MCPS Develops Health Metrics Grid for Return to In-Person Instruction; Reopening Plans to Be Presented to Board of Education Nov. 6 and Nov. 10

MCPS has developed a health metrics grid for a phased-in return to in-person instruction. The grid is aligned with CDC guidelines and was developed in consultation with Montgomery County health officials. 

 In July, MCPS staff and families were informed that the district would operate in a virtual-only model through the first semester and that the decision would be reassessed in November. MCPS staff will return to the Board of Education on Nov. 6 and Nov. 10 to discuss and recommend a reopening plan for the second semester and any potential reopening before then that is aligned with health metrics. The proposed plans will also be shared with parents, students and staff. 

MCPS is committed to ensuring all students receive a high-quality education in the virtual model. The district recognizes that there are gaps in instruction and is taking a number of steps to address student achievement including: providing staff with additional professional development opportunities; modifying the curriculum to meet the needs of students; and providing before and after-school tutoring support programs. To learn more about these efforts, watch the Oct. 27 Board of Education meeting. 

MCPS will continue to thoughtfully plan and collaborate with the Board of Education, staff and the community on our reopening efforts, while keeping safety at the forefront. 

Changes to Elementary Schedule Coming Nov. 11

During the Oct. 27 Board of Education meeting, MCPS staff presented proposed changes to the elementary school schedule. These changes, which impact the Wednesday morning schedule for elementary students only, will take effect starting Nov. 11 (the start of the second marking period). These changes were made in response to feedback the district has received from staff and families on screen time, instructional blocks and teacher planning. The goal of this schedule revision is to reduce screen time, provide time for students to receive special education or related services, work on their own or in small groups, and complete assignments.

The changes are summarized below:

• The revisions to the elementary schedule only affect the Wednesday morning instructional block between 9-11:30 am. Wednesday afternoons are unchanged.
•  All students will continue to log in each Wednesday at 9 a.m, and will meet with their teacher for a 30-minute class meeting. 
• There will be two learning blocks on Wednesday mornings. Block #1 follows the class meeting and is from 9:30-10:15 a.m. During this time, students will work independently, with their teacher, or receive support or services.
• At 10:15 a.m., students will reconnect with the entire class and teacher for closure, and to get clarification on what they will be doing during Block #2.
• Block #2 is from 10:30-11:30 a.m. During the second block, students will engage in work that is either self-guided or will include support from paraeducators and related service providers.
• The lunch and wellness break will remain from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
•  Wednesday morning blocks will no longer focus on instruction in Benchmark Literacy and Eureka Math. They will include opportunities for students to engage in related content support, review and enrichment. 
• Schedules for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, as well as Wednesday afternoons, will remain unchanged.

Schools will communicate with families about the learning activities that students should complete during each block. Please look for an email from your child’s school the week of November 9 with specifics of what to expect beginning on Wednesday, November 11.

ESOL Virtual Forum Set for Nov. 4

The Board of Education Special Populations Committee is holding a virtual forum for members of the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) community. The purpose of the forum is to share critical information and supports for ESOL students. The forum is set for Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 4 – 6 p.m. The Committee wants to hear from you, please submit questions in advance at www.MCPSSubmitQuestion.org. The deadline to submit questions is Monday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. The program can be viewed in English and Spanish on MCPS-TV, Condado TV, the MCPS website and YouTube at www.youtube.com/mcpstv and www.youtube.com/mcpstvespanol . 

Board of Education to Hold Hearings on CIP and Boundary Study

The Montgomery County Board of Education will hold several public hearings on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Capital Budget, Amendments to the FY 2021-2026 Capital Improvements Program (CIP), and Somerset and Westbrook Boundary Study in November. All public hearings will be held virtually. Testimony will be accepted in written or pre-recorded video/audio formats.

Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack R. Smith released his recommended FY 2022 Capital Budget, Amendments to the FY 2021-2026 CIP and Somerset and Westbrook Boundary Study on October 26, 2020.

The public hearings will be conducted according to the following schedule:

Individuals who wish to provide input can sign up online. More information can be found here: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/community/participation.aspx

The Board of Education held its first work session on the CIP on Monday, Oct. 26. The second work session will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29. The adoption of the proposed CIP is tentatively scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19.    

Let’s Talk Careers Speaker Series Open to Secondary Students

Calling all middle school and high school students! MCPS is launching Let’s Talk Careers, a monthly live speaker series highlighting MCPS alumni from a variety of fields, such as healthcare, entrepreneurship and engineering, who will share their career journeys. The first one will be Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 10–11:30 a.m. and feature CAVA co-founders Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos and Dimitri Moshovitis.

Students can submit questions prior to the session here and live through YouTube chat.

You can watch here or on MCPS-TV (Comcast 34, Verizon 36 and RCN 89).

Let’s Talk Careers

State Board Revises Operating Calendar for Athletics

On October 26, the Maryland State Board of Education approved a revised operating calendar for interscholastic athletics for school districts operating within the current framework outlined in the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association’s (MPSSAA) Two Semester Plan. The revised calendar moves the start date for in-person seasons up from February 1, 2021 to December 7, 2020. This resolves multiple concerns with the previous operating calendar, including condensed seasons that included a two-week overlap between seasons.  

The COVID-19 Task Force for MCPS Athletics, which has been preparing for the return of in-person conditioning and skill-based activities, will review the implications of this calendar adjustment and provide recommendations to MCPS leadership for review and consideration.  MCPS will also review recommendations from the MPSSAA regarding the administration of winter sports.

