The Montgomery County Board of Education has sent the following back-to-school message to MCPS families:
“MCPS Families, The Board of Education is proud and excited to welcome students and staff to the 2024-25 school year.
There is nothing more exciting than the beginning of the school year. Every year we get to start fresh. Each new school year marks the next step toward the promising future each student is meant to achieve. To each and every student, the Board wishes you all the best this year. We can’t wait to see the amazing things you do.
Let us start this school year united in our commitment to a community based on respect and mutual support. Hate, in any form, has no place in our schools.
As Board of Education members, we want every student to feel secure and valued at school. It takes all of us, working together, to cultivate and nurture the safe, welcoming school environments all students deserve.
Recently, some of our schools experienced highly visible acts of criminal vandalism on school property, with anti-semetic and anti-LGBTQ graffiti. We have also seen our students and staff experience other forms of hate and bias based on their race, religion, cultural background and other personal characteristics on an all too frequent basis.
Our district’s greatest strength is our people – the students, families, staff, and neighbors that give our schools life and energy. Within the diverse school communities that make up MCPS, we have unique opportunities to learn about different cultures and life-experiences from our classmates and colleagues. Every day, we get to challenge our perspectives with different points of view. Together, we learn to engage in lively, and sometimes difficult, discussions. This is an important part of the public education experience and we are fortunate to live and learn in a diverse and vibrant community.
We encourage everyone in MCPS to come to school every day with respect, care, and grace for others. Tackle each day with enthusiasm and joy. Be open and eager to learn. And, show support for your classmates as they do the same.
As we visit schools next week and throughout the year we look forward to meeting you and hearing all about your MCPS experience.
Have a great first day of school!”