TSHS Cougar News
Keeping you connected to teaching and learning
A Message from Ms. Pearl
Welcome students and families. Second quarter is well on its way. Students, stay focused and make sure you are turning in your assignments by their due dates. Paying attention to the "small things" that mean a lot will help you turn in quality work. Using your time management skills will help you in meeting deadlines and staying focused will help you succeed in having a successful school year. For the students who may need additional academic support, please sign up for FEV tutoring through Clever, which is an online one on one tutoring service available 24/7 for homework help.
This is just a reminder that administration has begun implementing Hall Sweeps. Once the tardy bell has rang, if your student is caught in the hallway without a pass, they will be given a Saturday School Detention. Saturday School is held on certain Saturdays, from 8a.m.-11a.m. If a student is given Saturday School and they do not attend, they are in jeopardy of either receiving ISI (In School Intervention) or even Suspension. We still need students to monitor their transition time between classes. Students, you have 4 minutes between classes before you are marked tardy. If you are late leaving your previous class, make sure you are retrieving a pass from your teacher, prior to moving to your next class. As a reminder, our school day starts at 7:30a.m. Please make sure you are arriving to school and each class on time.
This is a reminder that you are not allowed to wear or enter a classroom with backpacks or large bags. Students, you must use your locker. If you have a locker issue, please be sure to use the QR code, which is posted in numerous locations throughout the building. We are asking students to continue showing your Cougar Pride by being Prepared, Respectful, Involved, Diligent and Eco-Friendly.
I would like to wish all of our Thomas Stone High School families a joyous and Happy Thanksgiving! This is a reminder that our building will be closed Wednesday, November 27rd through Sunday December 1st. School will resume on Monday, December 2nd.
With the winter months approaching, school delays or cancellations may arise. If you would like to get TEXT ALERTS from CCPS, you must OPT IN to get the alerts, before you can start receiving them. To do this, from your cell phone, text YES to 67587. You should then receive a notification that you are now registered. This is a good way to get information regarding school delays, early dismissals, cancellations, school issues, transportation issues, and sometimes community issues that may involve a school or surrounding areas, etc. Stay informed via text.
Don’t rest until you vote for TSHS choir!
Cast your vote for the Thomas Stone High School chamber choir in the 97.1 WASH-FM’s Christmas Choir Competition. The group’s rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” is up against holiday songs performed by other high school choirs in the metropolitan area.
Listen to the carol during the 3 p.m. hour and cast your vote once a day until submissions closes today at 11:59 p.m.
If the choir makes it through Round 1 of voting, it will go on to compete in the second round. The winning choir can win up to $5,000 for its school’s choral program and is invited to perform Dec. 7 at The Washington Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” at The Warner Theatre.
Click here to learn more. Note — the 97.1 WASH-FM site may take a few minutes to load on a desktop.
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) rolled out a new community project tied to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs – the CTE Express food truck. The truck is a decommissioned school bus that was converted into a restaurant on wheels. Students enrolled in the ProStart Culinary Arts Program: Food and Beverage Management pathway, obtain work-based learning hours while working in the truck. These students will manage aspects of the food service industry such as food ordering, menu preparation, customer service, cost analysis and community engagement.
Staffed by our students in TSHS' food service based CTE program, ProStart, the CTE Express truck made its debut at our Fall Festival last month. You may see it at some of our upcoming events, featuring our students preparing and serving food items. Stop by, take a look, and definitely take a taste to support our ProStart program. Mrs. Burris is extremely proud of her students and their progress!
a few Thomas Stone seniors who participated in an on-site admissions opportunity with the Admissions Counselor from the University of the District of Columbia. This activity was a part of our celebration of November being College Application Month. The students are Alicia Callendar, Kennady Hawkins, Monique' Wills-Talon, Kevin Parker and John Poles!
Senior dues are $150. The deadline to pay senior dues is Friday, January 31, 2024. You can submit your payment by cash, check, debit/credit card, or money order to Mrs. Lee or Mrs. Gowin in the main office. This can be done between the hours of 7:30am – 2:30pm. Money orders and checks are to be made out to Thomas Stone High School, with the student’s name in the memo line. You can also pay online, by debit or credit card at Thomas Stone High School Senior Dues
The breakdown is as follows:
Senior T-Shirt $10.00
Senior Bag $5.00
Senior Picnic $20.00
Yard Sign $10.00
Caps/Gowns/Stoles $60.00
Awards $25.00
Stage Decorations $5.00
Graduation Programs $15.00
Total $150.00
*Senior dues are a requirement. If needed, they may be paid in smaller payments, until the balance is paid off in full.
If you are or have a Senior and have not taken your Senior Picture as of yet, please click on the link below to schedule your drape/tux photo session. We will have our LAST SENIOR PICTURE MAKE-UP DAY December 18, 2024 and you MUST have an appointment. You do not have to purchase your Senior Pictures; however, you must sit for Senior Pictures to participate in the Senior Roll Call slide show during Commencement. This sitting will only be for your drape/tux photo. If you choose to have additional Senior photos taken with Lifetouch, you will need to call Lifetouch at 1-800-736-4753 to schedule a sitting, at their location. December 18th is ONLY for your Drape/Tux photo needed for graduation.
Don't Forget to Order This Year's School Pictures
ENJOY 10% OFF
your order!
CODE: F202410OFF
EXPIRES: July 31, 2025
Don’t forget to order your FREE Digital SmileSafe card!
More about the Smilesafe program here.
We are thrilled to share that in just our first week of the shoe donation campaign, we’ve collected 57 pairs of shoes — and that’s only the beginning! 🌟
A huge thank you to everyone who has generously contributed so far. Your support is helping to make a real difference, and we couldn’t do it without you. The journey doesn’t stop here; there are still many more people who will benefit from your kindness. Let’s keep the momentum going and reach even greater heights in the coming weeks!
Together, we’re not just donating shoes — we’re making an impact, one step at a time. Thank you again for being a part of this amazing cause!
· Donate: Please bring in new or gently worn shoes, including sneakers, boots, sandals, kids’ shoes, athletic shoes (including cleats), dress shoes, etc.
· Drop-off Locations: You can drop off your donations in the bin, in the front lobby of TSHS, from November 1st to January 10th. We are also having a Drive-Thru Drop Off event on Sunday December 1st, 12pm-3pm (see below flyer for more details)
· Spread the Word: We encourage you to share this initiative with friends, family, and community. The more people involved, the greater our impact!
Every pair of shoes makes a difference. Thank you for your support and generosity!
Children's Aid Society Annual Toy Drive
Members of the W.E.B.Dubois Honor Society and the National Honor Society are collecting unwrapped toy or gift for boy/girl ages infant to 17 years of age.
Toys can be dropped off in the Career Center or Room 202. The last day for donations is December 5, 2024. Thank you in advance for your support.
Thomas Stone High School is participating in the Relay for Life event on May 10, 2025, at St. Charles HS. This event is held yearly to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society and support their efforts to fight cancer. One way you can contribute is by purchasing a raffle ticket from me! (Picture attached)
Raffle details:
Cost: $10 per ticket
Prizes: 2024 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid LE
OR
$20,000.00
Drawing Date: December 4, 2024 at 12:30.
Drawing will be held line live Facebook.
All proceeds go directly to Relay for Life, supporting groundbreaking research, patient services, and education. Every ticket purchased gets us one step closer to making a difference in the fight against cancer.
If you'd like to purchase a ticket, please send an email to jsavagespriggs@ccboe.com. Don’t wait!
Thank you for your support and generosity!
If you are interested in being a part of Thomas Stone High Schools' PTSO Committee, please contact Rita Osborne at TSHSPTSO@gmail.com. Come be a part of the PTSO Committee and make a difference. Applications are available in the main office and also available during all scheduled meetings. Please complete the application form and return, with payment of $10, to the main office. We hope to see you soon!
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free form that allows students to apply for federal financial aid for college or career school: grants, work-study, and loans.
The FAFSA for 2025-26 will open on December 1, 2024. Seniors and their parents/guardians will need to create their FSAID's before December 1. Go to -https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
Did you know.... students can receive additional benefits from the Free and Reduced Meal application, such as fee waivers for ACT, SAT, and College Application fees. Upperclassman will need to complete a Free and Reduced Meals Application online, to receive these benefits. The online application can be found on the CCBOE homepage. https://www.myschoolapps.com/
The next SAT is scheduled for December 7, 2024. Registration Deadline November 22, 2024- Late Registration Deadline - November 26, 2024
Register for your SAT at www.collegeboard.org
College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools
College Board is a non-profit organization that clears a path for all students to own their future through the AP Program, SAT Suite, BigFuture, and more.
The upcoming ACT examination date is scheduled for December 14, 2024
Registration Deadline is November 8, 2024 - Late Registration Deadline is November 22, 2024
Register for your ACT at www.act.org
For all game schedules, visit Thomas Stone Cougars - Official Athletic Website – Waldorf, MD (tscougarssports.com)
All tickets, for games and events, can be purchased on GOFan at https://gofan.co/app/school/MD24850 or using credit card at the events gate entrance. There is a fee for all home and away games. Make sure to look at the bottom of the event listed to see if it is in our back yard or theirs! You should purchase your ticket ahead of time, but tickets can also be purchased at the gate. Come and support our athletes and Thomas Stone High School!
Hello Thomas Stone Families!
Thomas Stone High School is a Community School! Check out the Thomas Stone Community School Website for resource information, events and to sign-up for programs.
Thomas Stone Community School Website
Link: https://sites.google.com/view/thomasstonehs-communityschool/home
Did you know that CCPS has partnered with Hazel Health, a tele-mental health service for CCPS students in middle and high school . During in-school appointments, students can visit virtually with a mental health specialist in a designated location in the school that provides privacy. Trained school staff will accompany students to and from the appointment. Parents and families can learn more about Hazel Health here.
Please note that CCPS devices need regular updating to ensure that all software continues to work and to receive the latest security patches from Microsoft. Please check for Windows updates every Tuesday evening (or as soon after as possible). This can prevent many problems, especially during testing sessions.
If you have any issues with your laptop, please submit a ticket to Mr. Richardson by clicking the link provided https://askccps.ccboe.com/open.php. If your student is in the building, they may stop by Mr. Richardson's office, located in the Media Center for assistance.
If your student will be leaving TSHS, you will need to return your CCPS issued laptop and charger to Thomas Stone High School prior to being withdrawn.
November 21- National Parental Involvement Day
November 21 - Title I DADvisory Meeting, Starkey Building, 6pm
November 21 - Hispanic Parent Advocacy Night
November 22 - Substitute Educators Day
November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Holiday, Schools/Offices Closed
December 2 - National Special Education Day
December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 4 - 2-Hour Early Dismissal for Students
December 7 - SAT
December 7 - Pearl Harbor Day
December 9 - 2nd Semester Interim Reports Posted
December 10 - Board Meeting 1pm, Public Forum 6pm
December 13 - JROTC Military Ball (North Point HS)
December 14 - ACT
December 18 - TSHS PTSO Meeting, 6pm (TSHS Media Center)
December 21 - First day of Winter
December 23 - January 1 - Schools/Offices Closed for Winter Break
CCPS is, again this school year, participating in federal and state programs that provide free meals at qualifying schools. Thomas Stone High School is a qualified school. These programs include the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Maryland Meals for Achievement (MMFA). Students who attend Thomas Stone High School can eat breakfast and lunch for free for the entire school year. If your child would like to purchase additional a' la cart items, they can purchase these items by using MySchoolBucks.com.
TSHS ADMINISTRATION TEAM
9th - Mr. Snow bsnow@ccboe.com
10th - Mrs. Savage jsavagespriggs@ccboe.com
11th - Mrs. Loyd kloyd@ccboe.com
12th - Mr. Werkheiser cwerkheiser@ccboe.com
Instructional AP - Dr. Bateman jbateman@ccboe.com
To learn more about our Admin team, click the link below:
Thomas Stone High School
Website: https://stone.ccboe.com/
Location: 3785 Leonardtown Road, Waldorf, MD, USA
Phone: (301)753-1756
Twitter: @CougarsTSHS