Hello Hornet Nation,

Twas the week before Winter Break... We look forward to a great Spirit Week and a little fun before the end of 2022! On Friday we will have our annual Staff vs Students basketball game.

Take a moment to check Schoology with your student(s) so we don't take any bad grades into the new year. We will still have tutoring and recovery this week during lunch.

Let's have a GREAT week Hornet Nation!

Mr. Dothard

Principal

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

PSAT scores are now available for students and families to view. Below are 2 links:

1. Getting Your Scores - Sign in or create an account to view your reports.
2. After viewing these scores, there is a variety of information in the score reporting portal, but you can also find more information about how to use these scores.

Edgenuity now offers SAT prep classes to assist all students in preparing for the SAT. ALL JUNIORS,11th graders, will take the SAT during the day in March. This is an excellent resource for students to prepare for the test. Students can access via the Clever login to Edgenuity. Click HERE for information on how to set up your account.

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.

To High Schools in the Southern Maryland area,

My name is Samantha Lysaght and I am the Production Chairman of the Distinguished Young Women (DYW) of Southern Maryland. I am familiar with this opportunity - as I am a DYW of Southern Maryland Class of 2012 alumni and the physical fitness winner! I am emailing you to inform you and your students who are in 11th GRADE about the TREMENDOUS opportunity to be a part of DYW of Southern Maryland. DYW of Southern Maryland is an official preliminary of DYW of America, the oldest and largest scholarship program for female high school juniors. The best part about it is FREE to participate! Note: This is NOT a pageant, but an incredible scholarship opportunity!

DYW, formerly America's Junior Miss, was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Mobile, Alabama. More than 700,000 young women from across the nation have participated in DYW programs at the local, state, and national levels. In addition to cash scholarships, DYW participants are eligible for college-granted scholarships from nearly 200 colleges and universities.

DYW promotes education and excellence in all areas of life. DYW encourages young women to be confident in who they are and to strive to reach their goals and become successful leaders in our communities. DYW is a national scholarship program that inspires high school girls to develop their full, individual potential through a fun, transformative experience that culminates in a celebratory showcase of their accomplishments.

-By encouraging continued education and providing college scholarships

-By developing self-confidence and the abilities to interview effectively, speak in public, perform on stage, and build interpersonal relationships

-By encouraging and displaying excellence in academic achievement, physical fitness, on-stage performance skills, and the ability to think and communicate clearly

-By creating opportunities to beneficially inspire the lives of others

Since 1958, DYW has awarded more than MILLIONS in cash scholarships and provided thousands of young women with college-granted scholarships to colleges and universities across the nation. In addition to providing scholarships, DYW challenges each participant to share its national outreach program, Be Your Best Self (BYBS), with young people across the nation. Through BYBS, DYWs encourage self-esteem and excellence in all young people through the program's five principles: Be healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious, and Be Responsible.

The minimum requirements for participation are:

1. JUNIOR (11th grade) in High School (i.e. will graduate in 2024)

2. Minimum of a 3.0 GPA

3. U.S. Citizen

There are five categories involved in the selection process. In the talent category (20%), the panel bases its judgment on originality, technical ability, appropriateness of selection, stage presence, and execution during a performance of a presentation of such things as a vocal, an instrumental, a dramatic reading, or a dance. Each participant presents a talent she chooses and is limited to a 90-second performance. In the interview (25%), the panel has a ten-minute interview with each participant and will evaluate them based on perception, personality, sense of values, clarity of expression, knowledge, and accomplishments. In physical fitness (15%), the panel evaluates agility, coordination, stamina, strength, and body tone, while participants perform an aerobic-style routine. In Self-Expression (15%), the panel evaluates a participant’s grace, poise, demeanor, carriage and posture, and speaking ability. Each participant will speak on a topic provided. For Scholastics (25%), a separate panel reviews and rates participants’ Academic Record Form including grades, scholastic test scores, and college entrance examinations.

*The DYW of Southern Maryland Scholarship Program will be held in person on February 25, 2023, at the Old Waldorf School (3074 Crain Highway, Waldorf, Maryland 20601).

We will hold an orientation Saturday, January 28, 2023, for the participants and their parents/guardians, with a practice session immediately following. At orientation, we will talk about what DYW is and the different opportunities that participants get from participating in DYW. We will hold another practice session Sunday, February 12, 2023. A schedule of times will be sent closer to orientation/ practice.

PLEASE NOTE: If for some reason a participant cannot make these dates, they MUST contact me to discuss it. If I do not hear from them prior to this orientation, they will not be a participant.

Attached, you will find two forms that students will need to fill out in order to participate in DYW (participant agreement and academic form with instructions). Students can sign up at www.DistinguishedYW.org by clicking “Apply Now”. The last day to sign up is Friday, January 13, 2023. When a student applies, I will be in contact with them to send them additional information.

*Please have anyone interested in the program email me at southernMD@distinguishedyw.org.

If you have any questions concerning this scholarship opportunity, please don't hesitate to email me at southernMD@distinguishedyw.org.

We'd appreciate your help letting as many young women in the Class of 2024 know about this opportunity. Perhaps you or others may know girls who would benefit from this experience or who would excel in our program. I have attached a flyer you can distribute.

Sincerely,

Samantha Lysaght

Production Chairman, Distinguished Young Women of Southern Maryland Scholarship Program

southernMD@distinguishedyw.org

SAT Prep with Edgenuity Edgenuity now offers SAT prep classes to assist all students in preparing for the SAT. ALL JUNIORS will take the SAT during the day in March. This is an excellent resource for students to prepare for the test. Students can access via the Clever login to Edgenuity. Click HERE for information on how to set up your account.

Don't wait until the last minute to order your graduation materials rings, caps, gowns, and other graduation materials. If you would like more information or would like to order online, click here to order.

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?

Yearbooks are on sale for $105.00. Yearbooks can be ordered online through the following link: Buy your YEARBOOK here

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.

SMCPS is looking to get nominations to recognize our cafeteria workers from school-based staff, students, and parents. Please consider clicking here to nominate one of our wonderful GMHS Cafeteria workers. All staff members are listed on our GMHS website.

Nominations will be selected each month to pass along The Golden Spatula Award to our cafeteria staff.

Our Winter season will start on December 5, 2022.

1. All tickets are sold online this season. The cost is $6 per person. Individuals 7 years of age and older will be charged an admission of $6. There is no charge for swimming at CSM-Leonardtown. Regular Season swim meets at St. Mary's College will be $6 cash only.

This is the site information for home tickets: https://gofan.co/app/school/MD24791

2. 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.

Tuesday, December 13th

• Wrestling Meet at Chopticon JV and Varsity starting at 5:30

Friday, December 16th

• Boys Basketball vs Chopticon JV 5:00; Varsity 6:30
• Girls Basketball at Chopticon JV 5:00; Varsity 6:30

Monday, December 19th

• Girls Basketball vs Coppin Academy JV 5:00; Varsity 6:30
• Boys and Girls Swimming @ St. Mary's College 6:00 pm

Wednesday, December 21st

• Girls and Boys Swimming @ College of Southern Maryland (Leonardtown) 6:00 pm

Purchase tickets here

Winter sports teams have been picked and we are ready to roll! You will be able to purchase tickets online at Go Fan or at the gate with cash only. All winter sports schedules have been uploaded and are ready for purchase. Get online and create your free account now to purchase tickets. Once you have purchased the ticket you just need to show your online ticket at the ticket table using a mobile device.

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

We are pleased to announce that phase 1 of the community project is finished with the completion of the brick foundation. We are going to begin phase 2 with the selling of additional bricks to raise money for the Hornet statue. Click to purchase your own brick!

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