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October 2021

Student Member of the Board of Education
Newsletter

Issue 3

Monthly Student Newsletter


In this issue…

  • Say Yes to the Test
  • SMOB Update
  • Athletics
  • MCPS Sustainability Update
  • College Conversations Recordings
  • Student Service Learning (SSL) Information & Updates
  • Show Us Your Hope!
  • Save the Dates
  • Montgomery County Youth Town Hall – October 27, 2021
  • MCPS Mental Health Awareness Week – November 8-13, 2021
  • Student Leadership & Advocacy Experiences
  • MCR-SGA
  • MoCo EmpowHER
  • MoCo PRIDE Youth

Say Yes to the Test! SSL Opportunity on Saturday, October 9

Student Member of the Board of Education
Newsletter

Calling all high school student volunteers! MCPS is hosting an event on Saturday, October 9 and we would love for you to help us make this event a success!

What: “Say Yes to the Test Day”

When: Saturday, October 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Paint Branch High School, 14121 Old Columbia Pike Burtonsville, MD 20866

Why: To get the word out to parents/guardians to consent to student COVID-19 testing

How: Share flyers, consent forms and health checklists with parents/guardians and encourage them to fill out a paper copy consent form at the event or complete a digital copy (multiple languages are available online). 

If you are able to volunteer for SSL hours, please RSVP:  https://bit.ly/SayYesVolunteer.

More Information about Testing and Consent: Free COVID-19 testing is available for all students in every school. Testing is an important strategy for keeping schools open and students and staff safe. With testing, MCPS can minimize the number of students in quarantine and minimize interruptions to program activities. Parents/guardians must give their consent for testing. Families can fill out the consent form, which is available in multiple languages online, or request paper copies from their school. There are two types of COVID-19 testing available:

  1. Rapid tests are used when a student exhibits COVID-19 symptoms during the school day. Results are available within 15-20 minutes.  
  2. Screening tests are given weekly to a random sample of students with no COVID-19 symptoms. These results are available in a few days.
  • English Flyer
  • Spanish Flyer

  • SMOB UPDATE

    Student Member of the Board of Education
Newsletter

    Hello everyone! Hana O'Looney, your SMOB here! I'll be sharing more updates in my SMOB newsletter, but I've loved meeting you all and visiting your schools throughout this first month of school. If I haven't visited you already, check out this page to view my calendar and see when I'll be stopping by.  In terms of COVID-19 updates, the Board of Education recently met to mandate full vaccinations for all teachers as well as winter and spring athletes. If you are planning on playing a winter or spring sport, you must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to participation beginning November 15. Additionally, there is now a new in-school COVID-19 rapid testing program. Now, any student who exhibits COVID-19 symptoms can get a rapid test from school health staff and get results within 15 minutes. Random weekly tests of students have begun in elementary schools and will be expanded to grades 7-12 in the coming weeks. In order to participate in either testing program, your parent or guardian must fill out the consent form, available in multiple languages online or on paper at your school. I hope you all are doing well! Please don't hesitate to DM @hanaolooney on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok or email Hana_O'Looney@mcpsmd.org with any questions. 


    Athletics Updates

    Student Member of the Board of Education
Newsletter

    The COVID-19 Athletics Information page on the MCPS Athletics website links to the most recent updates regarding the Return to R.A.I.S.E. Operations Plan for MCPS athletics. 

    Beginning Monday, Nov. 15, the start of the winter sports season, all high school and eligible middle school student-athletes will be required to submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to participation. This requirement applies to the winter and spring sports seasons, as well as all out-of-season activities conducted through MCPS Athletics. Information regarding vaccination requirements, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at the following links: Vaccination Requirements, Frequently Asked Questions - Vaccination Requirements

    High School Winter Registration 

    Beginning October 18, parents/guardians can register their student-athletes for winter  athletics using ParentVue. Helpful resources to assist parents/guardians with the on-line registration process and with securing a physical evaluation prior to the first day of fall season tryouts, November 15, 2021 can be found on the MCPS Athletics Website.

    Fall County Championships

    Cheerleading - October 30, 2021 at Montgomery Blair HS Division III - 10:30 a.m., Division II - 2:00 p.m., Division I - 5:30 p.m. 

    Cross Country - October 30, 2021 at Bohrer Park, 10:00 a.m.

    Boys’ & Girls’ Soccer - October 25, 2021, at Seneca Valley HS Boys play at 5:30 p.m., Girls play at  7:15 p.m.

    Girls Volleyball - November 4, 2021, at Quince Orchard HS at 6:00 p.m.

    Middle School The fall season is underway, schedules can be found here.

     


    MCPS Sustainability UPDATE:

    Student Member of the Board of Education
Newsletter

    On September 20, 2021 the Board’s Fiscal Management Committee heard a presentation on the development of a sustainability policy that updates the existing Policy ECA, Energy Conservation.  You can see a presentation by the Division of Sustainability with the priorities and timeline for the development of the updated policy.

    The video of the presentation is here, beginning at 1 hour 37 minutes.

    Student Service Learning (SSL) Information & Updates

    Check out these important SSL Announcements to learn more about SSL opportunities, documentation, and how to stay up to date on your SSL record and activity.


    Show Us Your Hope!

