A reminder to DCPS families: Monday, November 11, 2024 is an early dismissal day for students for teacher report card preparation. Report cards will be issued on Wednesday, November 13.
Congratulations to the North Dorchester High School volleyball team, now the MPSSAA Region II Champions! However, they aren’t stopping there! They will be playing Chesapeake Math & IT Academy North (CMIT) in the State Quarterfinals tomorrow (Friday) in Laurel. Best of luck to team members Brooke Outten, Katelyn Hopkins, Emily Freeman, Lexie Lednum, Zoey Willey, Remedy Wongus, Averie Smith, Destini Wongus, and Addison Johnson. Head coach is Carol Hubbard, Assistant Coach is Myasia Jones, and Athletic Trainer is Mary Wooters. Fly high Eagles! #DCPS23NoMore
We <3 our school nurses, and we know that others do too! Congratulations to Hurlock Elementary School nurse Stacy Thompson, who was one of only two nurses recognized by What’s Up Eastern Shore magazine’s Excellence in Nursing awards in the Public Health/Community/Schools nursing specialty. The honorees were chosen by other nurses.
Nurse Stacy has, for 19 years, been the school’s go-to for health issues, from dishing out band-aids for boo-boos to important health advice to kiddos and their parents – and everything in-between. School nurses are an important part of every school’s team, and we are super glad to have Nurse Stacy taking care of everyone at Hurlock Elementary! #DCPS23NoMore
Maple Elementary School’s week started off with excitement as the entire school gathered for the announcement of the first two Maple Lions to be awarded a school coat! This event, which the school intends to continue as a tradition, honors students in Grades 3 through 5 who staff believe best exemplify the qualities it takes to roar to success as a Maple Lion. Today’s recipients were 5th graders Alex White and Khloe Newcomb, whose families were on hand to help celebrate them. Khloe’s teacher is Ms. Sarah Alpaugh and Alex’s is Ms. Jana Robinson.
Principal Ms. Myesha Ford described Alex as a role model who is “caring, a great leader, and helpful to peers . . . encouraging friends to make right choices.” He “strives to do his best in and out of the classroom and maintains a positive attitude. He is not afraid to do what is right.” Khloe is “a hard worker and a thoughtful student” who “has a great attitude and is helpful to everyone,” as well as being “very focused, creative, (and) caring.” Congratulations to Alex and Khloe on earning their Maple coats! #DCPS23NoMore
A reminder: As most of our schools are used as polling places, Dorchester County Public Schools will be closed to students, teachers, and other ten-month employees on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 for Election Day.
Just when you thought it was safe to venture into the streets of Vienna . . . this morning saw angels to wizards and everything in between marching through the town. Nothing to worry about, though - it was Vienna Elementary School’s costume parade! #DCPS23NoMore
What were you doing in 1979? Ms. Susie Price was just starting her teaching career at Maple Elementary School. She became an Assistant Principal at Hurlock Elementary in 1996, and Principal at Sandy Hill Elementary in 2003. All of this makes her one of the longest-serving educators and administrators in Dorchester County Public Schools, now in her 46th year. Principal at Vienna Elementary School since 2015, Ms. Price is known districtwide for her wealth of knowledge around teaching and learning and her personal knowledge about DCPS and thousands of children who have grown up in the county over the last 40 years. As National Principals Month closes, we thank you, Ms. Price, for your loyalty, your leadership, and your lasting love for children! Was Ms. Price your teacher or principal? #DCPS23NoMore
Was it four-year-olds learning from the big kids, or the other way around? We’re sure it was both at yesterday’s Fall Festival at DCTC for Maple Elementary PreK-4 students! Organized by DCTC’s Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) students, the Maple kiddos were treated to various fun activities involving arts and crafts, outside play – including stuffing a scarecrow! – face painting, story time, indoor games, and their own pumpkin patch. DCTC Cosmetology students helped out with face painting, students in the Homeland Security program involved the children in a project to help keep them safe, and a snack was provided by the Culinary students. A fun learning morning for everyone! #DCPS23NoMore
The ghosts and angels and dinosaurs and football players and superheroes were all out in force last night at a combined family fall celebration event for Choptank Elementary, Mace’s Lane Middle School, and Maple Elementary! There were games, animals to pet, and even a pumpkin patch, plus a stupendous trunk-or-treat, an ever-popular draw thanks to many generous community partners. Thank you to all who contributed to this big success! #DCPS23NoMore
The RAPTOR Visitor Management and RAPTOR Volunteer Management systems have landed! As part of our ongoing efforts to keep the children in our care safe, Dorchester County Public Schools has invested in the gold standard of school safety to screen visitors to our schools and volunteers in our schools. Check out the information on our website at https://www.dcps.k12.md.us/article/1782262. Parents and other volunteers, you will find links to the new Volunteer Form (in English and Spanish). Important: if you have completed a form to volunteer prior to September 20, 2024, you will also have to complete the RAPTOR form. You only need to complete one form, choosing which schools you want it to cover. You’ll find more information on our website. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
National Principals Month continues as today we celebrate Mace’s Lane Middle School Principal Mr. Charles Treft, a newcomer to Dorchester County Public Schools, but not to school administration. With a background in the military and law enforcement, Mr. Treft has been an educator for over 25 years, serving as an administrator of several schools prior to “crossing the Bridge” to join us in Dorchester County. Mr. Treft wears his MLMS Tiger stripes proudly, and we are delighted to have him leading The Lane! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
The Board of Education will hold an Open Work Session on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, in the Board Room of the Central Office of the Board of Education, 700 Glasgow St., Cambridge to discuss future planning. The agenda will be found online via Board Docs on the Dorchester County Public Schools website at www.dcps.k12.md.us. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe.
The Traveling Science Program from the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore made a stop at Sandy Hill Elementary School this past week to present their assembly “What’s the Matter?” to everyone from kindergarten through 5th grade. Different states of matter were described through demonstrations, with unexpected chemical reactions getting expressions of “Whoa!” and “Wow!” from the kiddos, and a reminder that, no, it’s not magic – it’s science! #DCPS23NoMore
Today’s National Principals Month spotlight is shining on Sandy Hill Elementary School Principal Ms. Debbie Gibson! Ms. Gibson has come full circle. Her very first teaching job was at Sandy Hill in 1995. Since then, she has spent time in another county as well as holding various other positions in Dorchester County Public Schools, but when she received her first Principal appointment in 2019, it sent her to right back where she started – Sandy Hill! It seems Ms. Gibson was destined to be Head of the Hive! Thank you for your devotion to the Bees, Ms. Gibson! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #ThankAPrincipal
Yesterday was a beautiful day to enjoy a brief break from the classroom and have a snow cone treat, and 250 North Dorchester Middle School students celebrating their success with the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) tests held last spring did just that! These students earned either Level 3 (Proficient Learner) or Level 4 (Distinguished Learner) on at least one of their MCAP tests, and many did with several. This includes last year’s 5th graders who are now 6th graders at NDMS and last year’s 8th graders, now freshmen next door at North Dorchester High School. Former Hurlock Elementary students were surprised and delighted that Hurlock principal, Ms. Dawn Corkran, was able to join them for a snow cone to toast their success! Congratulations to all these students, and well done on the effort that led to this fun reward! #DCPS23NoMore
Introducing the three finalists from whom Dorchester County’s Student Page to this winter’s session of the Maryland General Assembly will be chosen! Pictured with Delegate Tom Hutchinson are Cristina Lopez Menjivar (North Dorchester High School), Isabel Barr (C-SD), and Ja’Bria Harris (C-SD), all Seniors.
The Student Page will be given the opportunity to spend two weeks in Annapolis while the General Assembly is in session, watching and learning about the legislative process directly. Yesterday, the students were interviewed by competition judges Del. Hutchinson and DCPS Supervisor of School Counselors LaSina Branch. Those chosen as Page and Alternate will be announced by the Maryland General Assembly during November, but Del. Hutchinson was so impressed by the students that he invited all three to spend a day at the General Assembly this winter! #DCPS23NoMore
As part of National Principals Month, today we thank the Keeper of the Nest, North Dorchester High School Principal Mr. Dave Stofa. Mr. Stofa joined DCPS as an experienced principal in 2020 and immediately settled in to the important role he plays with the Eagle fledglings as they prepare to launch into the world. Calm, collected, and always very cool (take note of the teenaged Mr. Stofa) we salute your leadership at NDHS! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #ThankAPrincipal
October 21-25 is National School Bus Safety Week, an opportunity to once again emphasize the important role ALL road-users have in keeping our children safe. School buses are one of the safest vehicles on the road due to their size and visibility, along with the many rules and regulations that bus drivers and school children must follow. However, many of these safeguards depend on others sharing the road with school buses. One of the most common problems DCPS drivers see is cars passing buses with lights flashing and the stop arm extended.
Reminder: A flashing yellow light means that the bus is preparing to stop and so should you. A red light means that children are getting on or off the bus and that cars must come to a full and complete stop. It is against the law to pass a school bus with the stop sign arm extended. Our bus drivers are seeing an increasing number of drivers ignoring their flashing lights and extended stop sign arm, endangering the lives of children getting off or running to board the bus. Please be aware that our drivers report offenders and buses have cameras recording externally. Let’s work together to ensure our children can safely get to and from school! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Many youngsters love sports, but the hard truth is that very few ever achieve the opportunity to play at a professional level. Last week, the Dream Big Academy Club, along with Mace’s Lane Middle School and C-SD student athletes, visited Towson University to learn about off-field career opportunities in the athletics industry from representatives of the TU Athletics Department. Students toured the business office, medical training facility, academic enrichment office, and the stadium, learning about degree-based and non-degree-based careers. TU student athletes and coaches spoke with our students about the requirements for attending college and best practices for students interested in attending college. There’s more than one way to make a career out of love for a game! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
National Principals Month continues, and today we celebrate the one and only Mr. Vaughn Evans! A Dorchester County native and graduate of North Dorchester High School, Mr. Evans began his career in education “across the Bridge” but returned to Dorchester County in 2000. Since then, he has been principal at Warwick Elementary School (twice), Sandy Hill Elementary School, Mace’s Lane Middle School (twice), New Directions Learning Academy, North Dorchester High School (twice) and is now in his second tenure as Proud Principal of North Dorchester Middle School. Thank you, Mr. Evans, for your flexibility, and for influencing the lives of students all over our great county! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15 #ThankAPrincipal
