Dorchester County Public Schools -

Our last finalist for the DE Education Support Professional of the Year title came to DCPS as a volunteer, signed on as an employee, and 20+ years later is still here! Wendy Sylvestri has held various positions at Warwick Elementary, Choptank Elementary, and Maple Elementary before her present position as an Instructional Assistant with the Pathways to Independence program at DCTC. Pathways is designed for students who participated in the Alternate Assessment during their four years of high school and helps them learn vocational and self-advocacy skills and experience a variety of jobs and settings, allowing them to make decisions best fitting their interests, skills, and work preferences. Ms. Sylvestri accompanies students to their work placements and coaches them in work etiquette, appearance, responsibilities, and skills needed to succeed in the job. She says, “The best thing about my career is watching the students realize the things they can do and getting to know the students and finding their abilities as they become more independent.” Your contribution to the future of your students is important and valued, Ms. Sylvestri – thank you for giving so many years to DCPS! Tomorrow (Saturday, May 4) is the day Dorchester Educators names its DE Education Support Professional of the Year. As a reminder, the finalists are Jose Barrios-Munoz, South Dorchester School; Rebecca Compton, Vienna Elementary School; Khail Johnson, Choptank Elementary School; Kara Jones, Sandy Hill Elementary School; Dianeanna Molock, New Directions Learning Academy; Logan Price, North Dorchester Middle School; and Wendy Sylvestri, Dorchester Career and Technology Center. Good luck to all, and stay tuned! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

They aren’t called Mighty Eagles for nothing! Congratulations to the Girls on the Run team at Hurlock Elementary School who succeeded in completing their 5K race in Baltimore last weekend! For those who don’t speak metric, 5K = 3.1 miles, a long way for third to fifth graders and even for grown-up school staff after a full week in the classroom! But the Mighty Eagles weren’t the only DCPS runners! Congratulations, too, to the Girls on the Run teams from Choptank Elementary and Mace’s Lane Middle Schools, who also worked hard to train and complete Saturday’s 5K race! Our girl runners rock! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Next week – Monday, May 6 to Friday, May 10, 2024 – is National Youth Apprenticeship Week, and Dorchester County Public Schools is offering opportunities for students, parents, employers, and the community to learn more about how the apprenticeship program works in Dorchester County: Monday, May 6th: Parent Mix and Mingle (in-person), 4:30-5:30 pm. Parents, this is your opportunity to ask questions and learn about the Maryland Youth Apprenticeship Program. Students are welcome to attend as well. Tuesday, May 7th: DCPS Apprenticeship Panel Discussion, held in partnership with the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce. This is a recorded video, available online at your convenience. It will be available on the Dorchester Career and Technology Center Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063492787290 on Tuesday 5/7/24. Wednesday, May 8th: Wisdom Wednesday! Learn more about how we are expanding Youth Apprenticeships to underserved populations. This is a recorded video, available online at your convenience. You’ll be able to find it on the Dorchester Career and Technology Center Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063492787290 on Wednesday 5/8/24. Thursday, May 9th: Thriving in Career and Business – learn what to expect on Apprenticeship signing day. This is a recorded video, available online at your convenience. Check it out at the Dorchester Career and Technology Center Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063492787290 on 5/9/24. Friday, May 10th: DCPS Apprenticeship Networking Event (in-person), 2:30-4:00 pm. Meet and greet with employers and partners of the Maryland Youth Apprenticeship Program. In-person events will be held at Dorchester Career and Technology Center, 2465 Cambridge Beltway in Cambridge. Questions? Shay Lewis-Sisco, DCPS Career Coach, is happy to help. Contact her at lewiss@dcpsmd.org #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Introducing Khail Johnson, Student Support Monitor at Choptank Elementary School and finalist for DE Education Support Professional of the Year! What does a Student Support Monitor do? They help ensure a safe and positive school environment, thus promoting good behavior and learning. This involves building relationships and trust with students, mentoring students and providing positive reinforcement, and intervening in cases of disruption. Mr. Johnson is a graduate of C-SD, the Teacher Academy of Maryland program at DCTC, and hopes to begin a college program to become a teacher. Previously a substitute teacher in various DCPS schools, he has now been a Student Support Monitor for one year. He says, “The best thing about my job is everything . . . from building relationship(s) with kids to building personal growth within myself. These students have played the biggest role in my life.” Thank you for the positive impact you have on the lives of our kids, Mr. Johnson! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Introducing Rooms, the new DCPS Parent-Teacher communication tool! Rooms is fully integrated into our district app so you have one app for everything. Parents/Guardians can use the DCPS app for district and school news, events, dining, and now Rooms. Please check your email for more information and to get connected to your child's teacher(s).

