Dorchester County Public Schools -

It's Custodian Appreciation Day and we salute the HEROES and SHEROES of the Dorchester County Public Schools custodial staff! If you see any of these fine folks today, join us in a big thank you for all they do for our students, staff, and schools! Hope Andrews, Charles Askins, Jose Barrios-Munoz, Felicia Blount, Spencer Brown, Christopher Casado, Charity Cephas, James Cornish, Bryant Crosell, Marcellus Dockins, Chanelle Foster, Nicholas Foxwell, John Hoffman, William Holland, Sharon Huether, Gregory Jefferson. Archie Jenkins, Pamela Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Keyshawn Johnson, Wallace Jones, Dewayne Jones, Ryan Kellner, Michelle Lewis, Myson Lucero, Dyneka Major, Kirk Major, Jacques McKnight, Tyrone Molock, Katina Molock-Ash, Regenia Neal, Uga Parker. Bonita Perry, Darren Potts, Mark Price, Hattie Redmond, Antoine Ringgold, Tyshena Rolle, Ivory Smith, Carlton Stanley, David Sutt, Laverne Taylor, Vonzella Thomas, Ellena Walker, Gregory Walls, Jacob Whipple, Anthony Woolford, and Angela Young. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

It’s Farm to School Week at Dorchester County Public Schools this week, with a few school events emphasizing food education and local ingredients. Not all local ingredients come from the soil though – today North Dorchester High School welcomed back NDHS 2022 graduate Mason Little, owner of Choptank River Crab & Oyster Company, an up-and-coming seafood wholesaler and retailer based at 203 Trenton St., near the Creek Bridge, in Cambridge. Mason distributed crab balls to students and staff at lunchtime, a little treat to show off his local wares. He also talked with students about his venture, emphasizing that nothing comes easy; success requires hard work. We’re proud of this young DCPS graduate - thank you for visiting, Mason, and sharing your story . . . and your crab! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Due to continuing high tides, South Dorchester School will be closed today, Tuesday, October 1, 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. Stay safe!

Did you know that your child’s school is penalized for every absence on a state assessment day? No one can help the occasional upset stomach or bad cold, but many other absences on testing days can be avoided, and we have just the tool to help families do this. Calendars of state and local assessments are available on our website at https://bit.ly/47UJ3yI - they tell you which dates your student will have important assessments so you can avoid scheduling non-urgent absences. Every day counts! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Introducing the Dorchester County Public Schools members of the 2024-2026 Academy for Leadership in Education (ALE) cohort at Salisbury University! These DCPS Assistant Principals are attending this transformational leadership workshop series as we renew our emphasis on the importance of instructional leadership in our schools in our push to raise academic achievement. We look forward to watching the professional growth of attendees (l-r) Assistant Principals Mark Pages (North Dorchester High School), Bobbie Matthews (Choptank Elementary School), Briana Beulah (Sandy Hill Elementary School), Linda Barnes (North Dorchester Middle School), and Nichole Horton (Cambridge-South Dorchester High School). #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Good news for the C-SD Interact Club! Although its long been known for its work to benefit the school and wider community, it recently received a Rotary International Presidential Citation, delivered by Cambridge Rotary member Mr. Phil Reed, recognizing their projects and membership growth during the last school year! Projects undertaken by the students included the CSD Blessing Closet, a coat drive, a fundraiser for the baseball team, Christmas cards to first responders and C-SD teachers, a property cleanup and sports concessions. They also partnered with their sponsors, the Rotary Club of Cambridge, in ringing the bell for the Salvation Army last Christmas. Congratulations to Interact Club members on this honor! 2024-2025 Interact Club officers are President Tyler Sears, Vice-President Savannah Weber, and Secretary Christina Hyde. Club advisors are Morgan Mann and Michael Tremper. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Congratulations to North Dorchester High School senior Daniel Yorton, who today signed on the dotted line to begin an apprenticeship with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) at Horns Point! Between now and his graduation next spring, Daniel will be supporting the Center’s work in the Aquaculture Restoration Ecology Laboratory, otherwise known as the Oyster Hatchery – learning while earning money and getting great experience to take with him to college next year. Thank you to UMCES President Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm (pictured below, thumbs up!) and Hatchery Manager Stephanie Alexander for entering this valuable partnership with Dorchester County Public Schools! It's not too early for students who will be in 11th or 12th grade next year to find out more about the Maryland Youth Apprenticeship Program. Career Coach Ms. Shay Lewis-Sisco is ready to help you; contact her at lewiss@dcpsmd.org. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Thank you, Ironman Maryland, for allowing two Dorchester County Public Schools students the honor of presenting medals to the first man and first woman finishers in today’s triathlon! What a privilege it is to see the result of such strength, focus, discipline, and resilience up close. Congratulations to first man finisher Matthew Tatum who received his medal from Maple Elementary School 2nd grader Jerry Garcia and Jill Jacinth, the first woman finisher, to whom Maple 5th grader Aniyah Diggs presented her medal. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #DCPSAnythingIsPossible

