The Board of Education of Charles County honored eight students during its May 13 meeting. Those recognized were Ariyah Dobbins, a prekindergarten student at the Early Learning Center (ELC) La Plata; fifth graders Sebastian Rolly Arco of William B. Wade, Allie Colson of Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy, Cristina Merino Gonzales of Indian Head, Fatima Khan of Billingsley and Melanie Perez of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd elementary schools; Xavier Obannon, eighth-grade student at Theodore G. Davis Middle School; and Devin Cox, a senior at Westlake High School.
Each month the Board honors students in the areas of academic achievement, career readiness and personal responsibility.
Dobbins was recognized for personal responsibility. She follows classroom rules and takes care of her belongings. “She is always helpful,” ELC, La Plata, Coordinator Candace Vallandingham-Adam said. “[Always] offering assistance to both peers and teachers with a positive attitude. Her kindness and respect for others make her a great role model for her peers in the classroom.” Dobbins is a good listener, helps take care of the classroom and always uses kind words and gentle hands. She loves to learn new ideas and finds her own solutions when challenged, Vallandingham-Adam said.
During Arco’s time at Wade, he has participated in many clubs and teams including the robotics team, math team, chess club and the Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) team. Arco’s involvement in extracurricular activities while keeping up with his academics led to him being recognized for personal responsibility. When he learned that two of his club schedules conflicted, Arco took on the responsibility of working with the club leaders to make sure he could make it all work. A teacher noted that Arco is one of the first to step up to get projects off the ground and running. “He has spearheaded the building of his team's robot,” the teacher said. “He does a great job of keeping others around him on task.” Arco is a role model for his peers and can be counted on to demonstrate Wade’s Three Be's — be respectful, be responsible and be safe — out at recess, and when he sees a peer who might need some help making better decisions, he tries to help them as well, Wade’s interim Principal Sonia Blue said. Outside of school he participates on a swim team beating a personal record last year and in spring, he plays soccer, preferring the position of goalkeeper. “He recognizes the importance of keeping up his schedule and building good habits,” Sonia Blue, Wade’s interim principal, said. Arco hopes to become an engineer like his mother when he grows up.
At Mt. Hope, Colson has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, artistic talent and a positive attitude which led to her being recognized for academic achievement. She is an honor roll student who is creative and excels in art and science, as evidenced by her artwork being displayed at local events, including during Youth Art Month and a community mural project. “Allie’s dedication to her work and her kindness toward others make her a well-rounded and admirable student, friend and daughter,” Mt. Hope Principal Louis D’Ambrosio said. Colson is an active member of the chess club, fifth-grade art club and a member of the MESA team. She won first place in the school’s science fair and was recognized by the Master Gardener’s Club of Charles County during the History, Industry, Technology and Science (HITS) Expo for her experiment on soil.
Gonzales, who was honored for academic achievement, has attended Indian Head since kindergarten and has earned honor roll status every quarter. “She comes to school each day ready to learn and always demonstrates academic discipline by completing class work and other assignments on time and to the best of her ability,” Indian Head Principal Shane Blandford said. Gonzales receives gifted services in reading. She enjoys reading her favorite genre, fantasy fiction. She is a member of school’s math chess, crochet club, butterflies club and is a safety patrol. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family.
At Billingsley, Khan is a well-rounded scholar whose name is often on the Principal’s Honor Roll. She receives gifted education services in both reading and math and scored proficient in reading and math in the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) last school year. She scored in the 90th percentile on the math i-Ready assessment. Khan is on the school’s math team where she helped the team earn first place among all elementary schools in the county. She was recognized at the HITS Expo for her science fair project in the category of environmental science and was Billingsley’s Carson Scholar nominee this year. Khan plays viola and was a member of the All-County Orchestra. She has participated in the Girls Who Code Club and Spelling Bee. This year, Khan is a safety patrol and a “Live Bobcats” morning announcer. “She is a role model for younger students and often gives her recess time to support kindergarteners,” Billingsley Principal Sabrina Robinson-Taylor.
Since beginning her educational journey in kindergarten, Perez, who was honored for academic achievement, has demonstrated excellence in her studies, earning a place on the honor roll with an impressive record of all As and Bs. Beyond her academic success, Perez is an active and responsible member of the school community. She is a member of the school’s math team and a safety patrol, assisting with both arrival and dismissal to help ensure a safe and orderly environment for her peers. Perez plays the violin and has been identified as a gifted student. “Her passion for learning is evident in her enthusiasm for social studies, her favorite subject,” Dr. Mudd Principal Portia Parker said. “She enjoys exploring history and discovering the stories of the past.” Perez is a teacher’s helper taking initiative, completing tasks with care and precision, and contributing to the smooth operation of the classroom. Looking ahead, Melanie aspires to become a detective and hopes to attend college in Maryland, Boston or Texas. Outside of school, she enjoys drawing, watching television — especially “Miraculous Ladybug,” indulging in sweet treats and spending time with her two brothers.
Obannon was recognized for career readiness. “He wants to be a therapist someday,” Davis Principal Robert Griffiths said. “He knows that he can lead a community in a position such as this and have a true impact on mental health.” An eighth grader, Obannon is not sure what college he wants to attend, but he knows that he wants to study psychology. Obannon is active in the school’s drama club, History in Action Club and chorus, making both all-county and tri-county choruses the last three years. His experiences have helped him develop into a leader, Griffiths said. Obannon’s favorite subjects in school are math and Spanish. “Xavier says with math, once you have the formulas down, its just numbers from there,” Griffiths said. Outside of school, Obannon loves to sleep, listen to music and play Roblox with his friends. In his spare time, he spends time with his grandparents. Obannon volunteers and works at his church, Body of Christ in Waldorf.
Cox is known as “Mr. Westlake,” at the high school. “He has earned the respect of both his peers and teachers through hard work, focus and quiet leadership,” Dana Fenwick, Westlake’s principal, said. He avoids distractions and is self-driven. Cox brings a sense of calm and positivity to the classroom—cheering others on and encouraging participation. “His presence uplifts those around him, making him a valued and unforgettable part of the school community,” Fenwick said. Cox plays football for Westlake but is most proud of his academic accomplishments including carrying a GPA of over 4.0. Cox’s teachers call him a “joy” to have in the classroom. “He is a leader in every class from theater arts to English,” Fenwick said. In a recent class, some students were reluctant to read aloud. Cox volunteered to go first to encourage his peers and was supportive of everyone who took a turn to read after him. “Teachers can always count on Devin to help out a classmate or make the class just a little bit better,” Fenwick said.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 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).