Winston Churchill Weekly Updates
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Mr. Bilock's Sunday Reminders for the week of December 4th.
Good Evening Winston Churchill Families!
This is Mr. Bilock, principal intern with your announcements and reminders for the week of December 4th.
Last Thursday, I transitioned into the acting principal role of my principal internship experience. I am excited and honored to lead Winston Churchill High School over the next several weeks. Additionally, we are joined by Mr. Craig Jackson as our visiting principal. Mr. Jackson is joining us from Woodlin Elementary School where has has been the proud principal for 6 years. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Jackson to Winston Churchill High School!
Last week was the school-wide make up week in preparation for the Marking Period 2 interim school-wide deadline. Please encourage students to continue to talk with their teachers and utilize office hours during lunch to get in any missing assignments or complete any retakes before the school-wide deadline this Friday, December 9.
Churchill's first basketball games of the season will take place this Tuesday, December 6. The Bulldogs take on Gaithersburg High School. Boys will be at home and girls will be away. JV will begin at 5:30pm and Varsity will begin at 7:15pm.
Also this week, Wednesday is an early release day for students to provide time for staff to engage in professional development sessions. Thursday, our counseling department will host our annual Junior Parent College Night. The meeting will take place from 7:00pm to 8:30pm and hosted in the cafeteria. For those of you that are unable to make it in person, a Zoom webinar option is available. Please see the Counseling Department section of the newsletter for Zoom information.
In this week's email communication, you can sign up to purchase the yearbook, and read about many community events and activities highlighted at the bottom of the newsletter. Students should review information and plan now for completing SSL opportunities over the Winter break. All of our communications, and the most up to date information, will also be shared on the Churchill School Canvas tile.
I hope you and your family had a great weekend. Thank you for your continued communication, collaboration, and support. Have a wonderful rest of the evening.
Important Upcoming Dates!
Wednesday, December 7 - Early Release Day (Professional Development)
Thursday, December 8 - Junior Parent College Information Night
Friday, December 9 - School-wide Work and Reassessment Deadline
Friday, December 23 - Monday, January 2- Winter Break (No School for Students)
Monday, January 16 - MLK Holiday (No school for students or staff)
Thursday, January 26 - Semester 1 and Marking period 2 ends
Friday, January 27 - Professional Day for Teachers (No school for students)
Monday, January 30 - Semester 2 and marking period 3 begins
Monday, February 20-Presidents' Day (No school for students or staff)
Friday, March 3-Early Release Day
Wednesday, March 15-Early Release Day
Thursday, March 30- Marking Period 3 ends
Friday, March 31-No School for Students (Professional day for teachers)
Monday, April 3-Monday, April 10- Spring Break (No School for Students)
Tuesday, April 11-Marking Period 4 beginnings
Information from the School Safety and Communication meeting on November 28.
Winter Sports - Spectator Expectations
Churchill's first home basketball games will take place Tuesday, December 6. Our boy's team will take on Gaithersburg High School. JV will begin at 5:00pm and Varsity will begin at 7pm. The girl's team will take on GHS away and start times are the same. The first home game for our girl's team will be on Monday, December 12.
»All other school-aged spectators must be accompanied by an adult chaperone - this includes all elementary and middle school students and high school students from other schools - adult chaperones must stay and supervise students for the duration of their stay at the game.
» Spectators should expect to take additional time to gain entrance to events, as school IDs and enrollment are verified at the gate.
»Students and spectators must sit in the assigned sections of the stands during the course of the game. While there will be potential gatherings at halftime and postgame, large gatherings will not be allowed during the game.
» Backpacks are not allowed.
» Inappropriate and unruly behavior at athletic events may result in suspension from subsequent MCPS athletic activities
We look forward to seeing you all at an upcoming athletic event and showing your Bulldog Pride!
Blood Drive on December 12!!
