We are thrilled to welcome you to the latest edition of our Gifted and Talented Newsletter! It is with great pleasure that we share insights, updates, and highlights from the exceptional journey our gifted and talented students are on.

We believe that staying connected with the community is crucial for fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. We encourage you to explore the content and use this newsletter as a resource to stay informed about the exciting opportunities and challenges our gifted and talented program has to offer. Your involvement and support play a vital role in nurturing the potential of our extraordinary students.

Thank you for your dedication to the success of our students!

Grace & peace,

Dr. Crystal Ricks, Supervisor of Gifted, Advanced Learning, and STEM

Ms. Jessica Minnich, Gifted & Talented STEAM Specialist

Mrs. Nicole Staudinger, Gifted & Talented STEAM Specialist

We extend heartfelt appreciation to each middle and high school student who participated in our School-Based Shark Tank! Your innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit truly showcased the incredible talent across our district. Thank you for your dedication and for inspiring us with your ingenuity.

A special congratulations to our winners who will now progress to the District Shark Tank competition. Your hard work and creativity have earned you this exciting opportunity, and we are proud to see you represent your school on the next stage. Our district shark tank will be held on January 18, 2024, at Calvert Library Prince Frederick from 4:00PM - 7:00PM. We are proud of your achievements. Best of luck to our school based winners as they embark on the next leg of this entrepreneurial journey!

Our Calvert County GATE sponsored Destination Imagination program has its largest participation ever this year! We have 50 teams that span elementary, middle, and high school! As our school sponsors and students become familiar with the STEAM based challenge many teams will only compete at the local and state competition.

This year we, CCPS, have been asked to sponsor a local Instant Challenge Day with representatives from Maryland Destination Imagination. If you would like to attend any of our Destination Imagination events, the dates are below:

Instant Challenge Day: February 10th, 9:00-3:00 at Plum Point Middle School

Terrapin Regional Tournament: February 24th at South River High School

🗣️Advancing Teams Only- Maryland State Destination Imagination Tournament: 3/16 at UMBC

Thank you to our GATE Liaisons, school sponsors, and parent volunteers for your continued support of this worthwhile program!

Calvert Library Prince Frederick added a colorful and educational enhancement to the brick wall facing Costley Way in the form of a tile mural that includes plants and animals of the local region. The mural was designed and crafted by local ceramic artist Parran Collery using a relief sculpting process so there is dimension to the pieces. Seeing and low-vision visitors alike can enjoy the art with their hands. The art was funded in part by the Friends of Calvert Library and a grant from Maryland State Arts Council. Friends of Calvert Library President Laura Allison said, “This mural is a wonderful enrichment to a library visitor’s experience and the Friends are pleased to support it.”

The mural celebrates the bountiful local natural environment that was present when the site of the library was still a rural farm and woodland. Some represented species are common, and some are on the conservation watchlist. An interactive educational activity booklet will accompany the mural which will encourage visitors to engage with the artwork on multiple levels. Calvert Library Executive Director Carrie Willson said, “Isn’t it wonderful when learning is beautiful and interactive! I suspect our new mural will inspire future scientists, conservationists, and artists.”

Calvert County Public Schools, Bowie State University, Dramatic Results and Calvert Library collaborated on a federal Department of Education grant to develop Calvert’s capacity to create and sustain high-quality, engaging and equitable STEAM programs. The STEAM Ecosystem Expansion Demonstration (SEED) Project has a long-term goal to build arts-integrated educational pathways for a more creative and diverse workforce. A pilot cohort of students enrolled in Calvert County Public School’s Gifted and Talented program, selected the issue of climate change as the topic of study for the five-year program. Including research into native flora and fauna was a perfect fit. Programs included a hands-in-clay workshop, as well as writing and graphic design instruction. Students are creating a companion activity booklet for the mural artwork.

Parran Collery has designed and implemented a wide range of public art projects in the Maryland-DC-Virginia area including mosaic murals for the DC H Street Revitalization Project, Calvert Animal Welfare League, Caroline County Council of Arts and the Annmarie Arts Center. Other public art projects include a sculpture in Leonardtown and a series of sculptures in Frederick.

Please stop by Calvert Library Prince Frederick to view the incredible projects completed by CCPS 6th grade gifted and talented students during Fall 2023 Reimagine Thinking SEED Workshops. Students worked with local professionals to create clay tiles, redacted poetry, as well as an activity book for children within the community to use as they interact with the recently installed tile mural at the library.

Student work will be on display at Calvert Library Prince Frederick through January 31, 2024.

The Office of Gifted and Advanced Learning is pleased to offer our winter session of elementary enrichment book clubs. Winter book clubs will begin the week of January 8. All registered participants will receive information from their facilitating GATE liaison regarding meeting links and session details.

Registration information for our spring enrichment sessions will come in February.