Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section have identified a 15-year-old as the individual responsible for making the bomb threat against Paint Branch High School on Thursday, October 26, 2023.
At approximately 10:36 am, 3rd District officers, K-9 units, and Community Engagement Officers responded to the location for the report of a bomb threat that was made over the phone.
Joint Statement from MCPD Chief of Police Marcus Jones and MCPS Chief Safety Officer Pamela Wheeler-Taylor:
Dear Parents, Guardians, Students and Community Members,
Let us know in the comments for any missing scores.
Montgomery County Board of Education President Karla Silvestre made the following statement at the Board’s business meeting today, Thursday, Oct. 26, concerning Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight’s medical leave.
“Dr. McKnight is on temporary medical leave to receive treatment for a persistent health issue. We are in contact with her and happy to report that she is in good condition and recovering at home. During the time she is out of the office, Brian Hull, the current Chief Operating Officer, will serve as Acting Superintendent. The Board sends our support to Dr. McKnight and her family and wish her a speedy recovery and safe return to work.”
Below you’ll see the most recent updates or final scores of the 2023 week 9 MCPS football games. The scores will be updated as we receive them. If a score isn’t listed, it’s because we haven’t yet received a report from the game that we can confirm. An ‘F’ signifies the score is confirmed as being final.
Thursday’s Games:
MCPS has sent its community message with five things to know for Thursday, October 26th. The full message can be seen below:
Halloween can be a fun time with friends and neighbors. However, it is also a high-risk time for injuries. Even if you are not participating in Halloween activities, you can take action to keep our neighborhoods safe:
Before it became the largest high school in Maryland, in terms of square footage (here’s a list of the 20 largest by enrollment), Seneca Valley High School (19401 Crystal Rock Dr. Germantown, MD) opened in its original building in 1974. The school sits on land that was once the site of a dairy farm owned by baseball player Walter Johnson. Johnson purchased the land in 1935 and lived there with his family until his death in 1946. It was Germantown’s only high school until Northwest opened in 1998.
In its first year of operation, the 1974-1975 school year, under Principal Nathan Pearson, Seneca Valley hosted students in grades seven through ten. In the following 1975-1976 school year, the school operated grades nine through eleven, with 8th graders transferring to the newly opened Ridgeview Junior High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland. During the 1976-1977 school year, Seneca Valley became a senior high school, hosting grades ten through twelve, and graduating its first class in June 1977. Finally in 1988, Seneca Valley changed to its present state of full-fledged high school with grades 9-12. The original school building was demolished in 2020 and replaced with a new building on-site in 2021.
In the world of high school football, it’s not uncommon to ponder the “what-ifs” and to wonder how the outcome of early-season matchups might differ if they were played later in the year. While it’s thrilling to have marquee matchups right out of the gate, teams often evolve and improve, making early-season assessments less reliable. Such is the case for Churchill and Walter Johnson, who squared off in Week 1 of the last two-year cycle. Last year, their opening encounter was marked by turnovers and a general sloppiness that clouded both teams’ true potential. Churchill, in particular, faced an uphill battle after that defeat, which led to a string of nine consecutive victories, with Running Back David Avit emerging as a star.
Had they met again later in the season or in the playoffs, the narrative might have been very different. This season, the eagerly awaited rematch is scheduled for the final week of the regular season. Both teams have had time to discover their identity, solidify their strengths, and understand what it takes to secure a victory. Barring any unforeseen twists, the better team should be evident on the field.
The Board of Education will hold its business meeting on Thursday, October 26, 2023. Closed session will begin at 1:00 p.m. Public agenda items will begin at 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be cablecast live on Comcast Channel 34 (HD 1071), Verizon Channel 36, RCN Channel 89 and the MCPS website. The agenda, with related materials attached, can be found on the Board of Education’s BoardDocs site (please visit this link for the most up-to-date agenda)
12. Adjournment – 8:10 p.m.
12:45pm UPDATE: Paint Branch High School has been cleared. Students, teachers, and staff are returning to school.
Update: MCPD has provided two updates, at 12:01pm and 12:24pm, stating that the bomb threat is still under investigation.
Congratulations to students at six high schools for winning the following county and district championships (Courtesy of MCPS and MCPS Athletics):
Winston Churchill for winning the 3A/4A Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association’s (MPSSAA’s) District Championship in Golf