(Sept. 1, 2016) More than 6,500 students are getting ready to attend Worcester County’s 14 public schools for the 2016-2017 school year with Tuesday, Sept. 6, marking the first day back in session.
“We are very excited to welcome our students back into the halls of our schools,” Carrie Sterrs, schools spokesperson, said. “We look forward to providing the students of Worcester County with challenging and innovative learning opportunities.”
An estimated 6,628 students will fill Worcester’s halls this year with 633 teachers in the district, compared to last year when 6,631 students were enrolled and 657 teachers taught in the county.
The 180-day school year is slated to end Friday, June 16, with three cancelation days allowed for snow and other inclement weather days. The last day of school will be adjusted if the county school system does not use the days or they exceed that number, Sterrs said.
While students spend 180 days in class, the state requires teachers to work 188 days. Some of those are professional days, which gives time off for students, but requires teachers to report for a full day. There are four of those days scheduled during this year – three at the end of each marking period and one on Election Day, November 8.
The schools will continue to implement technology during the fall with kindergarten through third graders receiving iPads, fourth to eighth grade utilizing Chromebooks and high school students each given a laptop.
“Two highlights for the start of our school year are our digital distribution and Freshman Seahawk Day,” Thomas Zimmer, principal of Stephen Decatur High School, said. “With the county’s growing digital initiative, our ninth and tenth graders will be receiving laptops on Wednesday night.”
The annual Freshman Seahawk Day took place yesterday, Thursday, Sept. 1, when incoming freshman came for morning orientation, and go on an abbreviated schedule of classes to meet teachers and learn to navigate the building. Upper class students were in attendance to assist, and freshman heard about what goes on during the school year at Decatur.
“Quite honestly, I look forward to the kids coming back refreshed and rejuvenated,” Zimmer said. “Some have physically grown. Seeing the shining floors, teachers reinvigorated and ready to start the school year – I am very fortunate to be a principal at a great high school with wonderful students and staff. I look forward to every school year. It is a fresh start for everyone.”
Annette Wallace, principal of Pocomoke High School, echoed Zimmer by saying she looks forward to every school year because it gives students and teachers a fresh start.
“It’s always exciting to turn a page and get a fresh start,” Wallace said. “Seventy percent of our kids live in poverty and they face a lot of challenges in the summer. I really love back to school because they are coming back to a safe place and get to learn so much in a healthy and safe environment.”
This year, Pocomoke High School is applying the mantra, “be a game changer” as its theme.
“I refer to the school and our kids as the Dream Team,” Wallace said. “I am excited about our theme and the positive change it will bring for the school year.”
Back to school preparations begin once the previous school year ends. Assessment scores come back in July and teachers look to see what areas they can make improvements.
“I am really excited for the school year,” Wallace said. “It is my fifth year of being a principal at Pocomoke and every year is a fresh start. I always play the Christmas song, ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ because it’s the best time of the year for us.”
Over at Snow Hill High School, a freshman seminar class will be offered for the first time providing students the opportunity to learn keyboarding skills, PSAT or SAT strategies and improving their digital literacy in conjunction with the laptop distribution for ninth grade students, which took place yesterday.
“It is a way to get them off to a good start,” Kimberly Purvis, principal at Snow Hill High School, said. “Some kids struggle and we wanted to provide extra support for those students.”
The entire summer is spent making sure everything is ready for the upcoming school year from reviewing emergency plans, to providing flexible schedules and making sure the building is clean.
“We focus on academics, safety and their environment,” Purvis said. “We want to make sure all students are challenged with multiple opportunities to explore and they are prepared for life beyond Snow Hill High School.”
Worcester County Public School holidays for the 2016-2017 school year are:
• Oct. 21: Maryland State Education Association Convention
• Nov. 8: Countywide Professional Day and Election Day
• Nov. 11: Professional day and Veterans Day
• Nov. 23-25: Thanksgiving break
• Dec. 22 – Jan. 2: Winter break
• Jan. 16: Dr. Martin Luther King Day
• Feb. 1: High school exams, half-day for high school students
• Feb. 2: High school exams, half-day for all students
• Feb. 3: Professional day
• Feb. 20: Presidents Day
• April 13: Professional day
• April 14-17: Spring break
• May 29: Memorial Day
• June 15-16: High school exams, half-days for all students
“We are very excited to welcome our students back into the halls of our schools,” Carrie Sterrs, schools spokesperson, said. “We look forward to providing the students of Worcester County with challenging and innovative learning opportunities.”
