Watkins Mill High School athletic coordinator, Lisa Magness, provided new school principal Vilma Najera with an encouraging update following an analysis of the Fall sports teams at the Montgomery Village school. The full letter can be seen below.

“Dear Ms. Najera: I have completed the academic analysis of the Fall sports’ teams at Watkins Mill High School. Using the data from the 1″ marking period report cards, I found some terrific information:


Updated to include full community letter sent out by Clarksburg High School principal, Edward Owusu.

Over 50 students are expected to participate in a walkout at Clarksburg High School tomorrow in support of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, according to the President of the school’s Student Government Association (SGA), Sabrin Niamathullah. According to Niamathullah, the walkout is being hosted by her and the school’s Muslim Student Association and will occur during second period on Thursday, November 9th.


The Prekindergarten and Head Start offices are accepting donations of new coats for students in need. Hats, gloves, scarves and boots are also welcome. Donations are needed for boys and girls in sizes 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Items can be dropped off in person from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday– Friday, at Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Room 141, Rockville, MD 20852. Items may be dropped off in person from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday – Friday, or may be ordered online and delivered directly to Rocking Horse Road Center, to the attention of Lisa Conlon.


Nick News, with co-host/correspondent Kahlil Greene (a MoCo native known by many as the “Gen-Z Historian”), has been nominated for a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Best Non-Fiction Program. He has been with the revamped version of the show since February of this year.

Greene, a Germantown native, was born at Holy Cross Hospital, attended Daly Elementary School and Fox Chapel Elementary School before moving on to Neelsville Middle School (all in Germantown) and then Poolesville High School before attending Yale University and becoming the school’s first Black student body President.


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.”


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.


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.


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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