Employees Have Until Oct. 3 to Save on Health Insurance

Reduce contributions to your health insurance cost next year through the Wellness Initiatives program. Complete a biometric health screening and your medical plan’s online health risk assessment by Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, to save 2 percent in 2026.

Thinking About Retirement?

Considering retirement within the next two years? Attend an in-person Retirement Informational Session and a Forms Workshop to help prepare for this significant milestone. ERSC staff will be available to answer questions and help with the retirement process. See dates, times and locations and learn more.

You can also join the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for a financial wellness webinar on Retirement Readiness at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Help Shape Next Year’s School Calendar—Share Your Input!

MCPS is seeking input as it works to develop the 2026-2027 school calendar. Complete this survey by Tuesday, Sept. 30, to share your feedback. Your input is an important component of the development process.

EdTalk Premieres Sept. 12

Here's a sneak peek at the lively conversation between Montgomery County BOE President Julie Yang, Anne Khademien, Executive Director of the Universities at Shady Grove and Kate Stewart, President of the Montgomery County Council, as they talk about future-ready education. The full episode will also air as a podcast, premiering at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 12.

In Case You Missed It …

Make plans to attend a boundary study option meeting in October.

Who’s On Fire This Week?

If you could give one of your colleagues an award, who would it be? Introduced this year, the Unleashing Potential Award celebrates excellence in teamwork, collaboration and peer support across MCPS schools and offices. This crowdsourced recognition builds culture and reflects MCPS values of community, service and excellence.

MCPS Educational Foundation Offering Project Grants to Staff

MCPS Educational Foundation (MCPSEF) is offering small grants to support staff, educators and administrators. Grants of up to $2,000 are available for individual departments and schools, and up to $5,000 for collaborative projects for multiple departments or schools. Funding is also available for successful projects that can be scaled from one school or office to another. The first round of applications is due Monday, Sept. 15. A second round of applications is due Monday, Dec. 1.

How Are You Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month?

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Throughout the month, MCPS schools will celebrate the culture and traditions of students, teachers and staff members who trace their roots to Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Hispanics and Latinos are the fastest-growing ethnic group in MCPS, with more than 35 percent of the student population.

What is your school or office doing to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Drop us a line and let us know. You could be featured in The Bulletin or on social media.

Recognizing Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Visit the National Institute of Mental Health’s website to learn more. The MCPS Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to help. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or call 911 immediately. The Montgomery County Crisis Center is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 240-777-4000 or in person at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville.

Redland Middle School Goes Green

Redland Middle School is one of three schools in Maryland recognized as a nominee for the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools Award by the Maryland State Department of Education. The honorees conserve environmental resources, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces and foster wellness. The Rockville school composted 4.49 tons of waste in a year and operates a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, which has generated the equivalent of 66,025 trees planted since 2017.

Wellness Programs Available to Employees

Wellbeats Wellness, an online platform available to MCPS employees, provides thousands of free online wellness classes. The two-week Create your Calm program includes activities to help manage stress, restore balance and build emotional resilience—on your terms

Or, join Head Heart and Hands, a 12-week program that provides the knowledge, tools and support to help prevent disease, improve your physical and mental health, and lose weight. Registration for the fall class is underway.

Dates to Remember

Saturday, Sept. 13 – SAT administration
Friday, Sept. 19 – Payday
Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Non-instructional day; no school for students and teachers (All Schools)
Thursday, Sept. 25 – Board of Education meeting
Friday, Sept. 26 – Early release day for students (All Schools)