MCPS Board of Education addresses substitue shortage
By Vicky Gunawan, Observations Editor
April 3, 2019
Filed under Observations
Substitute teachers are among the least appreciated of teachers. They are called last minute to work, but they are still able to conduct classes with organization and poise. Recently in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), there has been a shortage of substitute teachers. Because of this, the...
MCPS modifies assailant situation procedures
By Sophie Liss, Editor-in-Chief
February 8, 2019
If you are an MCPS student, the phrase “lockdown” likely generates memories of covering classroom windows, locking the door and sitting silently under desks during drills and emergencies. However, MCPS is now making changes to active assailant situation procedures coinciding with the “Maryland...
MCPS school buses need to install seat belts
By Miranda Chung, Assistant Opinions Editor
December 21, 2018
Filed under Observer Opinion
The Oct. 8 limo crash in New York is considered to be the deadliest U.S. car accident in nine years according to the New York Times. After killing 20 people, including the driver of the vehicle and two pedestrians, the horrifying incident directed much needed attention on transportation safety. ...
MCPS considers extending spring break
By Bradley Furgerson, Features Editor
November 21, 2018
Filed under Local, News, Online Exclusives, Top Stories
Following student and staff input in relation to which holidays the most students are absent, MCPS is considering two proposals for the 2019-2020 calendar. Both have 182 days of instruction, which is two days over the 180 state-mandated number of school days, start on Sep. 3, 2019 and end on June 15, 2020....
MCPS distributes free summer meals
By Vicky Gunawan, Observations Editor
October 18, 2018
Filed under Local, News, Observations, Online Exclusives
Starting Jun. 18, 2019 free meals will be distributed during the summer at approximately 120 sites throughout Montgomery County. The county will provide meals to students attending summer school or recreation programs as part of a new program called the Montgomery County Summer Food Program. This...
Md. education resource disparity causes teachers to strike
By Jenna Greenzaid, Editor In Chief
May 9, 2018
Filed under News
MCPS has a $2.519 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2018 to fund operations for the 204 schools included in the county. While MCPS may be adequately funded, there are still alarming disparities within the county concerning planned distribution of resources to schools and funding for such resources. “My...
MCPS supplies free ACT, SAT vouchers to students
By Brandon Li, Online News Editor
February 8, 2018
Filed under News, School, Top Stories
MCPS is now offering a free SAT or ACT voucher for every junior. In order to receive the free voucher, students must apply through the Counseling Department or the College/Career Center. Students complete a form, including a photo, and return it to the College/Career Center. The voucher only ...
MCPS adopts new grade-viewing system
By Sophie Liss, Sports Editor
October 5, 2017
Filed under News, Online Exclusives, School, Top Stories
MCPS has created and implemented a new platform for reporting grades posting assignments:myMCPS Classroom. This will replace the use of Edline for the 2017-2018 school year. The new system is more cost effective than Edline was, allows teachers to annotate and write comments on documents as they gr...
Ultimate Frisbee Petitions MCPS for Official Sport Status
By Will Hyland, Production Editor
May 31, 2016
Filed under Sports
The idea that ultimate frisbee would become a recognized MCPS sport has been tossed around for a while, and with the recent announcement by the Olympic committee declaring frisbee an olympic sport, now may be the most likely time for a change to be made. CHS ultimate frisbee captain junior Jacob Gl...
2017 Budget Announced
By Nathan Deychman, Sports Editor
March 22, 2016
Filed under Top Stories
After over three months of deliberation, MCPS released the Fiscal Year 2017 Operating Budget March 15. The 2017 budget will include increased spending on instruction, with over 81 percent of the budget being allocated to the development of the instruction provided for students in MCPS. Interim Superintendent...
MCPS Search for New Superintendent Comes to a Close
By Eugenia Cardinale, Observations Editor
February 25, 2016
Filed under Uncategorized
MCPS’ search for a new superintendent is over. The Board of Education (BOE) Feb. 4 conditionally appointed Dr. Jack Smith as the next superintendent effective July 1. Smith is currently the interim superintendent of Maryland schools and former superintendent of schools in Calvert County Public Schools...