Blake Updates
January 13, 2018
Blake POSSE Scholar
Congratulations to Blake Dance
Blake HS A Cappella! on NBC 4 This Past Week
Seniors- Order Your Cap and Gowns
Graduation is June 6th
Order your cap and gown now
Payment Due Date: March 8th.
Cap and Gown Cost $45.00
How to Order:
- You can pay for your cap and gown using Blake Online Payments.
- If you prefer to pay in cash or a check, Ms. Koch and Ms. Phelps will be collecting payments on Monday, February 4th outside the Amphitheater at lunch.
Seniors will receive their caps and gowns on Friday, May 24th.
Graduation Sign Language Interpretation Services
In preparing for the graduation of the class of 2019 (Graduation is on June 6, 2019 at Mt. St. Mary's University.) we wanted to share the following information for families requesting sign language or cued speech translation services.
Individuals who need sign language interpreters or cued speech transliterators to
participate in the graduation exercises should contact the Office of Interpreting Services at 240-740-1800.
Requests also can be made online, http://www.educationalinterpreters.com/mcps.
Parents/guardians or students with questions also may e-mail the office at mcpsinterpreting_services@mcpsmd.org.
Please give as much notice as possible to enable staff to provide the accommodations requested. Requests should be received no later than January 28, 2019
Blake SGA Service Project
The Blake HS Student Government Association (SGA) is collecting food/snacks to create care packages for Stepping Stones Shelter in Rockville during the Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Service. The donations will help with after school snacks for the children there.
The SGA is looking for donations and volunteers (students will earn SSL hours)
Donations:
Donations can be placed in boxes by the Main Office, Security Hallway, Outside of Room B223 and outside of Room A202A. Donations can be made until 1/23. Donations of the following items are being accepted:
- Healthy cereals
- Hearty soups for the winter
- Oatmeal
- Orange Juice
- Juice boxes
- Cookies
- Rice Krispy Treats
- Pretzels
- Fruit cups
Sign Up To Help Make The Care Packages:
The SGA will be assembling the care packages on 1/22 and 1/24 from 2:45 until 4:00 pm (activity buses are provided) in Room B223. You volunteer you must sign up online here.
Check out the Blake SGA on Instagram and Twitter for more information.
Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget Virtual Presentation
In case you missed it, you can still watch the superintendent’s virtual community conversation on the Fiscal Year 2020 recommended operating budget online at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/budget/.
During the December 18 discussion, Superintendent Jack R. Smith, MCPS staff, and community partners answered questions on the budget and stressed the importance of its focus on student classrooms and schools, including the key bodies of work: improving programs; increasing access to strong academic and career opportunities; extending learning; providing language opportunities; focusing on physical, social and psychological well-being; hiring and retaining an effective and diverse workforce; and strengthening operational excellence.
Now that Dr. Smith has presented his recommendation, the timeline for the FY 2020 Operating Budget is as follows:
· January 9 and January 14, 2019: Board of Education holds operating budget hearings
· January 16, 2019: State releases budget
· January 17 and 24, 2019: Board of Education holds operating budget work sessions
· February 12, 2019: Board takes action on the recommended operating budget
For more information, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/budget/.
Winter 2019 Parent Academy Schedule
The MCPS Parent Academy offers parents/guardians and community members the opportunity to attend workshops that provide information, resources, tools, and tips to support their children’s success in school. The 2019 winter season of workshops has begun. You won’t want to miss sessions on mindfulness, college and career planning, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) resources and much more.
Parent Academy workshops are free. Childcare and interpretation services are provided at all sessions. A full list of courses is available on the Parent Academy website www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/. Registration is available here.
Mental Health and Wellness Forum to Be Held January 12
The second annual Mental Health and Wellness Forum will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 12, at Earle B. Wood Middle School. The event, which is being hosted by MCPS and the Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA), will discuss mental health challenges facing youth today and provide available resources within MCPS and the greater community.
