 Save the Date: Parent Workshops on Seven Keys to College Readiness
MCPS is holding special workshops for parents to provide information on the Seven Keys to College Readiness. The Seven Keys provide a pathway that will help prepare students for college beginning in elementary school. Starting later this month, workshops will be held in each school cluster that explain the Seven Keys and provide information on how parents can use these guidelines to support their children on the path to college. All workshops will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the following locations- - Monday, April 20: Loiederman Middle School, 12701 Goodhill Road, Silver Spring
- Wednesday, April 22: White Oak Middle School, 12201 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring
- Monday, April 27: Roberto Clemente Middle School, 18808 Waring Station Road, Germantown
- Wednesday, April 29: Earle B. Wood Middle School, 14615 Bauer Drive, Rockville
- Monday, May 4: Eastern Middle School, 300 University Blvd, East, Silver Spring
- Wednesday, May 6: Shady Grove Middle School, 8100 Midcounty Highway, Gaithersburg
Register for one of the workshops online, by phone at 301-517-5940, or at the door. Free childcare will be available for children 3 to 14 years old. Foreign language interpretation also will be provided. After spring break, parents will receive additional information on the Seven Keys, including a brochure, from their child's school. A video and website also will be available.
 Our Schools Today
On this month's show: Communicating With Your Children. Watch in six languages.
Voices of MCPS  Meet some of the employees of Montgomery County Public Schools and learn about the work they do. This month, listen to Teresa Delgadillo describe how she helps families (Real Media, 00:03:03) as a social services assistant with the Prekindergarten/Head Start Unit.
|  Preparing for the MCPS College Fair on April 15-16
Representatives from about 350 colleges, universities and technical schools will be on hand to speak with high school juniors and their parents during the annual Montgomery County Public Schools College Fair scheduled for April 15-16 at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center (Fairgrounds) at 16 Chestnut St. in Gaithersburg. The free event will be held Wednesday, April 15, from 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. with an evening session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The evening session is open to any interested parents and their students, including those in middle school. A financial aid workshop will be held from 7-8 p.m. The fair continues Thursday, April 16, from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Consider these questions as a guide when speaking with college representatives- - Which standardized test scores do you require?
- What are your most popular majors?
- What are the best reasons for considering this school? What would make me the best candidate for this school?
- Does the school have early decision or early action?
- What financial aid options do you offer?
- How can I arrange a campus visit?
- Are there special programs for freshmen?
The event is sponsored by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). For more information, call NACAC at 703-836-2222.
 Save the Date: Back-to-School Fair
Mark your calendars on Saturday, Aug. 29 for the 2009-2010 Back-to-School Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. . The event will be held on the grounds at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. Sponsored by the Office of Communications and Family Outreach, the fair is free and open to all MCPS families. Get updates on the Department of Family and Community Partnerships website.
Never Miss an Important School Date Parents and other community members who want to keep track of holidays, early release dates and report card distributions can now import the school calendar into their electronic calendars. The calendar for import is available only in English. Instructions on importing an iCal file to an Outlook, Apple or Google calendar are available on the School Calendar website. The calendar is also available for download as a printable PDF. 2009-2010 School Calendar |
Federal Stimulus Funds to Improve MCPS Services for Title I and Special Needs Students MCPS will receive $21.4 million in new federal stimulus dollars to expand services for students with special needs and to provide more support for elementary schools most severely impacted by poverty. The new investment enables the significant expansion of full-day Head Start in these schools and will restore teacher positions to reduce class size, support reading and math interventions, and support students for whom English is not their first language. Federal Stimulus Funds
Montgomery College, University of Maryland Holding Events for High School Students Montgomery College and the University of Maryland, College Park, are holding events for parents and prospective students to get more information about the institutions. Montgomery College is hosting: - An enrollment fair on Sat., April 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Theatre Arts Arena on the Rockville campus, 51 Mannakee St. in Rockville.
- A Parent/Family Night on Fri., April 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. in 100 Science North on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus. The Takoma Park campus is located at 7625 Fenton St. in Takoma Park.
- A Parent/Family Night event on Thurs., May 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Theatre Arts Arena on the Rockville campus, 51 Mannakee St. in Rockville.
- The events will feature workshops on enrollment, financial aid and student life. Admissions and counseling staffs will be available to answer questions. All sessions will be conducted in English and Spanish. Those attending are asked to RSVP online. Visit the Montgomery College website to get more information about other open houses and special events.
The University of Maryland is hosting:
- Maryland Day on Sat., April 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free event has more than 40 sessions available to prospective students and their parents, including Are You Ready for College?, Understanding the College Admissions Process, Preparing for College and Paying for College. Information on specific majors will be available, along with hands-on activities, demonstrations and residence hall tours.