    We are looking for students and/or schools to Show Us Your Hope this year!  The Hispanic Alliance for Education (HAE), League of Educators for Asian American Progress (LEAAP), and  Montgomery County Alliance of Black School Educators (MCABSE) organizations in MCPS are working TOGETHER to uplift the voices of HOPE from our students.  We are looking for students and/or schools to submit their videos, presentations, artwork, stories, poetry, songs, music, and other representations of hope from their culture, heritage, family, background and/or identity to our "Celebrating Our Voices of Hope" virtual event on December 1, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Successful completion of the Show Us Your Hope plan will earn 10 SSL hours. Successful completion is considered the following:

  • Completion of the Show Us Your Hope Google EntryForm
  • Create a copy of, complete and upload the Show Us Your Hope Planning document (https://bit.ly/3Coy7Z2)
  • Completion of the SSL reflection at the bottom of the Show Us Your Hope Planning document (above)
  • Submission of all links to the documents, video, slides, poem, story, etc.
  • Submission of a signed and scanned MCPS  Consent and Release form. (***Mrs. Khanny Yang is your contact person.)  https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/itv/Forms/Consent-And-Release-2013.pdf
  • All submissions will be reviewed by members of HAE, LEAAP, MCABSE, and students. They will be in contact with you if your submission is selected and discuss next steps.  The name and photo associated with your Google account will be recorded when you upload files and submit this form.

     


    Save the Date!

    Montgomery County Youth Town Hall Meeting

    The Montgomery County Council will host their annual Youth Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, October 27, 2021. This virtual advocacy experience allows students to hear questions from students and answers directly from the members of the county council. This is also a student service learning (SSL) experience for advocacy. Students my RSVP and submit questions using this RSVP link: https://bit.ly/MOCOYouthTownHall2021.

    Mental Health Awareness Week

    Student Member of the Board of Education
Newsletter

    MCPS will host the annual mental Health Awareness Week from November 8-13, 2021. This week will be full of live and previously recorded presentations, a student panel, a Resource Fair and more. Student will also learn about how to participate in these experiences and earn student service learning (SSL) hours for advocacy. Mark your calendar so you don’t miss this important week!


    Student Leadership & Advocacy Experiences

    High School Student Leadership & Advocacy with MCR-SGA

    The Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association (MCR-SGA) represents all high schools from across MCPS.  Want to stay updated with MCR and receive monthly advocacy and leadership opportunities? Join our email list: https://bit.ly/MCREMAIL. As we start the school year, there are two updates to share.

    MCR-SGA Grant Application

    MCR-SGA is dedicated to offering leadership and advocacy opportunities to all students in Montgomery County. To further this mission, we are excited to re-institute the MCR Grant Program! Any student-led clubs and organizations, inside and outside of school, are eligible to apply. This grant program seeks to promote leadership, advocacy, and community involvement. All types of groups are encouraged to apply, not only political ones. If your organization fosters leadership or community involvement, please apply! Link to Application: https://bit.ly/MCRGRANTAPPLICATION

    Attention High School students! Join an MCR-SGA Task Force! MCR-SGA hosts a range of task forces where students can enter into advocacy with a lower time commitment than other advocacy opportunities. This experiences allows students to explore student centered issues, gain support and connect to resources that can turn your ideas into meaningful projects, find a way to improve your community and meet a diverse array of passionate individuals from across the county.  Task force topics are as follows:

    • Environmental Affairs
    • Mental Health
    • Gender Equity & Sexual Misconduct
    • Students' Rights
    • Cultural Awareness
    • Educational Reform

    Check out the link to all applications: linktr.ee/mcrspecialissues Interested students should review each Task Force application for descriptions on their work. Task Force Application are still open!


    Student Member of the Board of Education
Newsletter

    Middle School Student Leadership & Advocacy with MCJC-SGA

    The Montgomery County Junior Councils Student Government Association (MCJC-SGA) represents all middle schools from across MCPS.  Want to stay updated with MCJC and receive monthly advocacy and leadership opportunities? Check out the MCJC website and join the email list: https://www.mcjcsga.org/


    EmpowHER

    Student Member of the Board of Education
Newsletter

    MoCo EmpowHER is a leadership organization for middle and high school students of MCPS committed to establishing a safe, vibrant, and close-knit community for young women to unlock their full potential. We provide a safe space for open dialogue about women's issues, give leadership development for young women in our Leadership Institute, and allow female leaders to explore various career options in our monthly career focused meetings. 

    Join MoCo EmpowHER for their upcoming Women in Higher Education event on Tuesday, October 19 from 6:00-7:30 P.M.  This virtual event features female identifying panelists with achievement and careers in higher education. This is event is free to all MCPS students who are interested in hearing from graduate students, professors, program managers, and getting advice and guidance for college applications!

  • To register for this event, click here
  • To view MoCo EmpowHER’s yearlong event schedule, click here.
  • MoCo EmpowHER is also looking for small businesses run by female and non-male MCPS students or recent alumni! Businesses will be highlighted and given a chance to advertise at MoCo EmpowHER's Small Business Fair on November 16th. Email mocoempowher@gmail.com for more information; details can be found in the next days at @mocoempowher on Instagram, or on www.mocoempowher.org!

    MoCo PRIDE Youth

    Student Member of the Board of Education
Newsletter

    MoCo PRIDE Youth was founded in 2019 by a group of high school and middle school students that attend schools across Montgomery County and serves as a home to connect, learn and advocate for the LGBTQ+ student community. MoCo PRIDE Youth is hosting their October meeting virtually on Thursday, October 21 from 6-8:00 PM.  This event is for those students who are sincerely interested in the work of the organization. To learn more, stay connected and receive updates on upcoming meetings, check out: https://linktr.ee/mocopride.