Montgomery County Public Schools

The second of two community forums sponsored by the Board of Education will be held Oct. 15, 7–9:30 p.m., at John F. Kennedy HS in Silver Spring. Speakers will respond to this question, “During difficult economic times, what priorities in the MCPS strategic plan should we focus on to improve achievement for all students?” Attendees can share their views online or by filling out response cards at the forum.

For ten years, thousands of people have been helped by the students in Robert Dickie’s sociology class at Damascus High School. Community service projects have been a part of the class for the past decade. This year’s service projects involve creating festive blankets and pillowcases for children with cancer and collecting coats, blankets, and food for the needy.

Bethesda Elementary School was one of a number of MCPS schools celebrating International Walk to School Day on October 7. The event promotes pedestrian safety, the health benefits of physical activity, and the importance of caring for the environment. County and state officials joined Bethesda Elementary students, parents, and staff for a walk to the school and a celebration of the event.

"Homework Hotline Live!" begins its 24th season on MCPS TV on October 6. Students from all grade levels can call or email teachers for help with any subject on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Watch the program live starting at 5:00 p.m. on Comcast 33, Verizon 35, RCN 88, and on the web.

Edline, a web-based communication tool, allows parents of middle and high school students to monitor their child’s grades and assignments. An added advantage is the ability to exchange e-mails with teachers. Parents should contact their child’s school for help activating or using their Edline account.

Forty-two African American 10th graders recently had an opportunity to meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus at their Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. The students participated in a town hall meeting with Congressional leaders and met with mentors from the business community. The students will do a research project on a policy issue, present their findings, and be honored on Capitol Hill upon completion of the program.

Have a question about the school system? Need help using Edline or other online resources? Parents and community members are invited to the first Ask MCPS Coffee of the school year on October 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the new offices of the Department of Family and Community Partnerships in Rockville. Bilingual staff will be available. Join us for coffee, conversation, and answers to your questions.

Gaithersburg Elementary School is taking a personal approach to help students become excited about going to college. Among the many activities at the school aimed at creating a culture of college readiness, staff members wear college T-shirts every Monday and their experiences are highlighted with hallway bulletin board and morning announcements. And each classroom is adopting a school name!