Dorchester County Public Schools -

Youngsters love to give as well as receive, but with limited money and transportation many find it hard to ensure they have a surprise to give their loved ones during the holiday season. It’s Holiday Shoppes, like this one at North Dorchester Middle School, to the rescue! Students can “spend” points earned since the start of school for good effort, behavior, and attendance to purchase gifts for family and friends. Shopping was in full swing this week, thanks to donated stock, volunteer elves to wrap gifts and provide other help, and Chief Elf Ms. South overseeing events in the Media Center. It’s all about the joy of giving! #DCPS23NoMore

Yesterday was Report Card Day here at Dorchester County Public Schools . . . not for our students, but for our schools! North Dorchester Middle School and Mace’s Lane Middle School each gained a star, and the rest of our schools held steady. There was districtwide improvement in the percentage of students proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, as well as improved performance levels by students in those subjects. Students are accessing a well-rounded curriculum, and there was an improvement in attendance and graduation rates. In short, these results are a positive first step in the direction of #DCPS23NoMore. The school star ratings are determined by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in which schools earn between one and five stars based on multiple indicators, including non-academic measures. Elementary and middle school indicators include Academic Achievement, Academic Progress, Progress in Achieving English Language Proficiency, and School Quality and Student Success. High school indicators are Academic Achievement, Graduation Rate, Progress in Achieving English Language Proficiency, Readiness for Postsecondary Success, and School Quality and Student Success. More detailed information regarding specific schools’ results can be found at https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/. School star ratings in graphic below: C-SD 2; Choptank 2; Hurlock 3; Mace's Lane MS 2 (up 1); Maple 3; North Dorchester High 3; North Dorchester Middle 3 (up 1); Sandy Hill 2; South Dorchester 4; Vienna 3; Warwick 4.

The holiday season is officially here, with the North Dorchester High School Choral Ensemble’s annual visit to the Tidewater Inn to perform at the Festival of Trees, benefiting Talbot Hospice! Thank to performers Kevin Banda-Perez, Zach Bozman, Ashlynn Burton, Jayden Coleman, Anna Colquhoun, Cailey Condon, Ryan Dodd, Savannah Elzey, Valery Esquea Ascencio, Alex Fonseca Gonzalez, Kendall Foxwell, Chloe Grubbs, Kyla Jones, Aniyah King, John Lankford, Dasaiya Macer, Alexus Myers, Nicole Parker, Maryalice Rebert, Hailey Stivers, and choral teacher Karen Mercer for opening this season of beautiful musical performances on a high note! #DCPS23NoMore

Congratulations to the students who picked up an easy prize! Students in 6th through 12th grades were challenged to write a paragraph – just one! – in any of their classes using the ACES (Answer, Cite, Explain) strategy and enter a prize drawing. Jason Cruz Martinez (10th grade) in Ms. Rank’s English class at C-SD won the grand prize a $40 gift card to Cambridge Premier Cinema. Zye’Meria Pinder (10th grade) from Ms. Thomas’ math class at C-SD and Kylie Spalding (9th grade), a student in Ms. Enciu and Ms. DeLashmutt’s math class at North Dorchester High each won $20 gift cards to Cambridge Premier Cinema. The next challenge? Inquiry, using Costa’s 3-2-1 chart. Don’t know what that means? Ask your teacher! #DCPS23NoMore

Earlier this week we saw gratitude-in-action as the Dorchester Career and Technology Center SkillsUSA members pictured below, along with their Cosmetology teacher Ms. Jenny Budd, spent the morning at the Cambridge VA clinic, thanking veterans for their service in a ‘sweet’ way by distributing packages of M&M’s. Here at Dorchester County Public Schools we are thankful for the freedoms we enjoy in this country and for those willing to put their lives on the line to protect freedom for everyone. Happy Thanksgiving Day! #DCPS23NoMore

No, that wasn’t a storm in Vienna, just the thunder of hundreds of feet of students, families, and staff Turkey Trotting around the school earlier this week! There were no prizes for fast times in this Trot, but all participants were part of a raffle with lots of great prizes being offered, including (of course) a turkey dinner. Congratulations to top prize winners Cole Condon (3rd), Charles Coulbourne (1st), and Chance Blades (2nd)! And, yes, that’s Superintendent Thompson in the middle of a group of students, combining two of his favorites: running and kids! #DCPS23NoMore

Today Hurlock, Maryland, tomorrow New York City! Thanksgiving parades have long been a tradition in some of the larger cities but have only recently started to catch on in Dorchester County Public Schools. Yesterday, Hurlock Elementary School 2nd graders created and constructed their “balloons”, marching around the school to admiring “ooohs” and “ahhhs” at the end of the day. The parade participants took their responsibilities seriously, learning a bit about the history of the famous Macy’s Parade, measuring and doing mathematical calculations, along with careful cutting, pasting, and painting of their creations. Parade preparations were overseen by 2nd grade parade marshals/teachers Mrs. Robin Dukes, Ms. Lauren Howell, and Ms. Amy Stoops. #DCPS23NoMore

Tune in tomorrow evening (Tuesday 11/26) to the 5:30 news on WMDT-47ABC to see artist Miriam Moran talking about her beautiful new mural brightening up the hallway around The Judy Center at Maple Elementary School! Reporter/anchor Jordie Clark recently visited and talked to Miriam about the mural's creation. The children featured in the mural were among the first youngsters using the services of the Maple Elementary Judy Center when it opened, and most are now DCPS students. If you miss the story tomorrow evening, it will be aired again between 6 and 7 am on Wednesday morning. #DCPS23NoMore

The 14th annual running of the Turkey Trot at Maple Elementary School took place yesterday, with the Lions running like the (cold) wind! Year group winners were: Pre-Kindergarten – Arleth Vazquez-Miranda and Bradley Robinson; Kindergarten – Luna Webster and Santiago Gonzalez Rubio; 1st grade: Carter Aviles and Dannah Tsala; 2nd grade – Lening Lopez Rubio and Tyla Henderson; 3rd grade – Darell Gonzalez (who was also the overall boy winner) and Rian White; 4th grade – Juel Bolden and Audrey Tsala; 5th grade – Luis Morales Galvan and Aniyah Diggs (the overall girl winner). PreK and kindergarten ran ¼ mile, Grades 1 and 2 ran ½ mile, and Grades 3-5 did a whole mile. Jana Robinson retained her crown as fastest member of the Maple staff. Big thanks to all who make this fun tradition possible! Turkeys were provided by Mr.Leroy Chester, Ms. Marybeth Daniels, Dr. Laurie Barnes, Ms. Julie Lewis, Dr. Sally Roberts, Mr. Matt Daniels, and Mr. Jason Shorter. After-race snacks were donated by Mr. John Pritchett of C. Albert Matthews Inc., a long-time supporter of this event. Valuable support was provided by the Cross Country teams of C-SD and North Dorchester High School who helped put identifying wristbands on each child beforehand and helped the kiddos navigate the course. And, last but not least, none of this would happen without Maple Elementary’s fantabulous PE teacher, Mr. Ryan Daniels. The Lions are proud to have raised $800 through this event to be used to sponsor youth athletics in the Dorchester community. In recent years, Dorchester Rec and Parks, youth football, youth lacrosse, and All4Love flag football have all benefited from Maple Turkey Trot donations. #DCPS23NoMore

It’s College and Career Day at South Dorchester School, with students dressed for their future career or college they hope to attend. DCPS is here to support all our students as they take kindergartener Olivia’s advice to “Follow Your Dreams”! #DCPS23NoMore

Students’ favorite grown-ups were invited to join them at Maple Elementary earlier this week for a short session of “family reading”. Older kiddos got a chance to show off their improving skills in the classroom environment and younger ones got to curl up to hear a story – all to encourage everyone to read, read, and read some more! #DCPS23NoMore

Here’s a rundown of the DCPS schedule for Thanksgiving week! Monday, November 25: Regular school day Tuesday, November 26: Early dismissal for schools Wednesday, November 27: All DCPS schools and offices are closed Thursday, November 28: All DCPS schools and offices are closed Friday, November 29: All DCPS schools and offices are closed We’re thankful for you, our Dorchester County community! <3 #DCPS23NoMore

From a Hurlock Elementary Mighty Eagle to a North Dorchester High School Eagle, and now on the verge of becoming an Eagle Scout – that’s 10th grader and member of Boy Scout troop 754 of East New Market, Logan Jump! For his Eagle Scout project, Logan put together a proposal to improve the outside environment at Hurlock Elementary School. This included painting outlines for games such as hopscotch and four-square on the school’s tarmac as well as building an enclosed gardening space in the school’s courtyard that can be used to teach about vegetables, flowers, or other plants. Logan, along with other Scouting volunteers and parents, were out bright and early last Sunday morning, working hard to make these plans reality. A big thank you to Logan and helpers from his troop – John Lankford (NDHS), Jacob Conn (C-SD), Justin Herzberger (NDHS), Jerry Rice (C-SD), Frankie Wallace, and Seth Bunting (3rd grade at Vienna Elementary and member of Hurlock Cub Scout Pack 167) - for their hard work to make Hurlock Elementary School an even better place to learn! Thanks, too, to Troop 754 Scoutmaster Mr. Pete Corkran and Assistant Scoutmaster Mr. John Conn. Logan would also like to recognize these local businesses for their support: Lowes of Seaford, Lowes of Easton, Project Source, One Call Home Improvement, and Dorchester Dumpin’. It takes a village, folks. #DCPS23NoMore

The NDHS Eagle and C-SD Viking cheerleaders did Dorchester County proud on the field over the weekend as they joined several hundred other cheerleaders from the Mid-Atlantic region cheering on the Midshipmen during the Navy’s football game versus the Tulane Green Wave! #DCPS23NoMore

Congratulations to the undefeated C-SD Viking varsity football team who will be meeting the Fort Hill Sentinels from Cumberland in the Quarterfinals of the Maryland 1A State Championships this Friday, November 22, at 6:30 pm in Viking Stadium. Tickets are $7 for everyone age 7+ and can only be purchased from GoFan.co. Important: due to the anticipated demand, those wanting to attend are advised to pre-purchase their tickets well in advance and arrive early for entry. Ticket sales will go live on Tuesday, November 19 at 12 pm and are online only: https://gofan.co/app/school/MPSSAA?activity=Football. That’s Rob Burnham up on the C-SD Hype Box next to Principal Jerome Stover, being cheered by the team at the end of their undefeated regular season play in just his first year as Head Coach. Keep up that string of dubs, Vikings! #DCPS23NoMore

There was no shortage of ambition at Mace’s Lane Middle School last Thursday evening as the AVID students (Advancement Via Individual Determination) displayed their projects on career opportunities and goals! #DCPS23NoMore

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Thursday, November 21, 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 closed session will discuss personnel, an update on legal issues, discussion of a possible land transfer, restructuring Board Meeting agendas, and goals. 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 Wednesday, November 20. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe.

Prepare to hear hundreds of voices and instruments expressing the joy of the holiday season! Here is the schedule for the Dorchester County Public Schools’ Winter Concerts! Cambridge-South Dorchester High School: December 10, 6:30, at C-SD Choptank Elementary School, December 9, 6:00, at C-SD Hurlock Elementary School, December 4, 6:00, at NDHS Mace’s Lane Middle School, December 12, 6:00, at MLMS Maple Elementary School, December 5, 6:00, at C-SD North Dorchester High School, December 17, 6:00, at NDHS North Dorchester Middle School, December 10, 6:00, at NDMS Sandy Hill Elementary School, December 14, 6:00, at C-SD South Dorchester School, December 11, 6:30, at SDS Vienna Elementary School, December 11, 6:00, at NDHS Warwick Elementary School, December 12, 6:00, at C-SD Happy Holidays to all! #DCPS23NoMore

Wow, what a valuable experience for our students! Thank you to Junior Achievement Eastern Shore and their staff and volunteers for hosting high-achieving 10th, 11th, and 12th graders from North Dorchester High School and C-SD at their Leadership Academy this week. More than 30 DCPS students were recommended by their School Counselors to join students from Talbot, Caroline and Queen Anne’s Counties to learn more about goal setting, time management, personal finance, developing confidence, handling criticism constructively, professional etiquette, and other important ‘real life’ skills. Those attending from NDHS were Jayden Coleman, Tyijah Carter, Madison Dukes, Nate Fraccaroli, Aiden Gorsuch, Aniya Pinder, Abigail Mills, and Darrius Simms. C-SD students in attendance were Kingsley Adegbehingbe, Aryan Bashir, Arabella Collison, Jayda Cooper, Te’Kai Drummond, A’Ziyah Elliott, Osvaldo Hernandez-Gervacio, Rodney Harris, Falilat Ibrahim, Laila Insley, Cheyenne Jackson, Javier Luna-Clemente, Christian McNamara, Caleb Molock, Namari Molock, Camille Padilla, Fiorella Perez, Zye’Meria Pinder, Kennedy Roberts, Le’Asia Todd, Camryn Turner, Savannah Weber, and Nia White. #DCPS23NoMore

It was turkey and trimmings and family on the menu yesterday at Warwick Elementary School as a parent, grandparent, or other significant adult was invited to share Thanksgiving lunch with their favorite Huskies! #DCPS23NoMore