The ghosts and angels and dinosaurs and football players and superheroes were all out in force last night at a combined family fall celebration event for Choptank Elementary, Mace’s Lane Middle School, and Maple Elementary! There were games, animals to pet, and even a pumpkin patch, plus a stupendous trunk-or-treat, an ever-popular draw thanks to many generous community partners. Thank you to all who contributed to this big success! #DCPS23NoMore
The RAPTOR Visitor Management and RAPTOR Volunteer Management systems have landed! As part of our ongoing efforts to keep the children in our care safe, Dorchester County Public Schools has invested in the gold standard of school safety to screen visitors to our schools and volunteers in our schools. Check out the information on our website at https://www.dcps.k12.md.us/article/1782262. Parents and other volunteers, you will find links to the new Volunteer Form (in English and Spanish). Important: if you have completed a form to volunteer prior to September 20, 2024, you will also have to complete the RAPTOR form. You only need to complete one form, choosing which schools you want it to cover. You’ll find more information on our website. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
National Principals Month continues as today we celebrate Mace’s Lane Middle School Principal Mr. Charles Treft, a newcomer to Dorchester County Public Schools, but not to school administration. With a background in the military and law enforcement, Mr. Treft has been an educator for over 25 years, serving as an administrator of several schools prior to “crossing the Bridge” to join us in Dorchester County. Mr. Treft wears his MLMS Tiger stripes proudly, and we are delighted to have him leading The Lane! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
The Board of Education will hold an Open Work Session on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, in the Board Room of the Central Office of the Board of Education, 700 Glasgow St., Cambridge to discuss future planning. The agenda will be found online via Board Docs on the Dorchester County Public Schools website at www.dcps.k12.md.us. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe.
The Traveling Science Program from the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore made a stop at Sandy Hill Elementary School this past week to present their assembly “What’s the Matter?” to everyone from kindergarten through 5th grade. Different states of matter were described through demonstrations, with unexpected chemical reactions getting expressions of “Whoa!” and “Wow!” from the kiddos, and a reminder that, no, it’s not magic – it’s science! #DCPS23NoMore
Today’s National Principals Month spotlight is shining on Sandy Hill Elementary School Principal Ms. Debbie Gibson! Ms. Gibson has come full circle. Her very first teaching job was at Sandy Hill in 1995. Since then, she has spent time in another county as well as holding various other positions in Dorchester County Public Schools, but when she received her first Principal appointment in 2019, it sent her to right back where she started – Sandy Hill! It seems Ms. Gibson was destined to be Head of the Hive! Thank you for your devotion to the Bees, Ms. Gibson! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #ThankAPrincipal
Yesterday was a beautiful day to enjoy a brief break from the classroom and have a snow cone treat, and 250 North Dorchester Middle School students celebrating their success with the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) tests held last spring did just that! These students earned either Level 3 (Proficient Learner) or Level 4 (Distinguished Learner) on at least one of their MCAP tests, and many did with several. This includes last year’s 5th graders who are now 6th graders at NDMS and last year’s 8th graders, now freshmen next door at North Dorchester High School. Former Hurlock Elementary students were surprised and delighted that Hurlock principal, Ms. Dawn Corkran, was able to join them for a snow cone to toast their success! Congratulations to all these students, and well done on the effort that led to this fun reward! #DCPS23NoMore
Introducing the three finalists from whom Dorchester County’s Student Page to this winter’s session of the Maryland General Assembly will be chosen! Pictured with Delegate Tom Hutchinson are Cristina Lopez Menjivar (North Dorchester High School), Isabel Barr (C-SD), and Ja’Bria Harris (C-SD), all Seniors.
The Student Page will be given the opportunity to spend two weeks in Annapolis while the General Assembly is in session, watching and learning about the legislative process directly. Yesterday, the students were interviewed by competition judges Del. Hutchinson and DCPS Supervisor of School Counselors LaSina Branch. Those chosen as Page and Alternate will be announced by the Maryland General Assembly during November, but Del. Hutchinson was so impressed by the students that he invited all three to spend a day at the General Assembly this winter! #DCPS23NoMore
As part of National Principals Month, today we thank the Keeper of the Nest, North Dorchester High School Principal Mr. Dave Stofa. Mr. Stofa joined DCPS as an experienced principal in 2020 and immediately settled in to the important role he plays with the Eagle fledglings as they prepare to launch into the world. Calm, collected, and always very cool (take note of the teenaged Mr. Stofa) we salute your leadership at NDHS! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #ThankAPrincipal
October 21-25 is National School Bus Safety Week, an opportunity to once again emphasize the important role ALL road-users have in keeping our children safe. School buses are one of the safest vehicles on the road due to their size and visibility, along with the many rules and regulations that bus drivers and school children must follow. However, many of these safeguards depend on others sharing the road with school buses. One of the most common problems DCPS drivers see is cars passing buses with lights flashing and the stop arm extended.
