Click the Link for the Back-to-School Prep Saints Scoop.
https://app.smore.com/n/a56z8t

📣 SMMHS Open House — Thursday, August 20th!

We are excited to welcome our families and students to SMMHS Open House this Thursday! This is a great opportunity for students to get ready for the new school year, pick up important items, and meet their teachers.

🕘 Middle School: 9:00–10:00 AM
🕙 High School: 10:00–11:00 AM

During Open House, students will be able to:

📚 Pick up their schedules
🚶 Walk through their class schedules and locate classrooms
👋 Meet their teachers
💻 Pick up their school-issued devices and bags from the Media Center

📱 Middle School Families: Students in grades 6–8 who are issued a Yondr Pouch will have their pouches ready and placed inside their school-issued iPad case.

🚗 Parking & Entrance: Families should park on the side of the building by the YMCA and enter through the Auditorium doors. Please do not occupy YMCA parking.

We look forward to seeing everyone and getting the school year off to a great start! 💙

TCPS to Pilot Weapons Detection Screening at Fall Athletic Events

Talbot County Public Schools is committed to providing a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all students, staff, families, and community members attending school events.

Beginning with the 2026 fall athletic season, TCPS will implement a weapons detection screening pilot at all home varsity football games at Easton High School and all varsity soccer games at St. Michaels Middle High School.

As part of this enhanced safety measure, all spectators will be subject to security screening prior to entering the venue. By entering, guests consent to the screening process, which includes passing through a walk-through weapons detection system. If the system identifies an item requiring additional review, a handheld security wand may be used as a secondary screening measure.

The screening process will be in effect for the first home event on Friday, August 21. It has been designed to be quick, efficient, and respectful while helping to ensure the safety of everyone attending our events. Student spectators are not permitted to bring backpacks, book bags, or other large bags into the venue. Bags carried by adult spectators are permitted but are subject to security screening and inspection. 

“We are committed to creating an environment where students can compete, families can cheer, and our community can gather with confidence,” said Dr. Sharon Pepukayi, TCPS Superintendent. “These proactive measures reflect our ongoing commitment to school safety while maintaining a positive experience for everyone attending our athletic events.”

To help expedite entry, spectators are encouraged to:

·      Arrive early to allow time for screening.
·      Limit the number of personal items brought into the venue 
·      Follow directions provided by event staff and security personnel.
·      Inform staff of medical devices or medically necessary items that may require accommodation.

TCPS appreciates the patience and cooperation of our families and community as we implement this pilot. Working together, we can continue to provide safe and enjoyable experiences for everyone who attends our school events.

For additional information regarding event entry procedures, please contact Sherry Spurry, Coordinator of School Safety and Security, at the Talbot County Education Center at (410) 822-0330 or sherry.spurry@talbotschools.org.

What’s the best way to hold on to a piece of summer AND support our teachers? 🍿❤️🖤

Grab some Fisher’s Popcorn and help us raise funds for Teacher Appreciation!

🛒 Order here: Fisher’s Popcorn Fundraiser

At checkout, enter SMMHS26 so our school gets the credit!

📅 Code expires September 30, 2026.

Let’s go ALL IN for our teachers! 🍿❤️🖤

TCPS free Summer meal pick-up is today (Thursday, 8/13/26) from 3-6 p.m. inside the cafeteria at Easton Elementary School.

Dear TCPS Families,

As we approach the beginning of the school year, we want to inform you of some important revisions to our Student Attendance Administrative Regulation 10.2 to comply with Maryland Law. These changes were also presented at the June Board of Education meeting.

1 - TCPS will no longer have an internal code or approval process for family vacations. In accordance with Maryland Law (COMAR 13A.08.01.03-.04), these absences can only be coded as unexcused.

2 - The state has instituted a new absence code for students participating in civic engagement. These absences will be excused with prior authorization by school administration.

3 - TCPS will no longer count six tardies as one unexcused absence. This practice inflated student absenteeism and was not equitable, since a tardy could range from a few minutes to over an hour per Maryland law.

4 - The state does not recognize tardies as excused or unexcused, so we will not code those as such. They will simply be coded as a tardy.

5 - If a student has a chronic illness, absences will no longer be classified as CHIPS (Chronic Health Impairment for Students). Families will need to talk to their school counselor and complete the Home/Hospital process for intermittent services. This will ensure that students suffering from chronic health issues continue to receive educational services.

Please carefully review the updated Student Attendance Administrative Regulation linked here: Policy Code 10.2 AR.

While Maryland Law necessitates these revisions, we also believe these practices are in the best interest of our students. Thank you for your support!

Sharon Pepukayi, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

We are teaming up with the Talbot County Free Library again this year for Popsicles in the Park! Join us for stories, activities, free books, and fun! Enjoy ice-cold popsicles while Dr. Pepukayi reads a story! We will be at Idlewild Park in Easton on today (8/11/26) from 5-6:30 p.m.

🍎 Help Us Welcome Back Our Teachers!

Help us kick off the new school year by showing our SMMHS teachers some love! If you’d like to donate snacks, drinks, or breakfast items, please sign up below.

Sign Up Here

Thank you for helping us welcome our teachers back

Middle school sports are offered through the Family YMCA. Fall sports include field hockey, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, and girls' volleyball.

Please see the attached flyer for tryout dates, times, locations, and registration information. For questions or to register, please contact the YMCA directly.

Talbot County Board of Education Meetings - August 2026
Work Session - Monday, August 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting - Wednesday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m.

NOTE: Regular Meetings of the Board will be held on the second Wednesday of the month effective in August, 2026. Work Session Meetings will be held on the Monday before the Regular Meeting. All meetings will begin promptly at 5:30 pm.

All Talbot County Board of Education Meetings are held at the Talbot County Education Center, 12 Magnolia Street, Easton, MD 21601. Open meetings are held in Conference Room #1. The Talbot County Board of Education holds monthly Work Session Meetings, as indicated under the “Upcoming Meetings” section on the right side of the TCPS Diligent Community Home Page linked below. Work Session meetings begin at 5:30 p.m., on the dates indicated. The public may livestream meetings by choosing the video “Livestream” camera icon. Video coverage of past meetings can be viewed by selecting the video camera icon next to the correct meeting date under the “Recent Meetings” category on the right side of the page.

The Talbot County Board of Education holds Regular Board Meetings on a monthly basis at the Talbot County Education Center. The Board begins Regular Monthly Meetings at 5:30 p.m., only for the purpose of voting to close the meeting pursuant to the State Government article (Section 3-305 (b)) (1) (to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals to discuss the superintendent contract; and (Section 3-305 (b)) (7) and (8), to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on legal matters and consult with staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation).

The open portion of the Regular Board Meeting begins at approximately 7:00 p.m. The public may attend in person or view the meeting via livestream by choosing the “Livestream” video camera icon on the TCPS Diligent Community Home page. Video coverage of past meetings may be accessed by selecting the video camera icon next to the proper meeting date under the “Recent Meetings” category. Requests to speak at a Regular Board Meeting may be submitted online, prior to the start time of the regular Board meeting, using the following link: https://tcpsk12.community.diligentoneplatform.com/portal/

For more information about the Talbot County Board of Education, please contact Faith M. Brundige, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, by emailing: Faith.Brundige@TalbotSchools.org.

TCPS free Summer meal pick-up is today (Thursday, 8/6/26) from 3-6 p.m. inside the cafeteria at Easton Elementary School.

Fall Sports Orientation

Thursday, August 6
🕕 6:00 p.m.
📍 SMMHS Cafeteria

All high school fall athletes and their families are encouraged to attend.

Before participating, athletes should:

• Register through Snap

• Have an updated physical on file

• Complete all required athletic paperwork

Registration links and athletic information can be found on smsaints.com.

Fall sports tryouts begin Wednesday, August 12. Coaches will share sport specific information and expectations during the orientation.

🎯 New Clay Target Team

We are excited to announce the formation of the St. Michaels Middle High School Clay Target Team! Students entering grades 8 through 12 who are interested in joining are encouraged to attend the interest meeting.

