CHS News

On Friday, February 21st, the Scholars Leadership Honors Program celebrated the ninth annual Food for the Soul, Words for the Heart. It was an evening of heartwarming cultural cuisine and moving performances.

Ms. Holt and her aunt, Bridget Thomas, greeted guests with a warm smile as they served a delicious array of cultural cuisine made by Ms. Holt and her family — fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, candied yams, collard greens, and cornbread. Dr Kelli McDonough made the outstanding assortment of desserts.

In addition, artwork was displayed that showcased this year's theme - Love Yourz: The Beauty in the Struggle.

Congratulating our very own Eagles, who are the Circuit 5 Maryland Youth and the Law (MYLaw) Champions! They defeated an incredibly impressive team from River Hill on Wednesday evening and will move on to the state quarterfinals on March 11th or 12th (exact time, date, and location to be determined next week). As it stands now, they are ranked in the Top eight teams in the state!

We are so proud of all of you:

Captains: Rob Donovan, Ayush Ghosh, Joseph Kim

Members: Henry Berger, Alice Han, Emily Han, Yehji Hwang, Shalisa Ibad, Aleena Idrees, Jada Jackson, Sandy Jayaprakash, Ana Lagos, James Li, Gaby Saskiewicz, and David Showunmi

Junior Intern/Mentor student Kelly Ji won first place at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium 2025, on Saturday, February 22, 2025, and will go on to compete at the national competition on April 22nd - 26th, in Chantilly, VA!

Kelly preseted: CYFOR: Decoding Circadian Clock Regulation Using a Novel Machine Learning Framework.

Circadian clocks have recently emerged as a potential key player in regulating gene expression and suppressing cancer formation but experiments to understand these clocks are costly and time-consuming, slowing our ability to quickly understand the mechanisms and develop new therapies. That's where CYFOR, a computational framework for studying circadian gene programs, comes in, with the ability to uncover different patterns and regulators in healthy cells vs. cells with a disrupted “clock.”

Junior Dhruv Veda won second place at JSHS for his research: Reducing Mortality Risk in Veterans with Blast Traumatic Brain Injury.

The purpose of this project is to design a digital tool that uses a combination of machine learning and genetics to diagnose the potential brain damage/Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) caused by bomb blasts. Developed specifically to help veterans, who are the most common victims of this type of TBI, the tool is designed to identify potential brain damage as early as possible to prevent permanent disability or death.

In our last regular season game before the start of National Tournaments, Centennial’s It’s Academic sent two teams to the Johns Hopkins Spring Tournament on Saturday, February 22. Almost all the top teams attended from the DC-Maryland-Virginia area, and one from Pennsylvania for a total field of 24 teams.

Both of Centennial's teams reached the upper bracket playoffs and both teams went 3-2 to finish tied for 5th place.

For the A Team: Sahil Prasad, Maxwell Swann, Satvik Jain, Henry Berger (left to right in photo)

For the B Team: Shravan Yoagentharan, Jeremy Kantsiper, Matthew Yang (left to right in photo).

Highest scoring Book Awards went to Jeremy Kantsiper and Satvik Jain.

In all of our endeavors, we qualified two teams for HSNCT, the National tournament in Atlanta, over Memorial Day weekend, and two teams for PACE, the National tournament in Chicago, over the June 8-9 weekend. We also qualified one team to the History Bowl Nationals in Crystal City, Virginia, at the end of April.

Congratulations and best wishes as you continue to represent CHS!

A BIG EAGLES CONGRATULATIONS to our wresting program — student athletes and coaches— as EIGHT of our wrestlers advance to next weekend's Regional Wrestling Tournament at Manchester Valley HS!

Our three female wrestlers, Sasha Trojanovs, Rei Vlahov and Miah Morrison (pictured left to right) will wrestle on Friday night with a chance to advance to Saturday.

A special shout out to Calvin Kraisser, who won his FOURTH CONSECUTIVE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP!

Our five male wrestlers, Calvin Kraisser, Grady Conrad, Matt Sedor, Will Schmidt, and Justus Hwang (pictured left to right) will wrestle Saturday, with a chance to advance to the Region Finals Saturday late afternoon for a chance to wrestle in the State Wrestling Championship on March 6, 7, 8, at the Showplace Arena!!!

Congratulations to Satvik Jain, who received the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) Gold Award for SY2024 for his volunteer work with Akshaya Patra USA. One of his key projects was painting Diyas for fundraising, raising more than $5,800. The money raised provided school lunches to more that 2,900 students in India for the entire school year, where $20 feeds one child for an entire school year.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award was founded by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation in 2003, to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.

Led by the AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Lights, this program allows Certifying Organizations to recognize their most exceptional volunteers.

Our Speech and Debate Team competed in BCFL 6 on Saturday, February 22. Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding achievements:

• JV Lincoln Douglas: Saifaan Quazi, Gold JV Speaker Award
• JV Public Forum: Ana Gonzalez and Yukti Walvekar, Silver Award
• JV Public Forum: Zainab Ghashtalai and Olivia Callender, Gold Award
• Impromptu: Samaara Srivastava , Silver Award (pictured right)
• Original Oratory: Hannah Zhou, Honorable Mention

Left to right: Saifaan Quazi, Ana Gonzalez, Yukti Walvekar, Olivia Callender, Zainab Ghashtalai

• March 1 - Spring Sports Tryouts Begin
  
• March 11 - Spring Sports Orientation, 6 PM
• March 13 thru 16 - Little Women the Musical, 7 PM Thursday - Saturday; 2 PM Sunday, tickets here
• March 14 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early (Professional Work and Wellness Day)
• March 25 - Band Concert, 7 PM
• March 26 - Choir Concert, 7 PM
• March 27 - Orchestra Concert, 7 PM
• March 28 - Dancing With the Staff, 7 pm
  
• March 28 - End of 3rd Marking Period
  
• March 31 - Schools Closed for Students (Professional Work and Development Day)
• April 1 - Student Choreography Showcase, 7 PM
  
• April 3 - Awkward Improv, 7 PM
  
• April 4 - Prom at Martin's West, 7 PM, tickets here
• April 4 - After Prom, Main Event at The Mall in Columbia, 10:30 PM - 2 AM
• April 5 - Zumbathon, 9 AM
  
• April 14 thru 21 - Spring Break, Schools Closed
• May 3 - Annual Boosters Bash, 7 PM
  
• May 19 - 30 - Class of 2025 Graduation Window
  

Effective Monday, March 3, 2025, the Board of Education approved changes to HCPSS Policy 8080 - Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media, which will change students’ ability to use personal technology devices during the school day.

Please read the Parent Guide: New Student Device Expectations to make sure that you are familiar with the new HCPSS guidelines for the use of cell phones and electronic devices in school

Please read the Message from the Superintendent describing these changes.

This is important!

Please check out this public service announcement created by CHS senior Cristobal Mejia...

Anything you can do on a phone, you can do on a Chromebook (video)

A Night Under the Sea — Prom 2025

Martin’s West

6817 Dogwood Road

Baltimore, MD 21244

Friday, April 4th, 2025

7:00 - 10:00 PM

When: Saturday, March 15, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Where: Cedar Lane School, 11630 Scaggsville Road, Fulton, MD

What: The HCPSS Special Education Resource Fair provides families with information available from the community and HCPSS to support their students receiving special education and related services (those who have an IEP or IFSP).

Why: Get connected to:

• Recreational Activities

• HCPSS Speech, OT, PT, Vision, and Adapted PE

• Camps

• Community Groups

• Service Providers

• Transition to Adulthood Information

• Assistive Technology

• Behavioral Health

• Howard County Government Resources

• And Much More!

