Things to Know
Thursday, July 18, 2024
Annual Back-to-School Fair Set for August 24
MCPS is hosting its annual Back-to-School Fair on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Westfield Wheaton mall. The event is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn about the school system, and county programs and services. Enjoy family activities, music, entertainment and giveaways. This year’s vendors include KID Museum, Glenstone Museum, Imagination Stage, Montgomery County Recreation and much more. There will also be an immunization clinic.
MCPS will offer free shuttles to the event from six high schools starting at 9 a.m. Westfield Wheaton is located at 11160 Veirs Mill Road. Visit the fair website for shuttle locations and departure and arrivals times.
Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) Applications Are Now Open
The Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) application is now available for the 2024–2025 school year.
Students at schools participating under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) are eligible for free meals and do not need to apply for FARMS. Students at non-CEP schools may qualify for Free or Reduced-price Meals based on household size and income. Students may also qualify if they are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) or Medicaid benefits.
Families must renew their FARMS application each school year even if their child qualified the previous year.
Students who qualify for reduced-price meals will eat for free. Visit MySchoolApps.com to apply (translations available).
Summer Meals Available Through Mid-August
Children up to 18 years old may come to any of the summer meals locations Monday through Friday for healthy and nutritious lunches. The Summer Meals Program is designed to provide nutritious meals at no cost to children up to 18 years old. The MCPS Summer Meals Program is designed to bridge the “nutrition gap” when school is out.
Click here to view the list of 2024 summer food service meal sites. No appointment is necessary. Meals must be eaten on site.
Summer meal menus:
Visit the summer program website for more information.
Pick Up Free School Supplies at Annual Drive for Supplies
The annual Drive for Supplies distribution event will take place at Parkland Middle School Friday, July 19 from 9 a.m.–2 p.m., while supplies last.
Families in need are welcome to come and pick up new and gently used school supplies. The supplies come from MCPS students and staff who collect and donate them as they clean out lockers, desks and closets at the end of the school year. Parkland is located at 4610 West Frankfort Drive in Rockville.
Board of Education Seeks Applicants for Vacancy on Ethics Panel
The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking applicants for a vacant position on its five-member Ethics Panel. The vacancy is for a term running through June 30, 2027. Members serve without compensation. As noted in Board Policy, BBB, Ethics, among the panel’s responsibilities are: approving financial disclosure forms; interpreting the Board of Education’s Ethics Policy and issuing advisory opinions concerning its application; and conducting hearings on complaints filed regarding an alleged violation.
Summer College Preparedness Workshops 2024
MCPS is offering and connecting students and families to free college preparedness workshops throughout the summer. Check out this comprehensive list of virtual and in-person workshops on topics, including the college application process, SAT and ACT, athletics in college, and studying and time management.
Visit the college and career website for more information on additional resources.
Join the MCPS Transportation Team!
MCPS is hosting a job fair for bus drivers, bus attendants and mechanics from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. on Thursday, July 25. The fair will be held at the Shady Grove Transportation Depot, 16651 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville. Read more.
Donate Today to the GIVE BACKpacks Campaign
Help students in need by donating to the 13th annual GIVE BACKpacks campaign to purchase backpacks and school supplies for MCPS students. For as little as $20, you can provide a student with a backpack filled with supplies including, paper, crayons, pencils/pens, a pencil sharpener, binders and folders.
Good News
Thirteen MCPS Students Earn College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships
An additional thirteen MCPS students have earned college- and university-sponsored National Merit Scholarships in the final round of awards from the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Read more.
Congratulations to Summer RISE 2024 Participants
More than 1,000 students have spent the past few weeks diving into hands-on learning experiences and gaining invaluable knowledge in their chosen fields through the MCPS Summer RISE program. Summer RISE (Reimagining an Innovative Student Experience) is an initiative in collaboration with businesses, government agencies, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. The program is for rising juniors and seniors to participate in a career-based learning opportunity during the summer. This year’s participants will be celebrated in a culminating ceremony on July 25.
Stay Connected This Summer
- VISIT the MCPS homepage.
- CALL 240-740-3000. Staff take calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish.
- READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS newsroom.
- FOLLOW the MCPS social media pages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in English and Spanish.
- http://twitter.com/mcps
https://www.facebook.com/mcpsmd
https://www.instagram.com/mcps_md - https://www.facebook.com/mcpsespanol
https://twitter.com/MCPSEspanol
https://www.instagram.com/mcpsenespanol/
- SIGN UP for emails and text alerts and make sure your ParentVue information is up to date.
- WATCH the MCPS cable channels Comcast 34 (1071 HD), Verizon 36 or RCN 89
