Latest News from Wicomico County Public Schools

Thanks so much to the Wicomico NAACP for hosting the annual Back to School Rally on Aug. 4 at Salisbury Middle School, with lots of support from local officials (including Salisbury Mayor Jake Day), organizations and businesses. It's time to get excited about the 2016-2017 school year! Check out the Back to School Information page on our website for useful information on open houses, school supplies, immunizations, and more. A host of great events are going on all the time in Wicomico County Public Schools. Some key dates coming up: Aug. 23-25: Open house activities at schools and in the community. Aug. 25: All staff at 2016-17 opening activity, schools and offices closed until 11:30 a.m. Aug. 29: First day of 2016-17 school year. All students grades 1-6 and 9 report (Grade 6 only at Mardela Middle and High, all grades report at Pittsville Elementary and Middle) Aug. 29-Sept. 2: Prekindergarten and Kindergarten students report as assigned by school. Aug. 30: All students grades 1-12 in school. Sept. 5: Schools/Central Office closed for Labor Day.

Walk-In Immunization Clinics Maryland immunization regulations for students entering kindergarten and 7th grade for the new school year require a total of two (2) doses of Varicella vaccine (for Chickenpox) to enter Kindergarten, and one (1) dose of a booster Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis/whooping cough) vaccine and one (1) dose of Meningococcal vaccine for students starting 7th Grade. The new immunizations are available at no cost through the Wicomico County Health Department, which will support students and families of Wicomico County Public Schools with walk-in Mass Immunization Clinics Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 5-7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 27 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. All other immunizations required for school entry will be offered at no cost during walk-in clinics only. All walk-in clinics will be at the Health Department’s Fritz Center, 300 W. Carroll St., Salisbury. Clinics will also be held from 8 a.m.-noon Sept. 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 26.

Natalie's Lemonade Stand Our students do amazing things. When a car accident tragically ended the life of JMB senior Natalie Insley on Aug. 2, a group of Northwestern Elementary children quickly acted on the urge to do something to help by running Natalie's Lemonade Stand in their neighborhood. People and businesses came from near and far to support Natalie's family by buying lemonade and cupcakes and making donations. In just a few days, the stand raised around $20,000 to assist the family with expenses, and gave people a place to gather to comfort each other and share memories of Natalie. We are so proud of these students for their compassion and leadership, and appreciative of everyone who supported their effort.

What's Up with the New Tower at Parkside High School? A new wireless communications tower was recently erected on the grounds of Parkside High School to provide better cell phone service in the area around Parkside. Due to the tower’s highly visible location, the tower was designed by the vendor to be aesthetically pleasing, with branded signage for Parkside High School at no cost to the school or school system. Milestone Communications of Reston, Va. designed and built the 105-foot wireless marquee tower with signage at its own cost, under a contract approved by the Board of Education in November 2015. For this tower as well as other cellular towers at James M. Bennett High and Wicomico County Stadium, the school system receives a one-time access fee and monthly rental revenue from each cellular carrier that uses the tower. This revenue supports the general operations of the school system. Wicomico Schools also benefits from having improved cell phone reception on the school property – a safety and security plus – and from having the option to place its own communications or security equipment on a tower.