Annual Soup Cook-Off Canceled
Due to a low number of competitor entries, the 2016 Forrest Center Soup Cook-off has been cancelled. The event had been scheduled for Wednesday, March 2.
The Forrest Center staff and students hope to offer a similar event next school year but in a slightly different format during the fall semester. For more information, contact Chef Amanda Granados at 301.475.0242, 28210 or aegranados@smcps.org.
Flow Mentoring, Local Management Board, and Tri-County Youth Services Bureau host developmental assets workshop
St. Mary's County Public School's FLOW Mentoring Program, the Local Management Board, and Tri-County Youth Services Bureau will host a workshop entitled Building Developmental Assets in School Communities. The workshop will be held on Monday, March 7, 2016 from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. in the Board of Education Conference Room, St. Mary's County Public Schools, 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650.
The workshop will introduce participants to Search Institute's Developmental Assets. The Developmental Assets are 40 common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help influence choices young people make toward becoming caring and responsible adults. For more information about Search Institute's Developmental Assets, visit www.search-institute.org.
The workshop is offered free of charge and is open to FLOW Mentors, FLOW Site Leaders, SMCPS employees, and members of the community. Please RSVP to Ms. Sarah Tyson, FLOW Mentoring IRT, by using the following link: http://tinyurl.com/jrpaeou or by phone at 301-475-0242, ext. 28128.
Student Member of the Board of Education
St. Mary's County Association of Student Councils held elections for the Student Member position of the Board of Education of St. Mary's County (the Board) on Thursday, February 4, 2016, at the General Assembly. Roma Kankaria, who is part of the STEM Academy at Great Mills High School, was elected to this position and will replace the current Student Member of the Board, Sarita Lee also from Great Mills High School.
Roma is a 10th grade student at Great Mills High School and an active member of her school's Key Club, Best Buddies, and tennis team. She also participates in Chamber Orchestra of Southern Maryland in Concert (COSMIC) and volunteers in her community. Examples include Relay for Life and the Summer Lunch and Learn Program. Through her school and community involvement, Roma demonstrates her leadership skills and commitment to active citizenship.
When Roma assumes this elected leadership position on July 1, 2016, her focus will center on character education and increasing school personalization. Character education, according to Roma, is an essential component to cultivate a positive and engaging learning environment, which is built on respect, responsibility, compromise, and persistence. These character principles are necessary for students to collaborate with others and engage in the democratic process. Furthermore, Roma wants to increase awareness about the importance of personalization strategies to improve student achievement and success, such as youth-mentoring programs.
Roma will become an official member of the Board of Education and provide an informed student viewpoint to the Board. While serving as the Student Member of the Board, Roma 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.