Four MCPS students from two different schools have been selected to play in All-National Honor Bands and Orchestras.

Thomas S. Wootton High School sophomore Sara Bock, who plays clarinet, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School sophomore Shisui Torii, who plays French horn, were selected to be in the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME’s) All-National Honor Band. Wootton sophomores Jackson Bernal, who plays bassoon, and Anderson Bernal, who plays double bass, were selected to the All-National Honor Orchestra.


Students in the Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) and Information Technology Foundation (ITF) will be selling used cars and computers that they have refurbished on Saturday, Dec. 10, at Gaithersburg High School, from 9–11 a.m. The school is located at 101 Education Blvd. in Gaithersburg.

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.


Scratch Kitchen opened it’s doors in Olney just a couple months back and the restaurant is already giving back to the community, generously providing a “true Thanksgiving meal”  for 130 new multilingual learners at Gaithersburg High School next week.

On Tuesday, November 22nd, Gaithersburg High School will host it’s annual Thanksgiving Lunch to the school’s newcomer multilingual learners. Per a community message sent out by Gaithersburg High School, “Every year, we invite our newcomer students to experience the true Thanksgiving meal during lunch on the day before our Thanksgiving break. This luncheon typically includes all of the newcomer students, our administrative team, our counseling team, and our English Language Development teachers. The goal is always to help our students feel comfortable breaking bread with school staff, and to help them experience an American tradition. It is typically the first time our students have tasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie.”


A retirement celebration for Dr. Judith Docca, longtime Montgomery County Board of Education member who also spent 38 years as a teacher and administrator with MCPS, will be held at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

Doors open at 5 p.m.; the program begins at 6 p.m. Individual tickets are available for $45; tickets are available here. Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to create an MCPS Educational Foundation scholarship in her name.


Results of second round games can be seen below. Scores will be updated as we receive them (an F will signify the score is final, no F means the score is from the game while it is/was in progress). If a score isn’t listed, it’s because we haven’t yet received a report from the game.

Friday 11/11:


“Preparing for emergency situations often raises questions and concerns. All schools are engaging in updated safety and security protocol training.” MCPS has developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions to provide information and reassure families. The questions and answers can be seen below:

What is a shelter-in-place? A shelter-in-place is an emergency response when there is danger in the school community or near school property. It provides heightened awareness by staff of what is occurring on or in the area around the school. If the danger or threat to the school becomes imminent, the shelter-in-place prepares the school to move quickly to a lockdown. A shelter-in-place may also be utilized to hold students in their classrooms to address a medical emergency or safety situation, or in response to a biological, chemical, or radiological incident.


MCPS has sent a letter to the community inviting stakeholders to an information session regarding the fiscal year 2024 budget. The letter and additional information can be seen below:

Dear MCPS students, families, and community members: We are fortunate to live in a community that invests in public education, in our students’ futures, and that sees education as a cornerstone of our vibrant community. As a school system, the programs, strategies, and opportunities that we provide are funded through our operating budget. How that budget is developed, funded, and finalized has a meaningful impact on how we serve our students each and every day.


The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) held a business meeting on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. During the meeting, the Board amended the 2022-2023 school year calendar and discussed the 2023-2024 school year calendar; budget priorities for the development of the fiscal year 2024 operating budget; and college, career and community readiness and graduation preparation; and approved their 2023 Annual Legislative Priorities. The agenda for the meeting, with related links, can be viewed on the Board website. Watch the meeting recording.

Amendment to the 2022-2023 School Year Calendar: The Board voted to amend the 2022-2023 traditional and innovative school year calendars to make Thursday, December 29 and Friday, December 30, 2022, as well as Wednesday, April 5 and Thursday, April 6, 2023, systemwide closure days for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).Read the memorandum to the Board. See the amended calendar.


The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) held a business meeting on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. During the meeting, they discussed the Antiracist System Audit final report. The agenda for the meeting, with related links, can be viewed on the Board website. Watch the meeting recording.

Antiracist System Audit Final Report: The Board received a public presentation of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Antiracist System Audit final report by independent auditors, Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, Inc. The report confirmed that MCPS has many elements needed to eliminate racial disparities for students, families and staff; however, the study calls on MCPS to develop a clear, systemwide comprehensive approach to achieve an antiracist school system.


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