For information, please contact FSRC@hcpss.org. This event is free and registration is not required. The event will be cancelled if HCPSS has an inclement weather closure. This event is part of the HCPSS Parent Empowerment Series including training sessions related to special education and events for families of students with an IEP or IFSP.

The holy month of Ramadan marks a significant time in the Islamic calendar, and Muslims all over the world will be preparing to take part in the celebrations.

Fasting in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam – the essential rules that all Muslims follow – along with the Shahadah (declaration of faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity) and the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, reports iNews.

In 2025, Ramadan starts on February 28 and ends on March 30

Winter is still with us and we are all out of tissues at school.

We are grateful for the donations you have sent already, and hoping that you can send a few more boxes to the front office again!

Leave the cooking to Bare Bones!

Dine in or take out from Bare Bones on Monday, March 10 to support CHS Boosters. 10% of all sales go to Boosters!

Please join us as the Skyward Theatre presents of Little Women the Musical.

Performances are on Thursday, March 13, thru Saturday, March 15, at 7 PM, and on Sunday, March 16, at 2 PM, in the CHS auditorium.

Ticket information and pricing now available!

We are gearing up for commencement for the Class of 2025 and need year help! If you have a cap and gown (red with blue and white stripe on arms) gathering dust, please donate it to the school. We like to have a few “extras” on had in case of emergency during graduation week.

Donations may be dropped off in the front office at Centennial at any time. Thank you!

Attention Juniorss & Seniors!

Our PTSA provides transportation from the prom at Martins West to After Prom at the Main Event. If you are interested in taking the bus, please complete the interest form here:

INTEREST FORM TO TAKE THE PTSA BUS FROM PROM TO AFTERPROM ON APRIL 4, 2025

The CHS PTSA is planning an amazing After Prom event at the Main Event in Columbia for our students. The success of this event depends on volunteers - like YOU!

Please click on the links below to find out more and to sign up to help with planning, events, and prizes!

Subcommittee Volunteers:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A45AAAB2FABF4C07-54474995-2025#/

Event Volunteers:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A45AAAB2FABF4C07-54473263-2025#/

Amazon Raffle Wish List:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2MZJJXH6KCEQX?type=wishlist

The CHS Food Pantry is a great resource for our school community. We have exhausted many of the items and hope that you will continue your generous support to restock the shelves.

At this time, we need personal hygiene items, especially deodorant, shampoo, and toothpaste. We also need cereal, granola bars, rice, pasta, and soup.

Items may be dropped off in Student Services with Ms. DeVore.

Thank you for your support!

All students must have completed their online registration by February 26, in order to tryout. For more information regarding online athletic registration, please log on to the chs.hcpss.org website or see the instructions above.

Join CHS Boosters Club Today!

Support our CHS Eagles by becoming a member of the CHS Boosters Club. Our parent-run volunteer organization raises funds through membership donations and fundraising activities to support CHS student extra-curricular activities. From school sports teams to more than 80 clubs and organizations, including our award winning "It's Academic" team and the CHS "Magic Club" – the Boosters supports them all!

The Howard County Public School System does not provide money for team uniforms, equipment and other fees needed to run student programs. To help parents avoid membership and other costs, the CHS Boosters shares its fundraising efforts across all sports and activities to help our students enjoy a healthy, rewarding high school experience.

Membership is the Booster’s biggest annual fundraiser, and we need your help to support our students. If you have not already done so, please join today! The CHS Boosters is a 501(c)(3) organization so all donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Tax ID # 52-1437160

CHS Boosters have some fantastic fundraising events coming up. Check out their website for more details.

Here are some highlight of what's to come...

Boost your social calendar! Save the date for the annual Booster Bash on Saturday, May 3, at Cushwa Brewing in Columbia at 7 pm. Fun with friends, beer/cocktails, good food and amazing silent auction items. $75/per person. More details coming soon!

Make your summer plans now! Sign up your children for 2025 Booster Summer Camps—Baseball, Basketball, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Mock Trial, Soccer, Strength, Speed and Agility, Volleyball and Wrestling!

https://www.centennialboostersonline.com/summer-camps

Save the date for Booster’s Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, September 26, at Fairway Hills!

