Montgomery County Public Schools

The Hispanic Employees Association of MCPS and the MCPS Asian American Education Association (AAEA) awarded scholarships to students at recent events. Six students won scholarships at the Distinguished Hispanic Scholars Awards Ceremony for their leadership and academic excellence. At its Flavors of Asia celebration, held in May during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, AAEA awarded scholarships to six students who are committed to becoming teachers.

A total of 318 ESOL students were honored at Awards Day ceremonies earlier this month. Former Senator Ida Ruben continued her annual tradition of presenting trophies acknowledging the students’ achievement in learning English. Plaques also were presented to Principal Sean Bulson (Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS) and ESOL teachers Cindy Spoon (Sligo Creek ES), Carmen Nakassis (Tilden MS) and Elizabeth Fuhrman (Quince Orchard HS) and Supervisor of ESOL Instruction Lois Wions.

All MCPS schools can participate in Drive for Supplies, which encourages students to donate used, but usable, school supplies. Throughout June, participating schools collect the supplies, which are sorted at a central location by student volunteers during the summer. Nonprofit organizations that benefit children or individual families may pick up the supplies after the Drive for Supplies celebration and press conference July 28, 10 a.m., at Richard Montgomery High School.

MCPS has the third highest graduation rate among the nation’s 50 largest school districts, according to the Diplomas Count 2008 study just published by Education Week. Nearly 82 out of 100 MCPS seniors (81.7 percent) graduate with a regular diploma, compared with a national average of 71 percent and a Maryland average of 73.6 percent. The study used 2005 data, the most recent available nationwide.

Clean water is the focus of a new classroom facility at the Smith Environmental Education Center. The cottage houses tools for monitoring the local stream and its impact on the Chesapeake Bay based on data students gather. An open house for parents of rising 6th graders will be held June 6 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Rock View Elementary School has been named one of 10 model schools in the nation for improvements in closing the achievement gap. The school will be showcased at the International Center for Leadership in Education’s Model Schools Conference June 22–25. A June 2 celebration at the school included local, county and state officials.

About 10,000 Montgomery County Public Schools students are graduating from high school in ceremonies that continue through June 11. A variety of commencement speakers—ranging from local, state and national government officials to television news personalities, current teachers, a prize-winning author and a master storyteller—will address the graduating seniors. Last year, graduates entering college were awarded $91 million in scholarships.

The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy (Saturday School) has grown from 19 students and 21 volunteer tutors when it opened in 1986 to more than 3,000 students at 12 centers throughout the county, staffed by 300 volunteers and 176 certified teachers. At its May 27 meeting, the Board of Education congratulated the students awarded scholarships by Saturday School for their academic achievement and volunteer service to the learning academy.