wednesday,july 3, 2013 - County Times - Southern Maryland Online

The County TimesWednesday, July 3, 2013 14George W. Carver Elementary SchoolProfileFast FactsFairlead IAcademic Dean: Rebecca ClinePhone: 301-863-4090Fax: 301-863-4013Address: 20833 Great Mills RoadLexington Park, MD 20653School Hours: 7:40 am - 3:10 pmFairlead IIAcademic Dean: Wendy ZimmermanPhone: 301-690-2111Fax: 301-475-0245Address: 24009 Point Lookout RoadLeonardtown, MD 20650School Hours: 7:45 am - 3:15 pmschools.smcps.org/fairlead/Abel Gonzalez working on a laboratory activity inExplorations in Science class.Fairlead Academy is a program designedto guide students through the challengesof high school by improving organizational,academic, and interpersonal skillsthrough positive relationships, 21st centurytechnology and a small learning environment.Students continue to be enrolled intheir home high schools of Chopticon, GreatMills, and Leonardtown; however, they attendFairlead Academy for a portion of theirday to complete their English, math, scienceand social studies courses and select electives.Many students are also accepted intothe Dr. James A. Forrest Career and TechnologyCenter.Fairlead Academy opened as a programin St. Mary’s County Public Schoolsin the 2008-2009 school year with sixty students.The program began with only ninthgrade students and has expanded every yearsince. In the 2011-2012 school year, FairleadAcademy II opened in Leonardtownto include junior and senior students. TheFairlead Academy program now consistsof a Fairlead I, located on Great Mills Roadand a Fairlead II, located on the Leonardtowncampus. Current enrollment of FairleadAcademy is 230 students.Every June, ninth grade students havethe opportunity to spend the night andlearn about college at St. Mary’s College ofMaryland. Students spend two days at thecollege where they tour the campus, meetwith the Admissions Officer, and have theopportunity to talk with current collegestudents, take their classes in the collegelecture halls and laboratories as well asspend the night in the dorms. They also getto enjoy their meals in the dining hall andpartake in using the pool and gymnasiumMary Reece and Elizabeth “Summer” Woodburn, at the finale of their freshman year, pledging to Dr.Martirano to graduate in 2016.Fairlead Academy Offers anAdditional Source of EducationMay 20, 2013 Culminating Ceremony. Students received personal gifts from Dr. Martirano, Superintendent.Females received scarves and males received a necktie from Dr. Martirano’ s own collection.Back row: Dr. Martirano, Thomas Passfeld, Devonte Taylor, Marcus Scriber, Aaron Brice, Joseph Collins,Marcus Wade, Kenneth Knott, Tyler Abell, Ethan Rand, Alex Chew, Joshua Young, Grant Pate, WilliamMidgett, Marcellus Butler, Hunter Long, John Reinburg, Alex Nasman, Brooke Matthews, WendyZimmermanFront row: Cathy Allen, Brianna Jenkins, Crystal Solomon, Amanda Mahaffey, Samantha Miller, ArielleLane, Adriene Owens, Unique Chase, Shannon Williams, Mary Washingtonon campus. The goal of this activity is toimmerse students in a college campus andto discuss what is required in order for studentsto attend college; it is also designed todemonstrate that all students can and shouldattend some type of higher education center.They should not let finances or home-lifestand in the way of their future.Fairlead students graduate with theirsenior class from each home high school.Fairlead Academy II hosts a culminatingceremony each year to celebrate each student’saccomplishments and their graduation.Many Fairlead students began highschool with few goals or the desire to graduate.After graduation, some students pursuea four-year degree, some students join themilitary, many attend The College of SouthernMaryland, and many others attend tradeschools or start apprenticeships to refinetheir craft that they studied at the Dr. JamesA. Forrest Career and Technology Center.A few of success stories include thefirst student to graduate early in a three yeartime frame. He requested the early graduationand received permission in order topursue his goal of joining the military. Onegraduate is now employed by Calvert Cliffsnuclear power plant. One graduate will beattending Catholic University on a scholarship.One senior received the BECA scholarshipand another received a scholarshipat the BECA awards ceremony to pursueher college education. One other studentis working full-time while attending theCollege of Southern Maryland and will beleaving for boot camp in a month where hewill pursue a career in the military. FairleadAcademy is extremely proud of the studentsfor their hard work and dedication to overcominghardships in order to achieve theirgoals.Kenneth “Jimmy” Knott, graduate, holding his giftfrom Dr. Martirano, Superintendent of Schools.Tinasha Bush and Markia Hebb helping to deliverpencils for High School Assessment testing.Crystal Solomon, Marcellus Butler, Aaron Brice, &Grant Pate, graduates, at the Fairlead AcademyCulminating Ceremony on May 20, 2013.