Lunch at Milton M. Somers Middle School was a little mixed up Tuesday, Oct. 25. Instead of taking their usual seats, students were asked to sit at tables representing the color of the paper wristband they wore. If a wristband is pink, you sit at the pink table. If a student has a band with green smiley faces on it, she heads to the corresponding table. That’s when things got interesting. During Mix It Up Day — when groups of students sit with others who they ordinarily wouldn’t — a list of opened ended questions was left on tables to Read more…
The Charles County Public Schools Class of 2017 is in the homestretch of their educational career as high school students. Soon, the more than 1,900 seniors will face the future they have spent 13 years planning. Those plans may include entering the workforce to start a career or continue at a job they may have landed while in school. Others may seek to enlist with the Armed Forces to learn how to serve and protect. For some, the desire to continue their academic studies leads them on a path to applying to college. To support all students in their efforts Read more…
Several Charles County Public schools have planned fall festivals and other activities for their school communities. Below is a list of events planned for next week. Call the specific school listed for additional details. Elementary School Events The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School is hosting a fall festival with a Trunk-N-Treat on Friday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. The event will include games, crafts, food, a haunted hallway and more. The PTO at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School is hosting a Trunk or Treat on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Read more…
More than 1,900 students — not to mention staff members and visitors — fill the nearly 225,900 square feet of North Point High School almost every day. “We go Monday to Sunday,” said Alice Makle, the building service manager at the school. The dedication and attention to detail earned Makle’s team the Silver Hammer Award for posting a 96 percent rating on a state inspection. “An almost unprecedented score of 96 percent,” Comptroller Peter V. Franchot said during an awards ceremony Thursday at North Point. He said state inspectors have 37 different engineering criteria when it comes to inspecting schools Read more…
The Board of Education presented two resolutions to Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students and staff at its Oct. 18 meeting. The following resolutions are presented annually: American Education Week; and American Freedom Week. CCPS celebrates American Freedom Week Nov. 7-11. 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 students enrolled in the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp (JROTC) program: Deja Cash, junior, Read more…
The Board of Education at its Oct. 18 meeting honored six Charles County Public Schools employees for their excellence in education and commitment to teaching and learning. Honored were Erin Amore, Stephanie Barry, Valerie Benton, Kathleen Davis, Janice Earnshaw and Ivy Wade. Amore is a third-grade teacher at Berry Elementary School and is known among her colleagues as a role model and team player. She sets high expectations for her students and works hard to ensure her third graders become lifelong learners. Her students are often found working together on reading and math activities, exceling in reading groups and setting Read more…
The Board of Education honored six students on Tuesday, Oct. 18 for excellence in academic achievement, career readiness and personal responsibility. Honored were Zachary Berke, fifth grade, Berry Elementary School; Aurelie Hein, fifth grade, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School; Keeva Morgan, fifth grade, Eva Turner Elementary School; Caroline Edelen, eighth grade, Piccowaxen Middle School; Elizabeth Saoud, junior, Maurice J. McDonough High School; and Mikayla Cox, senior, La Plata High School. Berke was recognized in the area of personal responsibility. He is always ready to learn, turns in all of his homework, listens attentively to directions and completes assignments at an Read more…
A popular Shakespeare classic with a twist, love stories, a little alien plant fun and more top the list of fall high school productions happening at the seven Charles County Public high schools this month and in November. First up is the fall musical at St. Charles High School on Oct. 28-30. The Spartan theatre group is presenting “Little Shop of Horrors,” on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m., Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. The show sets stage in a floral shop and follows the main character, Seymour, in his adventures as Read more…
There’s a feeling students and faculty get when they walk into Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School. “When you come to Mitchell, you don’t leave Mitchell,” said Roberta Bragunier, a special education teacher at the La Plata school for 35 years. Molly Galeano, an eight-year veteran kindergarten teacher who has been at Mitchell for six, was a student at the school in third through fifth grades. Landing at Mitchell felt welcome and familiar. “I felt very comfortable here,” Galeano said. “Everybody says, ‘Once you’re at Mitchell, you never leave.’ As a kid I felt this was a close knit community, and Read more…
The Charles County Department of Health is offering the flu vaccine to the public at clinics held at area schools. The nasal application of the vaccine, FluMist, is not available this flu season. In an effort to meet the needs of students in Charles County Public Schools (CCPS), the health department plans to substitute three school-based clinics this month for clinics that used to be held in elementary schools during the school day. The plan also includes continuing with the four clinics in November that take place after school hours. The clinics will be held: • J.P. Ryon Elementary School Read more…