Hello Hornet Nation,

This is the week that spring sports begin, so get ready! It's not too late to sign up the link is below. If you don't play sports I look forward to seeing you out in the sun supporting our Hornets doing what they love!

As the weather changes it's easy to get sidetracked, so remember to stay focused. Let's continue to be GREAT!

Let's have a GREAT week Hornet Nation!

Mr. Dothard

Principal

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

The Future Doctors Program offers a unique opportunity to learn from, network with, and receive expert mentorship from qualified Harvard instructors and begin your journey into the global health care and medical practices.

Spread over two weekends, it is a one-of-its-kind medical-experiential program for high school students across the globe aspiring to become change makers in the medical field. The program will enable students to dive deep into the pre-medical field with an introduction to Genetic Inheritance, Hormones, Immunology, and Organic Chemistry, while acquiring 21st-century skills to succeed in the medical field through real-world exposure.

This time, we are opening the applications for 2 cohorts - March and May. So now you have the flexibility to join the cohort of your choice!

OPTION 1: The March 2023 Cohort
Who Is Eligible?: Students from Grades 8 to 12
Duration: 2 weekends
Last Date of Application: 15th March, 2023
Program Starts: 25th March, 2023
Find more about the Program: Here
Application Form (March): Click Here

OPTION 2: The May 2023 Cohort
Who Is Eligible?: Students from Grades 8 to 12
Duration: 2 weekends
Last Date of Application: 10th April, 2023
Program Starts: 20th May, 2023
Find more about the Program: Here
Application Form (May): Click Here

Prom tickets will be on sale soon for 11th and 12th graders. Keep in mind your discipline could prevent you from attending Prom. All 11th and 12th graders are allowed to bring a guest, so 9th and 10th graders would need to be invited by an upperclassman to attend. All other guests will need a guest form signed by their school's administration or an employer if recently graduated and are under 20 years old.

After-school tutoring began on Monday, January 30th, and will happen every Monday-Thursday in all areas. We will hold in-person tutoring and virtual tutoring. Transportation will not be provided so please arrange your transportation prior to staying after school. It runs from 3:10-4:10 and extra time can be arranged if needed.

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!

Spring sports begin on March 1st and you must have at least a 2.0 or C average on your 2nd marking period report card to participate.

• Boys and Girls Track and Field
• Boys and Girls Lacrosse
• Baseball
• Softball
• Boys and Girls Tennis
• PALS Bocce Ball

Data shows, students who play sports handle pressure better, maintain good grades, get into less trouble inside and outside of school, and it helps them become better team players. These are all things that will help lead a more productive adult life. Which team will you be joining?

The School-Based Health Center (SBHC) at SRMS and MBMS will now see all SMCPS students and staff (no matter the assigned school or work site) throughout the day (8 am - 4:30 pm), by appointment only. You may contact the SBHC with questions or to make an appointment: SRMS 240-434-6059, MBMS 240-434-6060.

You can also get your sports physical here for $40.

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.

St. Mary's County Public Schools pays for all 11th graders to take the SAT one time for free. Students have also taken the PSAT 3 times, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade, prior to taking the SAT on March 22nd to help them receive the highest score possible. This means families would never have to pay to take the test if students take advantage of the opportunities provided through the school system.

All juniors will take the SAT in school on March 22nd. Click the link below to learn how to prepare for the SAT using the SAT prep course through Edgenuity.

The Jack Bailey Senatorial Scholarship is now OPEN! Students who permanently reside within the 29th Legislative District should apply for this scholarship. Another requirement is that students must be attending an in-state institution or have approved unique major status through MHEC. The deadline is April 7, 2023.

Edgenuity now offers SAT prep classes to assist all students in preparing for the SAT. ALL JUNIORS,11th graders, will take the SAT for free during the school day in March 22nd. This is an excellent resource for students to prepare for the test. Students can access via the Clever login to Edgenuity. Click HERE for information on how to set up your account. You do not need to register for this test, but if you would like to take the SAT outside of this date use the link below to register.

The National Honor Society will again be offering tutoring during One Lunch.

Students can sign up for individual tutoring sessions by going to room F36 to request tutoring, and Mrs. Johns will then match you with a tutor and schedule a session.

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

Don't wait until the last minute to order your graduation materials rings, caps, gowns, and other graduation materials. If you would like more information or would like to order online, click here to order.

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?

Hey Hornets! Everyone who has purchased a yearbook by February 24th will get free autograph pages for signing day!

Yearbooks can be ordered online through the following link: Buy your YEARBOOK here

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.

Harris Teeter’s Together In Education program gives schools a chance to earn funds when you link your VIC card and shop Harris Teeter brands. Please link your VIC card to GMHS #4324.

Harris Teeter has donated over $32.4 million to Together In Education schools since 1998! When you shop Harris Teeter brands, a percentage of your purchase is donated to the school that your VIC card is linked to.

There are NO LIMITS to how much a school can earn!

Any customer with a VIC card can link their card to a school. Customers can link up to five (5) schools to their account.

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.

SMCPS is looking to get nominations to recognize our cafeteria workers from school-based staff, students, and parents. Please consider clicking here to nominate one of our wonderful GMHS Cafeteria workers. All staff members are listed on our GMHS website.

Nominations will be selected each month to pass along The Golden Spatula Award to our cafeteria staff.

Monday, February 27th

• Girls playoff Basketball @ Northern 5:00 PM

Tuesday, February 28th

• Boys Playoff Basketball vs Northern 6:00 PM

Friday, March 3rd & Saturday March 4th

• Boys and Girls State Championship Wrestling at the Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro.
• We had 4 wrestlers qualify for States including Jocelyn Cacek who could possibly become a 3-time state champion! Good Luck!

Purchase tickets here

Winter sports teams have been picked and we are ready to roll! You will be able to purchase tickets online at Go Fan or at the gate with cash only. All winter sports schedules have been uploaded and are ready for purchase. Get online and create your free account now to purchase tickets. Once you have purchased the ticket you just need to show your online ticket at the ticket table using a mobile device.

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

We are pleased to announce that phase 1 of the community project is finished with the completion of the brick foundation. We are going to begin phase 2 with the selling of additional bricks to raise money for the Hornet statue. Click to purchase your own brick!

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