Panelists will share important information on the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl, prevention tools and protective factors for students, and resources for treatment. The event will be from 9:30–11:30 a.m. in the Clarksburg High School cafeteria, 22500 Wims Road in Clarksburg. Please RSVP. The event will also be livestreamed on the MCPS homepage. Ride On will provide free bus rides on Saturday from 7:00–2:00 p.m. on routes 10 and 75.

2. Help Rising High School Juniors and Seniors Learn About Your Workplace and Career Field


On January 13, 2023, Rockville City Police responded to Richard Montgomery High School (RMHS) for the report of an assault which occurred inside the school and an allegation that a handgun had been displayed off school grounds forcing the school to enter a brief period of lockdown.

According to Rockville City Police, “through a joint investigation with RMHS Staff and MCPS Security, RCPD Investigators learned several students from Gaithersburg High School entered RMHS with the assistance of RMHS students. The Gaithersburg students were led to one of the school’s restrooms during school hours where they became victims of a robbery by several RMHS students.


The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) is looking for car donations. Donations will help more high school students learn how to evaluate, repair and restore used cars. The ATF is a nonprofit that fosters automotive education by offering students hands-on instruction in maintenance, repair, sales and marketing. The students run a mini-dealership where people can purchase the refurbished cars. The ATF accepts donations year-round by appointment at Damascus, Gaithersburg and Seneca Valley high schools, at Thomas Edison High School of Technology and at the Shady Grove Bus Depot. Donations may be tax deductible. Call 240-740-2047 to donate.

MCPS students engage in a hands-on curriculum to refurbish used cars. As part of the automotive program, students sell the cars at three sales throughout the school year (www.cars2purchase.org). The next sale is coming up from 9–11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Damascus High School. Potential inventory of available cars will be posted closer to sale date (end of January/ early February). Additional information about the program below:


Preparations are in full swing for the spring theater season throughout the school system at middle and high schools. Plan now to see these great performances, which run from February into May. From “Mean Girls” and “The Lightning Thief” to “Into the Woods” and “Mary Poppins,” there’s something for everyone. Grab your tickets and come on out! 2022-2023 Spring Theater Schedule below (courtesy of MCPS):

 


The League of Educators for Asian American Progress (LEAPP) is offering $2,000 scholarships to graduating MCPS seniors of Asian descent. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 1. Applicants must be planning to major in education, and show experience supporting the Asian American community and/or organizations. Apply here.

Earlier this month during its annual Lunar New Year banquet celebration, LEAAP raised more than $14,000 for the scholarship fund. See a few pictures from the event. The event featured the traditional lion dance and guest speakers–  Brookhaven Elementary special education teacher Becky Corey and Sligo Middle teacher Orchid Dargahi, past scholarship recipients. Featured photo is from LEAPP Lunar New Year Banquet earlier this month (North Bethesda Middle School table)


MCPS students, parents and staff at Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary School, in Germantown, ushered in the Lunar New Year in grand style with their annual show and celebration on January 20. From traditional dances to vibrant costumes, students from all backgrounds celebrated Asian culture and traditions.

Students performed traditional Chinese and Vietnamese dances; sang; showed off martial arts moves; showcased a kids’ game; and played the flute, gourd flute and erhu, traditional Chinese instruments. Check out a photo gallery from the event. Courtesy of MCPS.


Per MCPS: Gary Frace, Springbrook High School’s longtime cross country coach, was named state Cross Country Coach of the Year by the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA).

Frace has been at Springbrook for nearly 50 years. Will Jawando, Montgomery County Councilmember and chair of the council’s Education and Culture Committee, offered his congratulations in the video below (featured photo– From left to right, MCPS athletics director Jeff Sullivan; Springbrook principal Stephanie Valentine; Gary Frace; athletic director Dan Feher and athletic assistant Melissa Turowski) :


Students at Shady Grove (Gaithersburg), William H. Farquhar (Olney), Parkland (Rockville) and Briggs Chaney (Silver Spring) middle schools were named winners in this year’s Invent the Future Challenge celebration at KID Museum on Jan. 21.

Through designing their own inventions and innovative problem solving, students answered the question: What will you make to improve life on this planet? See all of the winners and a description of their projects at this link: Invent the Future Award Winners, January 2023. Courtesy of MCPS.


Antisemitic graffiti was found on a desk today at Colonel Zadok Magruder High School at 5939 Muncaster Mill Rd in Derwood. This is the fourth time in the past week that antisemitic graffiti was found at a Montgomery County Public School, as over the weekend, MCPS sent out a message alerting the community that drawings of swastikas were recently found on desks at at three separate MCPS schools. Magruder Principal Dr. Leroy C. Evans sent the following message to Magruder students and families:

Given the seriousness of this incident and heightened concerns around racial insensitivity and anti-Semitism, we seek parent support and involvement in speaking with your children in our efforts to eliminate this hateful and harmful behavior.


The Make-A-Wish Foundation surprised Rachel Carson Elementary School fifth grader Aubrey Campbell with a trip to Hawaii, where she will swim with dolphins and ride horses.

Aubrey, who has an autoimmune disease, was surprised with the trip in front of her classmates, family and Make-A-Wish representatives on Jan. 25. Her doctor, Dr. Sangeeta Sule, and Dr. Kurt Newman, president and CEO of Children’s National Hospital, and Principal Mindy Reeves were also there for the presentation.


MCPS is hosting an in-person job fair for teachers from 5–7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30. “The largest and most diverse school system in Maryland, MCPS offers competitive compensation and benefit packages. The system is looking for highly qualified professionals to join its workforce as classroom teachers for the 2023-2024 school year.” MCPS is looking to hire for these critical areas:

The job fair will be held at 15 W. Gude Drive (Third Floor) in Rockville.RSVP to attend. Learn how to become a certified teacher in a Feb. 2 meeting. MCPS Careers


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