Hello Hornet Nation!

Great Mills High School, we strives to honor and recognize the achievements and successes of individuals from diverse backgrounds throughout the year. During this month, our focus is on promoting awareness, understanding, and appreciation of Black history and culture. We encourage our students to continue learning about the challenges, triumphs, and contributions that have shaped our beautiful country. Each and every one of us plays a vital role in the fabric of the United States, and by doing so, we uphold the principles of "one country, for liberty and justice for all!" Let us come together to pay tribute to the past, celebrate the present, and create a future that embraces and respects the diversity of our world. Wishing you a joyful Black History Month!

Everyone is bound to face obstacles in life, some of which are self-imposed while others are beyond our control. However, what remains within our control is how we choose to respond to these challenges. The key question is: how will you rise after a fall? A strong determination to achieve success involves being persistent, open-minded, willing to seek assistance, and embracing new experiences. While we all aspire to succeed, it is essential to have a clear vision of what success means to us. This is why we create vision boards and share our dreams with others. Firstly, it helps us stay focused on our goals at every step. Secondly, by sharing our dreams, we become accountable for our actions in pursuing them. It is important to acknowledge that not every aspect of the journey towards success will be enjoyable. However, every successful person understands that there are tasks they may not like, but are necessary for achieving their dreams. We recognize that not everyone enjoys school, but we also understand that education plays a significant role in turning dreams into reality. I encourage everyone to have big dreams and share them with friends, family, and teachers. Trust us to support you in making those dreams come true. #TRUSTTHEPROCESS

We have completed the first week of the 3rd quarter, and the report cards for the 2nd quarter will be accessible on HAC starting Tuesday. Take a look at your report card! If you have failed a class, please reach out to your teacher or visit the TLC to work on improving that grade and ensure you earn your credit. Remember, this is an obstacle that everyone has the power to overcome. How will you choose to respond to it?

Let’s make it a GREAT week Great Mills!

We Are… GREAT MILLS

¡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

Safety for everyone is a top priority! I want to remind everyone that under no circumstance should we open an exterior door to allow entry to anyone. Even if you think they are student do not open doors and direct them to the main office doors for entry. Everyone, including students, should enter through the main office.

Maintaining order in school bathrooms has been an issue for schools nationwide, and Great Mills is no different. Last week, we had extensive damage in one of our boys' restrooms. This restroom will be out of order indefinitely until repairs are made. In the ongoing effort to keep bathrooms functional and available for the entire student body, we are establishing the following protocol for the student bathrooms:

• During class time, all students must have a valid pass to use the bathrooms (if not, you will be turned away)

• There is a maximum capacity of 5 students in any given bathroom at all times. If the capacity has been reached, you will need to wait

• Always follow the directions of the adults who are monitoring the bathrooms (Safety Assistants, Admin, Teachers, etc)

• Not following these expectations can result in disciplinary action under Code 702, Insubordination, in the Code of Conduct.

Please understand that the last thing we would like to do with our time is monitor high school bathrooms, but unfortunately, this is where we are. In an effort to get students help we created an anonymous form where anyone can report suspicious behavior in the bathrooms. We will place QR codes to this form around the building.

• February 6 - FAFSA Night
• February 6 - Report Cards Available on HAC
• February 7 - FAFSA Night Spanish Speaking Families
  
• February 8 - Quarterly Awards in the Auditorium (Invitations to award winners only)
• February 9 - African American Read-In
• February 9 - Two hour early dismissal
• February 9 - Winter Pep Rally
• February 13 - Pennsylvania College of Technology
• February 15 - BECCA Scholarship Night
• March 21 - York College of Pennsylvania
  

Spring sports begin Friday, March 1st. In order to play you have to sign up on Family ID, have a current sports physical on file, and be at all tryout days. Students do not have to have played before or have equipment. They just have to have a desire to learn something new and be ready to work. SMCPS spring sports include, Baseball, Softball, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Girls and Boys Outdoor Track and Field, Boys and Girls Tennis, and PALS Bocce. PALS Bocce is a Special Olympic sport and we are always looking for students to play and to help.

The application deadline to apply to any Career and Technology Center program is February 16, 2024. Click the link to see what programs are available.

2024 Yearbooks are on sale for the cheapest price of the year!! Follow this link to purchase yours today!

Every year as student learn how the presidential election process works, it's wrapped up with a class election. Students then make their own campaigns and run for "President of the United States"! Below are a few of the class winners!

It's that time of year again, link your Harris Teeter card to Great Mills High School!

We would like to bring to your attention a recent issue that has been occurring within our school. There have been instances where students have been engaging in play fighting in the hallways. While some may view this as harmless horseplay, others are doing it intentionally to provoke a response from administrators.

We understand that play fighting may seem like a minor issue, but it has been causing disruptions in the school day, especially with the recent increase in fights over the past month. We have already addressed this matter with the students, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment.

However, we believe it is crucial to inform you as well, as parents play a vital role in reinforcing positive behavior and accountability. Moving forward, if any students are found engaging in play fighting in the hallways, we will address this with disciplinary consequences.

We greatly appreciate your support in helping us maintain a peaceful and conducive learning environment for all students. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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.

All 9th and 10th graders interested in applying to the Tech Center for next school year needs to make sure they attend the virtual Tech Center Meet and Greet during lunch. This is the first step of the application. If you would like to know what programs are available to SMCPS students click here.

Need to register for the SAT? We have fee waivers available for qualifying students in the counseling office. Follow this link to log in and sign up.

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."

We hope to see you in The Learning Center on Wednesday!

How did your grades look in the first marking period? Looking to recover those grades to a passing grade?

The Learning Center (TLC) will be available during One Lunch. TLC will support students who need additional help in their graduation-required courses. Any students who are interested in the TLC need to report to Room F12 during One Lunch on 11/20. If you have any questions about TLC, please contact Katie Sushinsky, GMHS Literacy Coach, at kesushinsky@smcps.org or Hattie Webb, GMHS Math Coach, at hswebb@smcps.org.

• February 1 - Spark Career Fair; All grades are invited see below for more details
• February 2 - St. Mary's County Sheriffs Recruiting Visit
• February 2 - University of Maryland Eastern Shore, UMES, Onsite Admissions
• February 6 - FAFSA Night
• February 7 - FAFSA Night Spanish Speaking Families
• February 13 - Pennsylvania College of Technology
• March 21 - York College of Pennsylvania

It is National Career Development Month and Ms. Carroll is giving a raffle! Students can earn tickets by attending Military visits in the Career Center, answering the Career related question that will be given during the announcements, or making time to speak with Ms. Carroll about their Career plans after high school. Each week, she will draw a ticket and the winner will receive a gift card. Good luck!!

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that if you qualify for the Free and Reduced-Meal Program, students also qualify for the following opportunities:

• Free registration fees for SAT & SAT I

• Free registration for ACT

• Waived College Application fees

• Federal Pell Grants for Trade schools, Colleges, Universities, and other certificate programs for after high school

Fill out the online Free and Reduced-Meal Application HERE

Would you be interested in an ASVAB tutoring session during the school day with a military recruiter? This session can help improve your current score or help you prepare to take the ASVAB for the first time. If you are interested, please email Ms. Carroll at Lmcarroll@smcps.org

Are you aware that your child could qualify for a free Associate Degree or free professional certifications from CSM or a trade school in Maryland? What exactly is the Maryland Promise Scholarship?

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. J. Scott Smith, announces enhanced security measures for after-school events. Beginning this year:

• There will be No Bags allowed in sporting events. Spectators will only be permitted to carry a small clutch or wallet into events. Other small permissible items such as keys, wallets, cell phones, credit cards, and cash may be carried in a pocket or by hand. Prohibited items include weapons, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, outside food and drinks, laser pointers, non-service animals, and other items deemed inappropriate by the school administration.

This week in Sports

Wednesday, February 7th

• Girls Basketball vs Westlake - Varsity Only 6:30

Friday, February 9th

• Boys Basketball vs Thomas Stone JV 5:00; Varsity 6:30

Come out and support!!

All SMAC regular season and playoff tickets will be sold online using Go Fan. I do recommend creating a free account to make purchasing tickets throughout the school year quicker. We will have card readers at the door, but NO CASH will be accepted at the door.

Due to safety concerns and the demands on the main office, we do not accept food deliveries of any kind. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Since the entire school is on lunch together students do not have an assigned location for during lunch. This sometimes makes it difficult to locate students quickly. Please plan ahead by notifying the school prior to 11:30 and we will be able to get them a pass to the office for whatever time you plan to arrive during lunch. If you are unable to plan ahead we understand, but if you can call or text your student to share with us their location it will speed up the process.

2024 Yearbooks are on sale for the cheapest price of the year!! Follow this link to purchase yours today!

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

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HEALTH INSURANCE OR SUPPLAMENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE FOR YOUR STUDENT? FIND MORE INFORMATION BELOW.

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

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