MHES students wins 1st Place in PTA art contest
OWINGS—Sarah Hurley of Mount Harmony Elementary School placed first in the PTA Reflections art contest for her music composition entry "If My Cat Could Fly." She will represent Md. in the Intermediate Music composition category at National Competition. For her outstanding interpretation award she will receive a certificate, plaque or trophy, 3 complimentary tickets to the Md. PTA Awards celebration in August, and $75. She and the other county-level winners are also invited to the county level reception to be held April 5th.
Chas. Co. School system publishes community electronic newsletter
LA PLATA—Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) on March 18 published the school system's electronic newsletter, "Community Connection," for students, staff, parents and the community. The quarterly newsletter features updates about the school system and news in an easily accessible and viewable format.
Included in the March 18 edition are student accomplishments, information about changes to the 2016-17 school year calendar and spring break, and the History, Industry, Technology and Science (HITS) Expo planned for noon, March 19 at St. Charles High School in Waldorf. The edition is posted on the school system website at http://www.ccboe.com/enews/.
In addition to being posted on the school system website, editions of Community Connection are emailed to all CCPS staff and parents who have email addresses on file with their child's school. Newsletters are archived on the website as they are published.
The Community Connection newsletter is published by the school system's communications department. Call 301-932-6610 with questions.
School Health Council Meeting
LEONARDTOWN—A general meeting of the St. Mary's County School Health Council will be held on March 29, from 5:00–6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Board of Education Meeting Room, at 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650.
Representatives from the Maryland State Department of Education and the State Health Department will share both state and local data from the 2014–2015 Maryland Wellness Policies and Practices Project and discuss how St. Mary's County might utilize the findings to further promote wellness in the county.
Wellness Champions from select schools participating in the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program will share their plans for promoting the nationally-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day. There will also be an update on the proposed changes to the public school system's Wellness Policy.
First Calvert jail inmate graduates using in-house GED Program
PRINCE FREDERICK—Sheriff Mike Evans announced the Detention Center's first successful graduation using the in-house GED Program. The jail had previously transported inmates to other facilities to allow them to test. The center recently acquired four new computers for the purpose of administering the GED test in-house. Once the software was installed and the testing room was setup, the first GED test was administered. There are a total of four separate tests that must be passed in order to acquire a GED. The first inmate that tested passed all four tests on his first attempt.
Student sets fire at Esperanza Middle School on March 15
LEXINGTON PARK—A student caused a small fire at Esperanza Middle School on Tuesday, March 15, around 1:29 p.m. The male student caused the fire by holding an open flame to combustible materials, causing it to ignite. The small incendiary fire was discovered in a restroom of the school and was quickly extinguished by staff.
Damages are estimated at $50.00.
The student was arrested by the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal—a branch of the Maryland State Police.