MCPS Archives - Page 212 of 277

MCPS Community Message from the School System Medical Officer Concerning Safety for Halloween and Cold and Flu Season

Published October 28, 2022 at 3:50PM

Influenza, RSV and other respiratory infections

We are paying close attention to the surge of respiratory illness including influenza (flu) cases in our metropolitan region. This week, the Virginia Department of Healthurged residents to prepare for increased respiratory illnesses after a large flu outbreak in a high school attracted national attention. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is another surging infection, with increased numbers straining the capacity of pediatric hospitals. Both influenza and RSV are viruses that cause mild respiratory symptoms in most people, but can be dangerous for very young children, older adults or those with certain medical conditions.

Washington Business Journal Releases ‘Top 50 Public High Schools in DC Region’ List; 16 MCPS Schools Listed

By MCS Staff

Published October 28, 2022 at 7:54AM

The Washington Business Journal has released its 50 School list of ‘Top 50 High Schools in the D.C. Region’ based on rankings released annually by U.S. News & World Report. 16 MCPS high schools, which can be seen below, have made the list.

Per WBJ, “the publication [U.S. News & World Report] assesses nearly 24,000 public schools nationwide, ultimately ranking 17,840 of them based on third-party data from the U.S. Department of Education’s annual Common Core of Data; statewide math, reading and science assessment test scores; and exam results from The College Board’s Advanced Placement program and International Baccalaureate program.”

Damascus High School Renovation Approved; Project Scheduled to Be Completed August 2026

By MCS Staff

Published October 27, 2022 at 8:11PM

A major capital project was approved to address various building systems and programmatic needs for Damascus High School, located at 25921 Ridge Road. The Board of Education, in the requested FY 2021–2026 CIP, included expenditures in FY 2022 to continue the planning and design of this major capital project with a completion date of August 2025, but the County Council delayed the expenditures by one year. An FY 2023 appropriation was approved to begin the design of this Major Capital project. An FY 2024 appropriation is recommended for construction funds. This project is scheduled to be completed August 2026. Once completed in 2026, school capacity is expected to increase from 1,543 (where it’s at currently) to 2,250. Community meetings are expected to take place in 2023 regarding future plans for the project.

Damascus Elementary School, located in the Damascus HS cluster at 10201 Bethesda Church Rd, has been approved for a feasibility study for a major capital project. The Key Facilities Indicators (KFI) is utilized to identify schools for possible major capital projects. The scope for the project will be identified based on the individual building system and programmatic and capacity needs for each school. Once the feasibility study is complete, a recommendation regarding scope, timeline and funding will be considered in a future CIP.

MCPS: Nine Things to Know For Thursday, October 27

By MCS Staff

Published October 27, 2022 at 6:14PM

Here are nine things to know for Thursday, Oct. 27. You will find information about the district’s efforts on electric school buses, recent progress on student literacy and mathematics, national principal month upcoming live music experience for students, high-performing student musicians, and some reminders about how to get information about closures and inclement weather.

Montgomery County Public Schools

22nd Annual MCPS Latin Dance Competition to be Held November 21 at Strathmore

By Patrick Herron

Published October 27, 2022 at 5:29PM | Updated October 27, 2022 at 5:46PM

The 22nd Annual MCPS Latin Dance Competition will be held on Monday, November 21 at The Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Ln) in Bethesda. Sixteen schools will compete in 7 different categories that include salsa, cha cha, and bachata. The event is open to the public and tickets go on sale November 1. Additional details below courtesy www.strathmore.org:

“The annual MCPS Latin dance competition has been taking place at the Music Center at Strathmore since 2010 and is the culmination of Montgomery County’s elite high school Latin dance program which started back in 1999 at Seneca Valley High School. The main objective is to strengthen the social emotional well being of our students and promote health, exercise, and unity through Latin dance education. Students compete in the Junior and Senior categories showcasing their choreographies in Duets/Partner: Salsa, Chacha, Merengue, Bachata, Jack and Jill, Parent/Student, and Best in Show (Group). This event is not presented by Strathmore.”

