MCPS Archives - Page 169 of 278

MoCo Board of Education Adopts $3.165 Billion Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2024

Published June 6, 2023 at 10:29PM

The Montgomery County Board of Education has unanimously adopted a $3.165 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, an increase of $245 million or 8.4 percent over the prior year. The adopted budget will allow Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to make investments to support enrollment growth and student academic needs, while providing staff wage increases to competitively hire and retain highly qualified teachers, administrators and support service workers.

The FY 2024 Operating Budget was developed to specifically target investments aligned to the three focus areas of the MCPS strategic plan: Academic Excellence, Well-Being and Family Engagement and Professional and Operational Excellence. The budget also includes focused investments by the Board of Education to improve math and literacy rates, build a safe and inclusive school culture and support two-way communication.

MCPS Student, Larry Liao, Advanced to Quarterfinal of 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee

By MCS Staff

Published June 1, 2023 at 7:25AM

Larry Liao, a student at Cold Spring Elementary School in Potomac, advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee. To get there, Larry correctly spelled his first word, taedium vitae. He then correctly answered the question, “What is cybernetics?” with “the comparative study of communication and control in human and artificial intelligence.” To get to the quarterfinals, he correctly spelled conspiration. Unfortunately, in the quarterfinals, Larry was unable to spell the word precisian correctly. Larry made Montgomery County proud, earning 74th place in the National competition.

According to Larry’s bio, he was born on May 9th, 2012 and is now 11 years old. He participates in many extracurricular activities, but one of his favorites is tennis. The word he spelled correctly to make it to the National competition was flugelhorn, his favorite movie is Treasure Island, his favorite food is bacon, and his favorite subject is science.

MCPS Celebrates Excellence in Autism Services

By MCS Staff

Published June 1, 2023 at 6:40AM

MCPS celebrated excellence in autism services during the second annual Autism Unit Awards on May 24. Teachers, paraeducators, administrators, service providers, volunteers and substitutes were recognized. Awards included:

• Outstanding New Paraeducator: Given to paraeducators in their first two years with the autism program, who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their roles.

Candlewood Principal, Carolynn Walsleben, Wins Mark Mann Award

By MCS Staff

Published June 1, 2023 at 6:36AM

Carolynn Walsleben, principal at Candlewood Elementary School in Redland/Rockville, is this year’s winner of the Mark Mann Excellence and Harmony Award. The Mark Mann award is presented annually to an MCPS administrator who has shown exceptional performance in promoting academic excellence, positive human relations and community outreach.

Walsleben has been principal at Candlewood since 2020. She began her teaching career in MCPS in 1999, as a first grade teacher at Bells Mill Elementary School. Colleagues, staff members and parents say Walsleben is a natural leader. She is a strong administrator who exemplifies what it means to be a caring, forward-thinking, data-driven leader. She sets high expectations, and believes in progress and celebrating along the way. As curriculum changes, she ensures that adequate tools and support are put in place so staff can efficiently meet student needs. She continually encourages staff to become social together and to build strong relationships, knowing that students will benefit from their strong bonds and positive energy. She helps teams build on one another’s strengths, and uses her skills to build the capacity of other leaders.

Applications Open for Third Annual Children’s Business Fair

By MCS Staff

Published May 29, 2023 at 1:47PM

The third annual Montgomery County Children’s Business Fair will return in August after a three-year hiatus. Applications are being accepted for the fair, set for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19. The fair, which will be held in Rockville Town Square, is open to youth aged 6-15.

The deadline to apply is Friday, June 2. Applications are available here. Open to the public, the fair will host 40 young entrepreneurs. Those selected will have an opportunity to present innovative ideas and make sales pitches to a panel of judges from the local business community and celebrity influencers.

Students at Gaithersburg Middle School Organize Food Insecurity Day

By MCS Staff

Published May 27, 2023 at 8:30AM

Model United Nations (UN) students at Gaithersburg Middle School organized a Food Insecurity Day to bring awareness to people facing food insecurity in the world, across the country and in Montgomery County community. Gaithersburg offers a Model UN class as an elective. Video below:

Sherwood High School Senior Sam Dickey Awarded $180K

By MCS Staff

Published May 26, 2023 at 7:27AM

Sam Dickey, a senior at Sherwood High School, was awarded the $180,000 Navy ROTC Scholarship (Marine option) on Thursday, May 25th. Rockville Marines announced yesterday, “Today, Sam is one of the hand selected few who have been awarded the $180,000 NROTC Scholarship (Marine Option)!! What an awesome way to represent your family and Sherwood High School! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication!”

Per the NROTC: The purpose of the Navy ROTC Program is to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the Navy’s unrestricted line, the Navy Nurse Corps and the Marine Corps. As the largest single source of Navy and Marine Corps officers, the Navy ROTC Scholarship Program plays an important role in preparing mature young men and women for leadership and management positions in an increasingly technical Navy and Marine Corps.

MCPS: Five Things To Know This Week

By MCS Staff

Published May 26, 2023 at 6:59AM

Future Educators scholarship awards ceremony. 24 graduates of MCPS are receiving a scholarship to attend college with the intention of returning to teach at MCPS.

Graduation Ceremonies Kick Off May 31: Nearly 12,000 MCPS students will begin receiving their diplomas during commencement ceremonies between Wednesday, May 31, and Thursday, June 15. Graduation ceremonies will take place on individual high school campuses, at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., and on the campuses of Mount St. Mary’s University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

This year’s keynote speakers include Tony Award-winning actor Myles Frost, Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, husband-and-wife journalists Peter Baker of The New York Times and Susan Glasser of The New Yorker, former University of Maryland and NBA star Walt Williams, author and television producer George Pelecanos, and more. Full list of Graduation dates, times and locations. Read more.

More Than 100 Compete in First Unified Field Day At Wheaton High School

By MCS Staff

Published May 26, 2023 at 4:12AM | Updated May 26, 2023 at 7:46AM

Per MCPS: Wheaton High School held its first Unified Field Day on May 23 in honor of Sarah Gilbert, a former Learning for Independence (LFI) student who unexpectedly passed away last summer. The event was named Gilbert Games in her honor. The event was planned and executed by Wheaton High School staff members in conjunction with Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy and Springbrook and Wheaton high schools. More than 100 students from all four schools attended (video below).

Leadership students coached students from the LFI program, which is designed for students with complex learning and cognitive needs, including mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, and the School Community-based (SCB) programs, which includes students with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and/or multiple disabilities. Students from the extensions program, which is a program that includes students with the same disabilities in need of additional behavioral support, also participated.

MoCo Board of Education Approves Six Administrative Appointments

By MCS Staff

Published May 25, 2023 at 3:52PM

The Montgomery County Board of Education approved the following six administrative appointments at its meeting today:

Seth P. Adams, currently Director, Department of Facilities Management, Office of District Operations, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, as Associate Superintendent, Office of Facilities Management, Office of the Chief Operating Officer

MCPS Performing Arts Students Shine in Awards Celebration

By MCS Staff

Published May 25, 2023 at 7:28AM

Dozens of MCPS high school seniors were recognized for their accomplishments in dance, theatre performance, technical theatre, choral and instrumental music, media arts, and 2D and 3D visual art at the 22nd annual Superintendent’s All-County Fine Arts Awards Celebration on May 22 at Seneca Valley High School.

The event featured musical and dance performances from four high schools, plus the All-County Dance Ensemble, which performed Origins, choreographed by Alice Howes and directed by Tiffany Alastanos. Other performances included—