Thursday, August 6
🕖 7:00 p.m.
📍 Talbot Rod & Gun Club
9226 Chapel Road, Easton

For additional information or to sign up, please contact:

• Coach Steve Spurry: 410-310-2301

• Coach Joe Capozzoli: 410-310-8073

Athletics Ticketing Update

As Maryland high school athletics continues moving toward a more consistent statewide model, St. Michaels Middle High School will transition to a cashless ticketing system this year. We will continue using GoFan for all athletic ticket sales.

Please remember that all regular season ticket revenue directly supports our students and athletic programs, helping provide meaningful opportunities and experiences for our Saints.

Admission will be charged for the following sports:

Fall

• Soccer

• Field Hockey

• Volleyball

Winter

• Basketball

• Wrestling

Spring

• Baseball

• Softball

St. Michaels Middle High School Midsummer Update

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, we want to share a few important reminders and updates to help families get ready for a successful start to the year. We are excited to welcome our Saints community back and look forward to another great year together.

🚌 Transportation Registration Reminder

The deadline to register for TCPS bus transportation for the upcoming school year is July 31st.

Families who need bus transportation should complete the registration form using the link found on the Transportation page of the TCPS website. If you have already completed your transportation registration, there is no need to submit it again.

Registering by the deadline helps ensure transportation information is processed and routes are prepared for the start of the school year.

👋 Meet the Teacher

We look forward to welcoming students and families to Meet the Teacher on Thursday, August 20th.

• Middle School (Grades 6–8): 9:00–10:00 a.m.

• High School (Grades 9–12): 10:00–11:00 a.m.

This is a great opportunity for students to meet teachers, learn about classrooms, and begin preparing for the upcoming school year.

🏆 Athletics Updates

We are excited for another great year of Saints Athletics and are proud to celebrate the addition of Volleyball as a new athletic opportunity for our students this year.

We are also excited to introduce our new home for all things Saints Athletics! The new website, smsaints.com, will provide information for students, families, and the community, including schedules, announcements, registration information, and other athletic updates.

Fall Sports Information

Fall Sports Orientation
📅 Thursday, August 6th
🕕 6:00 p.m.
📍 SMMHS Cafeteria

All high school fall sport athletes and families should attend the orientation to receive important information from coaches about the upcoming season.

Before participating, all athletes must:

• Register through Snap

• Ensure they have an updated physical on file

• Complete all required athletic registration steps

Links and additional information can be found on the new Saints Athletics website at smsaints.com.

Fall sports tryouts begin Wednesday, August 12th. Coaches will provide specific tryout information, expectations, and schedules during the fall sports orientation.

Athletics Ticketing Update

As high school athletics continues to move toward a more consistent statewide approach, St. Michaels Middle High School will transition to a cashless ticketing system for athletic events this year. We will continue using GoFan for all ticket sales.

All regular season ticket revenue directly benefits our students and athletic programming by supporting opportunities, resources, and experiences for our athletes.

With the transition to cashless ticketing, admission will be charged for the following sports:

Fall Sports

• Soccer

• Field Hockey

• Volleyball

Winter Sports

• Basketball

• Wrestling

Spring Sports

• Baseball

• Softball

We appreciate your support of Saints Athletics and your continued investment in our students.

Middle School Athletics Reminder

Middle school sports programming is offered through the YMCA and is not operated by St. Michaels Middle High School. Families interested in middle school sports opportunities should contact the YMCA directly for information about available programs, schedules, and registration.

We hope everyone is enjoying the summer and taking time to recharge. We are looking forward to welcoming our Saints back for another year of being ALL IN on learning, leadership, and belonging!

We are teaming up with the Talbot County Free Library again this year for Popsicles in the Park! Join us for stories, activities, free books, and fun! Enjoy ice-cold popsicles while Dr. Pepukayi reads a story! We will be in St. Michaels at Muskrat Park on Tuesday, July 14, from 5 - 6 p.m., and at Idlewild Park in Easton on Tuesday, August 11 (new date) from 5-6:30 p.m.

All High School Athletes Need to Register on SNAP! Use smsaints.com and click on the Parent Corner tab to locate the SNAP Manage link.

Don't forget that our Fall Sports Orientation is August 6th at 6 pm in the SMMHS Cafeteria.