The roots of “All American Boys,” a novel that tells the story of two teenage boys — one white, one African American leading parallel lives — lay in the tough discussions its authors had about race. Jason Reynolds, a Washington, D.C., area native, and Brendan Kiely, who grew up around Boston, visited St. Charles High School Sept. 28 to talk about the book they co-wrote. High school students in Southern Maryland, along with community members, attended the event, hosted by the Maryland Humanities Council’s One Maryland One Book program. The authors met while rooming together during a book tour in Read more…

More than 100 Charles County Public high school juniors received a crash course in professionalism, interviewing skills and how to ask questions of prospective employers at a Career Research and Development (CRD) Program kickoff event held this week at La Plata High School. The CRD program is available in all Charles County high schools for juniors and seniors interested in exploring the business and career world before they graduate. Interested students enroll in the program during their junior year and learn essential skills necessary for success in landing, and keeping, a job. At Tuesday’s kickoff event, Charles County Public Schools Read more…

Due to the weather forecast, some changes have been made to the varsity football games scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1. North Point will host St. Charles at North Point at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30. At 7:30 p.m. at North Point, Thomas Stone’s homecoming game against La Plata will be played. Westlake’s homecoming game against McDonough will be played 3 p.m. Oct. 1 at North Point. In addition to the weather, the schedule was modified to accommodate homecoming dances, SAT testing and Rosh Hashanah. About CCPS Charles County Public Schools provides 26,300 students in grades prekindergarten through Read more…

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) released local school system and school-level data yesterday for PARCC, Maryland’s new school assessments in English Language Arts/Literacy and mathematics. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students showed steady growth in most subjects and grades. “We made some nice strides and improvements,” Deputy Superintendent Amy Hollstein said. “Assessment data is just one tool we use to improve teaching and learning. These individualized student reports will help schools ensure that students are receiving the appropriate instruction needed to reach college and career readiness goals,” Hollstein said. According to MSDE, for students in grades 3 through Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students can apply for the 2017 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…

One of the busiest times of any given school day is the morning arrival. During the week from about 7 to 10 a.m., staff at Charles County’s 36 elementary, middle and high schools are busy welcoming students to school. It is part of a daily routine for more than 26,300 students in Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). Missing for some as part of that daily routine is a jump start to their school day: a healthy and nutritional breakfast. To encourage healthy habits and a positive start to the school day for children, CCPS is offering free breakfast for all Read more…

The Board of Education’s next work session is Monday, Sept. 26 at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 6 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 at www.ccboe.com. Select CCPS TV and then choose the Live Broadcast tab. The following is a tentative meeting agenda and is subject to change. Call to order – 6 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance Public Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) serves a variety of breakfast and lunch menu items for students at low costs for parents. For the 2016-17 school year, prices for elementary school students are $1.25 for breakfast and $2.65 for lunch. Middle and high school students can purchase breakfast for $1.40 and lunch for $2.90. Some students may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals and CCPS determines eligibility through income guidelines established by the federal government. The reduced price for breakfast is $0.30 and $0.40 for lunch. All Charles County Public Schools students receive an application for free or reduced-price meals Read more…

Charles County Public Schools will hold financial aid presentations in October at each of the seven high schools. Parents and students can attend any session, regardless of the school attended. The financial aid presentations are: Henry E. Lackey High School at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 19; La Plata High School at 6 p.m. Oct. 18; Maurice J. McDonough High School at 6 p.m. Oct. 3; North Point High School at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5; Charles High School at 7 p.m. Oct. 4; Thomas Stone High School at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12; and Westlake High School at 6 p.m. Oct. 12. About Read more…