FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2016

Calvert County Public Schools will host a Digital Learning Expo for district instructional staff on Saturday, March 5, 2016. The event will be held at Calvert High School from 8:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

The Expo will feature twenty-four presentations facilitated by Calvert County Public Schools teachers and other experts in the field of digital learning. Topics will include, among others, the effective use of mobile devices in the classroom, webpage design, digital storytelling, online collaboration and instructional uses of Office 365.

Dr. Daniel D. Curry, Superintendent, said, “The Digital Learning Expo is professional development by teachers and for teachers. It’s a venue for our staff to showcase the high level of instruction they provide. It’s also a local opportunity for our teachers to engage in professional development provided by their peers, who are expert practitioners in the classroom.”

Exhibitors and vendors in field of digital learning will be present throughout the event. They include: Calvert Library, CDI Computers, Digital Citizenship, DreamBox, Edmodo, Envision Technology, Evolution Training Athletics, McGraw-Hill, National Geographic, Nystron Education, PAX Space Makerspace, Performance Matters and Tech4Learning.

Further information about the event is available at .

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2016

Calvert County Public Schools is pleased to announce that Lucie Roach, sophomore at Huntingtown High School, was elected as the 2016-2017 Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB). The SMOB is elected by the Calvert Association of Student Councils (CASC), which includes members from the four high schools and six middle schools in the district.

Dr. Daniel D. Curry, Superintendent, said, “The student member of the board helps keep us all in touch with the main reason we do what we do. I have met Lucie and she is an outstanding student. She will do an excellent job as SMOB.”

Lucie has been active in student government since she was a student at Plum Point Middle. She has served as the CASC Relay for Life Coordinator, CASC Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) Liaison, and the MASC Evaluations Coordinator. Her goals as SMOB include continuing the Student Advisory Council begun by current SMOB Alexya Brown, a senior at Patuxent High, and spending time in Calvert County middle and high schools to gain perspective about current issues.

The position of SMOB is established by the Annotated Code of Maryland. Officially, the student is a non-voting member of the Board; however, the student may cast a symbolic vote on all matters coming before the Board.

The student member must be a rising high school junior or senior in a Calvert County public high school. The student member’s term runs from June 1 through May 31. Further details about the requirements for service and the selection process can be found in the Calvert County Public Schools Procedure 1200.1 Regarding the Student Member of the Board of Education.

One of the primary responsibilities of the student member is to facilitate the flow of information between the Board of Education and students. The student member is expected to share appropriate information from the Board with students using a variety of communication methods. The student should also elicit a variety of student viewpoints on issues before the Board.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2016

Christian Farley, a senior at Patuxent High School, won first place in the regional competition for Poetry Out Loud, held on February 20, 2016 at the College of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown campus. Christian’s win marks the first time Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) has had a first-place winner at the regional level. Christian will now compete at the Maryland State Poetry Out Loud Competition on March 12 at 1:00 p.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Christian’s faculty sponsors are Lynn Powell, English teacher, and Alan Price, theater and English teacher, both of Patuxent High.

Christian was one of fourteen participants at the regional competition. The Calvert region includes Anne Arundel, Charles, Cecil, Montgomery, Prince Georges and St. Mary’s counties and Baltimore City. He recited three poems: “More Lies” by Karin Gottshall, “Love’s Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley and “Beautiful Wreckage” by W. D. Ehrhart.

The format of the competition changed somewhat this year. In prior years, each school system held a competition to determine the district winner, who then competed at the regional level. This year, individual schools sent first-place winners directly to the regional competition. Therefore, CCPS had four students competing at regionals. The others are Christen Holmes, Calvert High; Katelynn Csanadi-Schwartz, Huntingtown High; and Lauren Cunningham, Northern High.

Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The Maryland Arts Council also sponsors and facilitates Maryland’s program.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

pagec@calvertcounty.education

March 3, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Anna Kleist of Plum Point Middle is the champion of the 29th Calvert County Spelling Bee held on March 2, 2016 at Calvert High School.