Blood Drive on December 12th from 9a – 1:30p. Students must be at least 16 years of age. All students regardless of age must bring a parental consent form signed by a parent/guardian to your appointment. Please see Mr. Smith, Athletic director for the parental consent form at lunch beginning December 5. Please click here for more information.
Upcoming winter concerts!!!!
Tuesday, December 13th Winter Choral Concert at 7pm
Thursday, December 15th Winter Orchestra Concert at 7pm
Friday, December 16th Winter Jazz Coffeehouse at 7pm
Tuesday, December 20th Winter Band Concert at 7pm
“Your Story Matters” program!
As you are well aware, our students’ mental health has become a priority issue as they’ve navigated the pandemic and the recovery from it, on top of any personal and previous concerns and situations they are managing. We recognize also that mental health is addressed differently in different communities, and we want to make space for those nuanced conversations. We are excited to be hosting our second “Your Story Matters” program, focusing on mental health in communities of color. This event will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, from 6:00–8:30 p.m. at Richard Montgomery High School. We will open with light fare and information tables set up on Richard Montgomery’s Main Street, and then the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. We have invited parents, students, mental health professionals, and community partners to participate in panel discussions and present interactive workshops to discuss mental health issues facing our teens and the stigma of such issues in various communities. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
If you have any questions or further ideas for the program, please contact Mr. Monteleone via email at Damon_A_Monteleone@mcpsmd.org. We hope to see you at the event.
Yearbooks are on Sale!
The cost of the yearbook is $105.00. A limited number of promotional codes that offer a discount will be available on a first come, first served basis when you place your order at jostens.com. If you don't see a promotional code at jostens.com when you click on yearbook that means that the codes have been used. No additional promo codes can or will be issued. Order early at Jostens.com. Payment plan options available at checkout.
Extra, extra! Subscribe to The Churchill Observer today!
Stay up-to-date with the news at Churchill by purchasing a subscription to our award-winning student newspaper! All of our monthly issues and the sought-after, end-of-year Senior Section (only available to subscribers and seniors; featuring the college commitments of the Class of 2023) will be mailed directly to your home.
Additional savings are offered to subscribers who order for multiple readers. Our publication makes a great gift for out-of-town family members, neighbors, and college students -- basically, anyone who loves WCHS!
Subscriptions are $25.
Email Laura Zitnik, journalism advisor, at: laura_b_zitnik@mcpsmd.org to subscribe.
Or, subscribe online at:
https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/12827/354/False/True
WCHS Midnight Writers
PTSA Information and Meeting Information
Join the PTSA
WCHS PTSA provides dynamic support to all of our students, teachers, and community. With your paid membership dues and donations, the PTSA will be able to continue this support which includes: student social and academic programs; speaker series; staff and school support; Reflections Contest and much more. Please join now.
Students, show off your talents in this year’s National PTA Art Reflections contest! You may enter any of the six categories-dance, film literature, music composition, photograph or visual arts (including sculpture). The theme this year is “Show Your Voice!” The student entry form must be filled out completely when submitting your original work, with your artist statements from 10-100 words describing how your art expresses this year's theme. Please submit your work to chair Carla Morris via email at wcshreflectionschair2022@gmail.com. For any questions, please contact her. All work is due by the deadline of December 16. All work will be for 3d works, please send your best photographs of your art! This is what judges will review. For more detailed guidance on official participation rules, please see the rules.
Entry Form Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lyao56vsZ95WSGLHVTe4bZHx5qtpDi65/view?usp=drivesdk
All the entry rules for each art category: https://www.fspta.org/_files/ugd/024331_41d9b1e7e95d4527b24a22e957b0f7d7.pdf
Special artist division rules: https://www.fspta.org/_files/ugd/024331_5d6866698fe64e688ab8a116833b1013.pdf
School Cash Online Information (SCO)
MCPS transitioned to a new online payment system called SchoolCash Online (SCO) for school-related fees such as fundraisers, field trips, obligations, etc. (Please note that the new payment system is NOT related to school cafeteria accounts)
As of today, 79.06% of Churchill families have successfully registered on SchoolCash Online (SCO)! Registration takes just a few minutes, but a SCO Pin number is needed. This PIN number is different from the student ID Number. Help us get 100% of our Churchill families registered on SCO. If a SCO Pin number is still needed or you are having any difficulties, assistance is available. Please email Margretta_S_Canagarajah@mcpsmd.org or Lisa_L_Wellek@mcpsmd.org.
