MCPS Archives - Page 197 of 277

MCPS Director, Elaine Chang, Graduates from Leadership Maryland 2022

Published January 11, 2023 at 6:43PM

Elaine L. Chang, director of the Department of Partnerships, graduated from Leadership Maryland as part of the Class of 2022. She was one of 49 people to complete the professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders. Each member of this year’s class was chosen by a committee to complete Leadership Maryland’s eight-month hands-on learning program. The class participated in five, two-day sessions focused on issues impacting economic development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, the environment and multi-culturalism/diversity across the state. Leadership Maryland honored the Class of 2022 at a graduation ceremony on December 6th. Other Leadership Maryland Class of 2022 graduates:

Emily E. Arneson
Director of Government Relations
Kennedy Krieger Institute

Four MCPS Students Named Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars

By MCS Staff

Published January 11, 2023 at 5:00PM

Four MCPS students—three at Montgomery Blair High School and one at Poolesville High School—have been named Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars. This is one of the nation’s most prestigious science and math competition for seniors. A total of 300 scholars were selected from the U.S., Puerto Rico and four other countries. Each student will be awarded $2,000 and their schools will be awarded $2,000 for each enrolled scholar. The MCPS Regeneron scholars and their research topics are:

Later this month, 40 of the 300 students will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. 2023 List of Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars

Montgomery County History Day Competition Looking for Judges

By MCS Staff

Published January 11, 2023 at 4:55PM

The 2023 Montgomery County History Day competition is coming up, and local students need your help. The 2023 Montgomery County National History Day Contest will be held on March 4, 2023 at Northwood High School. Middle and high school students have been conducting research, diving into primary sources and creating presentations. The competition is seeking volunteers to serve as judges in evaluating student work. The goal is to encourage and foster a passion for history.

Virtual training will be provided. Judges will spend 20-30 minutes per project reviewing content and making comments. They then meet virtually with other judges to determine the projects that will advance to the statewide competition. Judging will take place in person on Saturday, March 4 at Northwood High School in Silver Spring. For more information, email Kelli Champagne, Prek–12 social studies content specialist, or visit the Montgomery History Conference website.

Montgomery County Student-Refurbished Cars and Computers For Sale February 11

By MCS Staff

Published January 11, 2023 at 4:50PM

Coming Saturday, Feb. 11: the next car and computer sale! Students in the Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) and Information Technology Foundation (ITF) will sell used cars and computers they have refurbished on Feb. 11, at Damascus High School, from 9–11 a.m. The school is located at 25921 Ridge Road in Damascus. The cars and computers are refurbished and reconditioned by the students as part of their classroom and lab studies. The sales provide students with the opportunity to practice their sales skills, earn Student Service Learning hours, and develop a deeper appreciation for community involvement.

The ATF is also still seeking car donations, which helps high school students learn how to evaluate, repair and restore used cars. The ATF accepts donations year-round between 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Friday 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. For questions about the automotive program, contact Kelly Johnson at 240-740-2051. To schedule car donations, contact Michael Snyder at 240-740-2050. Additional information available in the links below:

AFI Silver is Teaming With George Pelecanos to Present Unsung 70s Cinema Gems

By MCS Staff

Published January 11, 2023 at 3:57PM | Updated January 18, 2023 at 10:04AM

AFI Silver is teaming up with Silver Spring-based author, producer and screenwriter George Pelecanos to present a selection of unsung gems of popular 1970s cinema, curated by Pelecanos, who will introduce select shows. George Pelecanos, graduated from Northwood High School and has worked with fellow MCPS alumnus, David Simon, on various projects including HBO’s The Wire, Treme, The Deuce, and We Own This City, and more. This event will take place from February 3 until April 23.

“If the 1970s was the last decade of artistic, renegade Hollywood filmmaking, as some believe it to be, it was also true that it was a time of quality, under-the-radar B pictures and ‘programmers.’ Our series explores films of the ’70s that have enjoyed a growing reputation amongst film buffs, movies which were originally looked upon as disposable entertainment to many in the cinema’s critical establishment. We’ll look at prime examples of actioners, car films, Blaxploitation and populism that were made for the very working- and middle-class audiences who lived in the world that the films’ characters inhabited. Like the Poverty Row noirs of decades past, out of low budgets and low expectations came a kind of tarnished art. Written by masters like Elmore Leonard and Paul Schrader, adapted from source material by respected authors such as Donald Westlake and Jack Schaefer and directed by now-revered helmers like Don Siegel, Phil Karlson, John Flynn and Michael Schultz, here is a group of films fondly remembered by audiences lucky enough to have seen them in movie theaters at the time of their release. Many of them were shown in the old Silver Theatre, long before AFI arrived. We’re pleased to bring them back to the big screen.” – George Pelecanos

Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate Opening of Food Pantry at Weller Road Elementary School Will Take Place January 12

By MCS Staff

Published January 11, 2023 at 2:27PM

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will celebrate the opening of its fourth food pantry at a community school with a ribbon-cutting event on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. The food pantry at Weller Road Elementary School is a partnership between the Capital Area Food Bank’s (CAFB) School Pantry Program and MCPS to provide a reliable source of nutritious food to families throughout the year.

