Here's your chance to get to know Wicomico Public Schools new Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Emma Cohn Matthews of Wicomico High School. She is an English teacher in her seventh year at Wi-Hi and brings a unique teaching philosophy to her students and classes.
Take a few minutes with host Aaron Deal to learn more about Emma Cohn Matthews! You can also share the video at https://youtu.be/UhTMGC5CYVU
Next week will be an exciting one for Wicomico County Public Schools, as educators gather from around the school system April 10th for the annual Wicomico Teacher of the Year Celebration. The 26 semifinalists who were named earlier this year, and who took part in several scored activities, will find out that night who is one of the four finalists, and which finalist is the new Teacher of the Year. Good luck to all of them, and congratulations on being such excellent representatives of the teachers in their school or special program.
Thanks to Jen Seay Campbell for donating her photographic services to take the semifinalists "class photo" shown here. She also took a professional portrait of each semifinalist.
While we wait for next Thursday, here's a chance for all of us to get to know the 2024-2025 school year's semifinalists for Wicomico Teacher of the Year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r03E_-02834. This video will also be airing on PAC 14.
Spring break will be here soon! With all the adjustments made to the 2024-2025 school year calendar due to winter weather, here is a reminder of the correct spring break dates:
-Wednesday, April 16 is now a regular school day.
-Thursday, April 17 is a 3-hour early dismissal day.
-Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21st are days the schools and school system will be closed.
-Tuesday, April 22 is the day schools and offices reopen from spring break.
Calendar Reminder: Monday, April 7 is a school day with 3-hour early dismissal for students.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Micah Stauffer will hold a Superintendent's Open Door Session from 4-6 p.m. today (Wednesday, March 19). Time with the superintendent is on a first-come, first-served basis, no appointment needed. The Open Door Session will take place at the school system's main office at 2424 Northgate Drive, Salisbury.
Wicomico students deserve the best possible education, but limited local funding creates real challenges. Please read what increased local funding could do, and then come out this evening to the Wicomico County Executive's Budget Hearing to speak on the importance of education funding for our county and community.
Wicomico County Executive's Budget Hearing
Monday, March 10 at 6 p.m.
DaNang Room, Wicomico Youth & Civic Center
Between FY2010 and FY 2025, the county budget increased by $81,291,033 (65.2%). In this same time, the county’s allocation to WCBOE increased by only $855,242 (1.7%). The county allocated .1% of its revenue growth to public education.
During the budget development process for the school system and the county, we call on our students, parents and guardians, staff and community to unite and advocate for better funding for education from Wicomico County. Please help ensure that our students receive the local funding they deserve in next year’s county budget. #DoBetterWicomico
The next opportunity to speak out to support education in Wicomico County:
Wicomico County Executive Budget Hearing
Monday, March 10 at 6 p.m.
DaNang Room, Wicomico Youth & Civic Center
Longer daylight hours after school are almost here! This is a reminder that Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 9. Be sure to set your clocks ahead 1 hour.
One of the major expenses for any county government in Maryland is its allocation to the local school system. In Wicomico County, this allocation to support public education had historically been more than 40% of the total county budget. However, over the past 15 years, this funding level for education has dropped from more than 40% to about 25%. This is despite the county having record levels of revenue eight of the past 10 years.
The time is now for students, parents and guardians, staff and community to unite and advocate for better funding for education from Wicomico County for Wicomico Schools. Please help ensure that our students receive the local funding they deserve in next year’s county budget. #DoBetterWicomico
Next opportunity to speak out to support education in Wicomico County:
Wicomico County Executive Budget Hearing
Monday, March 10 at 6 p.m.
DaNang Room, Wicomico Youth & Civic Center
This is an important school status alertfrom Wicomico County Public Schools:
Due to potential inclement weather, Wicomico County Public Schools has cancelled all after-school and evening activities for Wednesday, March 5th. Please note this includes the Parkside High girls playoff basketball game and the school system’s Awards & Recognitions Night, both of which will be rescheduled. Please be safe. Thank you.
Over the past 15 years, Wicomico County Public Schools has consistently lagged behind other Maryland school systems in the per pupil funding provided by our county government. As of this year, Wicomico has unfortunately reached the bottom, ranking 24th out of 24 school districts in Maryland in local per pupil funding for education.