Don’t wait until the last minute, get registered TODAY!
Advanced Placement Testing and Course Information
If you have not registered/paid for your AP exams, you still have time! We are in the late registration window. Each exam will incur a $40.00 late fee. We will begin late registrations on December 1, 2022. We will leave the window open until March 1, 2022. The process for late registration is as follows:
- Please email Mr. Paskvan (Christopher.R.Paskvan@mcpsmd.net) on or after December 1 through March 1 to inform him of your intent to take the exams. Please share all of the information below:
- Name of Exam(s)
- Teacher if you take the course of the exam at Churchill.
- Method of Payment you will use - (Cash, Check, or Online). Students who attend another school will not have the option to pay online.
- Once you have communicated with Mr. Paskvan, he will add the exams to your SCO (school cash online) account.
- Please pay for your exams. Once you have paid for the exams, Mr. Paskvan will share join codes to register for the exam.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Paskvan.
Important Senior Class Information - Class of 2023
Seniors | It is time to order your Cap & Gown
Order your cap & gown package at Jostens.com today. The cap and gown package includes the cap, gown, 2023 stole & tassel. These are the required items for graduation. If you are wearing a siblings gown, you still need to purchase the 2023 stole & tassel. Order by 1/2/23 to take advantage of the discounted group rate pricing. Payment plan options available at checkout.
Senior Parent Night: College Process Recordings
9/8 Parent presentation Recording Senior College Information Night.mp4 - Google Drive
9/8 Parent Slide Presentation https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qa1mr1aofei36e3wPr_hSsQ4QmpBirznhxDgj_qCRCU/edit?usp=sharing
9/8 Student Slide Presentation https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jEO2-5-59vHYCEHSrLvPpYQkK__G497o2TKsBCrBKNA/edit?usp=sharing
9/15 Recording of Parent Q & A https://drive.google.com/file/d/11sMTrARn-b1cRruRMg2x4UVMeHqZYGKH/view?usp=sharing
Exciting news from the media center corner!
Greetings from the Media Center corner! We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. In the spirit of gratefulness, I would like to introduce you to two of our media staff. Mrs. Bottiglieri has been at Churchill for several years now and is such a welcoming force for out students. With her expertise, she has elevated our interactive displays, posters and table placards. She is a creative genius and we are so lucky to have her to welcome students into the media center. Mrs. Coil is new this year and has been a wonderful addition to our staff. Mrs. Coil has implemented the “rolling” check out cart and often meets students where they are rather than having them come up to the circulation desk to check out their book. Mrs. Coil was also instrumental in our undertaking of arranging books according to their genre rather than the author’s last name. And none of this truly explains how lucky our students are to have these two ladies in the media center welcoming and helping them whatever the need.
Counseling Department and College and Career Updates!
College and Career Information Coordinator: We want to wish Ms. Zimmerman well on her recent retirement! She has provided years of support and assistance to families and students as they navigate the college process. While we are working to find a great candidate to take over her role, please know that your students' counselors can assist with college and career information, and can put you in touch with resources if they cannot immediately assist with your question. We stand ready during this transition period to support all of our families and students, as Churchill has always done!
Junior Parent College Meeting- 7:00-8:30pm
THIS Thursday evening in the cafeteria OR virtual using the information linked here.
HBCU Pathways Program Has Begun!
