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Chesapeake Forum Presents, US Navy in the Civil War with Mickey Terrone

September 4, 2024 by Chesapeake Forum
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US Navy’s Role in the Civil War

Did you know that the United State’s fledgling Navy played an important role in the American Civil War? Learn how the Navy helped the Union cause during the Civil War and about the leadership of Navy Secretary Gideon Welles in the Chesapeake Forum course, US Navy in the Civil War, starting Sept. 10th from 1:30 – 3 PM.

This course will trace the development of both the oceangoing, as well as the river fleets, the enlightened leadership of Welles and others, along with the manufacturing prowess of the Union that developed and built the warships and met the disparate needs of the military.

Instructor Mickey Terrone is a lifelong student of the Civil War. He recently taught a course at Chesapeake Forum on the border states, including Maryland. He is a past president of the Civil War Round Table of Washington, DC.

US Navy in the Civil War is three (3) sessions, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 17 and 24 from 1:30 – 3 PM. HYBRID (in person at the Easton Family YMCA, via ZOOM or recording). $40. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore. To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your name and contact information to [email protected].

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Chesapeake Forum: Monarch Tagging, Mahjong, Mobility and More

September 2, 2024 by Chesapeake Forum
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Join a Monarch tagging project, learn to stay mobile at any age, find out what edible plants are growing in your back yard or keep your mind sharp with Mahjong. It’s all coming up at Chesapeake Forum in the second half of September.

Kicking things off is Monarch Migration Magic. Join Pickering Creek naturalists to learn about monarch habitat, migration cycle, lifespan and how to help them in your backyard or community on Monday, Sept. 16 from 10:30 AM – Noon. $30. In person at Pickering Creek Audubon Center, 11450 Audubon Lane, Easton, MD (21601). To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Monarchs aren’t the only things on the move at Chesapeake Forum – you can be too! Find out how to limit arthritis, reduce pain naturally and build a strong immune system from Drs. Chris and Julia Cianci on Wednesday Sept.18 in Healthy, Mobile and Active at Any Age from 1:30 – 3 PM. $20. HYBRID. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Scammers are getting more and more sophisticated when it comes to getting your valuable financial and personal information. Learn how to protect yourself with Avoiding Crafty Security Scams on Wednesday, Sept.18, 25 and Oct. 2 from 10:30 – 12 PM. HYBRID. $40. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

You are probably familiar with using common herbs like basil and parsley to spice up a dish but did you know that squash blossoms and certain lilies can also be used in cooking? Cookbook author Katie Barney introduces a world of new culinary possibilities in Edible Plants on Friday, Sept. 20 from 10:30 – noon. In person at the Easton Family YMCA. $30. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Get your brain in gear with Mahjong! This ancient Chinese game is a great brain buster with proven benefits for memory and cognitive function. Plus, it’s fun! Sharpen Your Mind with Mahjong is eight sessions, Sept. 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13 from 1:30 – 3 PM. $70. In person at the Easton Family YMCA. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

And finally, join Chesapeake Forum’s Books with Friends, a casual monthly get together to read and discuss favorite books. All meetings take place on Zoom and the course is free although registration is required. Books with Friends is Sept. 26, Oct. 24 and Nov. 21 from 1:30 – 3 PM. Free. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org. For September, the group is reading The Wager, by David Grann

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Maryland Test Results Show Small Gains, Nagging Achievement Gaps Among Demographic Groups

August 29, 2024 by Maryland Matters
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Maryland students showed minor improvements in math and English language arts last year, but still had wide gaps between demographic groups, according to standardized test scores released Tuesday morning by the state Department of Education.

The State Board of Education reviewed the data Tuesday on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP), which students took this spring during the 2023-24 school year.

The data are from tests taken by students in grades three through eight in math and language arts. Additional results are from specific math courses in Algebra I, Algebra II and geometry. Student proficiency is also measured in science for students in fifth and eighth grades.

Geoff Sanderson, deputy state superintendent of accountability for the department, said the overall increase was 3% in math and language arts from two years ago to last school year.

“Very little change from prior year to current year results,” he said.

The 2022-23 school year was the first, full statewide assessment since students returned to in-person instruction after many spent time learning from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A shortened version of the test was administered three years ago to assess how students fared during online instruction.

The MCAP is among factors that determine the state’s annual report card and school star rating system. New reports were last issued in March, the first time the state issued the annual report card since 2019 because of the pandemic.

School-level results will be released on the Maryland Report Card site next month.

A graphic of Maryland map that shows percentage of students who scored proficient in math from all 24 school districts. Screenshot.

In terms of tests taken this spring, about 48.1% of students reached overall proficiency in language arts; overall student proficiency in math was 24.1%.

All grade levels that were tested saw increases in their overall scores, with 10th grade students recording the highest percentage at 55.3%.

Geometry was the only math subject that didn’t improve from the previous school year. It decreased from 23.4% to 21.9%.

But one main problem still exists: student demographics. Almost all demographic groups saw year-over-year increases, but wide gaps between the groups remain.

Here’s a look at student proficiency in math based on race:

Asian students: 54.6% in 2023-24 school year; 54.3% in 2022-23 school year;White students: 37.9% in 2023-24 school year; 36.3% in 2022-23 school year;Black students: 12.1% in 2023-24 school year; 11.3% in 2022-23 school year;Hispanic/Latino students: 11.9% in 2023-24 school year; 11.5% in 2022-23 school year.

Here’s a look at student proficiency in language arts based on race:

Asian students: 74.8% in 2023-24 school year; 75.4% in 2022-23 school year;White students: 65.2% in 2023-24 school year; 63.9% in 2022-23 school year;Black students: 36.2% in 2023-24 school year; 35.2% in 2022-23 school year;Hispanic/Latino students: 31.8% in 2023-24 school year; 32.4% in 2022-23 school year.

The data also breaks down into student groups such as multilingual learners, economically disadvantaged and those with disabilities.

Board President Joshua Michael said no specific questions would be addressed Tuesday because the board will take a “deeper dive” into the results next month.

One part of that, he said, would be assessing certain schools based on poverty and whether a building is designated a community school. That is a school that receives a concentration of poverty grants and a variety of services such as before- or after-school tutoring, English-language learner courses and food pantries.

Board member Rachel McCusker advised her colleagues, those in attendance and people listening online that it takes time to make significant gains in student achievement.

“Those gains don’t happen overnight. They take time. It takes time to train teachers to get it moving with fidelity in schools,” said McCusker, a public school teacher in Carroll County. “It just makes a mindset to understand that changes in education don’t just happen.”

by William J. Ford, Maryland Matters
August 27, 2024

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: [email protected]. Follow Maryland Matters on Facebook and X.

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As School Year Begins, Education Reform Plan Faces a Reckoning

August 22, 2024 by Maryland Matters
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When Maryland public schools welcome nearly 890,000 students back to classes in the coming days, it will also be the beginning of year three of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the state’s sweeping education reform plan.

But the plan’s future is suddenly up in the air, as state and local lawmakers are raising new concerns about its costs in a time of budget uncertainty.

That was highlighted last weekend, when Gov. Wes Moore (D) told a gathering of county leaders the plan may need to be refined due to pending fiscal challenges. Moore said he supports the goals of the Blueprint but the challenge now is “to address our fiscal challenges … and right now, everything is on the table.”

But Paul Lemle hopes the state stays the course.

“It’s a once-in-a-generation investment in our students and our educators. So, it makes no sense that people would say it’s not a good thing, or blame it for some other problem,” said Lemle, a Howard County high school social studies teacher who began a three-year term this month as president of the Maryland State Education Association.

“The bad part of it is when you hear local elected officials saying, ‘Our budgets are tighter. We can’t afford it.’ That’s wrong,” Lemle said Monday, while in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. “It’s a really short-sighted perspective because the Blueprint is doing exactly what it is intended to do – improve educator salaries, put more people into the profession, hire more of them.”

The Blueprint law passed in 2020, but was vetoed by then-Gov. Larry Hogan (R). The General Assembly overrode his veto in 2021, but implementation was pushed back a year because of COVID-19 school closures.

The education plan is based on five priorities, or pillars: hiring and retaining high-quality and diverse teachers, early childhood education, providing additional resources for students in need, preparing students for college and technical careers, and governance and accountability.

Some aspects of the Blueprint have already been implemented, such as an increase in prekindergarten enrollment and more high school students able to take local college courses for free, a plan known as dual enrollment.

But local school officials for months have outlined challenges in implementing the Blueprint, such as funding, diversifying teacher workforce and the need for more flexibility from the state to continue implementing the 10-year plan.

And county government leaders joined in last week at the Maryland Association of Counties conference, where high costs and inflexibility of the plan were mentioned frequently.

“Between state revenues, between fund balances getting lower, it’s going to be more and more cataclysmic without course corrections on the way,” Dorchester County Councilman Michael Detmer (R) said during a Saturday session. He said he is skeptical the Blueprint’s supporters will readily agree to changes.

Del. Jefferson Ghrist (R-Upper Shore) moderates a panel Aug. 15 at the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City. Photo by William J. Ford.

A Thursday session on the Blueprint’s early childhood pillar – which includes a requirement that school districts provide a mixed-delivery system to serve students in both public schools and private child care centers – brought a plea for flexibility.

“No matter what the issue is, one size never fits all and pre-k is a great example of that,” said Del. Jefferson Ghrist (R-Upper Shore), who moderated the discussion. Ghrist voted against the Blueprint three years ago, but said he does support the early childhood part of the plan.

Better collaboration

Erin Doolittle, a prekindergarten teacher at Hillcrest Elementary in Frederick County, agrees that one size doesn’t fit all. But she said that she likes what she’s seen of the Blueprint so far.

Doolittle said the Blueprint has provided additional support for her school, where she’s entering her 21st year teaching, like the requirement to have a coordinator in schools designated as community schools. For her school, the coordinator organized a weekly afternoon gathering with families this summer at a local park, where children read books, practiced the alphabet and did other activities. Doolittle said parents could also receive information about transit services in the county.

Hillcrest serves as a community school that partners with local organizations to help teachers as well as parents and students’ families. Last school year, Doolittle said at least 75% of her 20 students spoke English as a second language at home.

As Doolittle prepared her classroom Monday for classes that began Wednesday, there were colorful phrases in English and Spanish posted around the room, such as “Nadie es como tú y ese es tu poder” – or “No one is like you and that is your power” in English.

“I think with the community schools coordinator, we’re being intentional about how we’re integrating the community and helping the community, rather than just kind of throwing things out there and hoping something helps,” she said. “We’ve always served as a community school, but the Blueprint has improved collaboration tremendously.”

In Doolittle’s room, she has several stations for reading, art and a carpet for morning meetings next to a full-size touchscreen board. Besides recognizing letters and numbers, social skills are a key component in prekindergarten, like learning to ask for help, being able to work with others and showing patience while waiting for a teacher to acknowledge them.

Since children are 3 and 4 years old, they take daily naps, or rest time, for about an hour. The goal is to get that down to about 40 minutes near the end of the school year, Doolittle said, so students’ bodies and minds are able to handle kindergarten.

“I think pre-k is kind of this very nebulous thing. What we’re doing is very, very different,” Doolittle said. “They’re singing and dancing and learning. There’s a lot going on, but it’s fun.”

Doolittle’s advice for state lawmakers and other officials to improve the Blueprint: “Just come and visit the classroom. See what’s going on. Then you’ll see how it really works.”

‘Still learning the Blueprint’

Unlike Doolittle, Michelle Early, calls herself “a career changer.” She worked in nonprofit management, retail management and for one year at a bank before settling on teaching. She is beginning her fourth year this week as a business teacher at Frederick County’s Walkersville High School.

Michelle Early, a business teacher at Walkersville High School in Frederick County, talks about students who can write their names on the cabinets just before they graduate. Photo by William J. Ford.

“I’m still learning the Blueprint,” she said Tuesday in her classroom, where she was getting ready for the start of classes Wednesday.

But Early, who teaches students in grades nine through 12, said the Blueprint has given her students more opportunities for college and career readiness. For those who may not want to enroll in free community college courses, Early said the school offers field trips to visit local businesses. Students can also get certified in a particular industry and get a job prior or after high school graduation.

“I see the excitement level on those students faces,” Early said. “Some aren’t or don’t want to go to college, but having another option for them makes all the difference.”

One part of the law she appreciates is increasing teacher starting salaries to $60,000 by July 2026. Early said she’s fortunate to work down the street from her school, but knows of other teachers who work in the county and live in Washington County or even Pennsylvania, because they cannot afford to live in Frederick County.

“Our wages are not enough. We go beyond the 35-to-40-hour work week,” she said. “This is beneficial for educators.”

One aspect of the Blueprint she’s still trying to grasp encourages teachers to earn national board certification, which recognizes them as “accomplished,” or experts in a certain area.

Every school district in the state has at least one teacher with that designation. But the state Department of Education said in a teacher workforce report in May that slightly more than 1,200, or 74%, of Maryland teachers designated as National Board Certified were concentrated in Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

Wright: There must be ‘a conscious effort’ to grow, diversify Maryland’s teacher workforce

The report notes more than 3,000 teachers during the previous school year of 2023-24 registered to receive “fee support” to pursue the certification. Once certified, teachers are eligible for a $10,000 raise, with an additional $7,000 for those who teach at an “identified low-performing school.”

Early thinks educators who pursue continuing education should be rewarded just the same as those who seek national board certification.

