Education Archives - Page 197 of 310

Joint Letter from Board President Silvestre, Superintendent McKnight, and the Three Employee Associations Concerning MCPS Operating Budget Funding

Published May 10, 2023 at 6:52AM

On Tuesday, the Montgomery County Board of Education (Karla Silvestre), Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS Superintendent Monifa McKnight), Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA President Jennifer Martin), Service Employees International Union Local 500 (SEIU Local 500 President Pia Morrison), and Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (President Christine Handy) wrote the following joint letter to the Montgomery County Council concerning the funding of the MCPS operating budget:

“Dear Council President Glass and Councilmembers:

Seneca Valley Announces Quintin Cosby as Sixth Ever Head Football Coach in School’s Storied History

By MCS Staff

Published May 9, 2023 at 10:00PM | Updated May 10, 2023 at 3:59PM

Seneca Valley High School athletic director Jesse Irvin has announced Quintin Cosby as the sixth head coach in the storied history of Seneca Valley football. The full announcement can be seen below, courtesy of Seneca Valley Athletics:

“The Seneca Valley High School Athletic Department and Administration is pleased to announce the hiring of our new head football coach, Mr. Quintin Cosby. Coach Cosby is the sixth head coach in the storied history of Seneca Valley Football. Quintin takes over the reins from Mr. Joseph Rankin.

MCPS Honored for Commitment to Music Education

By MCS Staff

Published May 9, 2023 at 7:31AM

MCPS has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 24th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

To qualify for the designation, MCPS staff answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by the Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Northwood High School Counseling Program Receives RAMP Designation

By MCS Staff

Published May 9, 2023 at 7:27AM

Northwood High School has received the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation. The RAMP designation recognizes schools committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-informed school counseling program in accordance with The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, and an exemplary educational environment.

Along with 100 other schools in 20 states, Northwood will be honored this summer during a special ceremony at the American School Counselor Association’s annual conference in Atlanta. Courtesy of MCPS.

Student at Einstein’s VAC, Olivia Ensign, Wins 8th District’s Congressional Art Competition

By MCS Staff

Published May 9, 2023 at 7:23AM

The winner of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for Maryland’s 8th District is Olivia Ensign from the MCPS Visual Arts Center at Albert Einstein High School. Olivia’s piece is titled The Memory Quilt: Pieces of Myself.

“Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Now in its 42nd year, more than 650,000 high school students have participated since the competition’s inception in 1982.”

Magruder HS Cluster Hosts Health and Wellness Fair (Video)

By MCS Staff

Published May 8, 2023 at 7:33AM

On April 29, the Col. Zadok Magruder High School cluster, along with local community organizations, held a Health and Wellness Fair for students, families and staff. Attendees participated in a number of educational sessions and activities, and learned about community resources. Watch the video below, courtesy of MCPS:

MCPS Celebrated ‘Bike to School Day’ Last Week

By MCS Staff

Published May 8, 2023 at 7:18AM

Rock Creek Valley Elementary School (Rockville) students joined students across Montgomery County and around the world to participate in Bike & Roll to School Day today, May 3. Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass, County Councilmember Natali Fani-Gonzalez and Chris Conklin, director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, participated in the event, which promoted biking and walking to schools as a healthier, greener travel alternative. Watch the video.

Bike & Roll to School Day is a global event that encourages students to walk, bike or scooter to school. The initiative focuses on active lifestyles and the benefits of walkable communities. The event was organized by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MDCOT’s) Safe Routes to School program as part of the Vision Zero plan. MCDOT and Vision Zero staff were on site distributing safety education materials and giveaways. Students also met Zeal, the Traffic Safety Zebra, and Sparky, the Fire and Rescue Dog.

Argyle Middle School Re-Dedicates Media Center to Dr. Judith Docca

By MCS Staff

Published May 8, 2023 at 6:56AM

On May 2, Argyle Middle School, in Silver Spring, re-dedicated and renamed its media center after Dr. Judith Docca, its former principal. The school held a ceremony honoring the former Board of Education member.

Argyle Principal James Allrich offered opening remarks, and other spoke on her life and legacy. Dr. Docca spent 38 years with MCPS—as a teacher, human relations specialist, assistant principal at Montgomery Blair High School and principal at Argyle Middle School. She was elected to four four-year terms on the Board of Education.

Burtonsville ES Students Win First Place in State Destination Imagination Tournament

By MCS Staff

Published May 8, 2023 at 6:51AM

Last month, two groups of students from Burtonsville Elementary School participated in the Maryland State Destination Imagination Tournament at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Students worked hard during the year preparing for their performance and tournament challenge.

The Burtonsville Sharks, made up of fourth and fifth graders, won first place in their division and will head to Kansas City, Mo., later this month, for the Destination Imagination Globals’ competition. Team members are: Evan Fernandes, Eduardo Gutierrez, Carter Etienne, Nicolas Ostroff, Makenzie Mina, Askale Girma and Nathan Fernandes. Team managers are Alex Fernandes and Nichole Fernandes.

MCPS: Longview Students Compete in TRYathlon

By MCS Staff

Published May 8, 2023 at 6:48AM

For the third year, students at Longview School, in Germantown, participated in the TRYathlon, a whole school event celebrating the hard work and dedication of its students with complex physical and intellectual disabilities. Sixty-six students cycled, walked and performed other mobility skills with the help of their adaptive equipment, teachers, therapists and support staff. Longview also welcomed many parents and students from nearby Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary School, who celebrated the great work and dedication of students. The event concluded with a medal ceremony.

Longview was originally built in 1950 in Gaithersburg, MD. It opened as one of the first all black schools in Montgomery County and was named the Emory Grove Consolidated Colored Elementary School. The renaming committee selected Longview to represent the “long” distance traveled by the students and the beautiful view seen from the school (Sugarloaf Mountain off in the distance). The school housed a general education population until 1961 when Longview became a special education school for children with disabilities. The original building is still in use and is now known as the Emory Grove Center. In 2001, Longview moved to its current site in Germantown, Maryland.

Joint Statement from Board of Education President Karla Silvestre and Superintendent Monifa B. McKnight On MCPS Operating Budget

By MCS Staff

Published May 6, 2023 at 7:33AM

County Council Education and Culture Committee Reduces MCPS Operating Budget Request: The Montgomery County Council’s Education and Culture Committee today unanimously took several actions on the Board of Education’s requested budget. First, the Council reduced the school district’s budget by $22.3M, on top of the $7.4M by which the County Executive reduced the district’s request in his recommended budget. Second, the committee divided the school district’s remaining $200.7M funding request into two categories of ‘high priority’ ($156.1M) and ‘priority’ ($44.6M). This action now moves the final decision on MCPS funding to the entire County Council. In February, the Board of Education budget requested $230.7M from the County Council.

This action places the district in a seriously difficult position in trying to address the academic, social, and emotional priorities coming off a historic period of time in our nation as a result of the pandemic. The most significant concern is essentially the jeopardy in which this places the key investments that were specifically designed to fully staff our schools and address disparities in literacy and math, close opportunity gaps, and create greater equity across the district, especially among our black and brown students, and students receiving special education, language, and meals services.