RespectFest is returning the week of March 21-27 (virtual from 3/21-3/26 and in person on 3/27).
The mission of RespectFest is to promote respect in dating relationships and to raise community awareness about the prevalence of teen dating violence. Montgomery County middle and high school students have been submitting videos as part of a contest. Top prize is $1,000 and the winners will be announced at the festival. There are nearly 400 entries from students.
Anyone interested can register for the evening zoom events:
| When | Event | Audience | Register: |
| Monday, 3/21: 7pm – 8 pm | Opening Webinar: Join us as we welcome you to RespectFest! You will be hearing from a Survivor Speaker (a former MCPS student), and you will learn about all of the virtual events during the week and about the in person extravaganza! |
6th – 12th grade students, parents and youth serving providers | Register here |
| Tuesday, 3/22: 7 pm – 9 pm | Let’s Talk Consent This webinar and panel will address sexual assault and consent. You can earn 2.5 hours for this webinar separately. |
8th – 12th grade students, parents and youth serving providers | Register here |
| Wednesday, 3/23: 6 pm – 7pm | A Parent’s Guide to Teen Dating Violence A workshop for parents providing an introduction to what dating violence is, the statistics related to teenagers, warning signs and how to talk to a teenager about relationships. |
Parents and youth serving providers | Register here |
| Wednesday, 3/23: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | One Love: How to Have a Healthy Relationship A workshop will talk about healthy and unhealthy friendships and relationships. |
Middle School Students | Register here |
| Miercoles, 3/23: 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | (En Español) Una Guía Para Padres Sobre la Violencia en el Noviazgo Un taller para padres proporcionando una introducción a lo que es la violencia en el noviazgo (relaciones entre los adolescentes), las estadísticas relacionadas con los adolescentes, las señales de advertencia y cómo hablar con un adolescente sobre las relaciones. |
Padres y proveedores de servicios para jóvenes | Registrarse aquí |
| Thursday, 3/24 5:30 – 6:00 pm |
Jeopardy Test your knowledge about teen dating violence! |
High School Students (Only 36 spots open!) |
Register here |
Then, the in-person RespectFest will be held:
Sunday, March 27, 2022
1:00 – 4:00 pm
At the Wheaton Community Recreational Center
Along with the announcement of video contest winners, there will be free food/informational booths and resources, yoga and self-defense classes and other performances.
“This is a terrific annual event where hundreds of teenagers from Montgomery County Public Schools join together for live performances, free food and this year a raffle with prizes including an ipad and airpods. The programs will provide teens and their families with information about how to maintain healthy dating relationships, understand the legal aspect of consent, and how teenagers can help fellow teens from becoming victims,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
“As prosecutors, we often get involved once someone is abused or hurt. Today, we have the opportunity to get out in front of abuse and truly prevent teen dating violence from ever happening,” said Assistant State’s Attorney, Debbie Feinstein, who is the Chair of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.
On the Main Stage:
| 1:00 | Performance by the Northwood High School Drumline |
| 1:15 | Welcome to RespectFest from Debbie Feinstein, Chair of the RespectFest Committee, and Hana O’Looney, MCPS Student Member of the Board of Education |
| 1:30 | Performance by Excel Beyond the Bell Dance team from Francis Scott Key Middle school |
| 2:00 | Performance by the Teen Angel Project |
| 2:15 | Performance by the Northwood High School Latin Dance Company |
| 2:45 | Performance by Northwood High School Musical Theater |
| 3:00 | Announcement of the Video Contest Winners |
| 3:15 | Performance by the Afrofusion Dance Team from Argyle, Clemente and Odessa Shannon Middle school |
- 20 Minute Yoga classes at 1:30, 2:00, 2:30 and 3:30
- 30 Minute Self-Defense classes at 1:30 and 2:30
- Visit the booths on dating violence, consent, bystander intervention and technology abuse to earn your SSL hours.
- Visit the Selfie booth and post on social media with #respectfest2022.
- Use your food tickets to get chicken tenders or a veggie burger, fries, a drink, and shaved ice!
- Pick-up your raffle ticket at the raffle table and win fun stuff (AirPods! Fitbit Watches! Amusement Park Tix!)
- Learn about over 20 community organizations by visiting the resource tables.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is Respect for?
RespectFest is for 6th – 12th graders, parents, educators and youth-serving providers.
How much does it cost?
All RespectFest events are free of charge.
Do I have to register?
You have to register for the evening zoom events between March 21st and March 26th. You do not have to register to do the online activities. Registration for the in-person event will be onsite.
How do I get SSL hours?
For the virtual events between March 21st and March 26th, an SSL hour google form will be emailed to you and posted on this website. After you complete your activities, you will fill out the MCPS SSL HOUR Google form. Only fill out the SSL hour google form ONCE. You can earn up to 5 SSL hours (even if you do more than 5 activities, you can only earn up to 5 hours).
For the in person event , you will receive a “passport” that keep track of all of the activities you complete. Before you leave the festival, visit the MCPS SSL hour table to receive your form. You can earn up to 3 SSL hours.
If you attend a private or independent school, please send your school SSL hour form to [email protected]
How do I get to RespectFest on March 27th?
- Parking is limited onsite at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. You can drive and park at Einstein High School ( 11135 Newport Mill Rd in Kensington). There will be a shuttle bus driving between Einstein High School and the Wheaton Community Recreation Center.
- You can take an MCPS bus from Seneca Valley High School. The bus will arrive Seneca Valley High School at 12:15 and depart at 12:30 and go to the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. It will depart the the Wheaton Community Recreation Center at 4:00 pm and return to Seneca Valley High School.
- You can take an MCPS bus from Richard Montgomery High School. The bus will arrive Richard Montgomery High School at 12:30 and depart at 12:45 and go to the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. It will depart the the Wheaton Community Recreation Center at 4:00 pm and return to Richard Montgomery High School.
- You can take the redline on the Metro to the Wheaton Metro Stop. You will then walk north up Georgia Avenue for .6 miles to the Wheaton Community Recreation Center.
What if it rains on March 27th?
We are hoping for sunny skies. If it rains, we will move the festival into the gym inside the Wheaton Community Recreation Center.
Will food be available?
Yes! All participants will receive food tickets in their participant bags. There will be chicken fingers, veggie burgers, french fries and drinks available from Festival Concessions and flavored shaved ice from Kona Ice.
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FEST OF SPRING Caribbean Wine Food & Music Festival
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