Hurlock Elementary School’s bus loop turned into a real, live Candy Land on Friday evening with the annual Trunk or Treat event! School staff and students all dressed for the occasion, from Ariel, Sebastian, and friends from Under the Sea (aka the Kindergarten team) to skeletons, scarecrows, pirates, bats, and more. Activities included pumpkin decorating, a hayride, and did we mention candy collection? Thank you to the many community partners who helped make such a fun, family evening! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
A reminder that schools will be closed on Wednesday, November 1 for a Staff Professional Development Day. We’ll see you bright and early on Thursday! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Students in our schools earn points for being respectful, responsible, safe, persistent, having a good attitude, and for achievement, which they can cash in to “purchase” items from their Class or School Store. In Ms. Jeanell Todd’s 4th grade class at Vienna Elementary, a few of the items for purchase include such fun items as bringing a stuffed friend to class, having your shoes off in the classroom, or . . . picking your teacher’s hair style. Ms. Todd picks up the story from there . . .
“So far, six students have chosen “pick your teacher’s hair style’. I bring in my brush, hair ties, and accessories. The students then go to town brushing my hair, sectioning my hair, braiding it, or twisting it. Sometimes they request a friend to help them. As they work during breakfast time on my new ‘do, we chat, giggle, and bond with each other. Once they are finished, I take a picture of the hairstyle and a photo with them. I also wear a sticker all day saying “Hair By (student’s name) so everyone knows who gave me the beautiful hairdo.
On Thursday, it was one of my boys’ turn to style my hair and he asked his friend to help him. I had misplaced my hair ties and only had two, so the boys came up with a new plan, deciding that my Days of the Week large binder clips would work perfectly. So, they did! Proud as punch they were, and so was I. Did I look silly? Yes. But I made a connection with those boys in the most unusual way, plus they were persistent and creative. I’m always proud of my hair displays but this one was just a little extra special. I’m now a bit worried about the next kid who chooses to style my hair . . . are they going to try to one-up those boys and make me look silly? Maybe, but it’s worth it!!”
Yes, we have THE BEST teachers!
#AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Parents are our partners in education, which is why schools have activities like Thursday night’s Fall Literacy Night for Grades 3-5 at Choptank Elementary! Families began the evening with a communal supper, and then got down to business with a book about a pumpkin named Jack. Students and parents then took turns at four fall-themed stations to practice and reinforce literacy skills through fun activities, the last ending with a custom-made pumpkin dessert. In addition, there were guessing games, a book raffle, and an opportunity to become a member of one of the most important institutions in Dorchester County – the public library! Fun and learning for all! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
It's no secret – Mr. Jerome Stover loves his job as principal of Cambridge-South Dorchester High School! Why? “I have the opportunity to shape the educational experience of students, create a positive school culture and help students and staff reach their full potential – there are so many rewarding benefits of being a principal!” he says. We thank you for your leadership and boundless enthusiasm, Mr. Stover! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS #ThankAPrincipal
Thanks to our partnership with Dorchester Center for the Arts, we were able to welcome experienced chalk artists into some of our schools today to share their craft with many of our secondary art students! Chalk artist Randy Segura worked at Mace’s Lane Middle School, Colin Cessna at C-SD, and Lori Antoinette and Ed Krell worked with North Dorchester High School artists, all helping to launch art students into the world of chalk art.
These artists, plus some of the works completed today by our students, will be part of this weekend’s 2nd Annual Chalk Arts Festival to be held in the County Building parking lot in Cambridge. The students’ art exhibit will be in the atrium of the County Building. This family festival is free of charge, offering activities for all ages as well as live music, food, and art vendors, all sponsored by Dorchester County Tourism and Dorchester Center for the Arts. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Open the doors, and they will come – in droves! Warwick Elementary welcomed grandparents into the school Wednesday afternoon to share an activity, some refreshments, and the book fair with their grandchildren - an opportunity to spend time with some of their favorite little people and get insight into their school lives. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
“I want my students to obtain the skills they need to be successful, productive citizens in an ever-changing society,” says Ms. Jennifer Green, principal of South Dorchester School. “I want them to be kind, compassionate, and show empathy towards others always.” SDS is unique in Dorchester County, the only school that offers Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade together on one site, meaning Ms .Green oversees the responsibility for the education of children from age 4 through 14. We celebrate you, Ms. Green! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS #ThankAPrincipal
Orange is the color of Unity Day, an anti-bullying initiative reminding all of us to choose kindness, acceptance, and inclusion – all the time! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Last night’s Fine Arts Night at North Dorchester High School was a very fine taste of instrumental, vocal, and artistic talent by students and staff! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
The Board of Education of Dorchester County will hold a special Closed Session at 4:30 pm on Monday, October 30, 2023 at the Central Office of the Board of Education, 700 Glasgow St. in Cambridge to discuss matters of personnel.