- Maryland Day information
Parent Academy Workshops to Discuss Safe Driving, Healthy Eating The MCPS Parent Academy is offering free workshops on two hot topics-safe driving for teens and living a healthier lifestyle. Here are details: - Fast and Fabulous Food for Fitness: This event, to be held Thurs., April 23, 7-8:30 p.m. at Northwood High School, will focus on the issue of obesity. The Silver Spring chapter of The Links, a women's volunteer service organization, will host the workshop, which will feature a chef discussing how to prepare healthy meals for families. Sample dishes will be available.
- Teen Driver Safety: Montgomery County teens and parents are invited to watch video clips featuring teens and hear ways to support teen driver safety during and beyond prom season. This event will be hosted by Leon Harris, news anchor for WJLA, ABC 7. This workshop will be held on Thurs., May 14, 7-9 p.m. in the Wheaton High School auditorium.
Register by calling 301-517-5940 or 301-279-3100, or download a registration form from the website and fax it to 301-279-3815. You can also mail forms to the Department of Family and Community Partnerships, 451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 508, Rockville, MD 20850. MCPS Parent Academy
Early Identification is Key in Treatment of Autism Autism is the fastest growing disability in the United States. Autism spectrum disorders affect more than 1 in 150 children nationally, according to a 2007 Centers for Disease Control report. April is Autism Awareness Month, and parents should know that early diagnosis is crucial in the effective treatment of autism and related disorders. There are a variety of resources available to help parents recognize early warning signs of autism disorders and other developmental delays in their children. Many groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and MCPS, advocate for early identification of autism and related disorders. A national website, Autism Speaks, offers a series of videos that spotlight warning signs of autism. Information on understanding, treating and living with autism is available from the AAP, AutismSpeaks.org, the Autism Society of America (ASA), and the Montgomery County chapter of ASA. MCPS also has resources available that offer free developmental screenings for children up to 5 years old who live in Montgomery County. The Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers program provides early identification of developmental delays for children from newborn to 3 years old. The Child Find program offers free developmental screenings in speech, motor and cognition to children between the ages of 3 and 5. Foreign language interpreters are available during screenings. For more information about Child Find, call 301-929-2222. The Infants and Toddlers program can be reached at 240-777-3997. Infants and Toddlers program
Board of Education Seeks Nominees for Distinguished Service Awards The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking nominations from the public for its 13th Annual Awards for Distinguished Service to Public Education. The awards are sponsored by the Board to recognize and show appreciation to individuals (including students), groups and businesses that have made exemplary contributions to public education in Montgomery County. Nominations will be accepted in the following categories: - community individual
- community group
- business
- Montgomery County Public Schools staff
- school service volunteer
- individual pioneer
More information, including nomination forms, is available on the Board of Education website or from the Board office at 301-279-3301. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Fri., May 15.
Board of Education Seeks Applicants to Fill Positions on Ethics Panel The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking to fill three vacancies on its five-member Ethics Panel. Each vacancy is for a three-year term, beginning July 1, 2009. Applicants must be Montgomery County residents. Members serve without compensation. Applicants must submit a letter of interest and résumé by close of business on May 4, 2009, for appointment to be made at the Board meeting on June 9, 2009. Send letter of interest and résumé to
Suzann King
Montgomery County Board of Education
850 Hungerford Drive, Room 123
Rockville, Maryland 20850 Or e-mail them to Suzann_M_King@mcpsmd.org. More information is available online or by calling 301-279-3617.
Get Information to Help Young Children Don't miss the Month of the Young Child event at Westfield Shoppingtown Wheaton on Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During this event, many county agencies and organizations will share information about the growth, development and learning of young children. The MCPS Office of Communications and Family Outreach will sponsor an "ASK MCPS" table, where parents and community members can ask questions, learn about MCPS programs and services, and take home tips on ways to support learning at home. Staff from the MCPS Division of Early Childhood Programs also will be available. There also will be children's activities and entertainment during these free events. For more information, call ChildLink at 240-777-4769. Information is available in English and Spanish.
TerraNova Tests to be Given This Month Second graders will be taking the TerraNova tests from April 27-May 1. The TerraNova is a multiple-choice test that measures skill achievement in reading, language arts, math, language mechanics and math computation. Parents can help their children by making sure they get a good night's sleep, eat a nutritious breakfast are at school on time. Individual student scores will be reported to parents in June. Testing calendar
High School Assessment Exams Offered in April, May The High School Assessment (HSA) exams are being given April 20-23 (seniors only) and May 18-21. Students must either pass each of the four HSA tests (Algebra/Data Analysis, Biology, English, and Government), earn a combined score of 1602 or higher on all four tests, or complete the required project(s) for the HSA Bridge Plan for Academic Validation (Bridge Plan) to meet the graduation requirement. The April administration is the last chance seniors will have to earn a passing score on the tests. (The make-up date is April 24.) The May administration is open to students in all grade levels. (Make-up tests are set for May 26-29 and June 2-5.) The HSA Prep Online website includes practice test questions, answers and explanations in all four subject areas. Parents can help their children by making sure they practice, get plenty of sleep, eat a good breakfast and are on time to school.
