Education

Community Survey! How Should Charles County Budget for Fiscal Year 2026?

Community Survey! How Should Charles County Budget for Fiscal Year 2026?

We want to hear from you! The second resident survey for the Charles County Government Fiscal Year 2026 budget is now open. Resident input is critical in ensuring that the budget accurately addresses community priorities and needs. Share your input on spending priorities and offer suggestions on how the county can address changes in...
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CSM Faculty and Students Discuss Advantages of Early College During Workshop

CSM Faculty and Students Discuss Advantages of Early College During Workshop

College of Southern Maryland (CSM) faculty recently hosted a professional workshop with staff and students to discuss best practices for students who attend CSM’s Early College program, which is offered to high schoolers in Calvert and Charles counties. CSM’s Division of Learning faculty hosted the virtual “Early College Program – Best Practices for Student...
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Local Robotics Team Advances to VEX IQ World Championship in Texas

Local Robotics Team Advances to VEX IQ World Championship in Texas

A local robotics team is advancing to the VEX IQ World Championship in Dallas, Texas, after an impressive performance at the Maryland State Championship this weekend. The team, 836A The Hive Mind, is from growingSTEMS, a community-based non-profit program located in Hollywood, MD, with the mission statement of developing the next generation of problem...
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No Children Injured After School Bus Accident in St. Mary’s County

No Children Injured After School Bus Accident in St. Mary’s County

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at approximately 3:16 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Medleys Neck Road and Watson Lane in Leonardtown, for the reported motor vehicle collision with unknown injuries involving a school bus. Crews arrived on the scene to find a passenger vehicle and a St....
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Charles County Public Schools Employee Data Information Update

Charles County Public Schools Employee Data Information Update

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) offices of School Safety and Security and Technology discovered fraudulent activity related to two employee email and Oracle accounts. The report is still under investigation, but the employees impacted are aware of the activity. Note: A version of this update was emailed to...
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Alison Cheney, Teacher at F.B. Gwynn Educational Center Named 2025 Teacher of the Year

Alison Cheney, Teacher at F.B. Gwynn Educational Center Named 2025 Teacher of the Year

Alison Cheney, a physical education teacher at the F.B. Gwynn Educational Center, was named the 2025 Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Teacher of the Year during a Feb. 20 recognition ceremony. The event, held at St. Charles High School, honors nominees for the 2025 Washington Post Teacher of the Year and CCPS Teacher of the Year award...
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St. Mary’s County Health Hub and Literacy Council Seek Tutors for Adult Education

St. Mary’s County Health Hub and Literacy Council Seek Tutors for Adult Education

The Literacy Council of St. Mary’s and the St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) are seeking tutors for their adult education tutor match program. Literacy Council of St. Mary’s provides one-on-one tutoring and customized learning opportunities for adults. The mission of the Literacy Council is to develop community relationships and workplace readiness by working...
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Calvert Marine Museum Exciting Improvements to Maritime Hall Exhibits with Community-Driven Plan

Calvert Marine Museum Exciting Improvements to Maritime Hall Exhibits with Community-Driven Plan

In 2022, the Calvert Marine Museum (CMM) engaged a consulting team to develop a community-driven plan aimed at revitalizing the Maritime Hall exhibits. This comprehensive plan will guide future design and updates to the exhibit space, ensuring an immersive and authentic experience that reflects various perspectives of life in Southern Maryland, with a particular...
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Charles County School Renaming Committee Seeks Feedback on Name Recommendations

Charles County School Renaming Committee Seeks Feedback on Name Recommendations

The Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) School Renaming Committee seeks feedback on its name recommendations for General Smallwood Middle School. In November 2024, the Board of Education of Charles County moved forward with a vote to rename the school, following its school renaming policy, Board Policy 7230. Following Board Policy 7230, the renaming committee...
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Piney Point Lighthouse Museum Announces 4-Day Outdoor Spring Break Program for Junior Historians!

Piney Point Lighthouse Museum Announces 4-Day Outdoor Spring Break Program for Junior Historians!

St. Mary’s County Government’s Museum Division is pleased to announce the Junior Historian program for Spring Break. Designed for children aged 7 to 10, the Junior Historian program at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum will run for 3 hours per day from April 14 to 17, offering an exciting blend of outdoor exploration and hands-on...
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Southern Maryland School and Weather Updates for Thursday, February 20th, 2025

Southern Maryland School and Weather Updates for Thursday, February 20th, 2025

ST. MARY’S COUNTY – 2 Hour Delayed Opening – February 20, 2025 – Code 5 for Staff All SMCPS Schools will have a delayed opening of two hours on Thursday, February 20, 2025. Code 5 for staff. Ten and eleven-month employees report to work two hours late. Twelve-month employees and food service workers are...
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Get Ready to Swing into an Unforgettable Adventure with Summerstock!

Get Ready to Swing into an Unforgettable Adventure with Summerstock!

