Good News

Sharon Faber, theater and ESOL teacher at Watkins Mill High School, has won a $4,900 grant from the Wolf Trap Foundation.
Faber’s project, called Theater to Heal, is focused on Emergent Multilingual Learner (EML) students. Theater to Heal will nurture a sense of community and connectedness, make students feel more anchored in the present, and let their stories and voices be heard in a culminating presentation or reflection piece. Students will take part in a drama residency or master classes that speak to their cultural perspectives and personal beliefs, such as Signature Theater’s program in Contemporary Immigration Issues. They will also attend a live professional show at a local theater, where they will see the many aspects that go into a full-fledged production and explore how to incorporate their own voices and aesthetic sense into a performance.
Faber has also been a recipient of the Montgomery County Board of Education’s Award for Distinguished Service to Public Education for her work with EML students.
Cheerleaders Take Center Stage at Annual Competition
Teams from 25 MCPS high schools tumbled, jumped and performed stunts during the 2022 cheerleading competition on Oct. 29, held at Montgomery Blair High School. Squads were judged on level of difficulty, technique and execution. The competition showcased the talent of the squads and gave fans an opportunity to support the teams. Check out a photo gallery. Winners were:
Division I
First Place: Damascus
Second Place: Winston Churchill
Third Place: Sherwood
Spirit Award: Damascus
Division II
First Place: Northwest
Second Place: Paint Branch
Third Place: Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Spirit Award: Watkins Mill
Division III
First Place: Seneca Valley
Second Place: Poolesville
Third Place: Gaithersburg
Spirit Award: Wheaton
Forest Knolls Staff Bring Math Games to the Neighborhood
Forest Knolls Elementary School held a Math in the Neighborhood event last month. Eight staff members joined Principal Jennifer Taylor-Cox to take math games to two spots in the community—the Macdonald Knolls Early Childhood Center and the parking lot of the Forest Knolls Pool—for students and their families. About 150 families played math games to build fact fluency and worked on counting skills. Families took home the materials so they could continue to play at home.
MCPS In The News
Richard Montgomery High School student wins award for project that reduces food waste