Education Archives - Page 189 of 295

Have a Relaxing and Wonderful Spring Break: A Message from MCPS Superintendent, Dr. Monifa B. McKnight

Published March 30, 2023 at 7:26PM

It’s also a moment to reflect, and I want to take this moment to express my gratitude and admiration for all of your hard work as scholars and educators. Despite that hard work, each of you has risen to the challenge and your accomplishments are remarkable. First, as we reported to the Board of Education in a meeting on March 28, student academic performance is on the rise. Vital literacy and math skills attainment is improving for all types of students, and we’re committed to ongoing improvement in all of our academics. Students also are:

Learning and acquiring knowledge and skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

Police Respond to Assault at Watkins Mill High School

By Patrick Herron

Published March 30, 2023 at 11:12AM

Montgomery County Police responded to Watkins Mill High School at 10301 Apple Ridge Rd in Montgomery Village at 10:05am on Thursday morning for the report of an assault. According to police, “MCPD is on scene investigating an assault between two students at Watkins Mill HS. The school briefly went into a shelter in place to support the investigation. No injuries have been reported. The suspect is in custody. The shelter in place has been lifted at this time. The school is secure and there is no current threat at this time.”

We will post an update when additional information is available.

Poster Contest Open to K–12 Students Sponsored By Asian Pacific American Student Achievement Action Group (APASAAG)

By MCS Staff

Published March 30, 2023 at 7:45AM

As part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, the Asian Pacific American Student Achievement Action Group (APASAAG) is sponsoring a poster contest for K–12 students. This is the fourth year for the contest.

The contest calls for students to submit original artwork reflecting significant moments or events in Asian American and Pacific Islander history and/or culture. Artwork must be drawings, paintings or digital art and submitted electronically. First, second and third place winners will receive cash awards for lower elementary, upper elementary, middle and high school levels. One entry per student is allowed. Submissions are due Friday, April 23.

Students Pitch Business Ideas to Panel of Judges In Shark Tank-Like MCPS Business Pitch Challenge

By MCS Staff

Published March 30, 2023 at 7:42AM

Entrepreneurial students from six high schools participated in the annual MCPS Business Pitch Challenge on March 22. They created business ideas and presented them to a panel of local entrepreneur judges. Participating high schools were: Montgomery Blair, Albert Einstein, Gaithersburg, Northwest, Northwood and Paint Branch, with The MoCoShow’s very own Alex T. serving as the keynote speaker for the event.

The Northwest team placed third with a business proposal focused on repurposing clothing or sentimental items into apparel that an individual would still be able to wear. The Northwest team included Maddie Kaplan, Aayush Thakkar, Jonah Karst and Zach Greenspan. Teacher sponsor was Kristin Vick.

Professional Development Supports EML Students at Gaithersburg HS

By MCS Staff

Published March 30, 2023 at 7:31AM

Per MCPS: For two years Gaithersburg High School staff have been working with an organization called Support Ed, to provide training for leadership, teachers and staff, focusing on how to work with Emerging Multilingual Learners (EML) students. The training allows teachers and staff to learn more about their students, and to develop strategies to make all content more available to multilingual learners. Watch the video.

MCPS: Mid-Year Evidence of Learning Framework Demonstrates Gains in Student Performance, Continued Areas for Improvement

By MCS Staff

Published March 29, 2023 at 8:39PM

Per MCPS: At the March 28, 2023 Board of Education Meeting, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) leaders presented mid-year Evidence of Learning (EOL) data that is focused on grade-level proficiency utilizing multiple measures to determine the success of students, schools and the District overall. The EOL framework intentionally uses multiple measures to determine student performance that include classroom grades, data from curriculum-aligned assessments, and state and national assessments.

EOL mid-year data allows MCPS to examine how successfully students transition from one grade level to the next. The data serves as a checkpoint for how students in kindergarten, grades 3, 6, and 9, have transitioned from pre-kindergarten, grades 2, 5, and 8. Further, they provide an opportunity to determine the extent to which students are meeting standards and additional support that may need to be provided for their continued success.

Quince Orchard Alumnus Brings ‘LavaBox’ to Shark Tank on Friday Night

By MCS Staff

Published March 29, 2023 at 8:27AM

Josh Thurmond, a 1994 graduate of Quince Orchard High School and Gaithersburg native, is the inventor of LavaBox Portable Campfire– a new style of portable fire pit that’s built in a military-style ammunition can and was “created to combat climate change and reduce wildfires.” LavaBox has made waves, or fires, since its inception in late 2020, and now Thurmond will take it into the Shark Tank on Friday, March 31st at 8pm.

In addition to being the inventor of LavaBox, Thurmond is also the “Chief Eruption Officer” and in charge of making sure every LavaBox gets out the door to you. Per the LavaBox website, “When he is not making LavaBoxes, he develops outdoor adventure programs for people with disabilities at the National Sports Center for the Disabled. He also volunteers for Team River Runner and sits on the Board for the Colorado Whitewater Association. Needless to say, if you are looking for him, he is probably surfing on his SUP or doing enders on a sweet eddyline.”

Student Leaders Elected and Honored at Annual Maryland Association of Student Councils Convention

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 10:27PM

Per MCPS: Forty-eight student leaders from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) participated in the annual Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) annual Convention held in Ocean City, Maryland this year. More than 500 student leaders from across the state of Maryland attended the conference to participate in leadership workshops, vote on the MASC officers for next year, hear program updates from across the state, and more. Convention Highlights:

New Principal Appointed at Watkins Mill High School and Two Elementary Schools

By MCS Staff

Published March 28, 2023 at 5:00PM

Per Montgomery County Public Schools: The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointments:

Robert Sinclair Jr., currently Principal, James Hubert Blake High School, as Consulting Principal, Department of Professional Growth Systems, Office of Human Resources and Development, Office of the Chief Operating Officer

Media Access to Regular Season Athletic Events To Require MCPS Credentials

By MCS Staff

Published March 27, 2023 at 3:51PM

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to administering spirited and safe athletic competitions consistent with the R.A.I.S.E. core values for MCPS Athletics. District athletics events are extremely popular and well-attended, requiring meticulous logistical preparation. Media credentialing ensures a safe environment for members of the press covering MCPS athletic events and are essential for easy identification and knowing who may be in our athletic facilities. As such, new protocols governing media coverage of MCPS athletic events will go into effect on April 1, 2023; including:

When: The application for athletic event credentials is open. Media representatives must have the official MCPS Athletic Event Credentials in order to attend and cover any regular season event.

The Richard Montgomery HS Mock Trial Team Wins State Championship

By MCS Staff

Published March 26, 2023 at 5:27PM

The Richard Montgomery Mock Trial team won the Maryland Mock Trial State Championships on Friday, March 24 in a close victory over North Point High School. The team went undefeated this season with an 11-0 record. The varsity team, made up of 7 seniors and 5 juniors, began preparing to argue the criminal drug conspiracy case in November 2022.

For the state finals, the defense team argued before the Maryland Supreme Court. Daniel Evans has been the coach of the RM Mock Trial team since 1989, and works closely with Jonathan Taylor, the team sponsor and Law teacher at RM, and Benjamin Vaughan, the attorney advisor, to support the students. The attorneys are seniors Shayyan Ahmed, Shairee Arora, Allison Howlett, Kit Kringel, Jake Lee, and Scout Pollack. The witnesses are senior Claire Johnson and juniors Marissa Boucher, Eva-Jessy Guech, Susanna Hubacker, Georgia Levine, and Emma McCarthy. All information above and photos below courtesy of Allison Howlett.