It’s All About Teaching and Learning. Charles County Public Schools SSchoolchool NNewsews Important Dates Coming Soon Calling all word sleuths The annual Charles County Spelling Bee is Friday, Feb. 21 at Milton M. Somers Middle School in La Plata. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on the school system’s educational television station the following week. Programming for the CCPS television station is accessible on either Comcast Channel 96 or Verizon FiOS Chan- nel 12. Visit www.ccboe.com to access the television station website, which is located at the bottom of the home page. Checkmate The annual Charles County Public La Plata High School senior Sarah Holmes, left, and La Plata Principal Evelyn Arnold, Schools winter chess tournament is Satur- right, talk with Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on Feb. 10 through a Telepresence con- day, Feb. 22 at Thomas Stone High School. ference about the Advanced Placement (AP) program. During the conference, O’Malley Students in grades kindergarten through announced that students in Maryland earned the top scores on AP exams nationwide. 12 are invited to participate, and registered students must check in by 8:30 a.m. The tournament begins at 9 a.m. Results for the Maryland AP scores continue to hold top spot tournament are generally published on the Charles County Public Schools website, Governor Martin O’Malley took La Plata earned a score of 3 or higher on one or more www.ccboe.com, the following week. and North Point high school students on a AP exams reached 37.8 percent, a number victory lap Feb. 10 during a short Telepres- that has steadily increased since 2008. The ence conference announcing Maryland as top percentage of scores 3 and above for tests Robots taking over in the nation for Advanced Placement (AP) taken by all La Plata students in 2013 was North Point High School is hosting a success. 53.8 percent. local robotics challenge on Saturday, Feb. “Thank you. I get to do the victory lap La Plata senior Sarah Holmes says La 22 as part of the Naval Warfare Center’s for you, but you’ve done the hard work,” Plata students are successful because they in-school robotics program. The challenge O’Malley told AP teachers and students work hard and have dedicated AP teachers. begins at 9 a.m. and teams compete using a during the Telepresence chat. The governor She said she strives to score a 3 or above, robot they build and program to participate announced Maryland students have led the which is the score at which many higher edu- in several challenges. nation in success on AP exams for eight con- cation institutions award college credit for secutive years. high school students. Holmes credits La Pla- 24-hour information line “This morning, the College Board’s “10th ta’s AP teachers for her success, saying they Charles County Public Schools posts Annual AP Report to the Nation” came out, work around student schedules, hold after- school news, employee and student accom- and for the eighth year in a row, Maryland school study sessions and, “make it easy for plishments, inclement weather closures and made the most success in students achieving students to succeed.” delays, and calendar information on a 24- three and above. Almost 30 percent of seniors Holmes, who is taking multiple AP hour information line. Call 301-932-6656 or scored three and above on one AP exam, well classes this year, shared experiences her AP 301-934-7410 for a recorded message. The above the national average of 20 percent,” teachers have made possible, including meet- line is updated twice a week and immedi- O’Malley said. ing via Telepresence with professors nation- ately when inclement weather decisions are At La Plata, where AP students and teach- wide who relate real-world conflicts that help made. The hotline also features a Spanish- ers participated in the conference, student students make connections to what they are language option, which can be accessed by success is even higher. La Plata seniors who learning in AP Human Geography. pressing one at the start of the message. See Telepresence, page 2 February 17, 2014 H-14 School News
Sonya Ford named State Counselor of the Year Notebook Sonya Ford, a school counselor at Mat- age a girls mentoring and peer mediation thew Henson Middle School, was recently program and coordinate schoolwide events named the 2014 Maryland Middle School such as College Day and Career Day. On the cover Counselor of the Year by the Maryland Ford said she is proud to represent Hen- Pictured on the front cover are employees School Counselor Association (MSCA). son. “I am humbled and honored to receive from Benjamin Stoddert Middle School. Pic- The award recognizes school counselors this award. However, I consider this award tured, from left, are Cherisa Martin, special edu- for outstanding achievement and service an award for all the school counselors in cation teacher; Kalyn Petrillo, physical education to students, and for providing leadership CCPS,” Ford added. teacher; and Jerome Baker, school counselor. in the development of existing and future This award is not the first recognition counseling services. Ford has received for her Nominate a “Teacher of the Year” Ford began her school work in school counseling. Nominations for Charles County Public counseling career with In 2011, she was nominated Schools’ candidate for the Maryland Teacher of Charles County Public as a candidate for the Ameri- the Year award are due to the office of human re- Schools in 2008 as a coun- can School Counselor As- sources on Thursday, Feb. 27. The selected teach- selor at North Point High sociation’s (ASCA) School er will also represent the school system as the School, and transitioned to Counselor of the Year award. 