Hornet Nation,

Homecoming is always a great time to show off our school spirit and come together as a community. I'm sure your class has what it takes to win that Spirit Stick on Friday! It's important to have fun, but also remember to make smart decisions and stay safe during all the activities.

As we approach the end of the first quarter, it's a good idea to check your grades and make sure everything is on track. It's never too late to have discussions with your teachers about any missing assignments or areas where you can improve. This is a great opportunity to finish the quarter strong and set a positive tone for the rest of the school year. Keep up the hard work and don't hesitate to seek help if you need it. Good luck with the rest of the quarter and enjoy the Homecoming activities this week!

This week will be a great HORNET Week!!

Mr. Dothard

Principal

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

• October 9th is a virtual day
• October 10th through 13 Homecoming Week
• October 13 Homecoming Football vs Calvert
• October 14th Homecoming Dance in the Bus Loop
• October 20th 2-Hour Early Dismissal
• October 27th 2-Hour Early Dismissal and End of 1st Quarter

SGA is looking for parent volunteers for this year's Homecoming Dance! Please complete this FORM by Tuesday, October 10 if you are available to assist with the dance and enjoy a night out!

This year’s SMCPS STEAM Festival will be held on Saturday, October 28th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds. Admission is free and open to the public. Wrap up the fall festival season with a day of learning, food trucks, and STEAM-related fun!

On Sunday, November 12 GMHS Seniors will have the opportunity to attend the Malcolm Bernard Trenton Central Jersey HBCU College Fair. This trip is open to the first 15 seniors to sign up. Students who wish to attend must have no behavior referrals and have not been to ISI for Blitzes. These seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis! Use this link to sign up. Don’t wait! See Chef Mack in ROTC or Ms. Carroll in the Career Center to sign up.

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.

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.

You finally made it!! There is one last chance to get your Senior pictures taken. There is no cost for a basic yearbook sitting.

Appointments are available during the school day on October 12. This is the last date, so please sign up.

Register for Senior pictures here.

Oct 17th - Washington College @ 10am & Merrimack College @ 11 am

Oct 18th York College of Pennsylvania @ 10 am

Oct 19th- Stevenson University @ 10:30 am

Oct 26th- Notre Dame of Maryland University @ 11 am

Oct 30th- The University of Alabama @ 1 pm

Oct 31st- Frostburg State University @10 am

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

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.

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.

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."

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

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.

Monday, October 9th

• JV Football vs Ptuxent - 6:00

Tuesday, October 10th

• Golf SMAC Championship @ Pax River's Chesapeake Hills Golf Course 9:00 am
• Varsity Boys Soccer vs Calvert 4:30
• Varsity Girls Soccer vs Calvert 6:00

Wednesday, October 11th

• Field Hockey vs Calvert Varsity 4:00
• Volleyball vs Thomas Stone JV 4:30; Varsity 5:30
  

Thursday, October 12th

• Girls Varsity Soccer vs Lackey @ 4:30
  
• Boys Varsity Soccer vs Lackey @ 6:00

Friday, October 13th

• Homecoming Game Varsity Football vs Calvert 6:00

See full schedules on the SMAC Website.

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.

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?

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

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