Reminder: A flashing yellow light means that the bus is preparing to stop and so should you. A red light means that children are getting on or off the bus and that cars must come to a full and complete stop. It is against the law to pass a school bus with the stop sign arm extended. Our bus drivers are seeing an increasing number of drivers ignoring their flashing lights and extended stop sign arm, endangering the lives of children getting off or running to board the bus. Please be aware that our drivers report offenders and buses have cameras recording externally. Let’s work together to ensure our children can safely get to and from school! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Many youngsters love sports, but the hard truth is that very few ever achieve the opportunity to play at a professional level. Last week, the Dream Big Academy Club, along with Mace’s Lane Middle School and C-SD student athletes, visited Towson University to learn about off-field career opportunities in the athletics industry from representatives of the TU Athletics Department. Students toured the business office, medical training facility, academic enrichment office, and the stadium, learning about degree-based and non-degree-based careers. TU student athletes and coaches spoke with our students about the requirements for attending college and best practices for students interested in attending college. There’s more than one way to make a career out of love for a game! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
National Principals Month continues, and today we celebrate the one and only Mr. Vaughn Evans! A Dorchester County native and graduate of North Dorchester High School, Mr. Evans began his career in education “across the Bridge” but returned to Dorchester County in 2000. Since then, he has been principal at Warwick Elementary School (twice), Sandy Hill Elementary School, Mace’s Lane Middle School (twice), New Directions Learning Academy, North Dorchester High School (twice) and is now in his second tenure as Proud Principal of North Dorchester Middle School. Thank you, Mr. Evans, for your flexibility, and for influencing the lives of students all over our great county! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #ThankAPrincipal
Who says a printed book is old school? Not these 3rd graders at Sandy Hill Elementary, who were excited to each receive their own dictionary! Thank you to Mr. Phil Reed and the Rotary Club of Cambridge, who for many years has ensured that every Dorchester County Public Schools 3rd grader receives a personal copy of a dictionary. It’s a Fall tradition! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Today we celebrate a principal who, unusually, has been at the same school for her entire 29-year career with Dorchester County Public Schools. Hurlock Elementary School’s Ms. Dawn Corkran began her career as a teacher at the school, became an Assistant Principal, and is now in her second year as Principal of the Mighty Eagles. Happy National Principals Month, Ms. Corkran, and thank you for your loyalty and commitment to Hurlock! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #ThankAPrincipal
Time is ticking! If you haven’t yet done your bit to bring extra funding to Dorchester County by completing the Student Benefit Form, you have until October 31, 2024! Note: This is only for families with children in a Dorchester County public school.
It isn’t called the Student Benefit Form for nothing! The more DCPS parents who complete this form for their families, the more DCPS students will benefit! Data gathered from this form leads to benefits such as more funding to support instruction, student services, and programs like Community Schools, tutoring, free meals for students, funding for laptops, and scholarship opportunities for our youngsters. The funding is there – let’s bring it home to our kids in Dorchester County! Head on over to the DCPS website at www.dcps.k12.md.us, scroll down to the form and complete it for your family! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Today’s National Principal Month focus is on Ms. Patricia Prosser, principal of South Dorchester School! First an elementary school principal, then principal at two middle schools, Ms. Prosser is now using her wide experience to serve as captain of the Skipjacks at our only combined elementary-middle school. Thank you for your dedicated leadership, Ms. Prosser! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #ThankAPrincipal
Attention middle school families! This is just a reminder that the DCPS pilot project using cell phone pouches begins this Monday, October 21. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 bringing a cell phone to school will be given a lockable pouch in which to keep it during the school day. Friends, it’s time to #findyourfocus! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Today is an rare Friday off for most of our students and staff, but not for these North Dorchester High School students! They were invited to be part of the Tenor/Bass Chorus Demonstration as part of the Maryland Music Educator’s Fall Workshop today at Kent Island High School. This is a terrific opportunity for them to work with a specialist in male voices and then perform for music educators from throughout the state of Maryland. Congratulations to (l-r) Ryan Dodd, John Lankford, Mason Wheeler, Manny Reyes Dominguez, Jayden Coleman, and Zach Bozman (not pictured) and their choral teacher, Ms. Karen Mercer. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Happy National Principals Month to Mr. Jerome Stover, proud principal of our largest school, Cambridge-South Dorchester High School! Having over 700 teenagers in one place doesn’t rattle Mr. Stover – he loves all his students and makes sure he tells them this often. Thank you, Mr. Stover, for all you do for your students to ensure they become high school graduates! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #ThankAPrincipal
Just a reminder that Dorchester County Public Schools and offices are closed on Friday, October 18, 2024, to allow members to attend the annual convention of the Maryland State Education Association. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