2014 Charles County Teacher of the Year. Nomi- Henson in 2012. During the In 2004, she was named the nation information is available on the school sys- past six years as a CCPS Maryland Elementary School tem website at www.ccboe.com. Contact Cynthia middle and high school level Counselor of the Year by Rivera in human resources at crivera@ccboe. counselor, Ford has worked the MSCA. Prior to begin- com or 301-934-7356 for more information. with students on academic, Sonya Ford ning her counseling career personal and social goals, with CCPS, Ford held school and career development. She also focuses counseling positions in both Howard and Airing now on implementing and supporting programs Prince George’s counties. Airing now is a new episode of NewsBreak that build positive relationships. Ford is a member of the Charles County 96, a television show produced twice monthly by Last year, Ford launched a program Commission for Women and is the social the Charles County Public Schools communica- called Lunch and Learn/Dine and Dis- media chair for the MSCA. She also holds tions department. The latest episode features the cover. As part of the program, parents are national school counselor certification and regional Skills USA competition and the school invited to visit Henson for one hour, either served as an advisory team member for the system’s partnership announcement with Code. during lunch or after school hours, to meet College Board’s National Office of School org. Visit www.ccboe.com to view the show. with the counseling department. Ford also Counselor Advocacy. works with the counseling department to She will be honored by the MSCA at Follow us on Twitter send monthly newsletters to parents, man- their annual conference on March 28. Did you now that CCPS maintains a Twitter page? Follow us on www.twitter.com/CCPS for system updates, news, facts and more. Superin- tendent of Schools Dr. Kimberly Hill also main- Telepresence Continued from page 1 tains a Twitter page. Follow her @ccpssupt. At North Point, senior Ethan Kriemel- Schools Lillian Lowery for the conference. meyer talked with O’Malley about his AP Bailey commended the students for tak- Schools celebrate reading computer science class and explained how ing on the rigor and challenges of AP and Charles County Public Schools celebrates it allows students to enhance their ability to AP testing. Superintendent Kimberly Hill Read Across Charles County this school year on code and their computer science skills. The echoed the praise to the La Plata students Friday, Feb. 28. The annual event is a reading College Board has selected Charles County following the conference. She lauded them motivation and awareness program that invites Public Schools to pilot AP Computer Sci- stepping up and choosing to take rigorous children in the community to celebrate literacy ence Principles, which will be offered at Advanced Placement Courses. “It’s hard, and reading, and the birthday of the famous chil- North Point and Westlake high schools and a lot of people don’t take hard classes.” dren’s book author Theodor Geisel, better known next school year. The College Board’s Advanced Place- as Dr. Seuss. Each year, the school system coor- O’Malley urged the students to pursue ment Program, which began in 1955, al- dinates the event in conjunction with the Nation- computer science classes, saying there is a lows students to pursue college-level al Education Association’s (NEA) Read Across great new world waiting and jobs aplenty studies while still in high school. Charles America Day activities. This is the 17th year that for those who learn computer science skills. County Public Schools offers 30 AP cours- the NEA has celebrated reading through the na- Mary Bailey, the Charles County Public es. In 2013, Charles County Public Schools tionwide event. Schools 2013 Teacher of the Year, joined administered 3,759 AP tests, which is 193.7 the governor and State Superintendent of percent higher than in 2002. February 17, 2014 Page 2
School News School News
Scholarship opportunities available for Charles County Public Schools students
The Charles County Scholarship Fund, Inc. is offering more than 40 • Michael S. Tayman Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for Mc- scholarships to Charles County high school students. Applications for Donough students);
scholarships are available at all county high schools and must be sub- • Michael S. Tayman Memorial Music Scholarship, $1,000 (for mitted by Monday, March 3, to the student’s College & Career Advi- McDonough students); sor. Award notification will be announced at each high school’s senior • Michael S. Tayman Memorial Nursing Scholarship, $1,000 (for awards ceremony later this spring. McDonough students); Applications are also available on the school system website, www. • Mildred Rice O’Callaghan Scholarship, $500 (for Lackey stu- ccboe.com, under the students/parents section. Each scholarship has dents);
specific eligibility criteria. Information on eligibility is located on page • Nicole Pitonyak Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for North Point three of the application. The following scholarships are available: High School students); • Parker Financial Literacy Scholarship, $250; • Apartments of St. Charles Scholarship, $500; • Patricia Sugg Weiers Memorial Scholarship, $250; • Ashley Jayne Younger Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for West- • Professor V. Phillips Weaver Scholarship, $1,000; lake High School students); • Rachel Myers Trade School Scholarship, $500; • Charles County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, $1,000; • Richard J. Abela Scholarship, $2,000 (for North Point students); • Charles County Health Department and School Nurses’ Scholar- • Robert Dean Stethem National Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; ship, $250; • Robert Dean Stethem Thomas Stone Scholarship, $1,000 (for
• Charles County Retired School Personnel Association Scholar- Thomas Stone students); ship, $500 (one for each Charles County public high school); • Ronald G. Cunningham Scholarship, $2,500 (one for each Charles • Charles County Teacher Education Assistance Grant, $1,000 County public high school); • Edward Rorer Memorial Scholarship, $500; • Ronald G. Cunningham Nursing Scholarship, $500; • Eric Sawchak Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; • St. Charles Community Scholarship, $500 (three awards); • GFWC, Charles County Woman’s Club, $500; • Starkey Memorial Scholarship, $500; • Grote Memorial Scholarship, $500 (for La Plata High School stu- • Stephen E. Mitchell Educational Scholarship, $500; dents); • Thomas B.R. Mudd Nurse Scholarship, College of Southern • Harding Memorial Future Educator Scholarship, $1,000; Maryland, full two years;
• Harold Allen Levy Scholarship, $1,000; • Thomas B.R. Mudd Teacher Scholarship, College of Southern • Jeremiah and Elijah Borgnis Memorial Scholarship, $500; Maryland, full two years;
• John H. Cox Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; • Thomas Kurtz Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for Lackey stu- • John Howie Memorial Scholarship, $500 (two awards); dents); • Kate Donahue Scholarship, $400 (for Henry E. Lackey High • Thomas W. Weirich Scholar-Athlete Award, $1,000; School students); • Timothy Minor Criminal Justice Memorial Scholarship, $500; • Katherine D. Racey Memorial Scholarship, $1,500 (for Lackey • Timothy Minor Memorial Scholarship, $500; and Maurice J. McDonough High School students); • Tiny Hopes Scholarship, $1,000 (three awards); • La Plata Garden Club Scholarship, $1,000 (two awards); • Unnae Pak-Borgnis Memorial Scholarship, $500; and • Lisa Michele Duckett Achievement Award, $1,000; • William and Vivian King Scholarship, $1,000 (one for each • Maria A. Torres Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for Thomas Stone Charles County public high school). High School students); Visit the Charles County Public Schools website, www.ccboe.com, • Mary Matula Scholarship, $500 (for La Plata students); or contact Alicia Jones, Charles County Scholarship Fund, Inc., at 301- • Michael J. Anderson Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for La Plata 934-7334, for more information. students);
School system hires Murphy as Executive Director of Human Resources Pamela Murphy has accepted the position of Executive Director of ment of Education and a Senior Professional in Human Resources Human Resources for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). Murphy Certificate (SPHRC) from HR Certification Institute. Murphy also has has more than 16 years of senior management experience in public ed- experience in all facets of human resources including recruitment, ben- ucation human resources. She has held the positions of Senior Manager efits administration, classification, compensation, collective bargain- of Human Resources for Harford County Public Schools and Director ing (as a chief negotiator), staffing, compliance, employee relations, of Human Capital for Baltimore City Public Schools. payroll and budget. Additionally, Murphy has a Master of Business Administration and The Board of Education approved the appointment of Murphy on a Bachelor of Science in financial management. She has an Advanced Feb. 11. She is expected to begin with CCPS in early March. Professional Certificate (APC) certificate from the Maryland Depart- February 17, 2014 Page 3 School News
School News is published by Charles County Public Schools School system recognized for energy savings efforts 301-932-6610 301-934-7220 As part of Southern Maryland Electric Coop- all schools, centers and build- Fax: 301-932-6651 erative’s (SMECO) Demand Response Program, ings. The program was piloted Board of Education Members Charles County Public Schools recently received at 12 schools and buildings in Roberta S. Wise, Chairman a $286,075 incentive for energy savings efforts. 2011 and initially resulted in Maura H. Cook, Vice Chairman The Demand Response Program is coordinated an incentive totaling more than Jennifer S. Abell through SMECO’s contract with Comverge, Inc., $145,000. The program was Patricia Bowie Michael K. Lukas an independent company that provides clean ener- launched systemwide in 2012. Pamela A. Pedersen gy solutions through demand response and energy Under EmPower Maryland, Donald M. Wade efficiency. Tripp Warner and Jennifer Raley, repre- Maryland’s five major utility companies developed Amit Patel, Student Member sentatives from Comverge and SMECO, presented and implemented energy efficiency and demand re- Superintendent of Schools the school system with a check during the Feb. 11 sponse programs that include electric bill rebates Kimberly A. Hill, Ed.D. Board of Education meeting. for energy efficiency investments, audits and- ser The incentive is payable to the school system vices. The goal of EmPower Maryland is to reduce Editor/Writers in two portions. Fifty percent is provided as a bill power consumption 15 percent by next year. Katie O’Malley-Simpson Shelley Mackey credit for Charles County Public Schools with The school system also participates in SME- Kara Gross SMECO. The remaining 50 percent is provided to CO’s Business Solutions program, which provides Tara Wood the school system from Comverge, Inc. and is used incentives to businesses that make efficiency im-
The Charles County public school system does not for various system facility projects. The program provements to their facilities. All non-residential discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, focuses on reducing electricity use during peak de- customers who receive SMECO service are eligible national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age or dis- ability in its programs, activities or employment mand hours, which results in energy savings, and to participate in the Business Solutions program, practices. For inquiries, please contact Patricia Vaira, Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coor- is in place during the months of June through Sep- but interested customers must apply for program dinator (students), or Connie W. Armstead, Section tember. participation. 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Admin- This is the third consecutive year that Charles To learn more about SMECO’s Business Solu- istration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, Mary- land 20646. 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For spe- County Public Schools has participated in the pro- tions programs, visit their website at http://www. cial accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD gram. In 2012, the school system received an incen- smeco.coop/saveEnergy/businessSolutions.aspx. 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. tive for more than $262,000 from participation at
Personnel
Apply for positions online at www.ccboe.com/ Science Teacher – Mattawoman Middle Westlake High School has the following jobs/currentopenings.php. All teaching posi- School, 10-month position. openings: tions require a Bachelor’s degree and MSDE Computer Teacher – Mattawoman Middle • Varsity girls’ soccer coach certification requirements. School, 10-month position. • Head boys’ lacrosse coach Job Openings English for Speakers of Other Languages Contact Dominic Zaccarelli, athletic direc- Instructional Specialist for Judy Center (ESOL) Teacher – Location to be determined, tor, 301-645-8857, to apply. – Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School, 10-month position. Thomas Stone High School has the fol- 12-month position. Master’s degree and a Spanish Teacher – North Point High School, lowing opening: minimum of five years teaching experience 10-month position. • Assistant track coach required. Apply by Feb. 20. Library Media Specialists – Openings at the Contact Steve Lee, athletic director, 301- Building Service Worker – Milton M. elementary school level, 10-month positions. 645-2601, to apply. Somers Middle School, 12-month position. Special Education Teacher – Dr. James Craik La Plata High School has the following Apply by Feb. 25. Elementary School, 10-month position. opening: Computer Analysts – Jesse L. Starkey Ad- Extra pay positions • Head volleyball coach ministration Building, 12-month positions. North Point High School has the follow- Contact Cliff Nagle, athletic director, 301- Apply by Feb. 25. ing openings: 753-1754, to apply. Athletic Director – St. Charles High School, • Head boys’ track coach Staff Notes 11-month position. A minimum of five years • Assistant boys’ lacrosse coach Buying, renting, or selling? teaching experience at the high school level, • Assistant girls’ lacrosse coach Submit an ad on the InsideCCPS employ- three years of high school coaching experience • Assistant softball coach ee website under the “Classified Ads” section. and a NIAAA registered athletic administrator Contact Andrew Shattuck, athletic direc- Ads are free and run for 20 days. Directions certification required. Apply by Feb. 26. tor, 301-753-1759, to apply. for posting are listed on the page. February 17, 2014 Page 4