Our School

History

The word "piccowaxen" is a Native American term meaning "ragged, pierced, or broken shoes/torn moccasin." Long before Maryland was settled, it was home to a confederacy of 327 villages of the Piscataway tribe. (Piscataway means joining of water.) The area of Southern Charles County (now known as Cobb Island, Rock Point, and Newburg) were the villages of the subtribe Conoy, which means whirlpool. A subtribe of the Piscataway-Conoy was the Piccowaxen tribe. There are many families of the Piscataway-Conoy who still live in the area.

The language of these villages was Algonquin, a term that represents a combination of similar languages of many tribes of the northeastern seaboard. Algonquin is a language rich in descriptive terms. In the early 1700s, the Piscataway tribes were put under the protection of the Iroquois Confederacy (New York and Canada) by Maryland's Governor Bradford as a strategy to reduce the Native American population. Many Piscataway tribes were moved north; however, the borders were closed and the remaining tribes stayed when the Susquehanna, a warring tribe located in Pennsylvania, began to encroach and protective assistance was needed for the settlers.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide a dynamic, culturally responsive educational experience that promotes academic excellence, celebrates student growth and achievement, encourages innovative thinking, and develops good citizenship. We strive to empower every student to reach their full potential and become lifelong learners who contribute positively to their community and the world at large.

Our Vision

100% of all teachers will implement standards-aligned instruction for all students.

100% of all students will read, write, and perform mathematics at or above grade level.

We will cultivate a nurturing and inclusive environment that empowers every student to achieve academic excellence, foster a passion for innovation, and develop into responsible, compassionate citizens. We are committed to inspiring lifelong learning, inspiring creativity and instilling values of accountability, honesty, integrity, kindness, respect, and trust in all of our students.

Our Motto

Strong Instruction, Strong Relationships, and Strong Classroom Management

Our Pledge
By my words and actions, I pledge to be respectful, responsible, safe, and proud, and remember, you can’t hide that Picco Pride!