“As a teacher, I can see the importance of national board certification. Michelle, the person, I don’t see that a national board certification should be more important than someone who works at [earning] a doctorate,” she said. “Shouldn’t we as educators compensate that person in an equitable manner for having achieved that doctoral status, just as we are compensating someone who’s doing national board certification?”

Lemle, the teacher’s union president, said national board certification for a teacher improves the quality of instruction in the classroom by providing teachers with “incentives to stay in the classroom instead of … becoming administrators or leaving a classroom for other positions.”

“That’s why it’s money so well spent for our kids because we’re improving teacher quality and keeping them [teachers] in the classroom,” he said.

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Look What’s Coming up at Chesapeake Forum this September

August 19, 2024 by Chesapeake Forum
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Chesapeake Forum goes airborne this fall with rockets, birds and butterflies all on the schedule. Classes begin September 4. Registration opens August 21. Here’s a peak at what’s up the first two weeks. You can find more details at https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Since 2001, Poplar Island has grown into an important stopover for more than 260 identified species of birds and nesting habitat for 38 of them including the Bald Eagle, Osprey, Short-eared Owl, American Oystercatcher, Glossy Ibis, Snowy Egret, Least Tern, and Common Tern. Learn about Poplar Island’s history and its success in Autumn Birds of Poplar Island, two (2) sessions, Weds., Sept. 4, 10:30 AM – 12 Noon. HYBRID (in-person at the Easton Family YMCA, via ZOOM or recording) and Sept. 11 9 AM – 12 Noon, FIELD TRIP to Poplar Island from Tilghman Island dock. $30. Register at https://cheapeakeforum.org.

Raymond Vergne, MD is back for a deep dive into the circumstances, attitudes and events leading up to the succession of Confederate States in 1860-61. The Winter of our Discontent is not a discussion of the Civil War or Slavery. It will focus on the process of succession and how this came to happen in our young republic. The Winter of Our Discontent: Secession & Disunion is six (6) sessions, Tues., Sept. 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15 from 10:30 AM – 12 Noon. HYBRID (in-person at the Easton Family YMCA, via ZOOM, or recording). $60. Register at https://cheapeakeforum.org.

One surprising factor in the Civil War was the role of the US Navy played under the leadership of Navy Secretary Gideon Welles. Find out how Sec. Welles’ decisions helped shaped the beginning of the modern Navy and had an important impact on the Civil War. US Navy in the Civil War is three (3) sessions, Tues., Sept. 10, 17, 24 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM. HYBRID (in-person at the Easton Family YMCA, via ZOOM, or recording). $40. Register at https://cheapeakeforum.org.

Join us at Phillips Wharf Environment Center in Easton for the story of the Blue Crab. At the end, we will cook, pick and eat the bounty! If you’ve never picked a crab before, this is a great way to learn. The Blue Crabs of the Chesapeake Bay is one (1) session, Weds., Sept. 11 from 1:30 – 3 PM. In person at Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, Easton. $30. Register at https://cheapeakeforum.org.

Visit Wallops Island, an active spaceport and research facility on Sept. 12. Learn how rockets are prepared, processed and launched. Meet with scientists and engineers preparing experiments and vehicles for missions. Wallops Island was involved with the early stages of America’s space program including the first test launches of the Mercury capsule that later sent Alan Shepard and John Glenn into space from Cape Kennedy. Field Trip to Wallops Island Rocket Launch Facility is one (1) session, Thurs., Sept. 12 from 8 AM – 4 PM. FIELD TRIP. Meet at Easton Firehouse, 315 Leonard Rieck Drive, Easton. $70. Register at https://cheapeakeforum.org.

Join us for a field trip to the Neall House, Mary Jenkins House, and the Catherine Valliant Hill Research Center in the heart of the Easton Historical District. Learn how to conduct your own research at the Hill Center; experience life in Talbot County as it was in the 1800s by exploring the furnished Neall home; gain knowledge about the life and times of the African American community through historical artifacts, voices and visions of 11 Talbot County churches and more. A Walk Through Talbot County History is one (1) session, Fri., Sept. 13 from 1:30 – 3 PM. In person at the Hill Research Center, 25 South Washington St., Easton. $20. Register at https://cheapeakeforum.org.

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Benedictine’s Chrome City Fundraiser Draws Hundreds

August 14, 2024 by Benedictine
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Benedictine supported adults at the Chrome City Fundraiser.

Bikers and classic car enthusiasts gather in support of the students and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Benedictine.

Marking its 22^nd year, the Chrome City Fundraiser drew hundreds of motorcycles, hot rods, classic, custom, and vintage cars to the Benedictine’s campus in Ridgely, Maryland on July 27. The day included a car and motorcycle competition, live music by the Stoneflies – a Paul Reed Smith employee band, door prizes, and children’s activities. The Benedictine Foundation’s Chrome City Fundraiser supports students and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can achieve their greatest potential.

