FCPS Connect
Thursday, April 25
I am so excited to announce that Urbana Elementary’s Ivette Taboas has been named our 2024 FCPS Teacher of the Year!
Taboas, a Multilingual Education Program Teacher, is committed to guiding students to succeed while respecting their individuality.
Taboas has served the Urbana Elementary community since 2020, where she collaborates and plans with classroom teachers, specialists, and interventionalists to support student learning. She also serves as a pivotal liaison for multilingual families to ensure a partnership is fostered throughout the school year.
We had a great time surprising her with the honor today, along with other members of FCPS leadership, elected officials, and the Urbana Elementary administration, staff, and scholars.
As you will see in this week's e-newsletter, we've been busy celebrating educators this month. We are so fortunate in FCPS to have outstanding employees supporting our students!
Have a great weekend!
Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson,
FCPS Superintendent
Linganore High's Patti Kolias named 2024 Tressler Award recipient
Linganore High English teacher Patti Kolias is the 2024 Charles E. Tressler Distinguished Teacher Award recipient.
Kolias was surprised by the news of this prestigious recognition, sponsored by Hood College, in her classroom by FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson, FCPS leaders, elected officials, and the Linganore High administration. Kolias was also joined by students she has supported in the classroom and as a club adviser.
Kolias has served at Linganore High School since 2016, where she is the Student Voices Faculty Leader, the No Place for Hate Adviser, and the Multi-Cultural Committee Co-Chair. Kolias helped found the Linganore High STEP Team and is the organization’s co-adviser.
Frederick High Math Teacher Earns Milken Educator Award
Frederick High’s Maggie Arnold, who immigrated to the United States as a youth and found her calling as a mathematics teacher, is a 2024 Milken Educator Award recipient.
Arnold was surprised with the news at a Frederick High assembly attended by Interim State Superintendent Dr. Carey M. Wright, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson, local elected officials, and FCPS leadership.
After students and staff took their seats in the gymnasium, Milken representative Greg Gallagher announced Arnold as a winner, which comes with a $25,000 unrestricted award.
Clearly surprised and touched, Arnold made her way to the front of the gymnasium while attendees cheered.
The Milken Educator Awards, created by philanthropist Lowell Milken in 1987, have rewarded and inspired excellence in the world of education by honoring top educators $25,000 in unrestricted awards. The program seeks early-to-mid career education professionals for their impressive achievements already and to support what they will accomplish in the future.
Arnold is the 2,992nd Milken Educator Award recipient and the first from FCPS since Yellow Springs Elementary teacher Maggie Hawk was tabbed – in the same surprise manner – in 2015. Hawk attended the FHS assembly.
Arnold is in her fourth year serving as a mathematics teacher at Frederick High. She also advises the Asian Student Alliance – gatherings that tend to be well attended, in part, due to her passionate leadership. An advocate for all students, Arnold is known for being both demanding and encouraging in the classroom – repeatedly telling her students that anything is possible if you are willing to put in the work.
Oakdale High Teacher Wins State Award
FCPS is pleased to announce that Oakdale High School teacher Kate Ehrlich was named the Maryland Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year at their annual conference on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Ehrlich was also recognized earlier in March by the Maryland General Assembly and State Senator Bill Folden and Delegate April Miller.
She was recognized by the council for her excellence as a teacher, notably for her development of a number of courses at FCPS, including a new dual enrollment Cultural Identity in America course and her sponsorship of the Rho Kappa social studies honor society.
Ehrlich is dedicated to expanding the historical narrative in Frederick County. She received a grant from the Institute for Common Power to develop a traveling exhibit about local Black & African American history. The exhibit features several notable local figures from Frederick County, and their impact on local history and the Frederick community. The presentation has been traveling to FCPS high schools and will continue to travel through FCPS middle and high schools next year.
The Maryland Council for Social Studies (MDCSS) is dedicated to the promotion and support of social studies education in Maryland and the United States, and to the advancement of cultural understanding, respect for human differences, and an appreciation of diversity. MDCSS provides high quality professional development and instructional resources for Maryland social studies teachers and works to recognize excellence in social studies instruction at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Last Day of School Announced
Now that we are past Spring Break and the weather is warming, we are most likely past potential inclement weather closures for the 2023-24 school year.
Thus, we can announce Friday, June 7 will be the last day of school for students in the 2023-24 school year. Schools will be closing 2-hours early for students on Friday, June 7.
The original last day of school for students in 2023-24 was Wednesday, June 5. But FCPS closed schools for two days this year due to inclement weather:
Friday, January 19
Tuesday, February 13
Those closure dates make Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7 inclement weather make-up days to ensure FCPS completes 180 days of instruction as mandated by the Maryland State Department of Education.
In the print calendar handbook sent home to families, it lists Wednesday, June 5, as a 2-hour early dismissal date. With these adjustments to the calendar, there is no longer a 2-hour early dismissal on Wednesday, June 5.
The last day of school for teachers is Monday, June 10. 10-month staff with questions about their last day to report should contact their supervisors.
The week of June 10 will also be the first day of the adjusted summer work schedule for FCPS staff. Offices work on an amended schedule during the summer and are closed on Fridays.
5th Grade All-County Honors Chorus to Perform
Join us for an evening of music at 7 PM Wednesday, May 1, at The Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick. Each elementary school is allotted a limited number of honors chorus student positions with 120 total students scheduled to perform.
Tickets for general seating may be purchased at the door of the Weinberg Center for the Arts before the concert. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students. Free admission for children under 4 years old and FCPS staff with a badge.
April is the Month of the Young Child!
The annual Frederick Children's Festival will take place on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Baker Park in Downtown Frederick.
All families are welcome to the free event that includes entertainment, food trucks, hands-on activities for young children and activity booths provided by local programs and businesses serving young children.
Career Signing Day is May 1!
The 3rd Annual Career Signing Day will be held May 1, 2024, to celebrate and recognize FCPS high school seniors who will be graduating having completed a CTE program of study and who will directly enter the workforce or some form of post-secondary training that is directly connected to the skills they learned.
When: Wednesday, May 1 from 8:30 - 10 AM
Where: JBK Theater at Frederick Community College
7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick
Teen Wellness Summit this Saturday!
In Frederick County, teens matter, feelings matter, you matter! Youths ages 13-19 are invited to attend our Teen Wellness Summit this Saturday, April 27, from noon-3 p.m. at Tuscarora High School, 5312 Ballenger Creek Pike in Frederick. Doors open at 11:30. Pre-register for a chance to win prizes: https://fcps-md.formstack.com/forms/teen_summit.
Celebrating Washington Post Teacher and Principal of the Year nominees
Rock Creek School Special Education Teacher Peter Ricciuti and Thurmont Middle Principal Janine Smith are the 2024 FCPS nominees in the Washington Post Educator of the Year program!
Ricciuti is the Washington Post Teacher of the Year nominee for FCPS. Smith is the 2024 Washington Post Principal of the Year nominee for FCPS.
The Washington Post Educator of the Year Awards recognize educators who go above and beyond the day-to-day demands of their positions to create exceptional learning environments.
Check out our news release for more details!
Check it out! FCPS Informando
Did you know FCPS has a Facebook page for Spanish speaking community members? FCPS Informando has important updates for families. We encourage our community to check it out!
¿Sabía que FCPS tiene una página de Facebook para miembros de la comunidad de habla hispana? FCPS Informando tiene actualizaciones importantes para las familias. ¡Animamos a nuestra comunidad a comprobarlo!
Calendar update
Contact us
Email: communications@fcps.org
Website: www.fcps.org
Location: 191 South East Street, Frederick, MD, USA
Phone: (301)644-5000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fcpsmaryland
Twitter: @FCPSMaryland