HBCU Pathways Program offers college and career development for the youth. We have recently expanded into the northeast consortium of Montgomery County, in collaboration with Worksource Montgomery, and would like to share programming opportunities with your students and their families. The next HBCU Pathways Program is Saturday December 17th, 2022 at 10 am ET. Next month's meeting will be in-person at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
The flyer for the event will be sent closer to the event date. Please share with your students and invite them to register for the program here (https://forms.gle/uKmM22rg4WcYY8458), or visit our website https://www.pathways2x.org/our-events/ with more information and upcoming meetings.
Financial Aid Information
Slide deck from Thursday, September 28 evening program on Financial Aid
Check out these resources to learn more about need based financial aid and the FAFSA, the document required for requesting college aid. The application process for the Class of 2023 opens October 1. Learn more now and set up an account before the opening day.
Understanding student financial aid……….
https://studentaid.gov/h/understand-aid/how-aid-works
Creating a FAFSA ID step by step………..
https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
Creating a FAFSA ID youtube video……………
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTb7hMVtzco
Slide deck from Parent Coffee: Standardized Testing (10/20/22)
Recording of Parent Coffee: Tasks to be Completed Junior Year (10/6/2022)
Handout of Tasks to Complete Junior Year used at the parent coffee 10/6
Student Recognitions
"In the Doghouse" - Check out all the celebrations for the Fall Athletic Season - an amazing job by all of our Bulldog athletes, coaches and teams! Thank you for a great season.
Student Services Learning (SSL) Updates and Opportunities.
A message from the SSL coordinator Mrs. Amanda Marshall
SSL Opportunity:
Culture of Respect Student Training Module - 2-hour SSL Opportunity
- The Culture of Respect 2022-2023 Student Training Module is available on Canvas for students to access:
- Students must fully complete the training module by December 22, 2022, to be eligible to earn two (2) SSL hours
Updates from the SSL Coordinator:
Be sure to check out the SSL Updates for November!
Bookmark the links below for easy access to all information SSL related!
· https://bit.ly/SSLHubMCPS - SSL forms, resources, and guidelines in one place!
· https://bit.ly/SSLOpportunities - all nonprofit-hosted SSL opportunities
· https://bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020 - all nonprofit-hosted virtual/remote SSL opportunities
· https://bit.ly/SSLOpps22-23 - monthly highlighted SSL opportunities
· https://bit.ly/SSLOverview2020 - SSL program overview slideshow
· https://bit.ly/SSLonVUE - step-by-step directions for checking SSL record
Introduction to SSL Handout:
English | Español | 中文 | Français | tiếng Việt | 한국어 | አማርኛ | Portuguêse
WCHS Policy and Procedure Reminders
Important Links
WCHS Bell Schedule 22-23 - Daily Wellness and a Weekly Advisory Period
- Updated Personal Mobile Devices (cellphone) Policy - Updated cellphone policy to reduce distractions during class (PMD's are allowed between classes and at lunch)
Parking and Traffic Reminders for WCHS
Drop-Off and Pick-Up - Please be careful and respectful during drop off and pick up each day. MPD traffic division will be out issuing citations for illegal driving and parking. We have had incidents of rude behavior - and we ask everyone to model the civility and respect that we expect from our students!
WCHS Updated traffic and drop-off and pick up zones
Important Reminders - We strongly recommend that you plan to drop off your student(s) before 7:30 and pick them up after 2:40. Traffic congestion can be bad, especially as we head into colder weather and rainy or inclement weather. Please do not drop off your student in traffic on Gainsborough, Tuckerman or Victory - as this can lead to unsafe conditions.
Visitor Parking
We ask our visitors to use the NEW Visitor parking lot by the flagpole near the main entrance. Please do not park in the other lots as they are designated and assigned to specific staff and students.
Student Parking
Student parking is limited to seniors that have been approved for and picked up a parking permit. School permitted areas, which require the parking permit, include both the school lots and the surrounding streets. Any student who parks in the school lot or on the surrounding streets without an approved permit displayed may be subject to ticketing or towing. Seniors that have been approved, but have not yet picked up a parking permit, may not park at school until the permit has been received.
