MCPS Archives - Page 188 of 287

MCPS: Five Things to Know Going Into Spring Break

Published March 31, 2023 at 9:00AM

Students from many of the county high schools attend the Hispanic College Fair.

MCPS sent a community letter containing five things know for Thursday Mar. 30 and an update on the progress we are making to address the findings of the Antiracist System Audit. Get information on the work being done across the system since the report and findings, the mid-year Evidence of Learning framework, upcoming events, COVID 19 testing recommendations after spring break and more. The full letter, courtesy of MCPS, can be seen below:

1. Mid-Year Evidence of Learning Framework Demonstrates Gains in Student Performance, Continued Areas for Improvement: At its March 28 Board of Education meeting, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) leaders presented mid-year Evidence of Learning (EOL) data focused on grade-level proficiency using multiple measures to determine the success of students, schools and the district.

5th Annual ‘Got The Power!’ Conference for Middle, High School Girls Set for May 6

By MCS Staff

Published March 31, 2023 at 7:51AM

Per MCPS: The 5th annual Got the Power! Girls Conference will be held on Saturday, May 6 at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville. This free conference is open to middle and high school girls and their parents in Montgomery County. Check in begins at 9 a.m.; the program runs from 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. The day will include speakers; parent and student workshops; exhibitors; and breakfast, lunch and snacks.

The event will include engaging and interactive parent and student workshops focused on financial literacy, college readiness, STEM, mental health awareness and self-care, self-defense and social media. Register by Saturday, April 15. The event will be held at USG, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Building 2.

School Bus Driver Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Special Needs Passengers Sentenced to 40 Years

By Patrick Herron

Published March 30, 2023 at 8:19PM

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “today the Honorable David Lease, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, sentenced defendant, Etienne Kabongo, to 90 years in prison suspend all but 40 years. He would face five years of supervised probation should he ever be released. The defendant pleaded guilty to crimes against four female victims, ages 12, 12, 18 and 20, who rode the bus he drove for Montgomery County Public Schools. While he pleaded guilty, Kabongo claimed he was not criminally responsible due to an alleged mental disorder. Last month, however, a jury found he is indeed responsible for the two counts of Second-Degree Rape and two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.”

Have a Relaxing and Wonderful Spring Break: A Message from MCPS Superintendent, Dr. Monifa B. McKnight

By Patrick Herron

Published March 30, 2023 at 7:26PM

It’s also a moment to reflect, and I want to take this moment to express my gratitude and admiration for all of your hard work as scholars and educators. Despite that hard work, each of you has risen to the challenge and your accomplishments are remarkable. First, as we reported to the Board of Education in a meeting on March 28, student academic performance is on the rise. Vital literacy and math skills attainment is improving for all types of students, and we’re committed to ongoing improvement in all of our academics. Students also are:

Learning and acquiring knowledge and skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

Police Respond to Assault at Watkins Mill High School

By Patrick Herron

Published March 30, 2023 at 11:12AM

Montgomery County Police responded to Watkins Mill High School at 10301 Apple Ridge Rd in Montgomery Village at 10:05am on Thursday morning for the report of an assault. According to police, “MCPD is on scene investigating an assault between two students at Watkins Mill HS. The school briefly went into a shelter in place to support the investigation. No injuries have been reported. The suspect is in custody. The shelter in place has been lifted at this time. The school is secure and there is no current threat at this time.”

We will post an update when additional information is available.

Poster Contest Open to K–12 Students Sponsored By Asian Pacific American Student Achievement Action Group (APASAAG)

By MCS Staff

Published March 30, 2023 at 7:45AM

As part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, the Asian Pacific American Student Achievement Action Group (APASAAG) is sponsoring a poster contest for K–12 students. This is the fourth year for the contest.

The contest calls for students to submit original artwork reflecting significant moments or events in Asian American and Pacific Islander history and/or culture. Artwork must be drawings, paintings or digital art and submitted electronically. First, second and third place winners will receive cash awards for lower elementary, upper elementary, middle and high school levels. One entry per student is allowed. Submissions are due Friday, April 23.

Students Pitch Business Ideas to Panel of Judges In Shark Tank-Like MCPS Business Pitch Challenge

By MCS Staff

Published March 30, 2023 at 7:42AM

Entrepreneurial students from six high schools participated in the annual MCPS Business Pitch Challenge on March 22. They created business ideas and presented them to a panel of local entrepreneur judges. Participating high schools were: Montgomery Blair, Albert Einstein, Gaithersburg, Northwest, Northwood and Paint Branch, with The MoCoShow’s very own Alex T. serving as the keynote speaker for the event.

The Northwest team placed third with a business proposal focused on repurposing clothing or sentimental items into apparel that an individual would still be able to wear. The Northwest team included Maddie Kaplan, Aayush Thakkar, Jonah Karst and Zach Greenspan. Teacher sponsor was Kristin Vick.

Professional Development Supports EML Students at Gaithersburg HS

By MCS Staff

Published March 30, 2023 at 7:31AM

Per MCPS: For two years Gaithersburg High School staff have been working with an organization called Support Ed, to provide training for leadership, teachers and staff, focusing on how to work with Emerging Multilingual Learners (EML) students. The training allows teachers and staff to learn more about their students, and to develop strategies to make all content more available to multilingual learners. Watch the video.

MCPS: Mid-Year Evidence of Learning Framework Demonstrates Gains in Student Performance, Continued Areas for Improvement

By MCS Staff

Published March 29, 2023 at 8:39PM

Per MCPS: At the March 28, 2023 Board of Education Meeting, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) leaders presented mid-year Evidence of Learning (EOL) data that is focused on grade-level proficiency utilizing multiple measures to determine the success of students, schools and the District overall. The EOL framework intentionally uses multiple measures to determine student performance that include classroom grades, data from curriculum-aligned assessments, and state and national assessments.

EOL mid-year data allows MCPS to examine how successfully students transition from one grade level to the next. The data serves as a checkpoint for how students in kindergarten, grades 3, 6, and 9, have transitioned from pre-kindergarten, grades 2, 5, and 8. Further, they provide an opportunity to determine the extent to which students are meeting standards and additional support that may need to be provided for their continued success.

Quince Orchard Alumnus Brings ‘LavaBox’ to Shark Tank on Friday Night

By MCS Staff

Published March 29, 2023 at 8:27AM

Josh Thurmond, a 1994 graduate of Quince Orchard High School and Gaithersburg native, is the inventor of LavaBox Portable Campfire– a new style of portable fire pit that’s built in a military-style ammunition can and was “created to combat climate change and reduce wildfires.” LavaBox has made waves, or fires, since its inception in late 2020, and now Thurmond will take it into the Shark Tank on Friday, March 31st at 8pm.

In addition to being the inventor of LavaBox, Thurmond is also the “Chief Eruption Officer” and in charge of making sure every LavaBox gets out the door to you. Per the LavaBox website, “When he is not making LavaBoxes, he develops outdoor adventure programs for people with disabilities at the National Sports Center for the Disabled. He also volunteers for Team River Runner and sits on the Board for the Colorado Whitewater Association. Needless to say, if you are looking for him, he is probably surfing on his SUP or doing enders on a sweet eddyline.”

Student Leaders Elected and Honored at Annual Maryland Association of Student Councils Convention

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 10:27PM

Per MCPS: Forty-eight student leaders from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) participated in the annual Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) annual Convention held in Ocean City, Maryland this year. More than 500 student leaders from across the state of Maryland attended the conference to participate in leadership workshops, vote on the MASC officers for next year, hear program updates from across the state, and more. Convention Highlights: