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September 30, 2026 |
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Open Enrollment: Three Things to Know Now |
- Get Ready!: Take a few simple steps to get prepared for this year’s Employee Benefits Open Enrollment to be held Oct. 5–30.
- Attend a Fair: Be sure to attend an in-person Open Enrollment Benefit Fair to meet benefit plan vendors and discuss your options with staff from the Employee and Retiree Service Center. Learn more.
- Hey, Why Not?: Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) let you set aside a specified dollar amount from your pay pretax to pay for qualifying out-of-pocket medical and dependent-care expenses. This amount reduces your gross pay and is sheltered from taxes. Find out if an FSA is right for you. Learn more.
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Two Days Left to Meet the Wellness Initiatives Deadline for 2027 |
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Reduce your health insurance costs by completing a biometric health screening and your medical plan’s online health risk assessment by Friday, Oct. 2. If you do, you will pay 2 percent less of the total cost of your health insurance. Learn more.
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Meet the Stars Making a Difference |
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According to colleagues at Westland Middle School, special education teacher Claire Bloch is on fire! They say Claire has supported hundreds of students across multiple academic areas, especially in English, always putting the students’ needs first. Staff also turn to her for support and guidance. Most recently, she stepped up to be the stand-in resource teacher for special education for a period of time.
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.
In addition, Mark Carothers, principal at Poolesville High School, was given a Leadership Champion Award by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP). Carothers was named a Student-Centered Leadership Champion for cultivating and sustaining a safe, healthy and positive school environment where every student is known, accepted, respected and cared for; reinforcing student engagement, and promoting strong relationships. Along with other honorees, Carothers will be recognized at MASSP’s leadership conference in November.
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Possible School Closures and Consolidations:
How to Weigh In |
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Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, MCPS will be holding community engagement sessions on possible closures and consolidations of some of its schools. As student enrollment has declined, the district is reviewing elementary and middle schools across the county to develop a framework for considering whether and which closures and consolidations should be recommended by the superintendent to the Board of Education.
No countywide boundary studies are happening at this time.
An independent consultant will help MCPS develop a decision-making framework, which will consider multiple factors and many data points about our schools, facilities, students and communities. Family and community input are a critical part of the process before any recommendations are made.
The community is encouraged to participate in an engagement session within their region. There will be separate opportunities for staff to engage. Be on the lookout for more information.
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In Case You Missed It … |
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Last week, MCPS staff received an email about mental health support available to students in our schools. The messaging included this video in English and Spanish from Superintendent Thomas Taylor.
Students need to know that asking for help is normal and where to find it. We want students to know they are not alone. We want them to know there are trusted adults throughout our buildings who will respond when they reach out for help. In the coming weeks, materials will begin arriving in schools to make these resources more visible and easy to access. They will include: stickers, cards and informational posters with QR codes that will connect students directly to school-specific crisis support.
Be the trusted adult in your building. Be the one who helps a student find the next step.
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Dance Brings Einstein Students Together to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month |
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Imagine the lunch bell ringing ... You make your way to the bus loop and then music starts playing. Titanes Salseros, Albert Einstein High School’s Latin Dance team, rushes into the bus loop. Then more dancers join, first the Dance Company and Junior Dance Company, followed by students from the school’s other dance classes. Within moments, the bus loop has transformed into a celebration of music, movement and culture. Read more.
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Two Grant Opportunities to Fund Your Big Ideas |
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MCPS educators and staff have two opportunities to earn grant funds for classrooms, schools and departments.
- The Maryland Retired School Personnel Association, through its MRSPA Foundation, is offering grants of up to $500 to classroom teachers to fund special projects or activities not funded through the school system or PTA. Grant applications are due Monday, Nov. 2. Apply.
- The MCPS Educational Foundation provides grants of up to $2,000 for individual departments and schools, and up to $10,000 for collaborative projects for multiple departments or schools. The deadline for Round 1 closes today, Wednesday, Sept. 30. The deadline for Round 2 is Monday, Nov. 30. Apply today!
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Support for Your Well-Being from the EAP |
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Don’t forget about the offerings this month from the Employee Assistance Program:
- Tuesday, Oct 6, 11 a.m.: Perinatal Mental Health Information Session, for those who are pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant or within one year of giving birth. Register.
- Tuesday, Oct. 13, 4 p.m.: Well-Being Strategies During the Menopause Transition, more information. Register.
- Throughout October: Free, confidential screenings for depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Available to all MCPS employees and their adult (18+) household family members. Have questions or ready to schedule an appointment? Call the EAP at 240-740-6500.
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Discover New Ways to Manage Blood Pressure |
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Join Well Aware this fall for Beyond the Cuff, an eye-opening series that will explore the cutting-edge science on managing high blood pressure. The rules have evolved beyond important tools, such as limiting salt, exercising more and taking medication. There are other ways to lower your numbers. Learn more.
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Creating Relationships One Lunch at a Time |
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At Clearspring Elementary School, building a strong sense of belonging starts with relationships. Principal Jessica Bay Graber starts the year by inviting every student to a special lunch with a trusted adult in the building. From paraeducators to school psychologists, staff members invite students to join them for a lunch bunch, creating an opportunity to connect with an adult who knows and supports them. Read more.
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