The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recently named North Point High School seniors Daryl Lakner and Tochukwu “Tochi” Chinyere as semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. Lakner and Chinyere were chosen as semifinalists from more than 160,000 students nationwide who submitted an application in the 2014 National Achievement Scholarship Program. The program highlights the achievements of African-American students who request consideration when they take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) as high school juniors. Semifinalists are the highest scoring program entrants in their state. Semifinalists must inform the NMSC about their academic record, participation in school and Read more…

Several North Point High School students received minor injuries Wednesday, Sept. 25 when the bus they were riding was involved in an accident. Around 7:50 a.m., the driver of a Cadillac Escalade struck a curb on Davis Road in Waldorf, lost control of the vehicle and struck bus 62 head on, according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. The bus was headed to North Point and had 36 students and a the driver on board. No one on the bus had serious injuries. One student was released to her parents on the scene and the rest of the students were Read more…

More than 3,000 parents, students and community members headed to North Point High School on Sept. 18, to meet with college representatives at the 16th annual Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) College Fair. The CCPS College Fair provided high school juniors and seniors a chance to speak with representatives from more than 141 participating colleges, universities and branches of the military. Colleges provide information about tuition, scholarship opportunities and academic programs. The fair is split into two sessions – a day session for students from the six high schools, and an evening session for students, parents and the community. The Read more…

The Board of Education changed its testing policy Sept. 10, reducing the number of tests most students will take this year. The Board unanimously approved policy changes that eliminate the requirement for quarterly tests, most of which will be replaced with pretests and posttests that more closely align to the Common Core State Standards. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) will still administer quarterly tests this year to students enrolled in High School Assessment (HSA) courses, which include English I and II, Biology, Algebra I, and Local State and National Government (LSN).  Pretests and posttests replace quarterly exams in a number Read more…

The varsity football game scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Sept. 12, between Henry E. Lackey and Westlake high schools has been canceled. There will be no make-up game scheduled. The cancellation is a forfeit for Westlake as a result of a one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct that occurred at a game last week. Incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct are routinely investigated and often violate Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, Charles County Public Schools and individual school athletic rules. Charles County Public Schools holds high expectations for character, leadership and sportsmanship for student athletes. The school system publishes a student-parent Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is launching a series of attendance audits at schools, continuing a review process that started last year at North Point and La Plata high schools. The school system is conducting audits, according to Superintendent Kimberly Hill, to ensure students enrolled at a particular school live in Charles County and in their school’s attendance zone. While the school system routinely investigates questionable attendance issues, the enrollment audits are formal and concentrated. North Point, the county’s largest and most overcrowded high school, plans to continue student enrollment audits this year. Westlake High School, Mattawoman Middle School, Theodore Read more…

Six Charles County Public high school students were selected to serve as broadcast anchors for original programming featured on the school system’s educational television stations – Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12. These students will rotate anchoring episodes of NewsBreak 96, a show that highlights Charles County Public Schools programs, students and staff, as well as conduct interviews and research for other original programming. The anchors for the 2013-14 school year are: Taylor Morris-Bates, senior, La Plata High School; Christopher Chaffee, senior, North Point High School; Brelynn Hunt, senior, North Point; Maya Kidane, junior, North Point; Nadia Mourtaj, Read more…

The Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website www.ccboe.com. Select CCPS TV and then choose the Live Broadcast tab. Executive session – 12 p.m. Call to order – 1 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance – JROTC unit from Thomas Stone High School Superintendent’s Read more…