Opportunities for Parent Involvement Abound
Parents play an important role in their child’s success by participating in the PTA, serving as room parents, organizing workshops and serving on school improvement teams. There are countless ways to become involved—even over the summer. Parents can check with their child’s school about activities and committees that need support. And systemwide, there are numerous workgroups and advisory committees where parent participation is key.
Student Member of Board Installed July 1
Quratul-Ann Malik, a rising senior at Watkins Mill High School, was sworn in as the 31st student member of the Board of Education July 1 by Clerk of the Court Loretta Knight. Malik is as president of the Watkins Mill Class of 2009 and has served as parliamentarian of the Maryland Association of Student Councils and of the Montgomery County Region. She attended Montgomery Village Middle School and Stedwick Elementary School.
Kennedy Cluster Offers Free Summer Lunch
Montgomery County’s first “open lunch” summer program was launched in June. Any student who attends one of the Kennedy Cluster Project schools—John F. Kennedy High School, Argyle Middle School or Bel Pre, Georgian Forest or Strathmore elementary schools—can come to Georgian Forest weekdays through Aug. 15 for a free lunch. A press event organized by County Council member Valerie Ervin was held at Georgian Forest June 30.
Wheaton Named National Breakthrough School
Small learning communities, intensive student support and teacher professional learning groups are some of the reasons Wheaton High School was selected as a national Breakthrough School by the MetLife Foundation–National Association of Secondary School Principals. The 10 winning middle and high schools serve large numbers of economically challenged students and are improving achievement. They are featured in a special June edition of Principal Leadership magazine.
Photo: Wheaton math teacher Ashley Osborne conducts an SAT prep class for students in the school’s biosciences academy.