An estimated 6,628 students will fill Worcester’s halls this year with 633 teachers in the district, compared to last year when 6,631 students were enrolled and 657 teachers taught in the county.
The 180-day school year is slated to end Friday, June 16, with three cancelation days allowed for snow and other inclement weather days. The last day of school will be adjusted if the county school system does not use the days or they exceed that number, Sterrs said.
While students spend 180 days in class, the state requires teachers to work 188 days. Some of those are professional days, which gives time off for students, but requires teachers to report for a full day. There are four of those days scheduled during this year – three at the end of each marking period and one on Election Day, November 8.
The schools will continue to implement technology during the fall with kindergarten through third graders receiving iPads, fourth to eighth grade utilizing Chromebooks and high school students each given a laptop.
“Two highlights for the start of our school year are our digital distribution and Freshman Seahawk Day,” Thomas Zimmer, principal of Stephen Decatur High School, said. “With the county’s growing digital initiative, our ninth and tenth graders will be receiving laptops on Wednesday night.”
The annual Freshman Seahawk Day took place yesterday, Thursday, Sept. 1, when incoming freshman came for morning orientation, and go on an abbreviated schedule of classes to meet teachers and learn to navigate the building. Upper class students were in attendance to assist, and freshman heard about what goes on during the school year at Decatur.
“Quite honestly, I look forward to the kids coming back refreshed and rejuvenated,” Zimmer said. “Some have physically grown. Seeing the shining floors, teachers reinvigorated and ready to start the school year – I am very fortunate to be a principal at a great high school with wonderful students and staff. I look forward to every school year. It is a fresh start for everyone.”
Annette Wallace, principal of Pocomoke High School, echoed Zimmer by saying she looks forward to every school year because it gives students and teachers a fresh start.
“It’s always exciting to turn a page and get a fresh start,” Wallace said. “Seventy percent of our kids live in poverty and they face a lot of challenges in the summer. I really love back to school because they are coming back to a safe place and get to learn so much in a healthy and safe environment.”
This year, Pocomoke High School is applying the mantra, “be a game changer” as its theme.
“I refer to the school and our kids as the Dream Team,” Wallace said. “I am excited about our theme and the positive change it will bring for the school year.”
Back to school preparations begin once the previous school year ends. Assessment scores come back in July and teachers look to see what areas they can make improvements.
“I am really excited for the school year,” Wallace said. “It is my fifth year of being a principal at Pocomoke and every year is a fresh start. I always play the Christmas song, ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ because it’s the best time of the year for us.”
Over at Snow Hill High School, a freshman seminar class will be offered for the first time providing students the opportunity to learn keyboarding skills, PSAT or SAT strategies and improving their digital literacy in conjunction with the laptop distribution for ninth grade students, which took place yesterday.
“It is a way to get them off to a good start,” Kimberly Purvis, principal at Snow Hill High School, said. “Some kids struggle and we wanted to provide extra support for those students.”
The entire summer is spent making sure everything is ready for the upcoming school year from reviewing emergency plans, to providing flexible schedules and making sure the building is clean.
“We focus on academics, safety and their environment,” Purvis said. “We want to make sure all students are challenged with multiple opportunities to explore and they are prepared for life beyond Snow Hill High School.”
Worcester County Public School holidays for the 2016-2017 school year are:
• Oct. 21: Maryland State Education Association Convention
• Nov. 8: Countywide Professional Day and Election Day
• Nov. 11: Professional day and Veterans Day
• Nov. 23-25: Thanksgiving break
• Dec. 22 – Jan. 2: Winter break
• Jan. 16: Dr. Martin Luther King Day
• Feb. 1: High school exams, half-day for high school students
• Feb. 2: High school exams, half-day for all students
• Feb. 3: Professional day
• Feb. 20: Presidents Day
• April 13: Professional day
• April 14-17: Spring break
• May 29: Memorial Day
• June 15-16: High school exams, half-days for all students