The future’s bright . . . the future’s ORANGE! Today is National Unity Day, the signature day of Anti-Bullying Month, when DCPS students and staff are encouraged to wear orange as a visible message of building commUNITY through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. <3 #UnityEveryDay #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Ahoy, mateys! It’s National School Lunch Week, and there’s all kinds of funny business going on in the DCPS cafeterias! Here are the Pirates of the Choptank – Krista “Seadog” Wiles, Rose “Barnacle” Emery, and Jenny “Thunder” Bradley – taking a break from pillage and plunder to serve up tasty treasures for the Choptank Hummingbirds! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #NSLW24
National Principals Month continues, and today we celebrate Ms. Myesha Ford! Ms. Ford is in her second year as principal of Maple Elementary School, and no one takes more pride in the Maple Lion pride than she does! Formerly a teacher and an Assistant Principal at Maple, we thank you, Ms. Ford, for growing with the school! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #ThankAPrincipal
Wow! Thanks for a great discussion last night in Hurlock regarding Dorchester County Public Schools: where we are, where we need to be, and what we need to do to get there! The discussion continues tonight (10/15) in Cambridge with a Strategic Planning Community Meeting at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 712 Bradley Ave. from 6:00 to 7:30. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jymil Thompson will be available from 5:30 for an informal chat. Please join us! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Reminder: Tonight is the first opportunity to Put Yourself in the Picture! A series of meetings this week offers the community an opportunity to speak up about what you think is important in the running of our schools through 2028. What will help us get from the 23rd ranked district in Maryland to 15th? Don’t be a keyboard warrior . . . come out and join the conversation! Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thompson will be at each location by 5:30 to meet and chat informally before the meeting. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Today we recognize Ms. Ashley Robinson, principal of Dorchester Career and Technology Center, for how she “lifts up” her students and staff! A strong champion of Career and Technical Education, Ms. Robinson leads the cheers for all her students and the school’s programs. Happy National Principals Month, Ms. Robinson and thank you for all you do! #ThankAPrincipal #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at Dorchester Career and Technology Center, 2465 Cambridge Bypass in Cambridge, with the open session beginning at 6:00 pm, following the conclusion of the closed session. 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 closed session will discuss a possible land transfer, personnel, and an update on legal issues, The public is welcome to attend the open session. 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 October 16. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe.
Big news for expectant parents, newborns, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and their parents living in the Hurlock area! A new Judy Center Early Learning Hub is coming to Hurlock Elementary School, opening in 2025! More information will be coming soon! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Meet the Dorchester County Public Schools New Teacher Mentors for the 2024-2025 school year! These folks, with over 300 years of experience in education between them, provide a year-long support program for teachers new to DCPS, and even longer for those new to the profession. Teachers have a lot of responsibility and for rookies it can be particularly overwhelming, but these folks are in their corner to offer advice, encouragement, and an occasional hug if needed. Thank you, New Teacher Mentors: Lynette Burns, Melissa Councell (not pictured), Missy Kenny, Eve Kingsbury, John McCoy, Evelyn Renkwitz, Cheryl Vauls, Cindee Wong, and Coordinator of the program, Renee Warfield. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
This week has been Fire Prevention Week and most of our elementary schools enjoyed visits from their local fire department to ensure youngsters are schooled in fire safety. Today it was the turn of South Dorchester School, who expanded the visit to not only include Church Creek Volunteer Fire Department but Emergency Medical Services and Dorchester County Sheriff’s Department as well. Children from Ms. Brown, Ms. Brooks, and Ms. Bobbi’s PreK class, Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Jackson’s Kindergarten class, Ms. Wolfe and Ms. Anderson’s 1st grade class, and Ms. Robbins’ 2nd grade class had the opportunity to be inside an ambulance, a fire truck, and a police car while learning how these first responders help those in need. Partnering agencies, we greatly appreciate your support! <3 #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
We continue to celebrate National Principals Month by introducing Mr. Gaven Parker, principal of Choptank Elementary School, and the leader of the Hummingbird Charm! Mr. Parker was destined to lead Choptank, as he clearly exuded charm even as an elementary school child. DCPS is delighted that Mr. Parker is on our team and thank him for his service to his students! #ThankAPrincipal #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Starting Monday, October 21, 2024, a pilot program will begin in Dorchester County Public Schools’ three middle schools to limit student cell phone usage during the school day. Students at Mace’s Lane Middle School, North Dorchester Middle School, and grades 6 through 8 at South Dorchester School will secure their phones in locked pouches upon arrival at the school in the morning, with the pouch being unlocked at the end of the school day. The goal is to limit the distractions caused by cell phone use in schools to improve academic achievement and mental well-being. More information can be found on our website: https://www.dcps.k12.md.us/article/1808878. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
