MCPS has announced today that they will televise a Universal Graduation Celebration to honor the class of 2020 for all of its schools. Chef and humanitarian José Andrés has been selected as the commencement speaker.
This broadcast will take place on Sunday, June 7 at 6 PM and can be seen on NBC4 channels in addition to the MCPS website and YouTube channel.
The Montgomery County Board of Education has approved an LGBTQ History course that is being referred to as the first of its kind in the United States.
Michael Doggett, an English teacher at Hallie Wells Middle School, received a Twilight Award (sponsored by Box Tops for Education and General Mills) last night on Instagram Live from Chance the Rapper. With that award came a $30,000 prize that will be split between the teacher and the school he works at.
London Navarro is a student at Stone Mill elementary in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She’s a 2x Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Youth Pan-American World Champion (recently winning her 2nd title on Feb 8, 2020) and a two-time International Youth Champion.
MCPS announced today that it will move to a Pass/Incomplete or Credit/No Credit grading system for the remainder of the year for secondary students.
In middle and high schools, a traditional letter grade system will not be used for the 4th Marking Period. MCPS is developing a grading and reporting framework for secondary schools that is commonly known as “Pass/Incomplete” or “Credit/No Credit” for the remainder of the year. We believe that this grading approach will ensure fairness and equity for all students, while also engaging students in the curriculum, providing meaningful feedback, and tracking their progress. We are currently working with stakeholders (teachers, parents, students and union leaders) to ensure a smooth transition to this system and ensure that teachers and students understand the criteria for success. We understand that there will be many questions about implications of this grading approach, and those questions will be answered. But we believe that traditional grading practices will not best serve all students and a more universal approach is needed. More information about implementation of this system, including how the final semester grade will be reported on transcripts, will be provided in the coming weeks.
“After extensive consultation with the State Board of Education and leading public health experts in the state, I am extending the closure of schools through MAY 15TH.”
-Karen Salmon (Maryland State Superintendent of Schools)
Two Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) food and nutrition services staff members working at the Glen Haven Elementary School meal distribution site in Wheaton have reported positive tests of Covid-19 (photos 1 and 2)
In addition, there have been two confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg (photo 3).
The closure of all Maryland public schools has been extended until Friday, April 24th, per Maryland state superintendent Karen Salmon.
More information on how learning will continue during this time will be available in the coming days.
An employee at Whetstone Elementary School in Montgomery Village has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus).
Per MCPS:
In the last 24 hours, Montgomery College has been notified by two MC community members—an employee and a student—that they have tested positive for the COVID-19.
Full letter to community available here.
MCPS anticipates and is expecting an extended closure, per a letter sent to the community today.
“ While state officials have only announced a two-week emergency closure at this time, we are anticipating and actively preparing for the very real possibility of an extended closure. We expect to hear from our state officials in the coming days. Our preparation includes designing plans for innovative, remote student instruction (continuity of learning) that uses multiple tools (for example, online, TV and telephone and hard copy packets) to provide teaching and learning. We are also gathering and finalizing distribution plans for digital devices that will help ensure our students can fully engage in this new model. These devices will be prioritized for students in need.”