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...
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So. Md Education News
News from the local county public and private schools and colleges.
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...
Charles Co. J.C. Parks Elementary School earns a 2021 Sustainable Growth Award, launches ‘bag it’ campaign
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...
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...
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...
Charles Co. CCPS closes two schools for in-person learning Dec. 20-22, students at the affected schools will participate in virtual learning
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...
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...
Charles Co. Seven CCPS teachers recognized by MSDE’s Assessment for Learning Classroom of Distinction program
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...
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...
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...
The Board of Education at its Dec. 14 meeting honored four Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students. School principals annually select one student and staff member for Board recognition. Students are honored for accomplishments in the areas of academic achievement, career readiness and personal responsibility.
Honored at the meeting were Lewis Benton of Mary B. Neal Elementary School; Jace Williams of Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School; Demetri Hicks of Mattawoman Middle School; and...
Charles Co. McDonough team earns first place at local It’s Academic event, advances to regional competition
The It’s Academic team from Maurice J. McDonough High School earned the top spot in this year’s local event held Dec. 8 at North Point High School. The team of captain Samuel Chernoff, Nicholas Long and Julie Perriello scored 350 points to earn first place. This is the first time in 15 years that the It’s Academic team from McDonough has earned first place at the county level.
Coming in second place was the team from La Plata High School with 300 points followed by North Point High School...
The Board of Education’s next regular meeting is 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The Board will meet in person at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building. The Starkey Building is located at 5980 Radio Station Road in La Plata.
The meeting is open to the public. However, the Board is limiting the number of in-person attendees to the first five arrivals in order to support social distancing in the boardroom. Visitors are required to wear a face mask and must check in with staff at the main...
The Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Department of Student Services will host a virtual parent and caregiver workshop on Dec. 15. All virtual presentations will include an interpreter for Spanish-speaking parents and caregivers. The upcoming workshop will focus on healthy relationships among teens.
Student Services staff members — school counselors, school psychologists and pupil personnel workers — will continue to share information during the school year that mirrors social emotional...
Charles Co. Signed, sealed, delivered — Malcolm Elementary to start a pen pal program with help of MRSPA mini grant
Increasingly — and, some might argue, exclusively — people are communicating electronically. Text, email, social media — when it comes to writing to each other, people are talking with their thumbs. Emily Leedy, a fifth-grade teacher at Malcolm Elementary School, is attempting to change things up a bit by introducing a cross-curricular letter writing opportunity to fifth graders.
She will be helped in the endeavor with a $300 mini grant from the Maryland Retired School Personnel Association...
All Charles County public schools, buildings and administrative offices are closed Thursday, Dec. 23, through Friday, Dec. 31, for winter break. The closure includes the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building.
Schools, offices and buildings reopen on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, as noted in the Parent Handbook/Calendar.
During winter break, some CCPS high schools may have athletic events such as games or practices planned during the day. These events will...
Charles Co. CCPS to distribute i-Ready student assessment reports this week, hosting virtual assessment parent night
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is distributing individual reports this week for students who took i-Ready program assessments earlier this fall. Reports will be sent home with students this week starting on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Students who took i-Ready assessments include the following.
Students in Grades 1-8 participated in both a reading and math assessment.
High school students enrolled in Algebra I this year completed the math assessment.
High school students taking English I-A...
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is hosting an online student and parent/guardian information session for the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Program on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, from 6 to 7 p.m.
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. A student can receive the Seal if he or she can demonstrate full proficiency in language learning as measured...
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) hosted its 2021 Middle School Archery Tournament on Nov. 19 at Milton M. Somers Middle School. Archers from the county’s public middle schools participated, divided by grade level into boy and girl teams. The top boy and girl archer by grade were recognized, as well as teams overall.
Top archers:
Rylie Rich, sixth grade, Piccowaxen Middle School, 139 points.
Chandler Robinson, sixth grade, Matthew Henson Middle School, 144 points.
Aubriana Harrington...
Members of La Plata High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) recently collected food for, put together and delivered Thanksgiving food baskets.
Families of La Plata students were selected by the school’s pupil personnel worker (PPW) to receive the food baskets that were brimming with donations collected by NHS members from club members, teachers and staff, and Key Club members. The program has been overseen by the group for more than two decades, Nicole Deavers, who co-sponsors NHS with...