Hello Hornet Nation!

I have been reflecting on the recent articles that have been published about our school, and I feel compelled to address the inaccuracies that have been reported. I do believe that no one can question how much I love Great Mills High School and our community. I cannot stay silent when misinformation is being spread.

The articles in question made claims about me, Beejay Dothard, providing false or misleading information about the state of our school. It is important to note that these articles did not include any quotes or references to interviews with SMCPS staff, indicating that they are based on second-hand information. Furthermore, one of the articles was written anonymously, raising questions about the credibility of the source.

I want to emphasize that the safety of our students is paramount, and when they are unsafe no one in our building is safe. I want to reassure you that Great Mills High School is a safe environment, filled with individuals who also love Great Mills and are committed to the well-being of our students and community.

If you have any concerns or would like to discuss the safety of our school, I invite you to join us on Wednesday, February 21st at 3:30 in the Media Center for our School Improvement Team Meeting. Your input and participation are valuable as we work together to ensure the continued safety and success of Great Mills High School.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to Great Mills High School.

Let’s make it a GREAT week Great Mills!

We Are… GREAT MILLS

#TRUSTTHEPROCESS

¡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

• February 13 - Pennsylvania College of Technology
  
• February 15 - BECCA Scholarship Night
• February 19 - President's Day - All Schools Closed
• March 21 - York College of Pennsylvania
  

Spring sports begin Friday, March 1st. In order to play you have to sign up on Family ID, have a current sports physical on file, and be at all tryout days. Students do not have to have played before or have equipment. They just have to have a desire to learn something new and be ready to work. SMCPS spring sports include, Baseball, Softball, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Girls and Boys Outdoor Track and Field, Boys and Girls Tennis, and PALS Bocce. PALS Bocce is a Special Olympic sport and we are always looking for students to play and to help.

2024 Yearbooks are on sale for the cheapest price of the year!! Follow this link to purchase yours today!

NJROTC Joint Leadership Academic Bowl (JLAB) Team A obtained the highest score this school has ever recorded. Waiting to see if they qualify for national championships.

Our Stellar Xplorers team qualified for the National Finals. They finished 7th in the country and earned an all expenses paid trip to Denver, Colorado in April to compete in the National Finals! They will be competing for more prizes and scholarships. This team consists of sophomores Rishi Sheth, Aiden Brickner, Matthew Reardon, Zane Kenney, and Trevor Curtis.

Congratulations Hornets!

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, UMD, Alabama University, West Virginia University, FIT, Purdue, Ohio State University, University of Auburn, University of Tennessee & Virginia Tech!!

It's that time of year again, link your Harris Teeter card to Great Mills High School!

Thank you to our Media Specialist, Ms. Cole, for organizing such an amazing annual event! It grows every year with more and more community members visiting Great Mills High School!

I also want to thank everyone for supporting the African American Read-In. In all, readers visited 68 classes to participate in this national initiative. Enjoy a few highlighted pictures below.

Maintaining order in school bathrooms has been an issue for schools nationwide, and Great Mills is no different. Last week, we had extensive damage in one of our boys' restrooms. This restroom will be out of order indefinitely until repairs are made. In the ongoing effort to keep bathrooms functional and available for the entire student body, we are establishing the following protocol for the student bathrooms:

• During class time, all students must have a valid pass to use the bathrooms (if not, you will be turned away)

• There is a maximum capacity of 5 students in any given bathroom at all times. If the capacity has been reached, you will need to wait

• Always follow the directions of the adults who are monitoring the bathrooms (Safety Assistants, Admin, Teachers, etc)

• Not following these expectations can result in disciplinary action under Code 702, Insubordination, in the Code of Conduct.

Please understand that the last thing we would like to do with our time is monitor high school bathrooms, but unfortunately, this is where we are. In an effort to get students help we created an anonymous form where anyone can report suspicious behavior in the bathrooms. We will place QR codes to this form around the building.

Safety for everyone is a top priority! I want to remind everyone that under no circumstance should we open an exterior door to allow entry to anyone. Even if you think they are student do not open doors and direct them to the main office doors for entry. Everyone, including students, should enter through the main office.

We would like to bring to your attention a recent issue that has been occurring within our school. There have been instances where students have been engaging in play fighting in the hallways. While some may view this as harmless horseplay, others are doing it intentionally to provoke a response from administrators.

We understand that play fighting may seem like a minor issue, but it has been causing disruptions in the school day, especially with the recent increase in fights over the past month. We have already addressed this matter with the students, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment.

However, we believe it is crucial to inform you as well, as parents play a vital role in reinforcing positive behavior and accountability. Moving forward, if any students are found engaging in play fighting in the hallways, we will address this with disciplinary consequences.

We greatly appreciate your support in helping us maintain a peaceful and conducive learning environment for all students. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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.

All 9th and 10th graders interested in applying to the Tech Center for next school year needs to make sure they attend the virtual Tech Center Meet and Greet during lunch. This is the first step of the application. If you would like to know what programs are available to SMCPS students click here.

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.

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."

We hope to see you in The Learning Center on Wednesday!

How did your grades look in the first marking period? Looking to recover those grades to a passing grade?

The Learning Center (TLC) will be available during One Lunch. TLC will support students who need additional help in their graduation-required courses. Any students who are interested in the TLC need to report to Room F12 during One Lunch on 11/20. If you have any questions about TLC, please contact Katie Sushinsky, GMHS Literacy Coach, at kesushinsky@smcps.org or Hattie Webb, GMHS Math Coach, at hswebb@smcps.org.

Please email Mrs. Cunningham, accunningham@smcps.org, if you need assistance in completing FAFSA and/or MDCAPS

• March 21 - York College of Pennsylvania
  
• April 11 - ASVAB Test

It is National Career Development Month and Ms. Carroll is giving a raffle! Students can earn tickets by attending Military visits in the Career Center, answering the Career related question that will be given during the announcements, or making time to speak with Ms. Carroll about their Career plans after high school. Each week, she will draw a ticket and the winner will receive a gift card. Good luck!!

The Spring ASVAB will be given on April 11, 2024 for Juniors and Seniors. Military branches use the ASVAB as a tool to determine how successful a person will be at certain occupations. Sign up using the link in your email or see Ms. Carroll, lmcarroll@smcps.org with any questions.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that if you qualify for the Free and Reduced-Meal Program, students also qualify for the following opportunities:

• Free registration fees for SAT & SAT I

• Free registration for ACT

• Waived College Application fees

• Federal Pell Grants for Trade schools, Colleges, Universities, and other certificate programs for after high school

Fill out the online Free and Reduced-Meal Application HERE

Would you be interested in an ASVAB tutoring session during the school day with a military recruiter? This session can help improve your current score or help you prepare to take the ASVAB for the first time. If you are interested, please email Ms. Carroll at Lmcarroll@smcps.org

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?

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.

This week in Sports

Our regular season events have ended and our Playoff Schedule will be out very soon!

Come out and support!!

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.

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.

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.

2024 Yearbooks are on sale for the cheapest price of the year!! Follow this link to purchase yours today!

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

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HEALTH INSURANCE OR SUPPLAMENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE FOR YOUR STUDENT? FIND MORE INFORMATION BELOW.

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