Talbot County Public Schools
Superintendent's Update | May 13, 2022 | #35
Upcoming Dates
May 18: Board of Education Meeting
May 26: EMS Spring Choral Concert 6:30 PM at EMS
May 27: Early Dismissal for Students and Staff
May 30: Memorial Day Schools Closed
May 31: SMMHS Graduation
June 2: EHS Graduation
June 7: Last Day for Pre-K
June 10: Last Day for K-12 Students
New Student Registration
The GTI Open House was held on May 9, showcasing many innovative projects by students in the TCPS Gifted and Talented program.
A Special Thank You to TCPS Nurses!
National Nurse Week (May 8-13) and National School Nurse Day (May 11)
Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Awareness Day
Congratulations to our Destination Imagination Teams Headed to Global Finals!
Three Talbot County Destination Imagination (DI) Teams will travel to Kansas City, Missouri to participate in the Global Finals. The teams are managed by volunteers and are seeking community support to help cover the costs, which include a $5,500 registration fee per team, and travel and lodging expenses. Their fundraising efforts have included donations from other community organizations, corporate sponsorships, and participation in Pit Beef sales, Bake Sales, and other events.
The teams competed at DI tournaments, where they presented their Team Challenge solutions for feedback and scores. Each Team’s scores from their Team Challenge were then ranked against others solving the same Challenge in their level. Top placing teams are invited to the next tournament in their Affiliate or to DI’s Global Finals, whichever comes next. A total of 45 students participated in DI this year.
Three Talbot County teams placed 1st at the Maryland State Tournament and will advance to Globals.
The Easton Middle School team is the “EMS DI Squids”: Reagen Cain, Maddie Biringer, Violet Masone, Emme Aleman, and Alden Gibbons-Neff, all current 6th graders. Their Team Manager is Kim Gibbons-Neff . The team chose the Fine Arts Challenge this year. They had to create a story that involved a trickster who had to overcome. a tricky situation, as well as design a costume transformation and have an illusion that enhanced their story.
The Senior Level St. Michaels High School DI Team is, “SMHS Henckel & the 1st Borns”: Sophie Anderson, Sean Gunshenan, Paige Simonsen, Mackenzie Fox, Nathan Henckel, and JT Lizewski. The Team Managers are Kate Fox and Amy Anderson. They came up with a solution to the Scientific challenge called “Up Close.”
The St. Michaels Middle School DI team that came in 1st was “SMMS DI & the Seven Saints:” Miles Fox, Tyler Murphy, Ryley Beers, Brody McDaniel, Ethan Royer, Johnny Mautz & Sebastian Cornish, all in 8th grade. Team Managers are Kim Beers & Rebecca Mautz. They came up with a solution to the Service Learning Project Outreach challenge called “For the Future”.
According to the organization’s website, “The Destination Imagination global community is united by a core belief that when students have the freedom to grow and collaborate without boundaries, their confidence explodes and the world opens up to them in new ways. We enable this transformation by providing challenges rooted in STEAM subjects that inspire unique solutions through the use of the creative process. Through STEAM challenges and teamwork, DI participants learn the 21st Century skills necessary to become lifelong problem solvers who are inspired to innovate and create solutions to real-world challenges quickly and collaboratively.”
“With the cost of Globals being what it is, we can only afford to send our first place teams even though others qualified,” said DI Coordinator, Sharon Rieck. “Some of our students would not have the opportunity to be exposed to a worldwide event otherwise or may never have the opportunity to meet and interact with children from other countries,” she added. “The Global Finals experience can provide them with a reason to learn about other cultures they may have discussed in a classroom setting. The teamwork and collaboration skills learned through DI may only be touched upon in the classroom but are brought home in full force through our project."
If you would like to support the Talbot County DI Teams, please contact Kim Gibbons-Neff at kneff@talbotschools.org for the Easton Middle School team and/or Sharon Rieck at hsr596@me.com for the St. Michaels teams.
TCPS IS HIRING!
Earn a weekly bonus on top of our new pay rates. Click to Apply: https://tcps.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=28
NEW SUBSTITUTE PAY RATES
Non degree - $16/hr
AA degree - $18/hr
BA degree - $20/hr
Certified teacher - $25/hr
ADDITIONAL BONUS PAY:
Work 3 days in one week - $100
Work 4 days in one week - $150
Work 5 days in one week - $200
TCPS COVID UPDATES
LATEST TALBOT COUNTY COVID INFORMATION
The Maryland Department of Health has provided free COVID-19 home test kits to our School Health Centers for distribution to TCPS families if needed. Parents wishing to pick up a test kit may contact their school nurse’s office to make arrangements.
Testing Information:
The Health Department is changing COVID testing locations to 102 Marlboro Ave. Easton MD Monday through Friday starting May 2nd . You can call 410-819-5632 or visit https://portal.ciandx.com/portal to make an appointment. More information coming regarding new location and change in hours.
- The health department’s rapid at-home covid tests are available through the Talbot County Free Library.
- COVID testing site at UM Shore Medical Pavilion, 500 Cadmus Lane Easton MD 21601 is CLOSED
- Local pharmacies are testing for COVID and have at-home covid tests in stock.
- **When taking at-home covid tests, you can report your results here**
Vaccine Information:
- What: Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J COVID-19 Vaccine
- Where: Talbot County Vaccine Center, 102 Marlboro Ave Easton MD - Call 410-819-5641 for questions or make an appointment at https://bit.ly/3BdZ40G
- When: Monday through Friday, walk-ins welcome, no appointment required
- Who: Anyone 5 years and older
- Second boosters are now available for those over 50 years old and those who are immunocompromised and 12 years and older.
- Who is considered immunocompromised to be eligible for their second COVID booster? Find out here
Treatment Information:
This link has a list of types of treatment of available for those who do test positive for COVID
Food Pantry Information:
https://talbotcovid19.org/food-resources/ has compiled information regarding food resources across Talbot County.
Bullying and cyberbullying, harassment and intimidation, hazing, and/or bias behaviors are unsafe behaviors that do not reflect respect for others as defined by Policy 10.16 on STUDENT CONDUCT – BULLYING, HARASSMENT OR INTIMIDATION . If a student is a target of one of these behaviors, you can report it using the Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form (linked below).
The form is also available at all schools, in the main office and the school’s counseling office. Students can also report issues directly to a staff member. When a situation that involves any of these behaviors is reported, staff members will respond quickly and will provide a practical, private, and safe place to report.
