Dear P-TECH Families,
Welcome to the first P-TECH IT Family Newsletter. Each week we will share the wins worth celebrating, the dates you need, and the opportunities your scholar should not miss. This month brings big news: a new program name, a new online home, a national STEM competition, and invitations from middle schools across the county.
Principal Albert T. Lewis reminds the Largo family that the path to excellence is a commitment to continuous renewal, not a race to perfection. With first-quarter progress grades posting now, please sit down with your scholar this week, open Canvas together, and set goals for a strong finish to Quarter 1.
Great News First
Our new online home: ptechlargo.com
Every P-TECH study companion, quiz, calendar, and certification track now lives at ptechlargo.com. Course sites follow the same pattern, for example int1010.ptechlargo.com and techplus.ptechlargo.com.
Nothing is lost: old course links forward automatically to the new address, and quiz scores carry over. The first time your scholar opens a course on the new address, they may be asked for their last name and class year again.
P-TECH once again leading the way
- Maryland Legislative Day (Friday, October 9). Two P-TECH scholars will represent Largo alongside student leaders from SGA, JROTC, Cheer, and Football. We have also invited 10 additional P-TECH scholars to help set up and prepare for the Legislative Day events.
- Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM Innovation Competition. P-TECH will compete in this national competition. Mr. James will lead a team with Mr. Buma to bring another award home to Largo.
- Student leadership. Three 9th-grade Class Leaders and a three-member 11th-grade leadership team were selected this fall for academic standing at the top of their cohorts.
- Middle schools are asking for us. An Accokeek Academy counselor reached out on her own after learning her 8th graders can apply to Largo's P-TECH IT program.
- P-TECH Class Leader Conference — Monday, October 19, 6:30–8:30 PM. Parents: your learner must be brought on site by a parent for this event. The location will be announced in next week's newsletter.
Our New Name: P-TECH IT at Largo High School
Effective October 2026, the program your family has known as TalentReady is now P-TECH IT at Largo High School, the district's first P-TECH program in Information Technology. (PGCPS's other P-TECH pathways, at Frederick Douglass High School, are Health Information Management and Hospitality Services Management.)
- Staying the same: the PGCC partnership and college coursework; the outcome of one diploma (Largo High School) and one degree (PGCC associate degree); your team of Ms. King, Mr. Buma, and Mr. James. The Classes of 2027 and 2028 continue on their current track.
- Changing: the Classes of 2029 and 2030 move onto the full P-TECH track. On October 6, Ms. King represents Largo at the Fall 2026 P-TECH Collaborative Meeting at Morgan State University; we will report back.
What is P-TECH? As PGCPS describes it
P-TECH is a grades 9–14 model combining high school, college, and the world of work. Students can earn a high school diploma and a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in six years or less, at no cost, beginning college-level work by 10th grade. Some finish in four years, and students earn industry certifications along the way. The model also includes industry mentoring, work experience, and extended-day and summer support; how each applies to Largo's IT track is being finalized with the district. Learn more at pgcps.org/p-tech.
Middle School Outreach: Help Us Find the Next Class
Ms. King is leading outreach to 8th-grade families this fall. P-TECH applications are open September 23 – December 11, 2026. The program is open-border: eligible students from anywhere in the district may apply. As of this letter, transportation for new P-TECH students has not received final approval; we will update families as soon as it is decided.
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 6 5:30–7:30 PM | High School Options Night, Ernest Everett Just Middle School. Ms. King presents P-TECH IT in rotating family sessions. |
| Tue, Oct 13 6:00–8:00 PM | Accokeek Academy's 11th Annual High School Exploration Night. Mr. James presents to 8th-grade families, then hosts our table. |
| Wed, Oct 21 6:00–8:30 PM | PGCPS Specialty Programs Showcase, Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School (2,000+ visitors last year). P-TECH IT will have a table. |
| Wed, Oct 28 10:00 AM–1:00 PM | CTE Career Connections Day (tentative): 8th graders visit high school CTE programs for hands-on activities. |
How you can help: know an 8th grader who loves technology? Share this newsletter and point the family to the October 21 Showcase.
