Things to Know
November 12, 2026
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Calendar Reminder: Nov. 23-25 are early release days for students. Schools and offices will be closed Nov. 26-27, in observance of Thanksgiving.
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Check ParentVue: First Marking Period Report Cards, Progress Reports Now Available |
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Report cards for the first marking period are now available in ParentVue. By Friday, Nov. 13, parents of K–8 students will also receive a progress report, which will summarize progress in reading and/or math. This is a great opportunity to celebrate your student’s successes and talk together about areas where they can improve. Read more.
Now You Know: English | Spanish | Amharic | Chinese | French | Korean | Portuguese | Vietnamese
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Your Voice Counts! Districtwide Culture & Climate Survey Now Open |
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Families, students and staff are invited to share feedback by participating in the Districtwide Culture and Climate Survey. Your input provides valuable insight into what is working well and where we can improve, helping leadership better understand what is working well and where the district can grow to create the best possible experience for every student. The survey is being administered by Sogolytics, an independent research and data organization working on behalf of MCPS. This is an official MCPS survey, and the survey invitation is legitimate. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential. Read more.
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With Less Daylight, Use More Caution — Help Keep Students Safe |
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Now that we've turned clocks back, the sun is setting earlier, making it more important than ever to watch for students traveling to and from school. With less daylight during afternoon activities and commutes, please remember to slow down, stay alert and look out for one another.
- Drivers: Please slow down in school zones and neighborhoods, watch carefully for students at crosswalks and bus stops, avoid distractions, and always stop for school buses when required.
- Families: Remind students to use sidewalks and designated crosswalks, look both ways before crossing, put phones away while walking, and wear bright or reflective clothing when visibility is low.
A little extra attention will go a long way to making travel safer for everyone.
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Take Time for You: Meet Us at the Mental Health & Wellness Fair on Nov. 14 |
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Don’t miss the Mental Health & Wellness Fair from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 at James Hubert Blake High School, 300 Norwood Road in Silver Spring. Free and open to staff, students and families, this event will feature workshops, fitness classes, a student-led forum and community partners sharing information about mental health and wellness. Participating students can earn four Student Service Learning hours for participating.
MCPS wants students to know they are not alone. There are adults throughout our buildings who will respond when students reach out for help. There are materials in our schools, including stickers, cards and informational posters in classrooms and hallways with easily accessible crisis-support information. There are school-specific email addresses that directly connect students to crisis support, and classroom lessons focused on mental health, supporting each other and knowing when and how to ask for help. Help is always available.
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Finish Those Applications; 8th Grade Center Programs and MSMC Deadline Is Nov. 13 |
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The deadline to apply for 8th Grade Center Programs and the Middle School Magnet Consortium is fast approaching — Friday, Nov. 13.
Learn more on the Center Programs website — explore how regional and thematic programs are structured across MCPS, access resources to dive deeper into specialized career paths and read the FAQs. Families interested in the MSMC can find details on their website.
- Need help? Contact your middle school counselor or send an email.
- What's a Center Program? (English | Spanish)
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Get a Little Drama In Your Life! |
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Fall theater productions are in full swing at middle and high schools. Find a great performance; there’s something for everyone.
Visit the MCPS calendar and filter by Fine Arts. You can then subscribe and download it to your iCal or Google calendar.
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Empowering Our Multilingual Families — Meet Us at an Engagement Event! |
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MCPS is bringing families together for a series of Regional Family Engagement Events designed for Emerging Multilingual Learners (EMLs) and their families. These free events are an opportunity for families to connect with school staff, learn about MCPS programs and community resources, ask questions and meet other families. Whether your child is in elementary, middle or high school, there's something for everyone! The next two are coming up Monday, Nov. 16 and Tuesday, Nov. 17. Read more.
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The Hard Truth: Declining Enrollment, Costs and the CIP |
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As MCPS works its way through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 Capital Budget proposal and amendments to the FY 2027–2032 Capital Improvements Program (CIP), the district is facing very difficult decisions. The hard truth: student enrollment has dropped by more than 13,000 students since 2019, and projections show it will drop even further. But, MCPS still has to take care of more than 200 aging and inefficient facilities, while costs have exploded. Watch videos on The Hard Truth.
