Students and staff at Whetstone Elementary School in Montgomery Village witnessed a man in what appeared to be a KKK uniform during school today, according to a letter sent home by principal Loretta Woods.
The man was observed in the school parking lot, near the edge of school property, but did not interact with any student or staff member.
Non-emergency police was contacted and Montgomery County Police responded by coming to campus to investigate. School counselors and administrators met with several students to answer questions and help them process what they had witnessed.
The full letter to the Whetstone community can be seen below:
“Dear Whetstone families,
l am writing to inform you about an incident that occurred at school today. Students and staff, at
recess, witnessed a man dressed in what appeared to be a KKK uniform. He was observed in our parking lot, near the edge of our school property. He did not come up to the school or come onto our playground. He did not interact with any student or staff member.
School staff informed administration who contacted the non-emergency police and our security coordinator. Montgomery County Police and our MCPS Security Coordinator responded by coming to our campus to investigate.
Our counselors and administrators met with several of the students who understandably had questions and needed help processing what they had seen. Our counselors will continue to be available for students, who need support to process the incident, in the coming days.
We appreciate our Whetstone staff members who immediately communicated with administration to ensure the safety of our students. All of us at Whetstone Elementary School appreciate the continued support of our families and want to emphasize that student and staff safety is a priority each day. If you have any questions about this incident don’t hesitate to call the school at 240-740-1060.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Loretta Woods
Principal”
Whetstone Principal, Loretta Woods, Wins Mark Mann Award
Per MCPS: Loretta Woods, principal at Whetstone Elementary School in Gaithersburg, is this year’s winner of the Mark Mann Excellence and Harmony Award. The Mark Mann award is presented annually to an MCPS administrator who has shown exceptional performance in promoting academic excellence, positive human relations and community outreach.
Woods is in her third year as principal at Whetstone. Born in Ghana, West Africa, Woods moved to the U.S. in her elementary years, and graduated from Paint Branch High School. She has been a teacher and staff development teacher, on a skillful teaching team and served as an assistant principal in MCPS.
She works with her staff to analyze data to determine strengths and needs of students. She gives effective feedback to improve instruction and facilitates conversations with staff about student performance. She has increased the numbers of Black and Hispanic students enrolled in enriched literacy curriculum, math 4/5 and math 5/6. Whetstone has received iPads for English Language Learners, and implemented DreamBox Learning to help all students with math.
She has a strong commitment to restorative justice and anti-racism. She has led the core and leadership teams in book studies, reading How To Be An Antiracist and Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain. Under her leadership, more than 30 staff members are formally trained in restorative justice and facilitating community circles.
She is committed to leading a school with a healthy climate. She appreciates staff with handwritten, individualized notes, food trucks and phone calls. She provides opportunities for teachers to lead meetings, professional development sessions and trainings. She supports student leadership by offering fifth graders the opportunity to apply for a job within the school; she even continued it in the virtual environment.
Woods has led several building improvement projects, including bathroom renovations (adding electronic hand dryers and ADA-compliant entrances); the replacement of ceiling and floor tiles; an upgrade to the staff lounge; and the installation of a secured fence around the perimeter of the school’s fields so that students can play safely at recess.
She advocated for Whetstone to receive Title I status, which allowed the school to offer community events, such as parent coffees, and literacy, math and STEM nights to bring families together. She partnered with local churches that donate clothing, backpacks and school supplies. Woods also worked with other community partners, including Walter Reed Medical Center to present information to families of children newly diagnosed with autism; Identity, which supports literacy growth for Hispanic students; and Excel Beyond the Bell, which provides after-school academic and enrichment support to students.
During her first year as principal, Woods organized a Back-to-School Bash instead of a traditional open house, allowing an opportunity for staff and families to connect on a more personal level. She organized a fifth grade virtual promotion ceremony, and spearheaded two of the PTA’s largest fundraisers—Bingo Night and the annual coin drive.
