Dorchester County Public Schools -

Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification Meetings Dear Parent/Guardian/Community Member, Dorchester County Public Schools (DCPS) has initiated a process to modernize its elementary schools, and we need your input in the first step—the Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification. This document will identify what an ideal elementary school in Dorchester County should be: the types of instructional and support spaces it will contain, its educational philosophy, and its community features. It will be used to evaluate the older elementary schools in the system, leading to capital improvement projects that will support your children’s needs. You are invited to a listening session to learn about the process for developing the Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification. The first session will be held on March 11, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM, at North Dorchester High School in the auditorium, and the second session will be held on March 12, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM, at Dorchester Career & Technology Center in the Multi-Purpose Room. At these sessions, you will have the opportunity to provide input on the elementary schools. You do not need to attend both sessions as they will both cover the same information. Additional opportunities will be available later this spring to provide comments as the draft educational specification document is developed. The Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification is the first step in providing modernized facilities for the elementary school students of Dorchester County. Your concerns and observations are crucial to the success of this process. We look forward to seeing you at one or both sessions. Sincerely, Dr. Jymil Thompson Superintendent of Schools

We wanted to share an update on the data breach suffered by the company PowerSchool, used by DCPS and many school systems throughout the state and the nation. What Happened? On December 28, 2024, PowerSchool became aware of a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized exfiltration of certain personal information from PowerSchool Student Information System (SIS) environments through one of our community-focused customer support portals, PowerSource. What Information Was Involved? Due to differences in customer requirements, the types of information involved in this incident included one or more of the following, which varied by person: name, contact information, date of birth, Social Security Number, limited medical alert information, and other related information. At this time, we do have evidence that the named individual’s Social Security Number was involved. At this time, we do not have evidence that limited medical alert information for the named individual was involved. What Is PowerSchool Doing? PowerSchool is coordinating with Experian and TransUnion to provide notice on behalf of our Dorchester County Public Schools to students (or their parents / guardians) and educators, as applicable, whose information was involved and for whom we had available contact information. PowerSchool is offering two years of complimentary identity protection services to students and educators whose information was involved. For adult students and educators whose information was involved, this offer will also include two years of complimentary credit monitoring services. If you reside in the U.S. and do not receive an email, you can find more information linked here: http://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/notice-of-united-states-data-breach/ What Can You Do? You are encouraged to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing account statements for suspicious activity. PowerSchool will never contact you by phone or email to request your personal or account information. The enclosed “General Information About Identity Theft Protection” provides further information about what steps you can take. Other Important Information If you have any questions or concerns about this notice, please call 833-918-9464, Monday through Friday, 8:00am through 8:00pm Central Time (excluding major US holidays).

In a recent visit to North Dorchester High School Dr. Paula Turner-Coleman had this to say about the teaching and learning taking place in Mrs. Kaylen Trice's science classroom. "If you want to learn about heredity in the most engaging way where small groups and student choice was at the heart of teaching and learning, please see Mrs. Trice at North Dorchester High School." Students created imaginative Monster Families to meet the day's learning targets.

Due to the anticipated weather conditions below we are dismissing students 2 hours early. All after-school activities will be cancelled as well.

🎉✨ Celebrating Black History Month in style! Members of the Mace’s Lane Middle School Student Council have transformed Mr. Treft's office door into a vibrant tribute to Bowie State University, an amazing HBCU. 🌟 Let's honor the rich history and contributions of HBCUs together! #BlackHistoryMonth #HBCU #BowieStateUniversity #MacesLaneMiddleSchool 🎨📚

🎉 Exciting News from Mace’s Lane Middle School! 🎉 We are thrilled to announce the newly elected Student Council officers for the 24-25 school year! Meet our amazing leaders: Arnina Agbo-Henry (Secretary), Destiny Cornish (President), and Jamari Cornish-Lee (Vice President). 🌟 These dedicated students will be representing the student voice at Mace’s Lane Middle School, ensuring that everyone's ideas and concerns are heard. Let's give them a big round of applause and support them as they lead us to a fantastic year ahead! 👏👏👏

Ms. Weldon’s 8th grade social studies students at MLMS were challenged to research important African Americans in American History by creating a 6-10 slide PowerPoint about an African American who made a lasting impact in history. The caveat: the person could not be Harriet Tubman or Frederick Douglass (because let’s be honest! Dorchester Countians ARE the experts on these American heroes!) and the chosen person had to be from Maryland or Delaware! Students were required to submit a research proposal for approval and cite at least three sources using the Chicago Manual of Style citation format which they were introduced to in class. Then the students presented their research to their classmates. A few students will be presenting their research to an audience of parents, students, and staff next Thursday as part of Maces Lane after school tutoring program.

Good afternoon! DCPS will operate on a regular schedule and open on time tomorrow, Friday, February 21st. This is a reminder to make sure that your child brings his/her fully charged device and charger back to school. Thank you!

A Message from the Maryland State Department of Education Parents- Know the Law Incidents of parents trying to board school buses in Maryland are on the rise. While reasons for these unauthorized boarding attempts vary, they always endanger students. School buses are an extension of school and are meant to be safe spaces. Bus drivers are trained in safety protocols hat include not allowing parents to board. Maryland Laws on School Bus Safety Maryland Transportation Law Who Can Ride a School Bus? School bus drivers are not allowed to let anyone who is not a student or a school employee board or ride the bus. This rule is in place to ensure the safety of students. Exceptions may apply in specific situations, as outlined by the law. Maryland Education Law It is a crime to interfere with, disrupt or obstruct a school bus driver while they are doing their job. Anyone who disrupts a school bus driver’s duties can face serious penalties, including • A fine of up to $1,000 • Up to 90 days in jail, • Or both These laws aim to ensure student safety during school commutes and allow bus drivers to perform their duties without distractions. Parents can assist by reinforcing bus rules and respecting bus drivers' responsibilities.

The Board of Education Meeting scheduled for tonight, February 20th, is still being held at the Central Office in the Board Room beginning at 6 pm.

Good morning. Due to hazardous road conditions, DCPS will operate on a Virtual Learning day. Follow the schedule provided by your child's school. All staff are expected to telework, if possible, and essential employees should report at 10:00a.m. Stay safe.

Good evening! Dorchester County Public Schools will operate on a 2 hour delay tomorrow, Thursday, February 20th due to the inclement weather. We will reassess road conditions in the early morning and update everyone if there is a further change in the schedule. Thank you and stay safe.

Celebrating Excellence in Dorchester County Public Schools! We are thrilled to announce the 2025-2026 Finalists for Team Member of the Year! These outstanding individuals have demonstrated excellence in Community Connections, Impact, Leadership, and Service Above Self, going above and beyond to support our students, staff, and community. Finalists by Category: DCPS Team Member Awards Finalists for Community Connections: • Cambridge-South Dorchester High School: Ms. Tina Morris • Choptank Elementary School: Ms. Chanelle Foster • Hurlock Elementary School: Ms. Alexis McBean • Maces Lane Middle School: Mr. Chris Branch • Maple Elementary School: Mr. Ryan Daniels • North Dorchester Middle School: Ms. Joan Brooks • Central Office: Ms. Sandy Shaw DCPS Team Member Awards Finalist for Impact: • Cambridge-South Dorchester High School: Ms. Melissa Henry • Choptank Elementary School: Ms. Brittany Taylor • Hurlock Elementary School: Ms. Caroline Marshall • Maple Elementary School: Ms. Victoria Bradley • North Dorchester High School: Ms. Elisha Johnson • North Dorchester Middle School: Mr. Evan Nibblett • Sandy Hill Elementary School: Ms. Christy Medford • South Dorchester School: Ms. Rebecca Fischer • Warwick Elementary School: Mr. Stephen Scott DCPS Team Member Awards Finalist for Leadership: • Cambridge-South Dorchester High School: Ms. Jessica Collins • Choptank Elementary School: Mr. Brian Morley • Hurlock Elementary School: Ms. Shayna Church • Maple Elementary School: Ms. Rachel Pritchett • North Dorchester Middle School: Ms. Bunny Irby DCPS Team Member Awards Finalist for Service Above Self: • Cambridge-South Dorchester High School: Ms. Deshinna Nichols • Choptank Elementary School: Ms. Rashanda Davis • Dorchester Career & Technology Center: Ms. Marianne Franklin • Hurlock Elementary School: Ms. Shayna Church • Maces Lane Middle School: Mr. Mark McGinnis • Maple Elementary School: Ms. Debbie Rubio-Trejo • North Dorchester Middle School: Ms. Linda Barnes • Vienna Elementary School: Ms. Michelle Frost • Warwick Elementary School: Ms. Barb Albert • Central Office: Ms. Kiesha Jones Each of these dedicated team members embodies the spirit of Dorchester County Public Schools—fostering strong relationships, making a meaningful impact, leading with integrity, and serving with heart. Join us in celebrating their achievements and stay tuned as we announce the winners soon!

Professional Development in the spotlight this week! High school teacher leaders meet twice a month during the instructional day for Cross Curricular Teaming (C.C.T.) with their content supervisor. During C.C.T. this week, the North Dorchester High School mathematics department, including the Special Education team, reviewed student work on an Algebra I MCAP public release item. Teachers reviewed these student products to affirm student thinking and guide their next steps with the instructional process. Did you know? All students in grades 3 through 8 and Algebra I will be participating in the MCAP Spring administration for mathematics. DCPS welcomes all those who will be impacted to begin accessing and practicing additional MCAP public release items on this website: https://itempra.org/public/ If you are looking for additional tools that provide content specific support with real time feedback, there are a plethora of resources unique to DCPS as well (i.e. iReady, IXL, Khan Academy, etc.)! Please reach out to your teacher for more information to get MCAP ready!

** RESCHEDULED - NEW MEETING DATES** Dear Parent/Guardian/Community Member, Dorchester County Public Schools (DCPS) has initiated a process to modernize its elementary schools, and we need your input in the first step—the Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification. This document will identify what an ideal elementary school in Dorchester County should be: the types of instructional and support spaces it will contain, its educational philosophy, and its community features. It will be used to evaluate the older elementary schools in the system, leading to capital improvement projects that will support your children’s needs. You are invited to a listening session to learn about the process for developing the Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification. The first session will be held on March 11, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM, at North Dorchester High School in the auditorium, and the second session will be held on March 12, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM, at Dorchester Career & Technology Center in the Multi-Purpose Room. At these sessions, you will have the opportunity to provide input on the elementary schools. You do not need to attend both sessions as they will both cover the same information. Additional opportunities will be available later this spring to provide comments as the draft educational specification document is developed. The Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification is the first step in providing modernized facilities for the elementary school students of Dorchester County. Your concerns and observations are crucial to the success of this process. We look forward to seeing you at one or both sessions. Sincerely, Dr. Jymil Thompson Superintendent of Schools

NOTICE OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING DATE: Thursday, February 20, 2025 TIME: 5:00 p.m. PLACE: The Board Room Central Office of the Board of Education 700 Glasgow Street Cambridge, MD 21613 The Board of Education of Dorchester County will conduct an Open Session at the date, time, and location indicated above to address business as indicated on the agenda. After the start of the Open session, the Board will meet in Closed in accordance with Section 3-305 of the General Provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland. At the conclusion of the Closed Session, the Board will reconvene at 6:00 p.m. in the Open Regular Session. The agenda and related documents can be accessed online via BoardDocs on the Dorchester County Public Schools website at www.dcps.k12.md.us. Anyone who would like to submit public comments electronically, to be included in the minutes, can email comments@dcpsmd.org by 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2025. All Board of Education Meetings will be livestreamed: https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe

The future of education is in great hands! We’ve changed things up a bit to acknowledge our teachers just entering the field of education that are within their first three (3) years of teaching. Congratulations to the dynamic finalists for DCPS’ Early Excellence Educator of the Year 2025 – 2026! These incredible educators have demonstrated outstanding dedication, passion, and impact in their classrooms, very early in their careers. Join us in celebrating their achievements and bright futures! Our DCPS Awards night will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025. DCPS Early Excellence Educator of the Year Finalists: - Cambridge-South Dorchester High School: Mr. Michael Tremper - Choptank Elementary School: Ms. Rebecca Sherman - Dorchester Career & Technology Center: Mr. James Moorhead - Hurlock Elementary School: Ms. Robin Dukes - Maces Lane Middle School: Ms. Kyla Diggs - Maple Elementary School: Ms. Madison Abbott - North Dorchester High School: Ms. Michaela Greenhawk - Sandy Hill Elementary School: Ms. Kaila Lindsay - South Dorchester School: Ms. Jessica Brown - Vienna Elementary School: Ms. Joy Bradshaw

Exciting news! Congratulations to the incredible finalists for DCPS’ Teacher of the Year 2025 – 2026! These outstanding educators go above and beyond to inspire, support, and shape the future of their students every day. Stay tuned as we celebrate their achievements and dedication to Education! Our DCPS Awards night will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025. DCPS Teacher of the Year Finalists: - Cambridge-South Dorchester High School: Ms. Casey O’Bier - Choptank Elementary School: Ms. Tanya Travis - Dorchester Career & Technology Center: Ms. Kastine Farmer - Hurlock Elementary School: Ms. Meredith Thompson - Maces Lane Middle School: Mr. Jeffrey Thompson - Maple Elementary School: Mr. Jon Harper - North Dorchester High School: Mr. Scott Baker - North Dorchester Middle School: Ms. Bunny Irby - Sandy Hill Elementary School: Ms. Holly Spicer - South Dorchester School: Ms. Jessica Hall - Vienna Elementary School: Ms. Jo Ann Dechert - Warwick Elementary School: Ms. Andrea Outten

Will you invest in DCPS? We are looking for businesses to invest in the future workforce by participating in the Maryland Youth Apprenticeship Program, hosting a student intern, speaking to students about careers in your field, hosting students for job shadowing or workplace tours, and mentoring students! Visit https://forms.gle/Yi26sbGjEK63HkHd9 or reach out to a Career Coach to learn more about partnering!

Good evening! Due to the uncertainty of weather conditions overnight, DCPS will operate as a virtual learning day tomorrow, February 12th. Schools and office buildings are closed; all staff are expected to telework, if possible. Please contact your direct supervisor for further guidance. Stay safe.