Student Member of the Board of Education
St. Mary's County Association of Student Councils (SMASA) held elections for the Student Member position of the Board of Education of St. Mary's County on April 29, 2014, at the General Assembly. Sarita Lee from Great Mills High School was elected to the position and will replace the current Student Member of the Board of Education, Mr. Peter Widmayer from Chopticon High School.
Sarita is a 10th grade STEM student at Great Mills High School and an active member of her school's student council, National Honor Society, and cross country and lacrosse teams. She also volunteers in her community at St. Mary's Hospital (MedStar), Annemarie Gardens Summer Camps, Girl Scout Encampment, and the St. Mary's Lacrosse League, demonstrating her leadership skills and commitment to active citizenship.
When Sarita assumes this leadership position, her focus will center on taking an active role to increase awareness among youth on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, as well as building a drug prevention culture within the school system. This will include finding creative ways to increase awareness about the current trends in youth drug use. This initiative demonstrates Sarita's commitment to engage and empower students in their decision-making to ensure students have a healthy and productive life.
Sarita will become an official member of the Board and provide an informed student viewpoint to the Board of Education. While serving as the Student Member of the Board, Sarita will be sharing information with students and the community on an array of educational concerns. This student leadership position also includes being an active participant at student-related and school-related activities.
St. Mary's Association Of Student Councils Elections
St. Mary's County Association of Student Councils (SMASC) held elections for officer positions on April 29, 2014, at the General Assembly. Listed below are the 2014-2015 elected SMASC officers:
Devan Ogburn, President, Leonardtown High School
Sarah Burr, First Vice President, Chopticon High School
Julia Mann, Treasurer, Chopticon High School
Jude Luke, Secretary, Great Mills High School
Maryland Physical Education Demonstration School
Park Hall Elementary School has been selected as a Maryland Physical Education Demonstration School for 2014-17. This recognition is awarded to schools whose physical education programs are considered to be exemplary and thus model programs in the state.
The Maryland Physical Education Demonstration Schools Program is affiliated with the Maryland Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; the President's Council on Physical Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, and the Maryland State Department of Education. The selection process requires that the entire physical education program is evaluated through an initial application and a subsequent on-site visit. As a part of the application, teachers are required to list three Exemplary Features and provide evidence of Quality Teaching; Philosophy; Organization and Administration; Curriculum and Planning; Assessment and Evaluation; Professionalism; and Facilities, Equipment, and Supplies.
Ms. Sally Nazelrod, Site Visitation Team leader and Coordinator of Health and Physical Education for Baltimore County Public Schools commented that during their daylong visit the team had observed the strength of the school's community outreach programs and level of involvement with family fitness nights, nutrition education, and other extracurricular activities; well-planned lessons aligned to the state standards for physical education; cross-curricular planning with all subjects; and the integration and infusion of health education topics throughout the building.
Physical Education teachers Ms. Mary Wood and Mr. Michael Malone are to be commended on this outstanding achievement. This is the second time that the school has been identified for this award, having received initial Demonstration School status in 2011.
We hope that many physical education teachers from across the state will choose to visit the school to witness outstanding instruction and a commitment to providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to be physically active for a lifetime.
April Work Hard and Be Nice Award Recipients Announced
St. Mary's County Public Schools' (SMCPS) Work Hard and Be Nice Award recognizes distinct and extraordinary accomplishments of school system employees in connection with official employment. Dedicated employees contribute to the success of the school system and our students. Award recipients enhance both the success and the reputation of the school system through their extraordinary actions.
Each month, staff members are recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty. Dr. Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools, is proud to announce the award recipients for the month of April 2014 as follow:
Honora Batelka, Kathy Parker, Catie Bonner, Paula Raley, Heather Francis, Joseph Rawlings, Crystal Frederick, Robert Raymond, Richard Gunnel, Renee Reining, Aleya Hill, Bernice Ryce, Alfred Jordan, Artie Thompson, Sheila LeClaire, Susan Tinsley, Francis Mills, Jackie Vabolis, Sarah Orvek, Mary Ann Williams, Sara Quinn, and Karen Windsor.
For more information about the SMCPS Work Hard and Be Nice Award program, or to nominate a school system employee, visit http://www.smcps.org/super/work-hard-and-be-nice-awards.