The Seven-Up Art Show is open now through Feb. 9 at the Mattawoman Creek Art Center in Smallwood State Park. The show features art created by Charles County Public high school students. Art teachers choose pieces to include in the show that range from paintings and drawings to photographs and sculptures. A guest judge reviews the art for pieces that stand out and awards prizes for first-, second- and third-place, as well as honorable mention. Award categories include black and white drawing, colored drawing, mixed media, painting, photograph and sculpture. The show provides young artists with an opportunity to showcase Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is looking for outstanding volunteers who support children by contributing time and resources to schools and the school system. The 2020 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year “Be the Difference” awards program recognizes outstanding school volunteers for their valuable contributions to schools, students, staff and CCPS. There are five award categories: elementary school parent volunteer, middle school parent volunteer, high school parent volunteer, Charles County business volunteer and community organization volunteer. Nominees should be individuals, parents, businesses or community organizations who volunteer to give their time, energy or expertise to CCPS or a particular school that Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is hosting its second annual Career Fair Saturday, March 21 at North Point High School in Waldorf. The fair is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and sponsored by the CCPS Career and Technical Education (CTE) department. The event is free and open to the public, but targets high school students interested in exploring local career opportunities available to them after graduation. The fair will feature representatives from more than 30 local agencies, military branches, potential employers and businesses. Fair attendees should bring a current resume and dress professional, as some representatives may conduct Read more…

Local businesses are giving Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students incentives to wear their identification badges in school and keep track of the badges out of school by providing discounts for services and products. CCPS began issuing student identification badges during the 2018-19 school year as part of a safety and security pilot program intended to enhance school security. The program started with three schools and extended this school year to all high schools and five middle and elementary schools. Next school year, CCPS will require students at all schools to wear ID badges. Student ID badges, said Jason Stoddard, Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is holding a Fresh Start Academy Advisory Board meeting 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23 in the boardroom at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata. The meeting is open to the public. This is the second meeting of the board, which formed earlier this school year to provide input and feedback on the Academy programs, policies and practices. Board members represent community and other Charles County organizations. Dr. Dianna Abney, a Waldorf pediatrician and former director of the Charles County Department of Health, is the advisory board chair. Other board members include: Catherine Read more…

The Board of Education of Charles County is holding a work session 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 27 in the boardroom at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata. The meeting airs live on Comcast Channel 96/Verizon FiOS Channel 12 and the school system website at ccboe.com. The agenda is as follows and subject to change. Call to order – 6 p.m. Public hearing FY2021 Superintendent’s proposed operating budget Public Forum Work session  FY 2021 Superintendent’s proposed operating budget Policy series 8000 and 9000 review Adjournment About CCPS Charles County Public Schools provides 27,521 students in grades prekindergarten through Read more…

Thomas Stone High School senior DeJuan Woods Jr. has an ambitious goal for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students. As Student Member of the Board of Education and a longtime student government participant, Woods is seeking to eliminate a communication barrier among his peers. “Students have concerns but no place to share,” Woods said. To help Woods reach his goal, he launched a Student Member of the Board Advisory Council. The “SMOB” Advisory Council, as Woods refers to it, is a group of students who share the same goal of increasing student involvement. The council meets regularly and is working Read more…

Salary increases, a comprehensive elementary reading program, and additional mental health and student support programs are among Superintendent Kimberly A. Hill’s top priorities in a $411 million budget proposal submitted to the Board of Education on Jan. 14. Hill’s proposal includes a $17.9 million, or 4.6 percent increase, that focuses on students, classrooms and schools, and adds teachers to support a growing student population. The budget requests $12.1 million in additional funding from the county and $6.9 million from the state. State funding will not be final until the end of the Maryland General Assembly’s legislative session in April. There Read more…

The Board of Education at its Jan. 14 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 Barbara Brandau, Keri Mona, Shanelle Savoy, Kimberley Sheckells and Leslie Schroeck. Brandau is a special education teacher at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School. She is passionate about teaching and inspires students to do their best. She works with students through a daily check in and check out program, and conferences with students to help them reflect on their school day. Brandau collaborates and plans Read more…

The Board of Education of Charles County honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students during its Jan. 14 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 Anthony Clark, Aiden Gibney, Shayna Jaigobin, Hannah Piazza and Israel Rodriguez. Clark is a fifth-grade student at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School. The Board honored him for accomplishments in the area of personal responsibility. He consistently models a positive attitude and is a role model for his classmates. Clark has earned the academic honor Read more…