MCPS

AP School Honor Roll Recognizes 18 MCPS High Schools for Outstanding Achievement

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is proud to announce that 18 of 25 district high schools have been recognized on the prestigious 2023 AP School Honor Roll.This achievement highlights the district’s commitment to providing exceptional educational opportunities and preparing students for college, career and community.

The Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll is a recognition program across the U.S. and Canada that demonstrates important achievement in their AP programs. These schools have committed to expanding access to college credit opportunities and maximizing college readiness for their students. “AP represents an opportunity for students to challenge themselves, earn college credit and, importantly, learn at high levels,” said Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight. “This is a wonderful recognition of staff in all of our high schools working hard to prioritize rigorous learning, including in Advanced Placement and other challenging courses available to our students.”

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Whetstone Elementary School Rolls Out the Red Carpet

By MCS Staff

Whetstone Elementary School, located at 19201 Thomas Farm Road, had a tradition that celebrates students who have demonstrated the school’s Wildcat core values. Each quarter, the school literally rolls out the red carpet.

Students chosen by their teachers receive a certificate and dance down a red carpet while their classmates, teachers, principal, mascot Wendy the Wildcat, and caregivers clap and cheer them on. “Our caregivers love this event and appreciate the acknowledgement of their children,” said principal Loretta Woods in an update by MCPS. Woods started the tradition when she arrived at the school as a way to show the students they are special, supported and loved by all and invite parents and caregivers to join in that celebration.

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Former MCPS Middle School Teacher Charged With Sexual Abuse of a Student

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: “A former Montgomery County teacher has been arrested and charged with multiple sexual offenses for engaging in sexual acts with a minor. Detectives believe there may be additional victims. On Thursday, October 5, 2023, the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) initiated an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by an adult male victim. The victim alleges that he had engaged in sexual acts with 31-year-old Melissa Marie Curtis of Upper Marlboro, when he was a minor.

The alleged abuse began in 2015 when Curtis was 22-years-old. The incidents continued for several months while the victim was a student at Montgomery Village Middle School, and Curtis was a teacher at the same school. All of the incidents took place within Montgomery County.

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National Apprenticeship To Be Recognized By MCPS/Montgomery College Nov. 13-19

By MCS Staff

National Apprenticeship will be recognized the week of Nov. 13–19. MCPS in partnership with Montgomery College, Worksource Montgomery and the Maryland Department of Labor will host two events during the week geared towards students and the business community.

On Monday, Nov. 13 an information session will be held for employers interested in learning how to hire students. Then on Wednesday, Nov. 15, students are invited to an apprenticeship job fair to learn about the vocational apprenticeship opportunities available to MCPS students either during school or beyond. The fair is open to students in grades 11 and 12. Representatives from employers will be on hand to provide information.

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Woodward High School Reopening Update; Boundary Study Scope to Create Service Area Approved Earlier This Year

By MCS Staff

HESS construction has made plenty of progress at the upcoming Woodward High School at 11211 Old Georgetown Rd in Rockville, which will be used as a holding school/facility for current Northwood High School while their new high school building will be built between September 2024 and August 2027. Charles E. Woodward High School originally opened in 1966 and closed in 1987, when the decision to merge with Walter Johnson High School was made. Tilden Middle School moved into the previous building in 1991, where it remained until the new school opened a few years back. Photos of the progress of the new building, per HESS construction, can be seen below. The completed Woodward High School will officially reopen as its own school in September 2027, following a boundary study to determine which students will be attending the school.

On March 28, 2023, the Board of Education approved the boundary study scope to create the service area for the reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School. The scope of the boundary study includes the following high schools: Bethesda Chevy-Chase, Montgomery Blair, Albert Einstein, Walter Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Northwood, Wheaton, and Walt Whitman. The scope also includes the following middle schools: Argyle, Eastern, A. Mario Loieder- man, Newport Mill, North Bethesda, Parkland, Thomas W. Pyle, Odessa Shannon, Silver Creek, Silver Spring International, Sligo, Takoma Park, Tilden, and Westland. No elementary schools are included in the boundary study. The boundary study process (community meetings, option development, feedback) is scheduled to take place between early 2024 and fall 2024. The boundary study report is scheduled to be released in early 2025, and the superintendent’s recommendation is scheduled to be released in winter 2025, followed by Board of Education work sessions, public hearings, and action on the superintendent’s recommendation.

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Renovations at Damascus High School Now Have a Recommended Completion Date of August 2027; Will Accommodate Students From Clarksburg High School

By MCS Staff

A Major Capital Project was approved to address various building systems and programmatic needs for for Damascus High School, located at 25921 Ridge Road. The Board of Education, in the requested FY 2021–2026 CIP, included expenditures in FY 2022 to continue the planning and design of this major capital project had an original completion date of August 2025, however the County Council delayed the expenditures by one-year. An FY 2023 appropriation was approved to begin the design of this Major Capital Project. An FY 2024 appropriation was approved for construction funds. As part of the recommended FY 2025–2030 CIP, the completion date for this project is delayed one-year again due to an extension of the construction timeline. The recommended completion date is now August 2027.

Once completed in 2027, school capacity is expected to increase from 1,543 (where it’s at currently) to 2,250. Community meetings have begun regarding future plans for the project, as the capital project for Damascus High School will include a major addition to accommodate students from Clarksburg High School. A boundary scope recommendation will be included in a future CIP. Information courtesy of the MCPS Capital Improvements Program/Master Plan.

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DMV Native Chop Robinson Projected By Many As First Round Pick in 2024 NFL Draft

By MCS Staff

Chop Robinson, a 6’3, 253 pound Defensive End for the Penn State Nittany Lions, watched his current team beat his previous team as Penn State rolled through Maryland 51-15 on Saturday. Robinson, a Quince Orchard High School graduate and Gaithersburg native who owns his high school’s sack record, was injured two weeks ago against Ohio State, and wasn’t able to play in the last two games, including Saturday’s game against Maryland. The now-Penn State standout is having a great season for the 8-1 Nittany Lions, with five tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble on the season, and hopes to return next week against Michigan. Many analysts and draft experts currently have Robinson going in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Last year, Robinson was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media, named a Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten second team selection, and earned the team’s Reid Robinson Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award with Adisa Isaac. Appearing in 12 games as a sophomore, he posted 26 tackles (19 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Prior to the start of this season, Robinson earned preseason second-team All-American honors and was named to the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists prior to the start of the season.

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