James Allrich Adds Another Feather in His Cap, and More Good News

James Allrich with some of his Argyle staff

James Allrich, principal at Argyle Middle School, was named the 2023 Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP). He will now move on for consideration as Principal of the Year from the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Earlier this year, Allrich was named this year’s recipient of the Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision.

African American Students Honored During Iron Sharpens Iron Event

About 50 African American male students were honored during the Iron Sharpens Iron leadership event on May 19 at Francis Scott Key Middle School. The event’s keynote speaker was Dr. Daryl Howard, an instructional specialist with the Equity Initiatives Unit who has a passion for enlightening young people and supporting male educators of color.

Francis Scott Key Middle School received a grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to support young men of color to develop skills that would help ensure success academically, socially and emotionally. Throughout the year, students learned leadership skills and had opportunities to complete community service, which included beautification projects, putting food baskets together and coordinating toy drives during the holidays, and sorting and organizing items at A Wider Circle.

The student honorees were:

Mohammad-Salman Abubakar
Daniel Acevedo
Darryl Ako
Antonio Billingslea
Emmanuel Boly
Karl Charles
Joshua Chase
Jamir Deyo
Tristian Dukes
Oluwanifemi Egbetayo
Dayon Elliott
Francis Eyo
Addison Fogo
Josue Fotsing
Ariel Gapinsi Fokam
Fitsum Gebreyohannes
Ziyon Gladden
Adipta Gomes|
Tonmoy Gomes
Allegresse Goy-Moumbele
Christopher Granados Galvez
Jahad Hammond
Aaron Harris
Patrick Hinds
Hakim Jabbie
Chad Kontosis
Chase Kontosis
Nathaniel Kutato
Tyler Lawerence
Vaughn Leach
Jahn Mensah
Moore  Maxwell
King Nebo
Zakaria Omar
Yahir Ortega
Dante Payne
Arez Phillips
Deshawn Ramsey
Edward Ransom
Josue Rauda
Abraham Raymond
Remy Hayden
Bryan Rivera Rivera
Juan Roach
Rozario Ronald
Rahul Sheth
Makan Sissoko
Mickias Tilahun
Wilson Tiokeng-Zebaze
Ja’hmir Walker
Marcus Whitfield
Mustapha Willan
Joseph Yiheyis

Former NFL Player Visits Takoma Park Students

Former professional football player Riki Ellison talks to students at Takoma Park Middle School.

Riki Ellison, a former NFL football player for the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders who has won three Super Bowls, visited Takoma Park Middle School recently. He is also the founder of the Youth Impact Program (YIP) for disadvantaged and at-risk adolescent boys. YIP partners with universities, the U.S. Marine Corps and local NFL teams.

Ellison spoke with sixth to eighth grade boys about his football career and the YIP. His motivational talk discussed how hard work equals success, as well as how to make positive choices.

“Keeping It Safe” PSA Contest Winners Announced

Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and the Montgomery County Police Department have announced the high school and middle school winners of the 2021-2022 “Keeping it Safe Coalition” student video contest. The annual contest encouraged teams from Montgomery County schools to create 30-second public service announcements to educate young people about the risks of under-21 alcohol use.

The winning videos can be seen here.

The high school award winners are:

• First Place: Winston Churchill High School. Students Ida Chen and Isar Uslu will receive a $1,000 prize.
• Second Place: Damascus High School. Students Helen Andino Carranza and Brandon Lopez-Ventura, with the collaboration of Jayson Andino Carranza from John T. Baker Middle School, will receive a $500 prize.
• Third Place: Northwood High School. Student Hailie Clark with sponsoring teacher Iris Schwarz will receive a $350 prize.
• Honorable Mention: Quince Orchard High School will receive a $100 prize.

The middle school award winners are:

• First Place: Briggs Chaney Middle School will receive a $500 prize.
• Second Place: Westland Middle School. Students Alana Anantham, Noa Geller and Celia Markowitz, with the collaboration of Asher Anantham from Montgomery Blair High School, will receive a $300 prize.
• Third Place: Hallie Wells Middle School. Students Tia Daher and Hannah Matthew will receive a $250 prize.
• Honorable Mention: Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. Student Saesha Dhote with sponsoring teacher Lisa Wroblewski, will receive a $100 prize.

For the first time, Travel Television, a member of the Keeping It Safe Coalition, sponsored the Most Popular video award for high school and middle school participants. The award recognized the video with the most online views and “likes.” The most popular video for high schools and middle schools is:

• Paint Branch High School. Students Kwabena Appiah, Andres De La O Zelaya and James Abraham. They will receive $150.

In this year’s contest, 75 videos were submitted from 38 schools.

John Poole Middle School Wins Snowplow Naming Contest

John Poole Middle School won the first-ever Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) ‘Paint the Plow’ middle school snowplow naming contest. The winning design had a comic theme and featured the words “Kaplow.”

Teams from 14 MCPS middle schools submitted entries. Snowplows and paint supplies were delivered by MCDOT to each school and the student teams had four days to name and decorate their snowplows.

The John Poole team was awarded $300 for first place. Second place went to Kingsview Middle School for its decorated snowplow, “Melted.” They won $200. Third place went to Eastern Middle School for its decorated snowplow, “Be Transformed.” They won $100.

The decorated plows will be part of the MCDOT fleet that will be clearing snow from streets this winter.

MCPS In the News

Argyle Principal, James Allrich, Named MDMASSP Principal of the Year

Northwood High student explores humor’s role in processing trauma in winning podcast

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School girls lacrosse team shatters record, heads to state championship

50 Years After Title IX, Springbrook’s New Varsity Boys’ Basketball Head Coach Blazing New Trail