Author: MCS Staff

Maryland

Kennedy High School’s Kassie Cardona Named 2022-2023Maryland State PPW of The Year

By MCS Staff

Kassie Cardona, a pupil personnel worker (PPW) at John F. Kennedy High School, has been named 2022-2023 Maryland State PPW of the Year.

Colleagues say she is a compassionate, dedicated and knowledgeable staff member, which has earned her a reputation as the go-to PPW with the answers. With a background as an ESOL counselor, Cardona is a strong advocate for equality for students and families, and she also works to build strong relationships and partnerships between schools and the community. She has worked with a number of organizations outside the school system, which have provided services to the Hispanic community. She has advocated at the state level for more inpatient resources to help teens with substance abuse issues.

Go to Kennedy High School’s Kassie Cardona Named 2022-2023Maryland State PPW of The Year Read more
Arts

Gaithersburg to Host Jubilation Day Gospel Concert

By MCS Staff

Per the City of Gaithersburg: Gospel music, the uniquely American art form that gave rise to jazz, blues, R&B, and rock & roll, will be celebrated to the highest as the City presents the 17thAnnual Jubilation Day Gospel Concert. The Concert Pavilion at City Hall will host performances of all styles of Gospel, Christian & uplifting music by local & regional artists. The event will also feature an acknowledgement of the upcoming Juneteenth Holiday.

Admission to Jubilation Day is free. Make a day of it by getting a meal at one of the area restaurants, bring a picnic, or purchase from on-site vendor Heavenly Wings. Gaithersburg’s Concert Pavilion is located at 31 South Summit Avenue in front of City Hall. The outdoor venue features lawn seating with limited chairs. Please feel free to bring your own low chair or blanket. The celebration will also feature crafts for purchase and giveaway drawings for fun prizes. Winners must be present.

Go to Gaithersburg to Host Jubilation Day Gospel Concert Read more
Bethesda

MCPS Counselors of the Year Announced

By MCS Staff
Counselors of the year at BOE meeting. From left to right: Makeyda Soriano, Montgomery Blair High School; Yolanda Faerber, Westbrook Elementary School; Nicole Walter, Roberto Clemente Middle School.

Three staff members have been honored with 2022–2023 Counselor of the Year awards. The trio—one each at the elementary, middle and high school levels—were recognized at the June 6 Board of Education business meeting.

The three have one thing in common—they don’t work alone. They all say their success would not have been possible without the support of their colleagues. As one said simply, “When we work as a team, everyone thrives.” The 2022–2023 Counselors of the Year are:

Go to MCPS Counselors of the Year Announced Read more
MCPS

New MCPS Guidance When Responding to Suspected Opioid Overdoses

By MCS Staff

Last month Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced new guidance when responding to medical emergencies in schools for suspected opioid overdoses. The new regulation includes detailed guidance on naloxone (also known by its brand name, Narcan), its use, and access in MCPS schools. Narcan is a potentially life-saving medication that temporarily reverses the effects due to an opioid overdose. The new guidance allows students to carry Narcan in schools and during school-sponsored activities without fear of disciplinary action. Students should continue to seek assistance from school or health room staff in the event of a medical emergency on campus.

This action is part of a series of efforts the school system is undertaking to combat the rise in youth overdose cases across the county. The new guidance allows students to carry Narcan in schools and during school-sponsored activities without fear of disciplinary action. Students should continue to seek assistance from school or health room staff in the event of a medical emergency on campus.

Go to New MCPS Guidance When Responding to Suspected Opioid Overdoses Read more
Education

All MCPS Schools/Offices Are Open On Time

By MCS Staff

Per MCPS: All MCPS schools and offices are open on time. Before and After school childcare programs and Community Use occur as scheduled.

From 7pm, Wednesday, June 7th: Due to unhealthy air conditions as a result of wildfires in Canada, all outdoor recess will be canceled for Thursday, June 8. Athletics will operate under guidelines similar to heat index warnings, which include primarily indoor activities and increased monitoring of athletes. Field trips may need to be rescheduled or modified depending on the location and extent of outdoor activity. Adjustments could be made to outdoor graduations and will be communicated by individual schools. Any modifications to this guidance will be communicated as conditions continue to be monitored.

Go to All MCPS Schools/Offices Are Open On Time Read more
Derwood

Substitute Teacher Sent Home Due to Possible Intoxication Tuesday Morning at Magruder High School

By MCS Staff

Magruder High School principal, Dr. Leroy C. Evans, sent a letter to the school community informing them of a substitute teacher who was sent home via ride-share service due to possibly being under the influence of alcohol on Tuesday morning.

