The next monthly meeting of the Wicomico County Board of Education is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 in the Board of Education Auditorium at 101 Long Ave., Salisbury. Pre-registration to give Public Comments is required, at https://board_public_comments.wcboe.org/. This pre-registration portal is open from one week prior to this Board meeting, at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, until one day before the Board meeting, at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12. Pre-registration may also be done at the Board meeting in the hour before the meeting begins.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Micah Stauffer will hold a Superintendent’s Open Door Session 4-6PM Wed Jan 31 to hear people’s concerns, ideas or questions on any issue involving Wicomico Schools. No appointment needed. Open Door Sessions are held in the Wicomico County Public Schools building at 2424 Northgate Dr., Salisbury. For information: 410-677-4495 or adouling@wcboe.org.
RAMFAM Weekly updates, January 28th
Good evening RAMFAM! This is your proud principal, Brian Briggs, with this week’s RAMFAM updates. We have now completed the first half of the school year. We have had an amazing first half of the year with too many celebrations to mention. While our first half was great, I am convinced that we will have an even better 2nd half of the year. I want to once again thank all the students and families that focus their time on outstanding academics, good attendance, and great behavior. I cannot thank you enough for your support!
Here are a few calendar reminders:
1/26 – End of 2nd marking term
1/29 – Schools closed for professional day for teachers.
1/30 – Beginning of 3rd marking term
2/1 – Parent/Teacher visitation from 4 PM till 6 PM
2/2 – 2nd marking term report cards posted.
2/3 – CTE SkillsUSA AM
As we begin the 2nd half of the year, now is a good time for the following reminders from Wicomico County Public Schools and Parkside High School.
Firearms and Weapons
Possession of any firearm, other weapon, or look-like weapons (e.g., pellet guns, BB guns, water guns, water pellet guns) by a student on school property, including in vehicles parked on school property, is strictly forbidden.
The school system’s prohibition on carrying or possessing a weapon on school property applies to loaded and unloaded weapons. This prohibition applies to weapons contained within automobiles.
It is a serious offense for students to possess any rifle, gun, knife, or deadly weapon of any kind on any school property in Maryland. Offenders face criminal penalties and severe consequences up to and including expulsion. The Code of Conduct will be applied in all situations involving violations.
Cell Phones and social media
Students may not use their cell phone during class without teacher permission. Phones shall be turned off during class time unless the student is given specific permission to use it by the teacher of the class in which it is being used.
Restrictions on cell phone usage: Students are prohibited from using their cell phone to cheat or plagiarize, to bully or haze others, to disrupt the learning environment, the view pornographic, vulgar, or inappropriate content, to post derogatory content on social media sites, to make video recordings at school, without teacher permission or school authorization; or take unsolicited or unwelcome photographs of students, staff, or facilities.
Students who inappropriately use their cell phone at school will be subject to discipline as stipulated in the Student Code of Conduct. Additionally, students may lose their privilege of using their cell phone at school for a length of time to be determined by the school administrators.
Parents and guardians, we need your assistance with this. Our students are not in school to focus on their cell phones and their social media. We, as educators, are here to provide your child with the best education possible so that our RAMFAM can become outstanding citizens who are ready for their career, college, or the military. Please remind your child that their cell phone should only be used in the classroom when given the ok by their teacher. Thank you in advance for your help with this matter.
Parents of the Parkside High School Class of 2024…please remind your child to regularly check their PHS Class of 2024 Google Classroom. The Google Classroom routinely gives out important information pertaining to scholarships, deadlines, and upcoming events. In addition, students can easily access their Google Classroom directly on their phones and can show you, the parent as well.
Thank you again RAMFAM for all you do! I am so proud to work with so many great students, families, and staff. I hope you have a great end to your weekend and a great week!
Thanks,
Brian
Reminder: Wicomico students do not have school on Monday, Jan. 29. Teachers have a professional day. We look forward to seeing students Tuesday for the start of the 2nd semester and 3rd marking term.
SCHOOL STATUS ALERT for Monday, Jan. 22nd:
Wicomico County Public Schools will have a 90-minute delay on Monday morning (January 22nd) due to road conditions in some areas of the county. Students should follow their school’s instructions regarding the day’s schedule. Stay safe.
Wicomico County Public Schools will dismiss 2 hours early on Friday, Jan. 19th due to inclement weather. All after-school and evening activities are cancelled for Friday. All activities for Saturday, Jan. 20th are also cancelled out of an abundance of caution. Please be safe.
School Status Alert for Wednesday, Jan. 17: Due to inclement weather, there will be a 90-minute delay for Wicomico County Public Schools on Jan. 17 to evaluate weather and road conditions. If there is any change to this status, an update will be sent out and posted early Wednesday.
The monthly meeting of the Wicomico County Board of Education will now be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18.
The Board of Education will hold a Public Budget Hearing to present information on the development of next year’s Wicomico County Public Schools budget (FY2025) and to receive public input at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, February 8th in the Board Auditorium at 101 Long Avenue in Salisbury.
This budget hearing will also be live-streamed on the Watch Board Meeting page of the school system’s website at www.wicomicoschools.org
The Wicomico County Board of Education meeting that was scheduled for this evening (Jan. 9) has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. Pre-registration for Public Comments will be open online from 7 p.m. Jan. 9 through 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15 (https://dev3.wicomicoschools.org/board_public_comments/) and at the Board meeting site 1 hour before the meeting on Jan. 16.
SCHOOL STATUS ALERT: Due to inclement weather, Wicomico County Public Schools will dismiss 2 hours early on Tuesday, Jan. 9th. No after-school/evening activities. There will be a 90-minute delay Wednesday, Jan. 10th to evaluate road conditions, with updates as needed. Please be safe.
Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9. Pre-registration required for public comments, which now take place as agenda item 3.4 early in the meeting. Pre-register online by 7 p.m. Monday (https://dev3.wicomicoschools.org/board_public_comments/), or at the meeting site 1 hour before the meeting starts. Read more: www.wicomicoschools.org.
To learn more about the Wicomico County Public Schools' Blueprint Implementation Plan, check out the latest newsletter at https://www.wicomicoschools.or...
Good evening RAMFAM, this is Brian Briggs, your proud Parkside principal.
We had another great week here at Parkside. The students and staff did an amazing job participating in our Winter Holiday Spirit Week. I loved seeing everyone get involved and then it all culminated Friday night with our Snowball Dance where everyone had a great time! We had 6 Parkside students who made the Maryland All-State Ensemble which is quite the accomplishment. Our musical scholars are: Briana Truitt, Lauren Doyle, Patricia Louis-Jacques, Banyu Arilaha, Wesley Bailey, and Gavin Luffman. Our Parkside CTE Horticulture had an amazing week as they found out that the entire Level 2 class passed the Green Industry Certification and 2 of our RAMFAM horticulture students, Eden Hirsch and Jasmine Tribeck had the highest scores in the state on the certification. Our Parkside Orchestra put on a fantastic Winter Holiday Concert on Thursday and wowed the crowd with their musical talents. Our Parkside Winter sports teams also started this week and had a great start to the season. Finally, several members of our Parkside Marching RAMS visited Towson on Saturday to perform with the Towson Honors Band. We also announced our Parkside teachers who were nominated to be our 2023-2024 Parkside Teacher of the Year. See this document for those 18 teachers.
PHS TOY nominees
There are so many amazing things happening at Parkside and I couldn’t be more proud.
With midterm grades being posted this Wednesday, this is just a reminder that you can always check your child’s grades at any time using X2 Family Portal (see directions below). If their grades aren’t where you would like them to be, this is just a reminder that we offer a free afterschool program, Step-Up, where students have the opportunity to receive tutoring and homework help, as well as a snack and extension activities. If you are interested in having your child join Step-Up, please email Mrs. Sneeeuwjagt at hsneeuwj@wcboe.org
X2 Family Portal
The following events will occur this week:
• 12/13 Parkside Holiday Food Distribution 9 AM PHS Food Distribution
• 12/13 Midterm Grades posted in X2 Family Portal
• 12/13 at 6:30 PM – Parkside Chorus and Band Holiday Concert
• Parkside Planetarium Season of Light shows (December 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20) PHS Planetarium Season of Light
• 12/15, 12/16 Parkside Holiday Wrestling Tournament December
• …and just a reminder that for next week we will have full days of school on December 18th and 19th, followed by an early dismissal day at 11:45 on December 20th
"Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la"
As we celebrate this holiday season, the creative teachers and students at Parkside have been working hard to spread some festive cheer. Teachers, clubs and organization have designed holiday trees to decorate your room, office or home. This year, we are proud to announce that we have twelve trees up for bids!!!! Bidding is open through Friday, December 15th at 11:59 p.m. All monies raised will be donated to the WBOC Bless Our Children campaign.
Please feel free to share with the community, as we raise money for this local organization.
Happy Bidding Everyone!!!
https://forms.gle/V2vxQ4x5qptSovVR9
The class of 2024 currently has a Fisher’s Popcorn Fundraiser running until December 12th. If you are looking for Christmas gifts or just want popcorn to eat while watching your favorite Hallmark Christmas Movie, we’ve got what you are looking for. Please visit the website to consider Fisher’s popcorn for you and everyone you know. All orders need to be placed by December 12th and we will be picking them up on December 14th to distribute them at school. The Class of 2024 would like to thank you in advance for your support.
WWW.FISHERSPOPCORNFUNDRAISING.COM Make sure you use coupon code phs23 at checkout, so we get credit.
That’s all I’ve got for now RAMFAM. I hope you have a great Sunday evening and then a great week!
Thanks,
Brian
The Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services invites parents of students with disabilities to the November Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) meeting. The meeting will be held on Nov. 30 from 6-7:30 p.m. The hybrid meeting will take place in the auditorium of Parkside High School. Please contact Lavon Adkins, Family Support Facilitator, at laadkins@wcboe.org for the Zoom link if you wish to join virtually. Participants will receive updates from the Office of Special Education and a presentation on secondary transition. If your child is 14 years or older, you will not want to miss this information-packed meeting. Participants will receive a copy of the Maryland State Department of Education: Family Information Series.
Have you had a chance to nominate a great teacher for Wicomico Teacher of the Year? This would be an excellent time to show that teacher just how much their dedication is noticed and appreciated. Nominations will be taken through Friday, Dec. 1.
QR codes to the nomination form in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole are on the promo posted here. Learn more and access the links here: https://www.wicomicoschools.org/article/1317784
Next monthly Wicomico Board of Education meeting will be 7 pm Tuesday, Nov. 14 in the Board of Education Auditorium, 101 Long Ave., Salisbury. Pre-registration for public comments required. Online pre-registration open through Monday, Nov. 13. https://board_public_comments.wcboe.org/
Reminder for students and families: Tuesday, Nov. 7 is the last day of the 1st marking term. Students will be dismissed 3 hours early. Report cards will come out on Nov. 14.
Families and staff: Reminder that Daylight Saving Time ends early on Sunday morning. Remember to set those clocks back an hour so you'll be on time for Sunday activities and school on Monday.
Amazing teachers work in Wicomico County Public Schools every day, and your chance to nominate one or more for Wicomico Teacher of the Year is now here. Nominations can be quickly and easily submitted online, and the form is available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 1, but don't delay, nominate today! Read more: https://www.wicomicoschools.org/article/1317784
