February 13, 2025

February

• Black History Month
• Career and Technical Education Month

February 14 - Valentine's Day!

February 15 - School Resource Officer Day

February 17 - President's Day Holiday - Schools Closed

February 19 - Community Listening Session - St. Michaels Elementary
February 24 - Community Listening Session - Easton Middle

February 28 - Early Dismissal - Secondary Conferences/Elementary Teacher In-Service

This is the time of year when we can expect occasional delayed openings due to inclement weather or fog. The delay opening schedule can be found under the About - Schools tab on the TCPS website and is linked below.

Hello TCPS Families!

I want to thank everyone for their support and flexibility as we navigated additional inclement weather this week.

The Board of Education held a public budget hearing, followed by a work session on Monday and their regular meeting on Wednesday. Several policies were reviewed or revised, and the Board approved the FY26 Budget Request.

Our Community Listening Session series will continue on February 19 in St. Michaels, followed by Easton Middle School on February 24. Please join us and take the opportunity to share your feedback about all things TCPS!

As a reminder, all TCPS schools and offices are closed on Monday, February 17 for the President’s Day Holiday.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Valentine’s Day! Have a great weekend, and remember, it’s always a great day for success at TCPS!

ALL TCPS SCHOOLS AND OFFICES ARE CLOSED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 FOR THE PRESIDENT'S DAY HOLIDAY!

Our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Sharon Pepukayi and members of the Board of Education, invite the TCPS community to participate in upcoming Community Listening Sessions at the St. Michaels Campus on February 19 and Easton Middle School on February 24 at 5:30 p.m.

We are thrilled to announce the TCPS student musicians selected for the Eastern Shore Band Directors Association Junior and Senior All Shore bands!

The ESBDA All-Shore Band Festival will take place on April 4 and 5 at Wicomico High School in Salisbury, culminating with the concert on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

Easton High, Left to Right: Adam Rinehart (Alto Saxophone), Claire Adelman (Clarinet), Graham Willis (Trumpet), Isaac Davis (Percussion), Joseph Pierson (Percussion), Riley Pedersen (Trombone)

Easton Middle, Left to Right: Aashrith Govindu (Snare Drum), Landon Frase (Trumpet), Braeden O'Banion (Trumpet), David Mendez Diaz (Tenor Saxophone), Aiden Frantz (Trombone), Jax Michaluk (First Chair - Alto Saxophone), Lily Jennings (First Chair - Clarinet), Janerli Lopez Flores (Clarinet)

St. Michaels Middle High, Left to Right: Ryley Beers (First Chair-Trumpet), Sebastian Cornish (First Chair- Trombone), Hannah Willis (Flute)

The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) is proud to announce Gavyn Stebbins from Easton High School as one of the 2025 recipients of "The 24: Maryland’s Emerging Scholars” award, an annual recognition of Maryland’s most outstanding high school students who excel in academics, community service, and leadership, with a special emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) career interests.

“The 24: Maryland’s Emerging Scholars award shines a spotlight on the remarkable talent and dedication of students across Maryland,” said Sharon Markley Schreiber, Executive Director of the MBRT. “These young leaders are not only excelling in their academic pursuits but actively working to make meaningful contributions to their communities through compassionate service."

Congratulations, Gavyn!

We are excited to feature this month’s TCEC lobby artwork by EMS students under the instruction of Visual Arts Teacher, Mr. Shawn Leffler!

What: Teen Health Fair

Where: 510 Cadmus Ln. Easton, MD

When: Friday, February 28 from 1-4 p.m.

The Talbot County Health Department is generously hosting! There will be a free taco bar, games, swag and theatre gift cards and a chance to learn about important teen health issues and concerns!

Deadline for submissions: Friday, February 28, 2025

Calling all K-8th artists and writers! Have you ever wanted to have your creative work published? Here’s your chance! For questions, please email Lyndsey Basham at Lbasham@talbotschools.org.

Deadline for submissions: Friday, March 7, 2025

Spindrift has become a yearly time capsule of our diverse student body’s voices and visual expression. Through the years we have captured visual artwork in countless media along with diverse written prose featuring excerpts in native languages to the passionate lyrics of our songwriters. High school students, pease consider submitting your artwork or writings to the 2025 edition, and feel free to reach out to our faculty advisors with any questions! The deadline is March 7, 2025.

Registration for students living in Talbot County not currently enrolled in TCPS (PK, K, and all other grade levels) will be held on March 14th, April 10th, May 6.

