Hello Hornet Nation,

It’s hard to believe this will be the last Hornet Buzz of the school year. It has been a great first year as Principal of Great Mills. Last week we sent our graduating class of 2023 off into the world to be GREAT! This year we had a Career Day wear we brought in speakers from several different careers to share with students, we had a career, college, and job fair, and we even brought back the winter dance! Yesterday, we hosted our first annual, Nest Fest community event! It was fun for all ages and was a great day of fun! I look forward to another great year.

If you failed a course and need summer school contact your guidance counselor this week. If you haven’t met with your counselor about your schedule next year make sure to do that this week. Be sure you get all your books and other materials turned in so you do not accrue any fines. If you would like to store your laptop at school for the summer please check it into the media center this week. You will be able to collect it prior to the start of the next school year. I look forward to seeing the ideas and energy that you all bring to all of our sports teams, Homecoming week, Winter dance, GMHS Idol competition, and all the other things we do next year!

Remember to also take time to relax and recharge during the summer. Spend time with family and friends, go on a vacation or staycation, or just take time for yourself. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Make sure to also stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Lastly, don't forget to check in on your classmates and friends over the summer. Reach out and stay connected. We are all in this together and support from each other can make all the difference. Have a great summer Hornets!

Until next school year, have a great last week and summer Great Mills!

Principal Dothard

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

Just in case you missed it, our graduation is available to watch on our school systems Youtube channel! It was so great that if you watched it I'm sure you want to watch it again! All of the SMCPS video of commencements are posted on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@smcps/

Up to 30 lucky high school students in Southern Maryland will have the opportunity to participate in a free one-week summer STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) camp conducted by the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Materials Science from June 26-30. The opportunity will have the highest impact for students from Great Mills, Leonardtown, Patuxent, St. Mary’s Ryken, and Chopticon high schools. This camp will be free of charge for students, including lunches at the Campus Center, and will be coordinated, instructed, and chaperoned by SMCM faculty and undergraduate students. High school students of any grade are welcome to apply through the SMCM website at https://inside.smcm.edu/events/smcm-solar-cell-stem-camp. The application deadline is June 10.

Students will be introduced to a college-level laboratory experience with hands-on activities, safety training, and in-person instruction from SMCM’s faculty members. Centered around a renewable energy theme, students will design and build solar-powered racecars. While learning about current state-of-the-art solar cell technology and the physics and biology of solar power, students will use a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) program to draw their own racecar models and bring them to life with 3D printing, followed by testing, evaluation and re-design. In the process, they will collaborate with each other and with faculty to develop and test solar cell devices in the sunlight and learn about friction, mass, and power. Each team of students will be able to test different materials and solar cells to optimize their design. They will also be exposed to the chemistry of modern solar cell devices, tour the SMCM chemistry laboratories, and be introduced to coding for computer-controlled microprocessors to program motors, LEDs, and sensors. Learning outcomes include project management skills, communication, group collaboration, team-building activities, technical laboratory skills, lab safety, and an introduction to renewable energy, conservation, and nanotechnology.

In addition to St. Mary's College of Maryland, the camp is sponsored by SoMD 2030 Workforce Development, a joint initiative of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance and The Patuxent Partnership, with funding provided by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aviation Division (NAWCAD).

St. Mary’s College of Maryland is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. St. Mary’s College, the National Public Honors College, is ranked as the top public liberal arts college in the U.S. by Money magazine. Approximately 1,600 students attend the college, nestled on the St. Mary’s River in Southern Maryland.

St. Mary's County Public Schools lend laptops to students with the expectation that they will be used for school and returned at the end of the school year. When laptops are not returned or damaged when returned, debts are placed on student accounts. Click here to see how much things cost from keyboards to the entire laptop.

I just wanted to put this out while there is still time to make adjustments. All summer school courses this year will be strictly on Edgenuity. We will have a classroom for students to work on Edgenuity classes with support from a teacher, but there will be no transportation or food services. If working in a classroom over the summer doing Edgenuity doesn't sound like fun, you need to start meeting with your teachers during lunch and taking care of business in the classroom now! It might be a challenge for some, but you still have time to pass almost all classes with quarter recovery and consistent work for the next to quarters.

If you need to pick your student up at the end of the day, please try to notify the main office by 2:30. There are a lot of moving parts at the end of the day, but advanced notice would help things run a lot smoother. The number to the main office is 301-863-4001.

Thank you for support.

Just a reminder that when students arrive at school on the bus or are dropped off, they are not permitted to leave school property without being signed out by a parent or guardian. If students leave school property and return without a parent or guardian, they are subject to disciplinary consequences.

Seven 11 will open across the street very soon. Please speak with your student/s about leaving school grounds. If caught they will be given a referral Insubordination and this can go all up to an out-of-school suspension. Let's stay inside the school, while we are at school!

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.

The SMCPS Evening Counseling Center provides FREE counseling services, by appointment, to SMCPS students. SMCPS recognizes that positive mental health is necessary for students to experience success at home, school, and in the community. In-person counseling is available weekly, in-person at Greenview Knolls Elementary. Virtual counseling is also available weekly. To request an appointment or receive more information, use this link: https://bit.ly/3Hgx7LX

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?

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.

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.

I also want to express my gratitude to our student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. You have represented Great Mills with pride and sportsmanship, and I am proud of each and every one of you.

This year, we have had some outstanding performances from our teams. We had teams make it to the playoffs and had several individual athletes excel in their respective sports, including state champions in wrestling and track and field.

None of this would be possible without the support of our parents, families, and fans. Your encouragement and enthusiasm have helped to create a positive and supportive atmosphere for our student-athletes.

Thank you Mr. Hanley, Activities Director, for the countless hours preparing fields, supporting coaches, and dealing with vendors to make sure every team and coach had everything they needed to be successful!

As we move forward, I am excited to see what our teams will accomplish in the future. I have no doubt that with the talent and dedication of our coaches and student-athletes, Great Mills will continue to excel in sports and make us all proud.

Thank you again to everyone who has contributed to the success of our sports program this year. Go Hornets!

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

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

SGA is pleased to announce our first annual Nest Fest: a free, family-friendly event to welcome the beginning of summer and bring together the St. Mary’s County community. If you would like to be a part of the planning, Nest Fest is a wonderful opportunity for organizations, clubs, local businesses, etc. to raise funds and/or make themselves known to the community. There are spots still available, please consider hosting a booth. Contact us at gmhs.sga@smcps.org for registration information, or open the QR code below.

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."