Coming Up Soon oOn The Wicomico School Calendar

Beginning May 17
High School Assessments (HSAs) and Modified High School Assessments (Mod-HSAs)
All Wicomico Secondary Schools

Students enrolled in HSA-assessed courses, and students who previously took but did not pass one or more of the HSA/Mod-HSA exams, will take the HSAs/Mod-HSAs starting on May 17. HSAs/Mod-HSAs will be administered in high schools and in middle schools. Passing all four HSAs/Mod-HSAs, or achieving a combined score of 1602 or successfully completing a Bridge Plan for Academic Validation , is a Maryland requirement for graduation.

The HSA and Mod-HSA paper tests will be administered May 17-21, excluding May 19. A single date has been designated for each content-area test. Schools administering the paper/pencil HSAs must give the HSAs on the following schedule: May 17 Biology, May 18 Algebra/Data Analysis (HSA/MSA), May 20 Government, May 21 English (HSA/MSA). On-line testing for the HSAs and Mod-HSAs will be administered according to a flexible schedule set by each school within the state-mandated testing window of May 17-June 4.

Schools have planned to give the HSA as follows:

All computer testing for HSAs and Mod-HSAs: Wicomico High, Mardela Middle and High, all other middle schools.

Computer and paper/pencil testing for HSA: Parkside High students will take the paper/pencil test except those students who are being retested and Mod-HSA, who will take the tests on computer. James M. Bennett High will administer the paper/pencil test for all students except those receiving special education services and others taking the MOD-HSA; these will be done on the computer.

Check with the school guidance office for additional information.

Wednesday, May 19
Evening High School Commencement
Beaver Run Elementary

Evening High School students who have successfully completed the requirements to earn a Maryland high school diploma will participate in commencement at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, at Beaver Run Elementary School. 410-677-4537.

Wednesday, May 19
Eastern Shore Reading Council Spring Dinner
Arthur W. Perdue Stadium

Don't miss the Eastern Shore Reading Council's Spring Dinner at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium (home of the Delmarva Shorebirds) at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 19. Hear Kathy Bumgardner speak on Reading IS Thinking: Comprehension Strategies and Literacy Tools That Really Work! Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Please make checks payable to ESRC. For more details or a flier, email gsmith@wcboe.org.

Thursday, May 20
Public Budget Hearing
Location TBD

The Wicomico County Board of Education will hold a public budget hearing at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at a location to be determined. The Board will take input on the budget for fiscal year 2010-11 as it prepares to adopt a final budget by June 30. More details to come.

Tuesday, May 25
Arts Integration Guitar Workshop
Willards Elementary School
On Tuesday, May 25, 3:15-4:15 p.m., Dr. Diana Wagner of Salisbury University will conduct a music integration professional development workshop at Willards School to teach faculty some principles of music integration and give them some ideas for integrating a new set of child guitars into their instruction. Teachers who have never played guitar before will be playing one by the end of the hour! Teachers who have already completed Guitars in the Classroom training with Wagner will be there to help and participate. This wonderful day of collaboration will exemplify both the importance and the success of university-school-community partnerships.
Last fall, Willards Elementary PE teacher and SU alumna Nikki Rittling and Wagner, Assistant Professor, Director, Guitars in the Classroom @ SU Vice Chair, Human Subjects Committee (IRB), wrote a small Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council grant which has made it possible to purchase four child-sized guitars for Willards School. Willards boasts the largest number of teachers who have completed the Guitars in the Classroom program with Wagner since the inception of the program in fall 2008. As one of the first arts-integrated schools in Wicomico County, Willards is taking the lead in arts-infused instruction.
May 25-June 4
Senior Schedule
All Wicomico County High Schools

Tuesday, May 25: Exams in periods 6 and 7
Wednesday, May 26: Exams in periods 4 and 5
Thursday, May 27: Exams in periods 1, 2 and 3
*Makeup exams will be on the day following the original scheduled exam day

Friday, May 28: Final day for all seniors

Saturday, May 29
James M. Bennett High Prom
The Commons, Salisbury University

Following the Grand March at Asbury United Methodist Church in Salisbury, the JMB Prom will be held at the Commons at Salisbury University.

Tuesday, June 1
Wicomico High School Commencement
Wicomico Youth & Civic Center

Commencement for Wicomico High School seniors will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. Seniors must arrive by 6:15 p.m. Commencement practice will be at noon that day.

Wednesday, June 2
James M. Bennett High School Commencement
Wicomico Youth & Civic Center

Commencement for James M. Bennett High School seniors will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. Practice is at 9 a.m.

Thursday, June 3
Parkside High School Commencement
Wicomico Youth & Civic Center

Commencement for Parkside High School seniors will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. Commencement practice will be at 9 a.m. that day.

Friday, June 4
Mardela High School Commencement
UMES

Commencement for Mardela High School seniors will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne. Commencement practice will be at 9:30 a.m. that day.

Thursday, May 27
Wicomico County Math 24 Game Tournament
Salisbury University Commons

The annual Math 24 Game Tournament for Wicomico elementary and middle students will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 27, in the Commons at Salisbury University. (This event was originally scheduled for May 20.)

Thursday, May 27
Closing the Minority Achievement Gap
Mills Memorial Baptist Temple, Salisbury

Dr. Judylynn Mitchell, supervisor of elementary education, Education that is Multicultural, and school library/media centers K-5 for Wicomico County Public Schools, will facilitate a discussion on Closing the Minority Achievement Gap at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 27, at as NAACP meeting at the Mills Memorial Baptist Temple in Salisbury. The public is invited to join this discussion. For more information, please call Mary Ashanti at 410-543-4187.

Monday, May 31
Schools and Central Office closed for Memorial Day holiday

Tuesday, June 8
Maryland Blue Ribbon School Tour of Excellence
Northwestern Elementary School

Maryland Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick brings the Maryland Blue Ribbon School Tour of Excellence to Northwestern Elementary School in Mardela Springs at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 8.

Tuesday, June 8
Board of Education Monthly Meeting
Board of Education Auditorium

The Wicomico County Board of Education will hold its monthly meeting at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, in the Board of Education Auditorium. An agenda will be posted at www.wcboe.org the Friday before the meeting. 410-677-4561.

Tuesday, June 8, at 7 p.m.
Board of Education Awards & Recognitions Night
Parkside High School

The final Board of Education Awards & Recognitions Night of the 2009-10 school year will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, at Parkside High School. Outstanding students, staff, schools, programs and community partners will be recognized.

June 14
Flag Day Celebration
Charles H. Chipman Elementary

Students of Charles H. Chipman Elementary will celebrate Flag Day on June 14 with patriotic songs, readings and poems about America and the flag. They will honor veterans and relatives of the school family who are presently serving our country. The program will begin in the cafeteria at 10:30 a.m. 410-677-5814.

Friday, July 16
School Readiness Fair
Pemberton Elementary School

The annual School Readiness Fair for young children and their families will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday, July 16, at Pemberton Elementary School. This will be an opportunity for children and their parents/guardians to meet representatives of their schools and local community organizations, pick up teaching materials, and learn about school bus safety from Buster the Bus. The Readiness Fair will include free dinner, door prizes, real school bus rides, games and crafts. Call 410-677-4580 to register as an exhibitor or to get more information.