

QACPS Board Report
February 2024 Edition
School Resource Officer Recognitions
Dr. Saelens, Sid Pinder, and Joe Saboury recognized our School Resource Officers and thanked them for their dedication and support. Thank you for keeping our students and staff safe every day!
Energy Star Awards
Kent Island High School, Matapeake Middle School, Stevensville Middle School, Centreville Middle School, Sudlersville Middle School, Grasonville Elementary School, and Kent Island Elementary School were presented with Energy Star Plaques. To earn ENERGY STAR Certification, buildings must rate in the top 25 percent nationwide for energy efficiency and meet operational standards for comfort and ventilation.
Energizer Bunny Awards - Sponsored By Bayview Financial
Suzanne Dye, School Assistant at KIHS, won the first February 2024 Energizer Bunny Award. Congratulations to Suzanne!
Karen Hesson, Career Coach at KIHS, won the second Energizer Bunny Award. Way to go, Karen!
Betsy Ricketts, Career Coach at QACHS, won the final February 2024 Energizer Bunny Award. Congratulations, Betsy!
Spirit Awards
Brittney Black, Mathematics Teacher at KIHS, won the first February Spirit Award. Way to go, Brittney!
Kwandrey Wilson, Athletic Director at QACHS, won the second February Spirit Award. Congratulations, Kwandrey!
Shining Star Awards
QACPS All-State Dancers, Singers, our National Art award winner, and their teachers won Shining Star Awards. Those winners include: Kylie Blejwas, Nadia Wilde, Amber Wright, Juniper Parks, Sarah Burrall, Sarah Cannon, Tomide Famuyiwa, Kassidy Bowman, Alexa Galbraith, Juliana Grill, Eliana Ranelli, Reanna Sherman, Rain Diederichs, and Andrea Schulte. Congratulations to these accomplished students & teachers!
Sherry Valenti, Teacher Academy Instructor at KIHS, won the second Shining Star Award. Congrats, Sherry!
Karla Altamirano, EL Access & Opportunity Coordinator at QACHS, won the final February Shining Star Award. Way to go, Karla!
BOARD INFORMATION ITEMS
BOARD ACTION ITEMS
COMMUNITY UPDATES/NEWS
KIHS Art Student Rain Diederichs Makes History, Wins National Rising Star Award
In an unprecedented feat, Kent Island High School student Rain Diederichs has secured her place in history within Queen Anne’s County Public Schools becoming the first student ever selected by the National Art Education Association as the 2024 Rising Star award recipient. This outstanding achievement marks a significant milestone for Rain, for the art program at KIHS, and for QACPS. Read the full news release on our website here
FEBRUARY 19, 2024 WILL BE A DAY OF INSTRUCTION FOR QACPS
QACPS Supervisor Michael Bell Wins 2024 National Art Educator Award
Queen Anne’s County Public Schools is thrilled to announce that Michael Bell, Supervisor of Visual & Performing Arts, has been named the recipient of the 2024 National Supervision & Administration Art Educator Award from the National Art Education Association! This award, which is the highest national honor for arts education leadership, will be presented to Mr. Bell during the 2024 NAEA National Convention in Minneapolis this April. Read the full news release on our website here.
Entries for the QAC Goes Purple 2024 Opioid Awareness Poster Contest are open until February 14, 2024! All QAC 6th through 12th graders are encouraged to participate. Visit https://www.qacgoespurple.org/poster-contest for more information!
In Episode 16, Reanna Sherman takes center stage as a crescendo of inspiration on the February 1st episode of “ArtScene | the Podcast.” A rising star in Maryland’s music education scene, Sherman’s journey from being a mid-year middle school hire during COVID to becoming Kent Island High School’s award-winning Choir Director is tremendous.
Tune in to listen to Reanna Sherman’s February 1st interview on “ArtScene | the Podcast” on Spotify or at: https://anchor.fm/artscene. Also available on iTunes, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your favorite podcast. Read the full news release on our website here.
2024 All-Shore Honor Band
The musical prowess of the Kent Island High School and Queen Anne’s County High School bands was on full display as several students earned coveted spots in the 2024 All-Shore Honor Band following rigorous auditions at Bennett Middle School. Read the full news release on our website here.
QACPS Students Shine: Earn All-State Chorus Honors
Six outstanding students from QACPS have garnered prestigious All-State honors and are poised to captivate audiences at the 2024 All-State Junior and Senior Chorus hosted by the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) in February. Read the full news release on our website here.
Kent Island High Dancers Shine as All-State Medalists
In a dazzling display of talent and dedication, two Kent Island High students emerged victorious at the 34th annual Maryland Public High School Dance Showcase held on Friday, January 5, 2024. The showcase featured dancers from forty schools that got to participate in twenty-seven daytime master classes taught by Maryland’s finest professional dancers and educators. Read the full news release on our website here.
Students Excel at Junior Achievement Leadership Workshop
Students from Queen Anne’s County Public Schools recently participated in a transformative leadership workshop organized by Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore. The event, held on January 24th, brought together aspiring young minds to cultivate essential leadership skills that will undoubtedly shape their future success. Read the full news release on our website here.
Future Board Meetings
2023-2024 School Board Meeting Schedule
Please note the February 14, 2024 Budget Work Session has been cancelled.
FY 2024-2025 Budget Development Calendar
Email: offpub@qacps.org
Website: https://www.qacps.org
Location: 202 Chesterfield Avenue, Centreville, MD, USA
Phone: 410-758-2403
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QACPublicSchools