St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Recreation & Parks (R&P) is thrilled to present TARZAN®: The Stage Musical for the 43rd production of Summerstock. Performances will be held at Great Mills High School on July 18–20 and July 25–27, 2025, with a total of 8 shows. TARZAN®: The Stage Musical is based on Disney’s...
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CSM Hosts 35 Middle and High School Teams in ‘High Stakes’ Robotics Tournament

CSM Hosts 35 Middle and High School Teams in ‘High Stakes’ Robotics Tournament

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) hosted 35 teams of local and regional middle- and high-school students last weekend at the Southern Maryland VEX V5 Robotics Tournament held at the La Plata Campus. At the Feb. 15 tournament, student-team-built robots were inspected, put to the test, judged, and awarded for their high-tech efforts. “I...
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Leadership Maryland Announces Executive Program Class of 2025

Leadership Maryland Announces Executive Program Class of 2025

Leadership Maryland officially announces the Executive Program’s Class of 2025, consisting of 53 business and community leaders from across the state chosen to participate in the professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland. The Class of 2025, the Executive Program’s 32nd class, reflects a cross-section of the state, including diversity of geographic...
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SMECO Sponsors Southern Maryland’s 31st Annual Math Competition

SMECO Sponsors Southern Maryland’s 31st Annual Math Competition

Southern Maryland’s annual MATHCOUNTS competition marked its 31st anniversary on Saturday, February 5, 2025. More than 150 students from 18 schools gathered at Calvert High School in Prince Frederick to test their math skills. A competitive technological world requires a proficiency in mathematics as a foundation for success in science, technology, and engineering. MATHCOUNTS...
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Charles County Board of Education Appoints Navarro to Second Term as Superintendent

Charles County Board of Education Appoints Navarro to Second Term as Superintendent

The Board of Education of Charles County unanimously voted during its Feb. 11 meeting to renew the contract of Superintendent Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., for a second, four-year term. Navarro was hired by the previous Board in 2021 with her first term closing this summer on June 30. In the past four years Navarro...
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STEAM Room Catalyst Event Ignites Hands-On Learning on March 30, 2025

STEAM Room Catalyst Event Ignites Hands-On Learning on March 30, 2025

Imagine a place where young minds don’t just learn about science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM)—they create it. Pure Play Every Day Inc., a Southern Maryland non-profit, is making that vision a reality with the STEAM Room—an innovative children’s museum concept designed by students for students. This one-of-a-kind initiative gives middle and high school...
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CCPS Students Shine at Maryland FBLA State Leadership Conference

CCPS Students Shine at Maryland FBLA State Leadership Conference

Students from Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) demonstrated outstanding business acumen and leadership skills at the Maryland Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference held Feb. 6–8 at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor. The annual conference provides students with leadership training, networking opportunities, and competitive events that assess their knowledge and skills in...
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Classical Pianist Brian Ganz Reveals Chopin’s Superpowers At Free PianoTalk at SMCM February 18, 2025

Classical Pianist Brian Ganz Reveals Chopin’s Superpowers At Free PianoTalk at SMCM February 18, 2025

St. Mary’s City- February 11 – St. Mary’s College of MD Musician-in-Residence Brian Ganz will continue his popular mid-day PianoTalk series on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 11:20 a.m. with a free PianoTalk featuring Fryderyk Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 4. The program, which will take place in the recital...
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Southern Maryland Schools Closed on Wednesday, February 15, 2025 Due to Weather

Southern Maryland Schools Closed on Wednesday, February 15, 2025 Due to Weather

Wednesday, February 12, 2025 – Schools Closed for the following: ST. MARY’S COUNTY: Code 3 for staff – All Schools and Offices are CLOSED on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Code 3 for staff. No employees should report to work. Administrative leave will be provided for twelve-month employees. Operations and Maintenance Emergency personnel will follow...
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Calvert County Awarded $98,500 Grant to Support Local Communities

Calvert County Awarded $98,500 Grant to Support Local Communities

Calvert County has been awarded $98,500 from the Governor’s Office for Children’s Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments and Households (ENOUGH) Local Management Board (LMB) Capacity Building Grant. The funding aims to leverage the local infrastructure of the LMB to support local communities in pursuit of their goals. In May 2024, Gov. Wes Moore signed...
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School Weather Updates – Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert Have Early Dismissal on Tuesday, February 11, 2025

School Weather Updates – Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert Have Early Dismissal on Tuesday, February 11, 2025

ST. MARY’S COUNTY: February 11, 2025 – School Day begins on time with 2-Hour Early Dismissal Tuesday, February 11, 2025: All schools begin the day on time and will be dismissed 2 hours early due to the predicted snowstorm arriving in the afternoon. Staff: All 10-11 month employees may conclude their day 30 minutes...
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Charles County Public School Students Compete in Winter Chess Tournament

Charles County Public School Students Compete in Winter Chess Tournament

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) hosted its annual winter chess tournament February 1, 2025, at Henry E. Lackey High School, with 150 students competing. The tournament was open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students play peers at their or near their grade level. In between official games, students could practice with pick-up...
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Little Flower School “Shipwrecked! Pirates And Mermaids” Benefit Auction Returns March 1st, 2025

Little Flower School “Shipwrecked! Pirates And Mermaids” Benefit Auction Returns March 1st, 2025

Little Flower School will host its annual spring benefit auction, with a theme of “Shipwrecked! Pirates and Mermaids” March 1, 2025, from 5-10 p.m. at the school. Tickets, which are $100 for one and $175 for couples, include a Southern Maryland-style dinner by Rita B. Catering, drink specials, silent and live auctions, games and...
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Governor Wes Moore Delivers 2025 State of the State Address

Governor Wes Moore Delivers 2025 State of the State Address

Governor Wes Moore today delivered his third State of the State address. Before a joint session of the Maryland General Assembly, the governor spoke about investing in industries of the future, reforming the tax code, and investing in Marylanders by meeting crisis with courage in the face of one of the most challenging and...
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