Science on a Sphere
St. Charles High School will feature Science on a
Sphere technology for students. Science on a Sphere is
a room-sized globe that provides students with visual instruction about science, the Earth and the environment.
Developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), Science on a Sphere technology uses
computers and video projectors to display animated, 3-dimensional data on to a six-foot diameter sphere. Students
can learn how specific environmental scenarios, such
as storms, climate change and ocean currents, have on
Earth and the atmosphere. The technology provides students with a visually compelling way to learn about science and it will be used daily at St. Charles High School;
for Charles County Public Schools students who visit as
part of their science classes; and for walk-in visitors and
scheduled events for the community.
Telepresence
Telepresence is videoconferencing technology that
uses large screens to create a virtual classroom in more
than one location. It can be used to teleconference with
students in other schools, to connect a teacher to more
than one classroom, to provide staff development and for
other situations. Telepresence classrooms are located in
each Charles County high school and instructional offerings include Advanced Placement (AP) courses, in-service activities, systemwide administrative meetings and
testing sites.
Charles County
Public Schools
Board of Education
Roberta S. Wise, Chairman
Maura H. Cook, Vice Chairman
Jennifer S. Abell
Patricia Bowie
Michael K. Lukas
Pamela A. Pedersen
Donald M. Wade
St. Charles High School
Digital Classroom
Kimberly A. Hill, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Sylvia A. Lawson, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent of School Administration
Paul T. Balides
Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Business
Amy L. Hollstein
Assistant Superintendent of Instruction
Keith A. Hettel
Assistant Superintendent for Supporting Services
Technology tools
for the
21st century classroom
Architectural renderings by SHW Group
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability in its
programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Patricia
Vaira, Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator (students), or Connie W.
Armstead, Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata,
Maryland 20646. 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call
301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. (DigitalClassroom13, 8-21-13)
P.O. Box 2770
La Plata, Maryland 20646
301-932-6610, 301-870-3814
www.ccboe.com
About the digital classroom
Vision
The digital classroom will raise the level of the science and math curriculum as well as provide learning opportunities in other subjects and fine arts. It
includes technology to present students real experiences in a three-dimensional setting.
St. Charles High School is Charles County Public
Schools’ seventh high school and is scheduled to open
in August 2014. The school will serve as an anchor of a
new green community underway in the St. Charles area
and will offer opportunities to students and the community that include environmental and natural resource
management, technology and
current issues related to these
fields of study. St. Charles High
School will also contain several
specialized features, available
for use by all Charles County
Public Schools students including a digital classroom, Science
on a Sphere and Telepresence
technology.
Digital Classroom
The digital classroom is
equipped to provide learning
experiences that better prepare
students for higher education
and careers while enhancing critical thinking and literacy
skills needed in the development of 21st century skills.
The digital classroom contains state-of-the-art technology and is a multi-use dome theater that uses high resolution, three-dimensional graphics and surround sound to
enhance learning experiences for students. The dome theater is a tool that gives teachers the option of advancing
lessons from lecture and drill to interactive classes using
technology and three-dimensional visuals. The classroom
capacity has space for 150-180 students.
The dome can serve as a planetarium, but its use extends beyond astronomy. The classroom also provides
opportunities for lessons that build on information available from teachers and textbooks. Response pads and
hands-on use of technology allow students and teachers
to develop, plan and present assignments. The digital
classroom will raise the level of science and math curriculum, as well as provide learning opportunities in other
subjects and fine arts.
To assist Charles County Public Schools with funding necessary equipment and technology for the digital
classroom, Senator Barbara Mikulski secured a $500,000
grant in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on
Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies 2009
spending bill.
A digital classroom is a natural next step for Charles
County Public Schools. Already, the system’s 35 schools
are wireless and teachers use distance learning, streaming video
and electronic class materials.
The digital classroom is a technological teaching tool that will
be available not only to the students at St. Charles High School,
but to all CCPS students.
School Program
St. Charles High School will
offer the same program of study
available to all high school students and all courses offered will
meet requirements for students
to obtain a Maryland State Board
of Education diploma. Students can pursue a scholar’s
course of study, enroll in Advanced Placement courses
and participate in after-school activities, sports and clubs.
The digital classroom is a specialized area in the school;
however, St. Charles High School will house traditional
classrooms, an auditorium, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and
instructional resource center and administrative areas.
School Facts
St. Charles High School is being built for additional
capacity to handle growing enrollments at the high school
level. The 269,000-square-foot school is planned for a 99acre site off Piney Church Road in Waldorf. Construction
on the site began in fall 2012 with an anticipated opening
date of August 2014.