Three Sisters Garden: A community treasure trove
Through a labor of love, three neighbors collaborate to create a community garden providing food, education, and friendships. Three Sisters Gardeners Steven Lapham Sellers, Ella Truelove, and Nelson Reyes (not pictured)Heather Jauquet/Author.
Read full storySummer training for MCPS security staff includes active shooter situations
It has happened again. A school has been involved in a mass shooting just months after a student was shot in a school bathroom in Magruder high school, and Catonsville High School students took shelter after a shooting outside the school. This time it was an elementary school.
Read full storyTalking to Your Kids About Current Events
Woman comforting and holding small child close on her lapJordan Whitt/Unsplash. Author's note: As an educator who has taught across grade levels, I have compiled a list of tips for parents to help children process events.
Read full storyBook Wars: MCPS Middle School Students build friendships through literacy and leadership
Media Specialists combine a love of literacy and leadership skills through county-wide book trivia competition. MCPS District 2 Book WarriorsRon Poker/Used with Permission. Lights. Music. Themes. Decorated tables. Costumes. Opening skits and book warriors. Welcome to Montgomery County Public School’s Middle School Book Wars.
Read full storyA MoCo philanthropist empowers communities to take action
What can the power of generosity do for your community?. A pair of hands holding a small yellow flowerLina Trochet/Unsplash. “People are full of abundance. They want to help but don’t know where to start or how to give,” says Sheena Saydam, a successful realtor and philanthropist in Montgomery County.
Read full storyTrue Food Kitchen: Truly Exceptional
Have you tried True Kitchen yet? Located at the Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg, there isn’t a better location for this dining experience. I had the opportunity to check out the menu and the ambiance during their soft opening last weekend.
Read full storyMCPS parents, students, and teachers provide feedback at meeting hosted by interim superintendent
MCPS Interim Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight listening intently to community feedbackHeather Jauquet/Author. On April 20th, staff, parents, students, and board of education members participated in the first in-person community conversation hosted by Montgomery County Public School’s Interim Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight.
Read full storyMCPS Teachers concerned about a post spring break surge
Students and staff asked to test before returning to the classroom. It’s the end of spring break for Montgomery County Public Schools, and across the county, students and staff are preparing to return to the classrooms. However, before they do, they are asked to send in the results of a rapid home kit provided by the school system.
Read full storyE&A Dwellings: Dedicated to effortless organization and authentic design for you
Want to feel less stressed? Hire an organizational home decor team to help you. Organized linen closet by E&A DwellingsRachelle DeRamos and Farrah Short from E&A Dwellings/Used with permission.
Read full storyTreat yourself to pixie dust and magic for stress free complimentary Disney planning with Jennifer Arnold
Yes, FREE planning when you work with an Earmarked travel agency. Jennifer Arnold with R2-D2 in Hollywood StudiosJennifer Arnold/Used with Permission. If you have ever tried to book a Disney vacation it can get a little unwieldy. If you try to book it with only 3 weeks notice, it’s a challenge. But with Jennifer Arnold, a travel planner and independent contractor with Storybook World Travel, this is where pixie dust and magic meet.
Read full storyLove is in the Hair. Welcome to Hair Razors
The Stylists at Hair RazorsJulina Salazar/Used with permission. Nestled unassumingly between a gym and an Indian market is a hidden gem within the Damascus community in Montgomery County. Don't be fooled by the outside, the inside is cozy, friendly, and welcoming. Inside you will be greeted with a friendly smile and a stylish motif with crystal chandeliers, a plush waiting area, and the most comfortable salon chairs.
Read full storyMCPS to review masking policies in schools
Hogan asks for mask mandates to lifted at all Maryland schools. As people prepared for holiday get-togethers in December, Maryland saw a spike in COVID-19 transmissions due to the Omicron variant. Schools suffered from a lack of staffing and student absences as the new variant spread across the state. In Montgomery County, school buses were unavailable, and parents were asked to provide transportation for their children. Virtual classrooms maxed out, leaving students without a way to access the curriculum.
Read full storyDamascus gets "FunkY" for the Super Bowl
Damascus High School alum Jake Funk makes his way to the Super Bowl. Henze Signs' Let's Get FunkY to support Jake FunkLory Gardner/Personal sign bough to support Jake Funk and Damascus Cougars Football.
Read full storyFrantic parents watched in disbelief, waiting for their children to be released at Magruder High School
A parent with school-aged children never wants to receive the dreaded communication that their child is in a lockdown situation at their school. But unfortunately, that happened on Friday, January 21, 2022 at Colonel Zadok Magruder High School in Derwood, Maryland.
Read full storyBy the numbers, a peek as to how MCPS was functioning before the three day weekend
More classes went into quarantine throughout the county while MCPS tried to keep their agenda of in-person learning. A mask hanging off the back of school chairKelly Sikkema/Unsplash.
Read full storyMCPS teachers’ concerns and frustrations met with silence
Concerns about counterfeit masks, high transmissions rates, and lack of coverage met with silence. Woman starting at her laptop in frustrationElisa Ventur/Unsplash. The recent community updates from Montgomery County Public Schools have been muddy. There has been a lack of transparent information and no clear move in any direction, except for one: lowering the safety bar for staff and students.
Read full storyNo more room for students, quarantined virtual classes maxed out
MCPS staff shortages by the numbers for Tuesday, January 12th. Schools across Montgomery County are asking, “When is it enough?” It’s all about the numbers. Montgomery County Public Schools’ Interim Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight provided a guiding threshold to move schools to virtual. Within two days, there was a move to remove the threshold with a promise to monitor schools closely. Schools across the county are still waiting to hear guidance when high transmission rates cause individual classes to quarantine, as teachers call out sick, and classes are combined and shuffled to the cafeteria when there are not enough adults to provide class coverages.
Read full storyMCPS pushes in-person instruction, but staff shortages highlight inequity
Who benefits from the lack of access to transportation, meals, and curriculum?. Little girl lookin forlornly over a chairChinh Le Duc/Unsplash. Schools are facing a teacher shortage, and lack of coverage as COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Montgomery County. Many staff members are in isolation or quarantine or caring for a quarantined child. Those in the building are using an all-hands-on-deck approach, causing them to miss out on their planning time. Paraeducators who provide extra support to students are pulled for class coverage, leaving students without the extra help they could receive.
Read full storyMCPS daily staff shortages affecting teaching and learning
Across the county, individual schools are struggling to keep up with the number of staff members who have to call out. Open and available substitute jobs are not being picked up for in-person instruction. Too many substitutes are concerned about becoming sick. Central Office Personnel is receiving requests from principals to cover the open classes, lunch and recess duty, and front office. At last count, there are 59 schools requesting support and coverage from Central Office.
Read full storyMoCo BOE works remotely while requiring in-person instruction for staff and students
Maryland declared a state of emergency, but not for schools. The expectations placed upon Montgomery County schools and their staff members have been daunting. Many are frustrated with the lack of transparency and leadership as COVID-19 cases soar across the county. Add a little back peddling on decision making and a dash of finger-pointing, and you have the makings of what staff and students are calling COVID stew.
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