Back To School Information: High Schools

James M. Bennett High School
Salisbury
Principal: Steven E. Grudis
sgrudis@wcboe.org
410-677-5141http://www.wcboe.org/schools/jmb/

James M. Bennett High School would like to welcome a new member to the administrative team for the 2011-2012 school year. John Kotz assumes the position of Dean of Students; he comes to us from Wicomico High School where he served as a technology teacher. He joins Steve Grudis, Principal, Kim Pinhey, Assistant Principal, James Cook, Assistant Principal, and Joe Raffa, Dean of Students. We are proud of the JMB history of excellence and the variety of programs that we provide for our students. They have been recognized consistently at the regional, state and national level for programs such as It’s Academic, Mock Trial, Future Business Leaders of America and Math Team. We are proud of our baseball team and coaches for being the current 3A State Champion. Our school wide objective this year will be to continue to show improvements in three areas: attendance, academics and athletics/fine arts. We also wish to remind students and parents that school begins at 7:45 a.m., and at 2:45 p.m. the school day will end.
Key date: Wednesday, Aug. 24 PTSA Back to School Night 5-8 p.m. At this time forms should be turned in to guidance, parents can pick up Family Portal information and students may get their schedules if all of their paperwork is turned in.

Mardela Middle and High School
24940 Delmar Road
Mardela Springs, MD 21837
Grades 6-12
Principal: Frederick L. Briggs
rbriggs@wcboe.org
410-677-5142www.wcboe.org/schools/mmhs

Mardela will continue to utilize its strong community support in conjunction with its outstanding staff to create a culture of learning for each and every student at MMHS. Mardela’s leadership team consists of new Principal Frederick L. Briggs, Assistant Principals Shawn Gardner and Frank Grate, with Sharon Cooper serving as the Dean of Students. This year the staff will be focusing on making cross-curricular connections for students as research shows that students remember information longer when they use what they have learned in a variety of contexts and use of skills across disciplines helps build student confidence. Mardela is very proud of its continued student success on the state MSA and HSA assessments and will look to build on these successes this coming year while introducing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) into the middle school grade levels. Please note the new school hours: School will start at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m.
Key dates: Aug. 25, Back-to-School BBQ 4:30-6:30 p.m. Families can get their student’s schedule when they bring a completed copy of the student data form to the BBQ. Sept. 12, school pictures. Homecoming will be returning to the fall sports season with Homecoming activities the week of October 17-21.

Parkside High School
Salisbury
Grade 9-12
Principal: Micah Stauffer
mstauffe@wcboe.org
410-677-5143www.wcboe.org/school/phs
Parkside CTE
410-677-5144http://cte.wcboe.org/

This is Parkside’s 36th year of excellent service to Wicomico County. Principal Micah Stauffer, Assistant Principal Christel Savage, Assistant Principal Ron Greene, Assistant Principal Dave Churchman, and Dean of Students Jeffrey Dumpson form our outstanding team of administrators. Our school spirit shined through last year during Homecoming, Winter Formal, Prom, athletic events, and performances. Our students have worked hard both in and out of the classroom to achieve success. The Parkside Robotics Team competed at the state level and SkillsUSA had two students make it all the way to the national competition in Kansas City. In addition, our band, chorus, and athletic teams received many awards for their accomplishments this past year. Career and Technology Education (CTE) begins its 15th year at Parkside High School and 46th year of providing a high-quality technical education to high school students from throughout Wicomico County. Each year, CTE serves more than 900 students from the four county high schools in 20 technical programs. Throughout the summer, Parkside teachers have been attending professional development and preparing to take our students to new heights. Our primary focus is to continue to provide all students with quality instruction while fostering a positive learning environment within our school community. Parkside looks forward to welcoming our students back to a year filled with success and high student achievement. Please note the new school hours: School will start at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m.
Key Dates: Aug. 25, Back to School Night 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.; 4:30-5:30 p.m., pick up class schedules, 5:30-6 p.m. business meeting, 6-7:30 p.m. teacher visitation. Aug. 29, 9th grade transition day. Aug. 30, all students report.

Wicomico High School
Salisbury
Grades 9-12
JROTC, Visual and Performing Arts Program
Principal: Don R. Brady
dobrady@wcboe.org
410-677-5146www.wcboe.org/schools/wihi

Wicomico High School is thrilled welcome two new members to the administrative team for 2011-2012. Lavion Bratten will assume the responsibilities as Dean of Students after having taught Business Education at Wicomico High School from 2005-2011. Michele McGoogan will also be joining Wicomico High School as Dean of Students; she comes to us from Bennett Middle School where she served as Math Coach. They will join Don R. Brady, Principal, Lillian Blake and Stephen Lovellette, Assistant Principals, as returning members of the leadership team at Wicomico High School. Parent involvement is a real focus. Parents are strongly encouraged to form partnerships with Wi-Hi as we work together for high student achievement. Parent input will be profoundly critical as we, as a staff, ask, "What should our response be when kids don't learn?" The entire staff at Wi-Hi is committed to responding to individual student needs. Our teachers have created a list of essential skills that will help students understand what they should know and be able to do after completing each term. We will monitor each student’s progress and respond with support as needed. The staff at Wicomico High School pledges to work together to clarify student learning goals, provide additional support and time when students struggle, and extend or enrich learning when students have already mastered the intended outcomes. Wi-Hi also continues to enjoy the wonderful partnership established with Oak Ridge Baptist Church and the various resources Oak Ridge provides to assist with high student achievement. Please note the new school hours: School will start at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m.
Key dates: Aug. 25, The Freshman Academy will be holding a 9th Grade Summer Cookout and orientation from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 26, all Wicomico High School parents and students are invited to join us for Back-to-School Night/Open House 5-7 p.m.

Choices
Adventist Drive, Salisbury
Grades 6-12
Principal: Kelley Morris-Springston
kmorris@wcboe.org
410-677-5220
The Choices Chargers are keyed up for another wonderful school year. Our
dedicated team of teachers and staff are ready to energize youth for the future. Choices, under the leadership of Kelley Morris-Springston, principal, and David Allen Miles, Dean of Students, is proud to serve students in grades 6 through 12. We look forward to another year of partnering with our faith based partner The Tabernacle.
Key dates: Aug. 26 – Open House 1-3 p.m. Oct. 11, first PTA meeting of the year.

Wicomico Evening High School
Located in Wicomico High School Building E
Salisbury
Wicomico Evening High School Evening program for anyone 16 and older to complete the requirements to earn a Maryland High School Diploma
Coordinator: Dave Harner, dharner@wcboe.org
Lead Teacher: Anthony Giddens, tgiddens@wcboe.org
410-677-4537
Evening High School is designed to help students,16 or older, who are enrolled in other Wicomico County high schools and who need to take classes to “stay on track” for graduation. It also serves anyone ages 16-20 who wishes to return to school to complete the requirements to earn a Maryland High School Diploma. Registration periods are in September and January.

Key dates: Registration for the fall semester will be held in Building E of Wicomico High School from 4-7 p.m. Sept. 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13. To register, bring in birth certificate, Social Security card, proof of residency (any utility bill or rent/mortgage statement), and transcript (from last school attended). Students attending any Wicomico County high school during the day and wishing to take classes at the Evening High School must bring in a blue form completed by the high school guidance counselor. Sept. 14, fall semester classes begin.