MCPS Archives - Page 195 of 278

League of Educators for Asian American Progress (LEAAP) Offering Scholarships to Graduating Seniors

Published January 26, 2023 at 8:53AM

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)

Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary School in Germantown Ushers in Lunar New Year With Annual Celebration

By MCS Staff

Published January 26, 2023 at 8:34AM

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.

Springbrook’s Gary Frace Named Maryland Coach of the Year

By MCS Staff

Published January 26, 2023 at 8:23AM

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 Four MCPS Middle Schools Win Awards at ‘Invent the Future’ Challenge

By MCS Staff

Published January 26, 2023 at 7:57AM

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 Found at Magruder High School

By Patrick Herron

Published January 25, 2023 at 6:50PM

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.

Make-A-Wish Surprises Rachel Carson Fifth Grader

By MCS Staff

Published January 25, 2023 at 4:43PM

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 Job Fair on Monday, January 30

By MCS Staff

Published January 25, 2023 at 3:55PM

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

Damascus High School Alumna, Ava Piedrahita, named Penn State Student-Athlete of the Week

By MCS Staff

Published January 25, 2023 at 3:01PM

Ava Piedrahita, a 2022 graduate of Damascus High School has been named Penn State student-athlete of the week. Ava, a native of Gaithersburg, also attended John T. Baker Middle School in Damascus. According to her website, Ava started gymnastics because her sister Kaitlyn was in gymnastics back in 2007 and she was just tagging along running around in the waiting room. She started with recreational classes for a couple of years then was invited to team at Hill’s Gymnastics in Gaithersburg.

Penn State on Ava: “In the first Big Ten meet of her career against No. 16 Minnesota, Piedrahita shined with three career-highs in a fantastic all-around competition for the freshman. The freshman started off her night with a 9.800 on bars as one of four Nittany Lions to post a 9.800-or-better on the apparatus. She continued with a career-best 9.875 on vault, which led the team in the event and became Penn State’s best mark on the apparatus this season. Her career-best 9.775 on the balance beam closed out the night for her and helped her set a new lifetime best 39.225 in the all-around to claim second place in the meet. The score also became Penn State’s best all-around mark in the 2023 season. In a tough Big Ten road environment, the freshman rose to the occasion and performed extremely well for the Nittany Lions”

Blair High School Entered A Brief Lockdown Tuesday Afternoon After Reports of Gunshots Near the School; Incident Was Determined to be Fireworks

By MCS Staff

Published January 24, 2023 at 8:47PM

Montgomery County Police responded to reports of gunshots at the neighboring Woodmoor shopping center at approximately 1PM on Tuesday, along Colesville Rd near University Blvd East.

The incident sent Blair High School into a lockdown from 1:18pm until 1:29pm and remained in a shelter-in-place until 1:40pm, when it was determined that the disturbance involved fireworks and were not gunshots. Montgomery County Police maintained an increased presence in area following the incident and Blair High School principal Renay Johnson tweeted the following at 1:50pm, “We will have dismissal as scheduled today. Lockdowns can be unsettling for students and staff, our counselors and administrators are available for support.” Additional information can be seen in the tweets below.

Police and MCFRS Respond to Student Overdose at Kennedy High School

By Patrick Herron

Published January 24, 2023 at 8:46PM

A student at John F. Kennedy High School at 1901 Randolph Rd in Silver Spring overdosed at the school around noon on Tuesday, according to a report by WJLA/ABC7. In a letter to the Kennedy community, Principal Dr. Joe L. Rubens said, “Montgomery County Fire and Rescue and Montgomery County Police responded to our school immediately. Parents were contacted and the student was transported to the hospital.”

A 15-year-old Kennedy student died of a suspected overdose earlier this month, according to a Fox 5 report, which prompted county leaders and law enforcement to hold a meeting on January 19 to discuss the rise in opiod use, especially Fentanyl, among Montgomery County youth. Montgomery County Police tells us that “The call was received at approximately 12:01 pm. Officers responded for a student who may have overdosed. More information will be released as it becomes available.” We will update this story when additional information becomes available.

15-Year-Old Arrested for Possession of Handgun After Bringing Firearm to Richard Montgomery High School

By Patrick Herron

Published January 24, 2023 at 8:16PM

Per the Rockville City Police Department: The Rockville City Police Department has charged a 15-year-old juvenile with firearms related offenses. On January 24, 2023, at approximately 2:45 p.m., Richard Montgomery High School Security personnel notified the school’s Community Engagement Officer that a former student was on school property and was possibly in possession of a handgun. The student was apprehended by Rockville City Police approximately one block away from the high school, who was in possession of a firearm. The juvenile was arrested without incident and will be charged accordingly.

The preliminary investigation has determined today’s incident is unrelated to the lockdown which occurred at Richard Montgomery High School on January 13, 2023. Rockville City Police continues to work closely with Richard Montgomery High School and Montgomery County Public Schools to ensure the safety and security of students and staff remains the highest priority for our community.