RMIB News
RMHS Magnet/ IB Coordinator Notes - March 2019
This month’s IB Learner Profile Trait of the month is “balanced.” As IB learners:
We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives--intellectual, physical, and emotional--to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
Principal, Damon_A_Monteleone@mcpsmd.org
I had a wonderful time serving as the visiting principal at Tilden Middle School In January and February while Ms. Butler took over as principal intern. My time away only reaffirmed how much I love and respect our school community. Since returning, I was reminded quickly about the level of excellence at Richard Montgomery. Within weeks, we have celebrated our 36 National Merit Scholar Finalists, our state semi-finalist men’s basketball team, our senior artists at IB/AP Art Exhibit, and our award winning choir and instrumental music groups. It was also exciting to learn about the rising freshmen Magnet Class of 2023.
My focus now is on finalizing our courses for next year and hiring the best teachers and staff available for your students. Finally, I would like to share that we are honored to welcome Senator Chris Van Hollen as our featured speaker for the Class of 2019’s graduation which will be held at the University of Maryland’s Xfinity Center on June 7th at 1:30 pm. Let’s just hope the weather changes soon and spring finally arrives!
Magnet Coordinator, Joseph_F_Jelen@mcpsmd.org
I want to thank Ms. Shay for organizing community meetings with every student in the school through English classes. Students discussed mental health and well-being. Students heard the message that their mental health and well-being are paramount at RM and discussed approaches to improving mental well-being that we can implement as a community.
This month we have been working behind the scenes to ensure students are scheduled for appropriate courses for next school year and prepared for AP/IB exams in May. You can find important information about the AP and IB exams on the RM website.
Diploma Programme Coordinator, Nancy_S_Shay@mcpsmd.org
Things have definitely been busy in Suite 200 this month! Many thanks must be extended to the IB Magnet Foundation for assisting both financially and logistically with the UNIS UN field trip. The Foundation continues to work collaboratively with teachers and administrators to help best meet the needs of RM Magnet and DP students; for this, I am so grateful. Twelve juniors and social studies/ Theory of Knowledge teacher Mr. Chris Hinsvark and I went to New York City and enjoyed hearing speeches about sustainable water usage in the United Nations, an inspiring setting in which to reflect on how local decisions have global implications.
Juniors and seniors taking IB tests in May--only six weeks away!--began uploading documents to candidates.ibo.org. this past month.With one more IB deadline to go, we’re hoping to finish strong. In the upcoming months I will be meeting with Diploma Programme teachers so that we can begin developing a comprehensive calendar for IB assessments for the 2019-2020 school year.
Upcoming Tea and Talk Tuesdays (during lunch in room 210):
March 26 - Sophomores
April 2 - Seniors
April 9 - Freshmen
April 23 - Juniors
April 30 - Sophomores
Middle Years Programme Coordinator, Molly_A_Clarkson@mcpsmd.org
Classroom Spotlight
Ninth graders are currently working on a whole-school reading of Elizabeth Acevedo’s novel in verse, The Poet X. Acevedo is an award-winning slam poet who lives in the DC area and taught in the Prince George’s County Public Schools. After earning an MFA from George Washington University, she published her debut novel in 2017 to great critical acclaim. The novel was named the 2018 National Book Award Winner for young people’s literature. Classes are currently rotating books through the 9th grade and whole-grade discussions will be taking place in late April and early May.
Personal Project Information
At this stage in the process, students should have completed their final products of have met their final goal. Students will shortly be completing their final reflections. In the next several weeks, students will have two structured lessons on how to compile their final reports. Projects will be collected in the week prior to Spring Break and the in-school exhibition of projects will be on the last day prior to Spring Break. In order to prepare for this, students should complete the required reflections that are posted on Canvas. Further information on how to expand these reflections into a final report will be discussed with students at the start of second semester. All Personal Project materials are posted on the school website. A copy of the student handbook is posted there as well.