Ridgeview MS - Parents

Parents

MCPS & COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Information from MCPS will be shared and updated on this page of the Ridgeview Website. Please return to this site frequently for the most current information.

Looking for the RMS 20-21 Course Bulletin?

Click here to view the 2020-2021 Ridgeview Middle School Course Bulletin

MSDE Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey-Please complete by May 18, 2020

The MSDE is conducting a Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey of all parents/guardians of children receiving special education and related services. The survey was mailed to all parents/guardians during the week of Monday, February 3, 2020. The survey must be completed by Monday, May 18, 2020.

Click here for flyer details- English Español

Click here to access the survey online or click on the banner, linked at the bottom of our website.

Special Education Summit Set for May 2

MCPS parents, staff and community members are invited to the 7th annual Special Education Summit, Leading the Way Today, Partnering for a Better Tomorrow. The summit will be from 8:15 a.m.–1 p.m. on Saturday, May 2 at Quince Orchard High School, 15800 Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg.

The keynote speaker is Patricia Crain de Galarce, Ed.D., director of the Center for Inclusive and Special Education, and associate dean in the Graduate School of Education at Lesley University.

The Special Education Summit is free and open to parents/guardians, educators and community partners. Childcare, a light breakfast and interpretation services are provided.

More information Register to attend

MCPS Sponsored Student Contests

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month-Poster Contest

As part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Asian Pacific American Student Achievement Action Group (APASAAG) is co-sponsoring a poster contest for K–12 students.

The contest calls for students to identify a notable living or deceased Asian American, and create artwork that captures that person’s likeness and images that represent his/her contributions.

First, second and third place winners will receive cash awards for each of the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Submissions must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 1.

Along with APASAAG, the contest is being co-sponsored by the Chinese American Parents Association of Montgomery County, Calvin Li Memorial Foundation, the City of Rockville Asian Pacific American Task Force, the Association of Vietnamese Americans and the Indonesian American Association.

More information about the poster contest, click here.

Call for Entries: 2020 Girl Power Contest

In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Montgomery County Commission for Women invite residents to participate in its third annual Girl Power Contest.

County residents ages 5 to 105 are encouraged to submit a short story, poem or drawing that addresses the following question: As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote, what barriers do you think still exist for women and girls and how can you help break them?

Entries typically are short stories, poems and drawings but creativity is encouraged, and alternative creative expressive submissions are welcomed. Entries will be judged on creativity and content; entrants should refrain from using vulgarities and racist or sexist comments or images. Winning entries will be selected in four categories: elementary, middle, high school and adult.

All contest winners will be featured on the Commission for Women website and receive a swag bag, a photo with commissioners, and an invitation to be a guest of honor with other winners at a Montgomery County Commission for Women meeting.

Submissions will be accepted through March 31 and are limited to one per person. Written entries should be no more than 500 words. Entries should include full name, age, grade and school (if applicable), telephone number, and email address. Winners will be announced by April 30.

For more information and to submit contest entries online, visit the 2020 Girl Power Contest webpage. Entries also can be submitted by email to cfwinfo@montgomerycountymd.gov or mailed to: 2020 Girl Power Contest, Montgomery County Commission for Women, 21 Maryland Avenue, Suite 330, Rockville, MD 20850.

Entries submitted by minors must include written permission from a parent or guardian and be the minor’s own work. All entries become the property of the Montgomery County Commission for Women and may be used for publicity purposes.

The contest is sponsored by the Montgomery County Commission for Women, Montgomery County Public Libraries and Friends of the Library, Montgomery County. For more information, call 240-777-8300 or visit Montgomery County Commission for Women website.

Save the Date: Movie Screening, Discussion Set for April 16

Parents and members of the community are invited to a movie screening of “Resilience: The Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope” on Thursday, April 16.

The event will be held from 7–8:30 p.m. in the Northwest High School auditorium, 13501 Richter Farm Road in Germantown.

After the movie screening, there will be a panel discussion on overcoming hardship and building strength.

Presenting the 2019 Annual Report

The 2019 Annual Report to the Community is now available. The Annual Report to the Community includes highlights from the 2018-2019 school year and where we are when it comes to equity and excellence in learning, progress, achievement and opportunity. The report provides the community with information about who we are, student performance data, operational performance data, and the steps MCPS has taken to fulfill the vision and mission of MCPS. Visit this link to view the Annual Report.

Saturday Coding Class

Did you know that these coding classes began January 25th. Sign up for an Introduction to Coding! These classes are open to Elementary and Middle School students. Click here for flyer details.

Saturday School’s STEM Curiosity Academy-Spring 2020

Sign up for A STEM focused, exciting and fun, hands-on learning experience for elementary (grades 3 to 5) and middle school (grades 6 to 8) students! Classes will be offered at the Saturday School Centers at Magruder HS, Northwest HS, Rockville HS and Wheaton HS. All classes begin February 1st. To register, go to www.saturdayschool.org. Click here for flyer details.

Upcoming Meeting on the State of Education in Montgomery County-3/4/20-next meeting

Montgomery County residents are invited to participate in two upcoming meetings on the state of education in Montgomery County. The forums, hosted by councilmember Craig Rice, will provide an opportunity for community members to learn about academic readiness, career pathways, and work-based learning opportunities that take our students from prekindergarten to jobs.

The meetings will be held on Tuesday, January 28 at the Montgomery College Germantown campus and Wednesday, March 4 at Northwood High School. Dr. Smith, Montgomery College President Dr. DeRionne Pollard, and Dr. Stewart Edelstein, executive director of the Universities of Shady Grove, will participate in the conversation.

2020–2021 School Year Calendar

The Board of Education has adopted the school year calendar for the 2020–2021 school year. The traditional school year will begin on Monday, August 31, 2020, and the last day is scheduled for Wednesday, June 16, 2021. The calendar includes 182 days of instruction; a 10-day spring break; closures for planning and professional development; and an operational closure in September. Visit this link to see the calendar for all closures and early release days.

The calendar was developed to comply with closings required by state law, guidance from the state superintendent of schools regarding emergency make-up days, and early release days that are contractually required by the Montgomery County Education Association.The Board also adopted an Innovative School Year for Arcola and Roscoe R. Nix elementary schools. School will begin on Monday, July 6, 2020, for these schools.

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.

Be Safe, Be Seen Campaign Emphasizes Pedestrian Safety

MCPS is joining safety and transportation officials throughout the region to encourage everyone to exercise caution as they go to and from schools, especially during the darker hours early in the morning and in the early evening. The district has launched a Be Safe, Be Seen campaign and created Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to raise awareness around pedestrian safety. Shorter daylight hours in the fall and winter typically lead to a spike in crashes involving pedestrians. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2015, 74 percent of pedestrian fatalities nationwide occurred during the dark, dusk-till-dawn hours, with one in four occurring between the hours of 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Other pedestrian safety resources include: MCPS Safe Routes to Schools, a program that works to significantly improve safety for students who walk and bike to school, and BeStreetSmart.net, a public safety campaign of Metro, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The Be Safe, Be Seen PSAs can be seen here. The Spanish versions are available here.

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.

The Facts About the Boundary Analysis

Board of Education President Shebra L. Evans and Superintendent of Schools Jack R. Smith have sent a letter to the community to clarify misconceptions related to the MCPS Districtwide Boundary Analysis currently under way. To read the letter, visit 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 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.

MCPS All In: Equity and Achievement Framework

MCPS is committed to addressing disparities in student outcomes by closing gaps in opportunity and achievement for all students, in all classrooms, in all of our schools. The MCPS All In: Equity and Achievement Framework provides the purpose, path, and plan to ensure success for all students. For more information, visit

Be Well 365

MCPS has launched a new initiative, Be Well 365, which will address the physical, social, and psychological well-being of our students. Students perform better academically when they are healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

Be Well 365 will work to ensure that students have the necessary skills to become positive members of the school and broader community; manage their emotions; build academic and social resilience; identify and access support for themselves or a friend; peacefully resolve conflict; and make positive decisions.

The district has launched a web page with more information on each component of this initiative. You can view this webpage here.

You’ll be hearing much more about Be Well 365 as we get closer to the start of the 2019–2020 school year.

Student Service Learning Hours

Students should become involved in service activities and earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. Students can participate in a range of activities—working at a soup kitchen, cleaning up a local park, or collecting items for a clothing or food drive. All MCPS students need 75 SSL hours to graduate from high school.

Visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteercenter/ to check out the various organizations and opportunities that are already approved for SSL hours.

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.

Free Flu Clinics for MCPS Students

These clinics are free but registration is required due to limited vaccine supplies. For more information, visit this link.

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 offers parents/guardians and community members the opportunity to attend workshops that provide information, resources, tools, and tips to support their children’s success in school. The 2019 winter season of workshops has begun. You won’t want to miss sessions on mindfulness, college and career planning, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) resources and much more.

Parent Academy workshops are free. Childcare and interpretation services are provided at all sessions. A full list of courses is available on the Parent Academy website . Registration is available here.

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 34th 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

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.

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. will kick off its 2019–2020 season of Saturday School in September, (date TBD) 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.

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.

RMS Grading and Reporting Info

RMS PTSA Parents

Sign-up for the RMS PTSA either through the A to Z Connect website; or fill out this form and drop it off in the main office.

A Parent's Guide to RMS Grading and Reporting at Ridgeview Middle School

Please take a moment to review the Grading & Reporting procedures here at Ridgeview MS. For any questions, please contact your child's counselor or their grade level administrator.

A Parents Guide to Grading and Reporting at RMS

RMS PTSA INFORMATION

Information from RMS PTSA can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

www.mccpta.org

Please attend the first Ridgeview MS PTSA general meeting on Wednesday, October 16th, at 7:00 p.m., in the Media Center. We will be approving our annual 2019-2020 PTSA budget, and will also have special guest, Shannon Jiron, to present "Safe Technology and Social Media usage for middle-schoolers -- everything a middle-school parent should know!" Ms. Jiron will present promptly at 7:00 p.m. (Note: This is a change from the original meeting date of Tuesday, October 8th)

To join RMS PSTA Group please email Megan Peluso at rmsptsa@yahoo.com PTSA

Ridgeview Middle School

16600 Raven Rock Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20878

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RMS PTSA Parents

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