Albert Einstein HS is currently on lockdown following the report of a weapon on campus. Montgomery County Police is investigating the validity of the report. #MCPD #MCPNews pic.twitter.com/0XzJXQs1z3
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) January 20, 2023
Kayla DiCello, a freshman from Boyds who recently graduated from Northwest High School in Germantown, was recently named the “SEC Specialist of the Week” a week after being named the “SEC Freshman of the Week.” DiCello won the all-around in the quad meet against Ball State, Lindenwood and West Virginia with a top score of 39.475. DiCello’s score was the highest all-around mark among SEC freshmen, second among nation’s freshmen and tied for nation’s 10th highest for the opening weekend.
She is now one of seven Gators to win the all-around in their first meet since 1986. DiCello tied with Trinity Thomas (2019) for Florida’s top all-around in the first collegiate meet. She shared second place on balance beam with teammate Ellie Lazzari at 9.90, and also captured third place on bars (9.925) and floor (9.875). In July DiCello was selected to compete at the upcoming Pan American Championships. In August, DiCello competed at the National Championships. She finished finished fourth in the all-around and third on balance beam.
1. Fentanyl Awareness: Family Forum Set for Jan. 28: In partnership with MCPS, Montgomery Goes Purple invites families to come out Saturday, Jan. 28 for an event and discussion on this deadly drug. Panelists will share important information on the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl, prevention tools and protective factors for students, and resources for treatment when needed. The event will be from 9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. in the Clarksburg High School cafeteria, 22500 Wims Road in Clarksburg. The event will also be livestreamed on the MCPS homepage.
Thursday News Conference with School and County Leaders and Advocates
Seneca Valley and Sherwood High School students have partnered with restaurant industry leaders to gain first-hand experience creating an elegant pop up restaurant for one night in Potomac. The event will be the culmination of months of planning between MCPS students, hospitality program teachers Melissa North and Lisa Gilbert, and the Foundation for Hospitality & Restaurant Managements’ (FHRM) Student Professional Development Committee.
“Success starts with a spark,” said Ted Xenohristos, Chief Concept Officer & Founder of CAVA, “And, we’re here to light the match!” The dinner is an opportunity for the students to experience firsthand the wide variety of activities necessary to stage a sophisticated experience—from social media and ticket sales to front-of-house management and heart-of-house hustle. With a team of CAVA chefs, the students will design, prepare and serve a four-course gourmet dinner at the Falls Road Golf Course Café on February 3, 2023.
Per MCPS: Key leaders in education, law enforcement, health services, and drug use prevention advocates will gather to speak to an alarming rise in Illegal Opioid use, especially Fentanyl, in our youth. Data is showing not only a rise in overdose cases but a rise in death rates. These are dangerous trends that parents and students must be aware of.
Multiple county agency leaders discuss the rise in the use and availability of illegal opioids, often laced with Fentanyl, and the alarming rise in overdose cases, including those resulting in death. This will take place on Thursday, January 19th at 3pm at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Dr. Rockville MD, 20850 (Auditorium) also hybrid via Zoom https://mcpstv-org.zoom.us/j/84524812357?pwd=Z1FFSkFLa1lMYUs1Qk9YMTJJam9kUT09
Five writing and video student contests are now open for submissions—the Gaithersburg Book Festival poetry contest; Partners for Automated Vehicle Education’s essay contest; a Black history essay competition and video contests from Choose Respect and the Keeping It Safe Coalition. In some cases, cash prizes are up for grabs. Details are below:
The 2023 Gaithersburg Book Festival’s annual high school poetry contest is now open for submissions. This year’s theme is “Diversity or Inclusion.” To participate, students must be enrolled in grades 9-12. The deadline is midnight on Thursday, Feb. 23. First, second and third place winners will receive $250, $100 and $50 gift certificates, respectively.
