Education Archives - Page 172 of 295

Various MoCo Schools Make The Washington Post’s “Best High School Sports Program” Lists

Published July 18, 2023 at 9:14AM

The Washington Post recently released a list of the area’s top high school sports programs, assigning points to schools in various categories, including end of season ranking for teams, All-Met student athletes, player/coach of the year awards, state tournament results, and championships. Montgomery County Schools took six of ten spots in the Maryland Public School category, and six of 20 spots in the Private School categories which included schools in the entire DC Metropolitan region, but were split into two separate lists for boys and girls athletics.

Montgomery County public schools listed in the top 10 for Maryland include, Whitman (155 points), Churchill (153 points), Poolesville (135 points), Sherwood (129 points), Damascus (124 points), and Quince Orchard (122 points). Montgomery County private schools in the girls category include Stone Ridge (176 points), Good Counsel (144 points), and Bullis (78 points). Montgomery County private schools on the boys side include, Georgetown Prep (233 points), Landon (208 points), and Bullis (119 points). Full lists can be seen here.

Governor Wes Moore Announces Maryland Higher Education Commission Appointments

By Patrick Herron

Published July 17, 2023 at 2:13PM

The Maryland Higher Education Commission is the state’s higher education regulatory and coordinating board, responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and private colleges and universities, as well as for the for-profit career schools. The commission also administers $130 million in financial assistance to more than 65,000 Maryland students each year.

The commission consists of twelve members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. One member is a student, serving a one-year term; all other members are appointed for five-year terms.

Hit Netflix Series ‘Quarterback’ is Directed by Watkins Mill Alumnus Tim Rumpff

By MCS Staff

Published July 17, 2023 at 7:29AM

The new series, Quarterback, that follows NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings), and Marcus Mariota (Atlanta Falcons) for the entire 2022 season, debuted on Netflix last week and has quickly become one of the most talked about shows on television. The show’s director, Tim Rumpff, is a 2002 graduate of Watkins Mill High School in Montgomery Village.

Rumpff has been with NFL Films for over 15 years and has worked on the hit HBO series Hard Knocks for just about as long as he has been with since the company. He has worked as a producer or director on the NFL’s Hard Knocks, All or Nothing, and more. Rumpff even helped produce the viral Eli Manning video “Chad Powers.” He graduated from Watkins Mill High School in 2002 and went on to study journalism at the University of Maryland, graduating in 2006.

Penn State Commit, Xavier Gilliam, Announced Transfer to Quince Orchard High School

By MCS Staff

Published July 16, 2023 at 5:17PM

Xavier Gilliam, who has committed to attending and playing at Penn State University, has announced that he will be transferring to Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg. Gilliam previously attended Wilde Lake High School in Howard County, where he was a 4-star prospect EDGE.

Gilliam will join a Quince Orchard squad that will be looking to win its third straight State Championship (they defeated Prince George’s County schools Flowers 32-7 last year and Wise 31-13 in 2021). Gillian’s tweet can announcing his move for the upcoming school year can be seen below.

The Blair Witch Project, Created by a Wheaton HS Grad and Filmed Primarily in MoCo, Was Released 24 Years Ago Today

By MCS Staff

Published July 14, 2023 at 1:06PM

The Blair Witch Project was released on this day in 1999, 24 years ago– the first installment of the Blair Witch franchise. Did you know The Blair Witch Project 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.

Sami Saeed Sworn In as Montgomery County Student Member of the Board of Education

By MCS Staff

Published July 11, 2023 at 8:09PM

Sami Saeed, a rising senior at Richard Montgomery High School, was sworn in as the 46th Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) on July 11. Saeed was sworn in by Assistant Chief Deputy Clerk Delores Riggs, Montgomery County Circuit Court.

Mr. Saeed was elected to serve a one-year term on the Board by middle and high school students of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). He received 70 percent of 55,598 votes cast in the April 19, 2023, election. Mr. Saeed has served as the president of the Richard Montgomery Student Government Association (SGA) and as a member of the SMOB Advisory Council and the Montgomery County Commission on Youth and Children. He is an avid writer and has written for both The Tide, Richard Montgomery’s student newspaper, and The MoCo Student newspaper.

Marylanders Can Now Apply For Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit (July 1st)

By MCS Staff

Published July 1, 2023 at 7:44AM

Who may apply: Maryland taxpayers who maintain Maryland residency for the 2023 tax year.

How to apply: Complete the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit Application.

Watkins Mill Principal Carol Goddard Retires After Almost 50 Years in Education

By MCS Staff

Published June 30, 2023 at 9:22PM

This article was written by Ashley Huynh, Editor-in-Chief of Watkins Mill’s student newspaper The Current

Watkins Mill High School principal Carol Goddard has completed the 2022-23 school year– officially retiring after spending almost 50 years working in education and 30 years in Montgomery County Public Schools. Goddard’s retirement comes with mixed emotions for the community, including herself. “I love this place. Love the kids. Love what I do,” Goddard said. She will miss the kids and staff, and “all the tight, tight friendships I’ve made in the professional world.” “I am happy for Ms. Goddard to retire,” social studies teacher Lauren Squier said. “I’m sure it was a very difficult choice for her to ‘hang up her pencils,’ but I’m excited for her to enjoy a new chapter in her life.”

MCPS: “Students and families may not choose to opt out of engaging with any instructional materials other than certain units within the state-mandated health curriculum as specifically permitted by Maryland law”; New Document With FAQs on Inclusive Texts Published By School System

By MCS Staff

Published June 30, 2023 at 3:08PM

We value the partnership we share with our parents, caregivers, community members, and stakeholders in providing our students with the best possible education, so that they emerge from MCPS college, career, and community ready. MCPS follows all Maryland and federal Department of Education laws and uses a process that aligns with the school system’s core values when choosing supplemental curriculum materials for students in all grades. We encourage all interested stakeholders to read the information provided here about the LGBTQ+ inclusive books that have been introduced as supplementary material for grade level standards instruction.

-Montgomery County Public Schools”

Recreational Cannabis Information: A Message from Montgomery County Public Schools

By Patrick Herron

Published June 30, 2023 at 3:07PM

Please remember that just because a substance is legal, does not mean it is safe. Alcohol, tobacco products, and cannabis pose greater potential harms to young people, whose brains and judgment are still developing. Due to the dangers of underage use, these products remain illegal for individuals under 21 years old.

For staff members, alcohol and cannabis use may impair work performance or judgment, and is not permitted during the workday, or at school sponsored activities and events that occur outside of the regularly scheduled workday. This behavior does not align with MCPS’ commitment to student safety and professional excellence and is a violation of the Employee Code of Conduct. Federal law requires public schools receiving federal funds to be drug-free settings, and additional federal restrictions on substance use for commercial vehicle drivers apply to our transportation staff.

MCPS Transportation Employees Enter Guilty Pleas for Misconduct in Office and Theft Scheme

By MCS Staff

Published June 30, 2023 at 2:18PM

From the Office of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney: Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Michael McAuliffe, defendant, Todd Michael Watkins, 56, of Jefferson, MD, pleaded guilty to one count of the misdemeanor charge of misconduct in office. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 11^th, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

The defendant, Watkins, was appointed Director of the Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Transportation in 2009. Beginning in at least 2016 and continuing into September 2021, the defendant failed to properly manage the contract for the purchases of school buses and the use of purchasing cards in his department such that Charles Ewald, the Assistant Director of the Department of Transportation, was able to steal over $320,000.