On Thursday, January 5, 2023, MCPS released the Montgomery Virtual Academy application for the 2023-2024 school year.

• Families who previously completed the Notice of Intent form and indicated a request to remain in the Virtual Academy next school year do not need to apply again.
• Families who did not complete the form, or who had indicated a desired to return to the home school, but now wish to remain in the Virtual Academy, must apply on ParentVUE using the new application.

The WIDA ACCESS test window is January 9 - February 17. All ELD students are required to take the test in-person at their home school. Please check your email and remind your child to check their email for communication from your home school. Home schools will begin contacting families after December 16th with information regarding test dates and times. The test usually takes two half days. Student’s attendance will be recorded at the home school and reconciled at the MVA to be marked present.

More information will be shared when we return after Winter Break. If you have any questions please contact the MVA ESOL Resource Teacher- Jill Schuck at Jill_L_Schuck@mcpsmd.org

MCPS and the Division of Food & Nutrition Services will be providing bulk meal kits to MCPS students enrolled in MCPS Virtual Academy. The boxes will be distributed at the designated locations listed below. The location selected will be your assigned location to pick up your pre-ordered meal kit.

Please utilize this form to place an order for our Bulk Meal Kits.

Meal Kits will provide 5 Breakfasts and 5 Lunches.

***Distribution & Distribution Sites***

Meal kits will be distributed at each site listed below every Friday (unless otherwise noted) from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.

• Seneca Valley High School
• A. Mario Loiederman Middle School
• Richard Montgomery High School
• Department of Food & Nutrition Services (DNFS) at Turkey Thicket

***Ordering***

All orders for meal kits should be placed a week in advance for distribution the following week.

Meal kit orders must be placed using the google link each week.

The ordering link closes every Friday at noon and reopens Friday at 3:00 pm for the following distribution.

Parents must provide the first and last name & I.D. number of each student if they are requesting a meal kit.

Link to Meal Request form:

https://forms.gle/bPyzKsc9F3My7zad9

***Questions & More Information***

Questions regarding meal kits can be sent to the meals dropbox:

DFNSMealKitOrders@mcpsmd.org (The email dropbox is having technical challenges. Please email Cassandra.Heifetz@mcpsmd.net with meal questions to pass along to food services until the dropbox is repaired.)

In an effort to create more social opportunities for students this year, we are working to expand our after-school clubs. Two clubs that will be starting in October are the Rainbow Club and the Kids for Equity Club. Both clubs will be run by MCPS central office staff and high school students in partnership with MVA staff. Other clubs are also in development and will be shared as information becomes available.

Please click here or on the picture to view the flyer for Rainbow Club (in English & Spanish).

Please click here or on the picture below to view the flyer for the Kids for Equity Club! (in English & Spanish)

During the month of December, all K-5 Virtual Academy students received a lesson on the topic of Internet Safety. We use the website https://www.netsmartzkids.org/ for many of our lesson materials and resources. This website was created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. It has sites for parents and children to view. If you have time, take a look!

Please view the provided Parent tips on Internet Safety linked below.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

K-2 grades: Nicole Bamberger - nicole.m.bamberger@mcpsmd.org

3-5 grades: Corinne Whited - corinne.e.whited@mcpsmd.org

We have also provided parent tips on internet safety linked here.

Protecting your Kids Online:

English Protecting Your Kids Online 2.0.pdf

español Protecting Your Kids Online 2.0 ES.pdf

Cyberbullying unplugged:

English Cyberbullying_Unplugged.pdf

español Cyberbullying_Unplugged_ES.pdf

Being a Trusted Adult:

English being-a-trusted-adult.pdf

español being-a-trusted-adult-es.pdf

Gaming Online:

English gaming-safely.pdf

español gaming-safely-es.pdf

Cellphone Safety:

English Parents' Guide to Smartphone Safety.pdf

español Parents' Guide to Smartphone Safety ES.pdf

The Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center is offering free online basic computing classes for adults. Classes are taught using the Zoom platform. There is very limited space. It is first come, first served. So, please do not delay!

To apply, click here!

Note - The form must be completed only by the person taking the class.

Eligibility:
Must have access to a computer. Cell phones cannot be used to take the class.
Classes are open to ages 18 years and older.
For Montgomery County Residents only.

Application:
Space is LIMITED - Availability is on a first come, first served basis, until classes have been filled.

Questions: Call: 240-777-4940 or Email: Bellinda.Olympio@montgomerycountymd.gov