5 Things to Know
Thursday, May 11
1. MCPS Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week
As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, MCPS wants to honor the amazing educators who have made an incredible impact on our students' lives. The role of a teacher is one of the most important and challenging jobs out there, and their hard work and dedication should be recognized. Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight recorded this video message expressing her appreciation for our teachers and acknowledging the extraordinary efforts they have made to ensure students receive an excellent education.
2. Board of Education Seeking Comment on School Counseling Policy
The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking comments on proposed amendments to Board Policy IJA, School Counseling, to help the public understand the programs, services and professionals responding to the social-emotional and mental health needs of students. The policy will be available for comment through Monday, Sept. 4. It has been available for comment since April 26, 2023.
The draft amendments propose—
- A name change to Policy IJA, Social-Emotional and Mental Health Programming and Services for Students, to include school psychologists, school social workers and other pupil personnel who work with school counselors to address the social-emotional and mental health needs of students.
- Teams at each school to organize available professionals to respond to students’ needs.
- Regular opportunities for students to meet with professionals at their schools.
- Communication to students and families to understand the professionals, programs and services at each school.
Translations will be posted as soon as they are available.
Submit comments on Policy IJA.
3. Annual Pride Town Hall Set May 20
The annual Pride Town Hall will be held from 8:30 a.m.-noon on Saturday, May 20 at Walter Johnson High School. All are welcome to attend.
The event will feature workshops, a keynote speaker, activities for elementary students, community building for middle and high school students, and a resource fair.
Workshops will be held on a range of topics, including:
- Interrupting Bias for Real: Intervention Techniques for Everyone
- Strategies for Supporting Children of LGBTQ+ Families
- LGBTQIA+ Affirming MCPS Policies and Forms
- Supporting Your LGBTQIA+ Children: From the Mouths of Middle Schoolers
- Inclusivity in MCPS Athletics
- Transitioning in MCPS
Walter Johnson is located at 6400 Rock Spring Drive in Bethesda.
LGBTQ+ information and resources
4. Next Health and Wellness Fair Set for May 20 at Seneca Valley High School
On Saturday, May 20, parents/guardians, students, staff and community members are invited to a Health and Wellness Fair at Seneca Valley High School from 9 a.m.–noon. Attendees can choose from multiple dozen educational sessions and activities for adults and students in English and Spanish. Topics include:
- Mental health and wellness
- Self-care and time management for students
- Emergency response
- Music Therapy
- Refusal skills & “escape hatch” planning
- Narcan training
- Sports and Wellness
- How to have tough conversations
- Zumba
- Sports and Wellness
Seneca Valley High School is located at 19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, MD 20874
5. Bright Spots This Week
Flora Singer Educator Wins Shirley Lowrie Award
Shirley Yuan, second grade teacher and team leader at Flora M. Singer Elementary School, is the winner of this year’s Shirley J. Lowrie “Thank You for Teaching” Award.
National Board Pinning Ceremony
Seventy-one MCPS educators achieved certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) in 2022, and 45 were on hand to receive their pins in a ceremony on May 8. Another 90 successfully maintained their certifications.
Seventeen Students Receive National Merit Scholarships
Seventeen MCPS students from seven high schools have been awarded National Merit $2,500 scholarships financed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.The students are among 44 high school seniors in Maryland to be selected in the latest group of National Merit Scholarship Program recipients.
The Hispanic Alliance for Education recognized some of our brightest Hispanic scholars for their academic achievements and community engagement at a ceremony Monday evening. Congratulations to our students!
Montgomery County Public Schools
Email us: ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org
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