Hello Hornet Nation,

It's almost closing time! As we close out another great school year, let's remember to have fun and be respectful of those around us. Teachers are still teaching and new learning is continuing for our 9th, 10th, and 11th graders, so attendance is still important.

High school is a time of great change and transition, and the choices we make now will have a large impact on our future. One of the most important choices we will make in high school is the choice of our career path. This is a decision that often changes, but still important because it gives us purpose and direction.

As you reflect on this school year, were your friend's givers or takers? The people we surround ourselves with will have a great influence on our lives, and it is important to choose friends who will support us and encourage us to be our best selves. We must also choose friends who share our values and beliefs, and who will help us to grow as individuals. This is the perfect time to evaluate the relationships in our lives. We have a lot of students here making amazing choices and I have tried to highlight many of them throughout the year here in the Buzz. Our seniors have done an amazing job of leading by example. Their last day of school was Friday, May 19th. Juniors you have big shoes to fill being top dog next year, but I have faith and confidence that you will do an exceptional job!

Until next time, have a great week Great Mills!

Principal Dothard

We Are... GREAT MILLS!!!

For Our Spanish Speaking Families

¡Saludos! Para leer en español, hay un botón para traducir en la esquina superior derecha de los anuncios de Smore cuando se abre por primera vez. Pueden hacer clic en el botón y después selecciona de la lista de lenguas disponibles

Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS)

Maryland students can visually express the theme:

"What does your school safety community look like?"

Grand Prizes for each grade level include:

Elementary School

Wireless Graphic Drawing Tablet

Middle School

Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

High School

iPad®

See Full School Safety Art Showcase Rules.pdf

All entries must be original student pieces of work that do not
contain logos, copyrighted imagery, or information. Failure to comply
with these guidelines will result in your entry being disqualified.

Disclaimer: The sharing of any non-MCSS information does not constitute an endorsement of products or services on the part of the MCSS.

The Maryland Freestate Challenge Academy is quickly approaching the start date of its next class. Class #61 is scheduled to kick-off on Sunday, July 16th. We are currently enrolling. We will have a virtual information session on May 27th. Parent and/or guardians need to register and make sure your student is with you. As many of you are already aware, we are now offering credit recovery for students at least 15 to 17 years old. Everyone else can be between 16-18 (can turn 19 in the program). If you need more information about our program, please do hesitate to contact me. 443-253-2283

In addition to earning up to 6 credits (credit recovery only), or obtaining a high diploma, the students can learn a trade.

• Forklift Driving
• Droning
• Culinary Arts
• Lifeguarding
• Welding
• Solar Panel Installation

Up to 30 lucky high school students in Southern Maryland will have the opportunity to participate in a free one-week summer STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) camp conducted by the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Materials Science from June 26-30. The opportunity will have the highest impact for students from Great Mills, Leonardtown, Patuxent, St. Mary’s Ryken, and Chopticon high schools. This camp will be free of charge for students, including lunches at the Campus Center, and will be coordinated, instructed, and chaperoned by SMCM faculty and undergraduate students. High school students of any grade are welcome to apply through the SMCM website at https://inside.smcm.edu/events/smcm-solar-cell-stem-camp. The application deadline is June 10.

Students will be introduced to a college-level laboratory experience with hands-on activities, safety training, and in-person instruction from SMCM’s faculty members. Centered around a renewable energy theme, students will design and build solar-powered racecars. While learning about current state-of-the-art solar cell technology and the physics and biology of solar power, students will use a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) program to draw their own racecar models and bring them to life with 3D printing, followed by testing, evaluation and re-design. In the process, they will collaborate with each other and with faculty to develop and test solar cell devices in the sunlight and learn about friction, mass, and power. Each team of students will be able to test different materials and solar cells to optimize their design. They will also be exposed to the chemistry of modern solar cell devices, tour the SMCM chemistry laboratories, and be introduced to coding for computer-controlled microprocessors to program motors, LEDs, and sensors. Learning outcomes include project management skills, communication, group collaboration, team-building activities, technical laboratory skills, lab safety, and an introduction to renewable energy, conservation, and nanotechnology.

