Springbrook Weekly Digest
Week of Feb 4, 2024
A Message from Ms. Valentine, Principal
Greetings, Students, Staff, and Families,
Dr. Monifa McKnight, former MCPS superintendent, Dr. Betty Collins, Acting Deputy Superintendent and member of the first graduating class of Springbrook High School, and Mr. Michael Durso, Acting Chief of Staff, former President of the Board of Education, and former Springbrook High School Principal, visited a variety of Springbrook classrooms on Wed, Jan 31, 2024. Be sure to see the pictures capturing Dr. McKnight's visit. Additionally, students attended Town Halls and had an opportunity to hear from their class officers, review marking period 2 performance data, learn about internships, student leadership opportunities, and summer rise while also hearing about upcoming Springbrook High School events.
ADVISORY
Mon, Feb 5, 2024, students will pick up their report cards during the advisory period.
HONOR ROLL
Thurs, Feb 8, 2024, students will be celebrated for their honor roll achievement period 6 and period 7. Passes to attend the celebration will be distributed to students by their first period teachers.
UPCOMING GAMES
Mon, Feb 5 - Varsity Basketball v. Sherwood - Girls at 5:30 PM/Boys 7:15 PM
Tues, Feb 13 - Varsity Basketball v. Blake - Girls at 5:30 PM/Boys 7:15 PM
Fri, Feb 16 - Varsity Boys Basketball v. Wheaton - 6:00 PM
WIDA ACCESS
WIDA testing is occurring for students receiving ELD services and will continue through February. WIDA provides information regarding EML students' linguistic growth.
Check out Instagram postings from Principal Valentine
@springbrookprince
In this issue:
- Schedule for the week
- Celebrating Black History Month
- Class of 2024 - Time to confirm student names on diplomas
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Donation
- Apprenticeships, internships, and career opportunities - Dental Assistant and Gensys Works Info
- Athletics - Register for spring sports
- Book of the Week (BOTW)
- Choral Concerts
- MCPS Voter Registration
- Mock Trial - Breaking news!
- National Counselor Week
- QuestBridge Scholarship Application Opens
- PTSA - Sign up for healthy vegetables; become a member of the PTSA
- SBHS Tutoring
- See Something, Say Something
- SSL opportunities - Great with building, constructing, designing and painting? Create the set for the spring musical and earn SSL hours
Warm regards,
Stephanie Valentine
Principal
Springbrook High School
We Celebrate the Vast Contributions of Black Americans
Meet Nikki Sertsu, Executive Director of Planet Word
This month we recognize Nikki Sertsu, newly named executive director of the Planet Word Museum in Washington, DC. Sertu earned her B.A. in Political Science from Tuskegee University in Alabama and M.S. in Urban Affairs and Policy Analysis from the New School for Social Research in New York. Sertsu joined Planet Word in 2017 as one of the museum's consultants. She later transitioned to Senior Director of Exhibits and Special Projects of the museum's award-winning exhibits. Prior to her work at Planet Word, Sertsu was Founding Executive Director/CEO of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in Baltimore, MD . Sertsu brings more then 25 years of nonprofit leadership to the role.
Class of 2024 - It's Time to Confirm Student Names on Diplomas!
Notification of the Diploma Name Requests for All Potential Graduates Will Be Available Mid-January
Diploma name requests for all potential graduates will be posted in StudentVue and ParentVue. This notification allows the student and/or parent/caregiver to review and confirm the student’s legal name as it should appear on the diploma.
Students and parents will have a choice as to how their legal name will appear on the high school diploma or certificate of attendance. Students and/or parents/caregivers should review the legal name shown on the notification to ensure no misspellings. If the student wishes to use the full legal name there is no action required. If a change is requested, the student must contact Ms. Lisa Saunders, school registrar, in-person, in the counseling office.
The diploma name choices are as follows:
• Full legal name.
• Legal name without middle name.
• Legal name with only middle initial.
A preferred name, may not be placed on diplomas.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Delivers Pretty Pouches to SBHS
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Black Greek sorority, founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University, which galvanizes the sisterhood of more than 120,000 active members to lead on the front lines of change, education, and advocacy. Members of the Silver Spring Chapter of Theta Theta Omega created pretty pouches, which includes personal toiletry items for young ladies. Alpha Kappa Alpha delivered pretty pouches for distribution, further supporting their initiative to uplift our local community. We are grateful and appreciative of the donation to Springbrook High School.
Principal Valentine, Ms. Tonja Paylor member of Theta Theta Omega, and Ms. Stella McCuiston, assistant principal.
Dental Assistant Apprenticeship Opportunity
Juniors interested in becoming a dental assistant should attend the virtual meeting on Feb. 15, 2024, from 6:00 - 7:00 PM. See the flyer for more details.
Interested in Technology or Business? Consider Applying to Genesys Works
Genesys Works applications are LIVE. Please apply before the March 24 deadline. It's one of THE BEST programs that we offer. You must be available for 8 weeks in the summer for training and then have room for a Triple Period internship during your school year.
What is Genesys Works?
Genesys Works provides opportunities for students to work in paid internships at major corporations, receive industry-recognized certifications, and help with college, scholarship,
and financial aid during their senior year of high school.
What are the benefits of participating?
• It's an opportunity to gain professional and business technology skills while earning college credit. Students learn skills like public speaking, Microsoft Office, business technology, teamwork, and more – all while having fun!
• It's a paid corporate internship in Information Technology or Business Operations.
Students will work for 12 months at a top company like AT&T, Accenture, and Apple FCU!
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking students interested in having a successful professional career and want to be exposed to a business environment before starting college. While our internships are technology and business-focused, we do not require any prior knowledge of technology or business.
