Gifted, Talented, & STEM Newsletter
September 2026
Welcome to a New Year of Discovery and Growth!
We are excited to welcome students and families to another wonderful year in our Gifted, Advanced Learning, STEM, and MESA programs. This year, our guiding theme is SOAR: Stretch Your Thinking, Open New Possibilities, Ask Questions, and Reach New Heights.
Throughout the year, students will be encouraged to embrace challenges, explore new ideas, solve meaningful problems, and discover their unique strengths. Whether participating in advanced learning experiences, STEM investigations, MESA activities, or enrichment opportunities, our learners will be challenged to think deeply, innovate creatively, and grow as leaders.
This newsletter is designed to keep families informed and connected by highlighting student accomplishments, upcoming opportunities, program updates, and resources that support learning beyond the classroom. Together, we can create experiences that inspire curiosity, foster confidence, and help every student reach their fullest potential.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to celebrating a year of learning, achievement, and growth as we SOAR together!
Dr. Crystal Ricks
Supervisor of Gifted, Advanced Learning, and STEM
Calvert County Public Schools
Spotlight on Excellence: Dr. Shane Wines
Congratulations to Dr. Shane Wines on his recent NAVSEA feature recognizing his work in expanding computer science and AI education. A Calvert County native and former Calvert High School teacher, Dr. Wines has dedicated his career to creating innovative STEM opportunities for students and inspiring future engineers and computer scientists. His latest work includes developing an AI-focused educational game that connects students to real-world STEM and naval careers.navy
Congratulations, Dr. Wines, on this well-deserved recognition and for your continued impact on students, STEM education, and innovation!
Dr. Crystal Ricks is proudly leading the continued revitalization of the Arthur Storer Planetarium, working alongside community partners, donors, families, local churches, and CCPS staff to reimagine the planetarium as a hub for STEM learning and exploration. Inspired by childhood visits to the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon, Georgia, she envisions the planetarium as a place where curiosity is sparked, memories are made, and a lifelong love of STEM begins.
Thanks to generous community support and ongoing technology upgrades, the planetarium is expanding opportunities for students and families across Calvert County. The district is working toward a full reopening by the end of 2026.
A sincere thank you to our donors, community partners, local churches, families, and dedicated CCPS staff whose support and commitment have helped move this vision forward. Together, we are creating opportunities that will inspire future generations of learners.
Stay tuned for exciting updates, new programming, and opportunities to experience the wonder of the Arthur Storer Planetarium!
Calvert County Public Schools continues to expand STEM and Gifted learning opportunities for students. A new STEM Center at Southern Middle School, created in partnership with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, officially opened with a Ribbon Cutting Event on September 18th at 10:00 AM at Southern Middle School.
In addition, summer programming supported by the STEAM Ecosystem Expansion Demonstration (SEED) Grant engaged students in hands-on learning experiences that fostered creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. The compiled summer data from these programs will be shared.
Together, these efforts highlight the district's commitment to innovative instruction and preparing students for future ready success.
https://thebaynet.com/southern-middle-school-launches-state-of-the-art-stem-center/
INTERESTED IN JOINING A DESTINATION IMAGINATION TEAM (ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY)
If your elementary or secondary child is curious, creative, or loves working with others to solve challenges, we encourage you to reach out! Please contact your child's Gifted and Talented Liaison or classroom teacher to learn how to get involved in THIS year’s competition.
Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to inspire the next generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders!
V/R,
Katrina Davis, Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher daviskw@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Willanette Thomas Lohr, Assistant Principal lohrw@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Ignite Calvert & Spark Calvert
Thank you to all of our families that joined us for our STEAM Summer Camps. Campers engaged in hands on STEAM projects, explored STEAM careers, while reinforcing academic skills through communication and collaboration. In addition, students visited the Arthur Storer Planetarium, the Maryland Science Center, and the Career and Technology Academy. Students also had the opportunity to complete a communicate project with Cove Point LNG. Please be on the lookout for the 2027 summer camp dates.
Sponsors:
*Calvert County Public Schools Office of Gifted, Advanced Learning, STEM
*Calvert School Foundation
*Cove Point LNG
*Constellation Energy
Site Sponsors:
*Southern Middle
*Windy Hill Elementary
*Mutual Elementary
As always, thank you for entrusting us to serve your students and families. More soon!
🤖Interested in Robotics - Join Us!🤖
If you’re interested in innovation, coding, and hands-on problem solving, Robotics might be the perfect fit! Currently, five schools are participating in our Robotics program—four elementary schools and one middle school. Students are learning to program robots to complete specific missions, building skills in engineering, collaboration, and computational thinking.
We’re looking forward to hosting our district-wide Robotics competition this spring—details will be shared soon. If your school is not yet involved and you'd like to learn more, please email Mrs. Kelly Short at shortk@calvertnet.k12.md.us or Dr. Ricks at ricksc@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Interested in Maryland MESA sponsored by Johns Hopkins - Join Us!🔬
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.
Hosted by APL since 1976, when it was just two schools in Baltimore City, the MESA program now reaches students in eight Maryland school districts. Through project-based team competitions, students experience engineering, computer programming, physics, and many more STEM disciplines while developing strong communication and collaboration skills. MESA students are able to see the real-world applications of what they are learning in school, develop the STEM skills they will need in the future, and begin to see themselves in STEM careers.
Maryland MESA is administered by APL and joins ten other MESA USA programs in serving over 49,000 students annually. If you are interested in your child joining a team, please contact your child's teacher or Dr. Ricks at ricksc@calvertnet.k12.md.us
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.