MCPS will continue with operations as outlined in the R.A.I.S.E. Reimagined Framework for virtual athletics.  The return of in-person activities will occur when health metrics allow and in alignment with the plan to return students to schools.  

National Hispanic College Fair to Be Held Virtually on November 17

The National Hispanic College Fair will be held virtually from 2–6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The fair is free and open to high school students and their parents, as well as school counselors.

Students will have the opportunity to connect with colleges and universities that meet their goals; join group discussions, private chats and video chats with admissions counselors; and watch videos from college and university virtual booths.

Students can register here. More information is available here.

Virtual Career Fair to Kick-Off ACT-SO 2020-2021 Season

The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Montgomery County Maryland will kick-off the 2020-2021 season with a FREE ACT-SO Virtual Career Fair on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 starting at 2:45 p.m. Pre-registration is required. During four discussion panels — Writing, Visual and Performing Arts, STEM, and Entrepreneurship and Public Service — professionals working in a variety of careers will share insights about their responsibilities, education, and experiences to acquaint students with different career opportunities.

The Career Fair will be held via Zoom, and the links for each session are listed below:

Saturday, 10/31: Writing

2:45 PM to 4:00 PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kfuihrDgsE9fMt7BIAeOS2ajFWkysB791

Saturday, 10/31: Visual and Performing Arts  

4:15 PM to 5:30 PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkceuupjgpHdJZJdb4ul_nQOyNh7JrnuyD

Sunday, 11/1: STEM

 2:45 PM to 4:00 PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qdOCpqDwpG9W8W1pGmEmKO1DSCubXKFmd

Sunday, 11/1: Entrepreneurship and Public Service

4:15 PM to 5:30 PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvfu-oqDkuEt39__i_Z2_3n9E0uQDWBzJj

The panelists include:

•       Christopher Barclay, Photographer/Administrator, Arts on the Block
•       Fatmata Barrie, attorney, Senior Legislative Aide, Montgomery County Council
•       Stephen Bess, Poet/English professor, Montgomery College
•       Kelly Chauncey, Artistic Director, Unbreakable Art Foundation
•       Alfred L. Chester, Director of Clinical Quality and Compliance at AstraZeneca
•       Nancy Chiles-Shafer, Epidemiologist, Gerontologist, NIH
•       Rashid Darden, Award-winning writer
•       Matthew Goins, Entrepreneur, PUZZLE HUDDLE
•       Dennis Hansford, Office of Science and Technology, NOAA
•       Patricia Hopkins, Instrumental Music
•       Dr. Monique Johnson, Research Chemist, NIST
•       Mark Joyeux, Vocals, Director, Talent Group for Children
•       Vanessa Levros-Hall, International Association for Blacks in Dance
•       Jordan Lindsey, Journalist, Montgomery County Media
•       Jazmyn McKoy, Founder, Hearts of Tabitha
•       Rosendo Molina, Engineer
•       Kelsey Nelson, Digital & Broadcast Host, Washington Football Team (Clarksburg HS Alum)

Winter Coat Drive Under Way

The Prekindergarten and Head Start offices are accepting donations of new coats for low income students. Hats, gloves and scarves are also needed. Coats for boys and girls in sizes 5, 6, 6x and 7 can be ordered online and delivered by mail/UPS to:

Head Start
Rocking Horse Road Center
4910 Macon Road, Room 141
Rockville, MD 20852

New coats can also be dropped off in person by contactless delivery from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Nov. 30 or Monday, Dec. 7, in the rear parking lot of Rocking Horse Road Center.

For more information, email Lisa Conlon at lisa_w_conlon@mcpsmd.org 

America Recycles Day Celebration Set for November 13

America Recycles Day is dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the U.S. Every year in mid-November, event organizers provide education sessions about recycling in their local areas. This year, the MCPS Division of Sustainability and Compliance will be joining the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection to virtually celebrate America Recycles Day at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13. 

Staff, students and parents are welcome to join the Zoom meeting to take part in the celebration. The event will discuss the importance and impact of recycling, and explain how it has contributed to American prosperity and the protection of the environment.                   

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 865 7591 1931
Passcode: 126295
To join by phone: +1 301 715 8592

Update on SAT/ACT Administration for MCPS Students

MCPS and College Board Moving Forward with November 7 SAT, Registration Closes October 27
Fee Waivers and Transportation Assistance Available for Class of 2021 Seniors

October 20, 2017 Update

SAT Update: MCPS and College Board are moving forward with plans to administer the SAT to registered students on Saturday, November 7 and Saturday, December 5. The deadline to register for the November 7 SAT is October 27, through the College Board registration here. The focus of this effort is ensuring that seniors graduating in the Class of 2021 have additional opportunities to access these college entrance examinations. SAT test centers for November 7 include: Walter Johnson, Whitman, Clarksburg, Quince Orchard, Watkins Mill, Einstein, Wheaton, Damascus, and Springbrook High Schools.

• Note on SAT support available for Class of 2021 seniors: MCPS and College Board are providing support with testing fee waivers and transportation for the November and December SAT, if needed. Grade 12 students can arrange for fee waivers and a transportation request to an MCPS test center by contacting their school counselor or college and career information coordinator.

