latchkey kid, said Celena Flowers, Family Advocacy Program manager.

“What we’ve done, in compliance with the state, is to establish if the child is mature enough to be left home alone or to baby-sit, even though the child is of age,” Flowers said. “Ulti-mately, it’s the parents’ liability. Par-ents are doing it at their own risk if they leave alone a child who is under age or not mature enough.”

But parents aren’t off the hook if they leave their children in the care of an irresponsible baby sitter. According to the policy, “Parents are responsible for their children’s safety even when in the care of another. Baby sitters should be selected care-fully, ensuring that the baby sitter is mature and experienced enough to adequately supervise a child.”

Copies of the policy are distrib-uted by Officer Timothy Perkins, Fort Meade’s community policing officer, who also hands out the pamphlet, “At Home Alone: A Parent’s Guide,” developed by the National Crime Pre-vention Council.

“The focus is for child safety and for parents to take responsibility for the actions of their children,” Perkins said. “People are confused about when children can be left alone and unattended.”

Newcomers to Fort Meade receive a copy of the supervision policy in their

welcome packet when they arrive on post. Child, Youth and School Ser-vices also provides the updated ver-sions to parents when they register for hourly care.

Fort Meade’s “Policy on Parental Responsibilities and Supervision of Children and Youth” provides the following guidelines:

• Children under 5 years old require close supervision and must be attend-ed to and under the direct contact of a person age 13 years or older at all times.

• Children age 7 or younger will never be left unsupervised or unat-tended. Parents or guardians with children under age 8 will arrange for supervision by a person age 13 years or older before and after school, and other times that school is not in ses-sion, if they are unable to remain home to care for their children.

• Children age 8 to 17 may begin to exercise their own responsibility to supervise themselves without placing themselves or others in danger.

But they cannot be left unattended without verified arrangements being made with a responsible adult, age 21 years or older, to check on their behavior or whereabouts, telephoni-cally and/or in person.

All children in this age category must have an emergency plan in place. At a minimum, children should have a point of contact accessible by tele-phone and available for them at all times.

• If emergency responders see an underage child left unattended or receive a call about an unattended child, they will instruct parents about the “Child Supervision Policy” imple-mented on military installations.

“It is based on maturity level and breaks down the ages of when a child can be left unattended,” Perkins said.

According to the “Child Supervi-sion Policy,” youths:

• Ages 9 to 12 should not be unsu-pervised or left alone for more than two hours

• Ages 13 to 14 should not be unsu-pervised or left alone for more than eight hours

• Ages 15 to 17 should not be unsu-pervised or left alone for more than 12 hours

Child supervision policies offer ‘home alone’ guidelines

The cost of lunch and breakfast at Anne Arundel County Public Schools will remain the same as last year.

Costs will be:• $1.35 for full-price breakfast

• $2.60 for elementary school lunch• $2.85 for secondary school lunch

The cost for reduced-price meals will not be affected. Milk will continue to be served for 55 cents.

AACPS school meal prices

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil

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August 23, 2012 SOUNDOFF! Back To School Supplement �

Connect with Fort Meade atFacebook.com/ftmeade

Back To School

The Teen Center, located at 3102 MacArthur Road, encourages high school teens to be the best that they can be by chal-lenging themselves in various means.

The center offers several clubs such as the Weight Lifting Club, Book Club, Tech Club, S.M.A.R.T. Girls Club, Creative Arts, Cook-ing Club, Science Club and Keystone.

If none of these clubs strike your inter-est, feel free to add your own input on what should be offered. Or you can just sit back and relax, do homework, compete with a friend in a game of the newest Madden video game, or jam out and play some Rock Band.

The Teen Center’s state-of-the-art gaming system features Sony PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.

The center acquires the newest and most anticipated games of the year. So instead of sitting at home playing the computer, come by and challenge a couple of your friends at the Teen Center. When you’re good enough, try challenging one of the staff members!

The center also features several large-screen televisions, a pingpong table, great stereo system if you want to listen to some radio, and D.J. equipment primarily used for Club Midnight parties.

The center also has added music equip-ment such as electronic drums, keyboards and microphones in case you’re interested in laying down a beat or hook.

For more information about the Teen Center, call 301-677-6054 or 301-677-6056.

Teen Center encourages high school youth to excel

A haven for middle-schoolersChild, Youth and School Services offers a Before & After School Program for

middle school students at Youth Services, 909 Ernie Pyle St.Transportation is provided to and from MacArthur Middle School and Meade

Middle School. The program is staffed with well-trained and caring youth profes-sionals serving the after-school needs of the youth of our community.

Services provided include a safe and supervised setting with freedom for a variety of activity choices.

Homework assistance is available in the combined space of the homework center and computer lab. Educational and recreational software are available for exploration in the computer lab, as are structured computer and program skill classes.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of America and 4H clubs, projects, activities and curriculums are used as the sound foundation of the youth development program. Activities such as photography, digital arts, drama, cooking, individual and team sports, fitness and nutrition are a few of the many diverse offerings during the school year.

Breakfast, lunch and after-school snacks are provided to all participating youth, using USDA guidelines.

Services are also available on school closure days such as Election Day, teacher conferences, teacher training, and fall, winter and spring holidays at no additional charge for all enrolled in the program.

Anne Arundel County SchoolsTo keep up to date with information about Anne Arundel

County Public Schools, please visit: www.aacps.org

The Fort Meade Teen Center offers several clubs such as the Weight Lifting Club, Book Club, Tech Club, S.M.A.R.T. Girls Club, Creative Arts, Cooking Club, Science Club and Keystone. Teens also can use the state-of-the-art gaming systems including Sony PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! Back To School Supplement August 23, 2012

Back To School

Vaccine types and dosage numbers required for children enrolled in child care programsVaccine

Child’s Current Age or Grade Level

DTaP/DTP/DT/Td1

Polio2 Hib3 MMR2.4 Varicella2,4,5

(Chickenpox)Hepatitis B2 Pneumococcal

Conjugate3 (PCV)

Less than 2 months 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

2 - 3 months 1 1 1 0 0 1 1

4 - 5 months 2 2 2 0 0 2 2

6 - 11 months 3 3 2 0 0 3 2

12 - 14 months 3 3 At least one dosegiven after 12months of age

1 1 3 2

15 - 23 months 4 3 At least one dosegiven after 12months of age

1 1 3 2

24 - 59 months 4 3 At least one dosegiven after 12months of age

1 1 3 1

5 years 4 3 Not required 2 1 3 Not required

Grade LevelGrade (Ungraded)

DTaP/DTP/DT/Td1

Polio2 Hib MMR2 Varicella2,3

(Chickenpox)Hepatitis B2 Pneumococcal

Conjugate (PCV)

Grades K - 12 (5 – 18 +yrs) 4 or 34 35 Not required 2 1 3 Not required

CHART IS FOR USE BY CHILD CARE FACILITY OPERATORS ONLY TO ASSESS AGE APPROPRIATE IMMUNIZATION STATUS

Age Appropriate Vaccination Requirements For Children Enrolled In Child Care Programs—Valid 9/01/12 - 8/31/13Per COMAR 13A.15.03.02 and 13A.16.03.04 G & H

Vaccination requirements are met only by complying with the vaccine chart below.

Instructions: Find the age of the child in the column labeled “Child’s Current Age”. Read across the row for each required vaccine. The number in the box is thenumber of doses required for that vaccine based on the CURRENT age or grade level of the child. The age range in the column does not mean that the child has untilthe highest age in that range to meet compliance. Any child whose age falls within that range must have received the required number of doses based on his/herCURRENT age in order to be in compliance with COMAR.

* See footnotes on backImmunizations are not just for young children. Today’s middle and high school students need protection from vaccine-preventable diseases as well. For more information about adolescent immunizations, call the Anne Arundel County Department of Health’s Immunization Services Program at 410-222-4896.