“Chrome City was a fun day with stunning cars and bikes, great vendors, live music, and plenty to see and do. PRS Guitars was happy to support the event this year with a display, entertainment, and guitar raffle. Free to the public and just a modest entry fee for show vehicles, Chrome City has the feel of a county fair and helps to support Benedictine’s very worthy cause,” stated Jack Higginbotham, Chief Operating Officer, PRS Guitars. Higginbotham went on to explain, “I have personally seen the good work they do in our community firsthand – my son, William, got a lot out of the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) program where he was taught job training skills at their Community Services and Training Center in Easton.”

The first 200 cars that registered received a dash plaque and everyone that registered received a commemorative Chrome City t-shirt. Best in Show was awarded to Craig and Diane Postlewait for their 1938 Packard Model Eight and Bill Bugai for his 1949 Vindian Relica Chief Prototype motorcycle. Tim Lewis won the donated PRS Guitar signed by Mark Tremonti of Creed.

Numerous food trucks were on site to purchase breakfast and lunch from including Uncle Bernie’s Steak Shack, Smokin’ on the Shore BBQ, Cousin’s Maine Lobster, Isaiah’s Breakfast, Isaiah’s Ice Cream, SnoAngels Shaved Ice and Walker Family Seafood.

Sponsors of this year’s Chrome City included A.H. Hatcher, Acruise, Blue Ruin, Bullocks Deli, Choptank, Cast Country Cares with Spicer Bros, Fresh Air Concepts, The Jetty, Koons Easton Toyota, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Queenstown Bank, Red Knights Motorcycle Club, South Corrosion, Dukes-Moore Insurance Agency, Torchio Architects, and PepUp. Chrome City was also supported by numerous families, friends and staff. The Delaware All Wheels Open Class Car Show selected Benedictine as a charity of choice and presented Benedictine with a check the day of the event.

“Over the past three year’s Benedictines Chrome City has raised over a quarter million dollars. The generosity of our sponsors and donors demonstrates the importance of the work our organization does to support children and adults living with developmental disabilities,” commented Claudia Cunningham, Chief Advancement Officer. “Everything about this special day is uplifting and touches lives in profound ways.”

If you would like more information on how you can support Benedictine, please contact Claudia Cunningham at [email protected] or 410. 634.2292. Visit Benedictine at www.benschool.org.

Benedictine supported adults at the Chrome City Fundraiser.

Chrome City Best in Show vehicle winner.

Chrome City PRS Guitar raffle winner.

All Wheels Open Class Car Show donation to Chrome City.

About Benedictine:

The year-round educational program is one of only 22 nationwide to earn a four-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine also has 4 student group homes located in Caroline and Talbot Counties.

Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers Meaningful Day and job training services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, who live in the community, and in 18 Benedictine adult group homes in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel Counties.

Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it supports to enter the workforce. Benedictine also collaborates with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to provide training programs and job search services for students in area schools and adults living in the surrounding community.

Benedictine serves individuals from all over the state and Mid-Atlantic region and is one of the Eastern Shore’s largest nonprofit employers with close to 400 employees. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

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Gunston’s Bull & Oyster Roast set for October 19, 2024

August 13, 2024 by Gunston School
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The Gunston School’s signature fundraising event, the Bull & Oyster Roast, will be held on Saturday, October 19 from 5-9 p.m. on the school’s waterfront campus, overlooking the Corsica River. The evening includes delicious food provided by Phat Daddy’s BBQ and Superior OysterShuckers as well as a beer truck, wine pull, and signature cocktail. DJ Kevin with Good Vibrations Entertainment will be back and taking requests for the dance floor.

Now in its ninth year, the Bull & Oyster Roast features an online silent auction, a live auction, and a “Stop the Auction and Raise the Paddle” portion which raises dedicated funds for a specific cause each year. This year, Gunston has a special opportunity to raise funds for a matching $100,000 matching grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation. This grant will boost environmental education programs, including the Chesapeake Watershed Semester and Chesapeake Bay Studies. It will support the school’s new 40-acre waterfront property with educational spaces, trails, and signage, and fund a van, kayaks, and trailer for field trips. Additionally, it will fund an Environmental Scholars Fund to ensure all students can participate.

“We are so fortunate to have received this opportunity from the EE Ford Foundation,” explains Head of School John Lewis. “To ‘unlock’ the grant, we need to raise $100,000 dedicated to this cause. To help achieve this goal, we are earmarking all of the proceeds from the live and silent auctions, the Best of Live Auction Raffle, and the “Stop the Auction” portion of the Bull & Oyster Roast to this initiative.”

