STEPHEN DECATUR MIDDLE SCHOOL

This week and every day, we are grateful for our guidance counselors, Mrs. Zollinger and Mrs. Zanowic. These amazing women are the heart of our school, leading with compassion, care, and understanding.

Thank you for your time. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for the love you show our students and staff each day.

SDMS appreciates you! 💙🤍🐾

Our SDMS Black History Month Honoree in Integrated Language Arts today is Frederick Douglass:

💕February at a Glance💕

Congratulations to Loralei D., an 8th grader at Stephen Decatur Middle School, for being selected as the Delmarva Shorebirds Hit the Books Bookmark Contest winner!

Loralei was surprised this morning by representatives from the Delmarva Shorebirds, including Sherman, The Brace Place, and her family to celebrate her achievement. Her bookmark design will be distributed to 55,000 students across the Delmarva Peninsula, and she has been invited to throw out the first pitch during SDMS designated Shorebirds night in May. #WeAreWorcester

💝💗 February Box Tops 💗💝
📱Just download the Box Tops app and scan your receipt
🛒 February Bonus Brands:
Progresso • Betty Crocker • Annie’s • Totino’s • Nature Valley
🍪 Valentine treats count too!
Here’s how you can help:
💕Shop participating Box Tops brands
🧾 Scan your receipts within 14 days
✨ Earn cash that supports our students and classrooms
#bulldogstrong 💙🤍🐾

With wintry weather again in the forecast, we want to share with families that as of today, WCPS has utilized only one (1) of its three (3) days built into the 2025-2026 calendar for inclement weather. In accordance with our virtual day learning plan, all three days will be exhausted prior to utilizing virtual learning.

WCPS families can find below information on where to find inclement weather notifications. For those extended family members who may not receive notifications directly from us, you can stay in the know by downloading our mobile app and enabling notifications:

Download from the Apple App Store: https://apple.co/41QgE9c
Download from the Google Play Store: https://bit.ly/426TLOp

As a reminder, we endeavor to communicate any decisions by 5:30 a.m. at the latest. However, we ask for your patience and understanding in these difficult decisions. Our team not only monitors multiple forecasts and collaborates with other agencies, but they actively travel roads across all regions of the the county to ensure the safety of students and staff. #WeAreWorcester #SafetyMatters

Good Afternoon Bulldog Families! Just a reminder of Worcester County Public Schools schedule this week. 💙🖤🐾

Due to inclement weather conditions, Worcester County Public Schools will open one hour late on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Buses will operate accordingly. All school programs will begin following the one-hour delay.

Due to inclement weather conditions, Worcester County Public Schools will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026. All after school, evening and Adult Education classes are also cancelled.

Thank you to our wonderful and generous community members, Sweetwater Contracting, for relieving the debt of some our Bulldog Students. #bulldogstrong 💙🤍🐾

With wintry weather on the horizon, we want to remind families where to find inclement weather notifications. For those extended family members who may not receive notifications directly from us, you can stay in the know by downloading our mobile app and enabling notifications.

Download from the Apple App Store: https://apple.co/41QgE9c
Download from the Google Play Store: https://bit.ly/426TLOp

As a reminder, we endeavor to communicate any decisions by 5:30 a.m. at the latest. However, we ask for your patience and understanding in these difficult decisions. Our team not only monitors multiple forecasts, but they actively travel roads across all regions of the the county to ensure the safety of students and staff. #WeAreWorcester #SafetyMatters

Attention WCPS families: With temperatures low, WCPS wants to remind our students and their families to be safe near bodies of water that form ice this time of year. Remember, the ice on ponds, storm water retaining areas, and canals is never strong enough to allow any human to walk on them. Keep the below safety tips in mind for winter water safety.

• Do not walk, skate, or play on frozen bodies of water. A good rule to follow is there is no such thing as a sate thickness of ice in our area.
• Keep pets and children away from ice-covered bodies of water.
Animals are particularly at risk of falling through thin ice.
• Educate children. Tell kids about the dangers of playing near frozen bodies of water and reinforce the importance of never venturing out on the ice.
• Report dangerous conditions. If you see anyone venturing onto the ice, immediately call 91l and inform local authorities.

Worcester drivers—safety starts with you. If you see a school bus with flashing red lights, make sure to stop and wait. Remember to always stop when the stop-arm is out. #WeAreWorcester

OC Surf Club is hosting the Winter Green Up! Meet on Saturday, Feb 7th from 10am till 12pm at Northside Park - 200 125th street in Ocean City. Everyone is welcome - bring the whole family! All students can earn Service Learning hours. They will be serving Hot Chocolate to all those who participate! They will have bags, buckets and gloves for everyone -- so just show up feel the community spirit!

School Safety Reminder: The well-being of our students and staff is our highest priority. Learn more about our safety protocols here: https://www.worcesterk12.org/page/school-safety-protocols
#WeAreWorcester #SafetyMatters

We are thrilled to announce that Miss Knopp has been selected as this year's SDMS Teacher of the Year! She brings passion, creativity, and dedication to everything she does. Please join us in celebrating Miss Knopp for her commitment to student success, collaboration with colleagues, and positive impact on SDMS!

❄️Look what's going on at SDMS this month❄️