What a day at the State Meet! 🏊♂️🔥Out of 38 teams competing, MHS made waves!
💙 Girls – 21st Place
💛 Boys – 8th Place
👏 Highlights include:
🥉 Boys 200 Medley Relay (CJ Sears, Allen Leonard, Cayden McDearmon, Adam Fleet) – 5th in the State
🏅 Girls 200 Medley Relay (Shannon Hickey, Ada Anderson, Claire Dise, Emily Cox) – 11th
🏅 Allen Leonard – 11th (200 IM)
🏅 Adam Fleet – 10th (100 Fly)
🏅 Cayden McDearmon – 10th (100 Free), 8th (100 Breast)
🏅 CJ Sears – 11th (100 Free), 9th (100 Back)
🏅 Boys 200 Free Relay – 10th
🏅 Girls 200 Free Relay – 13th
🏅 Ada Anderson – 15th (100 Breast)
🌟 Most swimmers EVER qualified for finals in program history! What an incredible accomplishment for our team!
Now we cheer on our wrestlers at the state championship — good luck and keep the momentum going! 💪🔥
We also love seeing our Senior Spotlights as seniors announce their post-graduation commitments — the future is bright for MHS! 🎓✨
💙 Girls – 21st Place
💛 Boys – 8th Place
👏 Highlights include:
🥉 Boys 200 Medley Relay (CJ Sears, Allen Leonard, Cayden McDearmon, Adam Fleet) – 5th in the State
🏅 Girls 200 Medley Relay (Shannon Hickey, Ada Anderson, Claire Dise, Emily Cox) – 11th
🏅 Allen Leonard – 11th (200 IM)
🏅 Adam Fleet – 10th (100 Fly)
🏅 Cayden McDearmon – 10th (100 Free), 8th (100 Breast)
🏅 CJ Sears – 11th (100 Free), 9th (100 Back)
🏅 Boys 200 Free Relay – 10th
🏅 Girls 200 Free Relay – 13th
🏅 Ada Anderson – 15th (100 Breast)
🌟 Most swimmers EVER qualified for finals in program history! What an incredible accomplishment for our team!
Now we cheer on our wrestlers at the state championship — good luck and keep the momentum going! 💪🔥
We also love seeing our Senior Spotlights as seniors announce their post-graduation commitments — the future is bright for MHS! 🎓✨







In the Spotlight...
Ms. Daddario's 1st grade class opened their very own Market Day!
From the first "sale" to the final closing bell, Market Day was an absolute blast.
🌟 Business Was Booming!
Our 1st graders took their roles seriously, and it showed. We saw:
💰 Master Mathematicians: Counting out change like pros.
🤝 Expert Negotiators: Using their best "customer service" voices.
🎨 Creative Creators: Selling everything from handmade suncatchers to jewelry.
🧠 Lessons Learned
While it looked like all fun and games, these students were actually putting some big concepts to work:
Economics 101: They learned the difference between wants and needs.
Social Skills: They practiced eye contact, clear communication, and patience.
Financial Literacy: Balancing "budgets" and seeing their hard work pay off!
Ms. Daddario's 1st grade class opened their very own Market Day!
From the first "sale" to the final closing bell, Market Day was an absolute blast.
🌟 Business Was Booming!
Our 1st graders took their roles seriously, and it showed. We saw:
💰 Master Mathematicians: Counting out change like pros.
🤝 Expert Negotiators: Using their best "customer service" voices.
🎨 Creative Creators: Selling everything from handmade suncatchers to jewelry.
🧠 Lessons Learned
While it looked like all fun and games, these students were actually putting some big concepts to work:
Economics 101: They learned the difference between wants and needs.
Social Skills: They practiced eye contact, clear communication, and patience.
Financial Literacy: Balancing "budgets" and seeing their hard work pay off!






It’s School Board Clerk Appreciation Week, and today we’re giving a well-deserved shoutout to the behind-the-scenes professionals who keep everything running smoothly! 📝👏
Thank you to our School Board Clerks for your organization, professionalism, and dedication to supporting effective governance and strong public schools. Your work truly makes a difference every day.
Proud to recognize this week with Virginia School Boards Association and say thank you for all you do! 💙
Thank you to our School Board Clerks for your organization, professionalism, and dedication to supporting effective governance and strong public schools. Your work truly makes a difference every day.
Proud to recognize this week with Virginia School Boards Association and say thank you for all you do! 💙

School Board Budget Hearing-Community input is welcome.

Today, we recognize our incredible School Resource Officers 👮♂️. Thank you for keeping our campuses safe, building positive relationships with our students, and supporting our staff every single day. Your presence makes a difference far beyond security — you are mentors, role models, and trusted members of our school family.

MES fifth grade students brought history to life with their Black History Wax Museum Project!
The cafeteria and gym were transformed into a museum as students researched, created displays, and presented powerful stories highlighting the achievements, resilience, and lasting impact of influential Black leaders, innovators, artists, and change-makers. From scientists and inventors to activists and athletes, students did an outstanding job sharing the legacies that continue to shape our world today.
Great job, MES students — your voices and presentations truly made history come alive.
The cafeteria and gym were transformed into a museum as students researched, created displays, and presented powerful stories highlighting the achievements, resilience, and lasting impact of influential Black leaders, innovators, artists, and change-makers. From scientists and inventors to activists and athletes, students did an outstanding job sharing the legacies that continue to shape our world today.
Great job, MES students — your voices and presentations truly made history come alive.





Ask a Therapist Live is coming up fast on February 17. Got burning questions about parenting, relationships, or your child's well-being?
Join us for Ask a Therapist Live with our renowned family therapist, Dr. Kevin Skinner. Participants anonymously submit questions to receive thoughtful, personalized answers.
Tuesday, February 17; 8pm Eastern / 5pm Pacific
Ask any question about youth mental health or parenting
Participation is anonymous
Register for the live event to get access to the recording
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/5886jx7b
Your relationship with your child is the most important thing. Attend this free webinar to improve it.
Join us for Ask a Therapist Live with our renowned family therapist, Dr. Kevin Skinner. Participants anonymously submit questions to receive thoughtful, personalized answers.
Tuesday, February 17; 8pm Eastern / 5pm Pacific
Ask any question about youth mental health or parenting
Participation is anonymous
Register for the live event to get access to the recording
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/5886jx7b
Your relationship with your child is the most important thing. Attend this free webinar to improve it.

❄️🦀 Blue Crab Bowl Success! 🦀❄️
Congratulations to CBGS–Glenns and CBGS–Bowling Green for an incredible showing on a snowy Saturday morning at VIMS for the 28th Annual Blue Crab Bowl!
🏆 CBGS–Glenns, coached by Sara Beam, earned an impressive 2nd place finish out of 12 teams! This team included 3 Midlesex High School Students!
We are so proud of our students’ hard work, teamwork, and dedication — way to represent CBGS and MCPS with excellence! 👏🎉
Congratulations to CBGS–Glenns and CBGS–Bowling Green for an incredible showing on a snowy Saturday morning at VIMS for the 28th Annual Blue Crab Bowl!
🏆 CBGS–Glenns, coached by Sara Beam, earned an impressive 2nd place finish out of 12 teams! This team included 3 Midlesex High School Students!
We are so proud of our students’ hard work, teamwork, and dedication — way to represent CBGS and MCPS with excellence! 👏🎉

💛 Happy Kindness Week! 💛
📅 Virginia Kindness Week is celebrated February 9–13, 2026. This annual initiative highlights the power of everyday acts of kindness in creating schools and communities that are more compassionate, safe, healthy, and welcoming places to live, work, learn, and play.
This week, during breakfast, our students are spreading positivity by writing and decorating kindness notes and cards to be delivered to staff and peers. A simple act of kindness can make a big difference—and our students are leading the way! 💌✨
Here’s a glimpse of our students getting their kindness on!
📅 Virginia Kindness Week is celebrated February 9–13, 2026. This annual initiative highlights the power of everyday acts of kindness in creating schools and communities that are more compassionate, safe, healthy, and welcoming places to live, work, learn, and play.
This week, during breakfast, our students are spreading positivity by writing and decorating kindness notes and cards to be delivered to staff and peers. A simple act of kindness can make a big difference—and our students are leading the way! 💌✨
Here’s a glimpse of our students getting their kindness on!





Quarter 2 Navigators were celebrated in the best way 💙 Dr. Seitz and Dr. Bishop shared powerful words of appreciation, and the love from our MCPS community was felt throughout the room. Some staff were moved to tears by the heartfelt messages shared about them, while students young and old — alongside staff — cheered loudly for these well-deserving recipients. A beautiful reminder of the impact our Navigators make every day.
Recipients include:
Marcie Eberline, MES
Brianna Ersing, MES
Erin Daddario, MES
Robin Lambert, MES
Beth Sprouse, MES
Lisa Jett, MES
Rhonda Bruszenski, SCW
Allison Blake, MHS
Lani Kekoa, MHS









Joint Board Work Session
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Tuesday, February 10, 2026

🎶 Student Spotlight | Extraordinary Achievement 🎶
Congratulations to Madeline Inge, a student at Middlesex High School, who has been selected to perform in the High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City!
Madeline will take the stage this weekend as a clarinetist with the Honors Band, an elite ensemble made up of the highest-rated young performers from around the world. Her acceptance followed a highly competitive audition and review by the Honors Selection Board—an honor that reflects her exceptional talent, dedication, and musical achievements.
Madeline has studied music for more than four years and is an active member of the Middlesex High School Concert Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, and Jazz Band, where she also shines as a guitarist. Beyond music, she’s involved in Key Club and the Technology Student Association, serving as secretary.
“I’m honored to have been nominated and selected. I look forward to seeing New York and playing at Carnegie Hall,” Madeline shared.
We are incredibly proud of Madeline and can’t wait to cheer her on as she represents Middlesex High School on one of the world’s most iconic stages! 👏🎼
Congratulations to Madeline Inge, a student at Middlesex High School, who has been selected to perform in the High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City!
Madeline will take the stage this weekend as a clarinetist with the Honors Band, an elite ensemble made up of the highest-rated young performers from around the world. Her acceptance followed a highly competitive audition and review by the Honors Selection Board—an honor that reflects her exceptional talent, dedication, and musical achievements.
Madeline has studied music for more than four years and is an active member of the Middlesex High School Concert Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, and Jazz Band, where she also shines as a guitarist. Beyond music, she’s involved in Key Club and the Technology Student Association, serving as secretary.
“I’m honored to have been nominated and selected. I look forward to seeing New York and playing at Carnegie Hall,” Madeline shared.
We are incredibly proud of Madeline and can’t wait to cheer her on as she represents Middlesex High School on one of the world’s most iconic stages! 👏🎼

📚✨ Field Trip Spotlight: Shaping the Future of Our Public Library! ✨📚
Our students recently visited the Middlesex Library for an engaging, hands-on experience—and they absolutely showed up with thoughtful ideas and leadership! Huge thanks to Carrie Dos Santos for welcoming us and guiding students through the library and the exciting plans for the new Teen Center.
Students toured the space, collaborated on selecting teen-friendly furniture, and brainstormed programs they’d actually love—everything from book clubs, crafts, and games to real-life skills sessions like car maintenance 🚗📖. They also shared recommendations for new books, authors, and genres for the Young Adult Library, all of which Mrs. Dos Santos plans to order right away!
We also learned about amazing library resources like Libby, Homework HelpNow, and Transparent Language, and made sure students are on track with active library cards.
Their voices are directly influencing new books, programs, and even furniture—and this is just the beginning! We’re excited to continue this partnership and look forward to students helping design future Teen Centers in both Deltaville and Urbanna. 👏📚
Our students recently visited the Middlesex Library for an engaging, hands-on experience—and they absolutely showed up with thoughtful ideas and leadership! Huge thanks to Carrie Dos Santos for welcoming us and guiding students through the library and the exciting plans for the new Teen Center.
Students toured the space, collaborated on selecting teen-friendly furniture, and brainstormed programs they’d actually love—everything from book clubs, crafts, and games to real-life skills sessions like car maintenance 🚗📖. They also shared recommendations for new books, authors, and genres for the Young Adult Library, all of which Mrs. Dos Santos plans to order right away!
We also learned about amazing library resources like Libby, Homework HelpNow, and Transparent Language, and made sure students are on track with active library cards.
Their voices are directly influencing new books, programs, and even furniture—and this is just the beginning! We’re excited to continue this partnership and look forward to students helping design future Teen Centers in both Deltaville and Urbanna. 👏📚



Thank you to our dedicated school board members!

🎉 National School Counseling Week | February 2–6, 2026 🎉
This week, we proudly celebrate National School Counseling Week, recognizing the vital role school counselors play as essential school mental health professionals supporting student success and well-being.
Today’s school counselors are so much more than “guidance counselors.” The profession has evolved into a comprehensive, data-informed practice focused on academic achievement, career readiness, and social-emotional development. Professional school counselors are trained mental health professionals who provide direct support to students while also working to remove systemic barriers to learning.
Here in Virginia, school counselors are deeply committed to helping all students reach their full potential. They collaborate with educators, families, and community partners to foster school environments that promote healthy learning, living, and personal growth. This commitment is reflected in Virginia’s requirement that counselors spend at least 80% of their time providing direct counseling services to students.
National School Counseling Week is a time to say thank you and to celebrate the lasting impact school counselors have on our students, schools, and communities. 💙
This week, we proudly celebrate National School Counseling Week, recognizing the vital role school counselors play as essential school mental health professionals supporting student success and well-being.
Today’s school counselors are so much more than “guidance counselors.” The profession has evolved into a comprehensive, data-informed practice focused on academic achievement, career readiness, and social-emotional development. Professional school counselors are trained mental health professionals who provide direct support to students while also working to remove systemic barriers to learning.
Here in Virginia, school counselors are deeply committed to helping all students reach their full potential. They collaborate with educators, families, and community partners to foster school environments that promote healthy learning, living, and personal growth. This commitment is reflected in Virginia’s requirement that counselors spend at least 80% of their time providing direct counseling services to students.
National School Counseling Week is a time to say thank you and to celebrate the lasting impact school counselors have on our students, schools, and communities. 💙

🌟 Nominate a Navigator of the Quarter for Q2! 🌟
Middlesex County Public Schools invites our community — families and staff alike — to recognize the outstanding Navigators who go above and beyond every day. 🧭
Each quarter, we’ll celebrate staff who exemplify our key priorities:
✨ Deeper Learning
🌱 Positive Learning Environment
💪 Capacity Building
🤝 Community Engagement
The selected Navigator of the Quarter will be announced at the next School Board meeting!
📋 Submit your nomination today and help us honor those making a difference.
Nomination Form

MCPS will be closed Thursday, January 29.
Twelve month staff, please report at 10:00 a.m.
Twelve month staff, please report at 10:00 a.m.
Snow days and winter storms can leave families feeling stuck inside — and stretched thin ❄️🏠
When routines change, and big feelings show up, parent guidance and one-on-one coaching can help make daily moments feel more manageable. From navigating behavior challenges to building confidence and connection, support makes the winter days feel brighter.
You don’t have to do this alone.
Scan the code or visit cookcenter.info/coaching to get started.
When routines change, and big feelings show up, parent guidance and one-on-one coaching can help make daily moments feel more manageable. From navigating behavior challenges to building confidence and connection, support makes the winter days feel brighter.
You don’t have to do this alone.
Scan the code or visit cookcenter.info/coaching to get started.

MCPS will be closed and will operate on a remote learning schedule Wednesday, January 28.
MCPS will be closed and operate a remote learning schedule on Tuesday, January 27.
