Dorchester County Public Schools -

Muhammed Ali, Sojourner Truth, George Washington Carver, Coretta Scott King, and LeBron James were among the visitors to Sandy Hill Elementary School this week! Fifth graders have been researching the lives of African-Americans who are prominent in their fields, and took the opportunity to share their information with students in other grades, families, and other visitors in celebration of Black History Month. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Thank you to the community partners who helped the Choptank Elementary School pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade celebrate Black History Month this morning by visiting classrooms as Guest Readers! Minary's Dream Alliance Life Energy Wellness Eastern Shore Wellness Solutions, Inc. Dorchester County Library Cambridge Police Department Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Dorchester Co. Health Department Boys and Girls Club Every Voice Count Dream Big Academy #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Three cheers for the North Dorchester High School Cheer Team, who won the national championship in the Novice Performance Division of the Reach the Beach cheer competition held this past weekend in Ocean City, Maryland! They also took away the Best Use of Tumbling award. Congratulations to an amazing and dedicated team of Eagle athletes and their coach, Ms. Amber Knoepfel! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

C-SD Senior Myra Lehn has used a Career and Technical Education course to “try before you buy”! Myra says she enrolled in the Medical Services program at DCTC, taught by Ms. Kastine Farmer, to find out if a healthcare career is truly the direction in which she wants to go. The answer is a “Yes!”, as Myra says the course has given her “great exposure to healthcare, with clinical experience.” As a result, she is heading off to college to study biology in a pre-med program, with the long-term goal of becoming a dermatologist. These experiences for our young people are yet another reason to celebrate CTE Month! #CreateYourFutureDCTC #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Our principals’ talents go way beyond teaching children and running schools! Supervisor of Strategic Initiatives Dr. Donald Boyd was just wishing he had some DCPS swag and look what Hurlock Elementary School principal Dawn Corkran whipped up for him! #WarmHeadsOnDeckDCPS

Here is the Board of Education’s preferred school calendar for the 2024-2025 school year, and now your comments are sought before a final decision is made. Tell us what you think by emailing Nancy Harrington at harringtonn@dcpsmd.org.

Introducing the three young North Dorchester High School musicians who have earned places in the 2024 All-Shore Band! Left to right, 11th grader Hailey Stivers, 5th chair alto sax; 12th grader Julia Creighton, 2nd chair clarinet; and 12th grader Megan Williams, 2nd chair bass clarinet. Two interesting facts: Hailey also was awarded 1st chair tenor sax, but chose alto sax, and this is Julia’s sixth (and, as a senior, final) year as part of the All-Shore Band. Congratulations to all three on this honor! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Appointment of Interim Superintendent The Board of Education of Dorchester County has appointed Dorchester County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jymil Thompson as Interim Superintendent, effective March 2, 2024, to serve the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year, ending June 30, 2024. The Board will conduct a search for a new Superintendent of Schools to take office July 1, 2024.

Dorchester County’s tradition of the water’s importance to the economy continues, although looks much different than it did in our grandparents’ day! Career Coach Sandy Shaw invited our Dorchester water-based business neighbors to visit Cambridge-South Dorchester High School yesterday to talk to students about their work and opportunities on or near the water as a career, and we thank them! Seed to Shuck Ventures Horn Point Oyster Hatchery National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Accurate Marine Group Madhouse Oysters Hoopers Island Oyster Company Cambridge Power Squadron Shore River Keepers #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

The Board of Education and Superintendent David Bromwell have mutually decided that Mr. Bromwell will step down as Superintendent effective March 1, 2024. The Board of Education will be voting on an Interim Superintendent to serve the remainder of Mr. Bromwell’s term—that is, until June 30, 2024—at its February 22, 2024 meeting.

Each February DCPS administers the CogAT to students in grades 3-8 as part of our Gifted and Talented identification process. This test challenges students to demonstrate their problem-solving skills. For more information about the CogAT visit https://riversideinsights.com/cognitive_abilities_test. Results will be shared with your student’s school!

Here are just a few of the creatively decorated classroom doors at Choptank Elementary School honoring Black History Month! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

As we continue to celebrate Career and Technical Education Month, we say hello to Raschid McMillan, a soon-to-be completer of the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness/Criminal Justice program taught by Mr. Anthony ‘Tony’ Thomas at Dorchester Career and Technology Center. Raschid wants to study law to become a trial lawyer, and he made the connection as to how this course could give him useful insight into his future career. After graduating from C-SD with the Class of 2024, Raschid plans to head to Chesapeake College before transferring to a four-year college and then law school – and it all began with a CTE course! #CreateYourFutureDCTC #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Dorchester County Public Schools and offices are closed today, Monday, February 19, 2024, in observance of Presidents’ Day. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Hurricanes, thunderstorms, and snow, oh my! Third graders throughout Dorchester County Public Schools have been studying weather and climate and making presentations with their new knowledge. Earlier this week, Maple Elementary students took the opportunity to show and tell what they know about all kinds of weather. Here’s a look at some of their models! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at the Dorchester Career and Technology Center, 2465 Cambridge Bypass in Cambridge, with the open session beginning at 6:00 pm. The agenda and related documents will be found online via Board Docs on the Dorchester County Public Schools website at www.dcps.k12.md.us. The public is welcome to attend. If you are unable to attend but would like to submit comments electronically to be included in the minutes, email them to comments@dcpsmd.org by 2:00 pm on the date of the meeting. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe.

Congratulations to Aurora Cantrell, our newest student who has become part of the Maryland Youth Apprenticeship Program! Aurora attends North Dorchester High School and Dorchester Career and Technology Center, where she is a high-achieving student in the Carpentry program. She is pictured here with Career Coach Shay Lewis-Sisco, Martin Hardy of her new employers Composite Yacht, and Career Coach Audrey Roberts. Are you a student or know a student interested in becoming part of the Maryland Youth Apprenticeship Program? Contact Shay Lewis-Sisco to find out more: lewiss@dcpsmd.org. High school Juniors, don’t delay! Contact Ms. Lewis-Sisco now to start your (paid) apprenticeship this summer! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

It's never too early to learn about service to others, kindness, and good citizenship! Sandy Hill Elementary School’s 2nd grade took a trip to Mallard Bay Nursing and Rehab this past week to spend some social time with residents. The students sang to the residents, including a rousing round of “Happy Birthday” to one, delivered colorful hand-drawn cards, and helped set up for bingo, which the residents and students played together. One of the residents, a former teacher, was overheard remarking how she enjoyed being around youngsters again. Thank you, Mallard Bay, for hosting this intergenerational event! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

The 5th grade’s study of the Civil War came together with Black History Month in a local way this past week when Mr. Tarence Bailey Sr., a fifth-generation nephew of Frederick Douglass, visited Maple Elementary School 5th graders to discuss his famous uncle. Frederick Douglass (formerly Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey) was born into slavery in Talbot County 206 years ago this month. He taught himself to read and write and became an influential international orator for the abolitionist movement, author, and advisor to President Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Bailey expanded on Douglass’ life and its impact, taking many questions from the students. The students pictured below with Mr. Bailey are the “Douglass Team” of Ms. Trumbull’s class, who focused on Frederick Douglass during the class’ Civil War unit. Thank you, Mr. Bailey, for sharing your time and extraordinary family history with our young scholars! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Superintendent David Bromwell has decided not to seek reappointment to another four-year term. The Board of Education expresses its gratitude to Mr. Bromwell for his many years of dedicated service to the Dorchester County Public Schools, including the last four years as Superintendent. The Board of Education will begin its search for its next superintendent shortly.