Concluding an unprecedented sixteen rounds, Anna correctly spelled the word "fuselage" to win the contest, which included fifty-three students from the six Calvert County public middle schools and three private schools.

Lauren Britt of Calvert Middle placed second.

Anna, a seventh grader, will represent Calvert County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May in Washington, D.C. Her coach is English language arts teacher Iris Schaecher.

Anna also participates in Drama Club and is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. Her favorite subjects include English language arts, French and chorus. Mrs. Kelley Adams, principal, said, “Anna is a talented, charismatic, caring and well-rounded student. She consistently thinks of others and always encourages her peers to do well. She is looking forward to her National Spelling Bee experience and will represent Calvert County Public Schools well!”

In addition to winning her trip to the National Spelling Bee from The Calvert Recorder and Southern Maryland Newspapers, Anna was awarded a trophy and $500 from Educational Systems Federal Credit Union. Her school will also receive a $500 prize from the credit union.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428
pagec@calvertcounty.education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2016

Jessica Rosnage Wins First Place in Essay Contest

Jessica Rosnage, 5th grader at Plum Point Elementary School, won first place in the Maryland State Conference NAACP Black History Month Student Competition. The writing contest, co-sponsored by Verizon, is held annually in recognition of Black History Month. The theme of the 2016 contest was, “We all matter. Together we can make a better world.”

Beth Morton, principal of Plum Point Elementary, said, “Plum Point Elementary is exceptionally proud of Jessica’s accomplishment as a first place winner. She is establishing herself as a rising author. We look forward to her future published works.”

Jessica’s essay, titled, “To Inspire Peace,” was chosen as the winner from among hundreds of entries. She received a prize of $100 during a ceremony held at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in Baltimore, Maryland.

The competition is open to students in elementary, middle and high school, and winners are chosen at each level. Students may submit either poetry or an essay.

March 4, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Calvert County Public Schools Hosts International Night

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Department of Calvert County Public Schools will host an International Night at Calvert High School on Tuesday, March 8 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The community is invited to attend.

The event will feature displays from many of the countries represented by students in the school system, including Latvia, India, China, Pakistan, Brazil, Honduras, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, the Ukraine, Mexico, Poland, South Korea, Germany, Nigeria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Venezuela and many others.

Activities are family oriented and will be led by students, staff and parents. Internationally themed stations include origami, henna tattoos, foreign board games, world language book reading, kid’s yoga, character name writing, bingo and tinikling, a traditional Philippine dance.

Representatives of the Calvert High School Choir will sing at 6:00. Other musical performances include an African drumming group and traditional songs performed by students.

March 9, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Calvert County Public Schools to Begin Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Registration

Calvert County Public Schools will begin pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration for the 2016-2017 school year. The schedule is as follows:

• Original birth certificate with official raised seal;
• Child’s immunization records;
• Child’s social security card; and
• Proof of residency.

• Deed;
• Incorporated Lease (Real Estate Lease);
• Non-incorporated Lease Agreement (Landlord provides proof of residency by producing a signed, notarized affidavit verifying that parents reside at that address); or
• Mortgage Statement.
• An approved multi-family disclosure application is required when child and parent reside in the home of another family. Please call the Department of Student Services at 410-535-7232 to obtain further information regarding this process.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Pre-Kindergarten Age Requirement: Must be four years old by September 1, 2016

Parents must first complete the application process and receive an eligibility letter BEFORE registering a child for the pre-kindergarten program.

Kindergarten Age Requirement: Must be five years old by September 1, 2016

Details and information regarding early entry requirements can be found in Calvert County Public Schools Policy/Procedures #2915. Candidates for early entry to kindergarten must be five years old on or before November 1 of the school year for which they apply for entrance. As stated in the policy, the intent of the assessment for early admission, as specified by the State of Maryland, is to identify exceptional students, not simply students who may be capable of completing kindergarten work. Written requests for candidates to participate in the early entry to kindergarten assessment process must be received by Joyce King, Supervisor Primary Education, by June 1, 2016.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Cheryl Yates, Supervisor of Early Childhood & Title I Programs (Pre-Kindergarten)
(410) 535-7264 yatesc@calvertnet.k12.md.us

Joyce Farrell King, Supervisor of Primary Education (Kindergarten)
(410) 535-7203 kingj@calvertnet.k12.md.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2016

At the March 10, 2016 meeting, the Board of Education of Calvert County Public Schools approved two calendar adjustments.

• The Board of Education Meeting scheduled for March 24, 2016 is cancelled. The Board reserved March 31 as a possible meeting should they need to meet to modify the budget.
• April 26, 2016 (Primary Election Day) will be a professional development day for staff. This day will replace the February 10 professional development day that became an instructional day as a result of closures for inclement weather.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428
pagec@calvertcounty.education

March 15, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Special Education Department of Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) and the Special Education Citizens’ Advisory Council (SECAC) will host the annual Transition Fair on Tuesday, April 19, 2016. The event will take place at Huntingtown High School from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Transition Fair provides information and assistance to students with disabilities and their families to prepare them for the transitions from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, and—the most significant area of focus—from high school to post-secondary life, including independent living, employment and college. Families may choose from among several break-out sessions and talk to representatives from adult service providers, advocacy groups and other agencies.

Christina Harris, Director of Special Education, said, "We all experienced challenges when we transitioned from elementary to middle school, then from middle school to high school, and then again when we moved from high school to college or the world of work. Imagine how these challenges are multiplied if you have any difficulties with language, learning or social skills! The SECAC/Special Education Transition Fair helps to prepare our students and families to better anticipate and overcome these life changes. It’s like a one-stop shop to help families access a variety of resources available in and around the Calvert County area.”

Families are asked to RSVP to parentconnections@calvertnet.k12.md.us or call 410-535-7387 and notify staff if they will need child care during the event.

CCPS offers additional transition supports for high school students in partnership with the College of Southern Maryland. In April, rising juniors and seniors with disabilities have the opportunity to travel to the Prince Frederick campus for the annual “Try College for a Day.” Students visit classes and experience a day as a college student. In June, these students and their families are invited to visit the Prince Frederick campus for the Southern Maryland/Tri-County Transition Expo, another opportunity to learn about resources for the transition from high school to adult living.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428
pagec@calvertcounty.education

March 15, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Carson Scholars Fund is pleased to announce that four students in Calvert County Public Schools have been named first-time Carson Scholars in 2016. In addition, eleven students are repeat winners.

The first-time winners are:
• Kristen Almuete, Grade 11, Calvert High;
• Koy Greenwell, Grade 6, Windy Hill Middle;
• Nevaeh Martin, Grade 6, St. Leonard Elementary; and
• Hayley Spicknall, Grade 4, Barstow Elementary.

The repeat winners are:
• Chyrissa DeSantis, Grade 6, Plum Point Middle;
• Alayna Eyman, Grade 5, Calvert Elementary;
• Alexandra Knudson, Grade 10, Huntingtown High;
• Morgan Lennon, Grade 10, Huntingtown High;
• Rachael Meador, Grade 12, Northern High;
• Michael Metler, Grade 12, Northern High;
• Natalie Reardon, Grade 10, Calvert High;
• Tory Ridgeway, Grade 7, Windy Hill Middle;
• Daniel Waldheim, Grade 10, Patuxent High;
• Ashley Whicher, Grade 7, Southern Middle; and
• Kyle Wojciechowski, Grade 6, Southern Middle.

Each year, the Carson Scholars Fund recognizes a select group of high achieving students in grades 4 – 11 who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and humanitarian qualities. Students receive a $1,000 college scholarship award and the honor of being named a Carson Scholar.

Nationwide, 625 students have been named Carson Scholars in 2016, the 20th anniversary of the organization. In addition, 841 students have renewed their Carson Scholar status. These recognized winners have maintained high academic standards and a strong commitment to their communities. This year represents both the largest grant of new scholarships and the largest group of recognized scholars in the history of the program.

To celebrate their accomplishments, the Mid-Atlantic scholars will be recognized at the annual awards ceremony on Sunday, April 10, 2016 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland. Sam Donaldson, retired ABC news anchor, will host the ceremony. The Carson Scholars Fund will present Kimmie Meissner, World Champion and Olympic Figure Skater, with the Spirit of Achievement award. World-renowned and retired pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson will deliver the keynote speech. This year, the Carson Scholars Fund introduced the first ever Carson Scholars Hall of Fame. These twenty outstanding alumni will be honored in a special presentation. The Carson Scholars Fund will also recognize scholars across the country at seven additional regional banquets.

The Carson Scholars Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity founded by Dr. Benjamin Carson and his wife, Candy. The Carson Scholars Fund is dedicated to impacting the nation in a positive way by cultivating future leaders who are academically talented and socially conscious.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428
pagec@calvertcounty.education

At a gala event held at the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa, Donna Miller was named the 2016 Teacher of the Year for Calvert County Public Schools, and Carole Butler was named the Educational Support Person of the Year.

Ms. Miller teaches science to seventh and eighth graders at Windy Hill Middle School (WHMS). Her impressive accomplishments include being selected twice as the WHMS Teacher of the Year. She has been selected to be a Northrup Grumman Teacher Fellow, a Maryland Master Teacher for the Maryland State Department of Education, and the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) Outstanding Science Teacher. Her principal, James Kurtz, said, “Donna is a master teacher, and her colleagues recognize her as a valuable resource and leader who is always willing to lend her expertise, knowledge and wisdom. She is a consummate professional, and she cares deeply about her students. In particular, she cares about educating the whole child.”

Ms. Butler, instructional assistant at Northern Middle School (NMS), is a “jack of all trades,” according to her principal, Jaime Webster. As the school based technology coordinator, she puts her background in mathematics and computer science to use by troubleshooting problems, helping teachers and maintaining the school website. She sponsors the award-winning Math Counts team and helps with the school musical. Through her work ethic and attitude, she makes significant contributions to students, colleagues and the school community.

Ms. Miller will move on to the state-level Teacher of the Year competition. The 2016 Maryland Teacher of the Year will be announced in the fall.

The nominees from all schools in the district are:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2016

The Huntingtown Elementary School Destination Imagination Team, known as the Thingamajigs, won second place at the state tournament on Saturday, April 9 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. This score qualified the team to advance to the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee in late May.

The team of seven fifth grade students will compete against teams from around the United States and the world at the Global Finals. Under the guidance of team managers Beth Nowak and Lisa Minakowski, team members Ashley Woody, Bella Rosasco, Aidan Kyle, Peter Nowak, Sydney Patin, Ella-Rae Cox and Tori Minakowski comprise the third Huntingtown Elementary team to earn a spot at the global finals.

These students learned 21st century skills by working together as a team through their improvisational challenge, which they started working on in the fall of 2015. They had to:

•Research various confined spaces, what is inside them and how they are built;
•Create and perform a four-minute improvisational presentation within a confined space;
•Show how characters work together to address a news flash; and
•Integrate a mysterious stranger and a team-created miscellaneous prop into the presentation.

Begun in 1982, Destination Imagination is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing opportunities that inspire the global community of learners to utilize diverse approaches in applying 21st century skills and creativity. The Destination Imagination program is a fun, hands-on system of learning that fosters students’ creativity, courage and curiosity through open-ended academic challenges in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), fine arts and service learning.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2016

Patuxent High School social studies teacher Scott Goldstein is the 2016 winner of the Mike Michaelson Advisor of the Year Award. The award, given annually by the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC), recognizes the contributions of advisors to student council success across the state. Mr. Goldstein sponsors the Patuxent High Student Government Association (SGA), as well as the Calvert Association of Student Councils (CASC).

Supervisor of Social Studies Rebecca Bowen, who oversees the SGA programs in the district, said, “Due to Mr. Goldstein's efforts and dedication to the program, CASC has become a well-respected entity in the state of Maryland. Many of our local student government leaders become leaders within MASC, primarily due to Mr. Goldstein's support and guidance.”

Mr. Goldstein has sponsored student government groups for thirty-one years. Twelve of those years were at Frederick Douglass High in Prince George’s County, and nineteen have been at Patuxent. He began sponsoring CASC in 2001 and enjoys watching students learn to take an active role in their school and community. He sees great value in giving students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and subsequently train their peers. A highlight of his work is watching graduates use the skills they learned in SGA as they embark upon college and careers.

Alexya Brown has been involved with the CASC Executive Board since 2011 through her role as the Student Member of the Board of Education. “Mr. Goldstein makes the difference for so many students, both in SGA and by extension in our school communities at large,” she said. “He is so supportive of CASC's visions and goes the extra mile to see our success every single time. No one deserves this distinguished honor more than Mr. Goldstein.”

In addition to sponsoring the two student government organizations, Mr. Goldstein serves as an assistant coach for football and men’s basketball and is the Advanced Placement coordinator at Patuxent. He is a College Board exam reader and currently serves as a table leader for the AP summer scoring process. He was the 2015 Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award winner for Calvert County. He has twice been chosen as Teacher of the Year for PHS, has won the Dana Kirkman Student Mentorship Award and the Rutgers University Honors Program Award.

MASC strives to foster a statewide environment for all secondary school students to express and exchange opinions and ideas, develop leadership skills, and promote student representation and involvement in all groups and organizations impacting the lives of students.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

April 11, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Northern Middle School is the recipient of the prestigious Felix Simon Award for Leadership and Service, an honor presented annually by the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) to the top middle school student government group(s) in the state. The awards ceremony took place at the MASC Convention held in Ocean City, Maryland on April 6-8. Thirty-four students and seven sponsors from the Calvert Association of Student Councils (CASC) were among the nearly 1,000 people attending the event.

Scott Goldstein, CASC sponsor and social studies teacher at Patuxent High, said, “The Felix Simon Award is named for the founder of the Maryland Association of Student Councils. The award is synonymous with the excellence and dedication established by Felix Simon over 50 years ago. Student governments that earn this honor have committed themselves to serving others and teaching leadership with passion.”

This year marks the first time a Calvert County middle school earned the distinction of the Felix Simon Award since Calvert Middle won in 1992, the first year the award was given. In 2015, Huntingtown High was among the three high school winners across the state. The award is not a competition among councils, but rather a set of criteria for all school student governments to use to enhance leadership, service and student empowerment within their schools. To apply for this award, a Student Government Association (SGA) must evaluate all of its activities at the school and community level, the regional level and the state level. An SGA earns points for every activity it hosts and for every event in which it participates. Points are also earned for a written constitution and bylaws, documented elections, and impartial self-evaluations of all activities within the organization. To win the award, an SGA must earn 85% of the possible points.

MASC strives to foster a statewide environment for all secondary school students to express and exchange opinions and ideas, develop leadership skills, and promote student representation and involvement in all groups and organizations impacting the lives of students.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

April 14, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Elementary school students demonstrated their mathematical prowess at the 19th Annual Elementary Mathematics Challenge held at Calvert Middle School on April 9, 2016. The event, co-sponsored by Calvert County Public Schools and the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), promotes early mathematics and problem solving.

Supervisor of Elementary Mathematics Jennifer Young said, “A true understanding of mathematical concepts is essential for students as they progress through higher levels of math. The Elementary Math Challenge is a fun and collaborative opportunity for our students to develop their skills.”

The twenty-two teams were comprised of 191 fourth and fifth graders from eleven elementary schools in the district.

