Board of Education to meet in executive session June 3
The Board of Education will meet 3:30 p.m., Monday, June 3, at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro in executive session as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act, Section 10-508(a) and Section 10-503(c) of the State Government Article to discuss: personnel matters, specifically the Superintendent’s recommendations on certificated positions.
The session is being held at the Show Place Arena because the Board is attending graduation ceremonies scheduled to take place there on June 3.
Graduation information; end-of-year calendar reminders
More than 2,100 students are expected to graduate from Charles County Public Schools next month, and Charles County’s six high schools are already planning graduation ceremonies. Ceremonies for Henry E. Lackey, La Plata, Maurice J. McDonough, Thomas Stone and Westlake high schools will be held at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro on June 3 and 4. North Point High School will host graduation ceremonies in the school's gymnasium on June 4.
The following is the graduation schedule for Monday, June 3: Stone, 9 a.m.; McDonough, 2 p.m.; and Lackey, 7 p.m.
The following is the graduation schedule for Tuesday, June 4: La Plata, 9 a.m.; Westlake, 2 p.m.; and North Point, 7 p.m.
School schedules during graduation ceremonies are as follows:
-- Stone will be closed for students on Monday, June 3;
-- McDonough will be closed for students on Monday, June 3;
-- Lackey will have a two-hour early dismissal on Monday, June 3;
-- La Plata will be closed for students on Tuesday, June 4;
-- Westlake will be closed for students on Tuesday, June 4; and
-- North Point will be closed for students on Tuesday, June 4.
The Robert D. Stethem Educational Center will be closed on Monday, June 3 for those students who access transportation to Stethem from Stone, McDonough and Lackey high schools. Stethem will be open June 3 for students who access transportation to Stethem from La Plata, Westlake and North Point high schools. Stethem will be closed on Tuesday, June 4 for students who access transportation to Stethem from La Plata, Westlake and North Point high schools. Stethem will be open for students who access transportation to Stethem from Stone, McDonough and Lackey high schools.
End-of-year calendar reminders
The last day of school for Charles County Public Schools students is Friday, June 14. June 12, 13 and 14 are two-hour early dismissal days. Teachers last day is Monday, June 17. Elementary school report cards will be issued to students on June 14. Report cards for middle and high school students will be mailed on Friday, June 21.
County students earn state History Day awards
One Charles County Public Schools student – La Plata High School sophomore Ryan Burton – earned a second place award at the Maryland History Day competition held April 27 at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. As a second-place winner, he is eligible to compete in the national event, planned for June 9-13 at the University of Maryland College Park. Students are eligible to compete at the national level if they earn a first- or second-place award at the state competition.
Burton received second place in the Individual Documentary category, senior division, for his project titled, “The Titanic Disaster: A Turning Point in Maritime Safety.” This is the second year that Burton will compete at the national level. In 2011, he won a second-place state award as a middle school student.
Two other La Plata students – sophomore John Snee and junior Katherine Snee – also earned a special award at the state competition. They received the Military History award for their project titled, “How IED’s Changed the World.” They competed at the state level in the Group Exhibit category, senior division.
More than 30 other CCPS students competed in the state event after receiving a first- or second-place award at the county level. For more information on History Day activities, visit http://www.nhd.org/.
Students graduate from Adult Independence Program
The Charles County Public Schools Adult Independence Program (AIP) held its 14th annual graduation ceremony on Friday, May 17 at North Point High School. The Class of 2013 featured 19 graduates, which is one of the program’s largest graduating classes to date.
Graduate Jalen Rose served as the student commencement speaker, and shared her experiences with the program among attendees. Rose said the skills she learned and experiences she had through the AIP program helped her reach an important goal: to work with children. Rose was able to attain child care certification from the College of Southern Maryland, and now works with infants and toddlers at Lakeside Child Care Center.
Students in the program are trained to search for employment and to complete job applications, as well as how to access the public transportation system. The Adult Independence Program also provides students with community learning experiences that parallel experiences of independent adults. Throughout the duration of the program, which is designed for student’s ages 18 to 21, students acquire adult skills and apply them to community environments.
Board of Education Chairman Roberta S. Wise also spoke to the graduating class, and shared information about each of the graduates with guests in attendance. Each personal story highlighted an important component of the program: that students leave with the essential skills to be successful in the world. For example, Graduate Brittany Johnson completed a work-based experience at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home and was later hired in the cafeteria to work as a dietary aid.
Dewayne Hodo entered the AIP program with a set goal in mind: working in building services. At the start of this school year, his goal became a reality when he was hired as a member of the Westlake High School building services team. He has maintained his position for the past six months and successfully accesses the Van-Go service to and from work daily.
Most of the other graduates are successfully employed at places such as the Waldorf Senior Center and the Charles County Department of Health. Those who are not currently employed are seeking jobs in areas they enjoy, such as public and community service.
Joining Rose and Hodo, and accepting diplomas, were Toby Allen, Wendy Blakeman, Tiarra Dansby, Drew Dent, Rashawn DePamphilis, Ronald “RJ” Dickerson, Quinton Dillard, Samantha Donegan, Devonta Dorsey, DeMarcus Dyson, Marsha Forbes, Randy Hagens, Justin Harris, Jamaal Ishmael, Amber Jenkins, Brittany Johnson and Malek Stover.
Participating employers in the 2012-13 program include Capital Club House, Charles County Department of Community Services, Elite Gymnastics, Genesis Health Care, Home Goods and the Greater Waldorf Jaycees. The program was launched in 1999 and has assisted more than 200 students in transitioning into work and community environments.