Education Archives - Page 205 of 295

Antisemitic Graffiti Found at Magruder High School

Published January 25, 2023 at 6:50PM

Antisemitic graffiti was found on a desk today at Colonel Zadok Magruder High School at 5939 Muncaster Mill Rd in Derwood. This is the fourth time in the past week that antisemitic graffiti was found at a Montgomery County Public School, as over the weekend, MCPS sent out a message alerting the community that drawings of swastikas were recently found on desks at at three separate MCPS schools. Magruder Principal Dr. Leroy C. Evans sent the following message to Magruder students and families:

Given the seriousness of this incident and heightened concerns around racial insensitivity and anti-Semitism, we seek parent support and involvement in speaking with your children in our efforts to eliminate this hateful and harmful behavior.

Make-A-Wish Surprises Rachel Carson Fifth Grader

By MCS Staff

Published January 25, 2023 at 4:43PM

The Make-A-Wish Foundation surprised Rachel Carson Elementary School fifth grader Aubrey Campbell with a trip to Hawaii, where she will swim with dolphins and ride horses.

Aubrey, who has an autoimmune disease, was surprised with the trip in front of her classmates, family and Make-A-Wish representatives on Jan. 25. Her doctor, Dr. Sangeeta Sule, and Dr. Kurt Newman, president and CEO of Children’s National Hospital, and Principal Mindy Reeves were also there for the presentation.

MCPS Job Fair on Monday, January 30

By MCS Staff

Published January 25, 2023 at 3:55PM

MCPS is hosting an in-person job fair for teachers from 5–7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30. “The largest and most diverse school system in Maryland, MCPS offers competitive compensation and benefit packages. The system is looking for highly qualified professionals to join its workforce as classroom teachers for the 2023-2024 school year.” MCPS is looking to hire for these critical areas:

The job fair will be held at 15 W. Gude Drive (Third Floor) in Rockville.RSVP to attend. Learn how to become a certified teacher in a Feb. 2 meeting. MCPS Careers

Damascus High School Alumna, Ava Piedrahita, named Penn State Student-Athlete of the Week

By MCS Staff

Published January 25, 2023 at 3:01PM

Ava Piedrahita, a 2022 graduate of Damascus High School has been named Penn State student-athlete of the week. Ava, a native of Gaithersburg, also attended John T. Baker Middle School in Damascus. According to her website, Ava started gymnastics because her sister Kaitlyn was in gymnastics back in 2007 and she was just tagging along running around in the waiting room. She started with recreational classes for a couple of years then was invited to team at Hill’s Gymnastics in Gaithersburg.

Penn State on Ava: “In the first Big Ten meet of her career against No. 16 Minnesota, Piedrahita shined with three career-highs in a fantastic all-around competition for the freshman. The freshman started off her night with a 9.800 on bars as one of four Nittany Lions to post a 9.800-or-better on the apparatus. She continued with a career-best 9.875 on vault, which led the team in the event and became Penn State’s best mark on the apparatus this season. Her career-best 9.775 on the balance beam closed out the night for her and helped her set a new lifetime best 39.225 in the all-around to claim second place in the meet. The score also became Penn State’s best all-around mark in the 2023 season. In a tough Big Ten road environment, the freshman rose to the occasion and performed extremely well for the Nittany Lions”

Blair High School Entered A Brief Lockdown Tuesday Afternoon After Reports of Gunshots Near the School; Incident Was Determined to be Fireworks

By MCS Staff

Published January 24, 2023 at 8:47PM

Montgomery County Police responded to reports of gunshots at the neighboring Woodmoor shopping center at approximately 1PM on Tuesday, along Colesville Rd near University Blvd East.

The incident sent Blair High School into a lockdown from 1:18pm until 1:29pm and remained in a shelter-in-place until 1:40pm, when it was determined that the disturbance involved fireworks and were not gunshots. Montgomery County Police maintained an increased presence in area following the incident and Blair High School principal Renay Johnson tweeted the following at 1:50pm, “We will have dismissal as scheduled today. Lockdowns can be unsettling for students and staff, our counselors and administrators are available for support.” Additional information can be seen in the tweets below.

Police and MCFRS Respond to Student Overdose at Kennedy High School

By Patrick Herron

Published January 24, 2023 at 8:46PM

A student at John F. Kennedy High School at 1901 Randolph Rd in Silver Spring overdosed at the school around noon on Tuesday, according to a report by WJLA/ABC7. In a letter to the Kennedy community, Principal Dr. Joe L. Rubens said, “Montgomery County Fire and Rescue and Montgomery County Police responded to our school immediately. Parents were contacted and the student was transported to the hospital.”

A 15-year-old Kennedy student died of a suspected overdose earlier this month, according to a Fox 5 report, which prompted county leaders and law enforcement to hold a meeting on January 19 to discuss the rise in opiod use, especially Fentanyl, among Montgomery County youth. Montgomery County Police tells us that “The call was received at approximately 12:01 pm. Officers responded for a student who may have overdosed. More information will be released as it becomes available.” We will update this story when additional information becomes available.

