MCPS Community Message from Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight; Coming Together to Promote Student Safety To, From and After School

Montgomery County Public Schools sent out the following community message on Friday, October 14:
“Dear MCPS Community,
This week, I had a chance to experience our “all together now” spirit on full display during National Walk and Bike to School Day. This occasion is a celebration of the hard work that we all do to create safe environments for students to get to school. Indeed, getting to school safely is the first step towards having a great day of learning.

Walk to School Day demonstrated another great example of the amazing experiences we can create when we come together to rally behind our schools, students and their safety. And I want to thank you for investing in our school community in so many different ways.

At Glen Haven Elementary School, for example, principal Tara Strain, physical education teacher Mary Jo Stolte and counselor Rebecca H. Willis led an effort to gather the community at a local park so that everyone could safely walk to school together, supported by our police partners who ensured the proper precautions were in place on the roads.

On the way to school, I assisted two kindergarten students in a scavenger hunt the school had set up for them to participate in along their walk. And upon arriving at the school, I enjoyed the harmony with which students sang Glen Haven’s school song–which, modeled after Katy Perry’s “Roar,” encourages students to “Soar.”

Then, at Wheaton Woods Elementary School, our county police, fire and rescue, transportation parent volunteers, and recreation partners greeted students with music and balloons. These partnerships are part of an effort fostered through the community schools program that Principal Nora (Liz) Collins embraces in ensuring all students have what they need to thrive.

While we can’t have music and dancing every day at school, these special occasions are a reminder of all that our staff and community does to make our students feel valued and included when they come to school. And it takes our entire community to come together on behalf of our students to help them feel this way.

Safety after school:

As we frequently share, safety extends across our elementary, middle and high schools. And it extends beyond the school day– it requires our entire community. Our high school communities have continued to prove that in how we are sustaining safety during our athletic contests.

As mentioned in yesterday’s community message, the MCPS Athletics Safety Plan will continue to drive program operations. Varsity football games will continue in Tier 1 at this time, while actions from Tier 2 may be implemented at individual games. The decision guidelines for each tier are outlined in the safety plan. For other sports, local schools may make appropriate accommodations to the default Tier 1 restrictions, such as modifying admission procedures.

Thank you for all you do to keep our staff and students safe.

In partnership,
Monifa B. McKnight
Superintendent of Schools