Author: MCS Staff

Education

MCPS: Superintendent’s Budget Presentation on December 19

By MCS Staff

MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight will deliver a presentation on the Recommended Operating Budget for Fiscal year 2024 at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19. The public will be able to watch live on the MCPS website, MCPS-TV YouTube channel and MCPS-TV channels in English and Spanish.

There will be opening comments from Scott Smith, principal at Northwest and Karla Silvestre, president of the Board of Education. The presentation from Dr. McKnight will outline the goals, priorities and investments planned for the FY 2024 school year.

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Maryland

Maryland Fifth Graders Invited to Submit Arbor Day Posters for 2023

By MCS Staff

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Forest Conservancy District Boards invite all Maryland fifth graders in private and public schools to participate in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest. The theme for 2023 is: “Trees Are Terrific…and Cool our Communities!”

All entries must be delivered to a local Maryland Forest Service office by noon, Jan. 20, 2023. Students are encouraged to share their appreciation for Maryland’s forests and trees through original works of art. Poster size must be no smaller than 8.5 by 11 inches and no larger than 22 by 28 inches. They must be drawn in acrylic, crayon, ink, marker, paint pens, regular or colored pencil, tempera paint, or watercolor.

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Beyond MoCo

Fairfax County Police Confirms No Shots Fired at Tysons Corner; Suspects Taken Into Custody For Armed Robbery

By MCS Staff

Earlier on Sunday night Fairfax County Police confirmed that no shots were fired at Tysons Corner after rumors spread on various social media platforms following an evacuation of the mall. “We can confirm there were NO shots fired at Tysons Corner Center. We have numerous officers on the scene for a separate investigation.” tweeted Fairfax County Police.

Fairfax County Police later tweeted that “Tonight, our TUT officers located three suspects involved in a robbery in Arlington. No shots were fired. Two suspects taken into custody and a firearm was recovered. The investigation continues. One suspect outstanding. No outstanding threat to the mall or community.”

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Bethesda

Multiple Walt Whitman Staff Members Receive Antisemitic Email

By MCS Staff

Just one day after Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti, multiple Whitman staff members received an antisemitic email from a sender outside MCPS , according to a report from the Black & White Whitman student newspaper (tweet available below). According to The Black & White, administrators notified police and are working to block the sender.

Following the vandalism on Saturday mornings Whitman High School principal Robert Dodd wrote the following in a message to the Whitman community: “I want to share information with you regarding an incident that took place today and how it is being addressed. It was reported, this morning, that there was antisemitic graffiti; the words “Jews Not Welcome” written on our school sign. This behavior is abhorrent, extremely hurtful, and will not be tolerated at Walt Whitman High School. We immediately notified the Montgomery County Police. who are actively investigating the incident. In addition, if found to have been committed by an MCPS student, this incident will be addressed as a disciplinary matter in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding with county police and in alignment with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct.”

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MCFRS

Blown Transformer Causes Power Outages in Olney; MCFRS Responds to Several Brush Fires

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) have responded to several brush fires in Olney on Sunday afternoon, according to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer. A blown transformer has also caused power outages in parts of the area.

Per Piringer, the brush fires on the 4200 block of Bar Harbor Place off of MacDuff Ave and an outside fire on the 4400 block of Fisherman’s Court off of Gallagher Way. Provo crews are en route. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

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Maryland

Maryland’s Atlantic Population Canada Goose Hunting Season Begins

By MCS Staff

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that Maryland’s Atlantic Population Canada goose hunting season opens Saturday, Dec. 17. The season contains two segments, Dec. 17 through Jan. 2, 2023, and again from Jan. 13 through Jan. 31, 2023. (Please note these dates are corrected from a previous announcement.)

The daily bag limit is one goose per day in Maryland’s AP Canada Goose Hunting Zone. The possession limit for all migratory game birds is three times the daily bag limit.  More information on waterfowl seasons, regulations and license requirements, is available on the DNR website. 

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Maryland

Winter Trout Stocking Begins in Maryland Waters

By MCS Staff

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun stocking more than 300,000 trout in Maryland waters. This early “preseason” stocking of a few fish in impoundments will be done to reduce density at DNR’s hatcheries and create available space outdoors for young trout to grow.

The annual stocking program will be completed in three bursts – preseason from now through February 2023, and then two rounds of spring stocking, March 6–24. and April 3–28. All stocked locations that fall under a closure period will be announced prior to opening day on March 25, 2023. 

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Crime

Police Investigating Series of Shed Burglaries

By MCS Staff

Takoma Park Police is investigating a series of shed burglaries that occurred on Saturday on Belford Place and Belford Drive. Additional details and tips for deterring shed burglaries available below per Takoma Park Police:

500 block of Belford Place:  December 17 at approximately 10:00 am, Takoma Park Police responded to the area for a shed burglary that occurred overnight.  Some time between December 16 at 4:30 pm and December 17 at 9:50 am, unknown suspect(s) broke into the victim’s shed. It is unknown if property was taken.  Investigation continues under case #220055891.

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Germantown

Nearly 100 Former Peary High School Students Surprise Their Teacher At His Germantown Home

By MCS Staff

Nearly 100 Robert E. Peary High School alumni gathered for a surprise celebration to honor and thank their former teacher, Mr. Vincent Gibbs, for a lifetime of sharing his love for the performing arts, humanities and English education with his students. Mr. Gibbs, known as Mr. Christmas is in his Germantown community for the decorations and nativity scene that he puts up at his home each year, hasn’t been able to decorate due to his treatments for melanoma.

Debi Barbee, Class of 1983, drove attendees in a Montgomery County School bus from Fox Chapel Shopping Center to Mr. Gibbs’s nearby home in Germantown. The celebration began at 1:00 pm in the front yard of Mr. Gibbs’ home. Attendees held up posters, sang Christmas carols and the song “The Impossible Dream” (brief video below), and delivered a few short speeches to honor their former teacher.

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Education

Deadline Coming Soon for Rales–O’Neill Scholarships Recognizing Academic Excellence

By MCS Staff

The deadline for a prestigious student scholarship is fast approaching! Do you know a high-achieving student who has taken rigorous courses and has a weighted GPA of 4.69? They may qualify for a $10,000 scholarship.

Applications are open for the Ruth and Norman Rales–Patricia Baier O’Neill Scholarship Recognizing Academic Excellence. These scholarships for graduating high school seniors were announced earlier this year by the Norman R. Rales and Ruth Rales Foundation to honor the lives and contributions of Ruth and Norman Rales and former Montgomery County Board of Education member Patricia O’Neill. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

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Bethesda

Statement from Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight Concerning Antisemitic Graffiti at Walt Whitman High School

By MCS Staff

MCPS is deeply disturbed and saddened by the antisemitic graffiti found outside of Walt Whitman High School. MCPS’ mission is to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment that celebrates the diversity of our global community and all cultural backgrounds. This hurtful behavior, along with any acts of discrimination, have no place in our school community and will not be tolerated.

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