The winners are:

Grade 4 Team Winners
1st Place – Sunderland Elementary School
2nd Place – Mt. Harmony Elementary School
3rd Place– Calvert Elementary School
4th Place – Windy Hill Elementary School
5th Place – Huntingtown Elementary School

Grade 5 Team Winners
1st Place – Barstow Elementary School
2nd Place – Sunderland Elementary School
3rd Place – Mt. Harmony Elementary School
4th Place – Mutual Elementary School
5th Place – Windy Hill Elementary School

Grade 4 Individual Winners
1st Place – Reese Staudinger (Sunderland Elementary School)
2nd Place – Isaiah Roux (Sunderland Elementary School)
3rd Place – Tony Colosi (Mt. Harmony Elementary School)

Grade 5 Individual Winners
1st Place – Brook VanEsselstyn (Mutual Elementary School)
2nd Place – Riley Sydnor (Sunderland Elementary School)
3rd Place – Antonio Struhar (Barstow Elementary School)

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

April 18, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three Calvert County schools were the overall elementary, middle and high school winners at the 2016 Calvert Regional MESA Competition. The contest, held on April 13 and 14 at Huntingtown High School, included twenty-one schools from Calvert and Prince George’s Counties. The overall winners are teams from Huntingtown Elementary, Windy Hill Middle and Northern High.

Maryland MESA (Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement) is a grade three through twelve STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) initiative. Maryland MESA seeks to target students who are traditionally underrepresented in these fields, specifically minority and female students. Through participation in Maryland MESA, students develop academic and leadership skills, improve their academic performance and gain confidence in their ability to compete professionally.

Supervisor of Science Yovonda Kolo, Ph.D., said, “Maryland MESA provides an opportunity for students to engage in STEM activities in various ways. Whether students are programming, designing a prosthetic arm, building bridges or using their imagination to design a theme park, they are all engaged in higher level thinking. The innovative ideas and creative thinking displayed by the students will be beneficial to them in and out of the world of STEM.”

The overall winners and the 1st place winners in the prosthetic arm competitions for each level will participate in the Maryland MESA State Championship to be held on May 19, 2016 at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.

The winners in each category are:

Elementary School

Effective Communications Challenge
1st Huntingtown Elementary
2nd St. Leonard Elementary
3rd Calvert Elementary

Storybook Theme Park Ride Challenge
1st Huntingtown Elementary
2nd Calvert Elementary
3rd St. Leonard Elementary

Wood Bridge Challenge
1st St. Leonard Elementary
2nd Huntingtown Elementary
3rd Barstow Elementary

Scratch Programming Challenge
1st Huntingtown Elementary
2nd St. Leonard Elementary
3rd Chesapeake Math and IT Academy

Middle School

Hovercraft Challenge
1st Windy Hill Middle
2nd Southern Middle
3rdNorthern Middle

Prosthetic Arm Challenge
1st Thomas Johnson Middle
2ndNorthern Middle
3rdWindy Hill Middle

Wood Bridge Challenge
1stNorthern Middle
2ndMill Creek Middle
3rdWindy Hill Middle

Alice Programming Challenge
1st Windy Hill Middle
2ndThomas Johnson Middle
3rdMill Creek Middle

High School

Battleball Robot Challenge
1stNorthern High
2ndHuntingtown High
3rdCalvert High

Prosthetic Arm Challenge
1stBowie High
2ndCalvert High
3rdNorthern High

Wood Bridge Challenge
1stCalvert High
2ndPatuxent High
3rdNorthern High

Cyber Robot Challenge
1stNorthern High
2ndHuntingtown High
3rdBowie High

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

April 18, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thirteen students from Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) brought home medals from the annual SkillsUSA Maryland State Championship held on April 15-16, 2016. Thirty-six CCPS students competed in twenty events held at venues around the state that provide authentic settings for the competition.

SkillsUSA is a leadership organization that provides students in various career and technology education programs with opportunities to demonstrate their skills and knowledge through competitions in their chosen field.

Many of the SkillsUSA competitors attend programs based at the Career and Technology Academy (CTA) in Prince Frederick, and the criminal justice program is taught in CCPS comprehensive high schools. Mark Wilding, principal of CTA, said, “Our students represented CCPS very well. They all worked very hard and demonstrated a great deal of dedication and perseverance. The students, their parents and especially their teachers should be very proud.”

The award-winning students are:

John Threlfall – Fire Fighting, Bronze
Austin Garner – Technical Drafting, Silver
Leann Fung – Job Interview, Silver
Caitlyn Lynch (Model Shelby Brubaker) – Esthetics, Silver
Annmarie Norfolk – Cosmetology, Silver
Lynn Mockabee – Job Skill Demo Open, Gold
Annastasia Henson – Power Equipment Technology, Gold
Philip Fink – Criminal Justice, Gold
Amber Tucker (Model April Watts) – Esthetics, Gold
Brittni Dix – Graphic Dye Sublimation, Gold
Britaya Ringler, Wilbur Robinson and Brandon Zickefoose – Crime Scene Investigation, Gold

The gold medal winners qualified to participate in the SkillsUSA National Skills Leadership Conference in Louisville, Kentucky this summer.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

April 19, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Calvert County Public Schools and the College of Southern Maryland are partnering to host training for the staff of both institutions regarding the growing problem of heroin and opiates use. Participants will learn about symptoms of use and available treatment resources, as well as hear the impact that heroin and opiate abuse is having in Calvert County, Southern Maryland and statewide.

Presenters will include the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) and the Calvert County Health Department.

The training will be held on April 26, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, Building B.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

April 29, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

At the meeting on April 28, 2016, the Board of Education of Calvert County Public Schools appointed Dr. Susan Johnson to fill the new position of the Director of Secondary School Improvement.

Dr. Daniel Curry, Superintendent, said, “The role of the principal has moved from being a manager of the building to that of an instructional leader who improves student learning and increases student achievement. In Calvert County, we saw the need to have a position dedicated to mentoring, coaching and supporting the secondary principals in an effort to ensure all students graduate college and career ready. Through reorganization of current positions, we were able to fill this need.”

Dr. Susan Johnson has served as the principal of Calvert High School since 2006. Before moving to Calvert High, she was the vice principal and then principal of Northern Middle School. She taught special education at Calvert Middle and Patuxent High prior to entering administration.
Dr. Johnson can best be described as an exemplary professional with respect to her leadership and character. As an educational leader, she has moved her school forward with continuous improvement for both students and staff. She embodies the characteristics of integrity, honesty and responsibility. As an educator in Calvert County Public Schools, she has served as a role model for her peers.

As a principal, she assumes the responsibility of mentoring staff members who aspire to career advancement. She continuously and strategically works with her vice principals and teacher leaders to increase their leadership skills, which is evidence of her ability to succeed in this new role. In recent years, under her guidance, six teachers has been promoted to administrators and five vice principals have become successful principals.

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428

April 29, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

At the meeting on April 28, 2016, the Board of Education of Calvert County Public Schools appointed Laveeta Hutchins as the Director of Human Resources.

Dr. Daniel Curry, Superintendent, said, “We are pleased to have someone with Ms. Hutchins’ experience step into the role of Director of Human Resources. Her school and central office roles have provided her with the insight to facilitate the hiring of highly skilled employees. She has the expertise to implement processes and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.”

A graduate of Calvert High School, Ms. Hutchins has devoted her career to Calvert County Public Schools. She began teaching at Mutual Elementary, eventually becoming a vice principal there and later at Huntingtown Elementary. In 1996, she was appointed as principal of the newly-opened Windy Hill Elementary. Opening a new school included hiring a complete staff, developing the processes of a new school and welcoming parents and students to a new school community. Ms. Hutchins led Windy Hill Elementary on its journey to a school of excellence.

In 2005 she became a supervisor at the district level, overseeing programs such as English for Speakers of Other Languages, Service Learning and Physical Education and Health. In 2009 she took over the Federal Title 1 program, leading the program to a high degree of effectiveness and compliance. Her career took on a new dimension in 2013 when she was appointed Supervisor of Human Resources. Each of these positions has prepared her to take on the challenging task of serving as the Director of Human Resources.

Throughout her tenure in Calvert County Public Schools, Ms. Hutchins has earned the respect of her colleagues and the community. Her priority is always acting in the best interest of children when making decisions as an educator. Her professionalism, integrity and work ethic are what make her a true leader for Calvert County Public Schools

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Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428