Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Monifa B. McKnight will present her Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Operating Budget recommendation on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022.
WHAT: Superintendent’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Recommended Operating Budget Presentation
Thirty-three students from six high schools will participate in a fellowship program enabling them to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The Sandra Lee Heyman Foundation named the fellows, who will meet with STEM leaders, visit leading STEM institutions in the Washington, D.C. area, and access peers and mentors to support career exploration in STEM. Winning MCPS students and schools are:
Winston Churchill High School
Taco Bamba at 670 Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg is opening today (Friday, December 16) at 9am. The new location, which will feature an all-day breakfast menu, is giving away a free Taco Bamba coffee mugs and a free cup of coffee to the first 50 customers. Gaithersburg exclusive tacos on the menu will include “the Mr. Zadir, which stuffs ground lamb and beef kafta in a flour tortilla with chipotle yogurt and chili-spiced feta slaw, and the McLovin It, which pairs crispy chicken nuggets with a chipotle barbecue sauce, hot mustard, Fresno slaw, pickled onion, and cornbread crumble.” The restaurant will be open Sunday-Thursday 9am-9pm and Friday-Saturday, 9am-10pm. Additional details below per Taco Bamba:
Victor Albisu will open his eighth location of Taco Bamba on Friday, December 16 at the Quince Orchard Shopping Center in Gaithersburg, Md. The first 50 guests will receive a complimentary branded coffee mug and a free cup of everyone’s favorite morning beverage with their order. Doors open at 9am. Taco Bamba is known for serving its breakfast menu all day, and last fall they added a complimentary coffee station to all locations. Coffee is available until mid-afternoon with any purchase.
On November 23, Officer Avellan of Montgomery County Park Police responded to a call at Gunners Lake Park in Germantown for a dog that had been abandoned and left tied to a tree. The dog was taken to Montgomery County’s Animal Service and Adoption Center shelter that night, but was never claimed. Earlier this week, Officer Avellan retuned to the shelter and has adopted the dog– he named her Maple.
The North Bethesda Middle School seventh and eighth grade chorus students were the middle school winners of the 97.1 WASH-FM Christmas Choir Competition, presented by The Nutcracker at the Washington Ballet. Radio station staff selected three finalists based on singing quality, originality, creativity and musicality. Supporters voted for their favorite choir on the WASH-FM website.
The North Bethesda students sang a Ukrainian version of Carol of the Bells, which was arranged by music teacher Jason McFeaters. The school recently performed the song at its choral concert on Wednesday, December 14th, held at Walter Johnson High School. For winning the competition, the school’s choral program will receive $2,500, and will perform at the Warner Theater on Saturday, Dec. 17, as part of the Washington Ballet’s presentation of The Nutcracker. The recording is also being aired on 97.1 throughout the holiday season.
The Board of Education has approved agreements with the employee associations that allow for a 3.35 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all permanent employees and substitute teachers, a step increase for eligible employees, and a longevity increase for eligible supporting services employees. The pay increases will go into effect on Dec. 17, 2022. Look for the increase in your Jan. 13, 2023, paycheck.
SEIU employees will receive—
Students at North Bethesda Middle School enjoyed a visit from Kwame Alexander, poet, educator and New York Times bestselling author of 36 books. Students asked questions about his books, writing process and the new TV series Crossover that will be out on Disney+.
Alexander was born in Manhattan, New York, and grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia. His father was a scholar and book publisher and his mother was an educator. Alexander’s picture book Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, was selected for the 2014 “Michigan Reads! One State, One Children’s Book” program. He won a 2020 Newberry Honor for his illustrated poem The Undefeated. Alexander also runs the Bookinaday program to introduce children to writing and publishing.
St. Veg, a fast-casual restaurant serving vegan cuisine, had its grand opening in 2018 in Rockville’s Fallsgrove Village Center at 14929 Shady Grove Rd. Unit M, 20850. The restaurant took over the location previously occupied by Melt and has quickly become one of the most popular vegan restaurants in the area with dishes like the Flavor Bomb Pho Dip, the Vegball sub, Mom’s Caramel Tofu Bowl, and more. Now, the local restaurant is looking to franchise.
Founded by a MoCo native and graduate of Good Counsel High School, VegNews has reported that St. Veg is looking to franchise. Per St. Veg, “St.Veg began with a mission to enrich the community with the benefits of plant-based cuisine by bringing homestyle cooking to a fast-casual environment. Our founder firmly believes that cooking fresh from scratch with whole plant foods is better for our health and wants to share her passion with the world.
Per MCPS: Due to a recent change in a Maryland law, students will not be charged to participate in dual-enrollment programs. Montgomery College will refund students who have paid tuition for college courses taken this fall. Students taking college courses during the remainder of this school year will not be charged tuition, but may be responsible for other college costs, such as textbooks or fees. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, all eligible students may take approved college courses at no cost. FAQ Below:
Per MCPS: COVID-19 rates have been increasing in the Washington, D.C. region, according to the county health department. Within our school system, we have also seen the anticipated rise in COVID-19 cases since the return from Thanksgiving. As we head into winter break, here are a few reminders:
Additional information per MCPS: While Montgomery County is currently at a “low” COVID-19 community risk level, any increase is a cause for concern and careful monitoring. There are multiple steps we can take to reduce the impact of respiratory infections on our community, especially severe illness:
Red Ribbon Bakeshop, a Filipino bakery chain, is coming to Wheaton. The bakery will be located at 2501 University Blvd W right next to the Anchor Inn sign that still stands. Currently, Red Ribbon Bakeshop has over 200 locations across the Philippines and 39 in the United States. In 2005 it was acquired by Jollibee Foods Corporation, which opened its first D.C. area Jollibee location at Wheaton Mall in 2021. Red Ribbon Bakeshop announced on its social media last month that it is hiring a General Manager for the location, “Come Join Our Team! We are hiring an experienced Bakeshop General Manager for our beautiful UPCOMING Wheaton, MD location! If you or anyone you know are interested in discussing this opportunity, contact me to set up an interview. [email protected] Or, apply here: https://harri.com/…/job/1748005-bakeshop-general-manager“
More about Red Ribbon: In 1979, Amalia Hizon Mercado, husband Renato Mercado together with their five children, Consuelo Tiutan, Teresita Moran, Renato Mercado, Ricky Mercado and Romy Mercado established Red Ribbon as a small cake shop along Timog Avenue in Quezon City. The cakes developed by daughter Teresita Moran are what gave Red Ribbon its prominence in the dessert market of the Philippines. In 1984, it opened its first overseas outlet in West Covina, California. The company began franchising in 1999. Today, there are more than 200 branches all over the Philippines and 39 in the United States as it continues to expand.