Education

Westlake Class of 2019 Graduates in Ceremony Filled with Traditions Old and New

Westlake Class of 2019 Graduates in Ceremony Filled with Traditions Old and New

The Charles County Convocation Center was filled with cheers this morning as the Westlake High School Class of 2019 began their future as high school graduates. A total of 298 students received their diploma today in a ceremony in which the accomplishments of the class were celebrated. The Wolverine Class of 2019 earned $18,274,616...
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Henry E. Lackey High School is Living in the ‘Good ol’ Days’ at Graduation

Henry E. Lackey High School is Living in the ‘Good ol’ Days’ at Graduation

The 242 members of Henry E. Lackey High School’s Class of 2019 were all together for the last time June 1 when they graduated following four years of hard work and fun times. In time, the Chargers might even call them the “good ol’ days.” “We don’t realize how many special moments come from...
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McDonough’s Graduation Goes Big on Class and Student Accomplishments

McDonough’s Graduation Goes Big on Class and Student Accomplishments

Though Maurice J. McDonough High School is the smallest in the county, it is big on school pride. “We have continued to believe in ourselves as a class and instilled a pride in our school that will no doubt carry on to future students. Our athletic teams competed against much larger schools and found...
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North Point Student Stars in Netflix Limited Series ‘When They See Us’

North Point Student Stars in Netflix Limited Series ‘When They See Us’

The day after Asante Ma’at graduated from North Point High School on May 30, “When They See Us” debuted on Netflix. The limited series tells the story of the Central Park 5 — five teens wrongfully convicted for the rape and assault on a female jogger April 19, 1989, in New York City’s Central...
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Leonardtown High School Graduate Signs with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns!

Leonardtown High School Graduate Signs with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns!

Jamie Gillan, also known as the “Scottish Hammer” and son of Squadron Leader Colin Gillan, RAF, has signed with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns! Jamie, a native of Scotland and a Leonardtown High School graduate, is the Brown’s new prospective kicker. He moved to Southern Maryland with his family when his father, a member of...
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St. Mary’s County Public Schools to Live Stream High School Graduations

St. Mary’s County Public Schools to Live Stream High School Graduations

The 2019 St. Mary’s County Public High School Commencement Ceremonies can be seen LIVE online at the following website. The dates of the Graduations are as follows: Leonardtown High School – Wednesday, May 29th, at 6 pm Great Mills High School – Thursday, May 30th, at 6 pm Chopticon High School – Friday, May...
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Lackey’s Perriello Named Charles County Public Schools Principal of the Year

Lackey’s Perriello Named Charles County Public Schools Principal of the Year

School has always been a place where Kathy Perriello feels comfortable. “I had wonderful experiences at school, wonderful teachers and administrators,” she said. “School was always a good place for me. Perriello was recently named the 2019 Charles County Principal of the Year and a finalist in the Washington Post’s Principal of the Year...
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SMECO Honors Region’s Outstanding Math, Science, and STEM Teachers

SMECO Honors Region’s Outstanding Math, Science, and STEM Teachers

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) worked with the school systems of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties to select and honor 22 educators with Outstanding Teacher awards for their leadership in the fields of mathematics, science, technology, and engineering. Receiving awards this year were eight math teachers, nine science teachers, and five STEM (science,...
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Nine College of Southern Maryland Students Win Awards for Public Service Announcements

Nine College of Southern Maryland Students Win Awards for Public Service Announcements

Nine College of Southern Maryland (CSM) students recently won accolades and prize money for producing public service announcements (PSAs) about preventing vehicle theft. The digital media production students wrote, filmed and produced 30-second PSAs that offered warnings and tips to Maryland motorists to help them avoid having their vehicles stolen or broken into. This...
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CSM Announces Keynote Speaker for Spring Winter Commencement May 17

CSM Announces Keynote Speaker for Spring Winter Commencement May 17

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) will recognize 527 candidates receiving 837 certificates and degrees during its 60th Spring Commencement ceremonies Friday, May 17, at the college’s La Plata Campus. CSM Professor of English, Communication, and Languages Dr. Richard Siciliano, who has earned the distinction of working at the college for 50 years –...
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Police Arrest Former White Marsh Elementary School Teacher for Sex Offense from 40 Years ago

Police Arrest Former White Marsh Elementary School Teacher for Sex Offense from 40 Years ago

In September of 2018, St. Mary’s County Public Schools received information regarding possible assaults on children that occurred during the 1970’s by a former employee. St. Mary’s County Public Schools immediately notified the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, and the Criminal Investigations Division began an investigation into the allegations. The investigation determined Theodore Bell,...
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Man with BB Gun Puts Benjamin Stoddert Middle School on Lock Down and Leads to Arrest of Waldorf Man

Man with BB Gun Puts Benjamin Stoddert Middle School on Lock Down and Leads to Arrest of Waldorf Man

On Thursday, May 2, 29019, at approximately 1:40 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer Cpl. S. Cook received a report of a man in a wheelchair with what appeared to be a gun in the vicinity of Benjamin Stoddert Middle School. The school was immediately placed in a “shelter-in-place,” meaning no one...
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Student Arrested for Armed Robbery That Occurred at North Point High School During School Hours

Student Arrested for Armed Robbery That Occurred at North Point High School During School Hours

On Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at 7:45 a.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office arrested Lovelle Caleb Cannaday, 17, of Waldorf, in connection with a robbery that occurred inside North Point High School. On Tuesday, April 30, 2019, during lunchtime, the victim was in a main hallway with several students when the suspect...
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Retired Great Mills High School Teacher Chalks up $50,000 Powerball Win

Retired Great Mills High School Teacher Chalks up $50,000 Powerball Win

A retired educator who traded his days in the classroom for hours on the golf course plans to please his wife and improve his game with his $50,000 Powerball prize. Steven Wolfe of Leonardtown is the 28th Maryland Powerball player to win a third-tier prize in the popular game. After buying his quick-pick Powerball ticket for the April 17 drawing,...
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Two Students Arrested at Thomas Stone High School

Two Students Arrested at Thomas Stone High School

On Friday, April 12, 2019, at approximately 10:00 a.m., a school resource officer assigned to Thomas Stone High School was advised of an altercation between two students inside a classroom. When the officer entered the room, he observed a male student being restrained by a teacher and several students, while another male student was...
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17-Year-Old La Plata High School Student Charged with Disruption of School Activities

17-Year-Old La Plata High School Student Charged with Disruption of School Activities

On April 11, 2019, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a social media post relating to a possible school shooting that was going to happen on the next day on April 12. Officers identified the person who initiated the post as a student at La Plata High School. Contact was made...
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14-Year-Old Student Arrested with Loaded Handgun at La Plata High School

14-Year-Old Student Arrested with Loaded Handgun at La Plata High School

On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at approximately 10:40 a.m., it was brought to a La Plata High School administrator’s attention that a student had revealed he had a bullet in his possession. The administrator brought the student to the office and found him to be in possession of a handgun and bullets. A school...
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Black Diamond Disaster to be Commemorated at St. Clement’s Island Museum

Black Diamond Disaster to be Commemorated at St. Clement’s Island Museum

In April 1865, following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, the Quartermaster Corps sent the barge Black Diamond to the lower Potomac to stand on picket duty off St. Clement’s Island. Her main job was to keep John Wilkes Booth from crossing the Potomac River. During the same time, the steamer Massachusetts headed for...
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Annual Fairy & Gnome Home Festival at Annmarie Garden

Annual Fairy & Gnome Home Festival at Annmarie Garden

Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons, Maryland will be transformed into a magical place of merriment on Sunday, April 14 from 11:00am-4:00 pm for the 9th annual Fairy & Gnome Home Festival. Families are invited to enjoy a day full of natural play and imaginative fun, with games, appearances by special characters,...
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Hell Rooms Of Calvert County Public Schools Part III: Superintendent Daniel Curry Responds

Hell Rooms Of Calvert County Public Schools Part III: Superintendent Daniel Curry Responds

Superintendent Daniel Curry said he first learned of Calvert County’s statistics on the use of restraint and seclusion approximately one month ago. “Well, my initial thought is that, that’s not good. And we’ve obviously got some work to do.” Curry added, “We have a wide range of responsibility here and we take it...
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The Hell Rooms of Calvert County Public Schools: Part II

The Hell Rooms of Calvert County Public Schools: Part II

UPDATE 4/3/2019: There was an error in the spreadsheet data that was utilized to create the seclusion graphs in the article below. The article indicated that Talbot County was #1 in seclusions. There was a data entry error that lead to that finding. Talbot actually had zero reported seclusions (lowering them on the graph...
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The Hell rooms of Calvert County Public Schools Part I: Seclusion & Restraint

The Hell rooms of Calvert County Public Schools Part I: Seclusion & Restraint

“Seclusion and restraint.” It probably isn’t a term with which most people are familiar. If the unfamiliar person were to wager a guess at just what exactly does “seclusion and restraint” mean, images of maximum security prisons or the interrogation of terrorism suspects might come to mind. Cooper Stephens is all too familiar with...
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Rumors of Shooting at Esperanza Middle School are False

Rumors of Shooting at Esperanza Middle School are False

After receiving multiple calls and emails from parents, SMNEWSNET was able to obtain the following email that was sent to parents of students at Esperanza Middle School. Good evening Esperanza Middle School Community – We have been receiving inquiries in regards to rumors referencing a potential shooting at EMS. Once we were made aware...
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UPDATE: St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Say No Sustained or Credible Threats Were Identified at Area Schools

UPDATE: St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Say No Sustained or Credible Threats Were Identified at Area Schools

UPDATE: The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint investigation with St. Mary’s County Public Schools, regarding threats circulating via text messages and on social media. After an extensive investigation, no sustained or credible threats were identified. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and St. Mary’s County Public Schools will continue to fully...
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Congressman Hoyer Releases Statement on Anniversary of Great Mills School Shooting

Congressman Hoyer Releases Statement on Anniversary of Great Mills School Shooting

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the shooting at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County: “I join with the Great Mills High School community in remembering Jaelynn Willey, whose life was tragically and senselessly cut short one year ago. My prayers and deepest sympathies are...
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