ACT: Although large national ACT administrations in MCPS buildings are not being offered in October 2020, MCPS is administering the ACT for students who registered in October and have already approved accommodations for ACT Special Testing. More information about the difference between ACT National administrations and ACT Special Testing can be found here. Additional information about the possibility of ACT National administrations in December 2020 and February 2021 will be shared soon.

PSAT:  The PSAT is not being administered during the October testing window. College Board has announced a new PSAT date on January 26, 2021, which MCPS will be planning to offer as health and safety conditions allow. For Grade 11 students, the January PSAT administration will have the same benefits as the October PSAT/NMSQT, including eligibility for programs administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

SAT Update for Students Testing October 3

For students who have a confirmed testing ticket at a Montgomery County Public Schools test center on Saturday, October 3, specific check-in instructions and requirements by test center can be found below. Please note that some test center assignments may have recently changed by the College Board, to limit group size and promote distancing. Students should reconfirm their testing center and test admission ticket by accessing their account at the College Board. The testing ticket must indicate a confirmed testing center on October 3, 2020.

As a reminder, students will be required to wear face coverings for the duration of testing and attest to the questions found below.

SAT Update for Students Testing September 26

For students who have a confirmed test site and testing ticket in a Montgomery County Public School test center on Saturday, September 26, specific check-in instructions and requirements by test  center can be found below.

MCPS and College Board are moving forward with plans for offering the SAT to registered students on September 26 and October 3 at select MCPS test centers. For students not already registered, registration for October 3 remains open until September 22 here. In order to limit group sizes, additional test centers have been added to spread out students, which may result in students being assigned to a different test center nearby. Non-standard testing for students with approved accommodations will also be offered. These testing details, along with details for testing day and health/safety requirements, will be communicated directly by the College Board to the email address that was used for student registration. Be on the lookout for these email messages from the College Board. Test centers include: Walter Johnson, Whitman, Gaithersburg, Watkins Mill, Einstein, Blair, Northwest, Quince Orchard, Clarksburg, Seneca Valley (at Clemente or Clarksburg), Damascus, Rockville, and Paint Branch high schools. 

Important Note on ACT: Although large national ACT administrations in MCPS buildings are not being offered in September or October at this time, MCPS is currently planning to administer the ACT for students with already approved accommodations. This small group testing will take place during the approved October special testing window. Parents of students with approved accommodations for special testing should contact the counseling department at their child’s school to make arrangements with the testing coordinator for testing to take place outside of the school day.

Reminder: Board Committee to Host Community Conversation on Virtual Learning

The Board of Education’s Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Committee is hosting a community conversation about virtual learning on Monday, Oct. 19 from 6–7:30 p.m.

You can watch at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org, youtube.com/mcpstv or on MCPS-TV (Comcast 33, Verizon 36 and RCN 88). You can submit questions in advance at www.mcpssubmitquestion.org. 

WXY to Release Interactive Boundary Tool

The second phase of the Districtwide Boundary Analysis will focus on engagement with an Interactive Boundary Explorer tool, which will provide MCPS stakeholders a deeper look and better understanding of school boundaries. The tool has been developed by WXY Studios (WXY) as part of its ongoing work with the district to provide a comprehensive assessment of MCPS boundaries by analyzing various data points.

Released in March, an interim report highlighted key aspects of the data analysis in utilization, diversity and proximity. The report also includes boundary benchmarking data from other school districts and a summary of community engagement.

The interactive tool will be shared in two public webinars—on Tuesday, Oct. 20 and Thursday, Oct. 22. Both webinars will be held from 7–8:30 p.m. A virtual community meeting will also be held from 7–9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, for WXY and MCPS leadership to receive feedback from the public on the tool. All meetings will be held via Zoom and will require advance registration. Those who cannot attend will be able to watch the recorded webinar after the event is over.

Register for the engagement events (LINK)

WXY will also hold engagement sessions with school principals and students, as well as smaller group meetings with harder-to-reach communities.

Learn more about the Boundary Analysis

COVID-19 Rent Relief Program for County Residents

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is providing short-term rental assistance to eligible families that have experienced financial loss due to the COVID-19. Pandemic. While funds are available, the program will provide up to $4,000 to eligible households to cover the cost for back rent (arrears) and/or a rent credit for future months.  The program is funded through a $20 million supplemental appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

You can learn more and apply for the rent relief program at this website. 

Don’t Miss Mental Health Awareness Week October 26–31

Let’s end the stigma. Let’s talk about mental health.

MCPS will host Mental Health Awareness Week from October 26–31 with a weeklong expo, including Zoom workshops, a resource fair, breakout sessions and question-and-answer session. Some workshops will be available in multiple languages. All workshops and activities throughout the week will be held virtually.

The free event, hosted by MCPS and the Montgomery County School Psychologists’ Association, is open to staff, students and their families.

The week kicks off at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 with keynote speaker Jill Haak Bohnenkamp, an assistant professor and core faculty member at the National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Each day will feature breakout sessions and video presentations on a variety of topics. Topics include finding happiness during COVID-19; social media; suicide awareness and prevention; healthy living; dealing with change; the impact of exercise; cybercivility and cybersafety; and dating violence.

The week culminates on Saturday, Oct. 31 with a live virtual resource fair and a question-and-answer webinar. All community members are invited to join this Zoom event from noon to 1:30 p.m. A full schedule of the week’s events is available here.

Watch the promo video

Many community and governmental organizations will provide information during the resource fair. Among them: Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services; EveryMind; RAP/The Landing; Family Services, Inc.; BTheOne; Montgomery County Crisis Center; Caring Matters and Our Minds Matter.

