Registration opens in April for Kent County Public Schools’ pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs.

The school system offers full-day pre-K at all three of elementary schools. Pre-K is open to students who will be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1.

To register for the 2023-24 school year, contact your child’s home school to schedule an appointment.

Registration days are:

• Galena Elementary School, Tuesday, April 18; call 410-810-2510 for an appointment.
• Rock Hall Elementary School, Wednesday, April 19; call 410-810-2622.
• H.H. Garnet Elementary School in Chestertown, Tuesday, April 25; call 410-778-6890.

Visit www.kent.k12.md.us/EarlyChildhoodEducation.aspx for additional information about school registration or call your elementary school with any questions.

Registration opens next month for Kent County Public Schools’ pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs.

The school system offers full-day pre-K at all three of elementary schools. Pre-K is open to students who will be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1.

To register for the 2023-24 school year, contact your child’s home school to schedule an appointment.

“Children that attend Kent County Public Schoolspre-K programs are significantly more likely to be fully ready for kindergarten,” said Director of Teaching and Learning Gina Jachimowicz. “The KCPS 4-year-old students love to engage in their classroom learning environments as they build key skills like getting along with others and managing their own behaviors.”

Registration for Kent County Public Schools pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs will be held next month. Call your child’s home school to schedule an appointment for registration day.

Galena Elementary School’s registration will be held Tuesday, April 18; call 410-810-2510 for an appointment.

Rock Hall Elementary School registration is set for Wednesday, April 19; call 410-810-2622.

Registration for H.H. Garnet Elementary School in Chestertown is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25; call 410-778-6890.

Families should bring to their registration appointment the following documents:

• the child’s birth certificate
• completed Immunization and Health Inventory forms
• proof of residence, such as a utility bill, tax bill or lease agreement
• the child’s Social Security card
• the child’s health insurance card
• the parent’s driver’s license or government-issued photo ID
• proof of custody if not a birth parent.

Families registering for pre-K are asked to provide income information as part of the registration process. Information on service options and programs will be provided to those who qualify.

The school system is asking families to bring their children with them to registration appointments this year.

The State of Maryland requires children to attend kindergarten before entering first grade, with some exceptions. All children who turn 5 years old before Sept. 1 are required to register and attend kindergarten.

Visit www.kent.k12.md.us/EarlyChildhoodEducation.aspx for additional information about the elementary schools or call your elementary school with any questions.

Ten student artists at Kent County High School were recognized last month for their talents and their dedication to service and leadership.

On Thursday, Feb. 2, the Dize-Michael Chapter of the National Art Honor Society at Kent County High School held its 12th induction ceremony.

Ten new members were inducted to increase the chapter membership to 29.

The new members are Heather Bilbrough, Gillian Bonass, Alexa Kendall, Jade Lee, Addisyn Litton, Ny’Auna Lively, Amber Long, Jack Rhodes, Aaron Saunders and Thomas Stecklair.

Membership in the National Art Honor Society provides students with opportunities to be recognized for their artistic talents, service and leadership roles.

The induction ceremony included a brief report of the chapter’s recent service activities, which included creating 15 portraits for children in Nigeria through the Memory Project.

It was also announced that the Soup-er Bowl dinner will return to Kent County High School Thursday, March 23 with proceeds benefiting the Kent County Food Pantry.

Photo: Ten new members are inducted into the National Art Honor Society at Kent County High School. Back row from left are members Emma Morris, Trice Moore, Jack Spray, Emily Blusk, Kendall Joyner, Elizabeth Bilbrough, Kamron Wiggins, Megan Moore and Addison Cross. New members in the front row are, from left, Alexa Kendall, Aaron Saunders, Gillian Bonass, Addisyn Litton, Ny’Auna Lively, Amber Long and Heather Bilbrough. Not pictured are new members Jade Lee, Jack Rhodes and Thomas Stecklair.

The middle and high school uplifted students last week with special guest speakers at a pair of Black History Month assemblies.

At Kent County High School on Wednesday, Feb. 22 students gathered in Trojan Arena to hear from a full slate of motivational speakers, among them celebrities and alumniYvng Swag and Juante Wilson.

Swag, né Tyshawn Johnson, and fellow alum Juante Wilson spoke to students about dreaming big and working hard.

Kent County High School student Cherish Johnson sings the Black National Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in Trojan Arena, opening a Black History Month assembly Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Wilson is an actor with credits including the television series “Law & Order” and the 2019 Chadwick Boseman movie “21 Bridges.”