Today we celebrate a principal who is all about community! Mace’s Lane Middle School principal Ms. Patricia Prosser, who is in her 20th year of being part of the Dorchester County Public Schools team, says, “The best part of being a principal is by far the kids and being part of the Cambridge community. I now have the children of my previous students and I love being part of their lives.” Happy National Principals Month, Ms. Prosser! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS #ThankAPrincipal
The recent blue skies have been a perfect backdrop to the good ol’ Stars and Stripes! Here are South Dorchester School 7th graders Jacob Moxey and Noah Snyder, who every morning serve their school and community by hoisting the school’s flags and every afternoon lowering them, storing them appropriately until the next day. Thank you, boys! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
Say hello to Dr. Donald Boyd, a new face at Dorchester County Public Schools! Dr. Boyd, an experienced educator hailing from the great state of Mississippi, is our new Supervisor of Strategic Initiatives, meaning he is the point person for overseeing the implementation of the new Maryland Blueprint for Education. “I’m working on how we will make this plan specific to what we need in Dorchester County,” said Dr. Boyd, “with the end goal of student achievement.” Dr. Boyd sees himself as a voice for the community and is interested in hearing thoughts from parents as well as sharing information about the Blueprint and what it means, to interested groups in the community. Welcome aboard, Dr. Boyd! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
National Principals Month continues with a celebration of the leadership of Vienna Elementary School principal Ms. Susie Price! Ms. Price loves her job and says, “The very best part of being a principal is getting to know ALL of the students at your school instead of just one class!” One of our most experienced educators, we thank Ms. Price for serving the children of Dorchester County for 44 years – that’s a lot of children to get to know! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS #ThankAPrincipal
Congratulations to North Dorchester High School’s Athletes of the Month for September!
Varsity Female Athlete of the Month is volleyball player Katelyn Hopkins. Coach Carol Hubbard said of 11th grader Katelyn, “She is a very consistent server and a leader on the court. She has a great attitude and always gives her best at practice and games.”
Senior Kyle Fellon’s Cross Country performances earned him the title of Varsity Male Athlete of the Month. Kyle ran 17:25 in the first meet of the year, the 4th best time in NDHS history. He finished first overall against WiHi, Crisfield, Washington, and Pocomoke High Schools, and at the recent Rumble in the Jungle placed 9th overall out of 156 runners.
Junior Varsity Athlete of the Month is Tahjere Pritchett, a sophomore soccer player. Coach Jaime Fonseca says of Tahjere, “He is always giving 100% at practices and games and always has a great attitude.”
Thank you to this month’s NDHS Athletes of the Month sponsors Metal Arc Fabricating and Cambridge/Easton Premier Cinemas. #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS
It’s been terrific weather this week for a working cruise on the Sultana, as these Vienna Elementary School 4th graders discovered! The Sultana is a full-scale reproduction of a 97-foot topsail schooner that patrolled the mid-Atlantic area of the colonies for Britain’s Royal Navy in the years leading up the American Revolution. It visits Cambridge most years to take our 4th graders on the high seas (otherwise known as the Choptank River) and give them hands-on knowledge of maritime life in the 18th century. Don’t worry if your 4th grader didn’t sail this week – the Sultana will return in the spring to say a big “ahoy” to the rest of the 4th graders. After all, it’s #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS!
He’s the Leader of the Nest! Today we salute North Dorchester High School principal Mr. Dave Stofa. When asked why he loves being a principal, Mr. Stofa said, “The best part of being a principal is the relationships you build with students. Seeing them walk in as young freshmen and watching them grow and mature as they graduate and head off to the next phase of their lives is a truly rewarding experience as an educator.” Thanks for doing your part, Mr. Stofa, to ensure the Eagles always fly high! #AllHandsOnDeckDCPS #ThankAPrincipal
We're thrilled to announce the new app for DCPS! It's
everything DCPS, in your pocket.
Download for Android https://bit.ly/3LIXLP9
Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3rH4Rgr
It’s National School Bus Safety Week, and in a county the size of Dorchester, our buses spend a lot of time on the roads. Last year our buses traveled over 1.1 million miles, carrying 3960 students to and from schools. Our awesome school bus drivers recognize the important responsibility they have, but keeping our kids safe is a responsibility shared with the community.
When you see yellow flashing lights on a school bus, slow down and prepare to stop. When the red lights flash, stop immediately in both directions. If you are on a two-lane road, vehicles traveling in either direction must stop. If traveling on a multi-lane road, vehicles traveling in either direction must stop. If traveling on a multi-lane road with a center turn lane, vehicles traveling in either direction must stop. When on a divided highway with a dirt, grass, or barrier median, all vehicles behind the bus must stop and vehicles traveling in the opposite direction should proceed with caution.
Remember: youngsters can be unpredictable. Always use caution when traveling near a school bus or bus stop when children are present and do your part to help keep our kids safe! #AllHandsOnDeck