Work Group to Develop Plan for Strengthening Math Program A K-12 Mathematics Joint Work Group has been established to develop a comprehensive plan for strengthening the mathematics program in Montgomery County Public Schools. The goal is to improve the achievement of all students in mathematics systemwide. MCPS Deputy Superintendent of Schools Frieda Lacey convened the first meeting of the work group on Jan. 15. The 40-member multistakeholder team includes representatives from the employee associations, teachers, principals, supporting services staff and central services staff. Parents also serve on the team, including representatives from MCCPTA and the NAACP. The work group will gather input from staff, students and parents; identify issues and concerns; research scientifically based practices; benchmark exemplary models; and analyze data on the current state of mathematics in MCPS from January through October. Initial recommendations and next steps will be developed and presented to Dr. Lacey in December. Periodic updates will be available in QuickNotes.
Summer School Registration Begins in May The Regional Summer School Program for high school students offers an opportunity to take classes for original credit or to recover lost credit. The Regional Elementary Summer School Program offers courses for enrichment and remedial purposes. Summer school also can help students get ahead in preparing for the next school year. Aside from the regional programs, many schools offer their own summer school programs. Check with your child's home school to see whether they plan to offer one. Any questions concerning summer programs at the middle-school level should be directed to your child's middle school. Registration forms and brochures for this year's programs will be available in all schools by the end of April. Preliminary information on the summer school programs is available now on the Summer School website.
Election for Student Member of the Board to be Held April 29 Parents, encourage your secondary school students to vote during the election of the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) this month. Two students were chosen as final candidates for the 32nd student representative on the Board. They are Tim Hwang, a junior at Wootton High School, and Jiayi Yang, a junior at Richard Montgomery High School. Students should view the TV show "Meet the Candidates" and read the official voter guide before voting. Visit the SMOB Election website to see the show's broadcast schedule on cable Channel 34. On Wed., April 29, all secondary school students will be able to vote in an election at their school. Election results will be available on the SMOB webpage the following day.
High Schools to Hold Voter Registration Drives U.S. citizens who will be 18 years old by Nov. 4, 2009, can register to vote in local, state and national elections. All MCPS high schools will conduct voter registration drives from April 20-29. Students can register to vote at their schools. High School Voter Registration
MCCPTA Workshops on Accelerated and Enriched Instruction Parents are invited to two free workshops on accelerated and enriched instruction, hosted by the Gifted Child Committee of the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (MCCPTA). They will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. All parents are welcome to attend. - Wed., April 22-Middle School Acceleration. Learn what accelerated curriculum opportunities are available in MCPS middle schools. The presenter will be Stacy Gray, supervisor, Middle School Expansion, MCPS Department of Enriched and Innovative Programs.
- Wed., May 6-Math Acceleration. Hear about the challenging course options open for students to take accelerated math. Speakers include Karen Roberts, supervisor, pre-K-12 mathematics, and Gail Kaplan Wassell, instructional specialist, ES/MS math and Gifted and Talented coordinator, MCPS Division of Accelerated and Enriched Instruction.
Students to Sell Refurbished Cars, Computers May 2 Students in the MCPS Automotive Body and Technology and Network Operations programs will sell student-refurbished cars and computers from 9 to 11 a.m. on Sat., May 2, at Thomas Edison High School of Technology. The items for sale are donated by corporations and individuals. They are refurbished, reconditioned and tested by students as part of their classroom studies. For information on the cars, call Mike Snyder at 301-929-2164. For information on the computers, call John Brewer at 301-929-6975. Pricing information will be available in late April on the Automotive Trades Foundation website and the Information Technology Foundation website. Proceeds will benefit the Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades and Information Technology foundations.
Don't Forget ... - College readiness events are being held for parents of middle school students. The focus is on college awareness, readiness and financial preparation. The next events are scheduled for April 21 at Baker Middle School from 9:30-11 a.m., and April 23 at Sligo Middle School from 6:30-8 p.m. For more information, e-mail Dr. Genevieve Floyd at Genevieve_L_Floyd@mcpsmd.org.
- Registration for the 2009-2010 prekindergarten and Head Start programs is continuing through the summer for children who will be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2009. Call 301-230-0676 with questions.
- Kindergarten orientation, a day to introduce parents and first-time students to school, will take place this year from April 1 through May 22. Orientation is open to parents and their children who will be starting kindergarten in Montgomery County Public Schools in the 2009-10 school year. Children who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2009, can enroll in kindergarten.
- An all-day conference focused on shaping the vision for secondary education will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, at Northwest High School, 13501 Richter Farm Road in Germantown. The early-bird registration deadline is April 17.
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04-02-2009, 05:38 PM
MCPS QuickNotes Newsletter - April 2009
