Lou Taylor comments on his new term as Superintendent

 (WMDT)

View news story:

"I am very humbled and very honored: " Worcester CO. Superintendent Taylor reappointed for another term, preparing for future challenges - 47abc (wmdt.com)

Updated: Back to school option for Worcester County students

(WMDT)

View news story:

https://www.wmdt.com/2020/10/teachers-and-parents-concerned-about-updates-to-reopening-plans-covid-19-notification-system-in-worcester-county/

 (WBOC)

As schools across Delmarva slowly bring students back to the classroom, Worcester County schools plan to go full throttle. In a few weeks, all students in Worcester County will have the option to return to in-person learning. Superintendent Louis H. Taylor is encouraging all students to return to classrooms on November 16th. Parents must let their child's school know whether they will continue online or opt for in-person. Some parents worry, that's too soon.

View news story:

http://www.wboc.com/clip/15150411/worcester-county-schools-to-welcome-all-students-back

Board Of Ed Approves 2020-2021 Worcester County School Calendar

View calendar:
http://worcesterk12.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_577356/Image/FY21%20Calendar%20-%20FINAL.pdf

View Bayside Gazzette article:
https://baysideoc.com/board-of-education-choose-calendar-with-short-breaks/

State Gives Worcester County Schools A Thumbs Up Report Card.

(Bayside Gazette)

View article:
https://baysideoc.com/state-report-card-shows-high-marks-for-wor/

Worcester School Attendance News

(Bayside Gazette)

Worcester County Teacher Of The Year!

(Delmarvanow.com)

Snow Hill Elementary School Pre-Kindergarten Gina Russell is surprised during the school day with the award of Worcester County Teacher of the Year on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. (Photo: MEGAN RAYMOND/SALISBURY DAILY TIMES)

Snow Hill Elementary School special education teacher Gina Russell was named the 2019 Worcester County Teacher of the Year on Wednesday afternoon. 

Russell earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Salisbury University and a Masters of Special Education from Wilmington University. Currently in her eighth year at Snow Hill Elementary School, Russell currently teaches the new Pre- K3 (prekindergarten for three year olds) inclusion classroom and services Pre-K4 (prekindergarten for four year olds) students in the afternoon, according to a news release from Worcester County Public Schools.  

Russell believes every student has the right to an appropriate education; one that inspires all students to communicate, grow, feel safe, and have a voice. She serves as the team leader for Special Education, a mentor teacher for Salisbury University interns, and evaluates for the Infants and Toddlers team in the summer, according to a news release. 

"We could not be more excited to have Mrs. Russell serve as Worcester's next ambassador in the Teacher of the Year program," Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor said in a news release. "She is not only an excellent teacher, but she is a leader in her field and an inspiration to her fellow teachers."

Recently, Russell hosted a team from Johns Hopkins University, who were interested in observing the PK3 program that she has designed at Snow Hill Elementary School, according to a news release. 

"Mrs. Russell is an incredibly dynamic teacher," said Carrie Sterrs, coordinator of the Teacher of the Year program in a news release. "She keeps even our youngest students engaged and excited to learn. It's an absolute joy to watch her in the classroom."

Mark Your Calendar

Worcester County Public School Calendar 2019-2020.

A change from this school year's schedule is eliminating built in make-up days during the winter and spring breaks and scheduling needed make-up days for inclement weather closings to the end of the school year calendar.

(Click address to view calendar.)

http://www.worcesterk12.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_577356/File/Departments/Public%20Relations%20&%20Special%20Programs/Calendar%20Development/2019-2020%20Approved%20School%20System%20Calendar.pdf

Worcester Schools To Offer Addiction Education

(WBOC)

Worcester County Board of Education Approves Naloxone Administration Policy

WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. - Back in 2017, lawmakers in Annapolis passed the "Start Talking Maryland Act."

That act requires public schools to offer education about heroin and opioid addiction and prevention.

The law also requires school boards to establish a policy related to the administration of naloxone, a medication that reverses an opioid overdose.

The Worcester County Board of Education has passed its Naloxone Administration Policy.

(View full article)
http://www.wboc.com/story/40037121/worcester-county-board-of-education-approves-naloxone-administration-policy

A Positive Read On Our Worcester County Schools

(The Dispatch)

Commissioners, Education Officials Talk State Of Worcester Schools

Feb 12,2019 by Charlene Sharpe

SNOW HILL –  County leaders and school system officials reaffirmed their commitment to working together as they met last week for a “State of our Schools” address from the superintendent.

(View full article)
https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2019/02/12/commissioners-education-officials-talk-state-of-worcester-schools/

The Numbers Game And Worcester's Low Ranking In Receiving State Aid To Education

Why are we here in Worcester County receiving the second lowest amount of state funding for education?  If you want to try to follow the financial dots an article in Ocean City's "OC Today" tells why we don't fare too well, proportionately, in receiving state aid for our Worcester County schools.

https://www.oceancitytoday.com/news/worcester-second-lowest-in-state-in-education-aid/article_036c130c-1a8f-11e9-a315-fba768d81f35.html

Parents Want To Know What Happened To Recess

NEWARK -- Parents of Pocomoke Middle School students told the school board they want recess reinstated at their children's school.

Several parents of PMS students attended Tuesday's board of education meeting to voice their concerns over the lack of recess offered to fourth- through eighth-graders at Pocomoke Middle. They called recess a "fundamental need" for the students.

"Recess is something ancient," parent Douglas Voss said. "It's timeless."

Voss said recess, which had been offered on a limited basis in recent years, was eliminated at the school this year in an effort to further increase test scores and academic performance. If it were implemented in a balanced way, he contended, a recess of just 30 minutes a day could be beneficial.

"A cognitive break in the middle of the day does improve academic performance," he told the school board.

Voss said the brain needed time to relax so that students could continue to engage cognitively during the latter half of the school day. He added that schools with recess had fewer discipline problems.

Another parent, Michael Hooks, compared the student dismissal at Pocomoke Middle in the afternoon to a scene in the movie "Grease," with kids sprinting out of the building. He said he and his wife had trouble getting their fourth-grader to do his homework after school because he was so wound up -- a problem they did not have with him last year, when he enjoyed recess at the elementary school.

"They don't have that outlet," he said.

Theophilus Moses said that with childhood obesity rates high, it was crucial that the middle schoolers get some time outside. "They are our future," he said. "We owe it to them."

Although school board members said they needed more time and information before they could make a decision on the matter, they did pass a motion to have Superintendent of Schools Jon Andes review the county's policies and procedures regarding recess and to make a recommendation on the subject to the board. They expect to address the issue by budget work session scheduled for Dec. 7.

"We're really going to take a hard look at this," board member Doug Dryden said, thanking the parents for their professional presentation. "This is the way the process is supposed to work."

PMS principal Caroline Bloxom stressed that the school worked in partnership with its parents in a statement that did not commit the school to any course of action on recess.

"We are partners with our parents," she said in a statement, "and we seek their involvement and feedback. In fact, being receptive to all opinions is crucial to school improvement."

www.worcestercountytimes.com