There will be breakout sessions on teen depression; stress and anxiety; opioids; the LGBTQ experience; self-harm and self-soothing behaviors; BTheOne Campaign for Peer Support; building a culture of trust: lessons from Northwood High School; and treating trauma across cultural diversity. Special features include Hidden in Plain Sight (designed to strengthen parents’ detective skills; available for adults only); Narcan training (for adults only); free mental health first aid training from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and resource tables. From 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., there will be a student talkback session moderated by Ananya Tadikonda, student member of the Board of Education.
Earle B. Wood Middle School is located at 14615 Bauer Drive in Rockville. You can register for the forum here.
HBCU Fair Set for February 22
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fair will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on February 22 at the Universities at Shady Grove, Building 3, 9640 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville. All high school students and their parents/guardians are invited to participate. Dozens of colleges and universities will be present to talk to parents, guardians and students about their programs and several will conduct on-the-spot admissions interviews for high school seniors. You can register and view more information at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/familysupport/hbcu/.
Upcoming County Education Budget Meetings
Parents/guardians and members of the community are invited to join Montgomery County Councilmember Craig Rice, Superintendent of Schools Jack R. Smith, and Montgomery College President DeRionne Pollard at upcoming Education Budget meetings scheduled for February and March. Attendees can find out how budget decisions are made, what the County is doing today to get ready for FY 2020 and beyond, and the opportunities residents have to influence budget decisions.
The meetings will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the following locations:
- February 20, Neelsville Middle School, 11700 Neelsville Church Road in Germantown
- February 27, Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School, 11800 Monticello Avenue in Silver Spring
- March 6, Rockville High School, 2100 Baltimore Road in Rockville
- March 11, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, 4301 East-West Highway in Bethesda
- March 27, Montgomery College Takoma Park Campus, 7600 Takoma Avenue in Takoma Park (Cultural Arts Center Theater 1)
The county executive will announce his Recommended FY 2019 Operating Budget in March. In April, the County Council will hold public hearings and approve the operating budget at the end of May.
Nominees Sought for Annual Distinguished Service to Public Education Awards
The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking nominations from the public for its 22nd 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 organizations that have made exemplary contributions to public education in Montgomery County. Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/community/awards/ for more information. Completed nomination forms must be received in the Board of Education office by 5:00 p.m. on March 1, 2019.
Don’t Be Distracted Contest Open to Elementary and Secondary Students
A Safe Kids study demonstrated that one in four high school students and one in six middle school students walk distracted. These distractions were most often texting or wearing headphones. Research also indicates that for teen drivers, a single glance off the road for two or more seconds increases the risk of a crash or near crash by almost four times. When students are distracted while walking or driving, they are putting themselves and others in danger. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is inviting all MCPS students to help raise awareness of this critical issue by participating in the 2019 Don’t Be Distracted Contest.
Students are asked to create a 30- to 60-second public service announcement (PSA) video or artwork about one or both of the following topics:
- Tell your peers the importance of not walking or driving distracted
- Tell adults the importance of not being distracted while driving, especially in school zones.
All entries are due Monday, March 4. For more information and to submit an entry, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-PedSafety/SRTS/creative-contest.html.
Key Dates
- January 15- PTSA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.- Blake Media Center
- January 21- No School
- January 23- Senior Parent Meeting, 7:00 p.m.- Amphitheater
- January 25- Early Release Day
- January 25- Last Day of the Second Marking Period- Last Day of the First Semester
- January 28- No School for Students
- January 29- First Day of Semester 2- Report to Homeroom First
James Hubert Blake High School
James Hubert Blake High School is a Signature School for the Fine Arts and Humanities
#ExpectExcellence
Email: Robert_Sinclair@mcpsmd.org
Website: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/blakehs/
Location: 300 Norwood Road, Silver Spring, MD, United States
Phone: (240)740-1400
Twitter: @Blake_Principal