So. Md Education News

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...

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Charles Co. Board seeking input on Superintendent search

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...

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St. Mary's Co. Countywide Kindergarten Enrollment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, May 5, 2021 Dr. J. Scott Smith, Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32178 Dr. Maureen Montgomery, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32135 LEONARDTOWN, MD – St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) is pleased to announce registration for Kindergarten for the 2021–2022 school year. All schools will hold open registration beginning Monday, May 10 which will continue throughout the summer. Parents of children who will be five...

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Charles Co. Board to meet May 11 for monthly meeting

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...

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St. Mary's Co. New School-Based Health Centers in St. Mary's County Recognized by State Commission and Awarded $650,000 Grant to Address Health Equity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, May 4, 2021 Joint Release: St. Mary’ County Public Schools St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office St. Mary’s County Health Department LEONARDTOWN, MD - (May 4, 2021) - The St. Mary’s County Equity Task Force is pleased to announce official state recognition of the two new school-based health centers (SBHCs) in the county, as well as a $650,000 grant awarded to the St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) to support clinical service delivery at the SBHCs...

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SMCM Assistant Professor Latchney Published in Developmental Neurobiology

Assistant Professor Latchney Published in Developmental Neurobiology Michael Bruckler May 03, 2021 - 12:43 pm May 03, 2021 Sarah Latchney, assistant professor of biology and neuroscience, has recently been published in Developmental Neurobiology titled, “Persistent organic pollutants at the synapse: Shared phenotypes and converging mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity.” In this article, Latchney reviewed the literature that supports a hypothesis that the neuronal synapse – the...

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Charles Co. Debra Calvert named 2021 Charles County Principal of the Year

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...

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St. Mary's Co. Countywide Prekindergarten/Head Start Online Application

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, April 30, 2021 Dr. J. Scott Smith, Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32178 Dr. Maureen Montgomery, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32135 LEONARDTOWN, MD – St. Mary's County Public Schools is pleased to announce that beginning May 3, 2021, an online application process for Pre-Kindergarten/Head Start will be open to determine eligibility for school year 2021-2022. All families are welcome to apply and have their application and...

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Charles Co. SMECO honors CCPS teachers for excellence in the classroom

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...

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Charles Co. Superintendent search progresses

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...

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St. Mary's Co. St. Mary's County Public Schools Department of Food and Nutrition Services Meal Distribution - Change of Schedule as of May 5, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 29, 2021 Dr. J. Scott Smith, Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32178 Dr. Jeff Walker, Assistant Superintendent of Supporting Services, 301-475-4256, ext. 7 LEONARDTOWN, MD – St. Mary’s County Public Schools Department of Food and Nutrition Services announce changes in the schedule for curb-side meal distribution. Meals are available for students ages 18 years and younger. Meals can be picked up from any participating school site even if...

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Charles Co. Last day of school for students is June 16; Last day for teachers is June 17

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)...

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Charles Co. Board approves first charter school

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...

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Charles Co. McDonough to stage ‘Ranked’ May 14-16

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...

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St. Mary's Co. Board of Education of St. Mary's County to Meet on Wednesday, April 28, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, April 26, 2021 Dr. J. Scott Smith, Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32178 LEONARDTOWN, MD – The Board of Education of St. Mary’s County will be meeting on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, with executive session beginning at 5:00 p.m., followed by an open meeting at 6:00 p.m. Mask will be required, and social distancing will be enforced. The public may also watch the meeting live via www.smcps.org/streaming. For more details, please call (301)...

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St. Mary's Co. Housing Authority of St. Mary's County Welcomes PNC Bank Branch Donation to Support Launch of Health and Wellness Services for Lexington Park Communit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, April 23, 2021 Joint Release: PNC Bank The Housing Authority of St. Mary’s County, Maryland St. Mary’s County Health Department St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office St. Mary’s County Public Schools LEONARDTOWN, MD (April 23, 2021) – The St. Mary’s County Equity Task Force, in partnership with the Housing Authority of St. Mary’s County, Maryland (HASMC), is pleased to announce plans for a future Behavioral Health Hub for St. Mary’s County. The 6,200...

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SMCM Visiting Professor Thomas M. Evans Cited in Paper Published in the Journal Nature

Visiting Professor Thomas M. Evans Cited in Paper Published in the Journal Nature Michael Bruckler April 22, 2021 - 6:36 pm April 22, 2021 Visiting Professor in Biology Thomas M. Evans predicted early lampreys did not have a larval stage in a paper he coauthored in 2018 titled “The Evolution of Lamprey (Petromyzontida) Life History and the Origin of Metamorphosis,” which is now cited in a paper published in the prestigious journal Nature. Lampreys are a primitive fish, that look like an...

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SMCM Professor of Art Carrie Patterson’s Work to be Featured at the Art Gallery in BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport

Professor of Art Carrie Patterson’s Work to be Featured at the Art Gallery in BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Michael Bruckler April 22, 2021 - 1:31 pm April 22, 2021 Professor of Art Carrie Patterson’s work was selected for an exhibition at the D/E Art Gallery in Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, curated by Jack Rasmussen, director and curator of the American University Museum and an MSAC Councilor. The exhibition is titled “Independent Artists: Select Maryland...

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Charles Co. CCPS hosting Virtual Career Fair for high school students

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...

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SMCM Professor of Art Sue Johnson’s artwork published in “New American Paintings”

Professor of Art Sue Johnson’s artwork published in “New American Paintings” Michael Bruckler April 22, 2021 - 9:36 am April 22, 2021 Professor of Art Sue Johnson’s artwork has been published in the current issue of “New American Paintings,” No. 148 South Region. In the highly competitive selection process, Johnson was one of only 40 painters selected by Emily Stamey, curator of exhibitions at the Weatherspoon Art Museum, University of North Carolina Greensboro. “New American Paintings”...

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