The online silent auction runs from October 14-20, giving the entire Gunston community a chance to bid on an array of fantastic vacations and fun experiences, golf outings, professional photography sessions, artwork, and more. This year’s raffle and live auction will be in person and includes a handful of big ticket items such as vacation packages with more details to be announced soon.

“We are in need of auction items for both the live and silent portion,” explains Bull & Oyster Roast Chair Valerie Overton, P’24’28. “Please consider donating your vacation home for a getaway or airline miles and hotel points. We’re also looking for things such as personalized, VIP or behind-the-scenes experiences, signed sports memorabilia, event tickets, lessons—those are always very popular. And of course we welcome gift certificates from local restaurants and catering services, spas, boutiques– it all creates an unforgettable experience that not only raises funds for our school but creates lasting memories for the winning bidder!”

“This is also a wonderful sponsorship opportunity,” explains Gunston Parents Association President Ildi Watkins, P’26’28. “Please consider an individual or corporate sponsorship, as your generosity underwrites this event and makes it possible to raise the funds our students need.”

Tickets are on sale now at gunston.org/bullroast24 with early-bird pricing at $85 per person until August 31, $95 from Sept. 1-30, and $110 per person from Oct. 1-19. Tickets for alumni as well as former faculty and staff, and guests of current faculty and staff are $80. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older.

Sponsorships for the Bull & Oyster Roast range from $150 up to $5,000 with a price point for every budget. Additionally, there is an option to become a Heron Hero, which combines the sponsorship benefits of all three Gunston fundraising events, the Bull & Oyster Roast on October 19, the Heron Pickleball Tournament on April 12, and the Golfing fore Gunston on May 2.

This year’s Heron Heroes include Waterfront Sponsor Fred Frederick Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Easton (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P’23’25), Middleton Sponsors Joyce & Associates, LLC (Christine & Kevin Joyce, P’26), Easton Dermatology Associates, LLC (Brigitte & Dr. Donald Stranahan, P’25’27), and “Friends of Gunston.” Corsica Sponsor Ebb Tide Tent & Party Rentals, and Green & White Team Sponsors Wye Mills Mechanical, LLC, Dr. Laurie & John Lewis, and the Shifrin Family, P’21’21.

This year’s Bull & Oyster Roast sponsors include BBQ Sponsors ShoreGate Partners (Chesley & Justin Nonemaker, P’27) and What’s Up? Media, Pit Beef Sponsor Island Creek Events (Katharine Greenlee Henning ’07), Half Shell Sponsor Smithey Law Group (Joyce Smithey, P’26) and Shore Sponsor Fit Flock.

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Benedictine Announces New Board Members

August 6, 2024 by Benedictine
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Benedictine has welcomed four new members to its Board of Directors – Candace Chiaruttini, Bruce T. Miller, Susan O’Neill and Larry Porter. “We are thrilled to add these talented individuals to our team,” commented Benedictine Executive Director Scott Evans. “Each brings a unique set of skills that will enhance Benedictine’s mission to support children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can achieve their greatest potential.”

Candace Chiaruttini and her husband, Paul Milne, are active members of the Easton community. They founded the famed restaurant 208 Talbot in St. Michael’s and the Oaks Waterfront Inn in Easton. Chiaruttini’s childhood friend is a supported adult at Benedictine, and she admires the services it provides the developmentally disabled community.

Bruce T. Miller has an extensive background in financial management having worked in bank management and served as the finance director for a range of municipal governments, including the City of Annapolis. He is currently the Director of the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Finance.

Susan O’Neill is the Executive Director of the Upper Shore Regional Council and chairs the Board of the Rural Maryland Council, an association that disseminates state funding and promotes rural communities. O’Neill’s sister is supported by Benedictine and lives in one of its adult group homes.

Larry Porter has served Caroline County since 2011, including in the capacity of President of the Caroline County Commissioner, and is the Commissioners’ Representative on the Mid-Shore Regional Council. He has served on numerous local boards and took a leadership role on the Caroline Health Task Force, which led to the development of a historic agreement with the Shore Regional Health System to improve health outcomes in the county.

For more information on Benedictine’s programs and services and ways to support, please contact Claudia Cunningham, Chief Advancement Officer, at 410 634 2292 or [email protected]. Visit Benedictine at www.benschool.org.

Candance Chiaruttini, an active member of the Easton community, has joined the Benedictine Board of Directors.

