Counseling

A - Diakite  Counselor and Department Chair: Ms. Valerie Benton
Email address: vbenton@ccboe.com 
Telephone extension: 155020

Diaz-K Counselor: Mr. Adrian Banks
Email address: abanks@ccboe.com 
Telephone extension: 155018

L-Rodriguez  Counselor: Ms. Cindy Sanders-Moore
Email address:  csandersmoore@ccboe.com 
Telephone extension: 155019

Rollins-Z: Ms. Maritza O'Grady
Email address: mogrady@ccboe.com
Telephone extension: 155021

College and Career Advisor: Ms. Beth Cusic
Email address: bcusic@ccboe.com  
Telephone extension: 155024

Counseling Secretary : Ms. Linda Ehman
Email address: lehman@ccboe.com
Telephone extension: 5510

Student Data Accounting Technician: Ms. Andrea Anderson
Email address: aanderson@ccboe.com
Telephone extension: 155023

Counselors are available to facilitate conferences involving parents/guardians, students and classroom teachers. Prior to requesting a conference, parents/guardians should:

Check ParentVUE and communicate directly with the classroom teacher(s) via phone or email. In many cases questions or concerns can be satisfactorily addressed expeditiously.

If direct contact with the teacher does not alleviate the concern, parents/guardians should contact their child's counselor directly (by phone or email) to request a parent/teacher/student conference. Conferences are scheduled during the times listed below and are scheduled at least 24 hours after the date of request. 

Days and Times for Conferences

Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m - 7:20 a.m.
* Conferences with four (4) or less staff members

OR

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 2:20 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
* Conferences with any amount of staff members

Parents/guardians are asked to complete the registration forms online. Appointments are required, so please call ahead to schedule. It generally takes approximately one hour to complete the registration.

Online Registration

 Items that must be presented at the time of registration include:

• Photo ID - parent/guardian
• Two (2) current proofs of domicile within the Maurice J. McDonough High School attendance zone
• Immunization record
• Birth certificate
• Academic record from school previously attended (most recent report card and transcript)
• Copy of your child's IEP or 504 (if applicable)

In most cases, your child will be able to begin school the day after registration. Please note that the following circumstances will require you to visit the Board of Education prior to registering your child at Maurice J. McDonough:

• You are currently living with someone within the Maurice J. McDonough High School attendance zone and proofs of domicile are only in their name.
• Your child is in foster care and services originated outside of Charles County
• Your child recently came to the United States of America and you have a transcript from another country.

Hours for Enrollment

Monday-Friday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
by appointment only

Parents/guardians wishing to withdraw their children from Maurice J. McDonough High School must do so in person in the counseling department. We encourage parents/guardians to give the counseling department secretary a two school day notice of the withdrawal. Parents/guardians must:

• Submit a completed school withdrawal/transfer form 
• Provide photo identification (students can only be withdrawn by their biological parent or legal guardian)

Prior to their last day of school attendance, students must:

• Return all school issued books, equipment, uniforms
• Pay any debts or fines to the cafeteria, library, or school

At the time of withdrawal the parent/guardian will receive:

• Proof of the withdrawal, which will include transfer grades (grades can only be available if the two school day notice is given)
• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of immunization record
• Copy of current schedule
• Proof of enrollment in new school

All other records will be given directly to the school after a request of records is received in our office.

Hours for Withdrawal:  Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Students requesting a copy of their transcript must print and complete the transcript request form

Submit the completed form and the transcript fee ($2 per copy) to the counseling office secretary.

Allow five school days for the processing of all transcript requests.

Electronic transcripts and transcripts for scholarship applications are free of charge.

Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 will receive a free, unofficial copy of their transcript suring the first marking period each school year. Students and parents/guardians are encouraged to check the accuracy of their academic record. 

Transcripts are kept on file at the school for four (4) years following the date of graduation. For older transcipts, please contact the Office of Student Services at (301) 932-6610.

Students wishing to change their schedule must complete the Schedule Change Request Form

Parent/guardian must complete the form and return, via email, to the student's counselor of record by September 14th.  The counselor will notify the student within 72 hours if the schedule change request was approved or denied.