•    In a special ceremony held Nov. 10, a group of 24 Westlake High School juniors and seniors received a white laboratory coat to honor their commitment to the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Science Program. The ceremony was sponsored by Frank DiGiovannantonio, a local occupational therapist who wanted to recognize the student achievements and celebrate their pledge to advance in the biomedical field. Dr. Kerry Clark, a scientist with the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), spoke during the ceremony and encouraged the students to “dig deep into science and plan to get dirty along the way.” Westlake’s PLTW Read more…

The J.C. Parks Elementary School students and staff were honored last week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through its Ocean Guardian School program. Parks is the first elementary school in Maryland to be recognized as an Ocean Guardian School for its efforts in conservation, protecting the environment, improving local watersheds and promoting green efforts. During a recognition ceremony held Nov. 21, student members of the Parks Green Team introduced some of the conservation efforts coordinated at the school and why it was important for them to be involved. Under the direction of Parks science teacher Deanna Wheeler, Read more…

Southern Maryland legislators expressed their support for education at the Board of Education’s annual legislative breakfast while learning about the school system’s economic impact and special education challenges. “You are doing everything about right, right now,” said Senate President Thomas “Mike” Miller, who represents District 27 which includes part of Charles County. Miller said legislators are interested in raising the level of quality of teachers, and using the best teachers to focus on the kids with the highest needs. “That’s the future,” he told the Board and Superintendent. The annual breakfast is a time for the Board of Education and Read more…

Ashley Breads has dissected a heart and brain, she’s conducted an electrocardiogram — better known as an EKG — and has learned from Johns Hopkins physicians. She’s a sophomore in high school. With her eye on a surgical career, Breads is in the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Biomedical Sciences program at Thomas Stone High School. It is one of the programs in Career and Technology Education of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). The biomedical class is “one of the classes I look forward to,” Breads said. “And the teachers are a big part of that.” Her CTE classes have Read more…

Charles County Public School’s (CCPS) It’s Academic will be 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Maurice J. McDonough High School. It’s Academic is a quiz competition testing the general knowledge of teams made up of three high schools students from each of the county’s seven public high schools. The competition was originally slated for Thursday, Dec. 8. The winning team will advance to the televised version of the quiz set to air April 8 on NBC4. About CCPS Charles County Public Schools provides 26,400 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles Read more…

•    All schools and school system administrative offices will be closed Nov. 23-25 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Schools and offices reopen on Monday, Nov. 28. Visit the Charles County Public Schools website, www.ccboe.com, for the most up-to-date calendar information.   •    Henry E. Lackey High School is hosting the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, the Navy’s premier jazz ensemble, at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. The 18-member group is led by Senior Chief Petty Officer William C. Mulligan. Their performances feature a mix of traditional big band music, jazz Read more…

He was in fifth grade when Will Moten found out he could run fast. At recess, kids would race and he usually won. For a while, that was enough. Then a teacher asked if he wanted to run track. He had no idea what that was, but signed up with Charles County Elite Track & Field Club. “This could be something,” he remembered thinking. Moten, now a senior at Westlake High School and holder of records in outdoor and indoor track, has been named a national finalist in the Wendy’s High School Heisman program. From a pool of more than Read more…

The Charles County Department of Health expanded its initial investigation of a tuberculosis (TB) case involving an individual at La Plata High School after learning the person also frequents the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center after school hours. The school system has identified a small group of people at Stethem who may have had exposure to the individual. The school system will begin emailing and mailing exposure letters on Nov. 18 to staff, parents of students and any others who are thought to have had extended contact with the diagnosed individual. If parents or staff members do not receive an Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is accepting nominations for The Washington Post’s 2017 Teacher of the Year Award. The annual award honors exemplary teachers who demonstrate excellence in teaching and outstanding leadership, encourage creative and quality instruction, and contribute in a substantive way to the improvement of education. One finalist in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area will be selected as The Washington Post Teacher of the Year. Charles County Public Schools’ finalist will represent Charles County and be in the running for The Post’s overall award. Nominees must be full-time teachers in grades prekindergarten through 12 and have a minimum Read more…

The Charles County Department of Health has confirmed that an individual at La Plata High School has been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) disease. The school system is working with the health department to ensure there is no further risk in the school. Tuberculosis is a bacterial illness that responds well to proper medical treatment. It is spread through the air, usually by coughing or sneezing. Generally, a person must have prolonged exposure to the person with TB in order to breathe in a sufficient number of TB germs to cause a TB infection. The disease cannot be transmitted by touching Read more…