Dorchester County Public Schools -

Pre-Kindergarten 4 Out-of-District consideration is now open. The link will remain open until June 30, 2025. All Pre-K 4 Out-of-District requests must be received by June 30, and as stated previously are limited. There is NO Out-of-District consideration for PK3. Please use the PreK4 Out-of-District Request Form to submit your request. https://bit.ly/4d0Tcwn

Choptank Elementary was happy to host over 200 people this year for the 25th annual Bayside Scholar Athlete Banquet. This event highlights one female and one male from each High School within the bayside conference who are multi-sport athletes and carry high GPAs. Superintendents, Principals, Athletic Directors and families all come together for this celebration. Representing Dorchester County Public Schools from North Dorchester High school was Madison Tobat and Kevin Banda-Perez. From Cambridge-South Dorchester High School was Isabelle Hughes and Te’Kai Drummond. All four represent the best of DCPS!

Hurlock Elementary's 5th graders embarked on a journey during the opening day of our third annual Amazing Shake competition with these students navigating “The Gauntlet.” The gauntlet is an obstacle course set to test their professional skills such as firm handshakes, excellent eye contact, poise under pressure, and conversational skills no matter what the topic. The judges were members of the business community who each had a different scenario to throw at our students and truly put their skills to the test. We can not thank Bill Christopher from the Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce enough for recruiting our amazing judges! Another huge shout out to Mrs. Powell for organizing this event every year! After all the scores were calculated our top 8 are going to be moving on to Round 2 which will take place on Wednesday at the Hurlock Town Hall. Congratulations Ka'Von, Khloe, Malayah, Christyn, Zayden, Jase, Paxton, and Amari!

REMINDER: APPLICATIONS ARE DUE APRIL 30, 2025. The DCPS Out of District application is now open for the 2025-2026 school year. This application is only good for the current school year and a new application must be submitted for approval each school year. For the 2025-2026 school year we are continuing the completely online application process. The link is also posted on the DCPS webpage For Parents. The application must be completed by April 30, 2025 for consideration. The only exceptions are for families that move after June 1, and/or Pre-K enrollment – that enrollment period for Out of District is from September 1 to September 13, 2025. Pre-K is not included in this process; enrollment for PreK will open in May as a separate link. Families with difficulty accessing the online link should contact your current school to schedule an appointment to assist. All applications will be processed through the Student Services office and families will receive notifications by June 30. As a reminder, no transportation is provided for out of district students. Students may only ride their assigned buses (home school) and parents are responsible for transportation for all out-of-district approved placements. To register for out-of-district, please use the link below. If you have questions, please call 410-901-6944. We look forward to a successful end of the 2025 school year and a fantastic 2025-2026 year! Link to register for out-of-district: https://form.jotform.com/250264273742152

ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED We are pleased to announce the following administrative appointment, effective July 1, 2025, that the Board of Education approved on April 24, 2025. • Principal, North Dorchester High School – William Thompson, V.

Continued congratulations go to the 2025-2026 DCPS Teacher of the Year Tanya Travis, 5th grade teacher at Choptank Elementary, and to the DCPS Early Excellence Educator of the Year Robin Dukes, 2nd grade teacher at Hurlock Elementary. Both were presented with a Dell Latitude 3550 laptop courtesy of Data Networks. The awardees are pictured with their principals, Dr. Gaven Parker of CES and Mrs. Dawn Corkran of HES along with HR Administrator Shamya Johnson Stover and Coordinator Renee Warfield. Thanks to Data Networks for their generous contribution in the celebration of our winners as well as to DCPS's IT department for their coordination of this partnership.

READY…SET…REGISTER! TODAY’S THE DAY! It’s April 24, 2025, and online registration is OPEN to register your three-, four-, or five-year-old to attend school starting in September. Go directly to the registration page on the DCPS website at: https://bit.ly/3GfXyn1. We look forward to welcoming your little one!

