Great
Mills High School
21130 Great Mills Road
Great Mills, Maryland 20667
Telephone
301.863.4001
FAX 301.863.4006
Home
of the
Hornets
GREAT MILLS HIGH SCHOOL has been
offering a quality education to the students of
Mary's County for over sixty years....
"a continuing tradition of student success...."
"WELCOME to the GMHS HOMEPAGE.
Great Mills High School (Home)
Great Mills High School (Staff)
Great Mills High School (Guidance)
Great Mills High School (GMHS Profile)
Principal
Roy Reynolds
Doug Diven (Assistant)
Guidance Counselors
Kathleen V. Lacer, Chair
Stacey Buckmaster
Simone Greenwell
Carol Hallauer
Ramona Smith, Career Specialist
Athletic Director
Brenda Henley
Secretarial
and Support Staff
Gena Clifton, Secretary (Principal)
Veronica Spicuzza, Secretary (Front Office)
Margaret Stickell, Secretary (Guidance)
Sylvia Garay, Secretary (Assistant Principal)
Monica Jaster, Secretary (Assistant Principal)
NOTES FROM THE GUIDANCE OFFICE
The Maryland High School Diploma (Including Maryland State Graduation Requirements)
To receive a High School Diploma in St. Mary's County, students must satisfy the following five requirements:
Pass all Maryland Functional Tests,
Complete the student service learning component,
Compile a student portfolio,
Complete a minimum of 22 credits, including:
English.........................................................
4
Social Studies.............................................. 4
Mathematics............................................... 3
Science........................................................ 3
Physical Education/Health......................... 1
Technology Education................................ 1
Fine Arts..................................................... 1
Core Credit Total........................................ 17
Complete one of the following
program sequences:
Option 1 Sequence
Maryland University System Entrance Requirements:
Including 2 Credits in Foreign Language: in addition, Math Credits Must Include Algebra I & 2 and Geometry
Option 2 Sequence
Occupational Completer Sequence:
At Least 4 Credits in a Career and Technology Program Sequence
Option 3 Sequence
Advanced Technology Sequence:
2 Credits in Advanced Technology Courses and 3 Other Appropriate Elective Courses
TOTAL REQUIRED CREDITS................. 22
GMHS SCHOOL PROFILE
by Jean Illingworth, Science Teacher
SCHOOL COMMUNITY: GMHS is a comprehensive public high school of 1,350 students in grades 9-12. It serves the community at the southern end of St. Mary’s County, at the confluence of the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. The area is a mixture of rural and suburban communities. Many of the families are employed by the U.S. Navy at the Naval Warfare Test Center, government contractors, St. Mary’s College of Maryland or involved in traditionally agricultural and water related businesses. The ethnic population of the school reflects that of the community; 64% Caucasian, 31% African American, and 5% other.
ACCREDITATION: GMHS is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges & Secondary Schools and the Maryland Department of Education
STAFF: The staff of GMHS numbers 95 including; a principal, three assistant principals, 68 teachers, three guidance counselors, two librarians, six secretaries, one pupil personal worker, one nurse, three para-professionals, and numerous other support staff.
GRADING SCALE: S/CM/HONORS * AP
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60 -69
F = 0-59
GMHS grading system is a single, non-differentiating, four-point system. An exception to this is the grading for Advanced Placement (AP) courses which are weighted. Class rank is based on the grade point average of course grades for the eight terms from grades 9 through 12. Students are given grades every nine weeks. These grades are used to determine eligibility for extracurricular activities as well as informing parents of progress. The cumulative GPA is based upon the 18-week final grade at the end of each course. *(Honors classes were initiated 1995-96)
ORGANIZATION: Classes meet daily for 90 minute blocks of time. Students take four classes in the fall term (Sept-Jan) and four different classes in a spring term (Jan-June). Exceptions are some of the AP classes which meet for 45 minute blocks all year long and classes offered at the Tech Center. One credit is earned per class per term except for the yearlong AP classes and Tech Center classes. Grades are issued every nine weeks.
Our curriculum is designed to allow each student to progress and be successful in classes that are appropriate to their ability and future goals. We offer Advanced Placement classes for those students ready for that challenge. Our Certificate of Merit (CM) classes offer a curriculum that is intended to prepare students for the challenges that they will find at college. Our Standard (S) level classes offer similar curricula in a format suited to students preparing for the world of work, trade school and/or community college. GMHS offers the full range of Special Education Services for students with special needs.
DIPLOMAS OFFERED: GMHS offers two levels of diplomas to its graduates; a Standard Diploma (S) which states that the student has fulfilled the state and county requirements for graduation and a Certificate of Merit Diploma (CM) that certifies that the grantee has completed a more rigorous set of requirements.
Those students graduating in the class of 1997 and beyond must complete one of three program sequences in order to earn a Standard Maryland High School Diploma, as well as earning 22 credits.
1. University of Maryland entrance sequence - this sequence requires that the mathematics courses taken include at least Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry, and two credits of a foreign language.
2. Occupational Completer sequence - four of the five electives are taken within a career specialization.
3. Advanced Technology Completer sequence - this option is for students who may move to Maryland later in their high school years who are unable to complete option #1 or #2 because of time constraints.
A Certificate of Merit Diploma requires the above plus 3 Mathematics credits of the Algebra 1 level and beyond, Level III Foreign Language or Occupational Completer status, twelve CM classes and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (1997+) or higher.
All students must complete 75 hours of student service learning. This is generally completed in the civics class. Transfer students may also fulfill this requirement independently through the Social Studies department.
Also, all students must pass four state mandated functional tests (Reading, Math, Writing, & Citizenship) to receive a diploma.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: GMHS has a full sports program including varsity and junior varsity teams for football, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, golf, cross-country, wrestling, basketball, weight lifting, indoor and outdoor track, tennis, baseball, softball, cheerleading and pom pons. Clubs include Student Government, National Honor Society, Model United Nations, Model General Assembly, Mock Trial, French, German, Spanish, Art, Drama, F.B.L.A., D.E.C.A., Envirothon, S.A.D.D. and S.H.O.P.
CORE COURSE OFFERINGS BY DEPARTMENT (1997)
ENGLISH
( 4 credits required)
* English 9
(S/CM/Honors)
* English 10 (S/CM/Honors)
* English 11 (S/CM/AP)
* English 12 (S/CM/AP)
Journalism
Publications
Newspaper
Yearbook
Special Studies in Literature
MATHEMATICS
( 3 credits required) U
Essentials of Algebra
and Geometry
Applied Algebra and Geometry
Elements of Algebra
Elements of Geometry
Elements of Contemporary Mathematics (CM)
Algebra I (CM)
Intermediate Algebra (CM)
Geometry (CM)
Algebra II (CM)
Statistics and Probability (CM)
Trigonometry/Analysis (CM)
Calculus (CM/AP)
Computer Science 1(CM), 2(CM)
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
French 1, 2, 3 (CM), 4
(CM), 5(CM)
German 1, 2, 3 (CM), 4 (CM), 5(CM)
Spanish 1, 2, 3 (CM), 4 (CM), 5(CM)
Latin 1, 2
FINE ARTS
( 1 credit required)
Crafts 1, 2
Visual Art 1, 2, 3(CM), 4(CM)
Commercial Art
Sculpture
Trends in Music
Music Theory 1, 2
Chorus 1, 2 (CM)
Chamber Singers (CM)
Band 1, 2 (CM)
Jazz Band (CM)
Theater Arts 1, 2, 3(CM), 4(CM)
SCIENCE
( 3 credits required)
Earth & Space
Science (S/CM)
Biology (S/CM)
Advanced Biology (CM)
Chemistry in the Community
Chemistry 1 (CM), 2(CM), AP
Principles of Technology I (S), II (CM)
Physics 1 (CM), 2 (CM)
SOCIAL STUDIES
( 4 credits required)
* Civics 9 (S/CM)
* World History 10 (S/CM)
* U.S.History 11 (S/CM/AP)
* Contemporary Issues 12 (S/CM)
** Government and Politics (AP)
Psychology
Anthropology
Geography
** Global Diplomacy (CM)
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
( 1 credit required)
* Physical
education/Health
Athletic Conditioning
Aerobic
TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
( 1 credit required)
* Intro to Technology
(one)
*Health/Human Services
*Engineering/Mechanics
*Business/Management
* required course
** may be substituted for Contemporary Issues requirement
Each department also offers the option of Independent Study for those students capable of independent research.
PROGRAM COMPLETER OPTIONS
A. FOUR YEAR COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY SEQUENCE
1. FINE ARTS
Instrumental
Theater Arts
Visual Art
Vocal
2. HUMANITIES
3. MATHEMATICS / SCIENCE
4. PRE-ENGINEERING
B. OCCUPATIONAL COMPLETER SEQUENCE
1. BUSINESS / MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES
Accounting
Data Processing
Diversified Occupations
Graphic Arts / Printing
Marketing
Office Technologies
Paralegal Studies
2. ENGINEERING / MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGIES
Agriscience
Automotive Body Repair
Automotive Technology
Carpentry
Computer Technology
Drafting
Electronics
Horticulture
Industrial Engineering
Masonry
Plumbing / HVAC
Residential Wiring
Sheet Metal
Welding
3. HEALTH / HUMAN SERVICES TECHNOLOGIES
Allied Health
Child Care
Cosmetology
Culinary Arts
Nursing