August 29
TCPS Weekly Update
Upcoming Dates
September
- Talbot Goes Purple
- Festival of Hope - August 31
September 2 - Labor Day Holiday – Schools Closed
September 10 - TCHD Student Vaccine Clinic - (open to ALL TCPS Students)
September 11 - Patriot Day
September 15 - October 15 - Spanish Heritage Month
September 16 - Board of Education Work Session - 5:30 p.m.
September 17 - Constitution Day
September 18 - Board of Education Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.
September 20 - Early Dismissal – Teacher In-Service
September 28 - Frederick Douglass Day (Talbot)
Dr. Pepukayi's Update
FULL TEXT OF DR. PEPUKAYI'S AUGUST 29 UPDATE
Welcome back TCPS Families!
The 2024 - 2025 school year is off to a fantastic start! It was great to see our students and staff back in our school buildings this week, ready for a terrific new year of teaching and learning!
We are recording our first update for this year here at Chapel District Elementary. Last week we held a groundbreaking ceremony for Chapel’s long-awaited renovation project! We are excited about the improvements, which will provide the best environment for our students to become future leaders!
Things look quite different for our CDES staff, students, and families this year, and I want to thank the community for their support as we navigate the logistical challenges of this project. We are in great hands with the team from Whiting-Turner Construction!
Our theme for this school year is “Transforming and Performing Together” I am so excited to continue our work on our three priorities, Improving Academic Achievement in Math, Fostering an Engaging Environment for Students and Staff, and Hiring and Retaining a Qualified and Diverse Team. Stay tuned for updates on our progress!
As a reminder, all schools and offices are closed on Monday September 2 for the Labor Day holiday.
Have a terrific long weekend, and remember it’s always a great day for success at TCPS!
August Board Meeting Highlights
The Talbot County Public Schools Board of Education is in the process of adopting a new platform for Board meetings. This platform, known as BoardDocs, will share the meeting agendas and documents from the Board meetings with the public and will also provide live coverage of the Board meetings to our community. For the months of July and August, 2024, while the Board transfers platforms, we will be unable to share the documents or provide live coverage of the Board meetings. The public may attend the Open meetings of the Board and view the documents at the meetings. The agenda is available for view on the Talbot County Public Schools website (linked below). Minutes of the meetings will be provided to the public on the new platform. We apologize for any inconvenience to the public. We should be back to our normal course of doing business for our September meeting. Please direct any questions you may have to Faith Brundige, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, at faith.brundige@talbotschools.org or 410-822-0330.
BACK TO SCHOOL VACCINE CLINICS
Easton Elementary School Back to School Vaccine Clinic
Free after school clinic for any student needing required vaccines
Tuesday September 10, 2024
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. in the Nurse's Office
Easton Elementary School
307 Glenwood Ave.
Easton, MD
410-822-0686
Sponsored by the Talbot County Health Department
REQUESTING TRANSPORTATION
Prior to the start of each school year, TCPS is requiring parents to opt in for student transportation to and from school. This information will result in more efficient transportation operation by providing the Office of Student Transportation accurate ridership data. Families will be emailed a link to a Transportation Request form in the month of July to request or decline transportation. Families that do not complete the form for each child will be opted out of transportation services for the school year.
Please note, parents with a student who has transportation provided as part of an IEP will not be affected as eligibility for special needs transportation is determined as part of a separate IEP process.
Students must attend their home school based on their residence in order to receive bus service.
Students attending a school other than their home school are not eligible.
Families can opt back in for transportation at any time, as long as the student qualifies for busing services. The TCPS Student Transportation Request form can be found on our website.
ELEMENTARY READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS UPDATE
INTRODUCING BENCHMARK ADVANCE
This year, Talbot County Public Schools will begin a new reading and language arts program called Benchmark Advance for students in grades K-5. We purchased this program with a Maryland LEADS grant. It uses research-based methods to help students meet Maryland’s reading and writing standards.
What’s new with Benchmark Advance?
The biggest change is that instead of using textbooks, students will get magazines. These magazines are designed for students to write on and discuss as they read. You can see how your child is understanding the material by looking at their notes. Each magazine issue will cover a main topic that may include social studies, science, or literature. At the end of each three-week unit, students can bring these magazines home to share with you. The topics will be similar across grades, so students in different grades can discuss what they are learning.
In the first 15 days of school, students will review what they have already learned and get used to the new routines. They will focus on discussions, writing notes, and reading closely. This review will help them get ready for the new program. Teachers will also assess students to find out where extra foundational skills support might be needed. Because of this review period, students in grades 3-5 will not have a summative grade for Reading in the gradebook by the first interim report. After the review, students will start the first unit, which will last about three weeks. They will then complete a unit assessment, and teachers will share the results with you.
