Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Recreation, in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools Out of School Time (OST), will offer out-of-school programming for students throughout the 2023-24 school year.  Kids Day Out, for elementary school students, is a day filled with fun, supervised activities, planned with an emphasis on kid-friendly, healthy recreation. Programs will take place at various locations across the County beginning Monday, Oct. 9. Locations include:

Each day of programming takes place from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Students should make sure to bring lunch.


1. (LW 1) Quince Orchard 3-0: The Cougars needed a last second comeback to defeat Stone Bridge, VA 29-22 in a highly entertaining game. Quarterback Nino Marzullo had 187 total yards and 2 touchdowns in the victory. Up next a road trip to Potomac to take on Churchill in the MoCoShow Game of the Week!

2. (LW 2) Northwest 3-0: The Jaguars defeated Richard Montgomery 52-29. As a team, Northwest ran for 232 yards and 3 touchdowns. This Friday, the Jags travel down the road to take on Germantown rival Seneca Valley in the Battle for the King’s Trophy.


This year represents the 40th anniversary of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Congratulations to the more than 9,000 awardees recognized since 1983. Six schools in Maryland (one in Montgomery County) have been recognized in 2023– they are listed below.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools (NBRS) Program is one of the U.S. Department of Education’s longest-running recognition programs. NBRS recognizes outstanding public and non-public elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall high academic achievement or success in closing the achievement gap among diverse groups of students.  Since its inception, the goals of the program are to shine a spotlight on the best schools in the United States and to share best practices of outstanding schools across the country.


Three exceptionally inspiring high school seniors were awarded a total of $2,600 in scholarship funds for the 2023-2024 academic year through the W. Edward Bohrer, Jr. Memorial CHARACTER COUNTS! Scholarship program.

Per the City of Gaithersburg: Presented in partnership with the W. Edward Bohrer Memorial Fund and the City Student Union, the scholarships are named for former Mayor Bohrer, under whose leadership the City adopted the CHARACTER COUNTS! program in 1996. The scholarship program acknowledges students for embodying the Six Pillars of Character – trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.


Per MCPS: Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Throughout the month, MCPS schools will be celebrating the unique culture and traditions of students, teachers, staff and community members who trace their roots to Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

Hispanics and Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in MCPS, with 34 percent of the student population. MCPS resources to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month are available here.  Instead of starting celebrations on the first day of the month, Hispanic Heritage Month begins the third week of September each year.


Per MCPD: John Anthony Vigna, a former Montgomery County elementary school teacher who was convicted in 2017 for sexual abuse of students, has been released from prison.

In July 2023 the conviction of Vigna, now 58-years-old, was overturned and he was released on bond as he awaits a new trial. Since his initial conviction, additional victims have come forward.  Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division believe that there may be more.  Detectives would like to speak with any potential victims and urge them to call 240-773-5050.


Jennifer Martin, President of the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), has responded to the summary of the investigation of MCPS principal Joel Beidleman by the Jackson Mewis law firm released by the Montgomery County Board of Education on Thursday. The full response can be seen below:

“MCEA is confident in the overall accuracy of the report by Jackson Lewis summarizing the problems uncovered through their investigation. The investigators echoed our concerns that MCPS brazenly ignored our members urgent pleas. There were systemic failures at every level within MCPS. We are outraged to lear how extensive the cover-ups, negligence, and abuses of power were.


The Leadership Training Institute (LTI) at John F. Kennedy High School empowers students through a rigorous interdisciplinary education emphasizing experiential learning, community service projects, and leadership theory and application. LTI alumni and friends are invited on Oct. 6 to share  LTI memories and celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the program. The event will be held from 6–8:30 p.m. at Montgomery Country Club.

John F. Kennedy High School’s signature program empowers students through rigorous interdisciplinary experiential learning, community service projects, and leadership theory and application. The Leadership Training Institute is open by application to all Downcounty Consortium students.


Per Montgomery County Public Schools: “As new cases of COVID-19 increase locally, we have seen outbreaks occurring in multiple schools across the county. Temporary outbreak precautions for individual classrooms where COVID-19 is spreading rapidly helps prevent spread to vulnerable individuals and to the rest of school.” Check out the FAQ below, per MCPS:

What guidance does MCPS follow to determine health and safety procedures for COVID-19? MCPS follows CDC COVID-19 recommendations for K-12 schools, per joint guidance from the Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and MDH’s school guide for Communicable Diseases. Community health strategies are planned in coordination with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.


View More Stories