Two Charles County Public Schools students – Ally Parr and Kyra Smith – were recently named Outstanding School Safety Patrol Award recipients by the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education and the American Automobile Association (AAA). Award recipients are nominated by their schools and recognized for excelling in the areas of leadership, dependability and academics. Parr is a fifth grader at T.C. Martin Elementary School. She was nominated by Carrie Burke, vice principal at Martin, for serving as a role model for her peers and for demonstrating outstanding behavior, academic achievement and personal responsibility. Safety patrols are selected annually among Read more…

The Maryland State Athletic Directors Association (MSADA) recently named Steven Lee, the athletic director at Thomas Stone High School, as the 2013 District 4 Athletic Director of the Year. Lee has been the athletic director at Stone for the past seven years, and has worked in the education field for more than 25 years. The annual award is presented to an athletic administrator who has made significant contributions to the athletic programs in their schools and school systems. Lee's award for District 4 covers Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's counties. Lee was nominated for the award by Aly Khan Johnson, Read more…

The Board of Education will meet 3:30 p.m., Monday, June 3, at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro in executive session as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act, Section 10-508(a) and Section 10-503(c) of the State Government Article to discuss: personnel matters, specifically the Superintendent's recommendations on certificated positions. The session is being held at the Show Place Arena because the Board is attending graduation ceremonies scheduled to take place there on June 3. Charles County Public Schools provides 26,700 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Read more…

More than 2,100 students are expected to graduate from Charles County Public Schools next month, and Charles County's six high schools are already planning graduation ceremonies. Ceremonies for Henry E. Lackey, La Plata, Maurice J. McDonough, Thomas Stone and Westlake high schools will be held at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro on June 3 and 4. North Point High School will host graduation ceremonies in the school's gymnasium on June 4. The following is the graduation schedule for Monday, June 3: Stone, 9 a.m.; McDonough, 2 p.m.; and Lackey, 7 p.m. The following is the graduation schedule for Tuesday, Read more…

The Charles County Public Schools Adult Independence Program (AIP) held its 14th annual graduation ceremony on Friday, May 17 at North Point High School. The Class of 2013 featured 19 graduates, which is one of the program's largest graduating classes to date. Graduate Jalen Rose served as the student commencement speaker, and shared her experiences with the program among attendees. Rose said the skills she learned and experiences she had through the AIP program helped her reach an important goal: to work with children. Rose was able to attain child care certification from the College of Southern Maryland, and now Read more…

The Charles County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) honored more than 100 Charles County Public Schools staff and community members at its eighth annual Teacher and Staff Appreciation Awards ceremony held Wednesday, April 24, at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center. Honorees are nominated for recognition by students, parents and community members. Recognized were teachers, instructional assistants, school bus drivers and attendants, school counselors, psychologists, administrators, occupational, physical and speech therapists, and others who make a difference in the lives of special needs children. Award winners are nominated and selected in six categories: individual elementary; individual secondary; elementary group; Read more…

Four exemplary Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees were honored by the Board of Education on May 14. Honored were Pamela Wilhelm, Catherine Curtis, Patricia Changcoco and Jill Bodamer. Wilhelm is a technology facilitator at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School. She was nominated for recognition for her positive attitude and commitment to her students. Wilhelm has high expectations for her students and demonstrates a positive attitude in all that she does. She tirelessly supports the academic programs at Mitchell and demonstrates her flexibility each and every day. Mitchell Principal Verniece Rorie said that Wilhelm is a leader and team player. Read more…

The Board of Education honored four students on Tuesday, May 14, for their accomplishments in academic achievement, career readiness and personal responsibility, which are the focus areas of the school system's master plan. Honored were Jake Burgess, fifth grade, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School; Taylor Charity, fifth grade, Mary B. Neal Elementary School; Joseph Perriello, eighth grade, Mattawoman Middle School; and Christian Jones, senior, North Point High School. Burgess was honored in the area of career readiness. He is an honor roll student and demonstrates a strong work ethic in the classroom. Burgess has maintained excellent grades and has maintained Read more…

Charles County Public Schools is offering free courses through the 2013 Space Institute this summer to interested teachers. Participants can learn about space-related topics through exciting lessons and hands-on opportunities. Topics featured include meteorology and weather in space, space exploration, the future of space and space technologies in the classroom. The school system is sponsoring the courses through its partnership with the Colorado Springs based Space Foundation. The institute is available for Charles County Public Schools teachers and certificated staff, and will be held at Theodore G. Davis Middle School. The courses will be held July 22-26, and July 29-Aug. Read more…

The John Hanson Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade bands performed May 3 at the Music in the Parks Festival in New Jersey. They earned an Excellent rating, which is similar to a B grade and earned second place among 18 featured groups. The group also earned the highest event award – the Espirit de Corps award – which recognizes groups for proper social behavior, musical behavior and encouragement. The award also recognizes students for their support of other participating groups. The Hanson band features more than 100 students in grades six through eight, and often travels out-of-state to participate in Read more…