So. Md Education News

Charles Co. CTE virtual showcase available on CCPS website, application cycle for most programs begins Nov. 23

For the 2020-21 school year, Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has a virtual showcase on its website for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. The showcase features program-specific videos on each CCPS CTE program and is posted at https://www.ccboe.com/cte/index.php/cte-showcase-2020. Some CTE programs require students to apply for admission due to limited enrollment, while others are available to incoming high school freshmen at all seven CCPS high schools. Students interested...

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Charles Co. CCPS fall sports conditioning, skill sessions suspended

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has suspended all sports conditioning and skill sessions for student athletes, effective immediately. The suspension is a precautionary measure due to the increasing COVID-19 cases in Charles County. CCPS staff will revisit allowing student athletes to participate in conditioning and skill/training sessions at a later time. High school athletic directors have notified their student athletes about the suspension. CCPS has guidelines in place for...

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Charles Co. December SAT, ACT dates canceled

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has canceled the December SAT and ACT testing dates at Westlake High School. This includes the SAT on Saturday, Dec. 5, and the ACT on Saturday, Dec. 12. Students registered for the tests will receive a cancelation notice from the College Board and/or ACT, Inc. The notice will include information about rescheduling tests. College Board updates are posted online at https://pages.collegeboard.org/sat-covid-19-updates. ACT updates are posted online at...

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SMCM Grossman to Chair American Physical Society’s Committee on Education

Grossman to Chair American Physical Society’s Committee on Education Joshua Grossman November 11, 2020 - 12:12 pm November 11, 2020 The American Physical Society (APS) has selected Josh Grossman, professor of physics, to chair its Committee on Education in 2021. Grossman has served on the committee since the start of 2019. The APS Committee on Education promotes and supports the education of physics students at all levels from within the physics community and also outside the physics...

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Charles Co. Young Athletes At-Home Program kicks off

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) partners with Special Olympics Maryland to provide the Young Athletes At-Home Program (YAP), introducing children ages 2 to 7 to basic sports skills like running, kicking and throwing. The program is typically offered to children in special populations with and without intellectual disabilities who are in prekindergarten and enrolled in early intervention programs. This year, CCPS is offering the virtual program to all young children and their families...

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CSM CSM Dedicates Dec. 1 ‘GivingTuesday’ Fundraiser to ‘Help a Hawk’ Emergency Fund to Help Students Impacted by Pandemic

Emily, left, and Caitlyn Tolomei When the pandemic hit in March 2020 and Gov. Larry Hogan ordered Marylanders to stay home, Lisa Tolomei – a single mother of two – immediately settled into her Chesapeake Beach home office. Her daughters Caitlyn and Emily weren’t so lucky. The day after Lisa started working from home, Caitlyn was laid off. And the day after that, Emily lost her job. All three Tolomeis are part-time students at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM). But Tolomei and Caitlyn...

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Charles Co. The Board honors outstanding employees for their contributions to the school system

The Board of Education at its Nov. 10 meeting honored four 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 who demonstrate their dedication to teaching and learning. Honored were Melissa Bridegum of Mary B. Neal Elementary School, Holly Dolan of North Point High School, Margaret Grove of Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School and Amanda Jones of...

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Charles Co. Board recognizes exemplary students at its Nov. 10 meeting

The Board of Education of Charles County honored four Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students at its Nov. 10 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. School closures in March caused CCPS to postpone student and staff recognitions until last month. COVID-19 safety guidelines in place changed student and staff...

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SMCM David Froom's "Yeats Songs" Performed at University of Utah

David Froom's "Yeats Songs" Performed at University of Utah David Froom November 10, 2020 - 3:19 pm November 10, 2020 On Monday, Nov. 10, the University of Utah School of Music's New Music Ensemble released a live-stream performance of Professor of Music David Froom's "Yeats Songs." The two songs, using Yeats's poems, "The Wild Swans at Coole" and "Clothes of Heaven," are for soprano and violin. They were commissioned in 2014 for the 21st Century Consort (the Smithsonian Institution's New...

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CSM Parents Are Invited to Learn How Their Student Can Earn College Credits in High School Through Dual Enrollment at CSM

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) invites area parents of high school students to attend a virtual informational Dual Enrollment Parent Night Nov. 17, 18 or 19 to learn more about the opportunity that allows high school students to take classes at CSM for college credit while satisfying high school graduation requirements. CSM Enrollment Coordinator Latasha Baker The benefits of dual enrollment include a savings on tuition since dual-enrolled students pay half of CSM’s regular...

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Charles Co. Family internet centers re-open; Higdon to add center

A family internet center at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School will open Thursday, Nov. 12 to aid students in virtual learning. Hours for the Higdon internet center are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Higdon location is the third Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) school to provide indoor internet. Other sites are Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School and Henry E. Lackey High School. Family internet centers provide WiFi to students in need of the resource to complete their schoolwork. Lackey...

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CSM CSM Student Life Team Delivers 5th Mobile Hawk Feeder Event; Distributes 1,140 More Pounds of Food to Students

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Student Life team continued its efforts to help CSM students who are struggling financially and experiencing food insecurities by hosting its fifth drive-thru food distribution event – this time at CSM’s Leonardtown Campus. Approximately 1,140 pounds of food were given to students who expressed a need and pre-registered to come to campus Wednesday, Nov. 4. The contactless “Mobile Hawk Feeder” events have been going on since the pandemic began and to...

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Charles Co. Student services plans for more virtual presentations for families

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) parents, guardians and caregivers recently attended a virtual Internet Safety Awareness presentation sponsored by the CCPS Department of Student Services. Joseph Dugan, internet safety specialist with the Maryland State Police and a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, provided information on the dangers children may face on the internet and digital world. He shared recommendations on how families can protect their children and...

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SMCM Geoff Bowers, Pam Mertz, and Kelly Neiles Led an Assessment Workshop at the AACU STEM Conference

Geoff Bowers, Pam Mertz, and Kelly Neiles Led an Assessment Workshop at the AACU STEM Conference Pamela Mertz November 06, 2020 - 6:45 pm November 06, 2020 Assistant Professor Geoff Bowers, Professor Pam Mertz, and Associate Professor Kelly Neiles from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry facilitated a 60 minute workshop on November 6 at the AACU 2020 Virtual Conference on Transforming STEM Education, “This Changes Everything.” The title of the workshop was “Build the Framework to...

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CSM Nonprofit Institute at CSM to Host ‘Vision in Fundraising: Nonprofit Sustainability’ Seminar Nov. 17

The Nonprofit Institute at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is hosting a free virtual seminar entitled “Vision in Fundraising: Nonprofit Sustainability” presented by RBW Strategy CEO Rachel Werner on Nov. 17. Regional nonprofit leaders will learn why building strong and long-term partnerships with funders, peer organizations, volunteers and other stakeholders is essential for organizational growth. Case studies will be analyzed and tools will be provided that participants can use to...

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Charles Co. Meal site evening hours end Nov. 6

As Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has made some changes to its meal distribution sites and serving times. The following changes are effective Monday, Nov. 9. Meal sites are open for curbside distribution Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A site list is below. Malcolm Elementary School will continue to serve as a meal site, Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prior to the postponement of Phase 2 for CCPS, the meal site at Malcolm was scheduled to close after...

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Charles Co. St. Charles senior named National Merit Scholarship semifinalist

As with all Charles County high school seniors, Evangeline Gilmer is navigating the start to her senior year virtually. The St. Charles High School Class of 2021 student leader is finishing her high school career with a heavy course load. She is taking seven Advanced Placement (AP) courses and her final Project Lead the Way course in Biomedical Innovations. The honor-roll student was ranked second in her graduating class at the end of last school year and hopes to attend a four-year college...

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SMCM Joanne Goldwater and Brad Newkirk Named Heroes by ACUHO-I

Joanne Goldwater and Brad Newkirk Named Heroes by ACUHO-I Michael Bruckler November 06, 2020 - 11:58 am November 06, 2020 The Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I) has recently recognized two members of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland community in their ACUHO-I Heroes program: Joanne Goldwater, associate dean for retention and student success, and Brad Newkirk, director of the physical plant. According to its website, the ACUHO-I Heroes...

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Charles Co. CCPS postpones opening to Phase 2

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is prepared to move to Phase 2 of its Reopening Plan; however, the recent rise in COVID-19 cases has caused the school system to pause the move to in-person learning for students. CCPS will continue to monitor the data and reassess; however, CCPS will not consider a move to Phase 2 until after the first of the year because of the upcoming holiday season. CCPS will continue virtual learning for all students until further notice. Student instruction...

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CSM CSM to Conduct National Search for New Chief Academic Officer

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) will launch a national search for a new chief academic officer to replace CSM Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Eileen Abel, who will leave Nov. 30, 2020 to become Executive Director of the University System of Maryland Southern Maryland (USMSM). “A piece of my heart will always be with the College of Southern Maryland,” said Abel. “The professionals who join to serve the mission of our nation’s community colleges are like no other when it comes...

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