Eagles fly at sunrise

North Dorchester High School seniors are invited to begin their final year in the Eagles’ Nest by gathering with friends, catching up and watching the sun rise Sept. 6, their last first day of school. The Athletic Complex field and bathrooms will be open from 6-6:30 a.m.

“Feel free to bring chairs or blankets. Afterwards, go have some breakfast or coffee with friends (you will need to leave campus) and return for the start of the school day at 7:50 a.m.,” a statement from the school said. “Ms. Benner and Ms. Bennett can’t wait to work with you to make this an awesome senior year! RSVPs appreciated, but not required. Those and any questions can be directed to bennern@dcpsmd.org.”

C-SDHS ‘Viking Takeover’

On Sept. 1, “The Viking Takeover” will take place, with an open house from 2-4 p.m., followed by a pep rally in the C-SD gymnasium. All students, parents and families are invited to attend the pep rally, which will feature parent vs. student games and more.

Friday Night Lights will be back, as the varsity football team will face North Caroline at 6 p.m. A statement from the school said, “We hope to see you all for ‘The Viking Takeover!’”

Sandy Hill Elementary School

Class rosters will be posted on the cafeteria doors Aug. 28. The Back-to-School Block Party and Open House is scheduled for Sept. 1 from 3-5 p.m. All school supplies are being provided by Dorchester County Public Schools, Sandy Hill and the Sandy Hill Judy Center, so there's nothing to buy this year except new school uniforms.

2023 Maryland Grazing School

The Maryland Grazing School will be held Sept. 21-22 at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center in Keedysville from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Designed with producer interests in mind, this two-day grazing school will offer a more in-depth education on pasture and grazing management.
The course features multiple hands-on exercises to provide participants with opportunities to work with grazing tools and fencing materials. Topics covered will include forage selection,
pasture assessment, grazing management, pasture allocation, fencing and watering options,
extending the grazing season, and more. Enrollment is limited to 30 people to keep the group
small and allow for more interaction and networking opportunities. For full details and
registration information, please visit go.umd.edu/grazingschool.
This event is held in partnership by University of Maryland Extension, the Maryland-
Delaware Forage Council, Maryland Grazers Network, NRCS, and NE SARE.

For more information, contact your local county Extension office or
Amanda Grev at agrev@umd.edu or 301-432-2767 ext. 339.

Gov. Moore at Benedictine School

Governor Wes Moore last week toured Benedictine Programs and Services campus in Ridgely, one of the most comprehensive providers of services for children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and autism.

Benedictine Programs and Services offers a year-round educational residential program for students throughout Maryland, ages 5-21, as well as adjoining states, and an expansion is set for the facility with the support of a $1.5 million capital grant in the FY2023 budget. The funding will be used for the construction and engineering costs associated with building a new student residential building. The FY2024 capital budget included an additional $2.5 million for the campus project.

Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers employment and vocational services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, in the community and those who live in Benedictine’s group homes in Caroline, Talbot and Anne Arundel counties. Benedictine is one of only four residential facilities for the developmentally disabled and autistic, who can accept students with moderate to severe challenges. Benedictine is one of the Eastern Shore’s largest employers with 350 employees.

‘The Woods in Your Backyard’ online

Registration is now open for the fall 2023 session of “The Woods in Your Backyard” online course from the University of Maryland Extension. The self-directed, non-credit course runs 10 weeks from Sept. 5 to Nov. 14, and allows students to access content at their convenience; no need to attend evening classes or weekend workshops.

The course will help landowners of small parcels of land (1-10 acres) improve the stewardship of their property for personal enjoyment and environmental quality by converting lawn to natural areas and enhancing their stewardship of existing natural areas. It uses a hands-on learning approach to help participants develop and implement a plan for their property.

Activities include how to map habitat areas, understand basic ecological principles about woodland and wildlife, choose and implement a few habitat management projects, and how to set a timetable and record progress. Online discussion groups will allow participants to interact with others taking the course.  A certificate of completion is awarded when all assignments are completed.
The course costs $95 per person, which includes the 108-page “Woods in Your Backyard”
guide, workbook, and a tree identification guide. The course is limited to 25 participants. Registration closes Sept. 5 or when filled. Registration is through Eventbrite.