Happy May 1st, Principals Day! Here’s another chance to celebrate some of our favorite people, our sensational school leaders: Teresa Berry, NDLA Marybeth Blake, Warwick Elementary School Dawn Corkran, Hurlock Elementary School Vaughn Evans, North Dorchester Middle School Myesha Ford, Maple Elementary School Debbie Gibson, Sandy Hill Elementary School Jennifer Green, South Dorchester School Gaven Parker, Choptank Elementary School Susie Price, Vienna Elementary School Patricia Prosser, Mace’s Lane Middle School Ashley Robinson, DCTC Dave Stofa, North Dorchester High School Jerome Stover, C-SD Thank you for all you do for your students and Dorchester County Public Schools! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

The two finalists of Hurlock Elementary’s Amazing Shake competition, Camden Helgason and Karter Slacum, went head-to-head during Friday’s last round, when the two sat down to a “formal” lunch with DCPS’ Dr. Donald Boyd, Supervisor of Strategic Initiatives who had the tough job of judging the finalists on their social skills and poise. Big congratulations to Camden, who took home the 2024 Amazing Shake trophy! But the other 33 members of Hurlock’s 5th grade who pushed themselves out of their comfort zones by participating in the competition were winners too, by sharpening their manners, discipline, and social graces, thus improving their ability to conduct themselves in a professional environment. Well done, Mighty Eagles! A special thanks to School Counselor Ms. Heather Powell who coordinated the event. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Rebecca Compton, Instructional Assistant – Highly Qualified at Vienna Elementary School and finalist for DE Education Support Professional of the Year, is another DCPS IA who is working to become an especially valuable teacher, gaining significant classroom experience through her job before she even gets her teaching certificate. Ms. Compton, a 2011 graduate of North Dorchester High School, is enrolled at Chesapeake College working towards her degree in Elementary Education. Originally a nursing major, during the pandemic year of virtual learning she discovered how much she enjoyed working with her own children to support their learning and decided to change her major. She first became a substitute teacher at Vienna and jumped at the opportunity to become a full-time Instructional Assistant in 2022. “One of the most rewarding things about working in the classroom is being able to see how students grow academically, socially, and emotionally throughout the school year,” says Ms. Compton. “. . . Seeing how much growth they have made brings so much joy to my heart and really makes me feel like I am making a difference in their lives.” That’s because you are making a difference, Ms. Compton, and you are appreciated! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Maple Elementary’s Raven Mills and North Dorchester High School’s Hayden Williams, both in the master’s degree program at Coppin State University, were recently selected to attend the Center for Inclusive Excellence Leadership Conference. They were part of over 160 preservice and current teachers in education programs at UMES, Salisbury University, and CSU, Maryland school district representatives, and higher education leaders attending the event. Also joining them was Renee Warfield, Coordinator of DCPS’ New Teacher Program. Topics explored during the conference included social emotional learning strategies, immersive learning, culturally responsive teaching, and ways of heightening student engagement, with featured speakers Wade King and Lanesha Tabb, part of the Get Your Teach On educator movement. This is our DCPS staff setting another example for our students as lifelong learners! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

