The Charles County Scholarship Fund offers more than 50 scholarships to Charles County high school seniors. The application window is now open and closes March 1. Interested students can visit the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) website, ccboe.com, to view available scholarships, eligibility criteria and additional requirements. Applications must be complete and submitted online by March 1. Students need only to submit one application; late submissions are not accepted. The application is posted at https://www.ccboe.com/ss/charles-county-scholarship-fund-inc/. Requirements include a resume, a personal statement that details a student’s academic and career goals, two letters of recommendation, a high school transcript and copy Read more…

All Charles County public schools are closed Monday, Dec. 23 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. Schools reopen for students and teachers on Thursday, Jan. 2. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) administrative offices are closed Dec. 24-25, and Jan. 1. The Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during winter break. The following is the indoor pool schedule for Henry E. Lackey and North Point high schools, and the Donald M. Wade Aquatic Center at St. Charles High School. Closed Dec. 24-25; Pools open 1 to 8 p.m., Dec. 26-27 and Dec. 30; Pools open Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is participating in the St. Mary’s City annual Maryland Day Celebration on March 21. Each year, a fourth-grade student is selected through an essay contest to represent the school system and Charles County at the celebration. This year, students must write an essay about “Why is Charles County a great place to live?” Essays should include at least 150 words, but no more than 350 words. Students can submit either handwritten essays or typed essays with double spacing. The deadline for submissions is Monday, Feb. 3. The contest is only open to fourth-grade students. Students Read more…

High school students in the Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps — better known as JROTC — gathered Friday, Dec. 13, for the 11th annual Col. Donald M. Wade Joint Services Military Ball held at North Point High School. The annual event celebrates the program that has a membership of more than 860 students attending one of the county’s seven high schools. The ball is an opportunity for instructors to honor seniors who have participated in their respective schools JROTC. Emma O’Rourke, a St. Charles High School sophomore, has been a member of her school’s JROTC since she was a freshman. Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) hosted its first fun run last month to support the Southern Maryland Food Bank. More than 200 runners, walkers and families joined the Nov. 9 run around the La Plata High and Mary H. Matula Elementary school campuses as part of the first CCPS 5k Turkey Trot. Participants included CCPS employees. The event raised $5,300, which Superintendent of Schools Kimberly A. Hill provided to Brenda DiCarlo, director of the Southern Maryland Food Bank, on Dec. 5. DiCarlo said the funds would help to support several food bank programs. “This donation will be used to assist Read more…

Three Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) physical education (PE) teachers were recently honored by SHAPE Maryland, an organization that promotes and supports health and wellness. The state chapter of the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) named Michelle Ignaszewski of the F.B. Gwynn Educational Center as Maryland’s Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Brittany Aley of Benjamin Stoddert Middle School and Diana Gyuras of Billingsley Elementary School each received the Simon McNeely Award given to those for outstanding teaching and service in health, physical education, recreation or dance. SHAPE Maryland recently held a convention in Ocean City that Read more…

The Board of Education at its Dec. 10 meeting honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) staff members for their commitment to student success and support of the school system. Honored by the Board were Cynthia Asimenios, Linda Breitinger, Charles Ford, Catherine Graff and Scott Shuttleworth. Asimenios is a special education instructional assistant at Indian Head Elementary School. She has worked at Indian Head for the past 13 years and is well known among her colleagues as a valuable team member. She goes above and beyond to support both students and staff. This year, Asimenios is overseeing the sensory room Read more…

The Board of Education of Charles County honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students during its Dec. 10 meeting. Each month, the Board honors students chosen by their school principals who demonstrate academic achievement, personal responsibility and career readiness. Honored by the Board were Suki Aumavae, Genesis Rodriguez Batalla, Quinten Echard, Emmaline Ogungbesan and Genesis Zelaya Villalobos. Aumavae is an eighth-grade student at Theodore G. Davis Middle School and was recognized by the Board for accomplishments in the area of personal responsibility. She is a straight A student and is well known among her peers as a role model. Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) holds toddler playgroups for children who are 18 months to 4 years old and live in Charles County. The playgroups engage young children in hands-on play, story time and activities designed to prepare them to enter school. The playgroups are held at Walter J. Mitchell, J.P. Ryon, Arthur Middleton and Indian Head elementary schools. The following is a list of times and dates for each location: Mitchell — playgroups are held Tuesdays from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. on Jan. 7, 14 and 28; Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25; and March 3, 10, 17, 24 Read more…

The La Plata High School It’s Academic team earned the title of Charles County competition winner in the annual regional event held Dec. 4. The three-member team of Captain Tanner Wyant, Jenna Burtch and Margaret Stine won with a score of 280 points in the championship round against teams from St. Charles and Westlake high schools. The Westlake team earned second place, followed by St. Charles in third place. The team from La Plata also includes students Samantha Yorio (alternate), Liliana Adamo, Aubrey Alexander, Michelle Ameyaw, William Anderson, Savanna Crooks, Ashton Gordon, Jordan Harris, Connor Keech, Brandon Luton, Madelyn Nicholl, Read more…