News

An update from Del. Anne Kaiser indicates that legislation aimed at preventing an extension of the Montgomery County Public Schools calendar has cleared a major hurdle in Annapolis.

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News

On Wednesday, the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called for an investigation into an incident that occurred last month at Damascus Elementary School in Montgomery County.

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Fairland

Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a collision involving a Montgomery County Public Schools bus on Monday, April 24, around 9:30am in the 13000 block of Old Columbia Pike in Fairland.

Four children (initially reported as five) and the driver were on the bus at the time of the collision. According to MCPD, “one child was extricated from the bus, but everyone was transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries” The ages of the children have not yet been released. According to a report, the bus was traveling to Fairland Elementary School.


Gaithersburg

Kabongo pleaded guilty to two counts of Second-Degree Rape and two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor for the abuse of four female victims who rode the bus he drove for Montgomery County Public Schools. One of the victims came forward after an incident in July of 2018 and a Montgomery County Police investigation resulted in the discovery of school bus surveillance footage of multiple incidents involving three additional victims. Two of the girls were minors at the time and the other two were both 18-years old.

The defendant had maintained that he was not criminally responsible due to an alleged mental disorder, but today the jury found he is indeed responsible for these crimes. Kabongo faces up to 40 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is set for March 30th 2023.


Kensington

MCPD released the following updated summary of events with new information regarding the lockdown and subsequent arrest of a student at Albert Einstein High School this afternoon. The original news release stated that the student taken into custody during the investigation was not being charged criminally.

At approximately 1:54 p.m. today, Montgomery County Police received a report of a student with a gun inside of Albert Einstein High School, located at 11135 Newport Mill Rd. in Kensington.


MCPS

Per MCPD: Rockville City and Montgomery County Police responded to Richard Montgomery High School on Friday, January 13, 2023, for the report of a gun on the school’s grounds. At approximately 10 a.m., two students from an area Montgomery County school entered Richard Montgomery High School (RMHS) without authorization and allegedly assaulted an RMHS student inside of the school.

The students left RMHS and reportedly returned to the campus, which is located at 250 Richard Montgomery Drive, at approximately 12:30 p.m., but did not enter the school. During this second incident, an RMHS student reported what they thought might have been a gun on one of the students outside of the school and reported it to school security. That information was shared with the RMHS principal, the police were called, and the school was placed on lockdown. The students outside of the school ran away.


MCPS

In a message sent before winter break, we asked that you remain vigilant and aware of the potential impact of the respiratory diseases (Influenza, RSV and COVID-19) circulating in our community. These illnesses may pose a combined challenge to our local healthcare system across our region following the holiday season. We need everyone’s help to reduce the impact on school operations in these first few weeks following winter break. Remember, protective measures still apply – keeping up with vaccinations, practicing healthy habits to prevent the spread of illness, and staying home if you are sick.

While we are excited to be back in school and for learning to continue on Tuesday, Jan. 3, we can only do this if we take care of ourselves and each other.


Derwood

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, the defendant in the January 2022 shooting at Magruder High School was sentenced today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County.  The judge sentenced Steven Alston Jr. to 40 years in prison suspend all but 18 years and 5 years probation upon release. While incarcerated, he will be admitted into the Patuxent Youthful Offender Program. 

Alston pleaded guilty last month to the charge of Attempted First Degree Murder for the shooting of a fellow student at Magruder High School.  Alston was 17 years old on Friday, January 21, 2022, when he shot the 15-year-old victim inside of the school restroom using a privately manufactured firearm, or ghost gun.  He was charged as an adult.


Education

I would also like to share these health news items before the break:

The pandemic has shown us the importance of cherishing time together with friends and family, and our shared responsibility in health and safety.  Once again, I thank everyone for their commitment to the health of our school community, and for supporting each other with respect and kindness.


MCPS

Many of us are already working on sleep health and will need to anticipate this additional challenge. Work, school and lifestyle changes during the pandemic created challenges for regular health routines that continue to affect many people. For teens and parents of young children, unique factors influencing sleep and self care make it especially important to have healthy sleep habits.

How can I adjust my sleep schedule for the time change?


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