Graduation ceremonies for high school seniors in the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Class of 2019 are planned for May 30, May 31 and June 1 at the CCPS Convocation Center located at North Point High School in Waldorf. The ceremony for North Point is Thursday, May 30. Ceremonies for St. Charles, La Plata and Thomas Stone high schools are Friday, May 31. Seniors from Westlake, Henry E. Lackey and Maurice J. McDonough high schools graduate on Saturday, June 1. North Point’s ceremony is set for 7 p.m. May 30. North Point is closed May 30 for all students to Read more…
Superintendent Kimberly Hill and Sheriff Troy Berry renewed their commitment to the long-standing partnership between Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). The superintendent and sheriff signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on April 17 that outlines expectations for special law enforcement services and programs to schools. Berry reiterated his commitment to the School Resource Officer (SRO) program that supplies one full-time SRO for each of the county’s seven high schools and eight middle schools. The goals of the SRO program are not only to provide safety for students and staff, but also to build Read more…
Nine Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers were recently named 2019 Outstanding Teacher Honorees by Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, known as SMECO. The annual awards program honors teachers for outstanding classroom accomplishments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Honored by SMECO as Outstanding Mathematics Teachers of the Year are Nicholas Andrews of La Plata High School, Monica Halloran of Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School and Hannah Matthews of Benjamin Stoddert Middle School. Honored as Outstanding Science Teachers of the Year are Rebecca Gibson of La Plata, Megan McKinney-Dyson of Arthur Middleton Elementary School and Amy Vanden Berg of Milton M. Read more…
The Board of Education will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 14 to accept comments on the proposed Fresh Start Academy. The hearing follows the Board’s regular monthly business meeting and will be held in the boardroom at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building at 5980 Radio Station Road, La Plata. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) staff will provide a short presentation on Fresh Start. Following the presentation, the Board will accept comments and questions about the program. Although the forum is designed to be interactive, speakers must sign up by 6:30 p.m. and the Board will Read more…
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) high school math teams recently completed the competition season with Westlake High School earning a first-place overall award. High school math teams compete in monthly challenges by completing a series of individual, team and relay questions. Scores accumulate during the year to determine an overall Charles County champion. Westlake’s team earned a total of 162 points, with North Point High School earning second place with 147 points followed by the team from Henry E. Lackey High School in third place with 142 points. Three students earned honors for their individual performance. They are Westlake seniors Read more…
When La Plata High School English teacher Brooke Shnipes graduated from college, her plan was to attend law school. After realizing her true passion was English, she visited New York City to explore a career in publishing. “I had hoped to move to New York City and spend my days reading manuscripts and socializing with up-and-coming authors,” she said. However, after her visit Shnipes realized she preferred to live in a smaller town and wanted a career in a field she could pursue both her passion and desire to pass on her love of English to others. Shnipes is now Read more…
High school students got back to nature April 16 when teams participated in the 2019 Charles County Envirothon held at Gilbert Run Park. Westlake High School’s team took first place, a team from Maurice J. McDonough High School came in second with a team from North Point High School placing third. The academic competition is the culmination of lessons learned during seasonal trainings at the Charles Soil Conservation District. Students answer questions in five categories — aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and a topic that changes each year. This year the fifth topic is Agriculture and the Environment: Knowledge & Technology to Read more…
A new Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) requirement regarding the use of backpacks in middle and high schools will take effect April 24, making the rule consistent across the school system. When they return from spring break, middle and high school students will have to store their backpacks in their lockers during the school day. Principals and administrators will work with students to ensure there is enough time allotted between classes to go to their lockers. Students will be allowed to carry a small, personal bag no larger than a standard adult hand throughout the day. The backpack rule is Read more…
The Sea Perch Regional Robotics Competition was held March 16 during the History, Industry, Technology and Science (HITS) Expo at St. Charles High School. Sea Perch is an underwater robotics program during which students and teachers build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). William A. Diggs Elementary School’s team, Jaws, won first place in the Engineering Notebook category and third place in the obstacle course category. Jaws was named the best overall team at the competition and will represent the region at the Sea Perch national competition on June 1 and 2 at the University of Maryland, College Park. The Read more…
The Board of Education of Charles County is hosting an April 29 public Town Hall for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) support staff. The Town Hall is set for 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. in the staff development room of the CCPS Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata. The following is the Town Hall format and is subject to change. Call to order – 4:15 p.m. Welcome – Board Chairman Virginia R. McGraw Purpose – Board Vice Chairman Latina Wilson Focus – Employee suggestions for improving their work environment Adjournment – 5:45 p.m. The meeting is open to the Read more…