If MCPS students virtually participate in Mental Health Awareness activities, they may earn up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for advocacy and for raising awareness about the important topics covered. Students will be asked to listen to the sessions and complete a Google form, reflecting on the information they learned and how they will use that information to benefit their school community.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Recording of Let’s Talk Respect Town Hall Now Available

If you missed the Let’s Talk Respect: Preventing Sexual Harassment and Assault Town Hall on Oct. 13, you can watch the recording here. 

MCPS collaborated with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Victim Assistance Sexual Assault Program, Choose Respect Montgomery, Coaching Boys Into Men, EveryMind and Identity, Inc. to provide a forum for students and the community to:

• Acknowledge the student stories shared on social media
• Share MCPS response and updates (immediate, short-term and long-term actions)
• Provide an anonymous, safe space for students to ask questions
• Collect student feedback on ways to better support students who are victimized by sexual assault and harassment
• Connect students and families to appropriate resources

Panelists included:

• Lisette Dardon, Site Manager, Watkins Mill High School Wellness Center, Identity, Inc.
• Captain Amy Daum, Director, Montgomery County Police Department Special Victims Unit
• Debbie Feinstein, Chief of the Special Victims Unit, Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office
• Rachel Larkin, Director, Crisis Prevention and Intervention, EveryMind
• Jason Lomax, Teacher and Varsity Football Coach, Rockville High School
• Rafiah Prince, Victim Assistance Sexual Assault Program
• Ed Clarke, Chief Safety Officer for MCPS
• Greg Edmundson, Director, Student Welfare and Compliance
• Ed Reed, Resource Counselor, Robert Frost Middle School

Choose Respect Video PSA Contest Accepting Entries

The 11th Annual Choose Respect Montgomery video PSA contest is now accepting entries. This contest challenges middle and high school students to create an original 50-to-70-second public service announcement video to promote awareness of dating abuse and domestic violence among teens. The contest is open to students in sixth through 12th grades, and students may enter on their own or as a group. The top three videos win cash prizes.

More information can be found here.

Changes Made to the 2020-2021 School Year Calendar

At its October 6 business meeting, the Board of Education approved the following adjustments to the calendar. Approved changes include:

• A shift of early release days on the Traditional School Year Calendar  from November 11 and 12 to the week of Thanksgiving. Early release days will now be on November 23 and 24, 2020. 
• The same two early release days—November 23 and 24—were also added to the Innovative School Year Calendar.
• A professional day for teachers was added on November 4, based on feedback from staff that more professional development and planning time is needed. This will be a non-instructional day for students in all schools. As a reminder, schools and offices are closed on Tuesday, Nov. 3 for Election Day.

These changes result in 181 instructional days for schools that follow the traditional calendar and 209 instructional days for Innovative Calendar Schools.

View the Calendar

Resources Available to Support Students’ Mental and Emotional Health

The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing physical and social isolation can be stressful for students who do not have their typical support structures to help them. Students may feel stressed, anxious, or depressed and may not readily identify adaptive coping strategies.
School counselors and psychologists are available to virtually support students who may be having mental and emotional difficulties. Additionally, the Montgomery County Crisis Center (240-777-4000) is open 24 hours a day and staff are available to speak with families who have questions or are concerned about their child’s student’s mental and emotional state. 

Additional resources include:

• The Montgomery County Hotline (301-738-2255) is available 24 hours a day.  From 8 a.m. to midnight daily, students may text the hotline. Students also may chat with trained EveryMind staff members and volunteers from 8 a.m. to midnight daily: https://www.every-mind.org/chat/
•  Waymaking is an MCPS video series that highlights mental health and well-being resources for staff and students. Helpful episodes include:
  • #BTheOne
  • Student Concerns during Transitions
  • Montgomery County Crisis Center 
  • EveryMind Crisis Prevention and Intervention Services 
  •  Managing Stress and Anxiety for Students
  • Managing Stress during Social Distancing  

• National Association of School Psychologists

o   Preventing Youth Suicide

o   Save a Friend: Tips for Teens to Prevent Suicide 

Town Hall on Preventing Sexual Harassment and Assault Set for Oct. 13

Let’s Talk Respect: Preventing Sexual Harassment and Assault, a student-led town hall, will be held via Zoom webinar at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13. MCPS is collaborating with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Victim Assistance Sexual Assault Program, Choose Respect Montgomery, Coaching Boys Into Men, EveryMind and Identity to provide a forum for students and the community. For more information and to register http://bit.ly/RespectRSVP.

Board Committee to Host Community Conversation on Virtual Learning

The Board of Education’s Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Committee is hosting a community conversation about virtual learning on Monday, Oct. 19 from 6 – 7:30 p.m.

You can watch at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org, youtube.com/mcpstv or on MCPS-TV (Comcast 33, Verizon 36 and RCN 88). You can submit questions in advance at www.mcpssubmitquestion.org. 

Student Service Learning Opportunities Available Virtually and In-Person

Student Service Learning (SSL) hours remain a state graduation requirement for the 2020-2021 school year. MCPS students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate. Students may continue to engage in MCPS SSL opportunities, including traditional in-person opportunities and select virtual/remote opportunities that follow the temporarily amended guidelines posted on the MCPS SSL webpage (www.mcps-ssl.org). All nonprofit-hosted SSL opportunities can be found on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center website (www.montgomeryserves.org); these opportunities will be tagged with the blue MCPS SSL banner and graduation cap icon. Students may also directly access nonprofit-hosted MCPS SSL opportunities at https://bit.ly/SSLOpportunities and https://bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020. 

County Offers Free Immunizations for MCPS Students

County health officials are offering free immunizations to eligible children so that immunization requirements are met for the 2020-2021 school year. When the district returns to in-person learning, all students will be required to have immunizations up to date, and parents must submit documentation by the first day of attendance.

Immunizations for students new to MCPS and children in kindergarten through Grade 12 are available Monday through Friday, by appointment, at locations in Silver Spring and Germantown.

Appointments are available at: 

Dennis Avenue Health Center, 2000 Dennis Avenue, Silver Spring; Phone: 240-777-1050

Germantown Health Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown; Phone: 240-777-3380 

See the clinic schedule

Parents can access their child’s vaccination record online at no cost on the Maryland Department of Health’s web portal. Users can view and print official copies of vaccination records without a request to their health care provider.

More information about Maryland’s immunization requirements can be found on the Maryland Health Department’s website.

Join Us Virtually for Mental Health Awareness Week

MCPS will mark Mental Health Awareness Week from October 26–31 with a weeklong expo, including Zoom workshops, a resource fair, breakout sessions and a question-and-answer session. Some workshops will be available in multiple languages. All workshops and activities throughout the week will be held virtually.

The free event, hosted by MCPS and the Montgomery County Psychologists’ Association, is open to staff, students and their families.

The week kicks off on Monday, Oct. 26 with keynote speaker Jill Haak Bohnenkamp, an assistant professor and core faculty member at the National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Each day will feature breakout sessions on a variety of topics. Topics will include coping with COVID-19; suicide awareness and prevention; healthy living; dealing with change; the impact of exercise; cybercivility and cybersafety; and domestic violence.

The week culminates on Saturday, Oct. 31 with a live virtual resource fair and a question-and-answer webinar.

 Many community and governmental organizations will provide information during the resource fair. Among them: Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services; EveryMind; RAP/The Landing; Family Services, Inc.; BTheOne; Montgomery County Crisis Center; Caring Matters and Our Minds Matter.

If students virtually participate in Mental Health Awareness activities, they may earn up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for advocacy and for raising awareness about the important topics covered. Students will be asked to listen to the sessions and complete a Google form, reflecting on the information they learned and how they will use that information to benefit their school community.

Stay tuned; additional details will be published in a future QuickNotes.

Black and Brown Coalition to Host Virtual Conversation

The Black and Brown Coalition for Education Equity and Excellence is hosting a virtual forum at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15.
The forum, Seeking Accountability on Promises Made to Black and Brown Children, will discuss what progress has been made on the pledge to achieve educational and racial equity for Black and Brown students. The event will also address the impact of virtual learning and challenges regarding the recovery of learning loss.
You can register for the free event here.

Student Engagement Website Features Information on Leadership, Service and Extracurricular Activities

MCPS students can engage and access several different experiences through leadership, service and extracurricular activities. Students are encouraged to participate at the school level. The new student engagement website includes information for additional learning experiences and information, which are often student-led. Be sure to check https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/student-engagement/  frequently as content and information will be updated throughout the school year.

Parent Academy Holding To-Go Virtual Webinars, Chats and Workshops

Families and students can stay engaged throughout the school year with Parent Academy TO GO. Parent Academy TO GO is a series of virtual webinars for families to watch at home. In addition, there are several virtual chats and workshops coming up that may be helpful for families. Among them:

Monday, Oct. 12, Mental Health Monday Virtual Chat: Minimizing Meltdowns at Home, 6-6:45 p.m.

Join us for a virtual chat focused on compassion and grace. We will discuss crisis prevention and intervention strategies to help minimize meltdowns and support your child’s social/emotional needs during a dual pandemic. Recommended for families of elementary, middle and high school students. Facilitated by a nationally certified school psychologist

Tuesday, Oct. 13, Virtual Chat, 6-7 p.m.

(Facilitated in English, Spanish, Amharic, French, Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean)

Online learning is very challenging for some of our MCPS families. This virtual chat is a collaborative, community event built on the five primary languages in MCPS and created to listen to the technology needs of parents. It will create solutions with parents in real time so they can learn more about how to help their children online, and how to solve problems when the technology stops. Presented by MCPS staff and recommended for families of elementary, middle and high school students

Monday, Oct. 19, Mental Health Monday Virtual Workshop: An Overview of Social-Emotional Learning, 6-7 p.m.

Join us for an overview of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). SEL is a process through which adults and children deepen their expertise in understanding and managing emotions and learning how they impact a person’s choices, relationships and outlook in life. MCPS staff will discuss and answer questions regarding SEL and how it impacts your child. Recommended for families of elementary, middle and high school students. Presented by MCPS staff

You can find the complete list of virtual workshops, chats and webinars on the Parent Academy website https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/. 

Reminder: Share Your Feedback on Virtual Learning

Montgomery County Public Schools is soliciting feedback from parents, students and staff as part of ongoing efforts to ensure students, staff and families have the resources and support needed to successfully engage in virtual learning. Please complete this short parent/guardian survey to share your experiences so far this fall. Your responses are confidential and will be reported together with the responses from other families. A student identification number is required to login and complete the survey to ensure that only MCPS parents complete the survey. The survey closes Friday, Sept. 25. 

MCCPTA to Host Community Conversation Sept. 26

The Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations is hosting a community conversation on virtual learning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.This event is free and will provide parents and members of the community with an opportunity to share ideas, solutions and resources. Register here.

Chromebook Obligations

MCPS families are responsible for damage or loss of MCPS-issued Chromebooks. For information regarding repair, replacement and costs, please see the document here.

MCPS to Provide Triple Meal Service on Fridays

Starting tomorrow, Sept. 18, MCPS is increasing to a triple meal service on Fridays to help address food insecurity for MCPS students over the weekend. The district will also continue to partner with local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, county government agencies, and others to provide food and other critical resources to the community. Additionally, families are encouraged to visit Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Food Resource page for additional resources. Visit the MCPS Meal Service webpage for more information.

How Is Virtual Learning Going? Tell Us!

MCPS is seeking feedback on virtual learning!

Today, Sept. 17, be on the lookout for a survey asking about your experiences so far during this fall.

There will be separate surveys for staff, students and parents.

Information on Grading and Attendance

MCPS has returned to a more standardized and traditional grading system for the fall semester. This means that students will be receiving letter grades based on the assignments they complete and turn in to their teachers. At the secondary level, students can expect at least one graded assignment in each class each week, while there may be more in some courses. These graded assignments will be entered into the gradebook, which students/parents can monitor in the StudentVue/ParentVUE portal. As in a traditional year, these graded assignments (at least 9-12 assignments in a marking period) will be used to calculate a marking period grade for the report card. Marking period grades will then be used to calculate semester or end-of-year grades. More information on secondary grading and reporting can be found here. If you have questions, please contact your child’s teacher.

At the elementary level, teachers will continue to report grades each marking period for the measurement topics that match that marking period’s instruction. Teachers will use letter grades (A,B,C,D) for grades 2-5 and P,I,N  descriptors for grades K-1 to report grades on the report card, by measurement topic. More information on the elementary report card can be found here. If you have questions, please contact your child’s teacher.

Attendance and Engagement

Students are expected to attend all classes in which they are enrolled. The Maryland State Department of Education has issued an expectation to school districts that daily attendance will be recorded. A student will be marked present for a class in one of three ways: 

• Student attends a live virtual learning class via Zoom 
• Student completes an attendance check-in on myMCPS Classroom during a live or recorded class 
• Student engages in an online discussion thread on myMCPS Classroom during a live or recorded class
  

All attendance will be recorded in the new student information system and will be visible to parents through the parent portal. In addition, ConnectEd calls and other parent outreach will occur regularly to inform parents if their child has not attended. Parents/guardians must submit a note, phone call or email to the attendance secretary if a student will be absent for a full or partial school day. All absences for which no documentation is received will be listed as unexcused. We realize that some students are unable to participate in live instruction for a variety of reasons. If this is the case, any student who misses a class has the option to watch a recorded lesson, engage in an online discussion thread or complete follow-up work designed by the teacher. Once this is done, students/families can complete the Live Virtual Lesson Absence Form, the student will receive credit for the class and will not be marked absent. The Live Virtual Lesson Absence Form is available on every school website. Recordings of the lessons not only allow students flexibility for attendance, but also are a resource for students to review material presented during the day. Please note that recordings of instruction will be deleted 72 hours after the lesson is posted.  

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

The Board of Education has proclaimed September 15 to October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month. Throughout the month, MCPS schools will be celebrating the unique culture and traditions of students, teachers, staff and community members who trace their roots to Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

Hispanics and Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in MCPS, with 32 percent of the student population, representing 21 Spanish-speaking countries.

We want all MCPS students, parents and staff to celebrate with us! Share a picture that represents your Hispanic/Latinx heritage and MCPS may feature it in a virtual gallery. Email pictures to pio@mcpsmd.org. Watch this video for more information.

Athletics Kicks Off Its First Semester of Virtual Sports

MCPS Athletics has kicked off its virtual interscholastic sports seasons for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year.

The fall high school season began on Monday, Sept. 14, and will run through Friday, Oct. 16. The high school fall sports offerings are: cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf (coed), boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, girls’ volleyball and team handball. The fall middle school season will begin Tuesday, Sept. 22, and run through Thursday, Oct. 8. Middle school fall sport offerings include cross country, and boys’ and girls’ softball.

As part of the MCPS interscholastic athletics program, all students must complete the online registration process. Registration links arel be posted on school websites and on the Athletics webpage.

As a reminder, all secondary students are academically eligible to participate in athletics during the 2020–2021 school year. Athletic programs will be open to all students; there will be no “cuts” or team selection process. Students and parents/guardians who have difficulty with registration should contact the athletics specialist or athletic coordinator at their school.

Parent Academy Launches To-Go Virtual Webinars

Families and students can stay engaged throughout the school year with Parent Academy TO GO. Parent Academy TO GO is a series of virtual webinars for families to watch at home.

 September and October webinars are listed below and are also available on the Parent Academy website. Registration for the September webinars is available here.

September

 Improving Family Life While Working From Home

Thursday, Sept. 17, from 6-7 p.m.

Learn more

Just Breathe: Mental Health Maintenance for Students

Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6-7 p.m.

Learn more

Show Me The Money

Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 6-7 p.m.

Learn more

 Supporting LGBTQ Youth

Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 6-7 p.m.

Learn more

October

 Using Technology: A Family Approach to Distance Learning

Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6-7 p.m.

An Overview of the ACES Program

Monday, Oct. 5, from 6-7 p.m.

Destination College: Understanding Financial Aid

Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 6-7 p.m.

How to Maintain Positive Parent-Child Relationships During Covid-19

Thursday, Oct. 8, from 6-7 p.m.

 Leadership Qualities that Result in Positive Student Outcomes

Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 6-7 p.m.

Online Resources for Families During Distance Learning

Thursday, Oct. 15, from 6-7 p.m.

 Creative Students and the College Application Process

Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 6-7 p.m.

Special Education at A Glance

Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 6-7 p.m.

Student-Led Free Tutoring Available to High Schoolers

Do you know a high school student needing help with science, English, social studies or a foreign language this school year?

After a successful summer run, Youth Creating Change (YCC) will restart its tutoring program on Monday, Sept. 14. The free program is open to all high school students; the tutors are student leaders who are hosting weekly Zoom meetings. Students can see the schedule and sign up here. YCC is partnering with Pineapple Tutoring, which is affiliated with MCR SGA.

Naviance Moves to Google Single Sign-On

Starting the week of Sept. 21, students and staff will have an easier way to sign in to Naviance, a web-based program that supports middle and high school students in exploring and developing post-secondary plans. 

Naviance is moving to a Google Single Sign-On that will allow students and staff to access the platform through their MCPS Google accounts. They will no longer need to use a separate username and password. 

All users will have access to Naviance via their Google Waffle, which is located in the top right-hand corner of the Chrome browser. Students can also continue to access Naviance through their student log-in page.

Naviance is always available to middle and high school students and they’re encouraged to access it during virtual learning to explore colleges and careers, as well as participate in academic planning. 

Administration of MAP Assessment for Grades K-12

Due to the emergency closure of school buildings last spring, the Maryland State Department of Education is requiring all local school districts to administer a fall diagnostic assessment in math and literacy to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The diagnostic assessment is designed to inform instruction, recovery and intervention and account for learning loss, as well as determine the present performance levels of students on math and literacy standards. MCPS will administer the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment as the fall diagnostic.  We will be administering the virtual MAP assessment during September and early October. Schools will have flexibility in scheduling the specific days and times for administration. Your child’s school will inform you of the specific testing day(s)/time(s). At the secondary level, Wednesdays will likely be used as one of the options for MAP administration.The MAP assessment has been administered at both the elementary and middle school levels for the past several years. While the administration of MAP will be new at the high school level, many students will be familiar with taking it when they were in middle school. 

Additionally, each school district in the state of Maryland is required to conduct universal screening of all Kindergarten and Grade 1 students to determine potential for reading difficulties. For MCPS, this assessment is the MAP Reading Fluency (MAP-RF).

A summary of the assessments by grade level is below:

MCPS will be using the results from the MAP assessment in literacy and mathematics to monitor student progress throughout the school year, as well as progress from one school year to the next. Teachers and school staff use MAP scores to inform instruction and personalize learning, as well as measure the performance and growth of students. MAP scores are one data point of many that teachers use to inform teaching and learning on a whole class, small group and individual basis. It is important for parents/guardians to limit their assistance to helping students logon and set up for the assessment. School staff will be available to help students navigate other issues as they take the assessment. As the assessment results are used to determine what students’ areas of academic strength and need are, it is not helpful to students to have help from others answering questions. The assessment is not an achievement-focused one, but rather a tool for school staff to assess how best to plan and support students. 

As an overview to understand the MAP assessment, an overview of how MAP works, what it measures and common questions,  check out this resource from NWEA, the creator of the MAP assessment. 

You will be receiving more information and resources from your child’s school on the administration of the MAP assessment. 

MCPS to Resume Free Meal Service for All County Children and Students

MCPS will resume providing free breakfast and lunch to all county children and enrolled MCPS students. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the waivers that allowed school systems to provide free meals to students during the summer. A student identification number will not be required, however, names will be taken for each child.

Meal service is continuing at 74 sites. Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, MCPS will reinstate the following mobile sites:

School Bus Service Sites
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (double meals) and Friday at the following locations:
Pembridge/Amherst Apartments, 2315 Blueridge Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20902
Nob Hill Apartments, 9120 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, MD 20903
Woodmont Apartments, 1001 Rockville Pike #503, Rockville, MD 20852
Forest Park Apartments, 9316 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, MD 20903

Wednesdays only
12 – 1 p.m.

Crossroads Farmers’ Market, Anne Street at University Blvd. East in Takoma Park, MD, one block west of New Hampshire Avenue (next to Megamart)

Meet SMOB Nick Asante

Nick Asante, senior at Richard Montgomery High School, is the 43rd Montgomery County Student Member of the Board of Education. In this Meet the Board of Education video, he shares his path to becoming an education advocate, discusses his top priorities, and highlights an educator who inspired him. Watch the video and read a message from Mr. Asante.

Google Translate Available on MCPS School Sites

All school websites and many MCPS central office sites now have the Google translate feature included at the top of the page. Families in need of information from these webpages in different languages can use this feature, which helps ensure all MCPS families can receive critical information from the district and their school community. On webpages that include the Google translate feature, you can find it in the upper right hand corner of the page.

Important Update: MCPS to Resume Free Meal Service for All County Children and Students

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the waivers that allow school systems to provide free meals to students during the summer months. MCPS will resume providing free breakfast and lunch to all county children and enrolled MCPS students.  A student identification number will not be required, however, names will be taken for each child.

Meal service will continue at 74 sites.  Beginning Tuesday, September 8, MCPS will reinstate the following mobile sites:

School Bus Service Sites:
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (double meals) and Friday at the following locations:

Pembridge/Amherst Apartments

Nob Hill Apartments

Woodmont Apartments

Forest Park Apartments

Wednesdays only:
12 – 1 p.m.

Crossroads Farmers’ Market

Important Update on Technology Platforms

As MCPS prepares to implement a fully virtual instructional model this week, we wish all of our students, teachers, staff, and families well as they embark on a new school year. We understand that this is a challenging time in education, and we stand ready to support our students, teachers, staff, and families.

Many other districts in the United States will be starting up their virtual learning models as well. This increased demand will likely challenge many online systems including Canvas (myMCPS Classroom), Synergy, Zoom, and other educational programs including LearnZillion, StudySync, and more. MCPS staff received numerous updates from our instructional technology partners and they have all worked diligently to ramp up their capacity to ensure a smooth start to school.

We ask that staff, students, and families be patient while the many companies and service providers sort out any bumps that develop when demand jumps in the coming days. We thank you for all you do for the students of MCPS!

To help with connecting, please refer to the following guide.

Parent Guide to Virtual Classroom Recordings

Recording live instruction is critical to ensure students have the access and opportunity to learn during the COVID-19 pandemic. MCPS has received many questions from parents about  recording in virtual classrooms. To address these questions, the district has created a guide on virtual classroom recordings. The guide includes information about privacy, security and more.  

 The guide can be viewed here.

Update on Fall SAT and ACT Administrations

In order to provide Class of 2021 seniors with college entrance exam opportunities prior to the fall college application season, MCPS continues to work closely with health department officials and the College Board regarding the possibility of administering the September 26 and October 3 SAT in a small number of MCPS high school test centers. Students who are registered for the September or October SAT should remain registered while testing details and safety protocols are being developed. Registration for the October 3 SAT closes on September 4, with late registration through September 22. MCPS and the  College Board will be sending additional information to schools and registered students about testing details in the coming weeks. More information can be found here: https://pages.collegeboard.org/sat-covid-19-updates.

MCPS is also exploring the possibility of school day testing in October; future SAT administrations on November 7 and December 5; and October ACT administrations, including special testing with accommodations. Please note that these test administrations will depend on decisions by local health officials as it relates to COVID-19 and school operations. We will continue to keep you updated.

County Offers Immunizations for Children Returning to School; Immunization Requirements Remain in Effect

County health officials are offering free immunizations to eligible children so that immunization requirements are met for the 2020-2021 school year. Children returning to virtual school on Monday, Aug. 31 are required to have immunizations up to date, and parents must submit documentation by the first day of attendance.

Immunizations for students new to MCPS and children in kindergarten through Grade 12 are available Monday through Friday, by appointment, at locations in Silver Spring and Germantown.

Appointments are available at: 

Dennis Avenue Health Center, 2000 Dennis Avenue, Silver Spring; Phone: 240-777-1050

Germantown Health Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown; Phone: 240-777-3380 

There will be two additional clinics offered on Saturday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Dennis Avenue Health Center location.

Parents can access their child’s vaccination record online at no cost on the Maryland Department of Health’s web portal. Users can view and print official copies of vaccination records without a request to their health care provider.

More information about Maryland’s immunization requirements can be found on the Maryland Health Department’s website.

Chat Features in Zoom

Members of the MCPS community have asked if the Zoom Chat feature can remain on to facilitate engagement in the classroom. In response to those requests, MCPS has worked with Zoom to ensure that a chat solution is safe and secure. We can now enable this feature.  

Here are the details: 

1. Chat functionality will be turned off by default, but the teacher can turn it on for use in their classroom. 
2. Private chat between students will continue to be disabled.
3. Group chat and direct chat with the teacher will be enabled.
4. These chats are only recorded as part of normal classroom recording and deleted after 72 hours.

Absence Form for Students Available Online First Week of School

Beginning the first week of school, schools will have a link to the Live Virtual Lesson Absence Form posted on their websites. This tool is a Google form that will allow parents to report an excused absence from a live virtual lesson or lessons. The form will ask for the student’s name, student ID, and date of absence. The form will also let you report if the student made up the work  by watching a recorded lesson, completing assigned work or participating in a discussion thread. The form must be completed for each day of absence from a live virtual lesson.  Each submission will be automatically sent to school administration.

ParentVUE Webinar Now Available with Spanish Interpretation

The Getting Started with ParentVUE webinar is now available with Spanish interpretation on the MCPSTV en Español YouTube channel. The ParentVUE portal gives parents web and mobile access to grades, assignments and school communications. Activation emails and letters for the new parent portal were sent to parents this week. If you have difficulty activating your account or if you have not received instructions, contact the MCPS technology help line Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 240-740-7020.

ParentVUE Account Activation from Email Support Guide in Spanish:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X_ymV2tm4HQiQiUJK69xX29xnqQcv6b_/view 

ParentVUE Account Activation from Mailer Support Guide in Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iFVgrRF_iAEcPw0WYrw-0bXG-pJ_aG8A/view

Getting Your Child Ready for Virtual Learning Success

MCPS has prepared a checklist to help you get your child(ren) ready for virtual learning success. It includes tips from the Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations (MCCPTA) on setting up your child’s technology for school. Please be sure to sign into your ParentVue account ahead of the first day of school. If you are in need of tech support, please call 240-740-7020, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.