Books are a gateway to other worlds. They can be anchors that keep a reader grounded in a story, or wings elevating readers to places they’ve only imagined. But for some students, books can be hard to come by. Books-A-Million recently donated more than 480 books to Charles County students who are homeless or in foster care. “Children who are homeless or in foster care often don’t have much that they can call their own,” said Meighan Hungerford, acting director of elementary instruction. “We want to give them something that is theirs. Something that will enrich their lives.” Books-A-Million customers Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is launching a new online gradebook program this school year for parents, students and teachers to track academic progress, attendance, class and locker assignments, testing data, homework and more. The system is called YouVue and replaces the Edline gradebook as well as an aging student information system used by CCPS for nearly 40 years. YouVue includes parent access, called ParentVUE, student access, or StudentVUE, and teacher access, called TeacherVUE. CCPS is printing account activation letters for each parent/guardian on file for all students. Parents must pick up their account activation letter from their child’s school Read more…

Jumpstart to Kindergarten allows some of the school system’s youngest students to get a sneak peek at their classrooms and a chance to meet their teachers before the official first day of school, Sept. 5. For two weeks in the summer — Aug. 7 to 18 — any incoming kindergartener who will start school in September at a Title 1 school can take part in the program. Held at C. Paul Barnhart, Dr. Gustavus Brown, Indian Head, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, J.P. Ryon and Eva Turner elementary schools, Jumpstart is just how it sounds. Kids delve into what Read more…

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) released local school system and school-level data today for PARCC, Maryland’s school assessments in English/Language Arts and mathematics. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) closed its gap with the state average and showed steady growth in most subjects and grades. “We continue to move in the right direction, with improvement in overall scores and instruction. We are focused on classroom instruction and test scores are one indicator we use to make adjustments to our curriculum and to meeting the needs of all of our students,” Superintendent Kimberly Hill said. CCPS students showed significant improvement Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is holding its third teacher job fair from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata. Interested teacher candidates can register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/charles-county-public-schools-teacher-job-fair-tickets-37217688107. During the fair, candidates will participate in on-site interviews. Candidates should bring a copy of their resume and teaching certificate, if applicable. Minimum requirements include a bachelor’s degree and candidates must meet certification requirements as established by the Maryland State Department of Education. The Starkey building is located at 5980 Radio Station Road in La Plata. Candidates should visit the school Read more…

The Board of Education is holding an executive session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act, Sections 3-305 and 3-103 of the General Provisions Article. The meeting is expected to be closed to the public. 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 County Public Schools has 36 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, Read more…

The 2017-18 school year officially begins on Tuesday, Sept. 5 for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students in grades kindergarten through 12. More than 26,000 students will board school buses, walk to school or be dropped off by parents and daycare vans to start the new school year. The system’s youngest learners – students in the three-year-old and prekindergarten programs –start their new school year adventure on Tuesday, Sept. 12.  Registration Schools have staff available to register children for the upcoming school year. Call the school in which your child is zoned to attend to find out if there are Read more…

The Charles County Department of Health is holding several immunization clinics for children who need vaccines required to attend school. Maryland law requires students to have minimum immunization levels to attend school. Required vaccines depend on the age and grade level of the child and include DPT, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib, Prevnar, Tdap and meningococcal. For the 2017-18 school year, all students in kindergarten, first-, second-, and third-grades are required to have two doses of the varicella, or chickenpox, vaccine. All seventh and eighth graders, as well as high school freshmen and sophomores, must have a Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is launching a new online gradebook program this school year for parents, students and teachers to track academic progress, attendance, class and locker assignments, testing data, homework and more. The system is called YouVue and replaces the Edline gradebook as well as an aging student information system used by CCPS for nearly 40 years. YouVue includes parent access, called ParentVUE, student access, or StudentVUE, and teacher access, called TeacherVUE. CCPS is printing account activation letters for each parent/guardian on file for all students. Parents must pick up their account activation letter from their child’s school Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has procedures that guide how the school system handles unpaid meal accounts. Superintendent’s Rule 3842 outlines how the school system handles negative meal account balances. The Rule applies only to students who pay full or reduced prices for meals. The guidelines do not apply to children who receive free meals from CCPS.  Parents/guardians are expected to ensure that their child’s meal account is properly funded. CCPS will first notify parents through email and voicemail when a child’s account is empty, or has a $0 balance. Parents can sign up to use My Payments Plus, an Read more…