Hello Hornet Nation!

Last week shined light on Great Mills, which wasn’t positive and did not show our best side. As your principal, one of my goals is to always listen, reflect, and work to improve every day. This is the same expectation I have for our staff and student body. I have heard from the community, and I will work within the rules and policies set for me to communicate sooner about events that happen within OUR school. As a parent of two former and one current SMCPS student, I try very hard to share as much information as possible to answer all the questions a parent would have. I say all of this to make sure everyone knows that our expectation for students to come to school to learn, learn from mistakes, and grow every day is also the expectation for me and the staff. We at Great Mills are dedicated to showing everyone the greatness within our community!

Monday marks the first day of the 3rd quarter, and we are officially done with half of our school year! If a student fails the first and/or the second quarter in a class, passing that class for the year is not too late. They would need to pass the 3rd and 4th quarters and complete quarter recovery with their teacher or inside the TLC during lunch. We have several opportunities for students to fall down and still earn enough credits to move on to the next grade. Did you know that repeating the 9th grade increases a student's chances of dropping out by 60%? Also, getting involved in extra-curricular activities within the school is proven to help students enjoy school more, have better grades, and become friends with other students who have similar interests and life goals. Most students will say they have a goal of going to college, but not all of their actions and grades say the same thing. I agree college is not for everyone, but schooling of some sort after high school, certificate, degree, or trade school is for EVERYONE.

Spring sports is just around the corner, and it is not too late to sign up. If you already had a sports physical this school year, all you need to do is have a 2nd quarter 2.0 GPA and sign up through Family ID. If you have not had a sports physical this year, you need a sports physical, a 2.0 GPA, and sign up through Family ID. Yes, it’s that easy for anyone to put on the Green and Gold and represent our Hornet Nation!

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.

Are you looking for some nice new GMHS Swag? Look no further! This spirit store will only be open for 1 week, so click here to get your gear!

• January 29 - 1st day of Quarter 3
• 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
  

Are you interested in a career in law enforcement? Join us as Cpl Muschette and other members of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office visit us at GMHS on February 2nd to talk about what it is like to have a career in law enforcement and how you can get started! Sign up with the Google Form below.

The annual SPARK! Student Career Awareness Fair is on February 1, 2024. All 9th and 10th graders who wish to learn more about career options in southern MD are invited to attend! See Ms. Carroll in office 1818 (D27) for a permission slip! Lunch will be provided.

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

McDaniel, Stevenson, Notre Dame of MD, Howard, UMD, Towson, Coppin, St. Mary's College, Frostburg State, UMES, Hood College, Morgan State, Johnson & Wales, Bowie and New U!!

Towson, Frostburg State, Georgia State & University of Arizona!!

Towson, UMBC, Penn State, & Notre Dame of Maryland!

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

Are you looking for some nice new GMHS Swag? Look no further! This spirit store will only be open for 1 week, so click here to get your gear!

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

Tuesday, January 30th

• Wrestling vs Leonardtown and Mc Donough 5:00

Wednesday, January 31st

• Girls Basketball vs Huntingtown - JV 5:00; Varsity 6:30

Friday, February 2nd

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

Saturday, February 3rd

• Girls and Boys Swimming SMAC Meet at CSM Leonardtown 8:00 AM

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.

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.

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