ATTENDANCE REMINDERS AND INFORMATION
Please use our new online Attendance Form for any Excused Absence Notes, or Dismissal Notes.
Students leaving early or returning from an appointment. Must sign in and out in the Attendance office. Please use the online form to let us know about the appointment.
If your student doesn’t have a note to leave early. We will need a parent to come in and sign them out. For information regarding attendance, please click here.
(Even during lunch!) MCPS Attendance Policy
Child is leaving early for any appointments. Please send them to school with a note (which includes first name, last name, grade level and student ID).
Child is out because they are not feeling well. Please send them to school when they are able to return with a note (which includes first name, last name, grade level and student ID).
If your child is not feeling well. They need to go to the School Health room first before calling you to come pick your student up.
SPORTS INFORMATION and UPDATES
Latest Edition of "In the Doghouse" with all of the WCHS Athletic department news - including updates on the season, tryouts for winter sports and links to the Booster club.
Bulldog Families, please make sure you read about changes at our athletic events. Students make sure you have an ID with you for games!
MVA FORM
Please complete Verification of Identity and/or School Attendance/ DL-300 for those students’ applying for a Learner’s Permit.
Completed forms should be brought to one of the counseling secretaries before school, during lunch or after school for processing. Applicants should be prepared for a 24 hour “turn-around” time for their form to be processed and need to plan accordingly.
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES
MCPS will no longer provide free meals for all students.
DFNS and the school cafeteria will be returning to providing full meals and wide menu of "a la carte" menu items available for students to purchase. Don't forget that families will need to either send in a check, or sign up and pay on-line using the MySchoolBucks program. Here is a link to sign-up and pre-load payments for your student.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/meal-payments/
FREE AND REDUCED MEALS APPLICATION
Apply online NOW so that benefits will be in place when school starts! Families who meet
certain federal income standards are eligible for free meal benefits. All children use their MCPS ID number at the register so confidentiality is maintained and no child is overtly identified as receiving free or reduced-price meals. Only one application is needed for all students in a household.
A new application must be completed for any family requesting assistance this school year. The online application is now open for families to submit applications. www.MySchoolApps.com
For more information and How-To videos visit the Food Services website:
www.montgomeryschools.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/meal-payments/#FARMS
MCPS will resume regular meal services during the 2022–2023 school year.
Meal prices:
Breakfast—$1.30; Lunch—$2.55 (Elementary), $2.80 (Middle and High) Beginning this year, students in Maryland who qualify for reduced-price meals will not be charged for breakfast or lunch meals!
BUS ROUTES, DROP OFF and PICK UP, and ACTIVITY BUSES
Parents are reminded that there will be heavy vehicle and walking traffic around the school during drop off and pick up times and to allow extra time at the beginning of the school year. For bus riders, it is important that they review their stops and know their bus route information.
New for the 2022-23 school year: Activity buses will be provided on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, starting September 12th, 2022 through May 31st, 2023. Please review the full activity bus schedules. Activity Buses DO NOT run on early release or non-instructional days. Activity buses depart from the Churchill Bus Loop at 4:35pm. Activity bus routes are TBD at this time.
PARENTVUE
Don’t forget to access your ParentVUE account and make sure they are active and working. Please let us know if you are having trouble. Please review the information and make sure that the contact and emergency information in ParentVUE is updated and current for the upcoming school year. Of critical importance is having the correct e-mail address and phone number so that our information is correct. Parents can also complete the Directory Withholding information in ParentVUE, if they choose to do so.
STUDENT LOCKERS
Lockers are not automatically assigned to students as most do not utilize them. However, any student may request the use of a school locker at any time during the year. Complete the following Student Locker Request when you are interested in being assigned a locker. Request form must be accessed by the student using their MCPS google email. Questions or concerns, please see Security.
DROP OFF TABLE
Get Connected!