15-Year-Old Arrested for Possession of Handgun After Bringing Firearm to Richard Montgomery High School

By Patrick Herron

Published January 24, 2023 at 8:16PM

Per the Rockville City Police Department: The Rockville City Police Department has charged a 15-year-old juvenile with firearms related offenses. On January 24, 2023, at approximately 2:45 p.m., Richard Montgomery High School Security personnel notified the school’s Community Engagement Officer that a former student was on school property and was possibly in possession of a handgun. The student was apprehended by Rockville City Police approximately one block away from the high school, who was in possession of a firearm. The juvenile was arrested without incident and will be charged accordingly.

The preliminary investigation has determined today’s incident is unrelated to the lockdown which occurred at Richard Montgomery High School on January 13, 2023. Rockville City Police continues to work closely with Richard Montgomery High School and Montgomery County Public Schools to ensure the safety and security of students and staff remains the highest priority for our community.

MoCo Board of Education Adopts Option for Virtual Learning on Inclement Weather Days for School Year 2022–2023

By MCS Staff

Published January 24, 2023 at 2:24PM

The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) held a business meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2023. During the meeting, the Board adopted an option for virtual learning on inclement weather days for school year 2022–2023; discussed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future initial implementation plan; issued an Open Meetings Act (OMA) statement; and made three administrative appointments. The agenda for the meeting, with related links, can be viewed on the Board website. Watch the meeting recording.

Virtual Instruction on Inclement Weather Days: The Board voted to approve an option for virtual learning on inclement weather days for school year 2022–2023 that allows for the transition to virtual learning when school buildings are closed due to inclement weather, or other days that may interrupt regular in-person operations. The plan must now be approved by the Maryland State Department of Education prior to being implemented. Read the memorandum to the Board. View the PowerPoint Presentation

Antisemitic Flyers Left at Homes in Kensington Over the Weekend

By Patrick Herron

Published January 24, 2023 at 11:19AM | Updated January 24, 2023 at 1:20PM

Antisemitic flyers were found in the yards of several homes in Kensington on Sunday morning. According to a report by WUSA9, the flyers were placed in Ziploc bags that contained rice, and several of the homes targeted had mezuzahs (parchment inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah) displayed. Montgomery County Police has not released any information regarding the incident or suspects. In a statement on Monday, County Executive Marc Elrich said, “These attacks are meant to instill fear to weaken and divide our communities, but these are generating more support for our Jewish neighbors. We are united and are showing those who are pedaling hate that these antisemitic attempts at community disruption won’t be tolerated.”

Over the weekend it was reported drawings of a swastikas were found on desks at three Montgomery County Public Schools, including Silver Creek Middle School in Kensington on Thursday. In a statement released Saturday night, MCPS and the Board of Education said, “In each case, students and the staff addressed the vile impact of the hateful images, worked to immediately remove the drawings, and in each case, appropriate discipline in alignment with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct was assigned. More important than disciplinary action, however, is what we do in response. As we fight these repeated acts of hate, we must challenge one another to learn and understand what antisemitism, hatred, and racism are and the harm they cause.”

‘99 Things You Never Knew About Watkins Mill’

By MCS Staff

Published January 23, 2023 at 9:05AM | Updated October 3, 2025 at 8:37AM

In addition to photos of old classmates and teachers, old yearbooks are always a great source of fun information about the time they were made. We had the chance to look through a 1999 edition of Watkins Mill High School’s yearbook, called “Grinder”, and came across a fun little article titled ‘99 Things You Never Knew About Watkins Mill.’ Some references will only be understood by students/staff that were at the school during that time, but most are fun facts about the Watkins Mill Wolverines that many can enjoy. Check them out below:

5. WM was featured in U.S. News and World Report, for being a school of the future.

Update: Swastikas Drawn on Desks at Three Separate Schools Over the Past Week; Statement From MCPS Condemning Antisemitism

By Patrick Herron

Published January 21, 2023 at 9:45PM

These specific three instances are not the first this year in which the Jewish community in our county and our schools have experienced acts of antisemitic hate or bias. We must do more, and we will. In collaboration with advocates such as the Jewish Community Relations Council, we will continue our efforts to educate our students about antisemitism. Our schools have held and will continue to hold restorative conversations with students and staff, and schools have held community meetings to discuss incidents, but honest and forthright conversations must continue. As a community, we must speak loudly and together against antisemitism and all acts of hate and racism. We must be inclusive and welcoming of everyone in our diverse and vibrant community. Our differences make us stronger and better and make our community an exciting place to live; there is no room for hate.

To learn and to do so at high levels, all students must feel physically and, yes, emotionally safe. When they experience anxiety because of acts of hatred, they can’t be at their best in their classroom. We must embrace the work necessary to ensure our scholars are in safe and welcoming school environments.