February 1, 2024

February:

• Career and Technical Education Month

• Black History Month

February 7: Early Dismissal Teacher Inservice

February 9: Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Nominations Due

February 12: Board of Education Public Work Session 5:30 PM

February 14: Board of Education Meeting 6:30 PM

February 19: President's Day Holiday Schools Closed

February 21: Easton Elementary Community Listening Session 6 PM

February 23: SMMHS Production of Frozen Jr. 7:00 PM

February 24: SMMHS Production of Frozen Jr. 7:00 PM

The Talbot County Literary Arts Magazine "Spindrift" is celebrating our 10th Year Edition and now open for submissions! All traditional artists, digital artists, writers, novelists, lyricists and poets are welcome to submit their work to be considered for publication. This opportunity is open to all high school students of Talbot County Public Schools and is made possible by the Artistic Insights Fund of the Midshore Community Foundation!

If you have any questions please reach out to our Spindrift Faculty Advisors:

Visual Art Faculty Advisor: Bridget Whited bwhited@talbotschools.org

Literary Faculty Advisor: Shelby Swann Sswann@talbotschools.org

Calling all TCPS Elementary and Middle School writers and artists! Submit your work to be published in the 2024 edition of the BUOY, TCPS elementary and middle school literary arts magazine! Submit all work to Ms. Lindsey Basham by February 23, 2024!

If you have any questions please reach out to our Buoy Faculty Advisor:

Ms. Lindsey Basham: lbasham@talbotschools.org

Big congratulations to Tish Blessing, Pre-K Teacher at White Marsh Elementary School, for being named Giant's January Teacher of the Month! Thank you, Tish, for inspiring our youngest students to love learning!!

The first draft of the 2024-25 TCPS School Calendar was presented at the January 18th Board Meeting. Please review the calendar and give us your feedback. Survey results will be presented at the February Board Meeting.

Superintendent Sharon Pepukayi Ed.D. and TCPS CFO Sarah Jones, CPA, presented the second reader of the FY25 TCPS Budget. The presentation slides are linked below .

Please email comments on the TCPS FY25 Draft Budget to publiccomments@talbotschools.org.

Talbot County Public Schools is excited to announce that the process to select the 2024 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 9, 2024.

Teacher of the Year Nomination Form

Formulario de Nominación de Maestro del Año

Support Staff of the Year Nomination Form

Formulario de Nominación del Personal de Apoyo del Año

Come warm up with free hot cocoa, crafts, story time, games and live ice carving! Talbot County Free Library Fevruary 17, 2024 from 11:00 -3:00 pm

Maryland Medicaid and Maryland Children’s Health Program renewals are not automatic this year. If anyone in your family has Maryland Medicaid or Maryland Children’s Health Insurance you must complete the proper paperwork to maintain coverage—and if you can, please help spread the word to other parents. Even if you think you are no longer eligible, you should respond as your child could still be eligible. Visit https://bit.ly/48eyCpl or call 855-642-8572 to learn more.

Kids need to be in school so they don't miss foundational skills! Just missing 2 days a month means missing 10% of the school year! #attendancematters

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

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. For more information and to apply visit: https://www.fcc.gov/acp

Join the 70+ teachers, administrators, and support staff that have already enrolled in the TCPS SafeTime registration drive. This all-new 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. Students will be encouraged to share their creativity with opportunities to win $1000 scholarships. Parents/guardians and students will be invited to register starting September 17. Thank you!