Orientation2026 Announcement

Schools hosting orientation events for the 2026-2027 school year

Charles County Public Schools

July 24, 2026

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has released orientation schedules for the 2026-2027 school year. Listed below are orientation dates and times, and other activities for schools. Specific questions about orientation events should be directed to individual schools. As a reminder, the first day of school for students in kindergarten through Grade 12 is Monday, Aug. 24.

Elementary Schools

C. Paul Barnhart:

  • Orientation for new kindergarten students, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Aug. 4.

  • Orientation for students with the last names beginning with A-M, 2 to 2:45 p.m., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for students with the last names beginning with N-Z, 3 to 3:45 p.m., Aug. 20.

Berry, orientation for all students, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

Billingsley:

  • Orientation for students with the last names beginning with A-L, 9 to 10 a.m., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for students with the last names beginning with M-Z, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Aug.20.

Dr. Gustavus Brown:

  • Orientation for students with the last names beginning with A-L, 10 to 10:45 a.m., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for students with the last names beginning with M-Z, 11 to 11:45 a.m., Aug. 20.

Dr. James Craik, orientation, noon to 2 p.m., Aug. 20.

William A. Diggs:

  • Orientation for kindergarten, 9 to 11:30 a.m., Aug. 12. Parents of registered students need to RSVP (email notification sent to parents).

  • Block party for kindergarten through Grade 2, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Aug. 19.

  • Block party for Grades 3-5, 1:45 to 2:45 p.m., Aug. 19.

Gale-Bailey:

  • Orientation for SOAR program, 9 to 11 a.m., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for all students, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

Dr. Thomas L. Higdon:

  • Orientation for students with last names beginning with A-L, 2 to 2:45 p.m., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for students with last names beginning with M-Z, 3 to 3:45 p.m., Aug. 20.

Indian Head, orientation, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Aug. 21.

Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, orientation, 3 to 4 p.m., Aug. 20.

Malcolm, orientation, 9 to 10 a.m., Aug. 20.

T.C. Martin:

  • Orientation for kindergarten students, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 19.

  • Orientation for Grades 1-5, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

Mary H. Matula:

  • Orientation for SOAR and EA programs, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for all students, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

Arthur Middleton, orientation, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

Walter J. Mitchell, orientation, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy, orientation, 3 to 4 p.m., Aug. 20.

Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, orientation, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Aug. 19.

Mary B. Neal, orientation, 9 to 11 a.m., Aug. 20.

J.C. Parks:

  • Orientation for SOAR program, 11 to 11:30 a.m., Aug. 20.

  • Block party for kindergarten through Grade 2, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

  • Block party Grades 3-5, 1 to 2 p.m., Aug. 20.

J.P. Ryon:

  • Orientation for students with last names beginning with A-L, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for students with last names beginning with M-Z, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

Margaret J. Thornton, orientation, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

Eva Turner:

  • Orientation for kindergarten, 10 a.m. to noon, Aug. 3 and Aug. 7. Families only attend one session.

  • Orientation for all students, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Aug. 21.

William B. Wade:

  • Orientation for returning students in Grades 1-5, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 19.

  • Orientation for kindergarten and new students, 1 to 2 p.m., Aug. 20.

Middle Schools

Theodore G. Davis:

  • Orientation for sixth-grade students, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for new students in Grades 7-8, 3 to 3:45 p.m., Aug. 20.

Glymont:

  • Orientation for sixth-grade students and students new to Glymont, 9 a.m. to noon., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for all students, noon to 1:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

John Hanson, new student orientation, 10 a.m. to noon, Aug. 13.

Matthew Henson, new student orientation, 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 20.

Mattawoman:

  • Orientation, sixth-grade boot camp, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Aug. 12.

  • Orientation, sixth-grade students and students new to Mattawoman, noon to 2 p.m., Aug. 20.

Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA):

  • Orientation for sixth-grade students and students new to PISOTA (Cohort A), 7:30 to 11:15 a.m., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for sixth-grade students and students new to PISOTA (Cohort B), 11:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Aug. 20.

Piccowaxen, new student orientation, 9 to 11 a.m., Aug 21.

Milton M. Somers:

  • Orientation for sixth-grade students, 11 a.m. to noon, Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for new students in Grades 7-8, noon to 1 p.m., Aug. 20.

Benjamin Stoddert:

  • Orientation for Spanish speaking families, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

  • Orientation for sixth-grade students and new students in Grades 7-8, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

High Schools

Henry E. Lackey, Grade 9 and new student orientation, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Aug. 19.

La Plata, new student orientation, 4 to 6 p.m., Aug. 19.

Maurice J. McDonough, Grade 9 and new student orientation, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

North Point, new student orientation, 4 to 6 p.m., Aug. 19.

St. Charles, Grade 9 and new student orientation, 1 to 3 p.m., Aug. 20.

Thomas Stone, new student orientation, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Aug. 20.

Westlake, new student orientation, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Aug. 20.

Centers

F.B. Gwynn Educational Center, orientation, 2 to 3 p.m., Aug. 20.

Early Learning Center, La Plata, orientations scheduled with families the week of Aug. 24.

Early Learning Center, Waldorf, orientations scheduled with families the week of Aug. 24.

Robert D. Stethem:

  • Orientation, Grade 11 CTE students, 3 to 4 p.m., Aug. 18.

  • Orientation for new Virtual Academy students: last names beginning with A-L, 4:30 to 5:15 p.m., last names beginning with M-Z, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., Aug.18.

  • Stethem Virtual Middle School, orientation, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Aug. 20.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,904 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 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.

CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).