MCPS Archives - Page 199 of 275

MCPS: Annual Warming Hearts and Hands Campaign Benefits Most Vulnerable Students

Published December 19, 2022 at 1:53PM

For the past 8 years, the Educational Systems Federal Credit Union (ESFCU) on behalf of their Support Education Foundation, Inc, hosts an annual Warming Hearts and Hands campaign. The foundation works to gather winter clothing items to be donated to the MCPS Homeless Liaison to give to our students in need. On Dec. 14 the foundation dropped off hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and a many toiletry kits including a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap and deodorant.

Per MCPS: “MCPS is grateful to the Educational Systems Federal Credit Union and their Support Education Foundation, Inc. for their efforts each year to support the social and emotional well-being of our most vulnerable students.”

MCPS: Superintendent’s Budget Presentation on December 19

By MCS Staff

Published December 19, 2022 at 8:52AM

MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight will deliver a presentation on the Recommended Operating Budget for Fiscal year 2024 at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19. The public will be able to watch live on the MCPS website, MCPS-TV YouTube channel and MCPS-TV channels in English and Spanish.

There will be opening comments from Scott Smith, principal at Northwest and Karla Silvestre, president of the Board of Education. The presentation from Dr. McKnight will outline the goals, priorities and investments planned for the FY 2024 school year.

Multiple Walt Whitman Staff Members Receive Antisemitic Email

By MCS Staff

Published December 18, 2022 at 7:16PM

Just one day after Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti, multiple Whitman staff members received an antisemitic email from a sender outside MCPS , according to a report from the Black & White Whitman student newspaper (tweet available below). According to The Black & White, administrators notified police and are working to block the sender.

Following the vandalism on Saturday mornings Whitman High School principal Robert Dodd wrote the following in a message to the Whitman community: “I want to share information with you regarding an incident that took place today and how it is being addressed. It was reported, this morning, that there was antisemitic graffiti; the words “Jews Not Welcome” written on our school sign. This behavior is abhorrent, extremely hurtful, and will not be tolerated at Walt Whitman High School. We immediately notified the Montgomery County Police. who are actively investigating the incident. In addition, if found to have been committed by an MCPS student, this incident will be addressed as a disciplinary matter in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding with county police and in alignment with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct.”

Nearly 100 Former Peary High School Students Surprise Their Teacher At His Germantown Home

By MCS Staff

Published December 18, 2022 at 11:02AM

Nearly 100 Robert E. Peary High School alumni gathered for a surprise celebration to honor and thank their former teacher, Mr. Vincent Gibbs, for a lifetime of sharing his love for the performing arts, humanities and English education with his students. Mr. Gibbs, known as Mr. Christmas is in his Germantown community for the decorations and nativity scene that he puts up at his home each year, hasn’t been able to decorate due to his treatments for melanoma.

Debi Barbee, Class of 1983, drove attendees in a Montgomery County School bus from Fox Chapel Shopping Center to Mr. Gibbs’s nearby home in Germantown. The celebration began at 1:00 pm in the front yard of Mr. Gibbs’ home. Attendees held up posters, sang Christmas carols and the song “The Impossible Dream” (brief video below), and delivered a few short speeches to honor their former teacher.

Deadline Coming Soon for Rales–O’Neill Scholarships Recognizing Academic Excellence

By MCS Staff

Published December 18, 2022 at 8:52AM

The deadline for a prestigious student scholarship is fast approaching! Do you know a high-achieving student who has taken rigorous courses and has a weighted GPA of 4.69? They may qualify for a $10,000 scholarship.

Applications are open for the Ruth and Norman Rales–Patricia Baier O’Neill Scholarship Recognizing Academic Excellence. These scholarships for graduating high school seniors were announced earlier this year by the Norman R. Rales and Ruth Rales Foundation to honor the lives and contributions of Ruth and Norman Rales and former Montgomery County Board of Education member Patricia O’Neill. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Statement from Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight Concerning Antisemitic Graffiti at Walt Whitman High School

By MCS Staff

Published December 17, 2022 at 7:00PM

MCPS is deeply disturbed and saddened by the antisemitic graffiti found outside of Walt Whitman High School. MCPS’ mission is to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment that celebrates the diversity of our global community and all cultural backgrounds. This hurtful behavior, along with any acts of discrimination, have no place in our school community and will not be tolerated.

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Writing, Art Contests Now Open to Students

By MCS Staff

Published December 17, 2022 at 4:45PM

Three contests are now open for submissions—the Gaithersburg Book Festival’s poetry contest, the Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE) essay contest, and Arc Maryland’s art contest.

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.

Montgomery County Council Statement Condemning Antisemitic Graffiti at Walt Whitman High School

By Patrick Herron

Published December 17, 2022 at 2:55PM

Per Montgomery County: Today, the Montgomery County Council issued the following statement condemning the antisemitic graffiti found at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda.

“We are disgusted and angry to learn about yet another display of hate targeting the Jewish community in Montgomery County. Our nation continues to experience a deeply troubling rise in antisemitism, and we must continue to join together to denounce these acts of hate here at home.

Walt Whitman High School Vandalized with Antisemitic Graffiti

By Patrick Herron

Published December 17, 2022 at 1:49PM | Updated December 18, 2022 at 7:09PM

Montgomery County Police are investigating a report of a vandalism that occurred at Walt Whitman High School at 7100 Whittier Blvd in Bethesda on Saturday morning.

Whitman High School principal Robert Dodd wrote the following in a message to the Whitman community: “I want to share information with you regarding an incident that took place today and how it is being addressed. It was reported, this morning, that there was antisemitic graffiti; the words “Jews Not Welcome” written on our school sign. This behavior is abhorrent, extremely hurtful, and will not be tolerated at Walt Whitman High School. We immediately notified the Montgomery County Police. who are actively investigating the incident. In addition, if found to have been committed by an MCPS student, this incident will be addressed as a disciplinary matter in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding with county police and in alignment with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct.”

Wootton’s Kelly Campbell Completes Her First year As President at NBC’s Peacock

By MCS Staff

Published December 17, 2022 at 10:04AM

Kelly Campbell, a MoCo native who graduated from Wootton High School in the mid 90’s, has just completed her first year as President of NBC Universal’s streaming service Peacock. Campbell joined Peacock in October 2021 and officially took over the role of President in November 2021 after a year and a half as President of Hulu. Prior to that, she was Hulu’s Chief Marketing Officer and spent 12 years at Google in multiple senior marketing roles.

Per an interview with Deadline, Campbell has “helmed a high-stakes Olympics pivot from poorly received Tokyo coverage last summer to a more fully committed, wall-to-wall outing at the Beijing Winter Games. She leveraged Super Bowl LVII to help Bel-Airbecome Peacock’s first original series breakout. On a broader level, she has led a strategic turn from the platform’s original focus on its free, ad-supported offerings toward boosting premium subscriber levels.”

Elementary School Placed on Lockdown Friday Morning; Police Determine No Threat to School or Community

By Patrick Herron

Published December 16, 2022 at 12:37PM | Updated December 16, 2022 at 1:18PM

Montgomery County Police announced that New Hampshire Estates Elementary School at 8720 Carroll Avenue in Silver Spring was placed on a lockdown earlier this morning. According to MCPD, “At approximately 8:30 a.m. New Hampshire Estates ES went into lockdown as the result of a police investigation in the area. The lockdown lasted approximately 30 mins. until police verified there was no threat to the school or community. The lockdown has been lifted.”

At approximately 8:30 a.m. New Hampshire Estates ES went into lockdown as the result of a police investigation in the area.