Registration for the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) annual fall chess tournament, set for 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 26 at Thomas Stone High School, is now open for students. The tournament is for students in kindergarten through Grade 12. Interested participants must register online at https://ccpsregistration.wufoo.com/forms/ccps-2019-fall-chess-tournament/ by Wednesday, Oct. 23. The registration window closes after Oct. 23 and walk-in registrations are not accepted. The tournament features a four round Swiss style format. Students compete in eight divisions of play, depending on their grade level of enrollment: kindergarten through first grade, second grade, third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade, Read more…

Indian Head Elementary School students and staff got a wild hair last week when the school — along with Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School and the F.B. Gwynn Educational Center — participated in Attendance Awareness Month with a Spirit Week that called on students and staff to sport crazy hair one day, sunglasses the next, then pajamas or sports jerseys.   Sheryl Morrison, pupil personnel worker for Indian Head, Mt. Hope and Gwynn, organized the week to bring attention to the importance of regularly attending school. “We try to find creative and fun activities for the students to bring attention to Read more…

The St. Charles High School “It’s Academic” team were among the first to film in the show’s new studio at National Harbor. In a competition that was taped Sept. 21 and will air Oct. 5, the team is made up of juniors Christian Gomez, Jamie Fleury and Rylee Josephs. The three stepped in for 2019 graduates Stephen Duranske, Renee Deminne and Pierre Dela Cruz, who came in second place in the county competition in December 2018. During the county’s “It’s Academic” competition held in December; the team that places first goes on to compete in a regional contest that airs Read more…

Two newcomers join four veterans to helm the NewsBreak anchor desk for the 2019-20 school year. NewsBreak is a CCPS TV program featuring information relevant to Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). The show, led by a solo anchor, includes features on students and staff, and important dates parents and students need to know. New to the team this year are Brynna Bode, a junior at Henry E. Lackey High School, and Dominic Reid, a North Point High School senior. Bode is a member of Lackey’s mock trial team, National Honor Society, the math team, It’s Academic, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Read more…

High school juniors and seniors clocked face-to-face time with representatives of more than 100 colleges and universities Wednesday during the Charles County College Fair held at North Point High School. The fair offers students an opportunity to learn more about schools they have already researched while introducing them to those that are new to them. It also gives colleges and universities the chance to shine. “I like that I can learn about different colleges and what they have to offer,” said Alexus Woodland, a La Plata High School junior, who is interested in majoring in social work. “I’m looking for Read more…

We care about you and your safety. Today, Superintendent of Schools Kimberly Hill, Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry and other Charles County Sheriff’s officers shared this message with student drivers as they arrived at Thomas Stone High School. Today marks year 12 for the We Care campaign, a partnership between Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) and the Sheriff’s Office that focuses on teen driver safety. As student drivers arrived at Stone, they received a warm welcome and safe driving reminder. Stone Principal Shanif Pearl said she has about 80 student drivers and was excited to welcome them to school today Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has revised how it responds to certain incidents in schools, making it clearer what students and teachers should do during an emergency. Called a standard response, CCPS will use five actions developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation and adopted by the school system this year. Action items are lockout, lockdown, evacuate, shelter and hold. The protocols extend the actions principals can take when an incident occurs in or near a school. During a “lockout,” teachers and students stay inside and lock all outside doors. A principal might place a school in lockout if Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is participating in Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week. During the week of Sept. 30 through Oct. 4, cafeterias at all schools and centers will have special menu items featuring products grown and produced locally. Items using local products on the menu that week include fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat products. Featured meals for the week include the following:  Monday, Sept. 30 – beef hot dogs, mini pizza rolls, fresh local green beans and roasted local sweet potato wedges  Tuesday, Oct. 1 – pulled chicken bbq sandwich, mini pizza rolls, texas beans and tater tots  Wednesday, Read more…

Pimpika Hongsawadee, a 2019 graduate of Maurice J. McDonough High School, is the overall winner of the 2019 Charles County Fair art contest. Her artwork is displayed as the cover of the Charles County Fair Guide. She was chosen as this year’s winner by the Charles County Fair Board and Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). The following students were named overall winners at their grade level in the contest for artwork produced during the 2018-19 school year. Avery Robinson, kindergarten winner, T.C. Martin Elementary School; Lillian Giles, first-grade winner, Martin; Scarlett Dawn Catli, second-grade winner, William B. Wade Elementary School; Read more…

Words matter at Matthew Henson Middle School, and kindness was the word of the day on Sept. 3 as schools opened for the 2019-20 school year. Wearing matching gray shirts with the message “One kind word can change someone’s entire day,” Henson staff gathered at the front of the school and shared kind words, hugs and encouragement to nearly 800 students as they filed out of buses and cars. The encouragement and kind words didn’t stop at the front door. As sixth graders joined their homeroom teachers, they found postcards on their desks with personal messages of support from parents Read more…