January 16, 2025

January

• School Board Appreciation Month

January 13 - Board of Education Work Session - 5:30 p.m.

January 15 - Board of Education Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

January 16 - TCPS Career Fair - 4 - 7 p.m. Spread the Word!

January 20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday - Schools Closed

January 23 - End of Quarter

January 24 - Schools Closed for Students - AM Teacher In-Service/PM Teacher Gradingz

January 29 - Lunar New Year

January 29 - Community Listening Session - Easton Elementary School - 5:30 p.m.

February

• Black History Month
• Career and Technical Education Month

February 7 - Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Nominations Due

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 back everyone!

January is Board of Education appreciation month. I want to thank our board members for their leadership, their heartfelt support of our students and staff and their commitment to the work of our school district.

Speaking of Board of Education, they held their January work session on Monday and their regular meeting last evening. They reviewed the first draft of the fiscal year 26 budget request. Please note that a public budget hearing is scheduled for Monday, February 10th at 5 p.m. before the February work session. We invite you to come out and share your input. All board meeting information can be found on our website and is linked in this update.

I'm pleased to announce that nominations are open for our 2025-26 Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year. Is there a teacher or a member of the TCPS support staff who is truly outstanding and has made a significant impact on your family? The Teacher and Support Staff of the Year programs are a way to recognize educators who exemplify excellence. We are transforming and performing, so we're looking for those staff members that are showing that. Any member of the community may nominate a candidate for these awards, and the forms are linked in this update.

As a reminder, TCPS schools and offices are closed on Monday, January 20th in honor of Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

January is School Board Appreciation Month, a time to celebrate the hard work and dedication of school board members and to highlight their vital role in shaping the future of our schools. We thank them for their commitment to our students and our community!

(Left to Right) Ann O'Connor, Brynn Lizewski (student member, SMMHS), Gabriella Streaker (student member, EHS), Emily Jackson, Cynthia Jurrius, Debbie Bridges, Karla Wieland-Cherry, Amy Dodson, Dyshekia Strawberry.

What:

Career Fair

When:

Thursday, January 16, 2025

4 - 7pm

Where:

Talbot County Education Center,

12 Magnolia Street

Easton, MD 21601

We're hiring!

Teachers, transportation, special education, and more!

Use the button below to sign up.

Our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Sharon Pepukayi and members of the Board of Education, invite the members of TCPS community to participate in this year's series of Community Listening Sessions beginning with Easton Elementary School on Wednesday, January 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the school

We are excited to feature "Snow Bunnies" by Kaitlyn Davies' Easton Elementary 3rd grade class under the instruction of our art teachers at Easton Elementary, Anna Madachik and Jeremy Joseph!

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!

On Monday, January 13 VFW Post 5118 presented their Teacher of the Year Award to Ms. Kathy Kelly, second grade teacher at Chapel District Elementary. Ms. Kelly was the district-level winner and will advance to the State competition.

Easton High Junior, Jack Chapple won FIRST place in the Easton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5118 Voices of Democracy competition in the high school division. Jack also secured FIRST place for District 4, and is advancing to the state level!

This year’s Voices of Democracy theme, “Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?” challenged students to reflect on the ideals that shaped our nation and explore how those principles resonate today. Jack’s insightful essay stood out and earned this recognition!

And here's an extra fun fact: Ms. Kelly was Jack's second grade teacher!

The Talbot County Sheriff’s Office is excited to announce its inaugural Citizens Police Academy, an outreach program designed to foster a positive impact and provide a better understanding of law enforcement operations. The academy is a 10-week program that will offer valuable insights into the law enforcement field and cover a sundry of comprehensive topics, some of which are firearms safety, divisions within the Sheriff’s office, juvenile law and programs, emergency services and the Sheriff’s role in the community.

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: