Hello Hornet Nation!

I am thrilled to share with you the exciting updates from our recent Rising Freshman Night. The event was a tremendous success, and it was truly inspiring to witness so many of our current Hornets actively recruiting for their sports teams and clubs. Our future is undoubtedly bright!

As we speak, our dedicated counselors are diligently engaging with students to discuss their course selections for the upcoming academic year. I encourage you to have a meaningful conversation with your child about the classes they plan to take next year. Let's strive to identify at least one area where they can challenge themselves even further. For those considering a college education, I highly recommend enrolling in at least one AP course or Dual Enrollment. These opportunities provide invaluable insights into the rigor of college-level coursework. Did you know that every student can take advantage of Dual Enrollment courses through CSM, and SMCPS covers the cost? This means that you can earn college credits that are transferable to almost any institution in the country, completely free of charge!

Furthermore, I am delighted to announce that we have included information on new scholarships below. Please take a moment to review the details and seize any opportunities that may be of interest.

Lastly, as we adjusted our clocks for daylight saving time last night, I am pleased to announce that our Spring Sports season officially commences tomorrow! We have an exciting lineup of scrimmages scheduled throughout the week. Be sure to grab your stadium seats and lawn chairs and come out to support our talented athletes.

Thank you for your continued support, and let's make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead!

Let's make this week at Great Mills amazing!

We Are… GREAT MILLS

#TRUSTTHEPROCESS

¡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

• March 21 - York College of Pennsylvania
  
• March 22 - Virtual Instruction Day
• March 22 - End of 3rd Quarter
• March 25 to April 1 - Spring Break
• April 10 - 3rd Quarter Report Cards available on HAC

SMCPS students can sign up for the following summer courses for original credit: Health 2, Foundations of Computer Science, Geometry, Spanish 1 and Spanish 2. Click the FLYER below it includes all of the details on how to register and course dates and time. Any questions can be directed to Heather Wysokinski, hmwysokinski@smcps.org

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

On Thursday evening, Great Mills students were recognized in the American Legion Post 255's American Essay contest for the first time in recent history.

Congratulations to the following students:

Group IV Winners 1st - Madelynn Burrows 3rd- Kian Bush

Group V Winners: 1st - Aniya Gaines 2nd- Jason Raley 3rd - Na'Taliya Young

Group VI Winners: 1st- Mekiah Johnson 2nd - Desmond Williams

The essays of our first place winners will be sent to the district level for judging. Good luck!

Congrats to the NJROTC academic team on a 4th place finish at the Area 5 Northern regional Brain Brawl, which we hosted. The team has qualified for the mid-Atlantic championships in Virginia Beach on March 23rd.

Matthew Reardon, Aarav Sharma, Trison Li and Allie Clark attended the Brain Bee at St Mary's College this weekend. Rishi Sheth also competed, but not pictured. (They answered free response questions about the brain.) They came in first place in the team competition!

Mary Baldwin University, Michigan State, Coastal Carolina & Virginia Tech!

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

Parents or guardians of children receiving special education and related services were mailed the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey from the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services during the week of February 12, 2024. Parents are asked to complete the survey and return it in the postage-paid envelope by May 24, 2024. The Survey may also be completed online. Your feedback will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in your local school system. Your voice can make a real difference for your child and many other children across the state of Maryland. To learn more, please visit https://www.mdparentsurvey.com.

Much like our college rep visits, I will be bringing local professionals into the building to talk to students about their careers and the steps they took to get to where they are now. You will have the chance to sign up for the career representatives you are interested in hearing from and ask questions, get advice, and create connections during these visits. Some scheduled visits are with an engineer who graduated from GMHS and a local daycare owner. If you are interested in a career in engineering, entrepreneurship, or early childhood development, these visits are for you! Sign up here!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Did you miss out on BECA scholarships? Do you want money for college? This opportunity is for YOU! If you did complete BECA then this scholarship bundle is a breeze! If you want guidance on this scholarship opportunity, please email Mrs.Cunningham, accunnignham@smcps.org, and we can meet!! Please visit the link below for more detailed information and directions. Click the photo below or scan the QR Code.

The William and Dorothy Ferrell Scholarship is awarded every other year in even years to two selected applicants who are legally blind and are studying for a career in the field of services to persons who are blind or visually impaired. The two scholarship recipients will be awarded $1,000 each, and the winners will be announced in the late Spring of 2024. Due 4/18. Learn more and access the William and Dorothy Ferrell Scholarship application.

2024 AER Scholarship: The 2024 AER Scholarship is awarded annually to three selected grad student applicants studying for a career in the field of Orientation & Mobility or Teachers of the Visually Impaired. The three scholarship recipients will be awarded $2,000 each, and the winners will be announced in the late Spring of 2024. Due 4/18. Learn more and access the 2024 AER Scholarship application.

Please email Mrs. Cunningham, accunningham@smcps.org, if you need assistance in completing FAFSA and/or MDCAPS

• March 21 - York College of Pennsylvania
  
• April 11 - ASVAB Test

IMPORTANT REMINDER Class of 2024! If you have not placed an order for your Graduation announcements, senior apparel, keepsakes and most importantly, your Cap and Gown unit, the time to do so is NOW. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Toney in room 1203 or by email tntoney@smcps.org.

The Spring ASVAB will be given on April 11, 2024 for Juniors and Seniors. Military branches use the ASVAB as a tool to determine how successful a person will be at certain occupations. Sign up using the link in your email or see Ms. Carroll, lmcarroll@smcps.org with any questions.

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

Spring Sports is up on us!!!

Monday, March 11

• Baseball Scrimmage vs Gwynn Park 4:00

Tuesday, March 12

• Boys Lacrosse Scrimmage vs Chopticon JV-4:30; Varsity-6:00

Wednesday, March 13

• Softball JV Scrimmage vs Southern 4:00

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