September 25, 2025

September

• Talbot Goes Purple
• Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)

September 26 - Quarter 1 Interim ends

September 26 - Early Dismissal - Secondary Conferences/Elementary Teacher In-Service

September 27 - Frederick Douglass Day (Talbot County Celebration)

October

• Disability Awareness Month
• Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)
• National Bullying Prevention Month

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

October 15 - Board of Education Regular Meeting - 7:00 p.m.

October 18 - Talbot County Resource Expo - 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - EES

Hello TCPS Families!

Congratulations to the teams from Easton High and St. Michaels High who competed in the first Mid-Shore U.S. Constitution Scholastic Competition last Saturday - and won their divisions! Many thanks to the Constitution Alliance for organizing this great event to cap off the Constitution Week celebration.

We are pleased to be hosting International Motivational Performer and Author Alex Boyé this week, for his third visit to Talbot County! This year’s performance is entitled “Change Your Words, Change Your Life!” His powerful message is about the impact of a positive MINDSET! This is the key to our physical and mental well-being, resilience, and a successful future. We are grateful to the Cook Center for Human Connection for making this opportunity possible for all of our students in grades 3-12.

It’s Homecoming Season! The Easton Warriors are celebrating all week with spirit week, a pep rally, parade, and of course, a football game! The parade will be on Friday afternoon in downtown Easton at 3:30 p.m. (weather permitting) followed by the game at 6:00 p.m. Come out and cheer them on! Tickets are available through the Go Fan Link in this update, or you can use a credit or debit card at the gate.

I can’t believe I’m saying this already, but our first quarter interim period ends this Friday, September 26. Student interim reports will be released next Friday, October 3. As a reminder, tomorrow, Friday, September 26, is an early dismissal day for students, with secondary conferences and elementary teacher in-service in the afternoon. Have a wonderful first official Fall weekend, and remember it’s always a great day for success at TCPS!

The Cook Center for Human Connection brought renowned singer, songwriter, actor, author, and mental health advocate Alex Boyé to Talbot County, and our students had a blast! His message is right on target as how we speak to ourselves has significant implications on regulating our emotions and mental stress.

Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Weatherford -- the author and illustrator of this year's One Maryland One Book selection, KIN: Rooted in Hope -- will appear at Chesapeake College's Todd Performing Arts Center on October 7 at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. No reservations required to attend the event. It will feature an author/illustrator talk, followed by a reception and book signing. Attendees will also have an opportunity to view an exhibit of Jeffery Weatherford's artwork from the book.

Selected by Maryland Humanities, KIN: Rooted in Hope is a powerful blend of art, poetry, and the personal history of one of the founding families on Maryland's Eastern Shore. As Weatherford writes, "Names and dates form the roots and branches of a family tree, stories are the foliage that brings the past to life. KIN: Rooted in Hope is an affirmation that for everyone, knowing your history is generational wealth."

Free transportation is available for this event. Bus capacity is limited to 47 - please register only if you require transportation using this link: Bus Transportation to KIN:Rooted in Hope

Schedule for Bus

Bus arrives at CBMM, St. Michaels at 4:15, Leave 4:30

Arrives at Kohl's-Easton 4:50, Leave 5:00

Arrive at Chesapeake College by 5:20-30 - doors open at 5:30

Depart Chesapeake College at 8:15 and return to Easton then CBMM, St.Michaels

Presentor: Frank Kros, MSW, JD

Kros Learning Group, CEO and Founder

Location: This is a virtual workshop. Please use the QR code to register. Link will be sent out prior to the event.

Time: 6pm

Sponsored by the Special Education Citizen Advisory Committees (SECACs) of Caroline, Kent, Talbot, and Queen Anne's Counties.

The Talbot County Health Department invites the community to a free screening of the new documentary Screenagers: Under the Influence on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 6:30 PM at Easton Flagship Cinemas. Attendees will receive complimentary popcorn and drinks, with a panel of local experts available for discussion following the film.

Screenagers: Under the Influence explores how the digital age is shaping teen attitudes and behaviors around substances like vaping, alcohol, cannabis, and more.

The documentary goes beyond scare tactics, drawing on the latest scientific research and personal stories to reveal how social media, movies, music, and celebrity culture influence young people’s choices. The film also offers practical strategies for parents, educators, and teens to foster healthy decision-making and open family communication about substance use.

After the screening, a panel of local health and prevention experts will answer questions and provide resources for families and youth.

“In a world where teens are constantly bombarded by messages about substances, often glamorized or downplayed online, events like this are more important than ever,” said Stephanie Latham, Coordinator of Special Programs at Talbot County Health Department. “We want to empower families with real information, open up honest conversations, and help our community’s youth make healthy choices in the face of today’s unique pressures.”

Advance registration is strongly encouraged as seating is limited. To register, visit talbothealth.org or call 410-819-5600.

TCPS Supports Talbot Goes Purple: a substance abuse prevention initiative from the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office and Tidewater Rotary that empowers our youth and community to ‘Go Purple’ as a sign of taking a stand against substance abuse.

October is Bullying Prevention Month, and the October issue of the Parentguidance.org Newsletter explores how bullying can lead to school avoidance and what you can do to break the cycle. Learn how to recognize signs, build resilience, and support your child through difficult social dynamics.

In case you missed it, TCPS has partnered with Cook Center for Human Connection to bring you parentguide.org: an online service by licensed therapists. It provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community for parents to learn how to support their children and get answers to mental health questions at no cost.

TCPS launched a new user-friendly website and mobile app on July 1, in partnership with Apptegy, an education technology company based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The new website and app include the same information as our current website, and will also enable real-time communication. The free app for Android and iPhone sends emergency notifications directly to those who download the app and provides consistency with the website.

The technology is designed with both families and school leaders in mind and will hopefully make communication easier and faster. Check out the short video below for a quick introduction to the app that comes with the new platform. You can also find and download the new app now by searching "Talbot County Public Schools" in the app store. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Gardner, Director of Communications at dgardner@talbotschools.org. You can find more information about Apptegy here: https://www.apptegy.com/

Here Comes the Bus®

Available to parents of Talbot County Public Schools students.

• View the real-time location of your child’s bus
• Access the app from your smartphone, tablet or computer
• Receive push notifications or email alerts
• Send your child to the bus stop at just the right time, every time

How to get started:

1. Download the Here Comes the Bus app* or visit herecomesthebus.com
2. Click the button "Sign Up" button
3. Enter school code 87314 and click “Next” followed by “Confirm”
4. Complete the “User Profile” box
5. Under “My Students,” click “Add.” Enter your child’s last name and student ID number (student ID number can be found in the Power School Parent Portal on the Bus Information page or contact your child’s school)
6. Once you confirm your information, you’re ready to begin using Here Comes the Bus!

*Available at the App Store and Google Play

Here Comes the Bus® is a registered trademark of Synovia

Solutions™ LLC

Starting October 2025, the Route 50 entrance to the Talbot County Community Center (TCCC) will be closed to all traffic to allow infrastructure improvements for the shared entrance to the future regional hospital. Please use posted detours to access the Community Center. This page will be updated as work progresses.

Join the TCPS Team! We have many certificated and support positions available! Use the link below for more information and to apply!

This guide provides a comprehensive list of behavioral health resources across Queen Anne's, Kent, Caroline, Talbot, and Dorchester counties.

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

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.