MCPS

MCPS Begins the Year “Nearly Fully Staffed, With Abundance of Bus Drivers, and Student Literacy Scores on the Rise”

By MCS Staff

Per Montgomery County Public Schools: It is with great excitement that Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) welcomes students, families, and staff to the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. As students and staff gather for another remarkable first day of school, MCPS is thrilled to introduce the BRAND NEW Cabin Branch Elementary School, the 211th school in MCPS, and to celebrate the opening of FOUR newly renovated school buildings across the county.

This year, our theme is “All Together Now: On the Pathway to A Bright Future.” We emphasize the remarkable unity that characterizes our county, enabling us to work collectively on behalf of students, families, and communities. Our community’s ability to come together has led to a significant increase in resources for our staff, students, and schools, thanks to the 8.4% operating budget increase for the school year. This investment has already had a substantial impact, with staff paychecks reflecting up to ten percent.

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Mrs. Estelle Moore Begins Her 50th Year Teaching in MCPS

By MCS Staff

Mrs. Estelle Moore has been teaching for a total of 53 years; three years in Pennsylvania and the last 50 in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Having taught in MCPS since 1973, she has worked at Harmony Hills Elementary School, East Silver Spring Elementary School, Piney Branch Elementary School, Broad Acres Elementary School, Brooke Grove Elementary School, and Cloverly Elementary School. She has been at Greencastle in Silver Spring for 30 years, where she currently teaches 2nd grade.

During her illustrious teaching career, she spent a year teaching in Japan and four months in Ghana. Mrs. Moore was also named MCPS Teacher of the Year over 30 years ago while teaching at Brooke Grove Elementary School in Olney. When asked what the biggest difference she has seen in her fifty years teaching in MCPS, Mrs. Moore said “The curriculum. It seems like every 3-5 years there has been a shift in the curriculum, but I feel in recent years it has come full circle in ways.” giving the example of phonemic awareness. When asked what’s still the same, she said “Students still need to know that you care. They need to hear their name in a positive way and to know that they matter.”

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Students at 58 MCPS Schools to Receive Breakfast and Lunch at No Cost, Regardless of Household Income

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPS: New for the 2023–2024 School Year, 58 MCPS schools will operate under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Students enrolled at these CEP schools may receive breakfast and lunch at no cost, regardless of household income. A list of the participating schools can be found here.  The Department of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) encourages all families with students enrolled at non-CEP schools to complete a Free and Reduced-price Meals Application.

Visit the Division of Food and Nutrition Services web page for information on prices, how to add money to your child’s account and more. We look forward to opportunities for community and student feedback on new and current menu items this fall.

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MCPS Statement Concerning the Court Decision Declining a Preliminary Injunction To Implement Opt Out of Inclusive Teaching Materials

By MCS Staff

Per MCPS: Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a decision declining the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction that would have required Montgomery County Public Schools to allow families to opt out of engagement with LGBTQ+ inclusive texts during English Language Arts instruction. The judge also denied the request for an injunction pending appeal.

The ruling states, “Public schools are not obliged to shield individual students from ideas which potentially are religiously offensive, particularly when the school imposes no requirement that the student violate his or her faith during classroom instruction.” (page 46) The decision comes after plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction in June and following a hearing on August 9 before District Judge Deborah L. Boardman.

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MCPS Welcomes New Principals at 33 Schools

By MCS Staff

Nearly 162,000 students will head back to school on Monday, Aug. 28 for the start of the 2023–2024 school year. About 920 teachers and nearly 280 supporting services employees have been hired, and there are 33 new principals, principals new to their schools and acting principals who can’t wait to get to know their new students and families. These leaders were asked to share a fun or interesting fact with us that they would like their school community to know. Read about them below, courtesy of MCPS:

Elementary Schools

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Montgomery County Board of Education to Hold Business Meeting, Thursday August. 24, 2023

By MCS Staff

The Board of Education will hold its business meeting on Thursday, August. 24, 2023. Closed session will begin at 9:00 a.m. Public agenda items will begin at 1:00 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)

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MCPS Teacher Julie Lyst Named 2023 ‘Chubbies Brand Icon’

By MCS Staff

Quince Orchard High School Health and Special Education teacher Julie Lyst is going into her 13th year teaching. This year, she’s also heading into the schoool year as one of the popular clothing brand Chubbies’ 2023 Brand Icons.

Chubbies was founded in 2011 by a group of friends who found the traditional world of men’s capital-F-”Fashion” completely unrelatable. “We saw pictures of shirtless men with rippling ab muscles, some standing outside of storefronts coating you with cologne, with the message of “if only you buy our clothes you can try to be as cool as we are” – and we were absolutely repelled.” The clothing brand spent months searching, sorting through thousands of votes, and putting their skills to the test in a real Chubbies photoshoot, and recently announced five winners, that included MoCo’s very own Julie Lyst.

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MCPS Unveils Comprehensive Attendance Action Plan to Combat Chronic Absenteeism

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announces the launch of its innovative Attendance Action Plan, “ALL TOGETHER Now: In School Together, Learning Together, Achieving Together.” This multifaceted initiative is designed to address the pressing issue of chronic absenteeism and promote consistent attendance among students across the district. By implementing data-driven strategies and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, MCPS aims to reduce barriers to school attendance and empower students and families.

The Attendance Action Plan is built on a Theory of Action, which states that through a collaborative and data-driven approach, MCPS can effectively tackle chronic absenteeism and create an inclusive learning environment for all students. Recognizing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student attendance, MCPS is also addressing culture and climate issues identified in the MCPS Antiracist System Audit, further emphasizing its commitment to equity and inclusion.

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Councilmembers Call For “Truly Independent” Investigation Into MCPS Response to Allegations of Sexual Harassment, Bullying, and Retaliation

By Patrick Herron

On Monday, Councilmember Dawn Luedtke and County Council President Evan Glass sent a letter to State Inspector General for Education Richard Henry and Montgomery County Inspector General Megan Limarzi asking that they conduct a “truly independent” investigation into Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) response to allegations of sexual harassment, bullying, and retaliation that were uncovered in a recent Washington Post article.  MCPS announced last week that it had  “instigated an external, independent investigation with the law firm of Jackson Lewis.”

Glass tweeted the following on Tuesday morning: “As the new school year is about to begin, our educators, staff, students and families need to know that a truly independent investigation is being conducted into the allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and retaliation by one of the school system’s middle school principals. and I believe that the Maryland Inspector General for Education and the Montgomery County Inspector General are best positioned to conduct this important investigation.” Full letter below:

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Welcome Back Message From Montgomery County Public Schools

By Patrick Herron

At MCPS, our primary goal is to equip students with the necessary tools, skills and knowledge to thrive in their future college, career and community endeavors. We are excited for the opportunities this new school year presents for all students. As a system, we have identified priorities and key investments to fully support our educators, our schools and most importantly, our students. Our focus on student academic achievement and social-emotional and physical safety supports are foundational to an inspiring learning environment.

Supporting each student’s educational journey is the focus of our MCPS staff, no matter their role in this great district.

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