Early Learning Center Waldorf to open its doors soon

As the new school year rolls around for most Charles public school students on Monday, Aug. 26, the Early Learning Center in Waldorf will open its doors about a week later to its new students, affectionally known as “the pups.”

The mascots of the new school are a puppy, shark pup, otter pup, seal pup and sting ray pup.

“Waldorf’s Early Learning Center will serve prekindergarten students starting at pre-K3. The center serves all of Waldorf as well as Bryantown and Hughesville,” Beth Sorsby, a specialist in early childhood for Charles County Public Schools, said.

All of the Waldorf center’s seats will be full on the first day of pre-kindergarten, set for Tuesday, Sept. 3.

The pre-K age 3 program will be using Frog Street Preschool as the curriculum — which includes literacy, math, science, technology, engineering, arts and social–emotional learning.

Students participate in inquiry and exploration centers for hands-on learning. Charles public school system’s pre-K4 program uses Connect 4 Learning as the core curriculum with Heggerty Phonemic Awareness as a supplement.

Per the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future — the state’s education reform plan — the ratio for prekindergarten students to teachers is 1 to 10, Sorsby said.

Development checklists are used to determine a child’s progress at the center. Prekindergarten students receive a report card twice a year at the end of each semester. The report card indicators align with the Maryland Early Learning Standards.

The early learning center was listed in this year’s school system budget increases. Pre-kindergarten expansions totaled $2,581,943.

“[Charles County Public Schools] will completely refurbish and maintain the facility to be able to offer seven prekindergarten classrooms to educate an estimated 150 children. This requires hiring approximately 30 FTE positions in the capacity of administrator, secretary, teachers, instructional assistants, and building service staff,” the 2024-2025 school system budget said.

There were additional costs to get the building and classrooms ready for students, classroom furniture, maintenance of instruction and accreditation materials.

Some students to receive free breakfasts this school yearSeveral Charles public schools will offer free breakfasts to students this school year as part of funding provided by the Maryland Meals for Achievement program.

The program is offered through the Maryland State Department of Education and provides funding that supplements federal reimbursements the local school system receives from the USDA School Breakfast Program. The program provides students with access to a healthy breakfast daily at school, a release from Charles school system said.

Last year, 28 schools received free breakfasts. This year, the number has increased by two, bringing the total up to 30 schools. The Early Learning Center, La Plata High, and Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School have been added this year, the release said.