Due to a current high positive COVID-19 percentage rate for Charles County and high testing demand, Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) will reopen from winter break on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, for virtual instruction. Students will participate in virtual instruction for the week of Jan. 3 through 7. Any extension to virtual instruction will be shared with staff and families as quickly as possible. Virtual instruction means students will be learning online and not reporting to school buildings the week of Jan. 3-7, 2022.  As of today, any CCPS athletics or extracurricular activities are postponed. This includes any planned or Read more…

J.C. Parks Elementary School has a reputation for its commitment to the environment. Deanna Wheeler, the science teacher, thinks it probably started around 2009 when she was invited on an ice breaking expedition in the Arctic. Before that, of course she and her students would do little things here and there for the environment. But after that time in the Arctic, the scope widened for Wheeler. “We could do more,” she said. “Our actions impact more than Parks and what’s around us. Our impact can be felt all the way up to the Arctic.” When she returned to Maryland, she Read more…

Winter break is Dec. 23 through Dec. 31, 2021, for all Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students and staff. CCPS asks that both parents and staff continue to report positive COVID-19 results to the school system during winter break. Parents and staff can use an electronic confidential reporting form linked here to inform school officials about positive test results. The CCPS Office of School Safety and Security will continue contact tracing during winter break. After completing the reporting form, parents or staff will receive additional information about when to report back to school/work. CCPS strongly encourages staff, parents and families Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has experienced a recent increase of positive COVID-19 reports among students and staff. The increase is not specific to the school system, as the Charles County Department of Health is also reporting increased data for the county as a whole.  Below are several important COVID-19 operational updates. In recent weeks, CCPS has consulted with the health department about the increase of COVID-19 cases at specific schools including Theodore G. Davis and Milton M. Somers middle schools, and St. Charles and Westlake high schools. Each of these schools recently experienced a grade-level quarantine for students or Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is participating in the St. Mary’s City annual Maryland Day Celebration on Saturday, March 26. A fourth-grade student is selected through an essay contest to represent the school system and Charles County at the celebration. Students must submit an essay response to the prompt, “Why is Charles County a great place to live?” CCPS fourth-grade students are eligible and are permitted one entry per student. Essays should be 150-350 words and if typed, double spaced. Students who are interested in entering the contest should submit their essays to their fourth-grade teachers before Tues., Feb. 1. Read more…

In consultation with the Charles County Department of Health, Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has closed two high schools to students for in-person learning next week. Starting Monday, Dec. 20, through Wednesday, Dec. 22, St. Charles and Westlake high schools are closed to students for in-person learning. Students who attend these two CCPS high schools will participate in virtual learning. Staff and teachers at the schools will report to the building Dec. 20-22. Parents of students at St. Charles and Westlake will receive further information by email from their school principals. All other schools are open for in-person instruction next Read more…

The Board of Education of Charles County met Dec. 14, 2021, for its regular meeting. A meeting agenda is posted on Board Docs here. Board meetings are streamed live at www.ccboe.com and archived on the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/c/ccpsmd/videos.  The following are important meeting updates. Superintendent update Superintendent Maria Navarro updated the Board on mental health supports in place for students and families. She also updated the Board on recent communications shared with parents about monitoring their child’s social media access and use. Read the complete report here. Equal Opportunity Schools Deputy Superintendent of Schools Kevin Lowndes provided an update Read more…

Seven Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers were recently honored by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) for using the formative assessment process to improve teaching and learning in their schools. Teachers who earned the MSDE’s Assessment for Learning Classroom of Distinction designation will open their classrooms to be observed by other educators from around the state and participate in conferences with them, while informally serving as mentors. Twenty teachers in Maryland applied for the distinction. Of 15 teachers around the state who were moved to Round 2 for consideration, 14 were CCPS teachers. All seven honored with the Read more…

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is seeking input from students, parents and staff to develop the next systemwide strategic plan. Staff developed three stakeholder surveys: one for parents, one for staff and one for students in Grades 4-12. Links for each survey are below. Parent Survey. Staff Survey. Student Survey (Grades 4-12). Survey takers should complete the survey that describes their role with CCPS. CCPS staff members who are the parent of a CCPS student are encouraged to complete both the staff and parent surveys. Deadline for all survey feedback is 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. The Board of Read more…

The Board of Education of Charles County at its Dec. 14 meeting honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) staff members for their commitment to the school system and student success. Each month, the Board honors staff members chosen by their school principals for recognition who demonstrate their dedication to teaching and learning. Honored by the Board at its November meeting were Mildred Alexander-Moses of Matthew Henson Middle School; Logan Berchtold of Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School; Joseph Evans of Mattawoman Middle School; Beverly Gaskins of Mary B. Neal Elementary School; and Scheherazad “Sherry” Mistry of North Point High School. Read more…