During the budget development process for the school system and the county, we call on our students, parents and guardians, staff and community to unite and advocate for better funding for education from Wicomico County. Please help ensure that our students receive the local funding they deserve in next year’s county budget. #DoBetterWicomico
Next opportunity to speak out to support education in Wicomico County:
Wicomico County Executive Budget Hearing
Monday, March 10 at 6 p.m.
DaNang Room, Wicomico Youth & Civic Center
The current, updated 2024-2025 school year calendar is now available on our website.
On Tuesday the Maryland State Board of Education approved Wicomico’s waiver request for Monday, June 16. This was the final piece of Wicomico County Public Schools' plan for making up six days missed due to winter weather.
Wicomico now has the OK to end the school year on Friday, June 13 for students, teachers, instructional assistants and nurses. The earlier version of the calendar that showed school on Monday, June 16 should now be discarded.
While this updated calendar still needs approval from the Wicomico County Board of Education at its March 11th meeting, the calendar is available now for reference and planning purposes. (Following the Board’s vote, only the approval note at the bottom right corner of the calendar would change.)
To see this year’s current school calendar, go to www.wicomicoschools.org and click on Calendar at top right, or go directly to the Calendar page: https://www.wicomicoschools.org/o/wcps/page/calendars
School Status for Tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 21): Due to road conditions from inclement weather, Wicomico County Public Schools will have a 90-minute delay Friday, Feb. 21. We encourage bus drivers, other motorists and walkers to take their time and be safe. Breakfast will not be served at school. School will provide any additional details on the day’s schedule if needed.
School hours (regular, and with a 90-minute delay) are available on our website, www.wicomicoschools.org, through the Parents/Students index page: https://www.wicomicoschools.org/.../school-hours-regular...
This is an important alert regarding the status of Wicomico County Public Schools for Thursday, February 20th.
Due to inclement weather, students of Wicomico County Public Schools will have a virtual learning day on Thursday. Students were sent home today with laptops and/or other learning materials to be ready for virtual learning. Please check messages from your student’s school for virtual learning day instructions.
Staff have received instructions by email.
Please be safe. Thank you.
This is an important school status message from Wicomico County Public Schools. Due to inclement weather, Wicomico County Public Schools has cancelled all after-school and evening activities for Wednesday, Feb. 19. Please note this includes the high school Pathways to Success Night at Wor-Wic; it will be rescheduled in March.
Students will bring home instructional items such as laptops, chargers and learning materials today for a potential virtual learning day on Thursday. No decision has been made on Thursday’s school status. All school families and staff will be notified if there are any updates on Thursday’s status. Please be safe. Thank you.
We know families and staff are wondering about tomorrow's school status, so we wanted to let everyone know that as of now, we anticipate opening on time and in schools Thursday, Feb. 13. If there were foggy conditions in the morning that necessitated a delay, families and staff would be notified through the usual process. We look forward to seeing everyone in school bright and early tomorrow.
Important update on the status of Wicomico County Public Schools for Wednesday, Feb. 12:
On Wednesday, Wicomico Schools will have a virtual learning day. Students were sent home with laptops and/or other learning materials. Please check the messages from your student’s school (or the school or schools where you work) for virtual learning day instructions.
Those who work in the Central Office and school offices will work remotely on Wednesday, as informed by email before 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Please be safe.
Today the Wicomico County Board of Education approved a final 2024-2025 school calendar adjustment to make up for one of the days missed in January. As preferred by the most people who responded to a survey on makeup day options, and as recommended by the Superintendent and his team, the Board approved changing the Feb. 17 Presidents Day holiday to a day of school with 3-hour early dismissal.
Of the nearly 5,400 responses to the school system’s calendar adjustment survey, more (45%) favored making up a missed school day from January with a school day with 3-hour early dismissal on Monday, Feb. 17 than on either of the other two potential dates. Please plan accordingly.
Due to expectant inclement weather, the Wicomico County Board of Education meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb.. 11 at 7 p.m. will now be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting will still be held at 101 Long Ave., Salisbury.
In anticipation of winter weather affecting the school schedule this week, please note that students will bring home laptops and other materials today. (We recognize this may require students to transport materials back and forth, but it is necessary to be prepared in case snow comes sooner than is currently predicted.)
Tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 11) will be a school day, but we are announcing now that schools will dismiss 3 hours early on Tuesday, with no after-school or evening activities. Wicomico County Public Schools is prepared to have a virtual learning day on Wednesday, Feb. 12 if needed.
School families and staff should remain alert for other school status updates this week.