To learn more about Genesys Works, please come to an information session on Friday, January 19 during lunch in F215. Or see Ms. Brown in G202. Nicole.B.Brown@mcpsmd.net
Spring Sports Registration on ParentVUE
Spring 2024 interscholastic athletics online registration through the ParentVUE Portal is opened. The ParentVUE online registration portal, available in English and Spanish,
incorporates all required paper forms and documents into an internet-based platform that can be
accessed using a secure ParentVUE Portal login. Parents/guardians are also able to scan and upload their student’s physical as part of the registration process. Note: effective July 1, 2023, pre-participation physical exams will be valid for 13 months (including existing physicals on file) and baseline concussion testing will be optional.
Springbrook's Library Media Center Highlights the Feb 4 - Feb 9, BOTW
Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture
"Emma Dabiri can tell you the first time she chemically straightened her hair. She can describe the smell, the atmosphere of the salon, and her mix of emotions when she saw her normally kinky tresses fall down her shoulders. For as long as Emma can remember, her hair has been a source of insecurity, shame, and—from strangers and family alike—discrimination. And she is not alone."
"Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture by Emma Dabiri is a collection of essays about the history, culture, and racism surrounding Black hair. Black hair has a beautiful history that has been erased by European history." - Review by Amanda Hupe
On Thurs, Jan 25nd, the All-Springbrook Chorus performed at the Springbrook Winter Choral Concert. In addition to their semester 1 repertoire, they sang a combined selection with guest chorus groups from Briggs Chaney Middle School, Page Elementary, and Galway Elementary.
Springbrook's Winter Choral Concert
Springbrook Chamber Singer Performs with Professional Chorus
On Sat, Jan 27th and Sun, Jan 28th, 5 of our Chamber Singers (pictured below, Faven Amundson, Qaaism Malik, Iniko Kouyate, and Emily Seidel; Scout Calderon not shown) performed with professional chorus Six Degree Singers. Performances occured at the Christ Episcopal Church in Kensington and at Hughes United Methodist Church in Wheaton. Our singers sang selections from the Winter Concert as part of the 2-hour event.
Dr. Monifa McKnight Visits Classrooms and Engages with Students
Dr. McKnight visiting the Teacher Academy of Maryland, Growth and Development class taught by Ms. Aimee Hawkins and encourages students to pursue education fields and to return to teach in MCPS.
Dr. McKnight commending Mr. Mark Pim and his IB History 2 students regarding the cerebral student discourse and individual viewpoints on what consequences the Long March had for Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Dr. McKnight applauding Ms. Emily Heimsoth's Project Lead the Way (PLTW) class on their critical analysis and designs of their upcoming engineering project. She reinforced how STEM programs prepares students for careers in engineering, biomedical science, and computer science.
Shown left to right, Mr. Michael Durso, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Betty Collins, Acting Deputy Superintendent, Principal Valentine, and Dr. Monifa McKnight, former MCPS Superintendent.
The Blue Devil Mock Trial Streak Continues
Springbrook's Mock Trial is undefeated. Our Blue Devils have secured a bye for the first round of playoffs and will earn one of the top 3 spots in MCPS Mock Trial ranking. #Can'tStopBlueDevisl!
National Counselor Week Feb 5-9, 2024
We focus on the remarkable contributions of school counselors' impact in helping Blue Devils achieve school success and ensure their college and career-readiness for the 21st century.
SGA Sponsors Voter Registration Drive
Springbrook's SGA partnered with the Montgomery County Board of Elections to sponsor a voter registration drive over two days, last week.
QuestBridge 2024 College Prep Scholars Program Application Opens
The application for the QuestBridge application opens Early February and the deadline is March 20, 2024. The QuestBrdige National College Match can be your pathway to a top college. Through this college and scholarship application process, you can apply for free to the nation's best colleges and be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship, worth over $200,000.
The Match Scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package provded by the college that covers the cost of attendance, including:
- Tuition and fees
- Housing and food
- Books and supplies
- Travel and expenses
- Have NO parental contribution
- Have NO student loans
Eat Healthy in 2024 by Becoming A Member of Seasonal Roots
Join Seasonal Roots for $25.00 for a year long membership. When you join, Seasonal Roots donates $20 to Springbrook High School! Seasonal Roots is an online farmers market that delivers to families in Maryland and Virginia. Each week the market offers more than 150 items that are all grown and produced locally, sustainably, and ethically. Market items include fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, vegan specialties and more.
To join Seasonal Roots and earn a $20 donation for Springbrook, use promotional code SPRINGBROOK at https://www.seasonalroots.com/Springbrook.
Become a PTSA Member
Please don't delay! Click here: Become a PTSA Member today! It is also tax deductible. We need your membership to successfully enhance and support Springbrook students and staff. The more members we have, the more we can get accomplished and advocate for Springbrook to receive! Please visit our website to see what the PTSA has already accomplished for Springbrook. PTSA Website.
Thank you in advance! We can't do what we do without you.
Tutoring Opportunities at the Brook
Blue Devils, Remember the SBHS See Something, Say Something Initiative.
Safety is extremely important to our Blue Devil Community!
Blue Devils if you've seen something concerning at school, please use this QR code to report the incident. Providing details, location, and timeframe is really helpful.Great with Constructing, Designing, and Painting? Build the Set for the Musical
Visit the Springbrook Webpage to Learn About Upcoming SSL Opportunities
Springbrook High School
Email: Stephanie_Z_Valentine@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/springbrookhs/
Location: 201 Valley Brook Drive, Silver Spring, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-3800
Instagram: @springbrookprinc