Student teams from Mary H. Matula and Malcolm elementary schools earned the top spots in their grade-level division at the Elementary Math Challenge held Saturday, April 22 at Theodore G. Davis Middle School. The event is for fourth- and fifth-grade students and is a two-part mathematics challenge that includes both a team and individual competition. Teams from all 21 Charles County public elementary schools competed. The team challenge requires students to work together to solve four multi-step problems within a 30-minute period. Matula’s fourth-grade team earned a total of 168 points during the team challenge and earned first place. Team Read more…

Five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers were recently named 2017 Outstanding Math and Science Teacher Honorees by Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) for their accomplishments in the area of mathematics and science teaching. SMECO recognizes teachers through the math and science awards program annually. Honored as Outstanding Mathematics Teachers of the Year are Erica Hughes of Mary H. Matula Elementary School, Casey Cleary of Benjamin Stoddert Middle School and Gretchen Salopek of Thomas Stone High School. Honored as Outstanding Science Teachers of the Year are Christina Reighard of Indian Head Elementary School and Sarah Earnshaw of North Point High Read more…

Every Wednesday and Friday, the rumbling of wheels can be heard in the hallways of Westlake High School. Those are the days designated by members of the recycling club for collection of items they want kept out of the landfill. “One day we decided to do something for the environment,” Westlake senior Jade Madison, president of the school’s recycling club, said. At first Madison and her friend Briana Jones, a junior who is the vice president of the club, wanted to start a new group. When they talked with Charles Newcomb, science teacher and the recycling club sponsor, they decided Read more…

At the end of this school year, Wilhelmina Pugh, principal of Malcolm Elementary School, will complete her 37th year working in education and with Charles County Public Schools. From the start of her career, Pugh has worked with the youngest public school learners, focusing her time and talents at the elementary-school level. She leads by example and is well known by the Malcolm community as a kind leader who puts the needs of children first. One of her goals as principal is to ensure all students and staff feel a sense of belonging to the Malcolm family. Pugh is often Read more…

Recycling is the norm at William B. Wade Elementary School, where students and staff alike take pride in keeping their school clean and welcoming. Being green is embedded in to the culture at Wade. Teachers implement eco-conscious activities into their lessons and students enjoy learning ways they can help keep their environment clean. For the past several years, Wade staff and students have focused on expanding their green efforts. This included the process for becoming a certified green school by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), a title the school is now able to add to its Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is sponsoring several summer enrichment opportunities for elementary and middle school students, as well as students entering their first year of high school in the fall. More than 40 camps are available and start the week of June 19. Most sessions are offered Monday through Friday, in the morning and afternoon. All summer enrichment camps are located at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, with the exception of two camps scheduled for students entering kindergarten at the start of the 2017-18 school year. Camps for kindergarten students are planned for Mary B. Neal Elementary School. Additionally, the Read more…

Graduation ceremonies for high school seniors in the Charles County Public Schools Class of 2017 are planned for June 1-3 at the Convocation Center at North Point High School in Waldorf. The ceremony for St. Charles High School is Thursday, June 1. Ceremonies for Thomas Stone, La Plata and North Point high schools are Friday, June 2. Seniors from Henry E. Lackey, Maurice J. McDonough and Westlake high schools are set for Saturday, June 3. St. Charles’ ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. on June 1. School will be closed June 1 for all St. Charles students. The schedule for Read more…

Career Day at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School on April 7 introduced students to various careers — from being a K9 officer to a dentist, working as a veterinary technician to being a Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) representative. Students were able to question presenters and learn about different occupations they can pursue in the future. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) held its annual Unified basketball tournament March 11 at Thomas Stone High School. The game featured athletes from many Charles County elementary schools and a middle school. Teams competed in two brackets to find out which beginner team and Read more…

Lauren Winkler, a senior at Maurice J. McDonough High School, was named the Career Research and Development (CRD) Student of the Year for 2017 at the annual employer/employee breakfast held April 21. Winkler worked at Chick-fil-A, a fast-food restaurant in La Plata. Winkler was selected for the award following three levels of competition both at the school and county levels. Committees composed of staff members, community members and business representatives interviewed students. As student of the year, Winkler received a $2,000 scholarship to be spent at a college, trade school or on certification classes of her choice. “I learned a Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) broke ground on Billingsley Elementary School today during a ceremony held at the school site. Construction of the school will soon begin, and Billingsley is set to open at the start of the 2018-19 school year for nearly 600 students. The school site is located off Billingsley Road, across from the Worthington neighborhood in White Plains. The state-rated capacity for the school is 758 students. The new school allows for future growth, and will also help to alleviate overcrowding at the elementary school level. Board of Education Chairman Michael Lukas welcomed guests to the groundbreaking Read more…