October 30, 2025

October

• Disability Awareness Month
• Down Syndrome Awareness Month
• National Bullying Prevention Month

October 30 - End of Quarter

October 31 - Early Dismissal - Teacher Grading

November

• National Native American Heritage Month
  

November 3 - November 7 - National School Psychology Week
November 4 - Election Day

November 10 - Community Veteran's Celebration - Easton High Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.

November 11 - Veteran's Day

November 12 - Early Dismissal - Elementary Conferences, Secondary Teacher In-Service

November 13 - No School for Students, Teacher In-Service

November 14 - Schools Closed

November 15 - Winter Sports Begin

November 17 - Board Work Session - 5:30 p.m.

November 18 - State of Our Schools: A Community Conversation - 5:30 - 7:00 ~ Bay Hundred Area, Chesepake Bay Maritime Museum

November 19 - Board of Education Regular Meeting - 7:00 p.m.

November 20 - State of Our Schools: A Community Conversation - 5:30 - 7:00 ~ Easton Area, Talbot County Free Library

November 26 - 30 - Thanksgiving Holiday - Schools Closed

Hello TCPS families!

We are literally turning up the heat this week at TCPS as the cooler temperatures have begun to set in and we are rolling into the second quarter of the school year. Routines have been established, so the workload for students will increase and they may see more challenging content and higher expectations. At the same time, the newness and excitement may have worn off a bit, So my message to all of our students and families is stay focused and stay positive. There are many inspiring opportunities happening in our classrooms and our community, so keep transforming and performing in every way.

As a reminder, tomorrow, October 31st, is an early dismissal day for all students to allow teachers time to finish grading. Happy Halloween to all who celebrate!

Report cards will be issued next Friday, November 7th. This Sunday, November 2nd, we will “fall back” as Daylight Savings time ends, so try to get to bed early.

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

REMEMBER TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK SATURDAY NIGHT AND GO TO BED EARLY! DAY LIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS AT 2:00 A.M. ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2!

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, an important time to increase our understanding and support for students with Down syndrome. As a community, recognizing the unique strengths and challenges associated with Down syndrome helps us to create an inclusive and welcoming learning environment for our students.

Did you Know?

• Down syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs when a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21.
• Approximately 1 in every 700 babies in the U.S. is born with Down syndrome.
• It can affect development in different ways including cognitive delays, speech and language delays, and physical impairments.
• Every individual with Down syndrome is unique in their abilities, strengths, and needs.

Thursday, November 6 - 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Chesapeake Community College, Caroline Center, Lower Level.

Chat with experts, explore helpful resources, learn new tips, and receive awesome free items. Registration not required but appreciated. Interpreter will be available!

A community veterans celebration remembering those who served!

When: November 10th @ 7:00 PM

Where: EHS Auditorium

Led by experienced volunteer instructors

• Best practice teaching standards applied.
• USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) study materials used and provided to all students.
• Classes are in English as naturalization exam is in English; there are limited exceptions.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Monday/Wednesday Oct. 13 - Nov. 19 5:00 pm -6:30 pm (in person)

Saturdays Oct. 4 - Dec. 20 9:30 am- 11:00 am (in person)

Tuesday/Thursday Oct. 14 - Nov. 20 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm (online)

In-person classes are held at the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center; 331 E Dover St., Easton, MD 21601

Those interested should contact the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center: 877-772-9832 or 410-829-8767 to enroll or get questions answered.

SPREAD THE WORD AND HELP US GROW OUR CITIZENSHIP CLASSES

Sponsored by Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center and Immigration Taskforce

November is Gratitude and Mental Health Month, and the November issue of the Parentguidance.org Newsletter explores how practicing gratitude through daily actions, words, and habits can help you focus on the parts of life that matter most.

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.

We are please to provide the Fall 2025 Edition of the "Blueprint Buzz," a newsletter designed to keep our students, staff, families, and community informed with the latest updates with Talbot County Public Schools' progress with Blueprint Implementation.

As Talbot County prepares for their own Talbot250 celebrations, we wanted to share an exciting national opportunity! The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission has launched America’s Field Trip, a nationwide contest inviting students in grades 3–12 to reflect on what America means to them.

Winning students will earn once-in-a-lifetime field trips to some of the most iconic landmarks in the country — from the Statue of Liberty to Yosemite National Park.

This initiative is a wonderful way to inspire young people to explore our shared history and connect to the story of our nation’s 250th anniversary.

Deadline: Monday, March 30, 2026 at 5:00pm PST/8:00pm EST.

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Eligibility: Any student in grades 3–12 who is a legal resident of any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the five U.S. territories is eligible to enter. First- and second-prize awardees from the previous two America’s Field Trip contests are not eligible to enter or win.

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Submission Requirements: Students at each grade level may create artwork, including physical artwork submitted through a high-res photo, a digital drawing, or a written response.

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Judging Criteria: A panel of current and former educators will evaluate submissions based on Student Voice (50%), Clarity of Idea (25%), and Presentation (25%).

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Prizes: NEW! 125 first-place awardees and their designated chaperone will receive travel and lodging for a three-day, two-night trip to a select historical or cultural site in July and August 2026. 125 second-place awardees will receive $500 cash awards and three educators will each earn $1,000. Award recipients will be notified in late April 2026.

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The Contest: Students at each grade level will respond to the prompt, “What does America mean to you?” with artwork or writing. Students must develop submissions individually and may not enter as a group.

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.