Dorchester County Public Schools -

There wasn’t a red suit or white beard between them, but Pat Papineau, General Manager of Hertrich Chevrolet GMC of Easton, and David Sullivan, Marketing Director for Hertrich, played Santa Claus yesterday afternoon by delivering a big check to teacher Jill Creighton! Ms. Creighton, Technology teacher at Hurlock Elementary School, was a winner in Hertrich’s Cash for Class, their annual cash giveaway in which winning teachers’ special projects are funded. The $1000 from Hertrich, which was a surprise to Ms. Creighton and all the Hurlock students, will go towards a visit from a video game truck later in the school year. Way to go, Ms. Creighton, and thank you to our friends at Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships for always supporting teachers and schools! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Wheels 4 Work is an initiative started by C-SD Career Coach Sandy Shaw to match students who have jobs, internships, apprenticeships, etc. but no transportation with community organizations and individuals with bikes to donate. Here are just two of the generous groups who have answered the call: Hurlock Lions Club members Buddy Parker and Jim Murray with C-SD Community Liaison Tina Morris, Sandy Shaw, and Principal Jerome Stover; and Gene Williams from the Cambridge Lions Club with Principal Stover. Also pictured is C-SD student Re’al Camper, a bike recipient, who plans to use the new wheels to get to and from his job at Snappers Waterfront Café. Thank you all! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Happy National App Day! Yep, it’s really a thing, and we’re glad too because that gives us another excuse to let you know about the new DCPS app. As staff members are being trained, schools will be transitioning to using the DCPS app for communications and notifications. Don’t be left out – download it today! iPhone users, download at https://apple.co/3rH4Rgr; Android users, download at https://bit.ly/3LIXLP9. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Hurlock Elementary turned into “Christmastown” on Saturday, thanks to the efforts of their supportive parent organization! Families were invited in for waffles and do-it-yourself hot chocolate (with lots of whipped cream and sprinkles!), a visit with Santa or, if preferred, an opportunity to write a letter and mail it (rumor is correspondents may well get a reply if they left a return address), stories with Mrs. Claus, fun craft activities, and the gift of a book or two (or more!) from our friends at Harvesting Hope. Thanks to those who put on a great event for Mighty Eagle families! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

There’s a lot of demand on Santa’s time in December, but as the children of Dorchester County Public Schools are among his very favorites, he usually finds it in his heart to make time for them! On Friday evening he was at Sandy Hill Elementary School for the Christmas Fair, where he not only heard many requests for presents, but was also treated to hot chocolate and cookies, holiday songs by the children’s chorus, and although there is no photographic evidence, he probably visited the Book Fair because everyone knows that books make the BEST gifts! Moms and Dads were able to visit sessions of Parent University while children created holiday crafts - something for everyone to end the school week! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Forget what you think Santa’s elves look like – in reality, they look like these gentlemen. Players and coaches from the C-SD Viking football team went shopping at Walmart to help ensure all Dorchester County’s children have gifts for Christmas, and there wasn’t a pointy ear among them! Jason Warfield of the Dorchester Santa Toy Drive has already picked up the gifts from C-SD as he prepares to help pack Santa’s sleigh for Christmas Eve. Thanks, guys, for your generosity! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

We are grateful to local professionals who gave their time and expertise yesterday ensuring C-SD students the experience of a job interview during ‘mock interview’ sessions at the school. The event was organized by the Maryland Business Round Table and C-SD Career Coach Sandy Shaw to give students their first taste of how to get into the working world. Thank you to Paul Dendorfer (Blue Ruin), Brandon Hesson (City of Cambridge), Sierra Jackson (Dorchester Chamber of Commerce), Danielle Johnson (Johnson’s Cleaning Service), Matt Leonard (CWDI), Lynn Sorrells (Harvesting Hope), Wilma Yeatman (Hyatt), and especially Bill Christopher, President/CEO of the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, who always works closely with Dorchester County Public Schools in our efforts to ensure our young people are “college and career ready”! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

This is a reminder that tomorrow, Friday, December 8, 2023, is an early dismissal day for all students! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Principal Gaven Parker of Choptank Elementary School yesterday became the first recipient of Dorchester County Public Schools’ newly launched Administrator of the Month award! To mark his recognition, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jymil Thompson presented Mr. Parker with a compass inscribed “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” (John Maxwell). Hummingbirds, your leader is one to be proud of! Congratulations, Mr. Parker! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

The forecast today: bright and sunny 3rd graders increasing their knowledge of science through practical application! Vienna Elementary’s 3rd graders, along with teacher Ms. Katie Holbrook, took a trip to Salisbury last week to add to what they are learning in the classroom in their Weather and Climate unit. They visited Salisbury University’s science department to see and use tools that measure weather and climate data and then to WBOC where they spoke to a meteorologist, toured the studio, and watched a live broadcast of the weather. The long term forecast? Children excited about learning! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Introducing our student artists whose creations were chosen as the designs for the Superintendent’s holiday cards! Recognized last night at the Board of Education meeting were Scarlett Stevens, 4th grade, South Dorchester School, art teacher Ms. Jennifer Parrigin; Savannah Weber, 10th grade, C-SD, art teachers Ms. Andrea Milito and Ms. Bethany Earing; Irene Garcia Aceytuno, 8th grade, Mace’s Lane Middle School, art teacher Ms. Elizabeth Wilford; and Haven Falduto, Kindergarten, Vienna Elementary, art teacher Renee LeMire. Each is holding their winning holiday work – congratulations! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

