Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) recently partnered with Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) to host a virtual elementary math challenge. Teams competed through an online platform called Breakout EDU to complete math problems. The math challenge is open annually to students in Grades 4-5 and features a team and individual competition. Students from 20 CCPS elementary schools participated in the challenge.
Grade 4 awards
The team from Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School...
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So. Md Education News
News from the local county public and private schools and colleges.
Charles Co. St. Charles High School teacher is a finalist for The Washington Post’s Teacher of the Year Award
As a young child, Brian Kuhn was so shy, he wouldn’t talk to people on the phone. As he grew older, he was happy to be part of a larger group, and not standing out. But in his freshman year of high school, a choir teacher gave him a solo and it unlocked something.
“It was one of those things where I was able to go out and actually share something,” said Kuhn, the vocal music teacher at St. Charles High School. “It was just like from that point on, I wanted to be able to do that — to do that...
The Board of Education of Charles County is continuing its search process for the next Superintendent of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). The Board is seeking additional public input about the search process and questions to ask during finalist interviews. Community members including parents, students, staff and Charles County residents can complete a one-question survey to provide the Board with ideas for finalist questions.
Click here to submit a question. Deadline to submit a...
The Board of Education’s next regular meeting is 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11. 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 will stream live on the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) website, www.ccboe.com. CCPS also will post the meeting on CCPSTV under the Board meeting menu at ccboe.com.
Public forum for this meeting will be held in a hybrid format of both in-person and...
Principal Debra Calvert’s passion to be the best for children is infectious. Calvert, who is principal at William A. Diggs Elementary School, spreads this passion among her team each day. Her work ethic, coupled with her desire to do her best for students, is why Calvert was named the 2021 Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Principal of the Year and finalist in the Washington Post’s Principal of the Year program.
Calvert knew her team had nominated her for recognition in prior years but...
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) recently named eight Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers as 2021 Outstanding Teacher Honorees. The annual awards program recognizes teachers for outstanding achievements in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Honored for accomplishments in math and named 2021 Outstanding Mathematics Teachers of the Year are Carrie Heard of Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, Natalie Gilliom of Milton M. Somers Middle School...
The Board of Education of Charles County is moving forward in its search for a new Superintendent of schools and hopes to announce Charles County Public Schools’ (CCPS) new top administrator by June 8 at its monthly meeting.
The new Superintendent is replacing Superintendent Kimberly A. Hill, who told the Board in February 2021 she would not be seeking renewal of her contract for another four-year term. Hill, who has served two terms as Superintendent, is retiring from the school system at...
The last day of school for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students for the 2020-21 school year is Wednesday, June 16. The last day of school for teachers is Thursday, June 17. The following is the end-of-year schedule for students.
Friday, June 11: two-hour early dismissal for all students (in-person and virtual/report card preparation time for teachers).
Monday, June 14: two-hour early dismissal for all students (in-person and virtual/report card preparation time for teachers)...
The Board of Education voted on April 26 to approve the first charter school in Charles County.
The Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA) will open in the 2022-2023 school year as a middle school serving Grades 6-7 and expand the following year to include Grades 6-8. Located in Waldorf, the school will count as the school system’s ninth middle school.
PISOTA will have an arts-focused program of study using the Cambridge International Education curriculum that meets Maryland...
Maurice J. McDonough High School will perform the rock musical “Ranked” 7 p.m. May 14 and 15, and 2 p.m. May 16. The play — rated PG for mild language — tells the story a dystopian high school where grades and GPAs are the only things that matter. Anyone who is “above the rank” gets perks and special treatment. Those “below the rank” struggle to get by.
Tickets are “pay what you can,” with donations accepted to fund next year’s program. The show will be livestreamed. To order the show, go...
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is hosting a Virtual Career Fair for high school juniors and seniors. This year’s fair is split into two parts: online presentations for students to view in advance, and live Zoom sessions on April 28 with presenters.
Videos from participating organizations and companies are posted here on the CCPS website. Students can view the videos between now and April 28. On April 28, students will receive Zoom meeting details through their Synergy Mail accounts...
The Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Kimberly Hill have launched efforts to address educational equity in Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). Efforts include the adoption of a Board policy on educational equity, the launch of an Equity Task Force and a Superintendent Task Force on African American Employee Experiences, targeted bias training for all staff and the recent creation of a National Response Committee.
The mission of CCPS is to provide an opportunity for all...
The Board of Education at its April 20 meeting recognized four annual Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) resolutions. The resolutions highlight Administrative Professionals Week, Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week, National Physical Education and Sport Week, and Teacher Appreciation Week.
CCPS recognizes Administrative Professionals Week annually in April. This year, Administrative Professionals Week falls on April 19-23. The recognition emphasizes the supportive role...
Charles Co. State association names Wade school counselor as Maryland Elementary School Counselor of the Year
Constance Johnson, a school counselor at William B. Wade Elementary School, was recently named the Elementary School Counselor of the Year by the Maryland School Counselor Association.
When Johnson started with Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) in 2014, she split her time between Wade and C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School before beginning at Wade full time at the start of the 2015-16 school year. At Wade she is the counselor for kindergarten, third, fourth and fifth grades.
Despite her...
The Board of Education of Charles County honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students at its April 20 meeting. 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.
Safety guidelines changed student and staff recognitions at Board meetings this school year to a virtual format. The recognition ceremony featured pre-recorded...
The Board of Education at its April 20 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. The recognition ceremony was held in a virtual format and featured pre-recorded introductions and recognitions from school principals.
Honored by the Board were Shannon...
The Board of Education is holding an in-person work session at 6 p.m., Monday, April 26, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building. The Starkey Building is located at 5980 Radio Station Road in La Plata. The meeting will stream live on the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) website, www.ccboe.com. CCPS also will post the meeting on CCPSTV under the Board meeting menu at ccboe.com.
Public forum for this meeting will be held in a hybrid format of both in-person and virtual speakers...
Charles Co. Students compete in state Destination Imagination tournament; several teams advance to global event
Several Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students recently competed in the Maryland Destination Imagination (DI) tournament held April 10. A total of 94 students participated on 16 competing CCPS teams from the elementary-, middle- and high-school levels. There is also a non-competitive challenge for Rising Stars teams. Rising Stars teams include students in kindergarten through Grade 2.
The tournament is broken down into six problem-solving challenges that require teams to work...
Charles Co. Register now for CCPS summer enrichment camps; camps are in-person and virtual this year
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is sponsoring free summer enrichment camps for students in kindergarten through Grade 8. The camps are limited to students enrolled in CCPS, including those entering kindergarten this fall.
Summer enrichment camps feature learning opportunities for students that support instruction and feature engaging hands-on activities and topics. Enrichment camps set for this summer include a mix of both in-person and virtual opportunities. Camps begin the week of...
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) begins Phase 4 of its reopening plan on Monday, April 19. Under Phase 4, more than 5,800 additional students return to their schools for in-person learning. Phase 4 includes students in prekindergarten through Grade 12 and a rotating schedule of two days of in-person instruction each week.
Phase 4 schedule
The following is the rotating schedule for Phase 4 students. Any student eligible to return to school under Phase 3 now falls under the Phase 4...