According to the letter, administration was notified that a substitute teacher was possibly intoxicated and  the school contacted the non-emergency police and the school’s Community Engagement Officer (CEO) prior to sending the substitute teacher home via ride-share service. The incident is being handled by the Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Compliance and Investigations as a personnel matter. The full letter can be seen below, courtesy of FOX5:

Go to Substitute Teacher Sent Home Due to Possible Intoxication Tuesday Morning at Magruder High School Read more
Education

20 MCPS Students Earn College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

By MCS Staff

Twenty Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students have earned college- and university-sponsored National Merit Scholarships in the latest round of awards from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Each sponsoring college or university selected scholarship winners from among the finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship. The winners, their sponsoring university or college, and their intended career fields are:

Go to 20 MCPS Students Earn College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships Read more
Crime

Two Arrested for Outstanding Warrants Following Aggravated Assault

By MCS Staff

Per Takoma Park Police: On June 5, at approximately 11:09 pm, Takoma Park Police were flagged down by a resident who advised that they saw a male subject walking around with blood on him near the 7600 block of New Hampshire Avenue. Subsequently, the male subject approached an officer and indicated he had been robbed and assaulted. The victim stated he was approached by an unknown Hispanic female who was soliciting him to purchase drugs and/or sex. When the victim indicated he was not interested, the female suspect struck him in the head with a rock. At the same time, another suspect hit the victim in the back of his head with a rock. The victim fell to the ground where he was further assaulted by the female suspect and a Hispanic male suspect. The suspects stole property from the victim and fled on foot. The victim was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

Officers canvassed the area for the suspects and made contact with two individuals whose involvement in the robbery continues to be investigated. Consequently, they both had outstanding warrants for failure to appear and were arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. Investigation continues under case #230027080. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

Go to Two Arrested for Outstanding Warrants Following Aggravated Assault Read more
Highways / Interstates

Update: All Lanes Reopen on I-270 After Incident Involving Person Threatening to Jump is Resolved

By MCS Staff

All travel lanes have reopened on I-270 after a police incident closed local lanes at Falls Road on Wednesday, June 7. According to Rockville Police, “Around 11:00 a.m. this morning RCPD officers responded to the Northbound exit Ramp at Falls Road for the report of an individual threatening to jump. Out of an abundance of caution, the northbound local lanes were closed down as well as the exit ramp. After about two hours of successful negations, the individual willingly agreed to be taken into police custody and transported for medical assistance. All lanes of traffic have been reopened.”

The Montgomery County MD Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (OEMHS) tweeted the following at 11:35am on Wednesday, June 7: “Severe Traffic Alert – I-270 NB Local Lanes – Traffic incident closes all northbound local lanes of I-270 at Exit 5 Falls Road. Expect significant delays. Seek alternate route. #mdtraffic”

Go to Update: All Lanes Reopen on I-270 After Incident Involving Person Threatening to Jump is Resolved Read more
MCPS

Important Community Message from Montgomery County Public Schools Concerning Current Air Quality

By MCS Staff

“Dear MCPS Community,

As you may know, unhealthy air caused by smoke from wildfires in Canada’s province of Quebec is affecting much of the northeast and mid-Atlantic areas of the United States, including our area. This influx of smoke has impacted outdoor air quality, which may pose a health risk, particularly to vulnerable individuals such as children, older adults, and those with heart or lung disease.

Go to Important Community Message from Montgomery County Public Schools Concerning Current Air Quality Read more
MCDOT

MCDOT/Ride-On Releases New Trip Planner App

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Department of Transportation has released a new mobile app to plan your trips using Ride-On busses. “Download the free, easy-to-use Ride On Trip Planner from the Apple App store or the Google Play store. It’s fully functional.” In the app:

Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) partnered with Moovit, a global bus trip planning mobile app software company, to launch a new Ride On Trip Planner – a Ride On bus passenger load and local trip planning app. This new, innovative app allows riders to plan their next trip and to tell how crowded a Ride On bus is – before it arrives – with the crowdedness indicator on the app riders can choose if they want to get on the bus arriving, wait for the next bus depending on how many people are on the bus, or choose another travel option, such as other local transit services, bikeshare, and scooter. It gives riders more control over their transportation experience. The app also includes dashboards for the Ride On Central Communications team to monitor bus loads and more quickly dispatch additional buses when buses are full.

Go to MCDOT/Ride-On Releases New Trip Planner App Read more
View More Stories