Ten Things to Know
for Thursday, Oct. 27

Here are ten things to know for Thursday, Oct. 27. You will find information about the district’s efforts on electric school buses, recent progress on student literacy and mathematics, national principal month upcoming live music experience for students, high-performing student musicians, and some reminders about how to get information about closures and inclement weather.

1. 

   1. October is National Principals Month!

   As National Principals Month wraps up, MCPS salutes principals and assistant principals, such as Parkland Middle School principal Aaron Shin. Shin is the Montgomery County Council of PTAs’ 2021 Principal of the Year. Principals work tirelessly each day as visionaries, assessment experts, community builders, public relations experts, budget analysts, facility managers and so much more.

2. 

   2. Spotlight: District Leaders Recognize Two Elementary Schools for Significant Literacy and Mathematics Gains

   Rolling Terrace Elementary School achieved 39 percentage point gains in literacy and Washington Grove Elementary School achieved 29 percentage point gains in mathematics as measured by MCPS’ Evidence of Learning framework. The progress is thanks to the leadership and innovative strategies implemented by principals Jessica Palladino and Dr. Amy J. Alonso.

3. 

   3. In the News:
   MCPS Celebrates Largest Fleet
   of Electric Buses in the U.S.

   The district held an event to celebrate the country's single-largest deployment of electric school buses at Walter Johnson High School on October 24th. The use of electric buses will reduce fuel costs and the school system's overall carbon footprint. The initiative is being implemented through a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets. Watch video

4. 

   4. Playoffs and Competition Season
   is in Full Swing

   The Poolesville High School golf team captured the first state championship of the year this week at the 2A-1A State Championship. Come support and cheer on the student-athletes who cheer for you Saturday, Oct. 29 at the MCPS Cheerleading Championship Competition at Montgomery Blair High School. Tickets are available here for each division. Follow all of your favorite teams at the MPSSAA State Championship Central site.

5. 

   5. Fifth Graders Experience
   Blues Music at Strathmore

   More than 12,000 fifth graders across the district are experiencing live music concerts at the Music Center at Strathmore this week. The students have been studying blues music at school in preparation for these concerts. All second graders will visit Strathmore in November.

6. 

   6. MCPS to Host Virtual
   Curriculum Night on Nov. 2

   Don’t miss an opportunity to learn more about MCPS curriculum during live virtual presentations on Nov. 2 from 6-8:30 p.m. Sessions will focus on topics such as the shift to structured literacy in elementary school, English language arts in middle and high school, mathematics at all levels, the shifts in science requirements for graduation and high school health education. All sessions are virtual and access to all presentations will be posted here. Registration is not required to participate and all Zoom links are included in the agenda on the webpage.

7. 

   7. Spotlight:
   MCPS Student Musicians Selected
   for Prestigious National Ensembles

   Four MCPS students were selected for the prestigious All-National Honor Band and All-National Honor Orchestra ensembles this year. Sara Bock, clarinet, of Thomas S. Wootton High School and Shisui Torii, French horn, of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School were selected to the band. Bassoon player Jackson Bernal and double bass player Anderson Bernal of Thomas S. Wootton High School were selected to the orchestra. Four out of the five students chosen in Maryland are from MCPS.

8. 

   8. 2022 Marching Band Showcase:
   Loud and Proud

   For the first time since 2019, the MCPS Marching Band Showcase was held on Oct. 22, at James Hubert Blake High School. The showcase featured performances from Clarksburg, Seneca Valley, Watkins Mill, Paint Branch, Col. Zadok Magruder, Damascus, Albert Einstein, Montgomery Blair and Blake high schools, and, new this year, a middle school massed band kicked off the event. All the high schools came together for a final massed band performance at the end of the program. Video Link (Turn up the volume and enjoy!)
   https://youtu.be/f6ee4JWMXuQ

9. 

   9. November as Remembrance and Reconciliation Month

   The Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation was established by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights in 2019 to promote a better understanding of its history and legacy of African Americans in the county. 
   In response, Montgomery County Public Schools will observe Remembrance and Reconciliation Month by supporting local Emancipation Day celebrations, providing schools with age appropriate lessons on local historic African American communities, and virtual changemaker workshops for students and their families in English and Spanish on November 15 - 17, 2022. Register here to attend a changemaker workshop.

   Montgomery County Office of Human Rights
   Montgomery County Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation

10. 10. Closing Notes: Ongoing Reminders

    • Anonymous Safe Schools Tipline
      The Maryland Safe Schools Tipline is an anonymous and free reporting system to report any school or student safety ​concerns. (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233)
      Learn more.
    • Free Tutoring Available to All MCPS Students
      
      • FEV Tutor
        More information in English and Spanish
        Offers tutoring without cameras for students in grades 3-12 who learn best without a camera.
        To set up tutoring: mcps@fevtutor.com
      • Tutor Me Education
        More information in English and Spanish
        To set up tutoring: MCPS@tutormeeducation.com or 240-618-2549
    • Canceling or delaying a bus route is a decision of last resort. If your child’s route is delayed or canceled, a ConnectEd message is sent. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date with MCPS!

      Impacted routes are published the day before or the morning of by 6:15 a.m.	Information published on MCPS website and ConnectEd message is sent to families
      Department of Transportation continues to identify possible drivers for impacted route Updates for afternoon routes	Bus route information dashboard updated every 15 minutes until 9:30 a.m.
      Updates for afternoon routes	Bus route information dashboard updated by 1:30 p.m.

Montgomery County Public Schools