Montgomery County Public Schools

The next two weeks will be a busy testing period for high school students. Many students will be taking the SAT on Saturday, October 10; the PSAT on Wednesday, October 14; or the ACT on Saturday, October 24. Some will take High School Assessments in biology, algebra, government and English beginning Monday, October 5. Students can use free online tools to help prepare for each of the tests.

Tony Miller, U.S. deputy secretary of education, joined more than 300 parents and their children at Viers Mill Elementary School on September 22 for Family Learning Night. Miller encouraged parents to be actively involved in their children’s education. The Silver Spring school’s monthly Family Learning Night enables parents to interact with teachers and find out about activities they can use at home to reinforce learning.

A field of 1,000 colorful pinwheels greeted passersby at Neelsville Middle School in Germantown on September 21. Students created the display as part of the international Pinwheels for Peace program. Students made the pinwheels out of paper on which they had written their thoughts about war, peace, tolerance and living in harmony. Last year more than 2.3 million pinwheels spun in more than 3,000 locations worldwide.

Student musicians from Wheaton High School had a musician’s view of an orchestra rehearsal on Sept. 22. The students sat onstage with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra during rehearsal of pieces by Tchaikovsky and Brahms. They followed the musical score and asked questions of Music Director Marin Alsop. The visit was part of a partnership designed to inspire students and help them improve their rehearsal techniques and performance skills.

Ray Myrtle, principal at Highland Elementary School, has received the Terrel H. Bell Award for outstanding educational leadership. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made the announcement during a Sept. 15 press conference honoring Highland for being named a National Blue Ribbon School. Highland students, the majority of whom are learning English and are impacted by poverty, were honored for achieving at the highest levels on state assessments.

Science in elementary school classrooms is bursting with inventive energy and fun experiments thanks to 104 teachers who are now “Science Ambassadors.” The teachers, who are from 87 elementary schools, were trained in inquiry-based science teaching and learning via the Elementary Science Leadership Program. The program is funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The capstone to the project involves students in grades K to 5 participating in an annual science inquiry conference.

Members of the MCPS Parent Advisory Council and Kay Romero, president of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs, were in the studio audience for a town hall meeting with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on Sept. 15. Parents across the nation also participated via email and telephone to share insights on how to improve American education. The program can be viewed on the web.

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