Tell Us What You Think! Districtwide Culture & Climate Survey Opens Nov. 8
Families, staff and students are invited to share feedback by participating in the upcoming Districtwide Culture and Climate Survey. Your input provides valuable insight into what is working well and where we can improve, helping guide our efforts to strengthen programs, services and supports across the district. Read more.
Ready for Winter Weather? We Are!
It’s almost that time of year again! While we are enjoying autumn leaves, winter weather will be knocking on our doors before we know it. From early morning snow assessments to midday adjustments, we want to make sure you know exactly what to expect when winter weather hits our area. Learn the color codes, stay connected and make sure you watch this year’s Snow Day Trailer as we wait for the white stuff to fall!
Now You Know: English | Spanish | Amharic | Chinese | French | Korean | Portuguese | Vietnamese
Partnering for Student Success
Parents of students in kindergarten through 8th grade will soon receive their child’s progress report and first marking period report card through ParentVue. The reports will summarize your child’s progress in reading and/or math.
Note: Some parents will also receive a letter because their children are at-risk of not meeting end-of-year academic expectations. The letter will provide strategies for supporting your child at home.
Upcoming parent-teacher conferences on Nov. 23-24 offer a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and partner with teachers on a plan for improvement. Read more.
MCPS Invites Multilingual Families to Special Events
MCPS is bringing families together for a series of six Regional Family Engagement Events designed for Emerging Multilingual Learners (EMLs) and their families. These free events are an opportunity for families to connect with school staff, learn about MCPS programs and community resources, ask questions and meet other families. Whether your child is in elementary, middle or high school, there’s something for everyone! Read more.
Deadline Extended: MCPS 8th Grade Center Programs & Middle School Magnet Consortium Applications
We know choosing the right path for high school is a big decision for your family! To give you extra time to explore options, dig into specific offerings and complete your application, the deadline to submit applications for 8th Grade Center Programs, and the Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC) process, has been extended.
New Deadline: Friday, Nov. 13
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Learn more on the Center Programs website, your central place to explore how regional and thematic programs are structured across MCPS, access resources to dive deeper into specialized career paths and get your questions answered with the FAQs. Families interested in the Middle School Magnet Consortium can find details on the MSMC website.
- Need help? Contact your middle school counselor or send an email.
- What’s a Center Program? (English | Spanish)
In Case You Missed It …
On Nov. 4, a message was sent to families regarding firearm safety, securely storing firearms and communication at home. If you missed it, you can read it here.
Learn More about the Amplify Desmos Math Curriculum at Nov. 9 Zoom Webinar
Interested in learning more about your student’s new Amplify Desmos Math curriculum? MCPS is hosting a webinar for elementary school families from 6-7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9 via Zoom.
The webinar will explore the daily lesson structure, including access to enrichment as well as Caregiver Hub resources for families, and homework. The webinar will be available in English, with live interpretation available in Spanish, French, Amharic, Chinese, Portuguese and American Sign Language.
Can’t make it? A recording will be posted on the MCPS website after the event.
Join Us for the Mental Health and Wellness Fair on Nov. 14
Be sure to join us for the Mental Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 at James Hubert Blake High School, 300 Norwood Road in Silver Spring. Free and open to staff, students and families, this event will feature workshops, a student-led forum and community partners sharing information about mental health and wellness. Participating students can earn four Student Service Learning hours.
Top of the Class: MCPS Stars Are On the Rise
U.S. News & World Report has released its 2027 Best Elementary School rankings and Best Middle School rankings within the state of Maryland. MCPS has 12 elementary schools in the top 25 and 40 elementary schools within the top 100. MCPS has five middle schools in the top 25 and 15 middle schools within the top 100. See the lists.
The Hard Truth: Infrastructure, Costs and the CIP
As MCPS works its way through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 Capital Budget proposal and amendments to the FY 2027-2032 Capital Improvements Program (CIP), the district is facing very difficult decisions. The hard truth: our facilities are aging and inefficient; costs have exploded and our bus depots are over capacity.
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Watch videos on The Hard Truth.
Get College Decisions on the Spot with Maryland Independent Colleges
On Friday, Nov. 20 and Friday, Dec. 4, MCPS will be hosting on-the-spot, instant decision events with several Maryland Independent Colleges and Universities. During these events, prospective students can meet with an admissions representative and receive an immediate decision, which may include a scholarship. Interviews will be held virtually on Zoom. Contact your child’s College & Career Navigator (CCN) with questions. Learn more.
Marking Remembrance and Reconciliation Month
During November, MCPS is partnering with the Montgomery County Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation to host a three-part webinar series on the changes that historic Black communities experienced due to urban renewal. There are other upcoming Emancipation Day events as well, and students can earn Service Learning hours for attending. Read more.
Building Welcoming Schools and Engaging Multilingual Families: Watch the Newest EdTalk
On the latest EdTalk, Board of Education President Grace Rivera-Oven and principals Alicia Deeny (Richard Montgomery High School) and Isabelle Mensah (Rolling Terrace Elementary School) talk about how their schools create welcoming environments, engage students, and maximize family involvement for multilingual students and families. Watch EdTalk | Vea Educación al Día
You can listen to all the EdTalk and Educación al Día episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Reminders
- Seeking Countywide Diving Coach: For the upcoming MCPS winter season (Nov. 14 to Feb. 10, 2027). The role includes leading three 90-minute weekly practices at county aquatic facilities (Martin Luther King Jr. Swim Center, Gaithersburg Aquatic Center and Germantown Indoor Swim Center). Interested candidates should apply through MCPS Careers. For questions, email Kathy Green.
- Bus Drivers Job Fair: Know someone interested in working for MCPS? The Division of Transportation Services is hosting a job fair from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, at the Shady Grove Transportation Depot, 16651 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville.
- Policies for Public Comment: The period to submit public comments for Board of Education policies IPD: Travel Study Programs, Field Trips and Student Organization Trips and BLB: Rules of Procedures in Appeals and Hearings, closes on Friday, Nov. 6. Submit comments: IPD | BLB.
Beyond the Bell
- *NEW* MoCo EmpowHER Passion for Action: Middle and high school students are invited to this event from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. This interactive event will feature hands-on crafting, discussions on issues impacting female students today and a conflict resolution workshop. Register.
- *NEW* KID Museum’s BioInnovation Day: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15. General admission is free to families who register through the QR code on the flyer or pre-register here.
- All middle and high schools have made final updates to their extracurricular activities lists for the school year. The list is available here.
- C-SPAN StudentCam Documentary Competition: Students in 6th through 12th grades are invited to participate in C-SPAN’s annual national video documentary StudentCam competition, which encourages them to think critically about issues that affect our communities. This year, students are being asked to create a five-to-six-minute video documentary on a topic that relates to the competition theme, “Mr. Speaker, I Rise To …”. Deadline: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027.
- Speak Up, Save A Life Video Contest: Create an original video promoting awareness of the dangers of illicit opioids, overdose and fentanyl among teens. Secondary students can earn 10 SSL hours. Videos can be submitted in English or Spanish. First place wins $5,000, 2nd place, $3,000 and 3rd place, $1,000. Deadline: Monday, Nov. 30. Submit an entry.
Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade Is Looking for Volunteers
Who doesn’t love a parade?
The annual Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade will be held starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21. The parade features marching bands (including those from James Hubert Blake, Springbrook, Northwood, Clarksburg and John F. Kennedy high schools), lively dance troupes, floats and fun inflatables. The route starts at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring, heads south on Georgia Avenue and ends at Silver Spring Avenue. The parade will be held rain or shine.
The parade is looking for volunteers, who will dress in costume, serve as unit leaders, and be inflatable and balloon handlers. Volunteers need to be available from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Students 13 years old and older can receive Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for participating. Register as a parade volunteer.
From the News Page
- Latina Legacy Conference Connects Students Through Shared Experiences and Opportunity
- Cheer Squads Showcase Skill and Spirit
Open Registrations
Read the original article at mcps