Bruce T. Miller, Director of the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Finance, has joined the Benedictine Board of Directors.

Susan O’Neill, Executive Director of the Upper Shore Regional Council, has joined the Benedictine Board of Directors.

Larry Porter, Caroline County Commissioner, has joined the Benedictine Board of Directors.

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit service provider whose mission is to support children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can achieve their greatest potential. Benedictine currently supports close to 200 children and adults. The year-round educational program is one of only 22 nationwide to earn a four-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine also has 4 student group homes located in Caroline and Talbot Counties. Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers Meaningful Day and job training services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, who live in the community, and in 18 Benedictine adult group homes in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel Counties. Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it supports to enter the workforce. Benedictine also collaborates with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to provide training programs and job search services for students in area schools and adults living in the surrounding community. Benedictine serves individuals from all over the state and Mid-Atlantic region and is one of the Eastern Shore’s largest nonprofit employers with close to 400 employees. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

The Gunston School and The Country School Host 7th Environmental Leadership Conference for Independent School Leaders

August 2, 2024 by Gunston School
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Back Row L to R: Katherine Hinckley-Jenkins (Friends School of Baltimore), John Lewis (The Gunston School), Joshua Ratner (Friends School of Baltimore), Carla Claure (Defensores de Cuenca), Jessica Coffey (Highland School), Sam Francis (Sidwell Friends School), Emily Beck (The Country School), Kathryn Bauman-Hill (Capitol Hill Day School), Cassandra Reading (College Gardens), Svetlana Reyes (Defensores de Cuenca) Front Row L to R: Chris Oster (Georgetown Day School), Stef Misner (Montessori School of Westminster) Susan Foulk (Oldfield School), Ari McCown (Friends School of Baltimore), Julie Baker (John Carroll School), Lindsey Seynheave (Indian Creek School), Meghan Ferster (Kent School), Lauren Winkler (Stone Ridge School).

Centreville, MD – Last week, the Environmental Leadership Conference for Independent School Leaders (ELISL) was led by Gunston’s Head of School John Lewis, and Emily Beck, Head of Upper School at The Country School. Held annually in July, the conference invited independent school leaders representing eleven different schools across Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. to travel to Tangier, in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay region, for a deep dive into leading change in our schools and the growing imperative to place environmental teaching and learning at the center of student education.

Participants enjoyed listening to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) deep expertise in the transformative power of environment-based education and Beck and Lewis’s expertise in environmental strategic planning and curriculum initiatives. Over the course of the three-day conference, participants alternated between field sessions led by CBF staff and strategic planning sessions by the course leaders.

Additionally, the group learned about the fragile ecosystems that comprise the Chesapeake, explored Tangier Island’s culture and heritage, and developed a sense of place amongst the “island lost in time.” Participants gained first-hand knowledge and experience with environment-based education, place-based education, and environmental education through setting crab pots, monitoring water quality, scraping for soft shell crabs, and investigating climate change on Maryland’s most vulnerable island.

Interwoven into these experiences was material from the domains of Environmental Sociology, as well as Systems Thinking and Change Management theories derived from Harvard Business School and MIT’s Sloan School of Management, presented using mind-brain educational practices, offered participants key tools to facilitate change within their schools.

“Learning the skills of preserving and stewarding the natural environment is essential and Gunston believes that we have an educational and moral responsibility to teach students how to live in a sustainable manner. We’re happy to share our knowledge and skill sets with fellow educators and help the message of environmental stewardship and learning,” said Lewis.

The Gunston School is a leader in environmental teaching and learning. Its signature student programs include Chesapeake Bay Studies, now in its 31st year, and the Chesapeake Watershed Semester, now in its 6th year, along with many other sustainability initiatives and projects. Visit gunston.org for more information.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Maryland’s pre-K expansion plan proves to be unpopular with child care providers

August 1, 2024 by Maryland Matters
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Maryland is counting on private child care providers to take part as the state expands its pre-K program — but many providers don’t plan on becoming involved.

In a survey of the state’s childcare providers conducted this spring by the Local News Network, only 12.9% of respondents said they plan to or were already involved in the pre-K program created under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the state’s expansive education reform plan.

More than a third of the 256 respondents said they were unsure whether they will participate in the pre-K expansion — and nearly 40% said they would not participate.

Under the 10-year Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the pre-K expansion plan aims to expand pre-K enrollment to all 4-year-olds and all lower-income 3-year-olds through a “mixed delivery system” involving both public schools and private child care operations.

However, many childcare providers who responded to the survey said they are reluctant to take part in the program. Some said they would have trouble finding staff for a pre-K operation. Others said they didn’t want to get the additional education required to qualify for the program. Still, others said they didn’t want the Maryland State Department of Education to be more involved in their businesses than it already is.