Rock Creek Forest Elementary School welcomed about 50 members of the University of Maryland track and field team for its Reading Rocks event earlier this month. They visited classrooms and read to students. They also talked about the importance of studying hard, reading and writing, telling students, “You’ll have to write many papers in college!” They brought enormous enthusiasm to the day.
Reading Rocks was the brainchild of former Rock Creek Forest reading specialist Clara Register. It began about 10 years ago. Register discovered that fifth grade teacher Meredith Valmon was married to Andrew Valmon, Olympic Gold medalist and Maryland head coach for cross country and track and field. She suggested he bring the team to the school to read to students and speak with them about setting goals and looking ahead to college. Andrew Valmon saw a great opportunity for his student-athletes to be role models and invest in their Maryland community.
The Maryland Retired School Personnel Association (MRSPA) will award three $2,000 scholarships to public school employees in Maryland who are enrolled in a program leading to teacher certification, or certification as a school counselor, speech and language pathologist, physical or occupational therapist, school social worker, administrator or supervisor, media specialist, supervisor or administrator, or school psychologist. Teachers who have a current certification and are enrolled in a program pursuing certification in another education-related area are also eligible to apply, as are uncertified teachers, teacher assistants or aides, or substitute teachers.
Applicants must hold a high school diploma or GED certificate. They must be current employees of a public school system in Maryland, and must intend to work in a Maryland public school while working toward certification and after completing their requirements for certification. The deadline for submitting applications is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Apply here. Winners will be notified in March. Frequently Asked Questions
Get your free tickets now for the annual MCPS Dance Showcase, which will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17 at James Hubert Blake High School. The snow date is Tuesday, Feb. 21. Blake is located at 300 Norwood Road in Silver Spring. Additional information below:
Students from the following 10 middle and high schools are expected to perform—A. Mario Loiederman, Forest Oak, Kingsview and Silver Spring International middle schools and Albert Einstein, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Blake, Montgomery Blair, Northwood and Wheaton high schools. There will also be a performance from the All-County Dance Ensemble. These students thrive in dance class and exemplify their school’s instructional program. Student dancers in the ensemble are nominated by their dance teachers, and rehearse as a group for three months.Reserve your tickets here.
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fair returns as an in-person event from 6–8:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17. Co-sponsored by MCPS and the Montgomery County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), this free event at The Universities at Shady Grove will provide students in grades 8–12 an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 50 HBCUs. Representatives will share information and answer questions from students and parents about admissions, financial aid, testing, majors and more. There will also be a college preparation workshop for middle school students and parents, a discussion on college life, FAFSA completion assistance and scholarship information.
Students and parents must register to attend. Register. From Feb. 13–17, qualified seniors will be able to virtually interview with HBCU representatives. Students will be able to receive application fee waivers, scholarship awards and on-site admission. This free in-person event at The Universities at Shady Grove will provide students in Grades 8–12 an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 50 HBCUs. Representatives will share information and answer questions from students and parents about admissions, financial aid, testing, majors and much more. The event will also feature a college preparation workshop for middle school students and parents, a discussion on college life, FAFSA completion assistance, scholarship information and more. This event is co-sponsored by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the Montgomery County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
In partnership with MCPS, Montgomery Goes Purple is hosting a Family Forum on Fentanyl and life-saving Narcan training from 9:30–11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Clarksburg High School. Panelists will share important information for families on the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl; prevention tools and protective factors for students, and resources for treatment when needed. This event will be a family discussion about what you need to know about this deadly drug, including Narcan training and distribution of Narcan kits to help reverse an overdose. 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. There will also be a resource fair. Students can earn two Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for attending this event.
The event will be held in the cafeteria at Clarksburg, located at 22500 Wims Road in Clarksburg. RSVP to attend. In addition, be sure to tune in to a press conference set for 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19. MCPS leaders, county health and law enforcement leaders, and community partners will hold a news conference to raise awareness about the deadly trend of fentanyl use and accidental overdoses. A livestream of the press event will be available on the MCPS homepage.