Walt Whitman High School has been named a 2022 Maryland Green School, bringing the MCPS total to 91. Staff and students at the certifying schools went above and beyond in this COVID-impacted year: 27 Green Schools successfully recertified this year to retain the honor.

Six schools reached the highly valued “sustainable school” status—Ashburton, Bethesda, Forest Knolls, New Hampshire Estates, Rosemary Hills and Sligo Creek elementary schools—and two schools reached Sustainable Bronze Level: John Poole Middle School and Westbrook Elementary School. Sustainable schools have maintained Green School certification for 16 years. Bronze Level schools have maintained Green School certification for 20 years.


MCPS and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommend that staff and students who are traveling or attending large gatherings over Memorial Day weekend take a COVID-19 test prior to returning to school. Rapid tests are available at all schools for families who need them. Schools will be distributing tests as needed following the Memorial Day holiday. Staff and students are encouraged to report positive COVID-19 cases via this link.

MCPS wishes you a safe and healthy holiday weekend.


Churchill boys lacrosse has won the Maryland 4A State Championship, after defeating Anne Arundel County powerhouse Broadneck 15-7 in the championship last night. This is the first State Championship in lacrosse for any Montgomery County team (boys or girls).

Just a couple weeks ago, Churchill celebrated Jeff Fritz’s 300th victory as head lacrosse coach at the school, and now his team won the State Championship for the first time.


Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and the Montgomery County Police Department have announced the high school and middle school winners of the 2021-2022 “Keeping it Safe Coalition” student video contest. The annual contest encouraged teams from Montgomery County schools to create 30-second public service announcements to educate young people about the risks of under-21 alcohol use.

The winning videos can be seen here.


Riki Ellison, a former NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders who has won three Super Bowls, visited Takoma Park Middle School recently. He is also the founder of the Youth Impact Program (YIP) for disadvantaged and at-risk adolescent boys. YIP partners with universities, the U.S. Marine Corps, and local NFL teams.

Ellison spoke with sixth to eighth grade boys about his football career and the YIP. His motivational talk discussed how hard work equals success, as well as how to make positive choices.


Approximately 50 African American male students were honored during the Iron Sharpens Iron leadership event on May 19 at Francis Scott Key Middle School. The event’s keynote speaker was Dr. Daryl Howard, an instructional specialist with the Equity Initiatives Unit who has a passion for enlightening young people and supporting male educators of color.

Francis Scott Key Middle School received a grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to support young men of color to develop skills that would help ensure success academically, socially and emotionally. Throughout the year, students learned leadership skills and had opportunities to complete community service, which included beautification projects, putting food baskets together and coordinating toy drives during the holidays, and sorting and organizing items at A Wider Circle.


Dozens of MCPS high school seniors were recognized for their accomplishments in dance and theatre at the 21st annual Superintendent’s All-County Fine Arts Awards Gala on May 23 at Seneca Valley High School.

 


Quince Orchard High School’s submission to the Spring 2022 Just Drive Social Media Campaign by Impact Teen Drivers was chosen as the First Place Winner and will be awarded a $10,000 educational grant, according to Quince Orchard media and video production teacher Kunal Arora.

Impact Teen Drivers’ mission is to stop the number one killer of young people in America— reckless and distracted driving. Participation in the Maryland Just Drive contest assists Impact Teen Drivers and NJM Insurance Group in the shared commitment to the health and safety of Maryland drivers.


The 2022 high school commencement season is set to begin on Wednesday, June 1, and will end Tuesday, June 14. Graduation ceremonies will take place on individual high school campuses, at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., and on the campuses of Mount St. Mary’s University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. More than 11,000 students are expected to receive their diplomas.

The ceremonies will include an array of commencement speakers, including TV reporters, politicians, educators, MCPS staff members and others.


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