
Welcome Back Raiders!
Leonardtown High School
Welcome Back Raider Nation
Greetings LHS Families,
I hope that everyone is enjoying the last few weeks of summer vacation. With summer coming to a close, I wanted to share some important back-to-school information. Communication is critical to ensuring a successful school experience for students and parents. I want to assure you that I will do my best to keep you informed of important dates, events, and other relevant school information. Throughout the year, we will use several modes of communication including SMORE newsletters, the school webpage, email, and Schoology. Please make sure that all of your contact information is up-to-date.
I am excited to see all of you in a few weeks! Please enjoy the last few weeks of summer, and together, let's make the 2023-24 school year a great year!
See you soon!
Mr. Jamie Copsey
Principal, Leonardtown High School
LHS Admin Information
- Mr. James Copsey -- jhcopsey@smcps.org -- Principal
- Ms. Kelly Bridges -- kjbridges@smcps.org -- Assistant Principal
Grade 9, Freshmen Academy, Testing (PSAT, SAT, AP), Science Dept, PE/Health Dept - Ms. Kelsey Kiehlmeier - klkiehlmeier@smcps.org -- Assistant Principal
Grade 11, MTSS, Testing (MCAP, MISA), English Dept, Fine Arts Dept - Ms. Shannon Morris -- smmorris@smcps.org -- Assistant Principal
Grade 10, Parking, Math Dept, World Language Dept, Technology Liaison, Title IX - Mr. Eric Readyhough -- ecreadyhough@smcps.org -- Assistant Principal
Grade 12, buses & transportation, Social Studies Dept, CTE Dept, PST/504, Attendance
Schedule Information
Please note, schedules in Clever and Schoology are not final. Official schedules will be available on HAC on August 18.
If parents/students should need to request a change in your schedule, you need to go into the guidance office and fill out a course change form. Please know that we receive many schedule change requests, so there may be a delay in our response as we process them. We cannot accommodate requests for specific teachers.
The school counselors' primary focus at this time is to resolve course conflicts and fix any holes/missing classes/errors in schedules. Counselors cannot accommodate teacher requests. The counselors will be reaching out to students via email regarding concerns with their schedule. Note: Checking your SMCPS school email daily will ensure a quicker resolution to scheduling issues.
SMCPS is offering a Virtual Academy - if you are interested in attending, please reach out to your counselor.
Please check out our College and Career Center website for information regarding how to apply to college. Your high school transcript will be updated later in September and it will include your senior courses. After that time, it will be uploaded to Naviance and sent to the colleges you have selected in Naviance.
Guidance Updates
For this upcoming school year we are re-shifting the alphabet split by counselor. Please carefully review the changes below so you know who your counselor is this year.
Make sure to know your counselor!
- Hensel: A-Da - jahensel@smcps.org
- Wolcott: De-Ha & GIS - rrwolcott@smcps.org
- Neitz: He-Mc - lkneitz@smcps.org
- Guidry: Me-Se lcguidry@smcps.org
- Marino: Sh-Z - cmmarino@smcps.org
- Sawyer: Freshmen Academy - wnsawyer@smcps.org
Attention SENIORS taking classes at CSM (College of Southern Maryland) to fulfill your Math and/or English requirements, please make sure you send a copy of receipt of courses you have registered for to your counselor. Counselors will keep you enrolled in a math and/or english class at LHS until this is received.
New Student Orientation
Ninth grade students, as well as students new to LHS, will have an opportunity to participate in “Student to Student” (S2S) Orientation on Tuesday, August 15th. This year we will be splitting up the day by alphabet.
Student with last names A - L and all GIS students are invited to attend from 9AM-10:30AM (doors will open at 8:45AM for new students)
Student with last names M -Z are invited to attend from 11AM -12:30PM (doors will open at 10:45AM for new students)
Open House
Please PRINT or take a SCREENSHOT of your schedule to bring with you in order to make the most of your Open House experience.
Student Laptops & Tech Information
It's about that time to dust off and wake up those laptops! SMCPS will continue to use Schoology as our Learning Management System. Students will be expected to bring laptops to school with every day. Be sure to re-charge your laptop each night so that it will be fully charged for the next day.
If you have not used your computer over the summer, please fully charge and log into your laptop. Make sure you have done the following prior to the first day of school:
- Charge & log in to your laptop (If you forgot your password, please use this link to reset it.)
- Log in to your SMCPS Gmail account
- Run any Windows Updates not installed over the summer
- Check other accounts (Clever, Schoology, etc) as soon as schedules go live on the 19th. If you feel you need to troubleshoot anything on your laptop, you can start here.
Students are responsible for the care and upkeep of all of their SMCPS assigned resources: print and technology. This document outlines all of the policies and procedures in addition to pricing for lost or damaged devices.
During grade level assemblies, administrators will review expectations for the care and upkeep of SMCPS technology. Slides and included links can be accessed HERE.
Additional information pertaining to SMCPS technology and print resource accountability can be found HERE.
Acceptable Use Policy
All students are required to have an acceptable use policy agreement (AUP) on file. This is to be completed by the PARENT or GUARDIAN of the student by October 1, 2023. Forms submitted with an email address ending in "@k12.smcps.org" indicate a student account completed the form. This will automatically invalidate the form
CLICK HERE for more information on resource & technology accountability.
Additional questions about obtaining a laptop can be directed to Ms. Morris at smmorris@smcps.org
School Meal Benefit Forms
School Year Meal Benefit forms for SY 2023-2024 are now available online! Easily fill out your new meal benefit form by visiting https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application on the www.smcps.org website.
Families are able to request more information by contacting SMCPS' Food and Nutrition Services Office at 301.475.4256, Option 5, or via email at foodservice@smcps.org.
One Hour Lunch
We will be continuing our one hour lunch this year! During the first week of school we will be having grade-level assemblies to review the one hour lunch program with all students. As a reminder, this is not an open-campus program; students are not permitted to leave the building.
To assist you with planning for one hour lunch, please see this form. Think about which lunch period you would like eat and what you will do with your time the other 30 minutes. You will be provided with a list of clubs and dates that you may wish to participate. This is also a great opportunity to find a quite place and complete your homework or upcoming assignments.
Please note, the first three days of school will be a three lunch schedule in which you will eat either A, B, or C lunch based on your 5th period class. One lunch will begin the second week of school. In addition, for the first two weeks of school, 9th grade students will attend Freshmen Advisory during A-Lunch. More information will be shared with students.
Bus Passes
Bus passes should only be requested when students have a change in physical address or when there is an emergency situation and a student needs to ride a different bus or get off at a different stop. Bus passes will not be granted for students simply wanting to go visit with a friend.
Need to obtain a bus pass?
Visit this site to submit a request electronically, or parents can write a note or send an email to Ms. Revis at btrevis@smcps.org. All relevant information must be included in the written request. Bus Information includes: Student name, address, parent phone number, existing bus stop to be used, bus #, date, medical concerns, destination address, destination phone # and reason for the pass.
Need your bus information: CLICK HERE to visit the SMCPS Bus Stop and Locator.
Important Parking Information
SMCPS Student Accident Insurance
Spanish versions available:
Attendance
Please note that attendance at school is mandatory. Absences from school due to family vacations, oversleeping, or missing the bus are not excused or acceptable. Our current attendance percentage for our students is almost 95%. Although this percentage is above the state requirement of 94%, we need all parents and students to make a commitment to be at school every day. If a student is absent, he/she is not here to learn and that will have a direct impact on grades and achievement.
If a student is going to be absent for a legitimate reason, it is essential that a parent or guardian report the absence. The easiest way to do this is to go to the LHS website and report the absence electronically via our school website. Please note that this function is not for late or tardy students returning from an appointment. Failure to report an absence will automatically create an unexcused absence for your student. If a student has an unexcused absence, the teachers are not required to provide make-up work, which will impact grades and achievement.
Dress Code
Please note the Dress Code for Leonardtown High School students. It is located on our website (click here). This is to help you plan as you begin preparing your child to return to school. All students are required to adhere to our school’s dress code. I ask that you take the time to review this policy carefully with your student prior to the start of school to avoid any issues.
Yearbook & Senior Portrait Information
Senior Portraits
Class of 2024, it is time for senior portraits!
Legacy Studios will be here on the dates below for senior portraits in the auditorium.
August 16 & 17
October 27
Seniors MUST sign up for an appointment by clicking HERE. Information about different portrait sessions available can be found on the Legacy site. Please note that Legacy does provide the tux, drape, and cap and gown for portraits. Seniors, if you wish to be included in the senior section of the yearbook, you must have your picture taken by Legacy in a tux or drape with a blue background and no props. Portraits that do not meet this requirement will not be included in the senior section of the yearbook.
If you have any questions regarding portraits or sittings, please contact Legacy at 716-512-6336 or customercare@legacystudios.com or yearbook adviser Heather Page at hmpage@smcps.org.
Please note that appointments for future sessions will not open up until the appointments for the current session are booked OR until after the session takes place. For example, the October date will not open until August dates are booked or until after the August portrait sessions have taken place.
2022-2023 Yearbooks
If you still need to pick up your 22/23 yearbook, students may pick them up in the main office during regular school hours (8:00-2:45).
Commitment
As we begin to prepare for a new school year, remember that our mission is to provide our students with an outstanding high school experience while increasing student achievement. To help us meet this goal, we have several new staff members joining our LHS family. Please join us in welcoming our newest staff members:
Welcome new Raider staff!!
Communication
There are several ways to keep on top of what’s happening at Leonardtown High School. Please use any of the following:
- School Telephone # 301-475-0200
- Email- Addresses can be found on the LHS Website
- Parent Link- Weekly Update via email with upcoming events
- Twitter- @LHS_SMCPS
- Instagram - @raidernation_in_isolation
Need Raider Gear?
Spirit items are available on MySchoolBucks. Please make sure that your student is added into your profile and click on the School Store link. You will want to Browse all Items.
Items can be purchased and then picked up in the School Bank or during Open House on August 21st.
Check out www.MySchoolBucks.com Go to "My School Store" and hit "Browse".
Learn how to create a MySchoolBucks account: click here.
Together in Education - Ft. Harris Teeter
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.
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.
Upcoming dates to remember:
August 21: Open House for all LHS Students and Parents/Guardians
August 23: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! & Senior Sunrise (Info. below)
August 25: JV & Varsity Football Scrimmage Games vs. Calvert High School - Admission is free and concessions will be sold!
We can't wait to see you!