Dorchester County Public Schools

The moment we have been SO excited to share with you, we are finally introducing the DCPS Press — the official news channel of Dorchester County Public Schools! 🎬✨

We’re excited to launch our very first episode on our YouTube Channel, shining a spotlight on the Vienna Terrapins as they kick off the school year #withJOY! From smiles in the hallways to exciting classroom moments, see how our students and staff are starting strong.

Check out the very first episode at https://youtu.be/F0lqlzOfq6k and stay tuned for more stories celebrating our amazing DCPS community! 🐢

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and #BelieveInUs! 😉

12 months ago, DCPS

The Harlem Tricksterz brought pure JOY to our DCPS family over the last couple days! Last night, they got students, staff, and families on the court at CSD, Mace’s Lane, and Choptank Elementary's unforgettable family engagement event — and today, they kept the energy soaring at South Dorchester K-8!✨ These smiles say it all — laughter, connection, and community shining bright! Moments like these emphasize why we #BelieveInUs and encourage us to move forward #withJOY every day. A HUGE thank you goes out to the Harlem Tricksterz for spreading so much happiness across our school community! 💙🙌

12 months ago, DCPS

📢 Hey DCPS Community! We’re excited to invite YOU to our upcoming community forums where YOUR role matters! Join us to dive into the #BelieveInUs strategic plan and discover exactly where your unique piece of the puzzle fits as we work together to build an even stronger future for our schools. 🧩✨

Mark your calendars and come ready to engage, share, and be part of the movement toward greater success for all! All forums start at 6PM:

📅 Monday, 10/6 @ St. Luke’s United Methodist Church (Cambridge)
📅 Wednesday, 10/8 @ South Dorchester School K-8 (South Dorchester)
📅 Thursday, 10/9 @ Hurlock Methodist Church (Hurlock)

Let’s move forward #withJOY and make a difference together— we'll meet you there! 🤝

12 months ago, DCPS

In partnership with Campaign for Grade Level Reading, we are proud to introduce resources brought to you by ParentPowered, a platform designed to improve student engagement, attendance, academics, and mental health.🧠

❔What can you expect? Bi-weekly updates straight from DCPS filled with valuable resources and information to support your student’s success both in and out of the classroom.

These resources are thoughtfully aligned with our #BelieveInUs Priority 1: Advancing Academics, and reflect Access as a Core Value in our strategic plan — ensuring every student has the tools and support they need to thrive.

Stay connected, stay informed, and let’s work together to help every learner reach their full potential!✨

12 months ago, DCPS

Partnership with CGLR to bring resources and supports to develop well-rounded learners

💜 The CSD Vikings went all out in PURPLE this week to show their support for #DorchesterGoesPurple! The Vikings girls’ soccer, boys’ soccer, and football and cheer teams led the charge, rocking their purple gear with pride during this week’s games. The energy was electric as our athletes showed what it means to stand together for a great caused! ⚽🏈 A big shoutout to the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce for partnering with the Vikes and for handing out informational resources and #DorchesterGoesPurple swag to fans of all ages. It was amazing to see the Cambridge community come together in support and awareness! 🙌 Check out the highlights below of this week's games! Keep leading #withJOY and intentionality, Vikings!✨

12 months ago, DCPS

North Dorchester High School brought the energy all week long during their awesome "with JOY!" Spirit Week! 🎉 Here’s how they rocked the fun themes: 🛌 Monday – Pajama Day (comfy vibes all day!) 👯 Tuesday – Twin Day (double the fun!) 🏖️ Wednesday – Beach Day (surf’s up, NDHS!) 🎧 Thursday – 90s Music Day (throwback jams and good vibes!) 🎨 Friday – Class Colors Day (showing off that school pride in style!) We're proud of you for bringing the spirit, Eagles! Keep shining bright and leading #withJOY every day! 🦅✨

12 months ago, DCPS

On Tuesday, September 23rd, we had the honor of welcoming representatives from the Maryland State Department of Education to several of our schools! Chief Academic Officer Dr. Tenette Smith and Assistant State Superintendent Dr. Elise Brown joined DCPS leaders, including Dr. Jodi Colman and Dr. Donald Boyd, for a tour of Choptank Elementary, Mace’s Lane Middle, and North Dorchester Middle Schools. The visit was all about diving into the “how” behind our incredible progress as we work toward becoming Maryland’s 15th ranked public school system! From exploring our strategic plan in action to collaborating directly with students in art, reading, language arts, and math, MSDE got a firsthand look at the passion and dedication fueling our success. 🎨➗ “We are proud of the progress our schools have made and are eager to collaborate with MSDE to continue this momentum,” said Dr. Colman. MSDE recognizes that our strategic plan is like a puzzle that requires every piece of the community to come together, and they shared their vision of how their role fits perfectly as a vital partnership to help advance our students and district as a whole.🧩 At DCPS, we’re leading #withJOY and always ready to #BelieveInUs as we work hand-in-hand with all our community partners to build a brighter future for all!

12 months ago, DCPS

✨Big news from Dorchester Career and Technology Center and DCPS Career Coaching Program!

We’re thrilled to celebrate Devon Ray, a Collision Repair student at Dorchester Career & Technology Center, who just kicked off his apprenticeship at Composite Yacht in Trappe, Maryland! 🎉

With expert mentor Leon Lahman by his side, Devon is taking the skills he’s learned in the classroom with Mr. Jesse Morris and putting them into action on real-world projects. From collision repair to painting and finishing vessels, Devon is gaining hands-on experience that’s setting him up for an amazing career ahead.

This apprenticeship is a shining example of our commitment to pursuing strong partnerships — a key focus of Priority 3 in our new strategic plan — that help bridge education and industry. Huge thanks to Composite Yacht for investing in local talent and helping build the future workforce! 💪

Devon’s journey shows what’s possible when we lead #withJOY and #BelieveInUs every step of the way. Way to go, Devon! We can’t wait to see where this journey takes you!

12 months ago, DCPS

DCTC student Devon Ray begins apprenticeship with Composite Yacht

Hey DCPS high schoolers! Ready to crush the SAT or PSAT? 📚✨

Did you know Dorchester County Public Schools offers awesome resources like IXL and Khan Academy to help you prepare? Whether you want to boost your math skills, sharpen your reading, or practice writing, these tools have got you covered — anytime, anywhere! Start prepping now and feel confident on test day. Your future self will thank you! 💪

❔Need help getting started? Ask your teachers or counselors about how to access these resources.

We know you've got this, and we are cheering you on #withJOY! 🚀📝

12 months ago, DCPS

SAT/PSAT resources available for DCPS students

🏊‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ What an incredible weekend at Ironman Maryland in Cambridge! Our Dorchester County Public Schools students and staff truly stepped up alongside the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce in a BIG way to make this event unforgettable. 🙌 From Thursday evening, when students from across the county proudly presented over 72 country flags at the Opening Ceremony, to cheering on and supporting athletes along the challenging course from Saturday into Sunday — our DCPS community showed amazing spirit, teamwork, and dedication! 🌍🎉 But that’s not all! Our students also handwrote heartfelt letters and created encouraging cards that were placed in athlete bags to offer motivation and support ahead of race day. 💌 We’re so proud of everyone who volunteered #withJOY and helped showcase the heart of our community. Here’s to the power of teamwork and the strength of DCPS! 💪 Did you catch any moments from the event? Share your photos and stories below! 📸👇#BelieveInUs

12 months ago, DCPS

🐯🎲 Hey DCPS community! The Mace’s Lane Tigers are on the lookout for new or gently used board games to add for their PBIS (positive behavior) incentives!

If you have any games you’re ready to share, please consider donating to help us keep the fun and positive vibes going strong for our students.

You can drop off your donations directly at Mace’s Lane Middle School — every game helps make a difference!

Let’s come together to support our Tigers and make every day a winning day! 🐾#BelieveInUs

about 1 year ago, DCPS

MLMS is looking for board game donations

☀️We started our Monday with a bit of SUNSHINE! You nominated, and the selections are in – a big congratulations🎉✨ goes out to our September Staff of the Month recipients, selected at random from the wonderful online submissions by the Dorchester County Public Schools community! Each recipient was presented with a token of appreciation for their hard work and dedication, and their smiles said it all! Our September recipients are:

👏 Mary Falduto – Teacher of the Month (Mace's Lane)
👏 Natalie Drake – Administrator of the Month (Maple Elementary)
👏 Vicky Johnson – Support Staff of the Month (Mace's Lane)
👏 Katie Scarpati – Specialist of the Month (Maple Elementary)

We are incredibly grateful for these amazing employees who truly exemplify what it means to lead #withJOY every single day! Your dedication and passion inspire us all. Each one of you plays such a vital role here at Dorchester County Public Schools, and it does not go unnoticed!

Know a great DCPS employee who deserves recognition? Submit your nomination here: http://bit.ly/4m0MyJ6

Let’s keep celebrating the heart and soul of our schools! 💙📚

about 1 year ago, DCPS

❔DID YOU KNOW? Our new #BelieveInUs: Achieving Our Potential Together strategic plan was funded by external sources? It's true! We have amazing partners who #InvestInDCPS, and this was one of the major ways our partners have poured into the betterment of our students!

Speaking of this new plan, we invite ALL of our DCPS community to join us for our upcoming community forums! Our new strategic plan is like a puzzle — every piece matters, and only when all parts of our community come together can we see the full picture of success for our students. 🧩

All community forums begin at 6 PM at the following locations:
📅 Monday, 10/6 @ St. Luke’s United Methodist Church (Cambridge)
📅 Wednesday, 10/8 @ South Dorchester School S K-8 (South Dorchester)
📅 Thursday, 10/9 @ Hurlock Methodist Church (Hurlock)

🔗If you're looking to get a head start, you can find the strategic plan at https://heyzine.com/flip-book/9162e43a55.html We'll meet you there #withJOY!

about 1 year ago, DCPS

DCPS is holding community forums and YOU'RE invited!

🦉 North Dorchester Middle School had an unforgettable Sorting Day yesterday! Their newest Owls were sorted into one of four amazing houses — ⚫Altruismo, 🔴 Amistad, 🟢 Isibindi, and 🔵 Reveur — while the returning Owls brought the energy and hyped up their new members! Even the mascot joined the fun, making the day full of excitement, unity, and school spirit — a true "lead by example" moment of what it means to #BelieveInUs! Here’s to a year of belonging and teamwork #withJOY at North Middle! ✨ p.s. Is that our board member and NDMS SRO, Officer Lamonica?! 👀 We love what she's done with her hair!

about 1 year ago, DCPS

📢 Dorchester County Public Schools approved a revised 2025-2026 school calendar! Please note the updated early dismissal days on April 2, 2026 and May 22, 2026. You can find the revised calendar at http://bit.ly/4pxtiWL

about 1 year ago, DCPS

From general art and music, to chorus, band and beyond—our students are always ready to dive into arts in education #withJOY! Here are just a few snapshots of #ArtsEdWeek across our DCPS campuses! Stay tuned for an "artsy" recap to come!😉📽️ #BelieveInUs

about 1 year ago, DCPS

Hey, North Dorchester High School! It was so GREAT to see you yesterday! 🦅 We stopped by to visit Dream Big Academy’s first meeting of the 2025-26 school year — and what an inspiring beginning it was! Dream Big Academy, formerly known as the Dorchester County Gentleman’s Club, has been serving Dorchester County students since 2022. DCPS is proud to have established cohorts at Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, Mace’s Lane Middle School and now, once again, at NDHS! The last time this club was at NDHS, they were still operating under the original name, so the return has a meaningful impact. Dream Big Academy is a service-based organization dedicated to providing educational and vocational opportunities to students throughout Dorchester County. Their mission? To empower youth through mentorship, skill-building, and personal development. From resume building to college application support and career readiness, Dream Big Academy opens doors and prepares students for life after high school. As an alumnus of Dream Big Academy, leader Mr. Mekai Dixon can personally attest to the incredible impact this program has — equipping students with the tools and guidance they need to succeed — he's a living testimony to that! Dream Big Academy is excited to expand once again and continues to make a difference in our community #withJOY! Here's to our students who keep dreaming big and moving forward.✨ #BelieveInUs

about 1 year ago, DCPS

📚✨ At Dorchester County Public Schools, we’re committed to making sure every child is reading on grade level by the end of 3rd grade — and Hurlock Elementary is leading the way!

In alignment with Priority 1: Advancing Academics in the #BelieveInUs: Achieving Our Potential Together strategic plan, HES is excited to launch the Books, Buddies and Beyond After School Club! This is a new program in partnership with the Campaign for Grade Level Reading and John and Janice Wyatt Foundation (J2W), and will meet every Wednesday from 4:00–5:00 PM. This new program will give our youngest learners extra time, attention, and encouragement to grow into confident, capable readers.

