Charles County Public Schools began the 2008-09 by welcoming more than 25,000 students in kindergarten through grade 12 to its 35 schools. More than 278 buses will provide transportation to nearly 21,000 county students.
Mary B. Neal Elementary School, Charles County’s 21st public elementary school opened its doors for the first time. . Principal Carol Leveillee welcomed 557while directing traffic and helping students find their classroom assignments. Pinch, the mascot of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball team, and the Chick-fil-A cow helped staff members greet students to their new school.
Students at the six county high schools were welcomed by CCPS staff and Charles County’s Sheriff’s Office deputies, who handed out safe driving flyers to students as they arrived to school. The flyers outline teen driving laws and are part of a “We Care” campaign that will continue throughout the school year.
Sheriff Rex Coffey and Superintendent of Schools James E. Richmond spoke with television and newspaper reporters at La Plata High School to help publicize the campaign efforts. The campaign involves spot checks on high school parking lots to ensure students are wearing their seat belts and are not transporting too many passengers or driving while talking on a cellular phone.
Students in the class of 2009 are required to pass end-of-course assessments, High School Assessment exams, in algebra, biology, English II and government, in order to graduate. Students will have numerous opportunities throughout the school year to take and pass the tests.
Some students will have the option of participating in the Bridge Plan, which was implemented in CCPS this summer with the participation of 69 students. The Bridge Plan was developed by the Maryland Department of Education as an alternative option for students who have met other requirements for a high school diploma, but have not passed the assessments with testing. The plan involves students working with high-level projects to convey the subject matter of the testing area. The Maryland State Board of Education instituted the HSA requirement in 2004.
CCPS has 223 new teachers this year. The school system employs more than 3,444 people. There are 2,021 teachers, 1,114 support staff, 76 technical employees and 233 administrators.