- Students in the Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) program at the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center recently visited St. Mary’s College to learn about programs available for students interested in majoring in education. More than 20 students are enrolled in the TAM program at Stethem, which is one of several career and technology education (CTE) programs offered for Charles County Public Schools high school students. The TAM program prepares students for careers in the education profession. Course work focuses on human growth and development through adolescence, teaching as a profession, curriculum and instruction, and includes a classroom internship. Students can receive college credit and scholarships to several Maryland teacher education programs, including those offered through St. Mary’s College.
- Benjamin Stoddert Middle School hosted its annual Veterans Breakfast last month to honor community members for military service. Students are asked to invite any family member who is a veteran or active duty military to attend the event, which was held Nov. 9. Guests spoke with students about their experiences. Zachary Bush, a social studies teacher and department chair at Stoddert, coordinated the event which is held annually to honor military members in the Stoddert community.
- Students from the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center volunteered during the Walk to End Homelessness, sponsored by Lifestyles of Maryland, Inc. The walk was Nov. 18 in the town of La Plata. Stethem students created nearly 400 handouts that represented the number of homeless children in Charles County and passed them out to participants. The students also helped coordinate warm-up activities for participants. Their participation in the walk was part of their service learning requirements. Prior to the walk, students conducted research on homelessness and food shortages in Maryland. The students also wrote reflection essays to detail what they learned through their volunteer experiences.
- Students and staff at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School participated in a bake sale last month. As part of the schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, students earn Stoddert character cash each day by demonstrating hard work, responsibility and a positive attitude toward learning. During the bake sale students used their character cash to buy snacks and juice. The sale was held before homeroom and items for sale included juice boxes, muffins and chips. Throughout the school year, staff create reward incentives students can work towards to spend their character cash.
- Benjamin Stoddert Middle School hosted a schoolwide Career Day last month. More than 55 presenters came to speak to students about their profession. Participants ranged from police officers and military members to business owners and artists. Students rotated through presenters and completed a rating sheet to highlight the presenter they found the most interesting. Stoddert staff coordinate a schoolwide Career Day event annually.
- Charles County Public Schools hosted an Educator’s Rising Induction Ceremony last month at North Point High School. Students in Educators Rising join chapters at their respective middle and high schools in order to learn more about the education profession. Students also volunteer at community events. During the induction ceremony, nearly 100 students took the oath to officially become a member of their school’s chapter. St. Charles High School recently launched a chapter that now includes 25 members.
- Six Charles County Public Schools library media specialists presented on Nov. 9 at the annual American Association of School Librarians (AASL) conference in Phoenix. Carmen Belanger of La Plata High School, Polly Callahan of St. Charles High School, Jacob Gerding of Berry Elementary School, Sarah Gobe of Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, Bethany Thornton of Indian Head Elementary School and Dedra Van Gelder, CCPS contest specialist for library media, presented “Beyond the Conference: Keeping the Momentum Between Professional Development Experiences.” The presenters shared strategies to help library media specialists build their own professional learning communities. The AASL selected the presentation for inclusion in membership resources.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 26,900 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 36 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Patricia Vaira, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
