Students selected to serve as 2015 General Assembly pages
Three Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) high school seniors were recently selected to serve as student pages in the 2015 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Page program. The program gives students the opportunity to work with the General Assembly for two weeks during the 2015 legislative session.
The students who will serve as student pages are Ciara Albrittain, La Plata High School; Nadia Mourtaj, Maurice J. McDonough High School; and Japheth Newman, Henry E. Lackey High School. Faith Breads of Thomas Stone High School was selected as the Student Page Alternate.
The opportunity to serve in the legislative page program is offered annually to Charles County Public Schools seniors. Students who apply are selected through a series of interviews. Applicants must also write an essay to describe their interest to participate in the program.
These students will work with the General Assembly as Student Pages for two weeks during the spring 2015 legislative session. During the two-week period, students are assigned to work with either the Maryland Senate or House of Delegates in Annapolis. Duties include delivering messages to staff, distributing legislative materials, assisting visitors and working with staff committees and other legislative offices.
The program is designed to interest youth in state government and the proceedings of the legislature, increase participation in government, foster leadership skills and provide students with worthwhile experiences in state government. For more information, visit the Maryland General Assembly’s website at http://dls.state.md.us/.
Adult Education program honors 142 graduates
October 23 marked an important milestone for 142 Adult Education Program students; it was the end of a long journey. These students received their high school diplomas.
This year marked the 35th annual Adult Education Program graduation, held at North Point High School. Diplomas were presented to the following graduates: Dinora Argueta, Joyce Armah, Amro Baabbad, Dustin Bowling, Jacob Walter Dylan Braden, Craig Burton, Joshua Cahill, Andrew Carpenter, Jerrell Churn, Izarra Deemer-White, Joshila Devkota, John Ford, Destiny Annmarie Fowler, Joshuel Goodwin, Shanelle Graham, Angela Guisbert, Cierra Harley, Carlos Harper, Rosemary Harris, Keisha Holt, Terrell Jackson, Carol Johnson, Kayron Johnson, Heather Jordan, Rebecca Kane, Sonia McPhie, Vandorance Trolla McQueen, Jr., Kelly Matthews, Barbara Morgan, Shukri Nur, Christopher Parrett, Paul Porter, Domenic Proctor, Tommy Ray Raines, Jr., Lisa Richardson, Blake Roberts, Jeremiah Robinson, Marvin Ruiz Perez, Kara Sorrells, Eunice Summers, Charminika Taylor, Daneisha Thomas, Isaiah Lynn Washington, Rhonda Washington, Natishia Williams, Rebecca Williams, Sara Williams and George Zigler.
National External Diploma Program® (NEDP) graduate Joshila Devkota was the graduate speaker for the ceremony. Devkota moved from Nepal to the United States in 2003. When she arrived in America, she was unable to speak any English. In 2012, after her husband and daughter encouraged her to do so, Devkota entered into the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program at the Lifelong Learning Center. In 2014, she decided to work towards her high school diploma. While working towards her diploma, she completed the Maryland Integrated Basic Education Skills Training (MI-BEST) program. The MI-BEST program is a state funded program that brings basic and occupational skills together to accelerate coursework. Devkota plans to become a pharmacy technician and was co-taught by a pharmacy teacher from the College of Southern Maryland and an adult education teacher at the Lifelong Learning Center. At the end of her graduation speech, Devkota looked into the audience and promised her daughter that she would go on to get her college degree like others in her family. Her speech received a standing ovation.
Maryland State Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton and Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations Secretary Leonard J. Howie, III, attended the event, spoke to the graduates and assisted with the handing out of diplomas. State Delegates Peter Murphy and Sally Jameson, Superintendent of Schools Kimberly Hill, Board of Education Member Michael Lukas and Board Chairman Roberta S. Wise presented diplomas to students.
The General Educational Development (GED®) program offers adult basic education classes, English as a second language classes, GED® preparation classes and a Maryland high school diploma through GED® testing. The NEDP® is for adults 18 and older who have acquired high school level skills through life experiences. These adults can earn a Maryland high school diploma through work done at home and through evaluation appointments.
Grant funding from Maryland Literacy Works and the U.S. Department of Education supports the adult education programs. Both the GED® and National External Diploma programs are offered through Charles County Public Schools to county residents at the Lifelong Learning Center in Pomfret and various locations in Waldorf. Classes are held throughout the day and the evening. Call 301-753-1774 for more information.
County students participate in fall chess tournament
Charles County Public Schools held the annual Fall Chess Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Thomas Stone High School. More than 120 students participated in the event, which is open to any student in grades kindergarten through 12.
The tournament follows a Swiss-style format in which each student plays four games. Students competed in five grade-level divisions and trophies were awarded to first- and second-place winners. Other students that place among their division receive medals, and all participants received a certificate for their performance. Felix Cummings served as the tournament director.
The following students were winners in their division:
Grades kindergarten through second:
-- Timothy Martinez, first place, second grade, William B. Wade Elementary School;
-- Miles Davis, second place, second grade, William A. Diggs Elementary School;
-- Jacob Golder, third place, first grade, Wade;
-- Maximus Meiser, fourth place, first grade, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School;
-- Julie Perriello, fourth place, second grade, Wade; and
-- Jack Tonnessen, fourth place, second grade, Wade.
Grades three and four:
-- Ian Cox, first place, fourth grade, Dr. James Craik Elementary School;
-- Nathan Michael, second place, fourth grade, Mary H. Matula Elementary School;
-- Benjamin Moore, third place, fourth grade, Malcolm Elementary School;
-- Mason Cheng, fourth place, third grade, Malcolm;
-- Hooria Umer, fourth place, fourth grade, Wade;
-- Natalie Green, fifth place, fourth grade, Wade;
-- Samidha Nageshwar, sixth place, third grade, Berry Elementary School;
-- Asher Walters, sixth place, third grade, T.C. Martin Elementary School;
-- Matthew Sanchez, sixth place, fourth grade, Diggs; and
-- Suki Aumavae, sixth place, third grade, Wade.
Grades five and six:
-- Francis Franch, first place, sixth grade, St. Peter’s School;
-- Joseph Papagno, second place, sixth grade, Milton M. Somers Middle School;
-- Collin Jenkins, third place, sixth grade, Matthew Henson Middle School;
-- Daniel West, fourth place, sixth grade, John Hanson Middle School;
-- Alyssa Gerhart, fourth place, sixth grade, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School;
-- Maci Mulloy, fifth place, fifth grade, Higdon;
-- Connor Cox, sixth place, sixth grade, Henson;
-- Ebin Sebastian, seventh place, sixth grade, Somers;
-- Sky Reed, eighth place, sixth grade, General Smallwood Middle School;
-- Leann Asher, ninth place, sixth grade, Piccowaxen Middle School; and
-- Dylan Murphy, ninth place, fifth grade, Malcolm.
Grades seven and eight:
-- James Tabourne, first place, eighth grade, Stoddert;
-- Joshua Sokol, second place, eighth grade, Stoddert;
-- Paulo Bonilla, third place, eighth grade, Theodore G. Davis Middle School;
-- Jarrett Mulloy, fourth place, eighth grade, Piccowaxen;
-- Jacob Embry, fifth place, seventh grade, Somers;
-- Kristof Lile, sixth place, seventh grade, Henson; and
-- Sam Guzzone, seventh place, eighth grade, Smallwood.
Grades nine through twelve:
-- Franklin Olmsted, first place, junior, Maurice J. McDonough High School; and
-- Alexander Booth, second place, freshman, North Point High School.