Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is expanding its career and technology education (CTE) programs for high school students to include a natural resources course of study. New for the 2019-20 school year is the CASE: Natural Resources Pathway program. The program is Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) and will be available at Maurice J. McDonough High School starting next school year. Students must apply for enrollment in the program, which has limited availability. The application process is similar to that of North Point High School CTE programs. For the program’s first year, current eighth-graders and high school freshmen can Read more…

Dumping out-of-date textbooks in a landfill didn’t sit right with Brian Richard, warehouse foreman with Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). So, the day representatives of the Book Project through the World Bank Family Network reached out to CCPS nine years ago was a good one. “We have not dealt with any other vendor since,” Richard said. The Book Project was founded nearly 40 years ago after the wives of World Bank employees took a trip to Lagos, Nigeria, to inaugurate a library. Surprised to find the building empty, the women started networking with spouses of the bank’s staff to collect Read more…

A teacher should start every day fresh. “Every day is a new day,” said Michelle Simone, a first-grade teacher at Dr. James Craik Elementary School for more than 15 years. “You should be welcoming and respectful, have compassion and positivity for sure.  You also have to be well planned, always thinking ahead and not be afraid to fail.” It is advice students in the Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) Career and Technology Education program can glean from working in classrooms with seasoned teachers. TAM is offered in all Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) high schools to introduce students interested in Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has enhanced security and identification badge requirements for all staff, including substitute teachers, bus drivers and attendants, retirees and contractors. Any CCPS identification badge will now feature an annual sticker depicting the school year in which the badge is active. This is new for the 2018-19 school year. Enhancements also include the creation of distinct identification badges for substitute teachers. Substitutes will receive an identification badge at the start of their workday, and return daily at the end of their teaching assignment. Substitute badges are blue and white and include the name of the issuing Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is piloting the use of student identification (ID) badges. The pilot program is part of the school system’s increased focus on school safety and security. Pilot schools include J.P. Ryon Elementary School, John Hanson Middle School and La Plata High School. CCPS plans to implement student ID badge use at all schools and centers next year. Each student will receive an ID badge featuring their name, school of attendance, class grade and school year. The IDs feature a barcode at the bottom for use with procedures such as tracking student late arrivals and early dismissals. Read more…

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Charles County for later today. Due to anticipated flooding and inclement weather, all Charles County public schools will dismiss one-hour early today, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. The afternoon prekindergarten program is canceled for today. All afterschool and evening activities for today, Nov. 15, 2018, are also canceled. Check the website at www.ccboe.com or call the 24-hour information hotline at 301-934-7410/301-932-6656 for the latest information.

The Board of Education honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) employees at its Nov. 13 meeting for their dedication and commitment to teaching and learning, and for making a difference in the lives of students. Honored were Teresa Higgs, a special education teacher at Westlake High School; Toni Kim, a third-grade teacher at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School; Andrea Landis, a special education teacher at Indian Head Elementary School; Paula Schiller, a special education teacher at the F.B. Gwynn Educational Center; and Victor Woodland, the building service manager at Theodore G. Davis Middle School. Higgs has worked for CCPS for Read more…

The Board of Education at its Nov. 13 meeting honored four Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students for accomplishments in the areas of academic achievement, career readiness and personal responsibility. Honored were Adebola “Addie” Oluyede, Pamela Rentz, Nathan Schuessler and Donovan Smith. Oluyede is an eighth-grade student at Theodore G. Davis Middle School and was honored by the Board in the area of academic achievement. She is an honor-roll student and demonstrates a positive work ethic in the classroom. She is known among her teachers as a kind and respectful student who gives her best effort in all that she Read more…

On Nov. 7, the St. Charles High School Spartones a cappella group gathered to put on a special performance at the Charles County Public Library in La Plata. The Spartones, along with members of the St. Charles Chamber Choir, performed for members of the La Plata Business Association (LPBA) to demonstrate the talents of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students. In turn, the Association presented the students with a check for $36,500. The funds will support all CCPS fine and performing arts programs. This is the fifth consecutive year that the association has donated its profits from the annual Rocktoberfest Read more…

The Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 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 streamed live on the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) website, www.ccboe.com. Click on the middle of the main page to start the live streaming. The following is a meeting agenda and is subject to change. Executive session – 11:30 a.m. Call to Read more…