Hornet Nation,

What a great week we had! Students are getting to classes on time, partly due to hallway blitzes and that’s okay, they have passes when they're in the hallways, they are finding locations during lunch and out of the halls, and everyone is playing nice with each other! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!

As we are now well into the first quarter of the school year, it is important to emphasize the significance of attendance. We encourage all of you to utilize your class time effectively to complete and submit your work. If there are any unfinished assignments, lunchtime should be utilized to catch up or recover any points needed from previous assignments.

By following this approach, we can ensure that you never have homework and, most importantly, that you never fail a class. We understand that not all students plan to attend college; however, performing well in school has its own set of advantages. It can lead to a higher ASVAB score, which can help you secure the job you desire in the military. Additionally, it can result in better grades at trade school, opening up opportunities for higher-paying entry-level jobs. It may also be beneficial for acceptance into apprenticeship programs and immediate job placements right after high school.

Furthermore, did you know that submitting your new driver's report card with qualifying grades can earn you a good student discount on your car insurance? This is just one of the many perks of excelling academically. To further support your academic achievements, we will be reinstating quarterly awards this year. Stay tuned for more information regarding this exciting initiative.

Remember, attending class regularly, completing your work on time, and striving for excellence in your academic pursuits will create a brighter future for each and every one of you. Let's work together to make the most of our time in school and reap the rewards that come with it.

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 4th and 5th picture day
• 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

This year picture day will be on October 4th and 5th. It is important that everyone takes a picture to get their ID Card. In efforts to speed up lunch lines, students will be expected to swipe their ID badge instead of punching in their number on the pad. This ID will also be needed to check out books and material from the Media Center. Did you know your school ID will also count as a valid ID Card when applying for work?

Do you need a fresh car wash? Drive down to Great Mills High School, on Saturday, September 30th between 10 am to 4 pm Mini- THON is hosting a car wash. All money raised goes towards families with children being treated for cancer at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. Donations only! Don’t be shy, help conquer pediatric cancer!

Homecoming is just around the corner!!! SGA needs you to vote for Spirit Week days! Please click here to vote.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank our Juniors and Seniors for a successful first college visit of the school year!! Mr. Evans, the rep from UMBC, was impressed with the turnout and the quality of the questions asked. You all were attentive, respectful, and represented GMHS very well. Thank you.

Also, if you haven't signed up for our College visits in September and October, I encourage you to look at the colleges represented and sign up for as many as interest you! Moving into this next stage of your life is important and we want to make sure you have as many options as possible.

Again, thank you for being great Hornets and I look forward to seeing you all at future visits!

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.

Mini-THON wants you to save the date! Saturday, September 30th, 10 am- 4 pm! Students and teachers, do you have a parking spot and want to make it more personalized for yourself? For only $15 you can paint your parking spot with a few easy steps! First, submit a request form to submit your design plan to Mr. Wesiner (Room A28) and then pay for a painting spot at the bank or in the Myschoolbucks link. Once approved, you just need to show up on Saturday, September 30th between 10 am and 4 pm and start painting! More specific information is in the Request form!

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.

It's a rose that Mrs. Waddell has accepted a promotion and is growing her career! However, it's a thorn that we are now looking for a new College and Career Readiness Liaison. While we are in transition, please direct all college questions to your school counselor or Ms. Carroll our new Career Advisor. Please click the link below if you are interested in applying for this position.

Sept 25th- Salisbury University @ 1pm

Sept 27th- Savannah College of Art & Design - SCAD @ 1 pm

Sept 28th- University of Maryland-College Park @ 1 pm

Oct 2nd- St. Mary's College of Maryland @ 10 am & Florida Institute of Technology @ 1 pm

Oct 3rd- Bowie State University @ 11am

Oct 4th- Mount St. Mary's Unversity @ 10 am & Shepherd University @ 1 pm

Oct 5th - Randolph College @ 10 am & Bridgewater College @ 10:30 am

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.

Tuesday, September 26th

• Football vs St. Charles JV 5:00

Wednesday, September 27th

• Girl Soccer vs Leonardtown JV 4:30
• Boys Soccer vs Leonardtown JV 6:00
• Volleyball vs Lackey JV 4:30; Varsity 5:30

Thursday, September 28th

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

Friday, September 29th

• Varsity Football vs Northern @ 6:00pm

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