Blake Updates
February 24, 2018
March 1- Early Release and Career Day
Blake Children's Theater- The Wizard of Oz
Blake's Dance Company at the County Showcase
Congressional Art Competition
AP Test Registration
MCPS News and Notes
Join Us for Discussions on Safety and Security
MCPS and the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (MCCPTA) are hosting a series of community conversations on safety and security.
The meetings will feature Ed Clarke, chief safety officer for MCPS, and Dr. Christina Conolly, director of MCPS psychological services. They will discuss school safety issues, student mental health concerns, and lockdown with options protocols.
The community meetings will be held:
Tuesday, March 5, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Silver Creek Middle School
3701 Saul Road, Kensington, MD 20895
Wednesday, March 13, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Paint Branch High School
14121 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866
Thursday, March 21, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Northwood High School - Cafeteria
919 University Blvd., West Silver Spring, MD 20901
Tuesday, March 26, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Clarksburg High School Cafeteria
22500 Wims Road, Clarksburg, MD 20871
RSVP here: www.mcpsliveevent.org/ and visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/security/resources/ for more information on MCPS safety and security.
Board of Education Adopts Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget
The Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a $2.66 billion Operating Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. This includes an increase of $65.56 million from FY 2019. The budget will allow MCPS to manage growth, maintain high levels of achievement, and eliminate opportunity gaps. A majority of the $65.56 million spending increase will be used to maintain services for a growing student population; manage increasing operational costs; fund ongoing salaries and benefits; and invest in key areas of work to close opportunity gaps and improve academic excellence for all students. The budget also includes funding for key bodies of work that will strengthen the district’s efforts to improve programs; increase access to strong academic and career opportunities; extend learning; provide language opportunities; focus on physical, social and psychological well-being; hire and retain an effective and diverse workforce; and strengthen operational excellence. To learn more about the Board’s adopted budget, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=8287&type=&startYear=&pageNumber=&mode=.
Provide Feedback on Draft MCPS Strategic Plan
The Draft MCPS Strategic Plan for FY 2019–2022 is now available and MCPS is seeking your feedback. This Strategic Plan represents the district’s continued commitment to the five core values that define what it means to be an exceptional school system: Learning, Relationships, Respect, Excellence and Equity. MCPS is committed to educating students so that academic success is not predictable by race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, language proficiency or disability. The plan is centered on six outcomes for MCPS that include:
- Students Ready To Learn;
- Reducing and Eliminating Disparities in Student Learning;
- Students Prepared for College and Career;
- A Safe and Healthy Learning Environment;
- Efficient Operations; and
- Highly Effective Employees.
Aligned to each of the six outcomes are program indicators that are monitored using data to determine the achievement of goals as.
The draft plan can be found at: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/campaigns/Strategic-Planning-FY19-22/ and includes a feedback form we encourage you to fill out so that you may share your thoughts about the plan.
New Date and Location for Summer Opportunities Fair
Parents can explore a multitude of summer opportunities for school-age children at a fair on March 14. Local and regional providers will be available to talk about summer camps, programs and volunteer activities. Parents can meet program staff, pick up applications, and get information on financial assistance. The fair will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville. Register for the fair online at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/ or call 240-314-4825.
Emergency Weather Make-Up Schedule
Recent inclement weather forced MCPS to close schools on four days. The 2018–2019 MCPS school calendar includes 182 instruction days, two above the minimum required in the state of Maryland. As a result of these closures, MCPS will need to use two designated make-up days to ensure that it meets the State-required number of days. The school year has been be extended to June 14, 2019. In addition to June 14, students also will attend school on June 5 which was originally scheduled as a professional day. Any additional school closures for emergency weather will result in the need to use additional make-up days. MCPS will continue to closely monitor for severe weather and provide updates on any impact it may have to the school calendar. For more information on the MCPS school calendar, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org.
Opioid Awareness Event
Parents, staff and members of the community are invited to join the mayor and Council of the City of Rockville for an important community event that aims to raise awareness of opioid abuse. The event will be held at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater in Rockville on March 7 at 7 p.m. The guest speaker, Chris Herren, is a former professional basketball player and will share his story about his struggle with addiction. This event is free and open to the public.
Get a Little Drama in Your Life!
The curtain is rising on spring theater productions throughout the school system, at middle and high schools. Plan now to see these great performances, which run into May. From The Lion King, Jr. and Legally Blonde, Jr. to West Side Story and Freaky Friday, there’s something for everyone.
Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/finearts/theatre/homepage/Spring%202019%20HS%20Theatre%20Productions..pdf for the list of spring 2019 High School Theatre Productions.
Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/finearts/theatre/homepage/Spring%202019%20MS%20Theatre%20Productions.pdf for the list of spring 2019 Middle School Theatre Productions.
Key Dates
February 25- AP Mix & Mingle
February 27- Music Festival Preview Concert
February 28- Senior Banquet
March 1- Early Release
March 1- Career Day
March 1- Interims Due
March 6- Blue Block Day
March 7- Silver Block Day
March 7- Junior Class Peer Parent Meeting/College Night @ 7pm
March 7- Interims Posted
March 12- Spring Sports Parent Night
March 15- International Night
March 22- Swing Night
March 28- Elementary Science Night
March 29- Spring Play
March 30- Spring Play
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