October is National Principals Month, a celebration of the transformative power of our school principals! These leaders shape their schools, and in doing so shape youngsters, teachers, and our community. Their effort, energy, and enthusiasm make you believe that it wasn’t that long ago they were children themselves! Over the next few weeks we will introduce you to our DCPS principals, most with a ‘throwback’ to not-so-long-ago, when they were students themselves. Today we begin with Ms. Marybeth Blake, first as a kindergartener at Sandy Hill Elementary – a school where she was later principal – and now, as leader of Warwick Elementary. Thank you, Ms. Blake, for your leadership and making DCPS your home! #ThankAPrincipal #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Dorchester County Public Schools is charting the course for the future by developing a strategic plan for 2025-2028. We have a goal: to go from the 23rd-ranked school district in Maryland to the 15th. Students, parents, teachers, other staff, school leaders, and our Dorchester County community all have a role to play in our success. You are invited to attend one of our upcoming community meetings to add your thoughts and ideas:
• Monday, October 14, 6:00 to 7:30, Hurlock United Methodist Church, 502 S. Main St., Hurlock MD
• Tuesday, October 15, 6:00 to 7:30, St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 712 Bradley Ave., Cambridge MD
• Wednesday, October 16, 6:00 to 7:30, South Dorchester School, 3485 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD
Come and meet our new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jymil Thompson, and be an active part of the DCPS journey! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Dorchester están trazando el rumbo hacia el futuro mediante el desarrollo de un plan estratégico para 2025-2028. Tenemos un objetivo: pasar del puesto 23 al 15.º de distrito escolar en Maryland. Los estudiantes, los padres, los maestros, el resto del personal, los líderes escolares y nuestra comunidad del Condado de Dorchester tienen un papel que desempeñar en nuestro éxito. Estás invitado a asistir a una de nuestras próximas reuniones comunitarias para agregar tus pensamientos e ideas:
• Lunes 14 de octubre, de 6:00 a 7:30, Hurlock United Methodist Church, 502 S. Main St., Hurlock MD
• Martes 15 de octubre, de 6:00 a 7:30, St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 712 Bradley Ave., Cambridge MD
• Miércoles 16 de octubre, de 6:00 a 7:30, South Dorchester School, 3485 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD
¡Ven a conocer a nuestro nuevo Superintendente de Escuelas, el Dr. Jymil Thompson, y sé parte activa del recorrido de DCPS! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
As part of Farm to School Week, DCPS Food & Nutrition Services organized for the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation’s Ag in the Classroom Mobile Science Lab to spend a few days this past week at Maple Elementary School, allowing students to visit for a grade level appropriate agri-science lesson. Here is a class of Maple kindergarteners who, after hearing a story, made a small container of their own butter and even got to taste it. There was a whole lotta shakin’ going on for sure! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
We are so proud of Maple Elementary’s Katelyn Blair, Dorchester County’s Teacher of the Year, who shined while representing Dorchester County Public Schools at last night’s Teacher of the Year gala in Baltimore, accompanied by her crew of DCPS colleagues and family! Congratulations also to Baltimore City teacher Kat Locke-Jones on being named 2024-2025 Maryland Teacher of the Year!
Calendar reminder: There will be no school for students on Monday, October 7 due to Parent Conference Day. Arrangements are different in different schools, so if you are not sure of the conference arrangements in your child’s school, contact them directly to find out. No matter their age, your child needs you to be part of their school life! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Student safety is clearly important at Dorchester County Public Schools, which is why only clear backpacks and water bottles, either from DCPS or purchased privately, are allowed for our students. With 4500 students entering our buildings each morning in a short timeframe, it is necessary for staff to be able to quickly spot anything obviously inappropriate or dangerous for a school setting and keep the line moving. Parents, we thank you for making the CLEAR choice to help us keep our schools safer by ensuring your child uses only clear backpacks and water bottles! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Due to high water, South Dorchester School will be closed today, Thursday, October 3, 2024. C-SD students living in the South Dorchester area will not have bus service today. Also, North Dorchester High School, North Dorchester Middle School, and Vienna Elementary School students living on Elliott Island will not have bus service today. Our apologies for late notice – bus drivers went out but there were areas they could not get through. Stay safe!
Yes, it is Farm to School Week at DCPS, and Maple Elementary School is taking that literally! It seems a visit from a friendly cow puts our kiddos in the moo-d for learning! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
