Winter Coat Drive Under Way
The Prekindergarten/Head Start Programs is seeking donations to provide students with new winter coats. They are collecting coats for boys and girls in sizes 5, 6, and 7, along with other winter wear, such as hats and gloves. Monetary donations are welcome. Donations can be sent to Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Room 141, Rockville, Maryland 20852. For more information, contact Lisa Conlon at 240-740-4530.
Está en Marcha la Campaña de Recolección de Abrigos de Invierno
Los programas de Prekindergarten/Head Start están pidiendo donaciones para proporcionar nuevos abrigos de invierno a los alumnos. Están recolectando abrigos para niños y niñas de tallas 5, 6 y 7, además de otras prendas de invierno, tales como sombreros/gorros y guantes. Se aceptan donaciones monetarias. Las donaciones pueden ser enviadas a Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Room 141, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Para más información, por favor llame a Lisa Conlon, especialista en servicios sociales, teléfono 240-740-4530.
What's Good, MCPS?
MCPS has created a new webpage to celebrate the good news about the district’s great students, staff, and schools. What’s Good, MCPS stories are collected from social media, MCPS community and staff newsletters, local media, and more. You can also join in the conversation and tell us about the great things you are seeing in MCPS by using the hashtag #WhatsGoodMCPS on social media or by submitting the following form when you hear about other good news:. The webpage will be updated regularly so check back frequently.
MCPS Needs Your Input to Help Prepare the Operating Budget
MCPS is seeking specific input on areas the school district should prioritize in the operating budget for Fiscal Year 2020. Tell us which strategies, programs or efforts are working or are not working to help improve outcomes for all students.
Please complete a brief survey to provide your feedback. MCPS will use the information it receives from this survey to help guide the development of the budget.
New Anonymous Tip Line Available
The Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line is an anonymous reporting system used to report threats to the safety and/or well-being of students.
Students, parents/guardians, faculty, staff, and members of communities throughout Maryland may use this anonymous, app- and web-based reporting system to share their concerns, such as:
· Mental health crises
· Bullying
· School and community violence
· Drug activity
· Abuse
· Harassment
· Other issues affecting our Maryland students
The Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line is a tool for proactively addressing harmful situations and helping students who need it. By using a variety of communication modes to support the reporting and routing of tips, The Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line empowers the citizens of Maryland to create a culture of preparedness, prevention, and school safety for our students. For more information, to share a concern and to download the app, visit safeschoolsmd.org/.
Seasonal Flu Prevention Tips
Here are some additional steps that you and your family can take to help prevent the spread of the flu and other seasonal illnesses:
1. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. MCPS-approved hand sanitizer dispensers are available for use at various locations throughout schools (e.g., near the cafeteria or all-purpose room, near the main office).
2. When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve or a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth to minimize the chance for infection.
4. Stay home from work and school if symptoms develop such as fever, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, headache, and body aches.
5. If you have concerns about the health of your child, please contact your physician immediately or, in an emergency, dial 911.
Additional flu prevention information can be found at the following websites:
Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm
Montgomery County: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/resident/flu.html
MCPS Parent Academy
The MCPS Parent Academy kicked off its fall season on September 24. Parents/guardians and members of the community are invited to participate in these free workshops that provide information, resources, tools, and tips to support your child’s success in school. Don’t miss this season of workshops, which will be offered on a range of topics, including college and career planning, study skills, cyber safety and social media, and positive communication.
Parent Academy workshops are free. Childcare and interpretation services are provided upon request. A full list of courses is available on the Parent Academy website.
2019–2020 School Year Calendar
MCPS is developing the school calendar for the 2019–2020 school year. The Board of Education held a discussion at its business meeting on October 9, 2018, about the process, options, and challenges for developing the calendar and is considering two potential calendar scenarios.
As the district develops a calendar, it must start with several requirements from the state:
September 4–June 15: the permissible time frame for instruction
180: the minimum number of instructional days required
15: the number of state-mandated days that schools must be closed
3: the number of snow make-up days required at the end of the year (before June 14)
For a more detailed explanation of the calendar process, visit the 2019–2020 calendar webpage. The scenarios are posted on the MCPS website for public information and review. If you would like to offer comment on the calendar, please do so using the drop box provided on the calendar information webpage.
The Board will hold a final discussion and adopt a final calendar later this fall. You can stay engaged and informed in this process by visiting the Calendar webpage.
MCPS Online Resources
MCPS Homework Resources (Online Databases for Students)Please email or ask Mrs. Portocarrero-Pitt (P2) or Mrs. Green, Media Assistant in the Media Center for home access login and passwords.
The most recent list of login/passwords will be shared with staff and students.
Homework Hotline Live Celebrating 33rd Season
Need homework help? Then call Homework Hotline Live. With HHL, you get free after-school homework help from MCPS teachers. You can call the live TV show at 301-279-3234 or send a question online via text or e-mail. When school is in session, watch teachers answer your homework questions live on MCPS-TV from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. You can also get online help from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. Go to www.AskHHL.org for more info and to download the free HHL app! If you call in and correctly answer a BrainTeaser question, you could win an HHL 8GB Flashdrive! Tune in to see the HHL Mathema-Chicken pluck out some math questions.
· HHL General Info:
o Telephone: 301-279-3234
o Text: 724-427-5445
o Live TV show on Comcast 33, Verizon 35, RCN 88
o www.AskHHL.org
If you have any questions about signing up for conferences or need additional support, please contact Monica Kellner by calling 240-406-1300 or by emailing Monica_G_Kellner@mcpsmd.org.
Help Us Improve How You Get MCPS Information
How do you like to receive news and information? What MCPS news is important to you? Take this survey and tell us about your communication preferences. Your responses will be used to improve how you get information from MCPS.
Stay Informed with MCPS QuickNotes
MCPS QuickNotes is a bimonthly newsletter that provides MCPS families with important news and information about MCPS programs and activities, plus emergency information. MCPS QuickNotes is offered in seven languages: English, Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Amharic. Visit news.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/ to read the latest edition.
Changes to the MCPS Curriculum
MCPS is making changes to the K–8 curriculum for English and mathematics. The district is in the process of evaluating and selecting new curriculum and instructional materials and during the next several months, MCPS will work with staff, members of the community, and other partners to gather feedback and outline the selection process. Parents/guardians and members of the community can ask questions and share their thoughts on the process by completing a brief survey. Please visit the website for regular updates on the curriculum selection process. You can read the message from the chief academic officer here.
Student Rights and Responsibilities and Code of Conduct
In order to ensure a safe, productive, and positive learning environment, MCPS publishes two documents that help students, parents/guardians, and staff understand school rules and regulations; the expectations for student conduct; and the possible consequences for violating the rules. A Student’s Guide to Rights and Responsibilities is an overview of the rights and responsibilities students enjoy in MCPS and a summary of the laws and regulations that affect students. The MCPS Code of Conduct provides an overview of discipline procedures and protocols and the range of consequences students could face for violating various policies, regulations, and rules. The guide also discusses the MCPS philosophy to discipline. All families received a copy of these documents and are encouraged to review them with your child(ren). The documents are available online. They can be found here:
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/students/rights/.
Saturday School
The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc. kicks off its 2018–2019 season of Saturday School on Saturday, September 15. Saturday School is a low-cost tutoring and mentoring program that provides a sixth day of learning and helps MCPS students enhance their mastery of core academic subjects. Students who are in need of additional academic support can attend sessions at 1 of 12 locations across Montgomery County. Classes begin on Saturday, September 15 and will end in May. Registration is $40 for students who receive Free and Reduced-price Meals System (FARMS) services and $85 for non-FARMS students. For more information visit George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy.
New Season of Homework Hotline Live!
For 33 years, Homework Hotline Live (HHL) has helped tens of thousands of students in kindergarten through Grade 12 by offering free after-school homework help from MCPS teachers. HHL uses the web, a mobile app, and cable TV to offer students live one-on-one homework help. When HHL is on TV, students can telephone in questions and see and hear the teachers while working through problems together.
RMS Parents Information
Information from RMS will be shared and updated on this page of the Ridgeview Website. Please return to this site frequently for the most current information.