“You have to figure out what your path is, stick to it and never give up,” Swag, a dancer, singer and actor, told students.

A nephew of Kent County High School teacher Michelle Phillips, guest speaker Ronnell Page talked about how his childhood was split between rural Colemans Corner here and urban Wilmington, Del.

Page discussed the importance of entrepreneurialism and the significance of people who were once forced to labor for others being free to launch their own ventures.

“So that sense of being free or being an entrepreneur and having multiple businesses and multiple income streams is something that is deeply rooted in the African American culture,” he said.

Charles Harmon, a motivational speaker who spent 23 of his 48 years in prison, discussed the importance of finding a purpose and pursuing that.

He offered a harrowing look at his childhood growing up poor in Philadelphia and how through his time in prison he found a higher purpose in life that today includes writing and motivational speaking.

Kent County High School teacher Michelle Phillips introduces a guest speaker at the Black History Month assembly.

Paul Tue of Minary’s Dream Alliance and Tilise Brown, the high school’s counseling secretary, led students through a Black History Month trivia contest, with questions focused around the Civil Rights movement.

Tue reminded the high school students that though they may be young, they can begin to make history now.

“You can trailblaze now. You can be a trendsetter now,” he said.

Swag and Wilson were both back at Kent County Middle School Friday, Feb. 24 for an assembly.

The assembly was organized by the school’s Achieving Academic Equity and Excellence for Black Boys (AAEEBB) mentoring program.

Tyray Johnson, the coordinator of the AAEEBB program, is Swag’s father.

Johnson opened the assembly by talking about how students need to work hard, make sacrifices and maintain their dedication to achieving their dreams.

Ronnell Page of Wilmington, Del. speaks to Kent County High School students about the importance of entrepreneurialism during a Black History Month assembly.

“You have to keep pressing on. You have to keep moving forward,” he said. “And most importantly of all you have to believe in yourself.”

Swag and Wilson sat down with middle school teacher Desmond Hasty for individual interviews and discussions about their lives and their work.

With multiple movies premiering this year on streaming platforms, Wilson spoke about how he prepares for roles and the need to stay focused.

“If you can dream it, you can achieve it,” he said.

When one student asked if Wilson thought the student had what it takes to make it, Wilson turned the question back on the student.

Wilson told the student it was more important that the student himself thought he could make it.

“If you want to be an actor, if you want to be singer, dream big and work hard,” Wilson said, circling back to similar comments he told high school students two days before.

Swag spoke about how he was shy when he was younger, but it was at Kent County Middle School where he started to open up with the encouragement of students and staff.

Yvng Swag performs in Trojan Arena Wednesday, Feb. 22 as part of a Black History Month assembly.

“Middle school really was the start. This was the foundation of what started the dancing for me,” he said.

Swag talked about building and maintaining confidence and a strong positive mindset, and being able to block out negativity from others.

“It takes confidence to do anything you want to do,” Swag said.”You have to be confident in order to do anything, to do whatever, you know — become a policeman, a teacher, anything. You have to be confident in what you want to achieve.”

Throughout the month of February, Kent County Public Schools celebrated Black History Month in daily classroom activities and with special events and assemblies.

Rock Hall Elementary School held its annual Black History Month celebration Thursday, Feb. 23 with volunteer readers coming into the classrooms.

Guests included KCPS administrators, local officials and community leaders. Some brought their own books, others chose titles from the school’s library.

Volunteer readers gather in the Rock Hall Elementary School media center Thursday morning, Feb. 23 before heading out to classrooms to talk with students about Black History Month.

Principal Gillian Spero was thrilled with the number of volunteers who signed up visit with students.

“We are really excited to have you come read to our students today. They love guest readers,” Spero told the guests. “We are very grateful that you could take time out of your day for our students.”

After talking to students and reading to them, the volunteers were treated to a catered luncheon in the media center.

Also on hand for students was the Chesapeake Heartlands truck.

The truck offers visitors a look at photos and documents scanned and digitized from locals as part of the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience’s Chesapeake Heartland: An African American Humanities Project at Washington College.

Retired teacher Joyce Moody returns to a Rock Hall Elementary School classroom Thursday, Feb. 23 to read to students during the school’s annual Black History Month celebration.

Galena Elementary School hosted Sumner Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 22. and Thursday Feb. 23.

Sumner Hall is located in Chestertown in the restored building of the historic Grand Army of the Republic, a lodge for Black Civil War veterans.

