Education

Southern Maryland’s Highly Anticipated River Concert Series Returns for 27th Season, Along with July 4th Firework Display

Southern Maryland’s Highly Anticipated River Concert Series Returns for 27th Season, Along with July 4th Firework Display

Southern Maryland’s premier free summer outdoor concerts return for the 27th season as the River Concert Series kicks off on June 27, 2025, from 7-9 p.m. on the Townhouse Green at St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM). The popular, family-friendly music festival, performed by the Chesapeake Orchestra under music director Jeffrey Silberschlag,  will be...
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CSM Names Teaching and Learning Center in Honor of Professor Emeritus Michelle Simpson

CSM Names Teaching and Learning Center in Honor of Professor Emeritus Michelle Simpson

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) honored the life and legacy of longtime faculty member Michelle Simpson by officially naming its new Teaching and Learning Center in her memory during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 28 at the La Plata Campus. Faculty, staff, family, friends, and community members gathered in the Learning Resource Center...
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Maryland Department of Health Expands Behavioral Health and Community-Based Services for Children and Youth

Maryland Department of Health Expands Behavioral Health and Community-Based Services for Children and Youth

The Maryland Department of Health announced that it received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand access to behavioral health and home and community-based services for children and youth. The federal approval is for an amendment to Maryland’s 1915(i) state plan, which gives the state the authority to provide home...
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St. Mary’s College of Maryland Dedicates Alumni Center to an Exemplar Alumna

St. Mary’s College of Maryland Dedicates Alumni Center to an Exemplar Alumna

St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s alumni center was dedicated on Thursday, June 5 in recognition of an alumna whose commitment to and engagement with her alma mater has known no bounds — Bonnie M. Green ’74. The Bonnie M. Green Alumni Center, formerly the Alumni Center at Cobb House, is nestled in the woods...
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Charles County Public Schools Lunch on Us Program Starts June 23rd, 2025

Charles County Public Schools Lunch on Us Program Starts June 23rd, 2025

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) will offer its Lunch on Us free summer meals program this summer at six designated school sites. The program will operate June 23 through Aug. 7, Monday through Thursday, for children ages 2 to 18. Lunch on Us provides hot meals for children to consume on site. Children do...
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Maryland Park Service Reinstates Maryland Conservation Corps After Federal Cuts Threatened Program

Maryland Park Service Reinstates Maryland Conservation Corps After Federal Cuts Threatened Program

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Park Service have reactivated 17 members of the Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC), who were demobilized in late April after a sudden termination of grant funds by the federal program supporting it. Following the federal government’s termination of numerous AmeriCorps programs on April 25, late on a...
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Calvert County Public Schools to Offer Grab ’N Go Summer Meals

Calvert County Public Schools to Offer Grab ’N Go Summer Meals

CCPS is excited to offer free Grab ‘N Go meals this summer! Although our school sites do not qualify for traditional summer meal programs, we’re pleased to share that some of our locations are eligible to participate in the USDA’s Rural, Non-Congregate Summer Meal Program — a special opportunity designed to support rural communities. What are...
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Upcoming June 2025 Events at Historic St. Mary’s City

Upcoming June 2025 Events at Historic St. Mary’s City

Historic St. Mary’s City has a full lineup of engaging programs for families, homeschoolers, and history enthusiasts this June. Homeschool Wednesday Workshops – June 4 Join Historic St. Mary’s City for the final Homeschool Wednesday Workshops of the spring season. These hands-on, history-focused sessions are designed for homeschool families with students of all ages....
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Great Mills High Students Shine Bright in STEM Pitch Competition Sponsored by Carolyn E. Parker Foundation

Great Mills High Students Shine Bright in STEM Pitch Competition Sponsored by Carolyn E. Parker Foundation

In a night filled with boundless potential, innovation, and hope, students from Great Mills High School lit up the room at the Pitch for Your Pocket, STEM competition hosted by the Carolyn E. Parker Foundation. The early Spring 2025 event concluded with the awarding of 7 student innovators, ready to bring their bold ideas to life....
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Six Charles County Students Advance to 2025 National ACT-SO Competition

Six Charles County Students Advance to 2025 National ACT-SO Competition

Six Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students are advancing to the national ACT-SO competition this summer after earning a Gold medal award at the April 26th regional event held at the College of Southern Maryland. ACT-SO — the NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics — is an achievement program open to high school...
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Class of 2025 Academic Leaders Announced, Graduating Class Earns Record Breaking $221 Million in Scholarship Offers

Class of 2025 Academic Leaders Announced, Graduating Class Earns Record Breaking $221 Million in Scholarship Offers

The Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Class of 2025 will be honored during outdoor graduation ceremonies set for May 27-29 at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. The Class of 2025 includes 2,284 graduates who earned a collective number of scholarships totaling almost $221 million. This is the highest scholarship total for graduating CCPS seniors...
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Charles County Schools to Host End-of-Year Promotion and Celebratory Events – 2025

Charles County Schools to Host End-of-Year Promotion and Celebratory Events – 2025

Charles County Public elementary and middle schools have coordinated celebratory events for students who are transitioning to middle or high school, as well as those moving on from prekindergarten and kindergarten. The following is a list of dates and activities schools have planned for the end of the year. Parents should contact their child’s...
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CSM Congratulates 80 Health Career Readiness Graduates