Tacos for triathletes! When today’s participants in Ironman Maryland finally cross that finish line, they then have the opportunity to continue a few extra feet over to the Food Tent to celebrate with a taco or three! As you can see, Chef Charlene Zinnel’s culinary students at Dorchester Career and Technology Center have been busily preparing the protein for the tacos, which can then be completed by taco fixins’ from local favorite Center Market. Don’t fret, vegetarian athletes – there’s an option for you, too! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

We may not know who will be the first to cross the Ironman Maryland finish line tomorrow, but we do know who will be there to award their medals! Congratulations to Maple Elementary 2nd grader Jerry Garcia and 5th grader Aniya Diggs who will be placing the coveted medals around the necks of the first male and female finisher, respectively. Maple Lions are roaring to success! Here they are, pictured with Maple Principal Ms. Myesha Ford and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jymil Thompson. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Our Ironman Maryland friends have arrived! Coming from Maine to Florida, from California to Maryland (yay!) and from 40 different countries, no matter where you began your journey, we’re glad you’re now with us in beautiful Dorchester County! We hope you enjoy your ‘special delivery’ – notes of welcome and friendship from Dorchester County Public Schools students. Here are just a few of our visitors with their letters! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

It was a packed house as Grandmas, Grandpops, and Grandfriends all were invited to Choptank Elementary School yesterday morning to share some quality time with their little Hummingbird! Children can never have too many caring adults in their lives! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Today is IT Professionals Day 2024, and we salute the women and men who keep us connected – our IT professionals! Led by supervisor Cindy Houghtaling, they are: Stephanie Adams, Rob Carpenter, Stephanie Conn, Keith Cornish, Jonathan Harris (not pictured), Jakob Hughes, Larry Jones, Cody Kile, Stephen Kinser (not pictured), Martrea Marshall, Mark McGinniss, Oliver McKinney Jr., Kim Peer, Tim Rittersbacher, and Josh Smith. Thank you, all! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Thursday, September 19, 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 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 September 18. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe.

September is Dorchester Goes Purple Month, and the Cambridge-South Dorchester Vikings are going purple to help raise awareness of the ever-increasing problem of addiction throughout the community. There are three scheduled sports fixtures going purple this week: the Varsity Girls’ soccer match against Colonel Richardson High on Wednesday, September 18 at 5:30 pm; The Varsity Boys’ soccer match with Snow Hill on Thursday, September 19 at 4:00 pm; and Friday night’s Varsity Football battle between the Vikings and Parkside High on September 20 at 6:00 pm. Go Vikings and go purple! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

North Dorchester Middle School 8th grade hosted first responder Mr. Taalib Smith, appropriately enough, on September 11, to talk about his career as a Firefighter/EMT and opportunities for young people considering a similar career. Organized by Career Coach Audrey Roberts, Mr. Smith talked about his own work with the fire service in Annapolis, along with more general information about becoming a firefighter. Thank you, Mr. Smith, for your time and patience with the multitude of questions from interested students and thank you for your service to the community! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Due to heavy fog, Dorchester County Public Schools will be operating on a two-hour delay today, Friday, September 13, 2024. Stay safe!

Dear Ironman Maryland triathletes, September in Dorchester County means two things: the start of the new school year and Ironman Maryland! In our classes we talk about your courage and resilience and how you come from all over the world to our beautiful county to race, proving to yourself and the world that anything is possible. We want you to know that each of you has someone in your corner who believes in you, who knows you can succeed, and we’ve been busy writing you letters to cheer you on. Welcome to Dorchester County, Maryland! We think you’re awesome! With love from your friends at Dorchester County Public Schools <3 Photos are of 3rd and 4th graders at Maple Elementary School working on their letters with teacher Mrs. Catherine Morrissette.

Today, September 11, is Patriot Day, a day of reflection and remembrance honoring the nearly 3,000 victims who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It is a day when we not only honor their memory, but also recognize the courage and sacrifice of the first responders and honor those who continue to serve and protect. Here you see Mrs. Travis’ class of 5th graders at Choptank Elementary School beginning their school day, as they always do, with the Pledge of Allegiance. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15

Books, books, glorious books! Thank you, Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, for your awesome gift to Choptank Elementary School! Visitors to the Hyatt Resort and Convention Alliance meeting held at the hotel were asked to each bring a book for the school, and Principal Gaven Parker and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jymil Thompson were more than happy to accept the collection. It takes a village, and Dorchester County Public Schools is grateful to have the Hyatt as part of ours! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15