You and your family can join CHS PTSA anytime! Join now or add your child to your membership.

Help us meet our membership goals before the end of the year. A PTSA membership can make a thoughtful gift for a family member or anyone in the Centennial community.

Visit our online store to become a member now

As we head into the winter months, families are reminded that in emergency situations (including inclement weather), information will be shared with the community only through the HCPSS website, email and text, Twitter/X and the HCPSS weather hotline. Be sure your Family File is up to date and that you have opted into texts to receive emergency messages.

World's Finest Chocolates have arrived! Support the CHS Dance Program while satisfying your sweet tooth. We have a variety of bars and they're only $1 each! Buy 1, 2, 3...or a case of 60 to share with your family and friends! Contact rebecca_clark@hcpss.org for more information or use OSP to make a purchase.

The Howard County Film Festival is a county-sponsored festival in its 21st year that honors and showcases the incredible talent of aspiring filmmakers across Howard County. Participating high school and middle school students are entered to win trophies, recognition, and prize money for their work.

Donations from the community help keep this amazing program running each year. All proceeds donated will go towards acquiring prize money and awards for our student recipients.

For more information visit the website: https://hocofilmfest.weebly.com/.

Yearbook sales are here!

To purchase your copy, visit: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1066907/Centennial-High-School/2025-Yearbook/2024100304183132083/CATALOG_SHOP/

The HCPSS Career Readiness Advisors (CRAs) are excited for the 2024-2025 school year, and we would love your help!

Last year, CRAs implemented a Monthly Career Cluster Spotlight series across the county. The Monthly Spotlights allowed students to explore a wide scope of careers while connecting those careers to both the HCPSS curriculum and student strengths and interests.

Each month, we spotlight a different career industry/cluster. We provide students with information about career cluster pathways, curricular connections to that pathway, and opportunities for students to engage with professionals in those clusters.

Here is where you come in: we are looking for community members to share your experience, advice, and insight in your professional line of work.

Please fill out the following form if you are interested in donating a bit of your time and wisdom to HCPSS students.

Thank you!

HCPSS staff members who fall into one of the following categories, and who are parents or legal guardians of graduating seniors, may choose to present the diploma to their child(ren) at the student's commencement ceremony.

• Current Permanent Staff

• Elementary Lunch/Recess Monitors who have been a Lunch/Recess Monitor since September 30, 2024

• Substitutes who have consistently supported HCPSS by substituting 100+* days since the start of the 2023/2024 school year (*8/28/2023-2/26/2025)

Parents/guardians who wish to present diplomas must notify your child's graduation coordinator by April 11.

The HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Office is selling Kente cloth graduation stoles to families for graduating students. Kente is a traditional African textile that was first woven by the Ashanti people in Ghana and West Africa. Today, it is worn to pay homage to African ancestors and to show pride in the heritages of the Diaspora during ceremonial occasions.

Sales will run through April 30, 2025. The flyer for the stole sale can be found linked here.

The HCPSS Hispanic Achievement Program is selling sarapes (stoles) for purchase by Hispanic and Latino graduating seniors. Sales will run through May 2, 2025. Purchases can be made directly here, or read more information and scan the QR Code here.

The Hispanic “sarape” represents the ancient customs of colorful textiles throughout all the ancient indigenous people of Latin America. These bright colors represented their devout spiritualism and the advanced knowledge they possessed. Additional history of the sarapes and the initiative in HCPSS for graduating seniors can be found here in English and Spanish.

Direct questions to Gaston Gamez, Hispanic Achievement Supervisor at (410) 313-6667.

HCPSS today announced the window for the Class of 2025 high school graduations as Monday, May 19, to Friday, May 30, 2025. No graduations will be held on weekends or on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.

