Gifted and Talented Newsletter
February 2024
Join the Gifted Education Discussion
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 honor our past and inspire our future by celebrating Black History Month in our schools throughout February and all year long. Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month.
Click below for additional information:
Soaring to New Heights!
Great things are happening in Calvert County! Thank you to William R. Hall II and Mr. Herndon for facilitating a virtual informational session for any parent or student in 11th or 12th grade. This session offered an opportunity for families and students to engage and learn about the SOMD Youth in Aviation Program. We’re excited to announce that our students had their first FREE flight class on Saturday, February 3rd. Our students will take part in FREE private pilot classes for 12 weeks. The course will prepare students for the FAA Written Exam for Private Pilots. Our students are reaching for the skies through the SOMD Youth in Aviation Program. Congratulations to Cody Banning, Jorden Sampson, Sean Matteson, Miles Roger, Connor Reggettz, Sam Walling, and Abby Dahlin! Encouraging dreams, inspiring futures!
Northern High STEM Spotlight!
We had the pleasure of meeting with two phenomenal student leaders at Northern High School. Thrilled to acknowledge the dynamic duo - Elizabeth and Sarah - for spreading the creation of our new "Women in STEM" organization. Our planning session was nothing short of brilliant, and we're eagerly anticipating the incredible impact this group will have in our district. A special thank you to Mrs. Lacey at NHS who mentors, cultivates, and supports STEM initiatives!
2nd Annual Spark Fair on February 1, 2024
A heartfelt thank you to Bonnie Green and Jennifer Brown at The Patuxent Partnerships for their collaboration in sparking STEM interest within our school district. Our 9th and 10th grade students thoroughly enjoyed attending the SPARK session! In addition, Patuxent Partnership sponsored one bus per high school which allowed 160 students to attend the event in St. Mary's County. We look forward to empowering our students to explore STEM careers! 🚀 #STEMeducation #PartnershipsMatter #FutureInnovators #CCPSShines
Congratulations District Shark Tank Winners!
The Office of Gifted and Advanced Learning would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all the incredible students who participated in this year's Shark Tank! Your creativity, innovation, and dedication truly impressed us, and it's a testament to the bright future ahead. Whether you pitched a product, a service, or a groundbreaking concept, each one of you contributed to the success of this event.
Amidst the outstanding pool of talent, we are delighted to announce the winners of this year's Shark Tank competition:
Middle School
1st Place: GOODGRUB by Ty Coffey & Cohen Van Bavel (PPMS)
2nd Place: DISCO DISC by Sydney Marshall & Caroline Pennini (CMS)
3rd Place: RESTOCKABLES by Naomi Grimm & Mikayla Monroe (PPMS)
High School
1st Place: GAME4GOOD by Evelynn Argeles, Ava Knepper, Taylor McPhetters & Jacque Jo Nichols (NHS)
2nd Place: FOCUSMIND DIAGNOSTICS by McKenna Ross (NHS)
3rd Place: NEWBMOMS by Noelle Blackman & Alex Jurney (NHS)
Congratulations to each of you for your remarkable achievements! Your hard work and innovative ideas stood out, and we commend you for your achievements.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the families as well as our Gifted and Talented Liaisons who supported and encouraged our students throughout this exciting journey. Your involvement played a crucial role in their success.
Checkout Our Photos
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/mobile/folders/1pMJGOZvv9WfIfUYC_7Bz02B9jjp6ev5k
Middle School Girls STEM Day on March 2, 2024
The United States Naval Academy (USNA) STEM Center in Annapolis, MD is hosting a Middle School Girls STEM Day: "Robotics & Coding" on Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 8 AM to 3 PM. MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS (GRADES 6-8) are invited to participate in this hands-on program to discover how scientists and engineers explore the world and make it a better place for all.
- Experience hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, and math.
- Meet faculty & college student mentors working with exciting technology.
We LOVE Destination Imagination!
Our Calvert County GATE sponsored Destination Imagination program has its largest participation ever this year! We have 50 teams that span throughout 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 CCPS will 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!
3rd - 5th Grade Virtual Family STEM Night
We hosted our first virtual CCPS Family STEM Night, “Art With a Spin” on January 31, 2024 at 6 PM. This opporunity was offered to the first 50 families that registered for the session. "Art With a Spin" provided an opportunity for students and families to build a circuit to transform energy into a spin art machine!
The next virtual family STEM night ("Slime Time") will be held on February 28, 2024. Additional information is forthcoming.
3rd - 5th Grade Virtual Family STEM Night
3rd - 5th Grade Virtual Family STEM Night
3rd - 5th Grade Virtual Family STEM Night
Maryland MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement)
Great things are occurring with our MESA programming! We have increased participation across the district. Maryland MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) is an exciting and engaging after-school program for students in grades 3–12 designed to spark their interest in STEM education and STEM careers.
The Maryland MESA program aims to provide an accessible, inclusive, and nurturing environment for all club members regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status.
- increase the number of engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and related professionals at technical and management levels, and
- encourage and assist minorities and females in achieving success in these fields
2.5.24
MESA Club (HES)
2.5.24
Dr. Dwight Carr from JHU visited students that participate in MESA at Huntingtown Elementary School.
2.5.24
MESA (PAC)
A Special Shoutout!
A SPECIAL shoutout to our dynamic Gifted and Talented Resource teachers who serve Patuxent Appeal Elementary School (Mrs. Katrina Davis), St. Leonard Elementary (Mrs. Melissa Sydnor), Plum Point Elementary (Mrs. Bonita Morgan), and Mount Harmony Elementary School (Mrs. Jessica Meador). We appreciate all that you do to support the diverse needs of students in K - 5 at your designated school. You rock!
Scholarship Opportunities
High School Summer Internship Program
This program is for 11th and 12th graders interested in exploring careers in research and healthcare. With the exception of the HiSTEP program, these are full-time research positions within one of the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) in the NIH Intramural Research Program. Research groups are located on all NIH campuses, including the main campus in Bethesda, MD.
Community Matters!
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.
Partnership Spotlight!
We would like to express gratitude to our stakeholders Vernetta Christian (CCPS Supervisor of Special Education), Kimberly Eubanks (Educational Systems Federal Credit Union), LaToya Mitchell (Calvert Library Youth Services Coordinator), and Ellen Servetnick (K-12 Program Manager, NAWCAD Strategic Education Office) who generously dedicated their time to serve as judges at our district Shark Tank. Your expertise and feedback have been invaluable in shaping this experience for our students.
Thank you, Calvert Library, for graciously hosting this event. Your support and collaboration made this experience possible by providing a platform for our students to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit.