National C-SPAN Documentary Video Competition Open to Secondary Students

Students in 6th through 12th grades are invited to participate in C-SPAN’s annual national video documentary StudentCam competition, which encourages them to think critically about issues that affect our communities.

This year, students are being asked to create a five-to-six-minute video documentary on a topic that relates to the competition theme, “Your Message to the President.” Students may compete individually or in groups.

The submission deadline is Inauguration Day, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. C-SPAN awards cash prizes to the top 150 student documentaries.

Historically, MCPS students perform well in this contest. Last year, a Montgomery Blair High School 9th grader won the High School East Division and in 2023, two Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School 8th graders took home the Grand Prize.

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Get a Little Drama in Your Life!

The curtain is rising on fall theater and dance productions throughout the school system at middle and high schools. Plan now to see these great performances, which run into early 2025.

From “Mamma Mia” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to “Charlotte’s Web” and “SpongeBob the Musical,” there’s something for everyone. Come on out!

2024-2025 Fall Theater/Dance Productions

Marking Remembrance and Reconciliation Month

The Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation was established by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights in 2019 to promote a better understanding of its history and legacy of African Americans in the county. This is the third year MCPS has observed Remembrance and Reconciliation Month with mandatory brief K-12 learning on local African American history and support of local Emancipation Day celebrations.

Below are upcoming MCPS events for this year (other celebrations will be coming later in November):

Button Farm Living History Center’s Emancipation Day Celebration (16820 Black Rock Road, Germantown)
Saturday, Oct. 26, noon-3 p.m.
Students can earn up to 3 SSL hours.

Sandy Spring Slave Museum – Maryland Emancipation Day
Virtual Event: The Real Juneteenth
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6:45-8 p.m.
Students can earn up to 1.5 SSL hours.
Registration Link (You must register to receive the virtual meeting link.)
Flyer

Sandy Spring Slave Museum’s Emancipation Day Celebration (18524 Brooke Road, Sandy Spring)
Saturday, Nov. 2, noon-3:20 p.m.
Students can earn up to 3 SSL hours.

Urban Farm Volunteer Event Set for Nov. 9 at Loiederman MS 

Middle and high school students are invited to participate in a Veterans Day volunteer opportunity from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School, 12701 Goodhill Road in Silver Spring. Students will help build garden beds and benches for the first urban farm being built through the REACH Hub and learn from professionals in the field. SSL hours and lunch will be provided. Registration

Community Meetings Will Address ‘Walkability Studies’ and Safety Needs for Six Schools

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is holding in-person meetings to present and address the findings of walkability studies and discuss the sidewalk and safety needs of students walking and biking to six schools. The studies involve Kensington Parkwood, Lake Seneca, Waters Landing, Rosemary Hills and Rock Creek Forest elementary schools, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School.

The meetings will be held—

• Wednesday, Oct. 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, 13737 Wisteria Drive, Germantown. Regarding the studies for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle, Lake Seneca Elementary and Waters Landing Elementary schools.

• Thursday, Dec. 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Rosemary Hills Elementary School, 2111 Porter Road, Silver Spring. Regarding the studies for Rosemary Hills Elementary and Rock Creek Forest Elementary schools.

• The meeting for Kensington Parkwood Elementary School was held on Oct. 9. Read more about it here.

More information

Fall Parent Academy Schedule Now Available

Families and students can stay engaged throughout the school year with Parent Academy TO GO, a series of free virtual webinars for families. October, November and December webinars are now available on the Parent Academy website. Topics include managing bedtime battles, learning skills for better communication and tools to diffuse power struggles, and handling disappointing grades. Registration is available here.

Athletics Championship Season Is Here!

The first-ever postseason pickleball tournament will be held on Monday, Oct. 21 and Wednesday, Oct. 23. Semifinals and finals will be on Oct. 23 at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda. See the schedule. 

The inaugural girls’ flag football county championship tournament will be during the weeks of Oct. 28 and Nov. 4. The state tournament of champions will be held on Friday, Nov. 8. Check out an overview of the playoff schedule.

See the fall playoff and tournament schedules for cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, soccer and volleyball here.

Reminders

Mental Health Resource Fair: This free event, open to students, families and staff, will be held from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown. Transportation is available. RSVP.

Game Changer Conference: This free event, geared toward Black or African American and Latino and Hispanic male students in 4th through 12th grades, will be held from 8 a.m.–noon on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Montgomery College, Germantown Campus, Globe Hall, 20200 Observation Drive. Students and parents can register here.