In a message sent before winter break, we asked that you remain vigilant and aware of the potential impact of the respiratory diseases (Influenza, RSV and COVID-19) circulating in our community. These illnesses may pose a combined challenge to our local healthcare system across our region following the holiday season. We need everyone’s help to reduce the impact on school operations in these first few weeks following winter break. Remember, protective measures still apply – keeping up with vaccinations, practicing healthy habits to prevent the spread of illness, and staying home if you are sick.

While we are excited to be back in school and for learning to continue on Tuesday, Jan. 3, we can only do this if we take care of ourselves and each other.


Bryan Bresee has officially declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, according to his Instagram post from earlier Monday afternoon. The 6’5, 305lb Clemson defensive lineman  graduated from Damascus High School in 2019. He is the former No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2020, and played three years at Clemson, missing significant time in 2021 with an ACL tear. He is widely expected to be drafted in the first round. His announcement and more on his time at Damascus below:

When I committed to play football for Clemson University, I never could have imagined how special this opportunity would be. The support I have received from the Clemson community the past 3 seasons has been amazing. I truly appreciate this experience.


Per MCPS: Staff and students are strongly encouraged to test prior to returning from the holiday break, especially if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, may have been exposed to COVID-19, or were in a higher risk exposure situation like public travel or large indoor gatherings.

Test Kit Information: Testing is an important way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our school community. Montgomery County residents have multiple free at-home testing options. Order free rapid test kits by mail through COVID.gov.


As 2022 ends, we’re sharing a few of our most-read stories of the year, from September: Niche, a rankings and review resource that provides information on K-12 schools, colleges, cities, neighborhoods, and companies across the United States, has just published its new 2023 Best Schools and Districts rankings. Now in its ninth year, the rankings include updated data for 92,743 public schools, 30,112 private schools, and 11,820 school districts nationwide. 7 of the top 10 public high schools in Maryland are located in Montgomery County, with Poolesville High School earning the top spot (All MCPS schools listed can be seen below and there are 282 public high schools in the state).

Per Niche: “While traditional rankings rely almost exclusively on metrics like test scores and academic performance, Niche’s rankings combine user input — ratings from current students, alumni, and parents — with quantitative data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities, extracurricular activity opportunities and more. The 2023 Best Schools rankings include 2,906 newly ranked public schools, 1,018 newly ranked private schools, and 547 newly ranked school districts across the country.


Xavier men’s soccer player Makel Rasheed was drafted by Nashville SC in MLS SuperDraft 2023 presented by adidas on Wednesday night. He was taken as the seventh pick (65th overall) in the third round. The Rockville, Md. native, who is a 2019 graduate of Walter Johnson High School, was the second Musketeer taken in the draft as Cole Jensen went in the first round (pick No. 18) to Inter Miami CF. Xavier had two players taken in the same draft for the first time in program history.

The 2022 All-BIG EAST Second Team Selection helped the Musketeers match the program’s highest United Soccer Coaches Ranking this season (No. 9 on Oct. 18). The defender also helped the Musketeers match the program record for longest unbeaten streak to start a season (14 matches) and set the program record for fewest losses in a season (2).


Rahne Jones is an actress that made her television debut as Skye on Netflix’s The Politician in 2019. She is currently a co-host on the new MTV reality show, Help! I’m in a Secret Relationship!, which aired its first episode in April 2022. Rahne is a MoCo native, from Silver Spring, and graduated from Paint Branch High School in 2005.

She was named after her father, Ronnie. After graduating from Paint Branch High School in 2005, Jones attended college at Radford University on a full basketball scholarship for her freshman year. She eventually transferred to University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) where she got her bachelor’s degree in English. After college, she worked as an inspector for the US Department of Homeland Security for 4 years before moving to NYC and pursuing theater. Jones currently lives in NYC with her wife, Bridget.


The Silver Spring, Maryland Chapter of The Links, Inc., a volunteer service organization of women committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans, has awarded 2022 scholarships to 10 MCPS students, and continuing scholarships to 13 others. 2022 Scholarship Recipients:

Continuing Scholars:


Student-athletes from throughout MCPS high schools participated in a Student-Athlete Leadership Council Meeting at Carver Educational Services Center on Sept. 13. The meeting discussed a variety of topics, including strong leadership and enhancing participation in MCPS athletics. In addition, students on the council recently produced this PSA, a message about being respectful, encouraging and supportive at all athletic events. The video can be seen below:


Amanda Herold, instrumental music teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, was given the Professional Achievement Award by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

This award recognizes her outstanding dedication and commitment to the field of music education during her time as an undergraduate at Gettysburg College. Herold was an active member of NAfME and helped lead music education initiatives across campus. She was statewide president for the Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators Association and was invited to speak at the NAfME Collegiate Advocacy Summit on the topic of advocacy in collegiate music education chapters in 2021.


As we enter a much-deserved Winter Break, I want to wish all of you, our amazing students, superb staff and wonderful families — a joyous holiday season. With the first semester winding down, please accept my heartfelt gratitude for all that each and every one of you do  for our students and for one another.

Reflecting on this first half of the school year, I am so proud of what we have accomplished as a community, with our “All Together Now” spirit. We are staying true to our mission, so that all of our students can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. I remain hopeful that we can and will continue the work we have embarked on this school year, build on the momentum we cultivated, and address the challenges before us.


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