Charles County’s seven public high schools are hosting financial aid nights for students, parents and community members interested in learning how to search for scholarships and financial aid. Staff members from the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) will provide presentations about the college fund search as well as share tips and other resources helpful in the college planning process. The following is a list of dates, times and locations. All financial aid nights are open to the public. Monday, Nov. 2 – Maurice J. McDonough High School, 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 – St. Charles High School, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Read more…

Martha Smith said she has always felt like a quitter. When the going got tough, she said, she got going. It was no different eight years ago when she turned 18 in January of her sophomore year. She quit high school as soon as she was legally old enough to withdraw herself. Her days of quitting ended this year, and on Oct. 22, Smith emotionally shared her story of success as she accepted her high school diploma and spoke at the Lifelong Learning Center’s Class of 2015 graduation ceremony. Smith was one of 17 new high school graduates receiving diplomas Read more…

For several Charles County high school seniors, participating in the College Application Week campaign during Oct. 19-23 was their first full experience with the college application process. From learning about financial aid and scholarships to researching which schools and programs they wanted to pursue, 1,302 seniors applied to at least one college, university or technical school of their choice. As part of the pilot program, volunteers ranging from retired Charles County Public Schools teachers and military members to staff from the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) visited participating high schools last week to help seniors finalize their selections and information, Read more…

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot visited Dr. James Craik Elementary School on Thursday, Oct. 15 to tour one of Charles County Public Schools’ open-space learning facilities and talked with school system leaders about design aspects of the school and programs available for students. Craik Principal Debbie Calvert guided Franchot on the tour and was accompanied by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kimberly Hill. Franchot talked with Calvert about her school’s successes and asked her what she thought contributed to them. “We have great leadership here in Charles County under Dr. Hill. She promotes a vision we align to about school pride. Tiger Read more…

The Board of Education presented two resolutions to Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students and staff at their Oct. 13 meeting. The resolutions are presented annually. The following resolutions were presented: American Education Week; and American Freedom Week. CCPS celebrates American Freedom Week Nov. 9-13. During the week, schools give special recognition to those who serve the country and those who gave their lives to preserve America’s freedom and liberty. Special activities take place in all schools to honor and celebrate patriotism. Accepting the resolution at the Board meeting were Henry E. Lackey High School JROTC students Shawnteria Barbour, Rondrell Read more…

The Board of Education at their Oct. 13 meeting honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees for being the difference in their positions and in the lives of children. Honored were Candice Vallandingham-Adam, Brian Chase, Michelle Gilliam, Erica Hughes and Kristen Liston. Vallandingham-Adam is an instructional resource teacher at Arthur Middleton Elementary School. She was chosen by Middleton Principal Louis D’Ambrosio for recognition before the Board for her commitment to excellence in her position and for assisting students and staff. As the instructional resource teacher at Middleton,  Vallandingham-Adam works with teachers and administrators to assist in providing effective instruction Read more…

The Board of Education honored five students on Tuesday, Oct. 13, for excellence in academic achievement, personal responsibility and career readiness, which are the focus areas of the school system’s master plan. Honored were Makayla Hill, fifth grader, Gale-Bailey Elementary School; Camryn Ging, fifth grader, Mary H. Matula Elementary School; Jesslyn Mulbah, fifth grader, Arthur Middleton Elementary School; Brianna High, eighth grader, Milton M. Somers Middle School; and Alejandro Cortez-Mendoza, senior, Maurice J. McDonough High School. Hill was recognized in the area of academic achievement. She has been a Gale-Bailey “Lion” since prekindergarten and has continuously made honor roll since Read more…

North Point High School is hosting an open house on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m. for parents and current eighth-grade students who live in Charles County and are interested in applying for one of the Science, Technology and Industry (STI) programs for the 2016-17 school year. A second STI open house is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Charles County Public Schools All-County Band, Chorus and Orchestra concerts are scheduled for later this month and November. The All-County Chorus concert is Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at Westlake High School. The All-County Orchestra concert is 7 Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students can apply for the 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, which honors middle and high school student volunteers. The annual program recognizes students for exemplary acts of volunteer service in their communities. The awards are given to students for serving their communities through volunteer activities, such as helping the less fortunate, promoting health and safety or protecting the environment. Students in grades five through 12 are eligible to apply and must have participated in a volunteer activity that occurred in the past 12 months. Students can apply online at http://spirit.prudential.com or at www.nassp.org/spirit. Read more…

Student actors in Charles County’s seven public high schools are preparing for fall plays and musicals, which begin later this month. The following is a list of school plays, ticket and contact information for each high school. La Plata High School starts off the 2015 fall play season with Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes,” on Oct. 22-24. The production is set in a small Alabama town in the early 1900s and focuses on power and greed. The main character, Regina Hubbard Giddens, struggles to become rich in a society in which fathers only recognize their sons as financial heirs. She Read more…