North Dorchester High School

Good evening! Due to the uncertainty of weather conditions overnight, DCPS will operate as a virtual learning day tomorrow, February 12th. Schools and office buildings are closed; all staff are expected to telework, if possible. Please contact your direct supervisor for further guidance. Stay safe.

MAP Growth Reading Test Scores Are Coming Home -Look for a report with current reading ability coming home with your scholar the week of February 18th. -Please speak to your scholar’s teacher if you have questions, concerns, or would like ideas for how to support literacy. Five Tips for Supporting Literacy at Home: -Encourage reading, gaining knowledge, and doing well in school and on assessments. -Read in the home, even reading cooking instructions and other practical items or product labels count. -Reply to one another’s text messages in complete sentences with punctuation and capitalization. (Bragging rights for being an editor and fixing other people’s errors.) -Watch media with closed captions turned on. -Go to the public library or check out books from the school library.

🌟 Better late than never! 🌟 As we wrap up School Counseling Week 2025, we couldn’t let it pass without giving a huge shoutout to Ms. Creighton! 🎉 She is truly the most amazing school counseling administrative assistant out there! Ms. Creighton is the glue that keeps our counseling department running like a well-oiled machine. Her love and support bring extra joy to our students' and staffs' lives when they need it most. Thank you, Ms. Creighton, for everything you do! 💖 #SchoolCounselingWeek #AppreciationPost #ThankYouMsCreighton

With tomorrow's announced 1/2 day due to weather, here is the NDHS Early Dismissal Bell Schedule!

Good morning! Due to the forecasted weather conditions tomorrow afternoon, DCPS schools will operate on a half day schedule. Staff may leave after students are dismissed. All PM activities will be cancelled tomorrow, Tuesday, February 11th. Stay safe.

🎭✨ Exciting News! NDHS presents The Hunchback of Notre Dame the Musical! 🌟 Join us for 5 unforgettable performances from February 27 to Sunday, March 2 at the NDHS auditorium. 🎟️ Tickets will be available for online pre-purchase soon, so stay tuned! Come support our amazing cast, crew, and directors as we bring the stunning sights of the famous Paris cathedral to life. Don’t miss this incredible show! #NDHSMusical #HunchbackOfNotreDame #SupportTheArts #LiveTheater

🌟 Day 4 of School Counseling Week! 🌟 Today, we’re shining a spotlight on Ms. Parks! A cherished member of the NDHS family, Ms. Parks has dedicated many years to supporting our students. Her passion for helping children grow is truly inspiring. When she’s not at school, you can find her enjoying the beach and making memories with her family. We are so grateful to have such a devoted and experienced leader guiding our NDHS counseling team! 💙 #SchoolCounselingWeek #ThankYouMsParks

🎉 Congratulations to the incredible nominees for the 2025-26 IMPACT Team Members of the Year at NDHS!🌟 A huge shoutout to Ms. Elisha Johnson and Ms. Kaitlyn Prekrel! Thank you for making a difference! 📚 Stay tuned to see who will represent NDHS at this year's DCPS TOY Gala! 👏 #TeacherOfTheYear #NDHSExcellence

Congratulations to our Quarter 2 NDHS ELA IXL Leaderboard Winners Nathan Warfield, Peyton Bleyer, and John Lankford Not pictured: Kolton Hubbard and Lily Sterling

🏀🌯 Chipotle Fundraiser for NDHS Boys Basketball! 🌯🏀 Join us on February 8th from 5-9 PM at the Cambridge Chipotle location for a delicious way to support our team! 🎉 📣 25% of proceeds will be donated to the NDHS Boys Basketball team! Whether you dine in or order online, your support makes a difference! If you're ordering online, use the code 9hxenpx at checkout. Spread the word and bring your friends! Let’s make this a night to remember! 🙌💚💛 #NDHSBasketball #ChipotleFundraiser #SupportOurTeam

🌟 School Counselor Spotlight: Ms. Young 🌟 For Day 3 of School Counselor Appreciation Week, we’re thrilled to highlight Ms. Young! Her journey to school counseling has been deeply inspired by her love for supporting students beyond just academics. Ms. Young earned her BS in Elementary Education from Morgan State University and later completed her M.Ed in School Counseling from Wilmington University. She says, "It was impossible to teach students who were not ready to learn due to external factors at home," and that realization led her to the counseling field, where she can better support students' overall well-being. What does Ms. Young love most about NDHS? Her coworkers are like family! ❤️ She truly enjoys being part of a close-knit team that feels more like a community than just colleagues. When she's not helping students achieve their goals, Ms. Young enjoys spending time with her family: her husband, who works at CSD, their adorable 4-year-old daughter Kenzie, and their 1-year-old son, Baby Tre. And for a fun twist—Ms. Young plays the tuba and even marched down Main Street at Magic Kingdom! 🪘✨ On the flip side, she's also terrified of frogs... but hey, we all have our quirks! 🐸 We’re so lucky to have Ms. Young on the NDHS team—her dedication to students, her warmth, and her passion for creating a safe space for growth make her an invaluable part of our school. Thank you, Ms. Young, for all you do! #CounselorAppreciationWeek #NDHSEagles #WeLoveOurCounselors #ThankYouMsYoung

Dear Parent/Guardian/Community Member, Dorchester County Public Schools (DCPS) has initiated a process to modernize its elementary schools, and we need your input in the first step—the Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification. This document will identify what an ideal elementary school in Dorchester County should be: the types of instructional and support spaces it will contain, its educational philosophy, and its community features. It will be used to evaluate the older elementary schools in the system, leading to capital improvement projects that will support your children’s needs. You are invited to a listening session to learn about the process for developing the Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification. The first session will be held on February 11, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM, at Cambridge-South Dorchester High School in the auditorium, and the second session will be held on February 12, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM, at North Dorchester High School in the auditorium. At these sessions, you will have the opportunity to provide input on the elementary schools. You do not need to attend both sessions as they will both cover the same information. Additional opportunities will be available later this spring to provide comments as the draft educational specification document is developed. The Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification is the first step in providing modernized facilities for the elementary school students of Dorchester County. Your concerns and observations are crucial to the success of this process. We look forward to seeing you at one or both sessions. Sincerely, Dr. Jymil Thompson Superintendent of Schools

🌟 School Counselor Spotlight: Ms. Prekrel 🌟 Today, we’re excited to highlight Ms. Prekrel for School Counselor Appreciation Week! This is her second year as a counselor at NDHS, and we couldn’t be more thankful to have her on our team. Ms. Prekrel's journey began in the classroom, where she spent 7 years as a science teacher at NDHS before making the switch to counseling. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education Biology from Penn West University and a Master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Go Hawks!). Her transition from teaching to counseling was fueled by her passion for helping students reach their fullest potential—and that passion shines through in everything she does! She and her husband, John, moved to the Eastern Shore in 2016 and are proud parents to their son Drew and their yellow lab, Max (named after the dog from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas). As a family, they love being part of the NDHS community, where Ms. Prekrel finds joy in being part of a team that truly cares about each other. She says, “We all support each other in not just work but our families and our lives.” Ms. Prekrel is dedicated to helping students set goals and chase their dreams, and she believes school counseling is the most rewarding career she could’ve asked for. Every day, she strives to create a safe, positive, and kind space for our students to grow and learn. We’re so grateful to have Ms. Prekrel as part of our NDHS family, and we can’t wait to continue watching her make a difference in the lives of our students! Thank you, Ms. Prekrel, for all you do! #CounselorAppreciationWeek #NDHSEagles #WeLoveOurCounselors #ThankYouMsPrekrel

🌟 School Counselor Spotlight: Ms. Atkins 🌟 This School Counselor Appreciation Week, we’re kicking things off by celebrating Ms. Atkins, who brings 35 years of experience, dedication, and heart to our NDHS counseling team. Ms. Atkins' journey to counseling began in an unexpected place—marketing. After earning her undergraduate degrees in communications and psychology from Syracuse University, she worked as a marketing manager. When the company downsized, she took a turn toward mentoring high school students. This decision led her to pursue a Master’s degree in School Counseling and later a Certificate of Advanced Study. It was, in her words, the BEST DECISION EVER! Having worked in schools across New York (the state, not the city), she thrives in close-knit, rural communities just like NDHS. Her passion for counseling and working directly with students kept her on her toes every day, ensuring no two days were ever the same. Ms. Atkins even served as an assistant principal for a time but returned to counseling, where her heart truly lies. Though Ms. Atkins retired from her school in New York, her love for working with students brought her back to the field, and she joined us here at NDHS in August 2023. She says it’s been one of the best decisions she’s made, and we’re so grateful to have her as part of our team! The NDHS family welcomed her with open arms, and she quickly became a beloved member of our community. When she’s not counseling, Ms. Atkins enjoys spending time near the ocean with her husband Jeff, their daughter Abby (a nurse in DC), and their cat Ace (17 years and counting!). She loves hot air balloons, good conversations, and—of course—Fresca. Her dislike for dishonesty and anchovies is well known, but her dedication to her students is what truly stands out. We’re so lucky to have Ms. Atkins on our team, and we can’t wait to continue learning and growing with her. Thank you, Ms. Atkins, for everything you do for our students and our school! #CounselorAppreciationWeek #NDHSEagles #WeLoveOurCounselors #ThankYouMsAtkins

🎉 It's School Counselor Appreciation Week 2025! 🎉 Be on the lookout this week as we spotlight our amazing counseling team. We’re so lucky to have such dedicated, caring professionals at NDHS. We ❤️ our NDHS Eagle Counselors! #CounselorAppreciationWeek #NDHSEagles

Keeping Maryland Warm, NHS participates in their first Happy Jacket coat drive with 62 coats donated!

🌟 This Self-Esteem Awareness Month, let's uplift ourselves! Here are 6 ways to boost your self-esteem: practice self-care, set achievable goals, surround yourself with positivity, challenge negative thoughts, celebrate small wins, and embrace your uniqueness. Huge thanks to our amazing social worker intern, Ms. Alston-Dashiells, for these helpful tips and affirmations! 💖 #SelfEsteemAwarenessMonth #MentalHealthMatters

🎉 Congratulations to the incredible nominees for the 2025-26 Teacher of the Year at NDHS! 🌟 A huge shoutout to Ms. Enciu, Mr. S Williams, Mr. Prekrel, Mr. Bunting, Mr. Dajani, Ms. Powell, Mr. Baker, and Ms. Trice! Your dedication inspires us all. Also, congrats to the NDHS Early Excellence Educator of the Year nominees: Mr. Beal, Ms. Dalton, and Ms. Greenhawk! Thank you for making a difference! 📚 Stay tuned to see who will represent NDHS at this year's DCPS TOY Gala! 👏 #TeacherOfTheYear #NDHSExcellence

Attention NDHS seniors! We will have a senior meeting on Friday, January 31st at 11am. Please attend an be on time. Also please check your email for important updates from Mrs. Young.

Calling all SENIORS of the Class of 2025 to join the Office of Student Services for our annual Scholarship Fair on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at the Dorchester Career & Technology Center (DCTC). This event is open to all DCPS students and families but is especially for all graduating students (juniors & seniors). Come out and meet representatives from local scholarship committees to learn more about their scholarship opportunities. The following organizations are confirmed: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. - Kappa Theta Omega Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. - Delta Omicron Lambda Chapter Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. - Cambridge Alumnae Chapter Dorchester Chamber of Commerce Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary Dorchester General Hospital Foundation Edythe M. Jolley Memorial Scholarship - Maces Lane Alumni Heart for Music Foundation Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) Mid-Shore Community Foundation Upper Shore Workforce Investment Board Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. - Iota Chi Zeta Chapter If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. LaSina Branch at BranchL@DCPSMD.ORG in the Office of Student Services