It’s appropriate today’s DE Education Support Professional of the Year finalist works in the rural setting of South Dorchester School, with his love of the outdoors and fishing, hunting, trail riding, camping, Indian crafts, and “living off the land”. Mr. Jose Barrios-Munoz is the Head Custodian at SDS and is in his happy place. Mr. Jose (as he’s known to the students) has spent his entire five years with DCPS at SDS, as Custodian for four years until promoted to Head Custodian this year, with responsibility for ensuring the building is ready for students and staff. What does he like best about his job? He especially enjoys putting things together like desks, new lockers, and chairs; preparing for special events at the school, such as concerts, dances, and art shows; and “the students telling me how happy they are to have me take care of the school.” Taking care of our buildings is a very important job, Mr. Barrios-Munoz, and we’re with the students in that we’re happy you’re doing it! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Good luck to the Hurlock Elementary Girls on the Run team who will be running tomorrow in a 5K race in Baltimore! Girls on the Run is a national program that helps girls build self-confidence and a sense of belonging and connection as a team, and 24 third to fifth graders at the school have been training together for several months. This week they had a surprise guest join their training session – Interim Superintendent Dr. Jymil Thompson, a seasoned runner himself, but still more than willing to take running tips from the girls as they did their warm-ups and 20 laps around the school’s bus circle! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

You know it’s finally Friday when C-SD’s Mr. Singleton brings out the Viking horns! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS #GoldPride

Logan Price, today’s finalist for DE Education Support Professional of the Year, came to work for Dorchester County Public Schools because she wanted to give back to her county and work with the same educators who fueled her love for education, especially Ms. Ashley Robinson and Ms. Cherie Robinson. As an Instructional Assistant – Behavioral Specialist, Ms. Price runs the Mindfulness Room at North Dorchester Middle School, providing a calming environment to help students with strategies and skills that create success in the classroom and in life. A C-SD Class of 2019 graduate, Ms. Price started with DCPS as a substitute teacher, working throughout the county, before her permanent role at NDMS. She is also currently a student at Western Governors University studying Early Childhood Education. Her favorite part of her job? “(Seeing) the growth of the students I work with daily,” she says, “. . . when a struggling learner experiences a breakthrough and understands that they are smart and capable.” Thank you, Ms. Price, for helping set our students up for success! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

This is a reminder that tomorrow, Friday, April 26, 2024, is an Early Dismissal Day for all students! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

TODAY’S THE DAY! It’s April 25, 2024, and online registration is OPEN to register your three-, four-, or five-year-old to attend school starting in September. Use your QR code you received on a postcard or go directly to the registration page on the DCPS website at: https://bit.ly/3J7fCOk. We look forward to welcoming your little one! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Today was Round Two of the Amazing Shake at Hurlock Elementary School! This round, held at Hurlock Town Hall, saw nine semi-finalists – Camden Helgason, Niemiah Hill, Amos Jones, Sailor McNeil-Truitt, Lilyannah Pedley, Hayden Powell, Karter Slacum, Annabella Slacum, and Raymar Watson – do a terrific job of answering ‘life’ questions about such matters as their personal and career goals, how they can help their community, how they handle conflict. It was a tough job for the judges to narrow the field down to two for Friday’s final, but the two who made it through to the Final Round are Camden Helgason and Karter Slacum. Congratulations! Thanks again to the judges: Dominic DeLuca of DELCO Packaging; Lamont Goodson of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy; Chris Honeman of Shore United Bank; Bernard Johnson of Johnson Cleaning Services; Danielle Johnson of Mirror, Mirror; Camila Lopez of Super Soda; Dr. Jymil Thompson, Interim Superintendent of Dorchester County Public Schools; and Blake Whitten of Whitten Retirement Solutions. Pictured are the judges and the nine semi-finalists, with Ms. Heather Powell, Hurlock Elementary’s School Counselor and coordinator of The Amazing Shake at the school. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

