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September 09, 2026 |
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Calendar Reminder: Friday, Sept. 18 is an early release day for all students. Monday, Sept. 21 is a non-instructional day; there will be no school for students and teachers.
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How Are You Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month? |
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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.
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Who’s On Fire This Week? |
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Meet Carlos Cooper, building service manager at Greenwood Elementary School and one of this week’s Fire Ribbon recipients!
According to the Greenwood team, Carlos is the kind of colleague who is always ready to help. He leads a dedicated team that takes great pride in keeping the school beautiful, and no matter what he’s doing, he makes time to lend a hand. He approaches every challenge with integrity, persistence and heart, and never gives up until a solution is found.
Thank you, Carlos, for making a difference through service, teamwork and support for your colleagues!
The MCPS Fire Ribbons recognize those who make a difference through teamwork, collaboration and peer support in MCPS schools and offices. See this week’s winners.
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Employees Have Until Oct. 2 to Save on Health Insurance |
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Reduce your 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. 2, 2026, to save 2 percent in 2027.
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Life Change? Review Your Beneficiaries |
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If you have had a major life change, make sure the decisions you made previously regarding your beneficiary(ies) are aligned with your current intentions.
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Share Your Feedback for Next Year’s School Year Calendar |
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Be sure to share your input with MCPS on the development of the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school calendars. Please complete this survey by Sept. 20 to offer your feedback, which is critical to the process. MCPS will consider educational interests, operational needs, mandated school closures by state law, compliance with minimum instructional days and credit hour requirements, inclement weather and other emergencies, staff professional days and early release days, and assessment schedules aligned to MCPS Board Policy IDA, School Year Calendar.
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Got a Great Idea? The Ed Foundation Can Help Fund It! |
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The MCPS Educational Foundation (MCPSEF) is offering grants to support staff, educators and administrators. Grants of up to $2,000 are available for individual departments and schools, and up to $10,000 for collaborative projects for multiple departments or schools. The MCPSEF is also offering incentive funding to successful projects that can be scaled from one school or office to another. The first round of applications is due Wednesday, Sept. 30. A second round of applications is due Monday, Nov. 30. Learn more about applying for grants or becoming a Scaling Success Coach to help scale your successful project.
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Know the Signs. Start the Conversation. Help Prevent Suicide. |
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Tomorrow (Sept. 10) is World Suicide Prevention Day, and we all have a role in helping prevent suicide in our communities. Visit the National Alliance of Mental Illness website to learn more about warning signs, risk factors and tips to support adults during a crisis. The MCPS Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to help. You can reach the EAP at 240-740-6500 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.). 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.
After-Hours Resources for MCPS Employees
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Helping to Keep Schools Safe |
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MCPS is committed to creating safe, supportive and connected school communities in which students and staff understand the shared responsibility for school safety.
During the week of Sept. 21–25, secondary schools will partner with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office to offer one of two student assemblies addressing opioid/fentanyl awareness and school and gun violence prevention.
- Speak Up, Save a Life discusses the dangers of fentanyl and other dangerous opioids, and shares what to do if you see someone who has overdosed.
- Working Together to Keep Schools Safe and Gun Free addresses school shootings, local gun violence, gun laws and ghost guns, and emphasizes the importance of speaking up when something doesn’t seem right.
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Ready for a Healthier You? Join Head Heart and Hands |
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Join Head Heart and Hands, a 12-week, successful, inspiring, and fun program that provides the knowledge, tools, and support to help you prevent disease, improve your physical and mental health, and lose weight. Registration for the fall class is under way.
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More than 150 MCPS Students Named National Merit Semifinalists |
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More than 150 MCPS students were named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship program. They will compete nationally for scholarships announced in the spring.
The MCPS semifinalists come from 12 high schools: Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Montgomery Blair, Winston Churchill, Walter Johnson, Paint Branch, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Richard Montgomery, Seneca Valley, Walt Whitman, Wheaton and Thomas S. Wootton.
The semifinalists were selected from among high school juniors who were top scorers on the 2025 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. About 15,000 semifinalists across the nation are expected to advance to the finalist stage of the competition.
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