Follow us on Twitter, use the website, and make sure to access the Churchill Canvas page for all the latest and archived information, daily school announcements, and much more! If you have any feedback about the website or Canvas page, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Paskvan.
Directions for accessing our Churchill HS Canvas Page:
TO GET THERE --> 1) LOGIN TO YOUR PARENTVUE --> 2) FIND THE FOLDER ENTITLED "PARENT RESOURCES" --> 3) CLICK ON "MYMCPS CLASSROOM" --> CLICK ON COURSE CALLED "CHURCHILL HS"
Important Community-Wide Information and Updates.
Zahra Yagana's Fundraiser for Hazara Victims of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. Please click here for more information.
The Amplifier, Montgomery County's student-led magazine. Last year, came out with two editions: one in January and the other in June. The latter was 100 pages and had writing from students in 14 schools across Montgomery County. This year, our goal is to get involvement from all 26 Montgomery County high schools - including writers, artists, and editors. We would love to get your school involved, so please spread the word of this opportunity amongst your students. Attached is a flier with a QR code that directs students to a form for signing up to be a writer, editor, or artist for the Amplifier.
Interested in learning more about the Dale Carnegie Young Adult Leadership Program? Please click here for more information.
FalconVision Tutoring, is a student-run tutoring branch under the nonprofit Family Learning Solutions (FLS), and based in Poolesville High. As an organization, we’re dedicated to helping students succeed academically through direct sessions (online and free!) with our well-qualified tutors, over both the school year and/or summer. We always make sure to pair these tutors and students up based on subject-preference and unique learning style, so everyone can have the best experience. Ultimately, we hope to create a community of learners who can help one another overcome school-based challenges. As a high school, your students would be able to sign up as either a tutor or pupil with us, depending on what they hope to gain during their experience. More details can be found at https://www.fvtutoring.com/ and click to see our flyer.
- George B Thomas Saturday School - Please click here to learn about the George B Thomas Saturday School information for the 2022-23 school year. This is a great way to get your student additional help and assistance from certified MCPS teaching staff who know and understand the curriculum requirements of their classes.
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Culture, Child, and Adolescent Development Lab is currently, recruiting for Project ARISE to understand the unique experiences of Asian American families since the COVID-19 outbreak. They are specifically recruiting Korean and Filipino parents and teens to participate in our project. Parents and teens will each complete a 30-40 minute survey and can also take part in interviews if they're interested. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at ProjectARISE1@gmail.com. Parents and teens will be paid for their time and participation! Families can sign up using this form: https://umbc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3JVQoj9aNjuQa3k
COVID SAFETY REMINDERS and 22-23 UPDATES FOR OUR COMMUNITY:
- If you do test positive, please continue to report your status by using the MCPS COVID REPORTING FORM
Do not come to school if sick. With COVID cases and variants still occurring, it is important to not report to school if your student has any signs of illness. In addition to the standard COVID symptoms (cough, fever, loss of taste and smell), signs of illness include: sore or scratchy throat, running nose, headache, chills and body aches. If your child has any of these symptoms, please keep them home until it can be confirmed they do not have COVID-19.
Wear an enhanced mask/face covering. All students and staff will be allowed to choose whether to wear a mask while in school. If you have concerns about exposure or immune levels, we recommend to wear a mask. In some cases, students returning from quarantine will be required to wear masks for certain periods. Masks will continue to be available on-site for those that need them.
Practice good hand and health hygiene. Wash hands frequently with soap and water, use hand sanitizer when soap and water is unavailable. Do not cough or sneeze around others or into your hands. Dispose of any tissue or items used for cough, sneezing or nasal use.
Vaccinate, and also get a Booster if you can. DHHS has now approved boosters for age 5 and up. You can find out more at the DHHS Vaccination Website: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/
Winston Churchill High School
Email: John_Taylor@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/churchillhs/
Location: 11300 Gainsborough Road, Potomac, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-5400
Twitter: @wchsbulldog