Vienna Elementary

NOTICE OF MEETING Board of Education Budget Work Session with Public Comments on the Budget DATE: Thursday, January 23, 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 with Comments from the Public 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. Anyone who would like to submit public comments electronically, to be included in the minutes, can email comments@dcpsmd.org by 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 22 2025. All Board of Education Meetings will be livestreamed: https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe

Dorchester County Public Schools will be closed on January 20, 2025, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

Good Afternoon Families, This weekend is a 3-day weekend. Schools will be closed on Monday, January 20th, in observance of Martin Luther King Day. We are closely monitoring the weather forecast, which indicates a possibility of snow on Sunday and very cold temperatures on Monday and Tuesday. We are unsure if this will cause a school closure next week. To prepare, we are sending home devices and chargers with students today in case we have to provide virtual learning next week. Remember, we have used all our inclement weather days and are doing our best to not extend the school year further into June. If there is no significant snow event, students should bring their devices and chargers back to school on Tuesday. Please ensure the devices are safely stored over the weekend. If there are any connectivity issues, students will have the opportunity to make up the work, and it will not count against them. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

January 15, 2025 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

Wear your "HOUSE" t-shirt tomorrow, Friday, January 17th!

Attendance is important! Missing even a single school day might seem unimportant at first, but those little absences can add up faster than you think, especially on early dismissal days! Our outstanding Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) Committee lead by Mrs. Kaitlin Carroll, along with Mrs. Michelle Frost, our energetic and amazing school counselor, are here to support you! Our entire staff invites all students to join in the fun by participating in learning activities and earning cool rewards for academics, behavior choices, and attendance. Check out the attendance poster and celebrate with us as we recognize our fabulous students who won the drawing for being present on the last early dismissal day! Remember, your commitment to showing up makes a big difference! Let's make every school day count!

Vienna Elementary School is fortunate to have Ms. Shanna Hubbard as our gym teacher. The gym is more than just a place to play; Ms. Hubbard designs engaging lessons that help students develop their motor skills, coordination, fitness, and teamwork through various games, sports, and movement exercises. She encourages all students to embrace an active lifestyle and emphasizes the importance of staying healthy. Ms. Hubbard teaches kids how to move their bodies effectively while having fun. We want to thank Ms. Hubbard for her tremendous impact on our student's lives. We truly appreciate you!

After returning from Winter Break, Mrs. Riders' 2nd-grade class started the new year by reviewing their classroom routines and procedures. Then, the fun began with a team-building activity called the “Spaghetti Tower,” where the students got to work in their new groups! With clear instructions and special materials, the kids built their spaghetti towers. They collaborated wonderfully, trying out different ideas to see what worked best. At the end of the activity, students discussed their experiences by answering a few reflection questions and celebrated their hard work with a sweet treat! Great job, 2nd graders, for learning to work together so well! What a fantastic way to start the new year!

Good afternoon! Dorchester County Public schools will be opening on a two hour delay Monday, January 13th. Parents please make sure that your child returns their charged laptop tomorrow.

Warm Memories from Our 2024 Winter Concert! Please remember to wear BLUE tomorrow!

**** Full Moon Rêveur Blue on MONDAY! **** Get ready for an exciting celebration on Monday, January 13, 2025—Full Wolf Moon Day at Vienna Elementary School! On this special day, let's show our spirit and unity by wearing blue. The Wolf Moon is the first full moon of the year. It's named for the belief that wolves howled more frequently in January due to the snow and frost. January's full Wolf Moon reaches peak illumination on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 5:27 P.M.

The Parent Encouragement Program (PEP), in partnership with DCPS, is excited to bring an additional resource to support our students' parents/caregivers/guardians. PEP is hosting two family-friendly informational sessions to share insight on parenting styles and support with our DCPS families—one in Cambridge at the Intergenerational Center and the other in Hurlock at North Dorchester Middle School. Dinner will be served, and there will be interactive activities for the children/youth! Please register to join us http://tinyurl.com/PEPinDCMD

We want to thank our wonderful Vienna families for all your efforts to keep students connected during our virtual learning days. We know it has not been easy, and we genuinely appreciate all the hard work you've put in—our faculty and staff have noticed! We look forward to seeing you virtually tomorrow! Stay safe, and always remember that you matter!

Good afternoon. Friday, January 10th will be a virtual learning day for students. More information will be sent from your child’s school. All 12-month employees are expected to report on time. If staff need additional time to get to work, they may reach out to their supervisor to adjust their schedule. Please be safe.

We have added some additional photos you won't want to miss!

We want to express our gratitude to our Vienna families for sharing all the wonderful photos. Thank you!

Good afternoon. Thursday, January 9th will be a virtual learning day for students. More information will be sent from your child’s school. All 12-month employees are expected to report on time. If staff need additional time to get to work, they may reach out to their supervisor to adjust their schedule. Please be safe.

Good afternoon! Dorchester County Public Schools and Central Office will be closed Wednesday, January 8th. Essential staff may be called in by their supervisor if needed. Stay safe.

Good afternoon! Dorchester County Public Schools and Central Office will be closed Tuesday, January 7th. Essential staff may be called in by their supervisor if needed. Stay safe.

Good afternoon, Please send pictures of our students playing in the snow! Send pictures to shortm@dcpsmd.org Stay safe and warm!