Janiya Brooks, a senior at Charles H. Flowers High School in Springdale, has been honored as a PGCPS Scholar of the Week.
Janiya, who hopes to one day become a pediatrician, is a student in the Science and Technology program. She holds a 4.0 grade point average and serves as president of the National Honor Society, captain of the volleyball team, publicist for the Social Activism Club and a member of the Physics Club. Janiya’s course load includes Advanced Placement American Government, World History, Biology and English Language.
“Prince George’s County Public Schools taught me the value of hard work and dedication,” Janiya said. “Throughout my years in the school system, I have learned how to be a well-rounded student by participating in extracurricular activities and staying on top of my studies. I have grown tremendously as a student and as a person, and I have PGCPS to thank.”
Janiya, who plans to major in biology with a pre-med focus and attend medical school, has been accepted to Norfolk State and Cornell universities.
She has interned at Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Howard University College of Medicine where she studied pediatric HIV/AIDS. Janiya has also participated in the A.S.C.E.N.D. Educational Enrichment Program sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., which motivates, engages and assists high school students in reaching their maximum potential.
In her free time, Janiya volunteers at Watkins Nature Center, serves as a biological science aide at the National Arboretum and enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing volleyball and reading non-fiction literature.
Homegrown School Lunch Week
PGCPS’ Nutrition Team recently celebrated “Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week” by incorporating local produce in school lunches and educating students about food production and the benefits of a healthy diet.
High School Specialty Programs
Applications for High School Specialty Programs and Career Academies will open Oct. 11. All applications will be processed online.
The programs include 3D Scholars; Science and Technology (Charles H. Flowers High School, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Oxon Hill High School), Academy of Health Sciences @ Prince George’s Community College (Health Sciences and Teacher Preparation), and Aerospace Engineering & Aviation Technology @ DuVal High School.
Each of the programs are serviced by the same test, but the acceptance criteria differs. Potential 3D Scholars must be PGCPS ninth-, 10th- or 11th-graders.
For more information, go to http://www.pgcps.org/3dscholars.
Dollars Make Sense for Students
A partnership among Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, PGCPS and Capital One, JA Finance Park, is a “hidden jewel” in Prince George’s County where every eighth-grade student receives digital financial literacy training on making real-life financial decisions that will lay the foundation for how they approach their financial responsibilities in the future.
Topics covered for eighth-graders include income, credit and debit, budgeting, saving, and investing and risk management.
Healthy Schools Awards
Arrowhead and High Bridge elementary schools were recently named to the “America’s Healthiest Schools” list by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a national organization that empowers children to develop healthy habits.
More than 460 schools nationwide were honored, including five from Maryland.
“It is important for students to build lifelong healthy eating and physical activity habits,” said Monica Goldson, interim PGCPS CEO. “We applaud Arrowhead and High Bridge for creating a total learning environment that emphasizes wellness, nutrition and regular physical activity.”
Arrowhead and High Bridge, located in Upper Marlboro and Bowie, respectively, earned the bronze-level national distinction by successfully meeting a rigorous set of criteria for serving healthier meals and snacks, offering high-quality health and physical education and empowering school leaders to be healthy role models.
Both schools met or exceeded federal nutrition standards for school meals and snacks, offer breakfast daily, implemented wellness policies and updated progress annually and provide students with at least 60 minutes of physical education per week.