Blair Sophomore Wins StudentCam Documentary Grand Prize

Dermott Foley, a sophomore at Montgomery Blair High School, won the grand prize in C-SPAN’s StudentCam 2025 documentary competition. Foley won $5,000 for his documentary, Teens, Social Media & the Fentanyl Overdose Crisis. This documentary will air on C-SPAN at 6:50 a.m. on Monday, April 21, and throughout the day.  

The annual competition is open to middle and high school students across the country. Students from 10 schools—Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Montgomery Blair, Winston Churchill, Poolesville, Richard Montgomery, Rockville and Wheaton high schools, and Eastern, Julius West and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. middle schools—placed in the competition. See the full list of winners.

Join Us for Public Information Meetings on Boundary Studies

Upcoming public information meetings on boundary studies are set for the reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School, the opening of Crown High School and the expansion of Damascus High School. These sessions will provide important details on the boundary study scope, process and opportunities for future engagement. More information

Boundary Study Scope for Reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School

• Virtual Session: Wednesday, April 2, 6–8 p.m. (Meeting Link—session will be recorded and made available to the public.)
• In-Person Session: Tuesday, April 8, 6–8 p.m., Walter Johnson High School Auditorium, 6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda

Boundary Study Scope for Opening of Crown High School & Expansion of Damascus High School

• Virtual Session: Monday, April 7,  6–8 p.m. (Meeting Link—session will be recorded and made available to the public.)
• In-Person Session: Wednesday, April 9, 6–8 p.m., Gaithersburg High School Auditorium, 101 Education Boulevard, Gaithersburg

While registration is not required, MCPS asks attendees to RSVP to help the district prepare.

MCPS Boundary Studies webpage

MCPS Developing AI Usage Guidelines; Tell Us What You Think!

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform various industries, its role in education is rapidly expanding. AI presents significant opportunities for improving student outcomes and creating efficiencies for staff. However, with these advancements come challenges that require thoughtful consideration, including ethical use, data privacy and equitable access. Given AI’s growing presence in classrooms and administrative processes, MCPS is developing AI usage guidelines. 

MCPS is seeking input on the development of regulations and guidelines for the use of AI in schools. Whether you are a parent/guardian or community member, current or former student, teacher or staff member, your perspective is essential in ensuring AI is used effectively, responsibly and ethically to support teaching and learning. Here is a short video with an overview of AI. Fill out the survey.

Resources:

• Video de aportes de inteligencia artificial
• AI in Action Video
• Video de herramientas de inteligencia artificial

Join Us for Inaugural Summer RISE & Shine Golf Tournament

Join MCPS and the Department of Partnerships at the inaugural Summer RISE & SHINE Golf Tournament on Monday, May 5, at Montgomery Country Club in Laytonsville. This event will raise funds for the Summer RISE program, a career-based summer learning opportunity for MCPS juniors and seniors. The golf tournament is an opportunity to enjoy a fun day of golf and network with county leaders, local businesses, MCPS staff and participating Summer RISE organizations.

A ticket purchase includes a round of golf and donation to the Summer RISE program, as well as practice green and range time, golf cart use, breakfast refreshments, lunch and an awards reception following play. Extra games will be available on the golf course, including the Superintendent’s Putting Contest, Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin. Register today.

Sponsorships are also available. For more information, call the Department of Partnerships at 240-740-5599 or email Kevin Brunk.

Summer RISE and SHINE

Your Most Requested Information Is Now One Click Away

Ever find yourself asking “What’s for lunch?,” “Where’s that form?,” “What activities are available for my child?” MCPS has you covered! Aggregated from AskMCPS, Google analytics and other channels, our new most requested information page is your central location to get questions answered. 

Opportunity Express—Coming to You!

MCPS is launching the MCPS Opportunity Express, a mobile recruitment vehicle, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and hiring event at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2. The recruiting tour starts at Wheaton Woods Elementary School. The Opportunity Express will be visiting schools and other locations throughout the county. The district has job openings available for paraeducators, as well as opportunities in transportation, food services, and maintenance and operations. Spread the word to your friends and neighbors, and join us on April 2 for your chance at a new career. Stay tuned for future community engagement events where the Opportunity Express will appear. 

MCPS Opportunity Express, 2025
 

The Curtains Are Rising!

Get your tickets now for spring theater and dance productions at middle and high schools. These great performances run into May. From “Mean Girls” and “Shrek the Musical” to “Antigone” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” there’s something for everyone.

2024–2025 Spring Productions

Reminders

RespectFest Is Coming March 30–April 6

Secondary students and parents: Save March 30–April 6 on your calendars to learn about healthy relationships, dating violence prevention and consent, and community resources. RespectFest will offer virtual workshops from March 30–April 5 and an in-person festival from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 6 at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center, 11701 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring. Learn more.

Summer School: Registration opens Thursday, April 3. Session dates: June 30–July 18 and July 22–August 8 at Gaithersburg High School. Virtual options will also be available. More information can be found on our website and this flyer.

Sustainability Poster Contest: This annual contest increases awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability, energy conservation, waste reduction and responsible recycling. All MCPS students and staff are invited to participate, and to vote online to determine the winners. The deadline is Friday, April 4. 2025 Sustainability Poster Contest Entry Form and Contest Guideline.

Youth Climate Summit: Open to middle and high school students, MCPS is hosting the 4th annual Youth Climate Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, at Julius West Middle School, 651 Great Falls Road in Rockville. Students will earn six SSL hours for participating. Lunch will be provided and centralized transportation will be available. Students interested in attending must complete the Student Registration Form. More information.

Game Changer Conference: Calling all parents/caregivers of young male students in Gradregister es 4-12: your student for the spring Game Changer conference and help empower and ignite their path to success. The conference will be held on Saturday, April 5, at Montgomery College, Germantown campus from 8 a.m.–noon. Register.

COSA Window Closing: The Change of School Assignment (COSA) process lets parents/caregivers request that their child attend a school other than their assigned home school, under specific circumstances. The 2025–2026 open season for COSA requests ends on Tuesday, April 1. Requests submitted after April 1, 2025 will not be considered unless there was a recent move or an emergency event that could not have been foreseen prior to April 1. All COSA requests must be submitted online through ParentVue in Synergy. For more information, call the Division of Pupil Personnel and Attendance Services at 240-740-5620 or visit the website.

County Launches Art Contest to Celebrate 50 Years of Ride On

Middle school students are invited to submit artwork celebrating 50 years of Ride On bus service in Montgomery County. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is hosting the contest to educate students about Ride On, the quality-of-life impacts transportation has and to encourage the use of public transit. Artwork should depict one or more Ride On bus services and capture the value that Ride On brings to the community.  

Participants will earn five Student Service Learning hours.

The top three winners will receive $100, $75 and $50 gift cards. The first-place winner’s art entry will also be displayed on all Ride On buses. The middle school with the most entries will receive a $500 gift card. Learn more. Entries are due by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15. 

In Case You Missed It …

Check out the latest from MCPS on our news page:

• Twelve MCPS Students Selected for the National Association for Music Education 2025 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles. Meet the Musicians.

• At Next Generation Leadership Day, 4th and 5th graders chosen by their schools learn leadership skills from high school mentors. An assembly introduces them to student leaders and workshops throughout the day give them the chance to use their creativity and skills. See what they learned. 

• March is National Athletic Training Month, a time to highlight the crucial role athletic trainers play in keeping athletes safe and healthy. From preventing injuries to providing emergency care, athletic trainers are essential to the well-being of sports teams and active individuals. Join us in celebrating the hardworking professionals who ensure athletes stay at their best!