January: National School Board Appreciation Month

January: National Mentoring Month

January 22-26: Great Kindness Challenge

January 23: Report Cards Issued

January 24: Community Listening Session EMS and EHS- 6PM at EHS

January 24: Webinar: Parenting 101? Take 15+: Make Time To Listen, Take Time To Talk 2:30 PM

January 25: Webinar: What Parents Need to Know About Commonly Used Teen Drugs

February 9: Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Nominations Due

February 14: Board of Education Meeting

February 23: SMMHS Production of Frozen Jr. 7:00 PM

February 24: SMMHS Production of Frozen Jr. 7:00 PM

Happy School Board Appreciation Month! We recognized and thanked our Board of Education Members at the January 17th Board of Education Meeting. Thank you to our Talbot County Board of Education for working to ensure our students receive the best education possible. Your commitment and dedication are truly appreciated!

The following policies are under review:

• Policy 10.17 Alcohol and/or Drug Use by Students- Second Reader
• Policy 9.14 Interscholastic Athletics - First Reader
• Policy 10.35 School Use of Reportable Offenses - First Reader

Policy feedback will be reviewed by the Board of Education at the February 14th Board Meeting.

Policy Feedback Form

The first draft of the 2024-25 TCPS School Calendar was presented at the January 18th Board Meeting. Please review the calendar and give us your feedback. Survey results will be presented at the February Board Meeting.

Superintendent Sharon Pepukayi Ed.D. and TCPS CFO Sarah Jones, CPA, presented the second reader of the FY25 TCPS Budget. The presentation slides are linked below .

Please email comments on the TCPS FY25 Draft Budget to publiccomments@talbotschools.org.

Sodexo is holding a culinary competition for elementary students. This year’s challenge theme is “There is no place like home.” Submit your favorite healthy home or family recipe using the link below by January19th! Sodexo will select 3 students from each school to prepare their recipe for the preliminary school competitions.

The winners from each school will compete in the County Final Future Chef competition held on March 6, 2024. The winner of our county event will be entered in a Future Chefs National Challenge! Enter your recipe today!!!

Tilghman Elementary: January 24

St. Michaels Elementary: January 25

Easton Elementary: January 31

White Marsh Elementary: February 1

Chapel District Elementary: February 7

You are invited to our Community Listening Session with Superintendent Sharon Pepukayi and Board of Education Members! Join the conversation, come and ask questions, and discuss education-related topics. Share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback on January 24th at 6:00 pm. at Easton High. Let's work together to make our schools the best they can be!

Join Talbot Mentors on January 29, 2024, at 1:30 PM at the Avalon Theater for an information session on the Talbot Mentors program. Executive Director Kentavious Jones will provide an overview of the program and outline how to get involved. Guest speakers include Dr. Sharon Pepukayi, TCPS Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Indra Bullock, Principal of St. Michaels Elementary, along with Easton’s Mayor, Megan Cook, Town Council Representative Frank Gunsallus, and Director of Responsible Fathers of Talbot County Corey Pack. Use the link below to register and learn more about mentoring opportunities!

Join TCPS Mental Health Coordinator Dr. Rob Schmidt for a webinar to discuss and share how changes in the 21st Century have impacted parenting and the family. Parenting is probably the most difficult job in the world because how we parent has a significant impact on the child’s development, ability to handle adversity, and success. We’ll tackle some parenting styles, challenges, and positive recommendations based on existing research and lived experiences.

Registration is required:

https://talbotschools.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p_XP6ccHR-CmlUdPV4eGcg

Please join TCPS Substance Abuse Intervention and Prevention Specialist Madison Elliott, and Prevention Specialist Beth Williams for a webinar to learn more about the commonly used drugs that teens are using that you may not expect. Q&A at the end. Registration is required. Topics include:

• commonly used teen drug use parents may not expect
• warning signs of teen use
• parent prevention for teen online drug sales
• learn the drug emoji code on teens’ phone

Registration is required:

https://talbotschools.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CdPsCRuQTCCwIrfBcheHaw#/registration

Talbot County Public Schools is excited to announce that the process to select the 2024 Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year has begun! Is there a teacher or member of the TCPS support staff who is truly outstanding, has made a significant impact on your family, and/or goes above and beyond in their commitment as a professional? The Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year programs are a fantastic way to recognize educators who exemplify excellence.

Any individual within the school system or any member of the community may nominate a candidate to apply to be Talbot’s Teacher of the Year or Support Staff of the Year. The nomination forms are linked below. Nominations for both Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year are due by Friday, February 9, 2024.

Teacher of the Year Nomination Form

Formulario de Nominación de Maestro del Año

Support Staff of the Year Nomination Form

Formulario de Nominación del Personal de Apoyo del Año

Maryland Medicaid and Maryland Children’s Health Program renewals are not automatic this year. If anyone in your family has Maryland Medicaid or Maryland Children’s Health Insurance you must complete the proper paperwork to maintain coverage—and if you can, please help spread the word to other parents. Even if you think you are no longer eligible, you should respond as your child could still be eligible. Visit https://bit.ly/48eyCpl or call 855-642-8572 to learn more.

Kids need to be in school so they don't miss foundational skills! Just missing 2 days a month means missing 10% of the school year! #attendancematters

This year TCPS is going “cashless” for tickets for all of our athletic events using GoFan. You can purchase tickets ahead of time online or at the gate using a credit or debit card. GoFan accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate using Apple Pay and Google Pay. Admission to all events at the Easton High and St. Michaels High Stadiums and Gymnasiums is $6 (children 6 and under are free). Cash payment will not be accepted at the gate.

Tickets can be purchased using the following links:

Easton High

St. Michaels Middle High

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. For more information and to apply visit: https://www.fcc.gov/acp

Join the 70+ teachers, administrators, and support staff that have already enrolled in the TCPS SafeTime registration drive. This all-new app is designed to both empower us all with a super easy social media integrated tool to alert the proper authorities if we see something suspicious, AND to raise student self-esteem via the creation and exposure to fun, positive messaging. Students will be encouraged to share their creativity with opportunities to win $1000 scholarships. Parents/guardians and students will be invited to register starting September 17. Thank you!