GOOD NEWS
Seneca Valley High School Senior Wins Councilmember for a Day Competition
Folashade Epebinu, a senior at Seneca Valley High School, won this year’s Councilmember for a Day competition, hosted by Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando. Epebinu won the chance to join the county council for a session when her video submission about the need for affordable childcare was chosen as the winner from dozens of submissions. She joined the county council on Nov. 28 and was honored with a proclamation and luncheon. She was allowed to ceremonially vote along with the 11-member council.
Epebinu is dually enrolled at Seneca Valley and at Montgomery College, studying general engineering. She also serves as secretary for the Maryland Youth Advisory Council.
See her winning video submission.
Celebrating Latin Dance
For the 23rd year, dozens of energetic high school dancers took the stage at the Music Center at Strathmore to represent their schools at the Latin Dance Competition on Nov. 21. MCPS students, families and community members packed the theater to cheer for their favorites and celebrate Hispanic heritage. The event was organized by the After School Dance Fund, which works to build strong Latin dance clubs in MCPS and to support the academic and social-emotional success of students. Check out the photo gallery.
Students from 16 high schools participated—Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Clarksburg, Damascus, Albert Einstein, Gaithersburg, Walter Johnson, Northwest, Northwood, Paint Branch (first-time participants), Quince Orchard, Rockville, Seneca Valley, Sherwood, Springbrook, Watkins Mill and Wheaton. The winners in each category are listed below:
Junior Division
Cha-cha
1st Seneca Valley, Sensacion
2nd, Wheaton, Corazon Latino
Merengue
1st, Seneca Valley, Sensacion
2nd, Rockville, Ritmo
3rd, Paint Branch, Panteros Bailadores
Bachata
1st, Seneca Valley, Sensacion
2nd, Walter Johnson, Pasion Latino
3rd, Paint Branch, Panteros Bailadores
Salsa
1st, Seneca Valley, Sensacion
2nd, Walter Johnson, Pasion Latino
3rd, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Ritmo Latino
Jack and Jill
Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Springbrook
Parent/Student
1st, Seneca Valley, Sensacion
2nd, Rockville, Ritmo
3rd, Walter Johnson, Pasion Latino
Best in Show
1st, Seneca Valley, Sensacion
2nd, Rockville, Ritmo
3rd, Paint Branch, Panteros Bailadores
Senior Division
Cha-cha
1st, Gaithersburg, Sabor Latino
2nd, Quince Orchard, Juntos
3rd, Einstein, Titanes Salseros
Merengue
1st, Watkins Mill, OLAS
2nd, Gaithersburg, Sabor Latino
3rd, Clarksburg, Xtreme
Bachata
1st, Gaithersburg, Sabor Latino
2nd, Clarksburg, Xtreme
3rd, Einstein, Titanes Salseros
Salsa
1st, Einstein, Titanes Salseros
2nd, Gaithersburg, Sabor Latino
3rd, Clarksburg, Xtreme
Jack and Jill
Einstein and Gaithersburg
Parent/Student
1st, Einstein, Titanes Salseros
2nd, Clarksburg, Xtreme
3rd, Gaithersburg, Sabor Latino
Best in Show
1st, Gaithersburg, Sabor Latino
2nd, Einstein, Titanes Salseros
3rd, Clarksburg, Xtreme
Three program supporters also received community engagement awards:
- Jorge and Jose Galvan, MCPS alumni, received the Trawick Inspiration Award.
- Vilma C. Najera, principal at Watkins Mill High School, was given the Administrator Award for her support of the school’s Latin dance team.
- Karla Silvestre, Montgomery County Board of Education President, received the Public Service Award.
NCAA Eligibility Center to Host Information Night Dec. 4
Calling all coaches, students and parents/caregivers of student athletes! MCPS Athletics and the NCAA Eligibility Center are hosting a virtual information night on Monday, Dec. 4 from 6:30-8 p.m. Ms. Ivorye Long, Assistant Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships for the NCAA Eligibility Center will host the Zoom session. Long hopes that her passion to support student-athletes as they go through the process of NCAA initial eligibility will impact and inspire students to pursue academics and athletics at the collegiate level.
For more information, check out the flyer for the Zoom details.
Students Donate Computer Lab to the Potomac Chinese School
The Network Operations program of the Montgomery County Students Information Technology Foundation, Inc. (ITF) at Thomas Edison High School of Technology donated a computer lab to the Potomac Chinese School for its annual gifting ceremony. The school focuses on providing rigorous and educational experiences for K-12 students in Chinese communities throughout Montgomery County.
ITF students at Edison High School reconditioned six computers with operating systems, monitors, keyboards, mice and a printer. This project provides an opportunity for the ITF students to practice computer maintenance skills, earn student service learning hours and develop an appreciation for charity and community involvement.