Registration will take place during school hours. Please call the school to schedule an appointment.

Easton Elementary: 410-822-0550

Chapel District Elementary: 410-822-2391

St. Michaels Elementary: 410-745-2882

Tilghman Elementary: 410-886-2391

White Marsh Elementary: 410-476-3144

Easton Middle: 410-822-2910

Easton High: 410-822-4180

St. Michaels Middle High: 410-745-2852

For information about needed documents and other requirements for registering, click on the link below.

This guide provides a comprehensive list of behavioral health resources across Queen Anne's, Kent, Caroline, Talbot, and Dorchester counties.

Come Explore with Us! ITCH (Introduction to Careers in Healthcare), a free program that introduces healthcare possibilities and pathways, is offering a new season of its FREE programming for middle and high schoolers with opportunities in Easton.

• Career Exploration
• Experiential Hands On
• Pathways to Success
• Internships
• Jobs
• Scholarships
• Careers

For more information and to register: https://www.itchmed.org/itch-in-action.

Space is limited!

Universty of Maryland Shore Health System Locations:

UM Shore Regional Health at Dorchester

UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown

UM Shore Medical Center at Easton

Third Thursday of each Month:

January 16 - 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

February 20 - 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

March 20 - 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

April 17 - 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

May 15 - 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

June 19 - Culminating Tour - Chesapeake College Health Science Simulation Center

Ice Skating Programs for All Skill Levels

Discover the joys of skating with a diverse array of winter ice programs at the Talbot County Community Center. Whether for beginners or advanced skaters, there’s a class tailored to every skill level:

• Learn to Skate: Introduces foundational skating skills in a supportive environment.
• Adult Ice Skating Lessons: It’s never too late to learn the basic skills of ice skating! Adult ice skating lessons are designed for beginners and include six 30-minute sessions.
• Jamie Webb Ice Hockey: Offers aspiring hockey players expert instruction and practice opportunities.
• Power Hockey Skate: Focuses on enhancing speed, strength, and control for intermediate skaters.
• Power and Edge Skate: Helps advanced skaters refine edge work and technique.

For more details on skating programs, visit talbotparks.com/programs/ice-skating.

Dance Through the Winter Season

Engage in creative movement and build confidence with winter dance classes. These sessions are tailored to nurture imagination and physical fitness:

• Tiny Toes / Preschool Ballet: Designed for ages 2-3, this class encourages motor skill development through music and dance with instructor Bri Garland from To the Pointe Dance Company.
• Hip Hop, Ballet Stories, and More: Winter sessions include fairytale ballet featuring Disney princesses, “Disney Grooves” Hip Hop, “Fairies” Ballet Stories, and “Disney Channel Favorites” Hip Hop, with classes available for ages 4-12.

For full class descriptions and registration details, visit talbotparks.com/programs/dance.

Drop-In Indoor Pickleball

For those seeking a fun, fast-paced activity this winter, drop-in indoor pickleball is the perfect choice. All skill levels are welcome, and no registration is required.

Pickleball sessions are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. For a full schedule and details, visit talbotparks.com/programs/pickleball.

Talbot County Public Schools neither endorses nor sponsors the organization(s) or activity(ies) contained herein. The views contained herein are those of the author and are not necessarily shared by Talbot County Public Schools. The availability of this material is provided as a community service.

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the approaching tax season. Please take a moment to review important messages from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding federal tax credits that can significantly benefit individuals and families.

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

Join the parents, teachers, and students who have already made the important decision to enroll in SafeTime. The 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.

Safe Schools Maryland - an ANONYMOUS and FREE reporting system available to students, teachers, school staff members, parents, and the general public to report any school or student safety ​concerns, including mental health concerns. Safe Schools Maryland operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Your anonymous report can be submitted by calling the tip line (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233), completing an online form (below), or downloading the free Safe Schools Maryland app from the App Store or Google Play.​

Shore Legal Access connects Eastern Shore individuals and families in need of legal representation with volunteer attorneys to ensure that justice truly is for all.

The Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives (GOCI), Faith & Blue, and the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA) are collaborating on a new initiative. The program provides free medical equipment to residents of Maryland who are facing financial constraints. The available equipment includes wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, crutches, canes, lift chairs, and toilet seats.

Details:

• Free Equipment Available: Wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, crutches, canes, lift chairs, and toilet seats

• Free Delivery: Within Maryland, depending on distance

• No Cost to Recipients

• Simple Application Process

Contact Information: