MCPS to Host Mental Wellness Resource Fair on Oct. 27

The Montgomery County Board of Education named October 2018, Mental Health and Wellness Awareness Month in Montgomery County Public Schools. Supporting the mental health and wellness of all students and staff is critical for student success.

To increase focus on this important issue, MCPS held a kickoff day for MCPS Mental Health and Wellness Awareness Month on Oct. 16.

MCPS is also hosting a Mental Health Fair on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Julius West Middle School. Students, staff members and the community can learn more about community and school resources that support students’ physical, social, and psychological well-being. The event will include a student panel discussing mental health and wellness topics from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; community and governmental organization tables with information and resources for students, parents/guardians, and staff; and breakout sessions focused on key topics of mental health and wellness from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

More information and RSVP

Sign Up for the 2018 School-Based Flu Vaccine Clinics

The 2018 flu season is upon us. There are simple steps you and your child can take to stay healthy and help prevent the flu. That includes getting a yearly flu vaccine.

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services will conduct free injectable flu vaccine clinics on Nov. 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. for children 18 and under at John F. Kennedy, Northwest and Rockville high schools. These clinics will be open to any school-aged child.

The clinics are free, but registration is required due to limited vaccine supplies. For more information, visit the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services website.

Here are some additional steps that you and your family can take to help prevent the spread of the flu and other seasonal illnesses:

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. MCPS-approved hand sanitizer dispensers are available for use at various locations throughout schools (e.g., near the cafeteria or all-purpose room, near the main office).
2. When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve or a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to minimize the chance for infection.
4. Stay home from work and school if symptoms develop such as fever, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, headache and body aches.
5. If you have concerns about the health of your child, please contact your physician immediately or, in an emergency, dial 911.

Additional flu prevention information can be found at the following websites:

Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm

Montgomery County http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/resident/flu.html

NAACP Parents’ Council to Hold Kickoff Meeting Oct. 22

The NAACP Parents’ Council kickoff meeting will be held from 5–8:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 22 at Richard Montgomery High School. This event will bring together parents, MCPS teachers and principals to share ideas on cultivating parent engagement and promoting student achievement.

Participants will attend breakout sessions focused on the topics of racial equity, restorative justice and implicit bias and building cross cultural relationships.  Catherine E. Lhamon, the chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, will be the keynote speaker.

NAACP Parents’ Council

National Hispanic College Fair Set for Nov. 8

The National Hispanic College Fair (NHCF) will be held on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018 at the Bohrer Park Community Center in Gaithersburg.  This annual event sponsored by NHCF and MCPS for juniors and seniors is free to students.  The fair features more than 40 colleges, universities and service organizations committed to providing outreach and opportunity to all students.

MCPS students participate by attending with their schools; this event is not open to the public and is held during the school day.  Registration and permission forms for this event can be found by the College and Career Coordinator at your child’s school.

There will be two events prior to the fair that are free and open to the public on College and Career Awareness.  Both events will take place in Spanish and English.

• Wednesday, October 18 at Northwood High School Media Center and cafeteria from 6–8 p.m.
• Sunday, October 21 at Watkins Mill High School Media Center 12–2:30 p.m.

For more information, contact NHCF Coordinator Patty Maloney at Patricia_A_Maloney@mcpsmd.org or 301 353-8029 or Ms. Robyn Hart at robyn_h_hart@mcpsmd.org (240) 314-4862.