Former Superintendent of Schools James E. Richmond says he is overwhelmed that the school system plans to name the science center at St. Charles High School the James E. Richmond Science Center.
Superintendent Kimberly Hill made the naming announcement Nov. 26, calling Richmond the architect of the “wow” factor for students and the visionary behind the center. Hill’s announcement followed an event that allowed Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students and NASA astronauts to engage during a live 20-minute question/answer session. The event connected 20 students in the Telepresence classroom at La Plata High School to astronauts on the International Space Station.
Hill said the science center has “two amazing, astounding, incredible, monumental features,” including a digital classroom that seats 180 people and Science on a Sphere, a large interactive globe. “Imagine a cross between a planetarium and an IMAX theater,” Hill said as she described the digital classroom, a dome-like structure at the front of the new high school that opens in August 2014. “It’s not just a thing for students, it is something all of our community can benefit from,” Hill said.
“Mr. Richmond always talked about the ‘wow’ factor for students. He is the architect of the ‘wow’ factor for students. The science center at St. Charles High School will be forever known as the James E. Richmond Science Center,” Hill said as she unveiled an architectural rendering with Richmond’s name on the front of the center.
“I am overwhelmed. It is an honor. It is a great center where students, teachers and the community can learn. I think the science center will inspire children and adults for years to come about the wonders of the universe,” Richmond said following the announcement.
Richmond said the idea was to create the “wow” factor for children using state-of-the-art technology that can help “turn on the minds of children and adults as we look to go to other worlds and planets. Technology has implications for all people of the world, and the wonder of space exploration is one way to turn children on to science,” Richmond said.
The science center is located at St. Charles High School and will be open to all students as well as the public. The center is expected to be complete by the summer of 2014.
Charles County Public Schools provides 26,500 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 35 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.