Now, here’s where YOU come in! We’re inviting leaders and colleagues across the district to join us in this important work. Just a little bit of your time can make a BIG difference in early literacy and help our students reach this critical milestone. There will be two opportunities to volunteer, with Cohort 1 running from October 1st - December 3rd, and Cohort 2 running from February 4th - May 6th! 🗓️

By supporting the Mighty Eagles, you’re helping build a stronger foundation for success for young learners at DCPS. Together, we can empower every child to step confidently into the next stage of their learning journey!

Ready to get involved? Sign up today at https://forms.gle/xmuSKDbwQjmUsULSA or contact Ms. McBean at mcbeana@dcpsmd.org — let’s inspire the next generation of readers, #withJOY! 📖😊

about 1 year ago, DCPS

HES is seeking volunteers for Books, Buddies, & Beyond

North Dorchester High School is excited to invite NDHS students and families, along with their feeder schools — Vienna Elementary, Warwick Elementary, Hurlock Elementary, and North Dorchester Middle School — to join them for Back to School Night on Monday, September 22nd! 🎉

They'd love to have you join them as they kick off the 2025-2026 school year #withJOY with an evening full of fun, information, and community connection!

🍴 Food Trucks & Vendor Fair start at 5:00 PM — Enjoy delicious eats from a Mexican Food Truck (with 10% off for attendees!) and a sweet treat from the Ice Cream Truck (NDHS students get a free ticket!)

🗺️Explore booths from local organizations supporting families and students, including:
PEP
Dorchester County Health Department
Department of Housing + Community Development
Big Brother Big Sister
NDNS
Shore Up Head Start + Early Head Start
Eastern Shore Wellness Solutions
YMCA
Channel Marker
Harvesting Hope
Maple Shade
Wellness – NDHS
Sante Group/Mobile Crisis
Midshore Behavioral Health
Midshore Council on Family Violence
Dorchester County Sheriff Department
Hurlock PD
Jr. Achievement
Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce
Dorchester County Parks and Recreation
Wraparound MD
Midshore Mediation
Dorchester Career and Technology Center

🎤 Presentation begins at 6:00 PM in the NDHS Auditorium and they'll be discussing:
Staff Introductions
Focus and goals for the 2025-2026 school year
Graduation requirements and College & Career Readiness (CCR)
School schedule and course offerings
PowerSchool and parent access
Tips and strategies for success this school year

Let's see those Eagles and families come together for this important night of learning and connection to start the year strong and show how we #BelieveInUs — together!✨

🗓️Mark your calendars for a great evening at North Dorchester High School!

about 1 year ago, DCPS

NDHS Back to School Night - Monday, Sept. 22nd from 5pm-7pm

🎉🙌 It’s Community School Liaison Week, and we’re celebrating the BEST of DCPS! 🙌🎉

Our incredible Community School Liaisons and Community School Coordinator, and those who assume the role because they wear many hats, are the champions who connect students, families, and schools — making sure everyone has the support they need to thrive. From building bridges to breaking down barriers, these amazing individuals go above and beyond every single day to create stronger, healthier, and more connected communities across our county. 💙🌟

To all our liaisons and those who step up to fill this vital role — THANK YOU! Your dedication, compassion, and hard work don’t go unnoticed. You are the difference-makers, the problem-solvers, and the champions of our students’ success.

Alexis McBean - Hurlock Elementary
Brittany Taylor - Choptank Elementary
Chris Branch - Mace's Lane
Cleotrina Tinch - CSD Vikings
Connar Winn - Vienna Elementary
Cynitha Woolford - Sandy Hill Elementary
Jessica Johnson - North Dorchester Middle School
Katelyn Helwig - South Dorchester School
Nicole Higgins - Maple Elementary
Sarah Hopkins - North Dorchester High School
Stephen Scott - Warwick Elementary

Let’s give them the shoutout they deserve! Drop a comment below to share your appreciation or a story about how a Community School Liaison has made an impact in your life or school #withJOY!

Together, we #BelieveInUs and the power of community! 💪✨

about 1 year ago, DCPS

Celebrating Community School Liaison Week