HCPSS makes the early announcement of the graduation window to accommodate planning by parents, students, schools and community members. Specific information regarding the dates and times of each graduation ceremony will be finalized in collaboration with Merriweather Post Pavilion and provided by mid-April.

Ceremonies will be held in person at Merriweather Post Pavilion, except for Cedar Lane School, which will hold its graduation ceremony at the school.

Full HCPSS commencement information can be found online.

Seniors,

If you are attending a two-year or four-year Maryland college or university as a full-time or part-time student, you are eligible to apply for a State Delegate or Senatorial Scholarship.

State Delegate Scholarship:

https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/pages/financialaid/programdescriptions/prog_delegate.aspx

Senatorial Scholarship: https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/ProgramDescriptions/prog_senatorial.aspx

ENTER YOUR ADDRESS to find out the name of your State Senator and State Delegate (they will appear at the bottom of the list): https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District

Please come to Student Services to see Ms. DeVore if you need any assistance. Continue to check for Scholarships in Naviance and on the Bulletin Board outside Student Services.

Now is the time to get in your applications for scholarships to obtain additional funding for college. In Naviance, under Scholarships, you can search for all available scholarships by date or name.

A scholarship document is also updated every month that features the current scholarships and due dates in Naviance, here's the link:

24-25 Scholarship document

Upcoming scholarships and deadlines are also POSTED on the bulletin board outside Student Services. Please check this bulletin board regularly.

The Community Foundation of Howard County has many scholarships available, but the due dates are not published yet. ALL the available scholarships are posted on the board.

Many are targeted to specific interest areas such as:

• Students whose life has been impacted by cancer (either themselves or a family member)

• Service on the Special Olympics Howard County Swim Team and Special Olympics Howard County

• Pursuing a degree in Fine Arts, Nursing, STEM, pre-law, agriculture or field related to farming

• Community and athletic involvement

• Students who participated on a SAC/HC travel or recreational team

  
  

Any questions? Please stop in Student Services for assistance.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter with the financial support of the Alpha Foundation of Howard County, Inc., offers financial assistance to graduation high school seniors in Howard County, pursuing higher education.

Scholarships to be awarded for the 2024-25 school year:

• Marian and Brother Cecil G. Christian Memorial Scholarship: $4,000
• Bro. Freeman Louis Sands, Sr. Memorial Scholarship: $2,000
• Outstanding Scholarship Awards: Four awards of $1,500 each

Details regarding eligibility and applications may be found at www.apakpl.org and www.alphafoundationhc.org.

If you still need to order a cap and gown (comes with tassel) for graduation, it must be ordered by contacting our representative at Jostens. See her contact information below:

KAREN STEWART

301.206.3999 ∙ Office

Email: karen.stewart@jostens.com

In addition to graduation caps and gowns, Jostens also offers a range for products including graduation announcements, class rings, jewelry, and more. Check out the Mascot Shop for great keepsakes.

We are collecting parent/guardian names who might be interested in helping with the Senior 2025 events (Class of 2025) throughout the school year.

Please provide your contact information in the signup genius form - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FA5AF2AABF8CF8-51782315-chssenior/172901958#/

If you have any questions about the senior events, reach out to the senior CHS advisors for the class of 2025 - Toni Ireland and Cheryl Beall.

If you have any questions about the signup genius, you can contact Beth at bemoll196@gmail.com. Thank you.

Keep current on news and events throughout the school year by checking the CHS website: https://chs.hcpss.org. We have added an A to Z Reference Guide to the website as your one-stop information finder: attendance policies, parking permit applications, food and nutrition services, student technology support, and much more.

All families must update their emergency contact information annually. We’d like Centennial to be the first high school to have 100% of the Family File information to be fully updated, so visit HCPSS Connect today and click submit on the final screen! Read more.

Eagle's Soar tutoring will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays immediately after school in the Media Center from 2:35-3:05 PM for the entire school year. All content areas will be represented with teaching faculty, and honor society students will be supporting as well in many of the content areas. Please make arrangements for your child to attend, as this is a great resource to help them be successful this year. This is a GREAT place to get extra math help if your child is struggling. Unfortunately, transportation is not provided at this time.

EXTRA HELP:

• Eagle's Soar Tutoring – Every Tuesday and Thursday 2:35-3:05 PM in the Media Center (Starts September 17th)
• Math Tutoring – Monday through Thursday after school 2:35-3:05 PM in Room 508 (starts September 19th)
• Eagle Time – Every Wednesday 9:25-9:55 PM (they sign up on the CHS website with the teacher they need help with)

Parking passes have now been issued to Seniors and Juniors. It is important for all students parking on campus to make sure that their parking permit hang tags are visible. Also, please remember that students park in the white-lined spaces.

Still need a permit? Permit applications are on the CHS website.

Led by the Maryland Center for School Safety (MDCSS) within the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Safe Schools Maryland is an anonymous tip reporting system that allows students, parents, and community members to easily report anonymous safety concerns anywhere in Maryland. Tips received are routed to local and state education, public safety, heath, and/or social services support personnel for follow-up.

Android

Maryland Safe Schools

Apple

Maryland Safe Schools

After school pizza sales begin next week! Students staying after school can purchase a slice of cheese pizza ($3 per slice, cash only) before heading to their club meeting, extra-curricular program, study session, or athletic practice/game.

Sales will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and will be fundraisers for the Dance Program, Alpha Achievers, and Science Olympiad. Buy your slice by the gym. All sales are first come, first served.

1. Regular Season Tickets are $5.00 and are only available on the App at GoFan.co.
2. Backpacks are PROHIBITED inside the Stadium.
3. Spectators are to adhere to ALL HCPSS Policies & CHS Procedures in the Student Code of Conduct.
4. No outside food permitted in the Stadium.
5. ALL Students in Grades K thru 8 MUST EACH be accompanied into the Stadium, seated throughout the entire event, being supervised by their parent or guardian.
6. No admittance after the 3rd quarter.
7. Once you leave the Stadium, you may not return.
8. Noise makers are prohibited inside the Stadium.
9. Cheer loudly for your team, not against the opponent, their fans, their band, their cheerleaders or the officials.
10. Students arrange for a ride during the 3rd quarter and notify your ride to pick them up immediately after the game.

The HCPSS Partnerships 2023-2024 Annual Snapshot has just been released. The snapshot includes a link to school system partners including each school’s partners, as well as system wide, curricular, and program office partnerships. The snapshot highlights how partners play a vital role in encouraging students to reach their full potential.

Please remember that all families are required by Policy 9000 to notify HCPSS if they move to a new home address. Current residency documentation must be updated each time residency changes.

On the Regular Bell Schedule:

• AM ARL bus departs at 7:50 AM and returns to CHS at 9:35 AM
• PM ARL bus departs on A DAYS (M, T, TH, F) at 12:45 PM and returns at 2:30 PM
• PM ARL bus departs on B DAYS (M, T, TH, F) at 11:15 AM and returns at 2:30 PM

On the Eagle Time Schedule – Wednesdays:

• AM ARL bus departs at 7:50 AM and returns to CHS at 9:35 AM
• PM ARL bus departs on A DAYS at 12:55 PM and returns at 2:30 PM
• PM ARL bus departs on B DAYS at 11:20 AM and returns at 2:30 PM

Each month, the Career Readiness Advisors spotlight a career industry/cluster. We provide students with information about career cluster pathways, curricular connections to that pathway, and opportunities for students to learn from industry professionals in those clusters.

We are ALWAYS looking for speakers to participate in our monthly virtual panel discussions, and/or to engage with our students as an in-person speaker.

Please click on the following link to share your information:

HCPSS Career Related Speaker Interest Form

Next Thursday, February 27, Leadership Howard County will be hosting another opportunity for current high school sophomores to learn about Leadership U [LU] and hear directly from recent graduates about their experience.