Patti Smith, the director of Greenway Learning Center in Greenbelt, said she’s concerned that developmental differences between 3- and 4-year-olds would make managing a pre-K program difficult.

Asked if she would take part in the pre-K expansion, Smith said: “It’s more ‘no’ than ‘maybe,’ just for the first year because I want to see what other providers do. And I don’t have faith in MSDE. You know, I don’t think they have all the answers — so I’m not ready to be that guinea pig.”

The mixed delivery system

The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which the General Assembly passed in 2021, calls for widespread changes throughout the state’s public schools.

A widespread reluctance

On top of a statewide shortage of child care providers, education officials face another significant challenge in creating that mixed delivery system. The Local News Network survey this spring found many of the remaining child care providers are either reluctant to participate in the pre-K expansion or are refusing to take part.

Several child care providers said joining the pre-K program would make a hard job even more difficult.

Blueprint blues: Local leaders cite school reform plan’s progress, problems

“I’m overwhelmed with the day-to-day operational issues,” such as staff turnover and increased operating costs, said Dana Miller of Little Smiling Faces Childcare in Mitchellville. “Having to find a qualified (pre-K) teacher would just add more issues.”

Under the Blueprint, by the 2025-26 school year, pre-K teachers will have to be state-certified in early childhood education or have a bachelor’s degree and be taking part in an alternative educators training program. Pre-K teaching assistants will be required to have an associate’s degree, whereas now they only need a high school diploma.

Those requirements automatically block some child care providers from offering pre-K.

“It’s my understanding that you have to have a bachelor’s to participate, and I do not,” said Danielle Zulauf, owner of Tiny Trailblazers Daycare in Preston.

Michele Stritch, owner and operator of Michele Stritch Family Child Care in Dundalk, said in response to the survey that she is reluctant to participate in the pre-K because she doesn’t know what it entails. She also noted her center faces financial challenges and concerns about state regulations.

“I am inclined to not participate because I do not want the state being even more involved in how I run my business,” Stritch said.

On top of all those issues, state education planners face one more challenge: The LNN survey showed the percentage of child care providers who want to take part in the pre-K program — 12.9% — is exactly the same as the percentage of those who had never heard of it.

“I would love to participate but have never heard of the program,” said Charnetta Bailey, owner and operator of Children Learning Wonders in Ellicott City.

A publicity push?

Told about the survey results, Maryland Department of Education spokesperson Raven Hill indicated better publicity is the key to making sure more child care providers decide to offer pre-K.

“MSDE continues to invite private providers to participate in Push to Pre-K webinars to increase awareness of publicly funded Pre-K and provide accurate information and support regarding Pre-K grant opportunities and requirements,” Hill said in a written response to questions.

“MSDE will continue to encourage local education agencies to engage private providers in their areas about pre-K opportunities and the pre-K grant program benefits to children and families,” she said.

In addition, the state is tweaking its grant awards program to make more child care facilities eligible for pre-K funding, Hill said.

Tiffany Jones, owner of Precious Moments Family Childcare in Rockville, said she plans on participating in the expansion program. But she said it’s difficult for many child care providers to understand the state’s pre-K effort.

“The requirements to participate in pre-K expansion are very challenging for the average family child care provider,” she said. “So while pre-K is a wonderful program, they need the spaces in family child care for the system to really work — but there are a ton of requirements for providers (that are) very difficult.”

Even so, some child care providers said they plan on taking part in the pre-K expansion because doing so is important for the survival of their business. After all, if they lose 3- and 4-year-olds to either public schools offering pre-K or to other providers, that means fewer enrollees and lower revenue.

“I feel the school is taking all of the 4-year-olds and some of the 3-year-olds,” said Laurie Arnold, owner of Laurie Arnold Home Daycare in Frederick, who plans to take part in the pre-K program. “In order to keep my numbers up, I have to adjust.”

In time, despite the fact that she said she doesn’t want to be a “guinea pig,” Patti Smith of the Greenway Learning Center may end up adjusting, too.

She said she’s taking a wait-and-see attitude toward joining the pre-K expansion and may join it eventually. But she said she’s afraid those providers who decided to take part starting this year may have a difficult confrontation with reality when the next school year starts.

“Come September, they’re going to go: ‘Oh, we don’t have enough room. We don’t have enough teachers,’” Smith said. “I do think they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.”

– Local News Network director Jerry Zremski contributed to this report.

by Capital News Service, Maryland Matters
July 31, 2024

By Audrey Keefe and Mira Beinart

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

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