MCPS had more than 25 student winners in the Maryland History Day competition, held May 6 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the culmination of a year-long program from Maryland Humanities. The following students will advance to the National History Day competition:
Poolesville High School:
Winston Churchill High School senior Sebastian Tulin will receive the Ida F. Haimovicz Visual Arts Award for 2022–2023. This honor includes a $1,500 prize and a solo exhibition at the Betty Mae Kramer Gallery in Silver Spring.
Sebastian’s exhibition, Surrounded by Solitude, will be on display on Fridays through July 14. Gallery hours are Fridays from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. The Betty Mae Kramer Gallery and Music Room is located in the Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place in Silver Spring. Read more about Sebastian.
Fifth grade MCPS student Ava Gerson is the 2023 Who Was? History Bee Champion for the Northeast Region!
In January, more than 200 third, fourth and fifth graders at Seven Locks Elementary School competed in the first round of multiple-choice questions on people and events from the Penguin Press’ “Who Was?” history series. The top two students in each class then competed in a formal bee assembly. Ava beat 17 students and moved on to the individual essay competition. Her work was selected as the winner for the Northeast region.
The preliminary investigation has revealed that the school bus was turning left from East Village Avenue onto Plum Creek Drive when it was struck by a BMW traveling on East Village Avenue. The driver and passenger of the BMW were transported to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries.
There were six occupants on the school bus. Some occupants on the bus sustained minor injuries but none were transported to area hospitals.
More than 279 students, the largest number in the state, were honored in a dual-enrollment recognition ceremony earlier this week at the Universities at Shady Grove. These students are dually enrolled at MCPS and Montgomery College. The majority of the students will receive associate degrees from Montgomery College (full list of students recognized below).
Dual Enrollment opportunities allow MCPS college-ready high school students to take college courses during the academic school year. High school students who enroll and take a college course at any Maryland public college or university are able to do so at a reduced cost. If students select to take courses at MC, and meet qualifications for and separately apply for the MC High School Grant, they may be able to take college courses at no tuition cost. Students are able to take college courses offered on the high school campus (at select high schools), on a college campus, or online during the fall, winter and spring college terms of their junior and/or senior year. All college courses on approved list that are successfully completed will receive dual credit by counting toward college and high school credit. The courses will appear on the high school transcript unless requested that it not during the enrollment process.
1. MCPS Implements New Regulation Allowing Students to Carry Narcan at School: Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced new guidance for responding to medical emergencies in schools for suspected opioid overdoses.
The new regulation includes detailed guidance on naloxone (also known by its brand name, Narcan), its use and access in MCPS schools. Narcan is a potentially life-saving medication that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. The new guidance allows students to carry Narcan in schools and during school-sponsored activities without fear of disciplinary action. Students should continue to seek assistance from school or health room staff in the event of a medical emergency on campus.
Powerful monied interests spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to block a tax that would have fully funded the MCPS budget. Their efforts have largely paid off. Although thousands of students participated in two separate walk-outs, over ten thousand community members signed a petition sent to the county council, and countless others made phone calls advocating for a fully funded budget, most of the council ignored their pleas. Today, the county council showed that they care more about their political future and donations from developers than they do about doing
We are dismayed by the county council’s decision today to turn their backs on the students and communities they serve. If they hold fast to this decision in their final vote on May 251, MCEA members will remember their votes the next time candidates seek our endorsement. While the final responsibility for funding our negotiated agreements lies with MCPS, our members will not forget the role the county council played in bringing us to this point.
A plan to replace the Einstein High School tennis courts with classroom portables does not seem to be a popular one for the Einstein community, as a petition against the plan, created two days ago, has already gained 600 signatures. The official Einstein High School football team twitter account has also asked MCPS about this move, “Day 1: Hey @MCPS why are you taking away facilities from our school and community for more portables? Putting portables on tennis courts? Please provide and explanation and cite your evidence as to how this is equitable to our students” The petition states the following:
“Plans are being made to replace the Einstein Tennis Courts with classroom portables. This would take away 3 courts and leave the Tennis Program to practice on just the 4 courts that belong to Newport Mill Middle School. This would leave 2 courts per team which would create cramped and unproductive practices. We also need all 7 courts for our games, and leaving the team with 4 would make our games last significantly longer.
If she were mayor, Joyce Tian would uplift, honor and celebrate Rockville through the city’s special events and farmers market. Joyce, a fourth grader in Laurel Czajkowski’s class at Beall Elementary School in Rockville, will get to see what it’s like to be mayor when she serves as the city’s honorary “Mayor for a Day” on Thursday, May 25.
She earned the honor for writing a winning essay in the “If I Were Mayor, I Would …” essay contest sponsored by the Maryland Municipal League and the Maryland Mayors Association. Joyce’s essay, one of 11 winning essays selected statewide to represent each MML district, was selected best of District 5, which comprises Montgomery and Howard counties.
Three MCPS students have received $2,000 scholarships from the League of Educators for Asian American Progress (LEAAP). The students were honored for their level of scholarship and their interest in pursuing a career in education. All applicants who applied are planning to major in education and show experience supporting the Asian American community and/or organizations.
They were recognized during the May 11 Board of Education meeting. They are:
World-renowned chef Peter Chang recently visited the culinary program at Paint Branch High School to teach students two recipes inspired by his family and culture. In Montgomery County, Chang owns Peter Chang Rockville and Q By Peter Chang in Bethesda. Chef Chang’s visit kicked off Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
In a separate celebration on May 11, MCPS leaders, staff and community members came together at Carver Educational Services Center to celebrate and recognize Asian and Pacific Islander American heritage with presentations, performances and food. Check out a photo gallery from the event. Video below: