Montgomery County Public Schools

Highland Elementary School in Silver Spring has been named a Maryland Blue Ribbon School by the state Department of Education.  Blue Ribbon Schools show exceptional reading and mathematics achievement, as measured by state tests. With a poverty rate above 80 percent and 60 percent of students learning English, Highland's Maryland School Assessment scores rivaled those of schools that do not face the challenges associated with highly diverse, high poverty, and high mobility student populations. 

Superintendent Jerry D. Weast recommended a $2.1 billion Fiscal Year 2010 Operating Budget for county schools. The budget closes a $176 million gap, without seeking any new local taxpayer funding and without any across-the-board increase in class size. The proposed budget is balanced, in large part, by a combination of current year savings that will be carried over to Fiscal Year 2010, major budget reductions for the next year, and the elimination of cost-of-living pay raises for all employees. 

National Inclusive Schools Week was celebrated this year from Dec. 1–5. This year’s theme, “Together We Learn Better: Inclusive Schools Benefit All Children,” focused on the advantages of inclusive schools in promoting quality education and better educational outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities. Some schools, such as Northwood High School, encouraged students to write a persuasive essay on the advantages of being an inclusive school. Chris Mbulu, the top winner at Northwood, is shown here with special education teacher Travis Hairston and special education transition support teacher Kisheena Wanzer.

Thirty-five Thomas Edison High School of Technology students received hands-on experience in digital printing and publishing when they visited the MCPS Print Shop, part of the Editorial, Graphics and Publishing Services unit of the Office of Communications and Family Outreach. The students brought their own electronic art file and followed the project through the entire printing process, including plate making, printing and finishing.

Patricia O’Neill, newly elected vice president of the Board of Education, has been named Legislator of the Year for the 2007–2008 term by the Montgomery County Region, Maryland Association of Student Councils (MCR). O’Neill was selected for her work on the Board policy on cell phone use in MCPS middle and high schools.

About 75 fifth graders from Weller Road Elementary School recently visited the University of Maryland. The event was sponsored by the University’s Latino Student Union, Community Service Committee. The university students gave the fifth graders a tour, conducted a workshop and concluded the day with a pizza party and some close-up interaction with the elementary schoolers.

Highland Elementary School in Silver Spring has been named a Maryland Blue Ribbon School by the state Department of Education.  Blue Ribbon Schools show exceptional reading and mathematics achievement, as measured by state tests. With a poverty rate above 80 percent and 60 percent of students learning English, Highland's Maryland School Assessment scores rivaled those of schools that do not face the challenges associated with highly diverse, high poverty, and high mobility student populations.

Spanish-speaking representatives from area colleges and Wheaton High School staff members shared information with students and their families from throughout the Wheaton cluster Dec. 2 at a college information night for Latino parents and students. Graduates, teachers, administrators and college representatives were on hand to talk with parents and students about preparing for college and the application process.