In addition to St. Mary's College of Maryland, the camp is sponsored by SoMD 2030 Workforce Development, a joint initiative of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance and The Patuxent Partnership, with funding provided by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aviation Division (NAWCAD).

St. Mary’s College of Maryland is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. St. Mary’s College, the National Public Honors College, is ranked as the top public liberal arts college in the U.S. by Money magazine. Approximately 1,600 students attend the college, nestled on the St. Mary’s River in Southern Maryland.

St. Mary's County Public Schools lend laptops to students with the expectation that they will be used for school and returned at the end of the school year. When laptops are not returned or damaged when returned, debts are placed on student accounts. Click here to see how much things cost from keyboards to the entire laptop.

I just wanted to put this out while there is still time to make adjustments. All summer school courses this year will be strictly on Edgenuity. We will have a classroom for students to work on Edgenuity classes with support from a teacher, but there will be no transportation or food services. If working in a classroom over the summer doing Edgenuity doesn't sound like fun, you need to start meeting with your teachers during lunch and taking care of business in the classroom now! It might be a challenge for some, but you still have time to pass almost all classes with quarter recovery and consistent work for the next to quarters.

SGA is pleased to announce our first annual Nest Fest: a free, family-friendly event to welcome the beginning of summer and bring together the St. Mary’s County community. If you would like to be a part of the planning, Nest Fest is a wonderful opportunity for organizations, clubs, local businesses, etc. to raise funds and/or make themselves known to the community. There are spots still available, please consider hosting a booth. Contact us at gmhs.sga@smcps.org for registration information, or open the QR code below.

1. "You are the creator of your own destiny, so make it worth living."
2. "The only way to achieve greatness is to take the first step towards your goal."
3. "Believe in yourself, and watch the world believe in you."
4. "Success is not a destination, it's a journey. Embrace the process and enjoy the ride."
5. "The only limit to your potential is the one you set for yourself."
6. "The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do."
7. "Small steps lead to big achievements. Keep moving forward."
8. "Don't wait for opportunities to come to you, create them."
9. "Chase your dreams relentlessly, because they are yours for the taking."
10. "Success is not about being perfect, it's about being persistent. Keep going."

After-school tutoring began on Monday, January 30th, and will happen every Monday-Thursday in all areas. We will hold in-person tutoring and virtual tutoring. Transportation will not be provided so please arrange your transportation prior to staying after school. It runs from 3:10-4:10 and extra time can be arranged if needed.

If you need to pick your student up at the end of the day, please try to notify the main office by 2:30. There are a lot of moving parts at the end of the day, but advanced notice would help things run a lot smoother. The number to the main office is 301-863-4001.

Thank you for support.

Just a reminder that when students arrive at school on the bus or are dropped off, they are not permitted to leave school property without being signed out by a parent or guardian. If students leave school property and return without a parent or guardian, they are subject to disciplinary consequences.

Seven 11 will open across the street very soon. Please speak with your student/s about leaving school grounds. If caught they will be given a referral Insubordination and this can go all up to an out-of-school suspension. Let's stay inside the school, while we are at school!

The National Honor Society will again be offering tutoring during One Lunch.

Students can sign up for individual tutoring sessions by going to room F36 to request tutoring, and Mrs. Johns will then match you with a tutor and schedule a session.

Need college, job opportunities, trade school, and scholarship information? Mrs. Waddell is here to help you. She may be contacted at tdwaddell@smcps.org or 301-863-4001 ext.18139. She also built the GMHS College & Career Readiness Google Site, which contains information for students and parents.

The SMCPS Evening Counseling Center provides FREE counseling services, by appointment, to SMCPS students. SMCPS recognizes that positive mental health is necessary for students to experience success at home, school, and in the community. In-person counseling is available weekly, in-person at Greenview Knolls Elementary. Virtual counseling is also available weekly. To request an appointment or receive more information, use this link: https://bit.ly/3Hgx7LX

The GMHS Writing Center is an in-school resource available every day during both Green and Gold lunches in Room C-15. Students can get support on new assignments, revisions, personal writing, college application essays, and more!

If you have questions contact:

Mr. Stevens (wbstevens@smcps.org); Mrs. Walsh (mfwalsh@smcps.org)

We will be looking to grow different options for clubs and groups during 1-Lunch! Are you interested in giving back to your community?

The School Volunteer Portal is now open for applications. Beginning this year all school volunteers must apply annually for approval. If you were approved last year, you will need to reapply through this portal. The application process will end on May 1 of each school year. There is no application fee for school volunteers. The volunteer portal is now fully integrated with the Raptor visitor management system. Once approved you will receive an email. That’s it!

Join Gals Lead on Thursdays in D-11 during Green and Gold lunch. It is Dream Queen Association’s signature program for teen girls to help develop confidence, connection, and career clarity to help young women live their most awesome dream life.

Did you miss your chance to purchase a yearbook in high school? We can't bring you back to high school, but we can sell you a book of high school memories!

Here is a direct link to purchase an Alumni Yearbook from the years 1980-2021. There is a limited quantity of each and once they are gone, we do not have the ability to order more.

Click here to purchase yours today!

prices are :

1980-2000 $25.00

2001-2018 $30.00

2019-2021 $45.00

Shipping is $6.50 per book.

Schoology New Parent/Guardian Provisioning: New Schoology parent/guardian accounts will be created in the coming weeks. We hope to have accounts created and parents/guardians connected to their students in Schoology by Friday, September 2nd. Continue to use Schoology for your updates along with your SMOREs/School Messenger. Please share this specific message with your school community through School Messenger. Parents that have difficulty accessing their pre-existing accounts should contact schoology@smcps.org and include the student name and ID number for troubleshooting.

For more help with Schoology, visit the SMCPS Schoology Parent Dashboard.

Are you aware that your child could qualify for a free Associate Degree or free professional certifications from CSM and/or Blades School of Hair and Design? What exactly is the Maryland Promise Scholarship?

Did you know that even just a few minutes on a cell phone texting, checking social media, etc adds up over the course of a school day? Students, who use their devices for just 5 minutes each period, lose nearly 1 period of instructional time per day (35 minutes of class). Over the course of 1 week, those 5 minutes per class adds up to nearly 4 missed periods! Personal devices can be a HUGE distraction for students. Please start this year off right, by keeping personal devices away in your bookbag or at a charging station if your teacher has one available. There is a direct connection to phone usage during the school day to grades. Encourage your student/s to only use their phone during lunch, between classes, or when approved by a teacher.

Harris Teeter’s Together In Education program gives schools a chance to earn funds when you link your VIC card and shop Harris Teeter brands. Please link your VIC card to GMHS #4324.

Harris Teeter has donated over $32.4 million to Together In Education schools since 1998! When you shop Harris Teeter brands, a percentage of your purchase is donated to the school that your VIC card is linked to.

There are NO LIMITS to how much a school can earn!

Any customer with a VIC card can link their card to a school. Customers can link up to five (5) schools to their account.

MySchoolBucks is an online payment service that provides a convenient way for parents/guardians to pay for school-related purchases by using their credit/debit card or electronic check. Please use this link for more information on how to sign up for a MySchoolBucks account if you do not already have one.

Good luck at States!!!

Friday, May 26, 2023

• State Track Meet Boys and Girls Track and Field @ PG Sports and Learning Complex
  
• State Tennis Championships @ Frederick High School

Saturday, May 27, 2023

• State Track Meet Boys and Girls Track and Field @ PG Sports and Learning Complex
  
• State Tennis Championships @ Frederick High School

Purchase tickets here

SMCPS is committed to the mental health and wellness of students and parents. Check out each of the available sites for valuable resources.

Follow us on Twitter or check the school website for updates.

Email: bjdothard@smcps.org
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/gmhs/
Location: 21130 Great Mills Road, Great Mills, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 863-4001
Twitter: @GMHS_SMCPS