The MoCoShow MCPS High School Football Week 9 Preview & Predictions

By Damon Anderson

Published October 27, 2022 at 2:53PM

Manchester Valley (4-4) at Poolesville (7-1) – The Falcons overcame the injury bug to stage a 2nd half comeback to beat Kennedy 13-12. RB Tyler Shefter rushed for 99 yards and 1 TD in the win. The win pretty much locks Poolesville in as the #1 seed in the 2A West region. Manchester Valley of Carroll County visits to close out the season. Prediction: Manchester Valley by 8

Einstein (2-6) at Northwood (0-8) – The Titans lost to Blake 28-18. As a team Einstein rushed for 159 yards and 2 TDs. The Gladiators lost to Rockville 38-6. Prediction: Einstein by 35

MCPS Marching Band Showcase Rocks the Field

By MCS Staff

Published October 27, 2022 at 7:14AM | Updated October 27, 2022 at 7:39AM

For the first time since 2019, James Hubert Blake High School hosted the MCPS Marching Band Showcase. During the Oct. 22 event, nine high school and 10 middle school bands performed everything from disco and Latin music to Billy Joel music and ‘80s hits. Performing high schools were: Clarksburg, Seneca Valley, Watkins Mill, Paint Branch, Col. Zadok Magruder, Damascus, Albert Einstein, Montgomery Blair and Blake (video below).

All the middle school bands performed together, playing the national anthem to kick off the event. Students from Parkland, Silver Spring International, Francis Scott Key, Takoma Park, Robert Frost, Thomas W. Pyle, William H. Farquhar, White Oak, Sligo and John Poole middle schools participated. The grand finale included all bands performing Thriller by Michael Jackson.

Crown High School Expected to Open Fall 2027

By MCS Staff

Published October 27, 2022 at 7:05AM | Updated October 27, 2022 at 10:53PM

The Montgomery County Board of Education approved the design plans for Crown High School back on March 24, 2022. The $180 million high school will be located in the undeveloped 30 acre site that is adjacent to Crown Neighborhood Three and is located at the intersection of Fields Road and Omega Drive (photo of exact location below). The school is expected to open in the fall of 2027.

The new school will relieve crowding at Gaithersburg, Northwest, Quince Orchard, Thomas S. Wootton and Richard Montgomery high schools. According the presentation from earlier this year, the school will be a five story building that will utilize onsite renewable energy sources such as solar panels and geothermal energy. The City of Gaithersburg was able to secure the site as part of the negotiations related to the Crown Farm Annexation Agreement X-182 on August 7, 2006.

MCPS to Host November 7 Hiring Fair for Supporting Service Positions

By MCS Staff

Published October 26, 2022 at 7:34AM

MCPS is hosting a hiring fair from 8:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 7, at the Division of Maintenance and Operations, 8301 Turkey Thicket Dr., Building A, First Floor in Gaithersburg. Per MCPS:

MCPS is looking for highly qualified and highly skilled people to join its workforce as support professionals. Walk-in candidates will have the opportunity to participate in a pre-screening process. Those who qualify will be given a hands-on skills assessment to become pre-qualified for open and future positions. Supervisors will be on hand to discuss the various job positions and how they support MCPS.

The Blair Witch Project: Created by Wheaton High School Graduate and Filmed Primarily in MoCo

By MCS Staff

Published October 26, 2022 at 7:31AM

With Halloween almost here, it’s the perfect time to watch some scary movies. Did you know that the first installment of the Blair Witch franchise, The Blair Witch Project (1999) was primarily filmed right here in Montgomery County?

In the indie supernatural horror, three film students camp in the fictional Black Hills Forest of Burkittsville, Maryland in October of 1994 to film a documentary on the local legend of the Blair Witch. Mysteriously, the trio vanishes, leaving behind hours of footage to be discovered a year later by University of Maryland anthropology students. What the viewer witnesses is this purportedly real home video style footage.

MCPS Celebrates Largest School Bus Electrification Project in the United States

By MCS Staff

Published October 25, 2022 at 7:15AM

School District on Track to Have 326 Electric School Buses in Three Years and an Entirely Electric School Bus Fleet in 10 Years

Per MCPS: Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), one of the nation’s largest school districts, and Highland Electric Fleets (Highland), the leading provider of school bus fleet electrification-as-a-service in North America, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the country’s single largest deployment of electric school buses at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda.