MCPS Annual Used Car, Computer Sale THIS WEEKEND, December 7
Students in the Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) and Information Technology Foundation (ITF) will be selling used cars and computers that they have refurbished on Saturday, December 7 at Gaithersburg High School, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Gaithersburg High School is located at 101 Education Boulevard in Gaithersburg.
The cars and computers are refurbished and reconditioned by the students as part of their classroom and lab studies. The sales provide students with the opportunity to practice their sales skills, earn Student Service Learning hours, and develop a deeper appreciation for community involvement. A list of available cars for purchase are posted online.
Maryland Report Card
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has released the results of the 2019 Accountability System, the Maryland Report Card for every school in the state of Maryland. The report card for Montgomery County Public Schools can be found here.
The Maryland Report Card is designed to evaluate school success in several ways, measuring state test results in English Language Arts and math; postsecondary readiness; progress of English learners in achieving English language proficiency; graduation rate; and students with access to and earning credit for a well-rounded curriculum. While the Maryland Report Card does provide important information about our schools, it provides a limited view of the progress of our more than 165,000 students.
To better understand how our schools are serving all of our students, MCPS has developed an Equity Accountability Model that provides a more detailed and focused report of school success. The Equity Accountability Model uses multiple and frequent measures of students’ progress to determine if a school is meeting the needs of all students, with a special emphasis on reducing and eliminating disparities in student achievement. Learn more click here.
December 10 Open House Set for Skilled Trades Professionals
The Office of Human Resources and Development (OHRD) is hosting an open house for skilled professionals interested in teaching their trades to MCPS students.
The open house will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, at Thomas Edison High School of Technology, 12501 Dalewood Drive in Silver Spring. The snow date is Thursday, December 12.
OHRD is recruiting skilled professionals in these specific areas: automotive technology; healthcare professions; cybersecurity; construction management; architecture; construction electricity; carpentry; Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC); plumbing; and law enforcement and leadership.
Attendees will learn about the system’s career readiness programs, tour the Edison facility, and speak with current trades teachers and hiring staff.
Board of Education Seeking Comment on Three Policies
The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking comment on three policies—Policy JEE, Student Transfers; Policy BOA, Legal Services, and Policy IGS, Educational Technology.
Visit this webpage to read the draft policies and to offer comment.
Comments on Policy JEE are due by Sunday, December 15, 2019. Comments on Policy BOA and Policy IGS are due by Sunday, January 12, 2020.
The Board is proposing amendments to Board Policy JEE, Student Transfers, and is seeking public comment on the amendments.
Draft Policy BOA, Legal Services, reaffirms the right of the Board of Education to retain attorneys for advice and representation in legal matters and sets forth a comprehensive plan for the efficient and effective management of legal services.
Draft Policy IGS, Educational Technology, reaffirms the Board's commitment to equitable access and opportunity for all students and staff to use technology to communicate, collaborate, create and innovate safely and responsibly in support of teaching and learning.
Virtual Conversation on New Curriculum Available Online
If you missed the Thursday, November 14 virtual conversation and presentation on the new curriculum, the entire presentation is available on the Curriculum Implementation webpage here.
The presentation discussed curriculum implementation, key highlights, and available resources and supports for parents/guardians. It focused on both the new elementary and new secondary curricula.
The webpage includes other information, such as a list of Cohort One schools and video overviews of the StudySync, LearnZillion, Eureka Math, and Benchmark Advance curricula.
Districtwide Boundary Analysis Meetings
Several meetings will be held around the county in December and January for members of the community to participate in conversations about the Districtwide Boundary Analysis.
The MCPS Districtwide Boundary Analysis is an initiative designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of Montgomery County Public Schools’ boundaries by analyzing factors such as:
School facility utilization and capacity
Student demographics
School assignment
Travel patterns
This initiative will result in an analytical assessment and a summary of the community engagement process. It will not make recommendations on potential boundary revisions.
The meetings will follow the same program. The meeting will feature brief presentations that share basic information about the issues to be discussed during the boundary analysis and, after each presentation, there will be an opportunity to provide feedback during facilitated table discussions. Each participant will also be given an opportunity to share written comments and questions, which will be collected and tallied.
The meeting dates are as follows:
Wednesday, December 11, 2019, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Julius West Middle School, 651 Great Falls Road, Rockville, Maryland
Saturday, December 14, 2019, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, White Oak Middle School, 12201 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland
Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Walter Johnson High School, 6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, Maryland
Saturday, January 11, 2020, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Boulevard East, Silver Spring, Maryland
Tuesday, January 14, 2020, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Northwest High School, 13501 Richter Farm Road, Germantown, Maryland
To learn more and RSVP visit
Join the MCPS Family Engagement Advisory Team
Parents, guardians, and members of the community are invited to apply to be a part of the newly formed MCPS Family Engagement Advisory Team. The purpose of the Family Engagement Advisory Team is to provide opportunities for MCPS families to learn about and provide input and feedback on the district’s programs and initiatives.
MCPS is committed to improving students’ school experience and academic success and ensuring equitable learning opportunities by engaging families in decision-making and program review. The Family Engagement Advisory Team will meet at least seven times during the school year and members will be required to serve a two-year term.
Applications are due by Friday, December 13. Applications are available at each school, by calling the Division of Student, Family and School Services at 240-740-4620, or online.
Nominations Now Open for Supporting Services Award
Nominations are now open for the Supporting Services Employee of the Year Award. This award recognizes a supporting services employee who extends himself/herself beyond the basic required duties and contributes to students and the school community by enhancing student learning, creating positive relationships, and making the school and/or office a better place.
Nominees must be active support professionals with a minimum of three years of service with MCPS. Parents/guardians, students, staff, and community members can nominate. The recipient will receive a $1,000 cash award. The deadline is 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 19. You can submit your nominations at here.
Know an Outstanding Teacher, Supporting Staff Member, or Principal?
Awards season has arrived! Nominations are open for several competitions to honor exceptional teachers, support staff, and principals. Visit this site to see the full list of awards and deadlines.
Winter Weather: Stay Informed
Winter weather is coming soon. MCPS offers numerous ways for parents to learn about school closures, delayed openings, and early dismissals due to inclement weather.
AlertMCPS: Subscribe to AlertMCPS
Receive text messages or emails from MCPS during weather-related emergencies and other major events that impact school system operations. Parents can also sign up to receive alerts specific to their child’s school.
MCPS homepage
MCPS cable channels: Comcast 34, Verizon 36 or RCN 89
Recorded information: 301-279-3673
Ask MCPS: 240-740-3000
Staff takes calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish.
Twitter
Local radio and TV stations
Please make sure emergency contact information on file at your child’s school is up to date.
Visit this website for more information on how to receive MCPS emergency information.
Winter Coat Drive Under Way
The MCPS Prekindergarten/Head Start Programs are collecting new winter coats for students. They are seeking donations of boys’ and girls’ coats in sizes 5, 6, 6X, 7, and 8, along with other winter wear, such as hats and gloves. Donations can be sent to Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Room 141, Rockville, Maryland 20852. For more information, contact Ms. Lisa W. Conlon, social services specialist, at 240-740-4530.
MCPS Launches United We Learn Contest
Montgomery County Public Schools is launching the fourth year of its student contest, United We Learn. This year’s contest, United We Learn: Innovative Communication Challenge, encourages students to think about how communication affects their daily lives, and how technology can be used to enhance communication.
Middle and high school students are challenged to conceptualize an Amazon Alexa Skill (or series of skills) that shares information of importance about the school district, addresses communication barriers, strengthens the home-school connection, and positively impacts the MCPS community. Alexa Skills uses voice to access and share information. The contest will take place in two phases and MCPS will publish the winning skill(s) and make it available for use.
Elementary school students are challenged to design a web page that shares information of importance about their school, addresses communication barriers, strengthens the home-school connections and positively impacts the MCPS community. The contest will take place in two phases and the winning proposals will be developed into web pages by MCPS Web Services on the students’ elementary schools’ websites. Winners will have the opportunity to participate in the development process.
To learn more about the contest, visit this site.
MCPS Community Conversation: The New Curriculum
Please join MCPS curriculum leaders to learn more about the new curriculum, its implementation, key highlights, and available resources and supports for parents/guardians. During the live presentation and virtual conversation, online questions will be answered. Questions can be submitted online and via text message now and through the duration of the live TV program. The program will be live on MCPS TV (Comcast 34/998 HD, Verizon 36, and RCN 89) and online here.
Share Your Thoughts on the Superintendent’s Recommended Capital Improvements Program
The Board of Education will hold its final public hearing on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Capital Budget and the FY 2021–2026 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and boundary studies on Wednesday, November 13. The hearing will be held in the Carver Educational Services Center auditorium, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville.
Superintendent of Schools Jack R. Smith released his $1.82 billion recommended FY 2021 Capital Budget and the FY 2021–2026 Capital Improvements Program on Friday, October 25. Visit this link to view the CIP.
The public hearing will be conducted according to the following schedule: (Please note: This schedule could change due to inclement weather. Please check the Board of Education website regularly for updates).
Wednesday, November 13 at 6:00 p.m., testimonies solely related to the Clarksburg, Northwest, and Seneca Valley Facilities and Boundary Study
Individuals who wish to provide input can sign up by contacting the Board of Education office at 240-740-3030 and can also visit the Board’s webpage here.
The Board of Education will hold its second work session on the CIP on Tuesday, November 19, at 2:00 p.m. The adoption of the proposed CIP is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, November 26.
MCPS Seeking Feedback on 2020–2021 School Year Calendar Scenarios
During the regular business meeting on Tuesday, October 8, the Board of Education reviewed calendar scenarios for the 2020–2021 school year. As a result of legislative action in last spring’s Maryland General Assembly, school districts in Maryland have the authority again to start school before Labor Day and end the school year after June 15th. As a result, MCPS has developed three calendar scenarios that reflect different start and end dates for School Year 2020–2021. To view the draft calendar scenarios, please visit this link.
All draft scenarios for the calendar include:
182 student instructional days; Full spring break; Full professional day for grading and planning at the end of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters; and
Possible make-up days both during the school year and extending the school year.
The Board is seeking feedback on the calendar options in the comment box on the website. The Board is scheduled to adopt a final school calendar later this year.