Today, Sumner Hall is an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the African American experience.

On Feb. 22, Sumner Hall set up interactive stations at Galena Elementary School for students to explore and provided a library of books for reading time.

The following day, fourth graders enjoyed a musical program with the presentation of “The Crossroads Experience.”

Local musicians including Karen Somerville of the vocal group Sombarkin’ performed and spoke to students about the history of the blues.

Millington Town Council Member Zita Seals, left, and Minary’s Dream Alliance co-founder Doncella Wilson talk to Rock Hall Elementary School students during the school’s annual Black History Month celebration.

Still to come, H.H. Garnet Elementary School will celebrate its namesake Friday, March 3.

Henry Highland Garnet Day aims to educate and inspire students by teaching about the life of the famed orator and abolitionist and other important figures in the school’s history.

Special activities are planned and Sumner Hall and Chesapeake Heartlands will both be at school.

While no one can actually add hours to the day, Kent County High School administrators got creative in making more time for students who need a little extra help.

This fall they launched “Trojan Time,” a dedicated period for intervention to help students who need it and provide enrichment opportunities for those who are on track and excelling.

The Debate Team meets in the Kent County High School media center Tuesday, Dec. 6 as part of Trojan Time.

“Basically, the idea is for intervention and enrichment,” said Principal Kris Hemstetter. “So we’re excited about being able to provide that time for students.”

The first Trojan Time period was held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving break. The school continued to schedule Trojan Time on the next two Tuesdays.

Schools collect a lot of data throughout the year on each student’s progress.

Trojan Time is just one example of how school staff has put that data to use: identifying students who need help and providing that support.

For other students, Trojan Time is an opportunity for additional enrichment activities.

That could mean a chance for a club meeting, practicing on the Debate Team, participating in another school group or joining in a special teacher-led activity.

On Dec. 6, for example, science teacher Kayln Stout took students outside to dye natural indigo and talk about archeology.

Science teacher Kayln Stout leads students through the process of dying natural indigo during Trojan Time on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

To make the extra hour on those Tuesdays, the school runs on the same schedule it uses for a 60-minute weather delay.

“The kids seem to enjoy it,” Hemstetter said of Trojan Time. “We did a lot of planning up front and we’re confident it is going to help our students.”

Three members of a classical string quartet held a concert for students at H.H. Garnet Elementary School recently, opening new musical worlds through compositions based on “Gulliver’s Travels.”

On Monday, Nov. 28, Kumiko Sakamoto, Lauren Spaulding and Christopher Whitley of the Thalea String Quartet performed for fourth and fifth graders at Garnet.

The quartet is the current Doctoral Fellowship String Quartet at the University of Maryland. They were here in Kent County for a performance the day prior as part of the National Music Festival’s Resonance concert series.

Members of the Thalea String Quartet perform a selection from Bert Appermont’s “Gulliver’s Travels” Monday, Nov. 28 at H.H. Garnet Elementary School. They are, from left, Christopher Whitley, Kumiko Sakamoto and Lauren Spaulding.

Sakamoto and Whitley are violinists and Spaulding plays the viola.

Each spoke and performed solos and they played together as a trio for the students.

Their performance included pieces from Bert Appermont’s musical interpretation of Jonathan Swift’s 1726 book “Gulliver’s Travels.”

The musicians would play a piece and then ask students how it made them feel.

The reactions could range from happy to sad for the same composition, showing how music affects each listener differently.

“We all bring our individual selves when we listen to music,” Whitley told the students.

The musicians spoke about how early some children start learning music, with Whitley and Sakamoto being younger than the day’s audience members when they began.

Others, like Spaulding, may pick up their instruments later. She said she was 15 years old when she began playing the viola.

From left, Christopher Whitley, Kumiko Sakamoto and Lauren Spaulding perform at H.H. Garnet Elementary School Monday, Nov. 28. Their group, the Thalea String Quartet, was in town having played the day before as part of the National Music Festival’s Resonance concert series.

“So for anybody who hasn’t started yet, it’s not too late,” Spaulding said.

The National Music Festival, with support from the Kent Cultural Alliance, is arranging for every artist and group performing in the 2022-23 Resonance concert series to visit a local school.

Earlier this fall the Canadian Guitar Quartet visited Galena Elementary School.

“We are proud of this educational effort, and grateful to the Kent Cultural Alliance, without whose support this would not be possible,” said Caitlin Patton, executive director of the National Music festival.