It’s Administrative Professionals Day, and while we appreciate ALL our Admin Pros, here we give a name to and salute those with whom parents and community members interact the most – the Front Office staff at our schools! Picking a child up early or signing a child in late? This is who you see. Calling the school? This is who usually answers the phone. Dropping off a forgotten lunch? These are the people who make sure it gets to the classroom. Schools are busy places but they would be a lot more chaotic without these people taking care of business. Thank you all! C-SD: Missy Henry and Denee Sampson Choptank Elementary School: Deanna Boston and Katrina Cornish DCTC: Marianne Franklin and Donna Warren Hurlock Elementary School: Michelle Dorsey and Angela Turner Mace’s Lane Middle School: Kelsey McLaughlin and Christy Miller Maple Elementary School: Karen Hopkins and Lisa Wilson NDLA: Dymond Smith North Dorchester High School: Bridget Adshead North Dorchester Middle School: Laurie Sedgwick Sandy Hill Elementary School: Nina Baire and Shawn Jackson South Dorchester K-8: Dawn Gootee Vienna Elementary School: Katie Crucillo Warwick Elementary School: Crystal Cephas #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Working in schools and with children demands a certain flexibility and DE Education Support Professional of the Year finalist Ms. Dianeanna Molock is proof of that. Ms. Molock, presently an Education Specialist at New Directions Learning Academy, began her DCPS career in 2005 as a PreK-3 teacher at The Judy Center, working with our littlest learners. In 2014 she moved to NDLA where she has worked with elementary, middle, and high school students, so she has pretty much covered the gamut. What’s the best thing about her job at NDLA? “Being able to show the students care and love so that they realize they do not need to continue with the behaviors that got them placed at NDLA,” she says. Whether it’s helping them complete their assignments or helping them achieve higher self-esteem, we appreciate Ms. Molock’s contributions to our students, big and little! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Updated information regarding the Superintendent Search: 1. Tonight (Tuesday, 4/23) is the last of the Community Visioning sessions. It runs from 6:00 to 7:30 at South Dorchester School, 3485 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, Maryland. You do not need to be a South Dorchester resident to attend – all are welcome. 2. The community survey regarding the desirable leadership qualities and early priorities of the new Superintendent will close on Wednesday, 4/24. Please take five minutes to complete it. 3. Notes from the first Community Visioning session held on Tuesday, 4/9 at North Dorchester are available on the DCPS website: https://www.dcps.k12.md.us/o/dcps/page/superintendent-search-vi. Notes from last week’s session at C-SD will be available soon.

The Amazing Shake has returned to Hurlock Elementary School again this year! This program teaches 5th graders confidence, poise, and how to conduct themselves in a professional environment, ending with an optional competition giving them an opportunity to display their skills. Round One was this morning, with ten stations in which students had 60 seconds at each station to impress their judge. A few examples of the challenges included giving a graduation speech, being interviewed for a corporate job, selling a vacation destination, and presenting a (pretend) YouTube video selling a new energy drink that tastes great and cleans your teeth at the same time. The highest scorers will go through to Round Two, but congratulations and well done to ALL of the youngsters who pushed themselves out of their comfort zones to compete in events which would bring out nerves in even those much older and experienced: Yahiris Acosta Chavez, Nala Adams, Julievette Asencio-Garcia, Brayden Burton, Jai’A Cephas, Maddox Darpino, Lilly Hackett, Camden Helgason, Niemiah Hill, Isis Hughes-Edmonds, Muhammed Ismail, Ki’Leeha Jackson, Isaiah Jenkins, Alondra Jimenez-Morales, Amos Jones, Brandon Lawrence, Sailor McNeil-Truitt, Dariana Major, London Moore, Sarenity Payne, Caroline Peacock, Lilyannah Pedley, Noah Pickens, Hayden Powell, Kaylee Sampson, Julia Shatley, Karter Slacum, Annabella Smith, Jayden Smith, Ka’Laya Smith, Parker Spear, Diamond Thomas, Raymar Watson, and Quencia Uzzell. A big thank you, too, to today’s judges, recruited by Mr. Bill Christopher at the Chamber of Commerce: Jermain Anderson, ArtBar 2.0; Bill Christopher, Dorchester Chamber of Commerce; Candace Christopher, The Baking Mariner; Kim Cummings, Dorchester County Courts; Dominick DeLuca, DELCO Packaging; Kinley Elliott, Dorchester Chamber of Commerce; Chris Honeman, Shore United Bank; Eddie James, Koski Enterprises; Lucas Thorpe, All4Love; Blake Whitten, Whitten Retirement Solutions. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS