Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students and staff were recently recognized for their work in the community. Rachel Proctor, the art teacher at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School, along with several CCPS elementary-aged students contributed to painting a mural on the fence of the Oasis Fresh Food Market in Indian Head, the first grocery store in the town in over 25 years. Proctor led the project by designing, drawing and coordinating the painting.

The store had a soft opening on Oct. 9 opening the building to a limited number of people and a grand opening celebration on Oct. 25.

Students and staff from Indian Head Elementary School, Gov. Maryland Wes Moore, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, Charles County commissioners and Maryland delegates and senators recently visited the store. Visitors were able to see the over 40-foot mural and tour the inside of the building.  

Students from Indian Head helped paint the mural were fourth grader Ava Walker, fifth grader Valentino Castro and fifth grader Larra Carino. “The students were honored to meet our leaders,” Marissa Ackerman, community school coordinator at Indian Head, said.

Proctor and Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy fifth grader Allie Colson were also recently recognized for their work by Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy during a special assembly. Oasis co-owner Mark Steele, Mayor of Indian Head Brandon Paulin, former CCPS Superintendent of Schools and Oasis Advisory Board Member Kimberly Hill, Ed.D., also attended the assembly. Steele made a $500 donation to the school on behalf of the store in support of its annual Thanksgiving dinner for local senior citizens in November.

Colson was recognized as the only Mt. Hope student who contributed to the mural. Paulin presented Proctor with the Indian Head town seal and Colson with a gift bag for their contributions to the project.

For more information about the new store, visit https://oasisindianhead.com/.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 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).