Calvert Board of Education Approves Calendar Change for 2016-2017
PRINCE FREDERICK—The Calvert County Public Schools Board of Education approved a change to the calendar for the 2016-2017 school year.
School for students will begin on August 29, 2016, one day earlier than in the original calendar. School will be closed for students and ten- and eleven-month employees on December 23, 2016. The complete calendar is posted on the school system website: www.calvertcounty.education.
Calvert County Public Schools Participates in Energy Conservation Program
PRINCE FREDERICK—For the fifth year in a row, Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) is being recognized for energy conservation through participation in the Demand Response Program sponsored by CPower, an energy management company. The school system will receive a check for $47,828 from CPower and an equal amount of credit on future electric bills from the Southern Maryland Electric Company (SMECO).
CPower works with SMECO and other utility companies to administer their load control programs to ensure affordable power during peak demand times, which typically occur during the summer. To avoid paying for higher priced energy at times of high demand on the electric grid, large consumers, such as CCPS, are asked to reduce their energy use for several hours during the day in order to offset the increased demand. As compensation for our participation and performance, CCPS annually receives a credit from SMECO based on the actual amount of decreased consumption, as well as a matching check from CPower.
The money received will be reinvested in schools to make them more energy efficient, including installing energy-efficient fixtures and upgrading HVAC controls.
CCPS has reduced its overall consumption of electricity by 8.9% since 2008 by installing energy-efficient equipment and encouraging people to change behaviors to conserve energy.
Charles County Public Schools Briefs
North Point High School is hosting a coffee house event this weekend, 7 p.m., Feb. 4-6, in the school cafeteria. This is the 10th annual event, Coffeehouse 2016: Deja Brew All Over Again, for the school and will feature alumni students and student performances such as singing, dancing, poetry and other talents. Hot drinks and desserts, made by students in the North Point Culinary Arts program, will be available for purchase. Cost of attendance is $8 general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens. North Point is at 2500 Davis Road in Waldorf. Call 301-753-1759 for more information.
The Mattawoman Creek Art Center is hosting the "Seven Up High School Exhibit" now through Sunday, Feb. 7. The exhibit features artwork from student's at all seven Charles County Public high schools and includes paintings, drawings, photography and multimedia pieces. The exhibit is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A panel of judges selects student artwork to be included in the exhibit annually.
Students in the North Point High School Academy of Health Professions program are participating in a "Pink goes Red" event from 4 to 8 p.m., this Friday, Feb. 5 at St. Charles Town Center in Waldorf. The event will take place on the first floor of the mall, near the central escalators and main elevator. The students will help promote healthy habits to mall patrons and provide information about heart disease and prevention. The event will also feature registered nurses from the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center who will be on site to provide blood pressure screenings. The event is coordinated by the Nu Zeta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. annually.
Henry E. Lackey High School is hosting the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, the Navy's premier jazz ensemble, at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. The 18-member group is led by Senior Chief Musician William C. Mulligan. Their performances feature a mix of traditional big band music, jazz vocal arrangements and new instrumental music written specifically for the Commodores. Visit http://www.navyband.navy.mil/commodores.html to learn more about the Commodores.
The North Point High School Skills USA chapter is hosting a meal at 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11 at Our Place, a soup kitchen located at Good Shepherd Methodist Church in Waldorf. Meals will be prepared by the North Point Culinary Arts students, and Skills USA students will serve visitors. Visitors will also receive weekly care packages purchased through donations from the North Point CISCO Academy program and Our Place will receive additional donations from North Point students to help their efforts. To learn more about Our Place, visit http://www.ourplacewaldorf.com/.
St. Mary's Board of Education Seeks Input to Budget
LEONARDTOWN—The Board of Education of St. Mary's County seeks public input in preparation for the development of the 2016-2017 (Fiscal Year 2017) operating budget for St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS). SMCPS employees and community members are invited to participate in this Budget Forum on Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 p.m., in the Board of Education Meeting Room of the Central Administration Building, 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown, Maryland.
A sign-up sheet will be available at 5:30 p.m., with individual public comment limited to three minutes. Speakers are encouraged to provide comments in writing, even if presented at the forum, to allow the Board to give consideration to all input.
For additional information, call (301) 475-5511, ext. 32177.