Thank you for your support as we start this exciting new program!
Frederick Douglass Day - September 28, 2024
The Frederick Douglass Honor Society cordially invites you to join the celebration of Talbot County’s most famous native son, Frederick Douglass…slave, author, statesman, a lifelong champion of equal rights and justice, and a man who influenced peers and presidents alike during a tumultuous time in our nation’s history.
10am to 3pm - Washington St. & West St. in Easton (between Dover & Glenwood)
Parade - 10am
Street Parade (Glenwood Avenue to the Talbot County Court House, Washington Street) led by the Parade’s Grand Marshall Walter Black and Honorary Grand Marshalls – the family of Frederick Douglass Founding Member Eric Lowery.
Welcome Ceremony - 10:30am
Welcome Ceremony on the front lawn of the Talbot County Court House features special guests, school bands, bagpiper, professional singers, original poetry, and a Frederick Douglass reading.
Children's Village - 11am to 3pm
The Children’s Village located on the front lawn of the Talbot Free Library features face paintings, games, mapping, readings by Shauna Beulah and author Timothy Young, free Frederick Douglass coloring books, free Baltimore Ravens wristbands and much more.
Marketplace - 11am to 3pm
Our Frederick Douglass Marketplace features local and regional food vendors, a variety of artisans and not for profit organizations. Located at Dover and West Streets across from the Talbot County Free Library.
Frederick Douglass Geocaching - 12 Noon
Pickup your passport with map and instructions at the Talbot County Free Library and explore the Frederick Douglass Geocaching Trail created by Autumn Redman and Girl Scouts #1308. Learn about his life in Talbot County and collect a commemorative coin and photograph at the end of the trail.
Entertainment Stage - 12 Noon to 3 pm
Live Entertainment features Rap Artist Baba Bomani, Ian Young, Isaiah Robinson, DeLeon Foster, Stefany Sofia Fernandez Hernandez, Melissa Wise, and DJ Alan Butler.
Frederick Douglass Lecture - 1 PM
The 2024 Frederick Douglass Lecture will be proved by Keidrick Roy, PhD, Harvard University and American Dark Age: Racial Feudalism and the Rise of Black Liberalism author. Book signing to follow the lecture.
All Frederick Douglass Day Events Are Free and Open to the Public
Frederick Douglass Day is presented by the Frederick Douglass Honor Society,
the Town of Easton, Talbot County and the Talbot County Free Library.
For more information visit: FrederickDouglassHonorSociety.com
Free Medical Equipment Assistance in MD!
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:
With the new school year approaching, now is a great time to think abut safety. Join the 350 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.
TCPS is Hiring!
Certified Staff Openings
Support Staff Openings
TALBOT COUNTY YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS – YMCA of the Chesapeake
2024 Youth Sports Programs for Perkins Family and Easton Family YMCA
FC Tred Avon Fall Soccer: Ages 2-13
· Season Runs August 26-October 26 with one weeknight practice and Saturday games
· Early Bird Registration runs April 1 - June 30: $75 Members / $100 Participants
· Standard Registration runs July 1 - August 1: $85 Members / $110 Participants
· Sponsors and Coaches needed. Discount may apply to registration fee with coaching commitment
Youth Basketball: Ages 3-12
· Season Runs October 21 - December 21 with one weeknight practice and Saturday games
· Early Bird Registration runs August 1 - September 8: $75 Members / $100 Participants
· Standard Registration runs September 9 - October 6: $85 Members / $110 Participants
· Sponsors and Coaches needed. Discount may apply to registration fee with coaching commitment
Indoor Soccer: Ages 2-11
· Season Runs January 11, 2025 - March 1, 2025 with Saturday practices and games
· Early Bird Registration runs October 7 - November 17: $75 Members / $100 Participants
· Standard Registration runs November 18 - December 18: $85 Members / $110 Participants
· Sponsors and Coaches needed. Discount may apply to registration fee with coaching commitment
Contact:
Perkins Family YMCA Programs:
Tracy Eutsler - teutsler@ymcachesapeake.org or
Jennifer Dean - perkinssports@ymcachesapeake.org
Easton Family YMCA Programs:
Bunky Murray - jmurray@ymcachesapeake.org
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE
The 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.
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.
Talbot County Food Pantries
Cashless Ticketing for Athletic Events
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:
Safe Schools Maryland Anonymous Reporting System
