February 6, 2025

February

• Black History Month
• Career and Technical Education Month

February 3-7 - National School Counseling Week
February 7 - Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Nominations Due

February 7 - Early Dismissal - Teacher In-Service

February 10 - Public Budget Hearing/Board of Education Work Session - 5:30 p.m.

February 12 - Board of Education Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

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, welcome to February, a very full month for us!

It's Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Follow TCPS Social Media as we'll recognize our very own TCPS black history makers throughout the month.

It's also CTE month. CTE stands for Career and Technical Education. CTE programs help prepare students for the global economy and workforce. The pathways are aligned with industry, academic and technical skill standards to prepare students for college and careers. We will highlight our programs throughout the month and information is available on the TCPS website.

It's the last call for nominations for our 2025-26 Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year. The deadline is tomorrow, February 7th, and the forms are linked in this update.

Please plan to attend our public budget hearing on Monday, February 10th at 5:30, right here at the Talbot County Education Center. You can find information about the fiscal Year 26 budget on the Talbot County Public School website and the page is linked in this update.

We will continue our Community Listening session series on February 19th in Saint Michael's, followed by Eastern Middle School on February 24th. Please join us.

Have a great weekend and remember, it's always a great day for success at TCPS!

All Talbot County Board of Education Meetings are held at the Talbot County Education Center, 12 Magnolia Street, Easton MD 21601. Open meetings are held in Conference Room #1.

The Talbot County Board of Education holds monthly Work Session Meetings, as indicated under the "Upcoming Meetings" section on the right side of the the TCPS Diligent Community Home Page linked below. Work Session meetings begin at 5:30 p.m., on the dates indicated. The public may livestream meetings by choosing the video "Livestream" camera icon. Video coverage of past meetings can be viewed by selecting the video camera icon next to the correct meeting date under the "Recent Meetings" category on the right side of the page.

The Talbot County Board of Education holds Regular Board Meetings on a monthly basis at the Talbot County Education Center. The Board begins Regular Monthly Meetings at 5:00 p.m., only for the purpose of voting to close the meeting pursuant to the State Government article (Section 3-305 (b)) (1) (to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals to discuss the superintendent contract; and (Section 3-305 (b)) (7) and (8), to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on legal matters and consult with staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation).

The open portion of the Regular Board Meeting begins at approximately 6:00 p.m. The public may attend in person or view the meeting via livestream by choosing the "Livestream" video camera icon on the TCPS Diligent Community Home page. Video coverage of past meetings may be accessed by selecting the video camera icon next to the proper meeting date under the "Recent Meetings" category.

Requests to speak at a Regular Board Meeting may be submitted online, prior to the start time of the regular Board meeting, using the following link: Request to Speak or by choosing this icon on the Diligent Community Home page.

For more information about the Talbot County Board of Education, please contact Faith M. Brundige, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, by emailing Faith.Brundige@TalbotSchools.org. Thank you!

Our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Sharon Pepukayi and members of the Board of Education, invite the members of 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.

Talbot County Public Schools is excited to announce that the process to select the 2025 – 2026 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 7, 2025. Click on the link below for the nomination forms!

National School Counseling Week 2025 (#NSCW25) is celebrated Feb. 3-7, 2025, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. The theme is: School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive, highlighting the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. We are grateful for our amazing team of Counselors!

Congratulations to Rachel Freeman, Pre-K Instructional Assistant at Tilghman Elementary, and their Applebees Support Staff award winner! Ms. Freeman is a dedicated employee whose hard work helped the TES Pre-K program to be Accredited in the state of Maryland. She is first to volunteer to cover a class, fill in where needed, and has adjusted her schedule many times to help out. Thank you, Ms. Freeman!

Congratulations to 14 of our Auto Tech students for achieving their ASE Certification in Brakes. Students took their first certification exam in December and are already preparing for their next. We are so proud of you.

Thank you to Mr. Stewart, their instructor, for his time and effort in helping our students learn these essential industry skills.

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

• Secondary Science Teacher
• Social Worker

• Special Education Teacher

• Bus Mechanic

• School Bus Driver | salary range: $23.51 - $31.77 per hour
• Alternative School Vehicle (Van) Driver
• School Bus Aide
• Instructional Assistant

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: