Southern Maryland College Fair
St. Mary's County Public Schools, in collaboration with Calvert County Public Schools, St. Mary's Ryken High School, the College of Southern Maryland, and the St. Mary's County Libraries are pleased to host the twenty-second annual Southern Maryland College Fair. The fair will take place on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department with two sessions. The first session begins at 10:00 a.m. and runs through 1:00 p.m. The second session begins at 5:00 p.m. and is open until 7:30 p.m. Approximately 130 colleges and universities throughout Maryland and the east coast, from Maine to Florida, as well as the United States military academies will be represented with exhibits and admission officers.
College and university officials will be available to answer any and all questions from students and parents/guardians concerning their schools. Financial aid workshops will be presented on site throughout the evening. All college-bound students in Calvert and St. Mary's counties, as well as those who might just be considering college, are encouraged to attend this event and to bring their parents/guardians. Students and their parents/guardians will have a unique opportunity to talk personally with the visiting college officials to learn what each institution offers, requirements for admission, cost, special programs, and location. Admission is free and information is available from all high school counselors.
August 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 August 2014.
Jason Abney, Edward Haislip (2), Jill Morris, Brittanie Adkins, Shannon Halter, Kathy Norton, Bonnie Alanis (3), Lynda Hamm, Deborah Orgel, Jennifer Arkley, Emily Harris, Sarah Penrod, Lisa Bachner, Stacey Hazuda, Birte Perkinson, Kym Bell, Tracey Heibel, Joseph Rawlings, Deborah Bowen, Robyn Helms, April Reece, Kelly Bridges, Freddie Hewitt, Michelle Richmond, Sarah Bucchino, Cathy Holden, Kathryn Rodgers, Debra Crosby, Heather Husk, Deb Samblanet, Laura Curran, Sandra Kerner, Dan Sidorowicz, Jenean Deahl, Margaret Koehler, Shari Sierra, Jackie DePiazza, Deborah Kole, Robin Solomon, Chris Dyson, Kathy Lacer, Rob Springer, Treva Eversole, Jane Lowe, Katie Stahr, Kristen Frill, Denise Mandis, Marian Steinbach, Ashley Fussell, Robert Mattera, Emily Tex, Christina Gates-Gray, Sarah Merry, Melinda Tracy, Colleen Gill, Donna Mix, Jennifer Venendaal, Erin Goldsmith, Mary Moreland, Brian Weisner, Penny Graham, Robert Morgan, Sarah Weisner, Kimberly Gray, and Darlene Morris.
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.
Forrest Center SkillsUSA Chapter Hosting Ford Drive 4 UR School Fundraiser
The SkillsUSA Chapter at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center is working with Leonardtown Ford to host a Ford Drive 4 UR (for your) School Fundraiser on Friday, September 19, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event takes place in the parking lot at the Forrest Center, which is located at 24005 Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown, across from the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds.
The chapter is in need of licensed and insured drivers who are 18 or older to test-drive a Ford vehicle. Ford makes a donation to the school's SkillsUSA chapter for each drive. The chapter's goal is to get 300 people to test drive, the maximum allowed for this event, to help raise funds to send students to regional, state and national competitions.
The Forrest Center's SkillsUSA chapter is among the most successful in the state and annually must fundraise over $25,000 to cover the cost of leadership training, chapter activities and regional, state & national competitions. For more information, contact Mrs. Bonnie Skinner at 301-475-0242, x28201 or at bjskinner [at] smcps.org.
Please note: This event may be recorded and presented on SMCPS Channel 96, the school system's educational cable channel, and the internet.
Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week
St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) will celebrate Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week during the week of September 15-19, 2014 by including locally-grown products in school lunches.
Select schools will also host Farm-to-School activities. Lessons on healthy eating and farming will be delivered to students in the classroom leading up to a very exciting outside Farm-to-School event day. On the event day, interactive learning stations will be set up and manned by SMCPS staff, local farmers, 4-H club volunteers, and University of Maryland extension educators. Students will visit the interactive stations throughout the school day and will learn about agriculture, including animals, raising crops, and the benefits of eating a healthy diet.
Schools hosting events include Mechanicsville Elementary School on Monday, September 8, from 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m. and Lexington Park Elementary School on Tuesday, September 9, from 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m.
The program aims to bring more Maryland-grown products to school lunch rooms and to help educate students about where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet. More information about Maryland's Farm-to-School Initiative is available at http://www.mda.state.md.us/mdfarmtoschool.