Twenty-nine Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students were honored with national awards for their submissions in the National Junior American Citizens Contest, sponsored by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). The organization includes a Junior American Citizens Committee, which supports contests for children that promote patriotic development. The Junior American Citizens Contest is open to students in grades prekindergarten through 12, and entries range from banners, poems and posters to short stories and stamp designs. This year’s contest theme is “Celebrate America.” These students advanced to the national competition after placing at the local, state and regional 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 eleventh annual Teacher and Staff Appreciation Awards ceremony held May 11 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, school counselors, psychologists, administrators, occupational, physical and speech therapists, and others who make a difference in the lives of children with special needs. Award winners are nominated and selected in six categories: individual elementary; individual secondary; elementary group; secondary group; Read more…

When Alan Badeaux took his grandchildren to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, he didn’t know he was about to embark on a years-long project that would call on the talents of many of his welding students at North Point High School. PT-Boat 305, produced by Higgins Industries in New Orleans more than 70 years ago and put into use in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II, had other lives after it was sold as surplus following the war. It was a sightseeing tour boat and an oyster boat in the Chesapeake Bay before eventually landing Read more…

The Board of Education of Charles County is hosting a public Board meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1 in the boardroom at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata. The meeting will be streamed live on the school system website at ccboe.com, and on Comcast Channel 96/Verizon FiOS Channel 12. The following is a tentative agenda and is subject to change. Executive session – 3 p.m. Call to order – 3:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance Action item Personnel Adjournment Charles County Public Schools provides 26,300 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Read more…

Defining your own successes and having the courage to move forward in life were just two of the important key messages shared with graduates and guests at Charles County Public Schools’ (CCPS) first official 2016 graduation. On May 20, eight graduates of the Adult Independence Program, also known as AIP, were honored for their successes in a ceremony held at North Point High School that celebrated each of their individual accomplishments. Honored graduates this year included Crystal Adkins, Nicholas Adriani, Elisha Frimpong, Isaac Green, Stephon McClellan-Dempsey, Robert Mullins, Tiskisha Robison and Alice Whitney. At the start of the ceremony, each Read more…

Dr. James Craik Elementary and Milton M. Somers Middle schools are the 2016 overall state Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) schools in Maryland at their respective levels. Both schools earned the honors at the statewide MESA competition held last week at John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Schools that earn the most points overall throughout the competition are chosen as the overall winner. A team from Matthew Henson Middle School also earned a chance to compete at the national event next month. Henson’s prosthetic arm MESA team of eighth graders Shelby Hiens, Simone McCarter-Dadzie and Justin Stewart, and sixth grader Read more…

Before they collect their diplomas next month, students in the Career & Technology Education program at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center received certificates and kudos for completing one of five programs that will give them a leg up as they move on to college and careers. “America’s economy and position as the leader in the world is linked to a skilled workforce,” said Lynne Arnold, principal at Stethem. Traci Chappelear, coordinator of Career and Technology Education, said that by choosing to enroll in CTE, students take control of their futures. “You are driven to do something different,” she said. “And Read more…

Kayla Kemp apologizes for the state of her iPad screen, the plastic splintering from being dropped. When she wakes it up, the screen shows a plain, concrete wall. “I’m in the closet,” Kemp, a Westlake High School senior, said. “They come and get me when it’s time for class.” It’s quiet, but then after a minute or two, “I can hear people,” she said, the screen on the iPad lightening as the closet door swings up and her statistics teacher Craig Heath greets her, “Hi, Kayla. Do you want to take yourself or do you want me to carry you?” Read more…

Student delegates from Charles County Public middle and high schools selected Charles County Association of Student Councils (CCASC) officers to lead the group next school year. Officers serve one-year terms and are voted on by their peers to represent the middle and high school student communities. The following students will lead the CCASC for the 2016-17 school year. Joseph Perriello, rising senior, North Point High School, CCASC president; Kyle Smith, rising junior, North Point, CCASC vice president; Taaron Branch, rising freshman, North Point, CCASC second vice president; Nadjia Haskins, rising sophomore, Westlake High School, CCASC secretary; Rida Dhanani, rising sophomore, Read more…

At Westlake High School in Waldorf, celebrating the success of all students is a top priority. From student-centered and colorful displays in the hallways to special clubs and events scheduled during Wolverine Time, the school’s one-hour lunch, the talents and accomplishments of students are fostered and supported by a positive school climate. The Westlake Class of 2016 got to celebrate their accomplishments even further by taking part in the Wolverine Signing Day held May 18 at the school. More than 70 Westlake seniors took part in Signing Day, which celebrated the post-secondary plans of participating students. These students came together Read more…