La Plata, MD – The first day of school went off without a hitch for Charles County Public Schools Monday, Aug. 29.

“It went well,” said Charles County Public Schools Director of Media Relations Katie O’Malley-Simpson. “Just the normal stuff. Some of buses ran a little late, but I think that’s to be expected on the first day as the kids get used to the bus routes.”

O’Malley-Simpson said there are some new programs coming on line with the new 2016-17 school year, including an effort to expand technology to pre-K students.

All seven pre-kindergarten programs will provide mini-ipads with academic applications along with parent training for the students.

“We’re going to try to provide technological options for those children who may not have that advantage at home,” O’Malley-Simpson explained.

It’s also the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the Charles County Board of Education, a fact that will be celebrated throughout the fall with a series of three lectures throughout the county.

The first will take place Friday, Sept. 2 at the Port Tobacco Court House at 6 p.m. and will feature two different lessons, one of which would have taken place 100 years ago and performers in period costume will conduct the program.

The second lesson will be presented as it would be today.

The program will be followed by a tour of the old one-room schoolhouse at Port Tobacco.

The topic of segregation and desegregation will be part of the second lecture which will take place throughout the day at the Charles County Fair Friday, Sept. 16 and Saturday, Sept. 17.

O’Malley-Simpson said the presentation will feature speakers who experienced both.

The final program takes place Saturday, Oct. 1 at the James E. Richmond Science Center in Waldorf at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a presentation on natural disasters and how we handle them.

The discussion will focus on two tornadoes, a hurricane and an earthquake that have affected the county in recent years.

O’Malley-Simpson also noted that the county begins construction on its 22nd elementary school this year.

The new school, to be located on Billingsley Road in Waldorf, will open in August 2018.

“It hasn’t been named yet,” she pointed out, adding that the board is seeking names until Sept. 9.

If you have a suggestion, email it to: smackey@ccboe.com

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com