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Sharpen Those Literacy Skills in IXL Challenge, Nov. 16-30 |
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This fall, MCPS is launching an IXL Challenge for students in Grades 6–11. The competition, which will run from Nov. 16–30, is a fun way to keep students reading and building English Language Arts (ELA) skills over Thanksgiving break, when school routines slow down. IXL’s ELA skills plans also include test preparation for the SAT. It’s a good chance for students and families to get to know the IXL literacy program and the tools it offers for strengthening reading and writing. Log in from any device and earn prizes while they practice.
IXL Flyers: English | Spanish | Amharic | Chinese | French | Korean | Portuguese | Vietnamese
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For the Fridge!: Quarter 2 Curriculum Overview Now Available |
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The Refrigerator Curriculum for Quarter Two of the 2026–2027 school year is now available. This is a one-page, easy-to-read overview of the written curriculum for what K–12 students are learning each marking period, including major topics, themes and texts.
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Challenging Young Readers: K–8 Literacy Enrichment in the Classroom |
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Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) is a language arts program that combines a multi-sensory approach to phonics with rich texts to build content knowledge, so that students learn to read and read to learn at the same time. MCPS builds literacy enrichment into the school day. Read more.
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Get Instant College Decisions with Maryland Independent Colleges |
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On Friday, Nov. 20 and Friday, Dec. 4, MCPS will be hosting on-the-spot decision events with several Maryland Independent Colleges and Universities. During these events, prospective students can meet with an admissions representative and receive an immediate decision, which may include a scholarship. Interviews will be held virtually on Zoom. Contact your child’s College & Career Navigator (CCN) with questions. Learn more.
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Honoring the Past, Moving Forward Together |
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During November, MCPS is partnering with the Montgomery County Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation to host webinars on the changes that historic Black communities experienced due to urban renewal. Don’t miss the Changemaker Workshop on Thursday, Nov. 19; students can earn Service Learning hours for attending. Read more.
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Federal Impact Aid Survey Now Open, Available Through ParentVUE |
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MCPS qualifies for federal Impact Aid grant funds when parents/guardians are active-duty uniformed services personnel, have children who live on federal property or in federally subsidized housing units, or who are employed on eligible federal properties in Maryland. These funds provide additional revenue to the district and the general operating budget.
To receive this funding, parents/guardians must collect information about federally connected students enrolled in MCPS schools. This survey can be completed using MCPS Form 280-4, Federal Impact Aid Survey, or through ParentVUE. If you choose Form 280-4, one form must be submitted for each school-aged, federally connected student in your household. If you submit through ParentVue, only one electronic survey submission is required.
Please complete the survey by Friday, Dec. 11.
Frequently Asked Questions: English | Spanish
More information
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Beyond the Bell |
- *NEW* Vision Zero Youth Ambassador Program: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is seeking high school students for this project-based learning program that teaches leadership skills, outreach and engagement techniques to address traffic safety needs in the community. It is free to participate, and students can earn up to 46 SSL hours. Deadline: Monday, Nov. 30.
- C-SPAN StudentCam Documentary Competition: Open to students in 6th through 12th grades. This year, students are being asked to create a five-to-six-minute video documentary on a topic that relates to the theme, “Mr. Speaker, I Rise To … .” Deadline: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027.
- Speak Up, Save A Life Video Contest: Open to secondary students, who can earn 10 SSL hours. Create an original video promoting awareness of the dangers of illicit opioids, overdose and fentanyl among teens. Videos can be submitted in English or Spanish. Deadline: Monday, Nov. 30. Submit an entry.
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Local Happenings |
- Montgomery County Recreation: 2026-2027 winter registration for programs, classes and activities opens at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Residents are encouraged to register online at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org. If you don’t have an account or need to update one, instructions and FAQs are here.
- Local Author Showcase: Montgomery County Public Libraries is hosting a free book fair and meet-the-author event from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22 at the Wheaton Library and Recreation Center, 11701 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton. Activities include meet-and-greets with 30 local authors, industry panels on marketing and publishing, a child-friendly “Read to a Superhero” activity and a teen zine workshop.
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Stay Connected
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