More than 100 middle and high school students from eight schools participated in a taste testing for new menu items last week. During the Taste of MCPS, students and staff evaluated innovative concepts and sampled new flavors. Their feedback will be incorporated in the menu development process for the next school year. New menu items tested included:
Below is a letter sent to the community by MCPS with an update on safety, security, and well-being:
“Dear MCPS Community,
A television news crew in a spare helicopter landed in the back field of North Bethesda Middle School in Bethesda (not near the building or any people) after an issue in flight. A Prince George’s County Police Chopper stopped by to make sure everything was fine after the precautionary landing. Both choppers successfully took off minutes later, when it was safe to do so.
The involved aircraft was a 2010 Robinson R44 Helicopter, per our public safety reporter Cordell Pugh.
The Montgomery County Board of Education, by unanimous vote, approved a $3.2 billion Operating Budget recommendation for FY 2024. The request includes a $296 million increase – 10%– over the current budget and $272 million above the minimum amount required by the maintenance of effort law.
The budget reflects amendments based on BOE feedback to provide focused investments to improve literacy and math across the district. This includes the addition of supervisors, instructional staff and coaches to increase math and literacy support, oversight and progress monitoring for schools, and increased professional development opportunities for staff. The budget also prioritizes salary increases to support recruitment and retention and the addition of security assistants to promote a safe and inclusive school climate.
1. Come Out This Saturday for a Family Forum on Fentanyl & Life-Saving Narcan Training In partnership with Montgomery Goes Purple, MCPS invites families to come out Saturday, Feb. 25 for an event and discussion on fentanyl. Panelists will share important information on the dangers and prevalence of illegally made fentanyl, prevention tools and protective factors for students, and resources for treatment when needed. The event will be from 9:30–11:30 a.m. in the Northwood High School auditorium, 919 University Blvd. West in Silver Spring. Breakout discussions for students and parents/caregivers and students, resource fair, COVID-19 vaccinations and refreshments will be available. Panel and breakout sessions will be in English and Spanish. RSVP. Fentanyl Resources
2. Finalists Selected for Student Member of the Board of Education: Sami Saeed, a junior at Richard Montgomery High School, and Yoseph Zerihun, a junior at Springbrook High School, are the finalists for the 46th Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB). Mr. Saeed and Mr. Zerihun were chosen from a pool of 12 students by more than 400 voting middle and high school delegates at this year’s SMOB Nominating Convention. Elections will be held on April 19. Read more about the candidates.
Hundreds of students, educators, administrators, community members, caregivers and HBCU representatives with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) participated in this year’s HBCU Fair on Friday, February 17.
The free in-person event at The Universities at Shady Grove provided students in Grades 8–12 an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 50 HBCUs. Representatives shared information and answered questions from students and parents about admissions, financial aid, testing, majors and much more. The event also featured a college preparation workshop for middle school students and parents, a discussion on college life, FAFSA completion assistance, scholarship information and more.
Two MCPS media specialists are finalists for Maryland School Librarian of the Year. Meredith Hickman, media specialist at Seven Locks Elementary School (Bethesda), and Dr. Sheri Massey, media specialist at Cabin John Middle School (Potomac), are two of 14 finalists for the state recognition.
The award honors a school librarian for exemplary service and outstanding achievements in the field of school library media. To be considered, nominees must be a current member of the Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL), actively working as a school librarian and serving in the same position for three or more years. The winner will be announced at the MASL conference in April. More information on the award.
Earlier this year, three Girl Scout Cadettes from Troop 2219 in Damascus—Sarah Cohen, Kaylie Eising and Jadyn New—painted a series of positive messages in bathrooms at South Lake Elementary School in Gaithersburg.
This Silver Award project was motivated by the girls’ concern about students’ mental health, as well as their desire to spread kindness and promote school community well-being. The girls planned the project, shopped for supplies and brainstormed positive images and encouraging words.
The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) at Damascus High School recently refurbished a Town and Country accessibility van for the family of a former MCPS and current Montgomery College student.
In 2019, Saniya Lipford, a former student at Thomas S. Wootton High School, lost her left leg and left arm from a blood clot in her lungs. Between the medical bills, extended recovery time and rehabilitation services, Saniya and her family have struggled. Now a student at Montgomery College, Saniya requested the ATF’s support to ensure that her family’s accessibility van was a reliable source of transportation.
Dancers from 10 middle and high schools showed off their moves in the MCPS Dance Showcase on February 17th (access to photo gallery below).
During the day, students attended master classes in ballet, jazz, hip hop, musical theater and yoga, and listened to guest speakers. In the evening, students performed for parents, peers and the community. Students from the following schools performed: A. Mario Loiederman, Forest Oak, Kingsview and Silver Spring International middle schools and Albert Einstein, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, James Hubert Blake, Montgomery Blair, Northwood and Wheaton high schools.
In partnership with Montgomery Goes Purple, MCPS is hosting a second Family Forum on Fentanyl from 9:30–11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, in the Northwood High School auditorium. A representative from the Montgomery County Police Department talks with parents during the first forum on fentanyl at Clarksburg High School in January.
Panelists, including representatives from the county health department and the police department, will share information on the dangers and prevalence of illegally made fentanyl, prevention tools and protective factors for students, and resources for treatment. There will be Narcan training and distribution of Narcan kits to help reverse an overdose, breakout discussions for students and parents/caregivers (in English and Spanish) and a resource fair. The Community Opioid Prevention & Education (C.O.P.E.) trailer (a mock teen bedroom) will be available for tours to learn signs of substance use. Students can earn two Student Service Learning hours for attending.