Twenty Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students will take a field trip to outer space Nov. 26 in a rare opportunity to talk live with two astronauts on the International Space Station. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selected CCPS to participate in Expedition 37/38, a program that connects students and astronauts through a live downlink from the space station. Students will talk to astronauts Mike Hopkins and Rick Mastracchio for about 20 minutes using Telepresence, a conferencing technology available in all CCPS high schools. Student questions explore what it is like to live and work in space. The Read more…
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) communications staff recently received awards for publications and multi-media productions from the Chesapeake Chapter of the National School Public Relations Associations (CHESPRA). The CCPS employee newsletter, School News, received an Award of Merit, the second highest award, in the Community Newsletter category. School News is produced twice a month for more than 3,400 staff members and features school system accomplishments, staff awards and special events and programs features. The publication is produced by Katie O’Malley-Simpson, director of communications, Shelley Mackey, communications specialist and Kara Gross, communications assistant. The CCPS 2012-2013 Parent Handbook/Calendar received an Award Read more…
The Board of Education honored five students on Tuesday, Nov. 12, for excellence in academic achievement, personal responsibility and career readiness, focus areas of the system’s master plan. The students honored were Iris Golden, fifth grade, Dr. James Craik Elementary School; Gavin Ganter, fifth grade, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School; Kylie Bell, fifth grade, Malcolm Elementary School; Alesia Coleman, fifth grade, J.C. Parks Elementary School; Brandon Hill, eighth grade, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School. Golden was recognized in the area of academic achievement. Golden has been at Craik since kindergarten. She has earned straight A’s since third grade. Golden is Read more…
The Board of Education honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees during the Nov. 12 Board meeting, including Julie Boucher, Sue DelaCruz, Diane Ryan, Meredith Elrod and Carmencita Bell. Boucher has been teaching at Dr. James Craik Elementary School since 2006. She teaches second grade but has also taught first grade at Craik. Boucher is a team mentor, who assists novice staff. As the chairperson of the Volunteer Luncheon Committee, she welcomes parents and shows appreciation for their assistance. Over the past three years, she has organized luncheons, entertainment and made personal gifts for each volunteer. In a nomination Read more…
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) administrative offices and schools are closed Wednesday, Nov. 27, Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Henry E. Lackey and North Point high schools indoor pools will follow a modified schedule. The indoor pools are closed Nov. 28 and open 1-8 p.m. on Nov. 29. Charles County Public Schools provides 26,500 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 35 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares Read more…
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) encourages community members to nominate parents for the Maryland Parent Involvement Matters Award (PIMA). The State Department of Education (MSDE) annually recognizes parents and legal guardians who foster communicating, volunteering, learning, collaborating with the community and decision making within their community. To be eligible for the Maryland Parent Involvement Matters Award, nominees must: be a parent, which includes a natural parent, an adoptive parent, a legal guardian, a person acting as a parent of a child such as a relative or stepparent with whom a child lives, or any other person primarily responsible for the Read more…
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) recognized the Community Bank of the Chesapeake and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Middleton at the November Board meeting for funding the school system’s online financial literacy program. Community Bank of the Chesapeake has supported the financial literacy program since 2011. The program consists of nine modules that cover a range of financial literacy topics including savings, investing, credit card usage, credit scores and financing higher education. CCPS has used the program as a supplement in financial literacy classes. Positive feedback has been given from both teachers and students. According to teachers and students, the program Read more…
Three Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) high school students were selected to serve as student pages in the 2014 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Page program. The program gives students the opportunity to work with the General Assembly for two weeks during the 2014 legislative session. The students who will serve as student pages for the 2014 legislative session are Kaitlyn Crook of Thomas Stone High School; Alec Hunsacker of La Plata High School; and Katelyn Turner of Maurice J. McDonough High School. Asja Bard of Westlake High School was selected as Student Page Alternate. The Maryland General Assembly Legislative Page Read more…
On Jan. 4, North Point High School’s Tony Teleky plans to march to the beat of the 2014 Army All-American Marching Band. Drum roll please. Teleky is one of 125 top high school musicians playing during halftime at the Army All-American Bowl game at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, TX. During a Selection Tour assembly on Oct. 24 at North Point, Army representatives said Teleky is the best of the best, selected from more than 1,300 nominees from 47 states and the only All-American from Maryland. Teleky, a percussionist, is one of five snare drummers chosen for the band. Read more…
Character counts at Mary B. Neal Elementary School, a 2013 National School of Character and home of the blue crabs of character. At Neal, said Principal Carol Leveillee, “Character education is not a program, it’s a way of life.” The Character Education Partnership (CEP) recognized Leveillee and Neal staff as a 2013 National School of Character on Oct. 26 at the National Forum on Character Education in Washington, D.C. Neal is one of 29 schools nationwide, and the only one in Maryland, to receive the honor. Neal showed through a rigorous evaluation process that its focus on character development has Read more…