Senior and Upperclass Corner
- College rep visits in the Career Center: Bowie State, UMES, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Johnson & Wales, Salisbury, and Mount St. Mary's have visited, with more coming. Watch for Dr. Hawkins's announcements.
- Bowie State Open House — Saturday, October 3. PGCPS students with a 3.0 GPA or higher can be admitted by submitting an entrance letter. Thank you to the P-TECH parent who shared this.
- College classes come first. Upperclassmen attend scheduled PGCC classes even when PGCPS is closed for students, unless PGCC is also closed.
- Spring 2027 course planning: PGCC's Learning Commons will meet Year 3 and Year 4 students at Largo; the October 16 date is moving because students are out that day. New date to come.
- Class of 2027: watch for highlights and senior events from Mrs. Parris-Andrews, 12th Grade Administrator.
Opportunities for Your Scholar
- Technica Hackathon at UMD — Oct 17–18. Free. gotechnica.org
- Full Sail University workshop — Fri, Oct 23, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Largo: careers in technology, game design, and creative fields.
- Congressional App Challenge — due Oct 26. Teams of up to four build an app that solves a community problem. congressionalappchallenge.us
- Girls Who Code Spring Pathways — priority deadline Oct 28. Free, virtual, self-paced (Mar 1–Apr 18); no coding experience needed. Closes Dec 16.
- NSA Codebreaker Challenge — through January. nsa-codebreaker.org
Mark Your Calendar
P-TECH scholars follow two calendars, Largo (PGCPS) and PGCC. We note which campus is affected.
| Date | What it means for your scholar |
|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 6 | PGCC closed — no college classes or bag lunches. Largo open. |
| Fri, Oct 9 | Maryland Legislative Day (selected scholars). |
| Tue, Oct 13 | PGCC closed (Professional Development & Enrichment Day). Largo open. |
| Fri, Oct 16 | PGCPS closed for students (professional development). |
| Mon, Oct 19 | P-TECH Class Leader Conference, 6:30–8:30 PM. A parent must bring the learner on site; location in next week's issue. |
| Fri, Oct 30 | End of Quarter 1. PGCPS early dismissal. |
| Tue, Nov 3 | PGCPS closed (Election Day). |
| Wed, Nov 11 | No school for PGCPS students. Parent-Teacher Conferences — please plan to meet with us. |
| Nov 25–29 | PGCPS Thanksgiving Break Nov 25–27; PGCC closed Nov 26–29. |
| Thu, Dec 3 | Last PGCC bag lunch of Semester 1. |
| Dec 21–Jan 1 | PGCPS Winter Break. |
Every Week in P-TECH IT
- NEW TIME — Weekly Grade Drop: Thursday by 2:00 PM. Every scholar uploads their Canvas grade PDF for each PGCC course by 2:00 PM Thursday (no longer 8:00 AM), so professors can post grades and everyone knows where they stand by Friday morning. Please remind your scholar.
- After-school learning hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 2:30–6:30 PM (never Monday or Friday) with Mr. James (Room 105) or Mr. Buma (Room 102).
- Study companions: quizzes, notes, flashcards, and calendars for every course at ptechlargo.com.
- Check Canvas together weekly. You will also receive a weekly progress email from our team.
- Program GPA: 3.2. If your scholar is struggling, reach out early. We would much rather help in October than in December.
Your P-TECH IT Team
Coordinator, P-TECH IT at Largo High School
tomisha.king@pgcps.org
(301) 808-8880
Thank you for trusting us with your scholar's future. Reply any time; we read every message.
In pride and excellence,
Mr. Carlton A. James
P-TECH Facilitator
[0] 301-808-8880 Ext.84130
carlton.james@pgcps.org