CSM Congratulates 80 Health Career Readiness Graduates

College of Southern Maryland (CSM) students pursuing careers in health care were celebrated May 8 at the La Plata Campus during the college’s Health Career Readiness Recognition ceremony. Eighty students were recognized for completing programs this year in: Veterinary assistant; certified medical administrative assistant; health information system; certified nutrition coach; certified personal training; Certified...
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Leonardtown High Vandalized Overnight; Chickens Released, Peanut Butter Smeared, Oil Poured in Stairwells

Leonardtown High Vandalized Overnight; Chickens Released, Peanut Butter Smeared, Oil Poured in Stairwells

Leonardtown High School (LHS) administrators arrived Friday morning to find extensive overnight vandalism after intruders broke in through a classroom window at about 2 a.m. According to Principal Jamie Copsey, security video shows several masked individuals roaming the building. In their wake they left paint splattered on walls, oil dumped down stairwells, peanut butter...
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CSM Congratulates 49 New Nursing Graduates

CSM Congratulates 49 New Nursing Graduates

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) celebrated its newest class of nursing candidates on May 8 in a pinning ceremony at the La Plata Campus, sending them out into the workforce or onto the next phase of their medical education. “Graduates, you chose an academic journey that would lead to a career rooted in...
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Maryland Loses AAA Bond Rating For First Time in Over 50 Years, Gov Moore Releases Statement Blaming Trump

Maryland Loses AAA Bond Rating For First Time in Over 50 Years, Gov Moore Releases Statement Blaming Trump

Maryland Loses AAA Bond Rating for first time in over 50 years, ending a historic run of fiscal stability that stretched back to 1973. Statement by the Maryland Freedom Caucus – “Governor Wes Moore’s attempt to shift blame for Maryland’s credit downgrade is as misleading as it is predictable. Democrats have controlled the Maryland...
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Smithsonian Exhibition on Innovation Arrives at College of Southern Maryland

Smithsonian Exhibition on Innovation Arrives at College of Southern Maryland

Maryland Humanities is thrilled to kick off the Maryland tour of Spark! Places of Innovation at the College of Southern Maryland Velocity Center on May 17, 2025. The exhibition highlights innovation in rural communities. Both the College of Southern Maryland Velocity Center and Life Journeys Writers Guild serve as the host partners for the tour’s first stop and collaborate with local...
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UPDATE: Gun Discharges in Billingsley Elementary School Classroom – Florida Man Charged

UPDATE: Gun Discharges in Billingsley Elementary School Classroom – Florida Man Charged

A loaded handgun that discharged inside a classroom at Billingsley Elementary School in Charles County, has been traced back to a visiting relative of the student involved. Authorities have since charged a Florida man in connection with the incident, following an investigation by the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office. The...
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More than 1,300 Hawks Soar into the Future Following CSM’s 66th Commencement

More than 1,300 Hawks Soar into the Future Following CSM’s 66th Commencement

It was a proud, reflective, and exciting day for College of Southern Maryland (CSM) as its faculty, staff, supporters, and community cheered for hundreds of its student graduates at the 66th Commencement exercises on May 9 held at the La Plata Campus. This year, 1,364 CSM students earned degrees or certificates, receiving 820 associate degrees,...
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La Plata High School Student Council Receives State Award

La Plata High School Student Council Receives State Award

The halls of La Plata High School filled as the bell rang for the next period. Students dressed in their college shirt of choice walked the halls as they switched classes to continue the day of learning. College Shirt Day is one of the many spirit days and for students at the school can...
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Board Chairperson Moore Lee, Esq., Appointed Leadership Roles in National Education Associations

Board Chairperson Moore Lee, Esq., Appointed Leadership Roles in National Education Associations

Board of Education of Charles County Chairperson Yonelle Moore Lee, Esq., was recently appointed as chairperson of the National Black Council of School Board Members (NBCSBM). She was also named an ex officio director of the of the National School Boards Association (NSBA). As Chairperson of the NBCSBM, she will lead efforts to support...
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Charles County Public Schools Summer Camp Registration Opens

Charles County Public Schools Summer Camp Registration Opens

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is offering several camp offerings for students. Enrichment camps, academic and athletic programs, and career exploration will be held this summer. To learn more about the summer camps, visit www.ccboe.com. Summer Enrichment camps – Summer enrichment camps for students in kindergarten through eighth grade will be held July 28 to 31....
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Maryland State Fire Marshal Warns of Social Media Trend Leading to Fires

Maryland State Fire Marshal Warns of Social Media Trend Leading to Fires

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is alerting the public to a concerning new trend circulating on social media. Students insert electrically conductive objects into the charging ports of school-issued and personal electronic devices. This reckless behavior has been linked to several incidents resulting in fires, smoke, and property damage. As of May...
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Purple Star School Designation Awarded to 10 Calvert County Schools

Purple Star School Designation Awarded to 10 Calvert County Schools

Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) is proud to announce that 10 of its schools have been awarded the prestigious Purple Star School designation by the Maryland State Department of Education for 2025. This honor recognizes schools that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families. Established by the Maryland General Assembly...
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Charles County Commissioner Meeting Agenda for May 6 and 7, 2025, Meetings on May 7th and 20th for Proposed Tax Hike on Property

Charles County Commissioner Meeting Agenda for May 6 and 7, 2025, Meetings on May 7th and 20th for Proposed Tax Hike on Property

The County Commissioners will hold this public meeting “virtually” and in-person. SHOW UP AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!! Meetings is Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 4:30, public comments held at 6:30 p.m. (Full schedule below) This follows after the Charles County Commissioners voted 3-1 on April 22, 2025, to introduce Proposed Bill 2025-04, which...
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