The food pantry will be open on Tuesdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. and Thursdays 2-3:30 p.m. by providing consistent access to staple shelf-stable items. These items include pasta, rice, non-perishable fruits and vegetables, cereal, and canned and dried beans. Schools that are part of the program are able to choose what food items from CAFB’s available inventory fit the needs of their respective communities.

Beloved MCPS Elementary Teacher, Dion Jones, Surprised with National Teaching Award

By MCS Staff

Published January 11, 2023 at 7:16AM

Tenacious, life-changing and strong leader are just some of the outstanding qualities used to describe this Silver Spring elementary school teacher and the latest Milken Educator Award recipient: Dion Jones. Jones was surprised with the national honor at a vibrant schoolwide assembly earlier this week. Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley and Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury presented Jones with the prestigious recognition and the unrestricted cash prize to be used however he likes.

Jones, a third grade teacher at Fairland Elementary School in the Montgomery County Public School District, is among up to 40 elementary educators across the nation who will receive the Milken Educator Award during the 2022-2023 school year. On top of today’s celebration, he will have the opportunity to join the national Milken Educator Network of more than 2,900 exceptional K-12 educators and leaders across the country. Honorees receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles this April.

HBCU College Fair Friday, February 17, 2023

By MCS Staff

Published January 11, 2023 at 7:15AM

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).

Many HBCU representatives will hold virtual interviews with 12^th grade students. During the interviews, students can potentially receive application fee waivers, scholarship awards and on-site admission. Qualified seniors will be able to interview with HBCU admissions representatives on February 13-17, 2023, from 8:30am to 4:00pm via Zoom. Seniors should meet with College & Career Information Coordinators (CCICs) to register for interviews. School Counselors and College & Career Information Coordinators will work with students to ensure they have the necessary digital documents for their virtual interviews and will help students prepare for their interview(s). Students can start by viewing how to prepare for common interview questions and what questions they should ask the HBCU representatives to help maximize their chances of acceptance.

Teachers Federal Credit Union Scholarship Program Has $37.5K in Scholarships Available

By MCS Staff

Published January 11, 2023 at 7:15AM

The Teachers Federal Credit Union Scholarship Program has $37,500.00 in scholarships available to our membership. This program consists of up to fifteen (15) $2,500 scholarships. The application process is now live and open for high school seniors to apply. Applicants do have to be members of Teachers Federal Credit Union, with both a savings and checking account.

Teachers is proud to offer the Teachers Federal Credit Union Scholarship to support student members embarking on their journey of continuous learning and success. Founded by a group of educators, Teachers continues to reinforce its commitment to education and ensure that more students have the resources to reach their academic goals. This scholarship is awarded annually to ten graduating high school seniors. To be eligible, the student must be:

MCPS SMOB Filing Period is OPEN January 3-26, 2023

By MCS Staff

Published January 11, 2023 at 12:24AM

Interested in becoming the next SMOB? The SMOB candidate nomination period is January 3, 2023 through January 26, 2023 at 5:00 PM. Any interested MCPS student who is a current 10^th or 11^th grader, enrolled in an MCPS school, and a resident of Montgomery County is eligible to apply. In order to submit your nomination for candidacy, please review the SMOB Election Protocols (Download the pdf) and submit the application on page 29-30 of the protocols. The timeline and directions are available on the below, via the MCPS SMOB Election webpage. Filing closes at 5:00 PM on Thursday, January 26, 2023:

MCPS Teachers Test Out New Device to Help Inform Future Instructional Technologies

By MCS Staff

Published January 8, 2023 at 8:54AM

Per Montgomery County Public Schools: MCPS held a Teacher Device Showcase to give teachers the opportunity to test more than 50 devices under consideration for future technology acquisition. Teachers also had the chance to check out new technology to support science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) learning.

Those who attended were encouraged to share input on what device features are most important to them and give feedback in order to inform future purchases and align new technologies with unique classroom needs. Teacher devices will be a new and important part of the refresh cycle starting in Summer 2024.