The MSDE Mathematics Branch will be hosting the first in their series of Math Policy "Office Hours" on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 4:00 pm. This is an opportunity for LEA leaders, educators, families and other community stakeholders to learn more about the Maryland Comprehensive PreK-12 Mathematics Policy that was adopted on March 25, 2025. All who pre-register will be sent the link for the virtual session one hour prior to the start time. Registrants are encouraged, but not required, to submit questions in the registration form to increase the responsiveness of the sessions. MSDE “OFFICE HOURS” Thursday, April 24th: 4pm-5pm Friday, May 9th: 10am-11am Thursday, May 22nd: 4pm-5pm Friday, June 6th: 10am-11am Tuesday, June 17th: 4pm-5pm Registration Link: forms.office.com/r/B9qqb6QjaA

Ready…Set…Register! Online registration for the 2025-2026 school year for PreK-3 through Kindergarten will open on Thursday, April 24, 2025. PreK-3 slots are limited and are only offered at Sandy Hill, Maple, Vienna and Hurlock Elementary Schools. PreK-3 students must be 3 years old by September 1, 2025; PreK-4 students must be 4 years old by September 1, 2025; and Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by September 1, 2025. Kindergarten attendance is mandatory by the State of Maryland. What do you need to register? Proof of age (original birth certificate or passport), proof of residence (lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill), proof of relationship to the student (birth certificate, court order, legal documentation), and up-to-date immunization records. PreK-3 and PreK-4 students also need proof of income for all adults residing in the household (2024 tax return, 2024 W2’s, current paystubs, and proof of additional income—TCA, child support, unemployment). For more information, please contact the school or Julie Lewis, Supervisor of Early Childhood Education at 410-228-4747 ext. 1035 or email: lewisju@dcpsmd.org.

NOTICE OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING DATE: Thursday, April 24, 2025 TIME: 5:00 p.m. PLACE: The Board Room Central Office of the Board of Education 700 Glasgow Street Cambridge, MD 21613 The Board of Education of Dorchester County will conduct an Open Session at the date, time, and location indicated above to address business as indicated on the agenda. After the start of the Open session, the Board will meet in Closed in accordance with Section 3-305 of the General Provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland to discuss personnel, mid-year evaluation framework, update on legal issues, discussion of possible land transfer, and coaching training. At the conclusion of the Closed Session, the Board will reconvene at 6:00 p.m. in the Open Regular Session. The agenda and related documents can be accessed online via BoardDocs on the Dorchester County Public Schools website at www.dcps.k12.md.us. Anyone who would like to submit public comments electronically, to be included in the minutes, can email comments@dcpsmd.org by 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 23, 2025. All Board of Education Meetings will be livestreamed: https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe

AVID "R" Reading Contest for Students What Is It? Showcase your ability to understand what writers are saying and why it matters! You may enter the contest more than once by completing the activity sheet for more than one teacher. The goal is for all students to be able to explain what they reading and why it is important. How To Enter? Students need to talk to their teacher to get the required activity sheet. What Will Students Win? The grand prize winner gets a $50 gift card to Cambridge Premium Cinema! Two runner-ups each get a $25 gift card to Cambridge Premium Cinema. Winners are selected at random from all entries received. Submissions Due May 20, 2025

During the 2024-2025 school year, DCPS leadership has been collaborating with Creative Leadership Solutions to enhance the capacity of building administrators and central office staff to provide instructional leadership across the district. Recently, Dr. Jymil Thompson, Superintendent of Schools, was invited to join the Fearless Schools Podcast. In this episode, Dr. Thompson joins Dr. Douglas Reeves to discuss Fearless Leadership. Their conversation covers topics such as integrity, courage, and confidence in leadership, the importance of admitting mistakes, and ethical approaches to new technologies like AI. https://bit.ly/42sGSjl

Congratulations to the DCPS's AVID Organization Contest Winners! Winners were selected at random from students who completed a quarter 3 goal-setting sheet and reflected on their progress. Keep setting and reaching high goals! 1st picture: Ms. Delashmutt & Anderson Vasquez @ NDMS (It was also his birthday when he got his prize.) 2nd picture: Ms. Brower & Jameerah Williams @ NDHS 3rd picture: Ms. Rank & Melanie Martinez @ CSD (student unavailable for picture)

April is nationally recognized as the Month of the Young Child. Dorchester County proudly hosts three Judy Center Early Learning Hubs, dedicated to equipping children from birth to age five for success in school and life by empowering their families as their first, most important, and lifelong teachers. Our centers emphasize school readiness through structured play, high-quality programs, and community partnerships, offering comprehensive support in child development and family engagement. Celebrating and involving families is central to our Judy Centers' mission in Dorchester County Public Schools

NOTICE OF MEETING Board of Education Budget Work Session DATE: Thursday, April 17, 2025 TIME: 5:00 p.m. PLACE: The Board Room Central Office of the Board of Education 700 Glasgow Street Cambridge, MD 21613 The Board of Education of Dorchester County will conduct a Budget Work Session at the date, time and location indicated above to address business as indicated on the agenda. The agenda and related documents can be accessed online via BoardDocs on the Dorchester County Public Schools website at www.dcps.k12.md.us. All Board of Education Meetings will be livestreamed: https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe

Over the weekend, students from across the Eastern Shore participated in the prestigious All-Shore Festival. To earn a place in this event, students had to audition, making attendance a significant honor. Representing their schools were students from Mace’s Lane Middle School, directed by Ms. Witcraft; North Dorchester Middle School, led by Mr. Bragg; and North Dorchester High School, under the direction of Mr. Bunting. The students collaborated with guest conductors and dedicated themselves to rigorous rehearsals on Friday and Saturday to prepare for an exceptional concert Saturday evening in Wicomico County. Congratulations to all Dorchester County students who participated!

Congratulations to our incredible educators and staff recognized at this year’s Awards Night Gala! Their dedication, passion, and commitment to student success make a lasting impact on our schools and community. Join us in celebrating their well-deserved achievements! • Community Connections Team Member of the Year, Ms. Tina Morris, Cambridge-South Dorchester High School • Impact Team Member of the Year, Ms. Victoria Bradley, Maple Elementary School • Leadership Team Member of the Year, Ms. Jessica Collins, Cambridge-South Dorchester High School • Service Above Self Team Member of the Year, Ms. Linda Barnes, North Dorchester Middle School • 2025-2026 Early Excellence Educator of the Year, Ms. Robin Dukes, Hurlock Elementary School • 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year, Ms. Tanya Travis, Choptank Elementary School #ExcellenceInEducation #ThankATeacher #Team15 #23NoMore

The excitement is building and tomorrow is the big night! We will announce the 2025-2026 winners for Teacher of the Year, Early Excellence Educator of the Year, Dorchester Educators Education Support Staff of the Year and our DCPS Team Member Awards. Stay tuned for the big reveal at the DCPS Awards Night Gala!

The Dorchester Educators Education Support Professional of the Year award recognizes the contribution of Education Support Professionals to their schools, communities, and profession. The award is presented to the member of Dorchester Educators who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments and reflects the contributions of ESP to public education. This award is presented by Dorchester Educators. The finalists for the prestigious award for school year 2024 – 2025 are: • Rashanda Davis, Student Support Monitor, Choptank Elementary School • Sandra Boyd, Instructional Assistant-Behavioral Specialist, Warwick Elementary School • Karen Hopkins, Attendance Secretary, Maple Elementary School The winner of the Dorchester Educators Education Support Professional of the Year will be named on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the DCPS Awards Night. Stay tuned to find out who this year’s winner will be!

2024-2025 Community School Coordinators’ Regional Champion Award Winner We are thrilled to celebrate Mrs. Nicole Higgins, the Community School Liaison at Maple Elementary School, for winning the 2024-2025 Community School Coordinators’ Regional Champion Award for the Eastern Shore! This award is given to just one Community School Liaison in each region — and Mrs. Higgins has truly earned this honor. Her genuine care for staff, students, and families is evident in every decision she makes, always prioritizing their best interests. Ms. Higgins is known for her unwavering commitment to going above and beyond, whether its ensuring students have access to essential resources like transportation, glasses, food, clothing, or even the ability to attend appointments. Her approach is hands-on, guiding families through every step rather than merely providing information. She actively supports school initiatives across academics, behavior, and social aspects, and plays a pivotal role in planning and leading events, particularly those aimed at improving attendance. Her efforts have led to noticeable improvements in attendance numbers this year. She is also proactive in checking in with teachers to ensure they have the necessary materials for their students. Her ability to connect the school with community partners and maintain strong partnerships is invaluable. Ms. Higgins' pleasant and positive demeanor makes her beloved by everyone, and she has earned the trust of both students and families. Through her tireless efforts, she has built strong relationships, fostered reciprocal connections, and demonstrated collaborative leadership, making a lasting and positive change in our school community. Community School Liaisons play a vital role across the state, and Mrs. Higgins exemplifies the heart and dedication behind this work. Please join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved recognition!