Two teams from Dr. James Craik Elementary School earned the top spots in the Elementary Math Challenge, held Saturday, April 26 at Theodore G. Davis Middle School. The event is for fourth- and fifth-grade students and is a two-part mathematics challenge that includes both team and individual competitions. Teams from all Charles County public elementary schools competed. The team challenge requires each team to solve four reasoning and problem solving questions within a 30-minute period. Craik’s fourth-grade team earned first place with a score of 400 out of 21 competing teams. Team members are Tanner Broadwater, Eileen Browning, Jason Haley, Read more…

The Grim Reaper will visit a Thomas Stone High School and North Point High School classroom every 15 minutes on Thursday, leaving behind a “living dead” student who silently reminds classmates of the consequences of drinking or texting while driving. Students on the Student Government Safe Driving Task Force at Thomas Stone and North Point high schools are participating in the National Every 15 Minutes program on May 1 and May 2, which includes a mock automobile accident, the removal by the Grim Reaper of preselected students from classrooms and a post-school trial of the “drunk” drivers who caused the Read more…

For many teachers, their passion and love for education comes from personal learning experiences. For Kimberly King, a mathematics teacher at Milton M. Somers Middle School, her desire to teach started at a young age when she began to maintain a makeshift classroom full of dolls, stuffed animals and a chalkboard. Throughout her childhood, King came across several influential educators who fueled her desire to teach, including her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Tickell, and Mrs. Williams, one of her high school teachers. King credits these two teachers, as well as her parents, with her desire to teach children to love math Read more…

Gale-Bailey Elementary School first-grade teacher Carol Eaton was introduced to teaching when she was an elementary school student. A teacher at her school took a leave of absence and Eaton, who was a fourth grader at the time, was asked to assist the substitute during reading lessons for first graders. She said although she knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher, that experience solidified her desire to have a career in education. “That experience confirmed my love of teaching and I have never wanted to do anything else,” Eaton said. She strives to inspire children Read more…

School pride, hard work and the belief that all children can learn are key messages at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School. Each morning, Principal Kristin Shields welcomes her students and staff with a positive, upbeat morning announcement or is at the main school doors greeting those who enter with the school motto of “beavers are ready, responsible and respectful.” Her passion for children is evident in all that she does, from helping with lunch duty or consoling an upset child to exploring creative and exciting ways for children to learn. Shields’ strong commitment to children and her ability to lead by Read more…

Two Charles County Public Schools students were recently elected to serve as officers on the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) for the 2014-15 school year. Ciara Albrittain, a junior from La Plata High School, was elected as the first vice president and Cole Smith, a seventh grader at Matthew Henson Middle School, was elected as the second vice president. Both students are active in the Charles County Association of Student Councils (CCASC), which is a student-led group that aims to amplify the student voice of Charles County. MASC elections were held during the annual convention held last month. To Read more…

Michael Rowley, a Westlake High School senior, was recently selected for the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). The Meyerhoff Scholars Program is open to high-achieving high school seniors who have an interest in pursuing doctoral study in science or engineering, and who are interested in the advancement of minorities in science and related fields. Rowley will begin his studies at UMBC in the fall and plans to major in Biology. Students must be nominated for the program and scholarship awards range from $5,000 to $22,000 per year for four years. Rowley was nominated for Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers and specialists who hold a Standard Professional or Advanced Professional Certificate and have a minimum of three years of successful teaching experience in Charles County on a Maryland professional certificate are eligible to apply for National Board Certification (NBC). Applicants must submit a candidate packet, which includes a letter of interest indicating the certification area they wish to pursue and why they want to pursue National Board Certification, a writing prompt activity (distributed by CCPS) in conjunction with NBC standards; a letter of recommendation from their principal or supervisor and a current resume. Candidates Read more…

Registration for the 2014 Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Summer School program is June 25-26 at the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center. Summer school begins on Tuesday, July 1, at Westlake High School. Walk-in registration times for Wednesday and Thursday, June 25-26, are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registrations will not be accepted after 7 p.m. on June 26. Registration forms, as well as copies of the summer school rules and procedures, are available at all middle and high school counseling offices. Registration forms must be completed by the parent/guardian, verified by the school counselor and signed by the principal Read more…

Two Charles County Public high schools were among the nation’s top 1,000 schools ranked for Advanced Placement (AP) performance by The Washington Post this week in its annual “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” list for 2014, compiled by Post education columnist Jay Mathews. Westlake High School’s ranking is 973 and La Plata High School is ranked at 979. A total of 2,025 high schools were ranked in the list. North Point High School ranked at 1,323, followed by Henry E. Lackey High School at 1,354, Maurice J. McDonough High School at 1,552 and Thomas Stone High School at 1,804. The Read more…