February 8, 2024

February:

• Career and Technical Education Month

• Black History Month

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

February 12-16: Love the Bus Week

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

March 1: SMMHS Production of Frozen Jr. 7:00 PM

March 2: SMMHS Production of Frozen Jr. 7:00 PM

March 3: SMMHS Production of Frozen Jr. 2:00 PM

Happy National School Counseling Week 2024! Every year, during the first week of February, we celebrate the unique contribution of school counselors within our U.S. school systems. Sponsored by the American School Counseling Association (ASCA), National School Counseling Week recognizes school counselors' tremendous impact in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. This year's theme, "School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student-Focused," highlights the importance of setting high standards while remaining focused on the needs and goals of each student. We want to give our TCPS Counselors a special shoutout for their dedication and hard work in helping our students succeed. Thank you for all that you do for TCPS students!

TCPS 2024 School Counselors:

CDES: Cara Hughes

EES: Melissa Rochester, Heather Plutchak, Tara Blades

EHS: Holly Smith, Carlton Brown, Jessica Baker, Tammy Nies

EMS: Ann Nilsen, Kindell Kimball , Kerry Asbell

SMES: Caroline Gopaul

SMMHS: Rachael Kerr. JR Burkhardt

TES: Jessica Marth

WMES: Carly Lucas

You are invited to our Community Listening Session with Superintendent Sharon Pepukayi, Ed.D., and Board of Education Members! Join the conversation, come and ask questions, and discuss education-related topics. Share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback on February 21 at 6:00 pm. at Easton Elementary. Let's work together to make our schools the best they can be!

Our SMMHS students and staff have been working extremely hard! Please come and see our production of FROZEN JR. Tickets are on sale now at GOFAN. Tickets are $7.00 for senior citizens/students and $12.00 for adults. (there is a $1.00 surcharge per ticket) See the links below to purchase beforehand and then show your phone at the door. If tickets do not sell out ahead of time, tickets will be on sale at the door using a credit card or Apple Pay. Hope to see you at the show!

DOORS OPEN 1/2 hour before show time.

2/23-7:00pm-Frozen Jr. 2/23/2004

2/24-7:00pm-Frozen Jr. 2/24/2024

3/1-7:00pm Frozen Jr. 3/1/2024

3/2-7:00pm Frozen Jr. 3/2/2024

3/3- 2:00pmFrozen Jr. 3/3/2024

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

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

TCPS is looking for an Administrative Assistant to work in the Maintenance Department! If you're interested, check out the job description, salary range, and information on how to apply at https://tcps.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=228. Don't miss this opportunity to join the TCPS Team!

Come warm up with free hot cocoa, crafts, story time, games and live ice carving! Talbot County Free Library February 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.