The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Thursday, October 17, 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 a possible land transfer, personnel, and an update on legal issues, 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 October 16. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe.
Big news for expectant parents, newborns, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and their parents living in the Hurlock area! A new Judy Center Early Learning Hub is coming to Hurlock Elementary School, opening in 2025! More information will be coming soon! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Meet the Dorchester County Public Schools New Teacher Mentors for the 2024-2025 school year! These folks, with over 300 years of experience in education between them, provide a year-long support program for teachers new to DCPS, and even longer for those new to the profession. Teachers have a lot of responsibility and for rookies it can be particularly overwhelming, but these folks are in their corner to offer advice, encouragement, and an occasional hug if needed. Thank you, New Teacher Mentors: Lynette Burns, Melissa Councell (not pictured), Missy Kenny, Eve Kingsbury, John McCoy, Evelyn Renkwitz, Cheryl Vauls, Cindee Wong, and Coordinator of the program, Renee Warfield. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
This week has been Fire Prevention Week and most of our elementary schools enjoyed visits from their local fire department to ensure youngsters are schooled in fire safety. Today it was the turn of South Dorchester School, who expanded the visit to not only include Church Creek Volunteer Fire Department but Emergency Medical Services and Dorchester County Sheriff’s Department as well. Children from Ms. Brown, Ms. Brooks, and Ms. Bobbi’s PreK class, Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Jackson’s Kindergarten class, Ms. Wolfe and Ms. Anderson’s 1st grade class, and Ms. Robbins’ 2nd grade class had the opportunity to be inside an ambulance, a fire truck, and a police car while learning how these first responders help those in need. Partnering agencies, we greatly appreciate your support! <3 #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
We continue to celebrate National Principals Month by introducing Mr. Gaven Parker, principal of Choptank Elementary School, and the leader of the Hummingbird Charm! Mr. Parker was destined to lead Choptank, as he clearly exuded charm even as an elementary school child. DCPS is delighted that Mr. Parker is on our team and thank him for his service to his students! #ThankAPrincipal #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Starting Monday, October 21, 2024, a pilot program will begin in Dorchester County Public Schools’ three middle schools to limit student cell phone usage during the school day. Students at Mace’s Lane Middle School, North Dorchester Middle School, and grades 6 through 8 at South Dorchester School will secure their phones in locked pouches upon arrival at the school in the morning, with the pouch being unlocked at the end of the school day. The goal is to limit the distractions caused by cell phone use in schools to improve academic achievement and mental well-being. More information can be found on our website: https://www.dcps.k12.md.us/article/1808878. #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
October is National Principals Month, a celebration of the transformative power of our school principals! These leaders shape their schools, and in doing so shape youngsters, teachers, and our community. Their effort, energy, and enthusiasm make you believe that it wasn’t that long ago they were children themselves! Over the next few weeks we will introduce you to our DCPS principals, most with a ‘throwback’ to not-so-long-ago, when they were students themselves. Today we begin with Ms. Marybeth Blake, first as a kindergartener at Sandy Hill Elementary – a school where she was later principal – and now, as leader of Warwick Elementary. Thank you, Ms. Blake, for your leadership and making DCPS your home! #ThankAPrincipal #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Dorchester County Public Schools is charting the course for the future by developing a strategic plan for 2025-2028. We have a goal: to go from the 23rd-ranked school district in Maryland to the 15th. Students, parents, teachers, other staff, school leaders, and our Dorchester County community all have a role to play in our success. You are invited to attend one of our upcoming community meetings to add your thoughts and ideas:
• Monday, October 14, 6:00 to 7:30, Hurlock United Methodist Church, 502 S. Main St., Hurlock MD
• Tuesday, October 15, 6:00 to 7:30, St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 712 Bradley Ave., Cambridge MD
• Wednesday, October 16, 6:00 to 7:30, South Dorchester School, 3485 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD
Come and meet our new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jymil Thompson, and be an active part of the DCPS journey! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Dorchester están trazando el rumbo hacia el futuro mediante el desarrollo de un plan estratégico para 2025-2028. Tenemos un objetivo: pasar del puesto 23 al 15.º de distrito escolar en Maryland. Los estudiantes, los padres, los maestros, el resto del personal, los líderes escolares y nuestra comunidad del Condado de Dorchester tienen un papel que desempeñar en nuestro éxito. Estás invitado a asistir a una de nuestras próximas reuniones comunitarias para agregar tus pensamientos e ideas:
• Lunes 14 de octubre, de 6:00 a 7:30, Hurlock United Methodist Church, 502 S. Main St., Hurlock MD
• Martes 15 de octubre, de 6:00 a 7:30, St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 712 Bradley Ave., Cambridge MD
• Miércoles 16 de octubre, de 6:00 a 7:30, South Dorchester School, 3485 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD
¡Ven a conocer a nuestro nuevo Superintendente de Escuelas, el Dr. Jymil Thompson, y sé parte activa del recorrido de DCPS! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
As part of Farm to School Week, DCPS Food & Nutrition Services organized for the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation’s Ag in the Classroom Mobile Science Lab to spend a few days this past week at Maple Elementary School, allowing students to visit for a grade level appropriate agri-science lesson. Here is a class of Maple kindergarteners who, after hearing a story, made a small container of their own butter and even got to taste it. There was a whole lotta shakin’ going on for sure! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
We are so proud of Maple Elementary’s Katelyn Blair, Dorchester County’s Teacher of the Year, who shined while representing Dorchester County Public Schools at last night’s Teacher of the Year gala in Baltimore, accompanied by her crew of DCPS colleagues and family! Congratulations also to Baltimore City teacher Kat Locke-Jones on being named 2024-2025 Maryland Teacher of the Year!
Calendar reminder: There will be no school for students on Monday, October 7 due to Parent Conference Day. Arrangements are different in different schools, so if you are not sure of the conference arrangements in your child’s school, contact them directly to find out. No matter their age, your child needs you to be part of their school life! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Student safety is clearly important at Dorchester County Public Schools, which is why only clear backpacks and water bottles, either from DCPS or purchased privately, are allowed for our students. With 4500 students entering our buildings each morning in a short timeframe, it is necessary for staff to be able to quickly spot anything obviously inappropriate or dangerous for a school setting and keep the line moving. Parents, we thank you for making the CLEAR choice to help us keep our schools safer by ensuring your child uses only clear backpacks and water bottles! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
Due to high water, South Dorchester School will be closed today, Thursday, October 3, 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. Our apologies for late notice – bus drivers went out but there were areas they could not get through. Stay safe!
Yes, it is Farm to School Week at DCPS, and Maple Elementary School is taking that literally! It seems a visit from a friendly cow puts our kiddos in the moo-d for learning! #DCPS23NoMore #DCPSTeam15
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