LU is a transformational leadership program that seeks to equip young leaders with a network of peers and community leaders as well as the tools to effect meaningful change. Interested sophomores are encouraged to join us at our next info session! Registration strongly recommended: Leadership U 2025 - February Information Session - Leadership Howard County

What: Leadership U Info Session

When: Thursday, February 27, 6pm

Where: Miller Branch Library, Patapsco Room

Registration Link: Leadership U 2025 - February Information Session - Leadership Howard County

Both in-person and live, virtual, eight-hour college prep classes are being offered in partnership with Atholton, Centennial, Hammond, Howard, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Reservoir, and Wilde Lake high schools and are open to students from all high schools.

CHS students can register for ANY Answer Class at ANY location or online – and a percentage of tuition will be donated to CHS PTSA! School year classes are being regularly added – check here often!

CHS PTSA teams with HC DrugFree to help spread the word about keeping drugs out of Howard County classrooms and communities.

HC DrugFree has many opportunities for students and families:

Free Classes for Students

The 8-class series will run across the following Mondays: February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, April 7, 28 and May 5 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. More information can be found on our website and flyer.

Click here to register Ho Co middle school students.

Free Classes for Adults

Raising preteens and teens is tough. Wouldn’t it be great if adults could take a class that taught us how to help our kids avoid risky behaviors, all while learning how to say NO to drugs and alcohol? There is!

Register to attend our Spring 2025 Guiding Good Choices® classes for parents, guardians and grandparents. Series will run Tuesdays and Fridays on March 18, 21, 25, 28 and April 1 from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom. More information can be found on our website and flyer.

Register here.

Ho Co Film Fest: HCDrugFree PSA Category

HC DrugFree's 2024-25 public service announcement (PSA) Category theme is: Make the Call: Help Without Hesitation.

This category was chosen to allow teens the opportunity to create PSAs informing their peers and the community about Maryland’s Good Samaritan Law. Learn more about our PSA Category and the April 1 film submission deadline.

Maryland's Good Samaritan Law protects individuals who seek help during a medical emergency related to drug or alcohol use. Under this law, people who call 911 to assist someone experiencing an overdose or other serious medical issue may be protected from arrest, prosecution, and certain legal penalties for minor drug and alcohol offenses. Learn more about the Good Samaritan Law.

We Need Your Support!!!

“It isn’t the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives.”

Your support allows us to continue to provide our resources and programs to the community. To make your tax-deductible donation, donate online at hcdrugfree.org/donate or mail a check to:

HC DrugFree

5305 Village Center Drive

Suite 206

Columbia, MD 21044

Resources

DEA's Drugs of Abuse Resource Guide:

Education plays a critical role in preventing substance use and misuse. The 2024 DEA Resource Guide is designed to be a reliable resource on the most commonly used and misused drugs in the US and provides important information about the harms and consequences of drug use by describing a drug’s effects on the body and mind, overdose potential, origin, legal status, and other key facts. Learn more

Additional Resources

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Marylanders who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis should call or text 988. Learn more at 988.maryland.gov. Maryland veterans and their loved ones can call 988 and press 1 to transfer to the Veterans Crisis Line. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for LGBTQIA+ support.

Additional Resources

For more information, contact:

Joan Webb Scornaienchi

Executive Director

HC DrugFree

5305 Village Center Drive, Suite 206

Wilde Lake Village Center

Columbia, MD 21044

Admin@hcdrugfree.org

www.hcdrugfree.org

• Centennial High School’s website is a great source of information at https://chs.hcpss.org.
• On Twitter @hcpss_CHS and Instagram @CentennialHS.
• Read the Wingspan, CHS student newspaper
• CHS PTSA https://www.chs-ptsa.org/and CHS Boosters https://www.centennialboostersonline.com/.
• CHS Friends of Music http://www.centennialmusic.org/
• Register to receive school system updates and alerts at https://www.hcpss.org/hcpss-news/, click on Subscribe and select Centennial High School.