At last night’s Board of Education meeting, the Board officers for 2024 were elected. The new President of the Board is Mr. Mike Diaz (District 1). Vice-President for the coming year is Dr. Susan Morgan (District 3). Congratulations! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

They may have been last in the line-up in Saturday’s Cambridge Christmas Parade, but they were FIRST in the eyes of the judges! Congratulations to North Dorchester High School for winning 1st place among high school bands! North Dorchester Middle School won 2nd place among middle school bands, plus the Best Band Front award. Mace’s Lane Middle School Tigernettes were the winners for Best School Sponsored Club. We also salute the Choptank Hummingbirds Dance Team, C-SD’s Performing Arts Club, and the staff and students who created DCTC’s amazing float for their hard work and community spirit ,and thank the DCPS staff for making it possible for our youngsters to be part of a Cambridge tradition! Here are just a few looks at DCPS participants (and, yes, it really was that foggy!) #AllHandsOnDeck

Last week was a normal week in our schools . . . except for a visit from an alien! Meet Plory, an alien character in iReady, the online platform used by students to apply and practice math concepts. Plory visited selected classrooms at South Dorchester School, Choptank Elementary, and Vienna Elementary to celebrate their students’ amount of time spent and number of lessons passed so far this year on iReady. Students in grades K-5 keep weekly iReady logs, recording their time working on the platform because more practice means better success and growth between each assessment. The children were excited to show Plory their logs! Parents, ask your student about their weekly iReady log; you may be able to locate it in their school folder along with their step logs for reading. Thirty to 49 minutes of practice on iReady per week and one to two lessons passed is the current target. However, the more time spent, the more likely kiddos are to reach and surpass their personalized targets! Did you know your child can practice math skills using iReady at home? To access iReady on any device, go to www.clever.com, sign in using the child’s DCPS email and password, and choose iReady. It’s that easy! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Dorchester County Public Schools’ new Career Coaches joined the Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce for a Youth Workforce Lunch and Learn session Friday, giving Chamber members the opportunity to find out more about the work-based learning programs offered through the schools, benefitting both employer and student. The focus was on the Maryland Youth Apprenticeship Program, connecting student and eligible employer for at least 450 hours of paid work-based training in a career-oriented area. The program usually begins during a student’s junior year of high school, continues over the summer and into senior year. Employers benefit from the introduction of a motivated young person with an interest and willing to be trained in the organization’s career area, as well as tax breaks. Do you know a student or employer who may be interested? Encourage them to reach out to one of the DCPS Career Coaches: Ms. Sandy Shaw (shaws@dcpsmd.org), Ms. Audrey Roberts (robertsa@dcpsmd.org), or Ms. Shay Lewis-Sisco (lewiss@dcpsmd.org). Photo (left to right): Mr. Dave Bromwell, Superintendent of Schools; Ms. Pam Clay, Maryland State Department of Education; Ms. Shay Lewis-Sisco, DCPS Career Coach; Dr. Jodi Colman, DCPS Director of Curriculum and Assessment; Mr. Bill Christopher, President/CEO, Dorchester Chamber of Commerce; Ms. Sandy Shaw, DCPS Career Coach; Ms. Audrey Roberts, DCPS Career Coach. #AllHandsOnDeck

If you want to know more details about the cultures of Native Americans and European settlers, find yourself a Vienna Elementary School 4th grader! Mr. Sorrells’ and Ms. Todd’s classes have spent weeks studying about and creating amazingly detailed and imaginative dioramas of the lives of these two groups in the 17th century. This is just a small taste of their hard work! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

We love it when our kiddos step forward for student leadership positions, like these Choptank Elementary 2nd through 5th graders who applied and were chosen to be members of the school’s new Safety Patrol. Yesterday they received their belts and badges from Principal Gaven Parker and School Counselor Cherokee Bonilla (“Ms. B”), as well as training from Ms. B as to their duties. They will help the staff monitor the hallways during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal, accompany the ‘littles’ to their classrooms as needed, accompany visitors to their destination in the school during events, and set a good example of expected Hummingbird behavior. Congratulations to these school leaders! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, December 4, 2023, at which time officers will be elected for the coming year. The first Open Session of the meeting will start at 4:30 pm for the election of officers. The Board will then go into Closed Session, with the second 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 all Open Sessions. 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 day of the meeting. The Open Sessions of the meeting will be livestreamed at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe.

Please note: Friday, December 8 is an Early Dismissal Day for all students. This is to allow report card preparation for elementary teachers and professional development for secondary teachers. There has been some confusion as our online calendar correctly has December 8 as an Early Dismissal Day but our printed calendar does not, and we apologize for that error. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS

Superintendent Dave Bromwell will be visiting schools over the next few months, holding open forums for parents to learn more about plans for where Dorchester County Public Schools is heading and to ask questions. The first will be at Maple Elementary School next Wednesday, December 6, at 6:00 pm, with Choptank Elementary School following on Thursday, December 7, at 6:00 pm. The final Forum before the holiday break will be at South Dorchester School on Wednesday, December 13 at 6:00 pm. More Forums at more schools will continue in 2024. Parents and the community are encouraged to attend! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS