FCPS Honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Award Recipients
Alisha Yocum Each year, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr through a ceremony at Thomas Johnson High School. Dr. King, a minister and civil rights leader, devoted his life to the fight for equality and justice, advocating for social change through nonviolent protest. His leadership played a…
From Calf to Show Ring
An FFA Project Series For my 2026 market and breeding projects, all animals were born and bred on my farm. The steer I plan to take to the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show in September is a Maintainer named Fort Worth. Fort Worth was born on March 25, 2025, and was the last calf born…
Bocce Tournament Raises Funds for the Ms. Kelle Brumley Inclusivity Scholarship
Catoctin High School(CHS) students and staff participated in a very special Bocce Tournament on Wednesday, December 17, held in memory of CHS Special Education Teacher Kelle Brumley. Ms. Brumley was not only a teacher but also a co-coach of the many Unified Sports teams at Catoctin High School. The tournament was held to raise funds…
Local Students Excel in SkillsUSA Competition
Several students from Catoctin High School who attend the Frederick County Public Schools Career and Technology program recently showed off the skills they learned during the annual SkillsUSA local competition. Students from across all Fredrick County Public Schools who finished in the top five of their competition were recognized during an award ceremony on December…
Spanish Honor Society Students Serve Community
Six Catoctin High School Spanish Honor Society students and advisor/teacher Lynne Griffin spent the evening of Monday, December 1, serving as Spanish translators for a Christmas event at the Thurmont Community Closet. The event is held annually at the start of the Christmas season. The purpose of the event is to serve families in need…
From Calf to Show Ring
An FFA Project Series by Makayla Comer Makayla Comer is a junior at Catoctin High School and a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). She is serving as the 2025-2026 Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show Ambassador and currently serves as Social Media Coordinator. In this monthly series, Comer will take readers behind the…
Catoctin FFA “EMPOWER” at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo
The National FFA Convention is held every year and attracts FFA members from every state, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The 98th National FFA Convention was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, from October 29 through November 1, 2025. While at the convention, 24 Catoctin FFA members joined over 73,000 other FFA members and guests…
Wolfsville Students Dig Into Fall Cleanup As Garden Club Prepares for Winter
Alisha Yocum On a crisp fall afternoon, Wolfsville Elementary School (WES) students were excited to stay after school as part of the Garden Club, led by teacher Janet Dill. Their mission: Clean up the fall leaves and prepare the garden for winter. For more than 30 years, the WES community garden has thrived with the…
Words For Thirds
Thurmont Grange Donates Dictionaries The Thurmont Grange delivered Webster’s Dictionaries to third graders in the Catoctin feeder pattern on October 21 as part of its annual Words for Thirds community service project. During their visit, Grange volunteers gave a brief presentation about the organization and shared how students can use their new dictionaries to support…
Mount St. Mary’s University Opens School of Health Professions
Alisha Yocum It was an exciting day not only for Mount St. Mary’s University but for the town of Emmitsburg on October 19. Patrica Hill-Callahan, Vice President for Advancement and Class of ’87, welcomed a crowd of people to the ribbon-cutting of Mount St. Mary’s Timothy E. Trainor School of Health Professions—a building that will…
Local Private School Gets New Name
Alisha Yocum In 2023, Chesterton Academy of the Annunciation opened in Emmitsburg, offering a private Catholic school option for high school students. Originally operating under the Chesterton Schools Network, this spring, the school became an independent school in order to gain more curricular autonomy. The school recently selected a new name, Annunciation High School. Kristin…
Become a Catoctin High School Sports Booster Member
Catoctin High School (CHS)Sports Boosters is a parent-based organization that provides support for all CHS athletes, sports teams, and coaches. The Sports Boosters program is needed to cover the additional expenses not covered by the very limited athletic department budget. Money is raised through fundraisers, concession sales, sponsorship, and membership. Please consider becoming a Catoctin…
Faith, Love, and Legacy Build the Foundation for the New Mother Seton School Chapel
For years, the Mother Seton School community dreamed of having its own chapel—a quiet, sacred place where students could gather for prayer, reflection, and faith formation. This fall, that dream will finally come to life, thanks to a gift born of both generosity and love. TJ and Donna (Fitzgerald) Demmon, whose ties to the school…
New Damascus Road Christian Academy Opens in Waynesboro
Waynesboro has a new option for families seeking faith-based education. In August, Damascus Road Christian Academy opened its doors at 336 Barnett Avenue. The school was founded by Haley Reynolds, who said she has always had a passion for education and felt called to open a Christian school. The academy is currently accepting active enrollment…
Thurmont High School Alumni Annual Banquet
Maxine Troxell The annual banquet and meeting of the Thurmont High School (THS)Alumni Association was held at the Rocky Ridge Fire Company Activities Building on Saturday, June 7, with 189 in attendance. President Ron Pearcey (Class of 1964) welcomed everyone at 4:00 p.m. and led the pledge to the flag, followed by Raymond (Rocky) Birely…
Catoctin High School Celebrates 57th Commencement Ceremony
Alisha Yocum The Class of 2025 from Catoctin High School celebrated a memorable milestone on May 29, as 194 students crossed the stage at Mount St. Mary’s University to receive their diplomas during the school’s 57th commencement ceremony. Class President Kylie Foster welcomed family, friends, faculty, and honored guests to the ceremony, marking the culmination…
Free Summer Lunches for Northern Frederick County Children
free lunches this summer. Lunches are available at the following locations. Each lunch bag includes five lunches for the week. You must be a Northern Frederick County resident and under the age of 18 (Tuesday each week until August 12): Emmitsburg Regional Library: 10:00 a.m. to Noon Thurmont Regional Library:10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thurmont…
Catoctin High School Distinguished Graduate Organization Nomination Forms Due July 15
The Distinguished Graduate Organization was established to recognize the graduates of Catoctin High School (CHS) who have made a difference locally, in the state and/or in the nation. These men and women are nominated in five categories: Academics, Arts & Humanities, Athletics, Business, and Service (community, military or public). Nominated graduates will be mailed an…
SES Students Earn Junior Naturalist Certificates
Seventh-grade students at Sabillasville Environmental School (SES) recently earned their Junior Naturalist Certificates as part of a new program launched with Fountain Rock Park & Nature Center in Walkersville. Tim Olsen from Fountain Rock Park & Nature Center visited the school once a month for the past year and taught students about tree identification to…
Thurmont Middle School Student Recognized as 2025 Most-Improved Student
As they have done since 1990, the Kiwanis Club of Frederick recently recognized the most-improved Frederick County Middle School students for the 2024-2025 academic year. Family, friends, teachers, and school administrators joined club members in honoring the students for their improvements in academics, citizenship, class participation, and leadership. Emmalin Tyeryar (pictured above) was recognized as…
