Blake Updates
September 15, 2019
PSAT & College Readiness Day Information
The James Hubert Blake High School College Readiness Day and the College Board’s Preliminary SAT (PSAT) will take place on Wednesday, October 16 starting at 7:45 a.m. Here are the details for the day:
Students in 9th grade will have the following two options on our college readiness day:
- Students in 9th grade who wish to take the official PSAT may do so by registering and paying online by Tuesday, October 8. The cost is $17.00, and you can register by going to the Blake website, clicking on the “Online Payments” link on the left and then going to the “PSAT Test – 9th Grade Registration Fee” link. All students in 9th grade wishing to take the official PSAT must register online.
- Students in 9th grade who do not wish to take the official PSAT will take a practice version of the test. There is no cost for this version and students do not need to register. All 9th grade students who do not take the official PSAT will take the practice test and will receive an evaluation of their performance.
All students in 10th grade are expected to take the PSAT, which is paid for by Montgomery County Public Schools. No registration is needed for 10th grade students. Students will receive a full report on their performance in December 2019. This feedback is important to help prepare for their future college testing.
Students in 11th grade have the option of taking the official PSAT. The College Board’s PSAT is critical for students in Grade 11 as it is the qualifying exam for the National Merit, National Hispanic, and National Achievement Scholarship programs. This is arguably the most important step juniors will take to prepare for life after high school. Students in 11th grade who wish to take the PSAT must register for the test and pay the $17 fee. To register go to the Blake Website, click on the Online Payments link on the left and then select “PSAT Test – 11th Grade Registration Fee”. Students in 11th grade who would like to pay by cash or check may do so in the main office during lunch, on Tuesday, September 24 or Tuesday, October 1. These are the only two days payments will be accepted in person.
- Additionally, the College Board provides a limited number of fee waivers for qualifying grade 11 students who have a financial hardship. If you feel your student qualifies for a waiver, please have them pick up and return a fee waiver form by Tuesday, October 8, 2019 in the main office. The form outlines all of the criteria that may qualify a student to test for free. Fee waivers are limited and will be given on a first come first served basis.
Students in 12th grade who have not taken and/or received a minimum passing score on either the SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER exams will be scheduled to take the ACCUPLACER on Wednesday, October 16. Seniors who have met these standards will be provided with time to get caught up on classwork.
If you have any questions please contact Mr. Mark Brown (Mark_Brown@mcpsmd.org), Assistant Principal.
Graduation Venue Feedback
You can submit your feedback using our online survey here.
Vote Blake Football for Game of the Week
Blake vs Watkins Mill and TC Williams vs West Springfield have been selected as nominees for ABC7's Game of the Week! We need your votes to have ABC7 feature Blake!!!
Voting will become active tonight, Sunday at 5pm, and will conclude at 6pm on Wednesday - the results of the vote will be announced at 6:25 Wednesday evening.
You can vote on our website - wjla.com/gameoftheweek or on the ABC7 News App. To vote on the app, hit the 'Explore' button on the bottom of the screen, then scroll down to the 'Sports' section where you will find 'Game of the Week'.
Let’s see your spirit Bengals!
WTOP Junior Reporter Contest
WTOP Announces Second Annual WTOP Junior Reporter Contest for Washington Area Students
WTOP and WTOP.com, along with Huntington Learning Center, today announced the second annual “Junior Reporter” promotion that gives kids in grades K-12 in the Washington area the chance to compete to become a junior journalist.
Winners will be crowned in three grade categories: K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Three prizes will be awarded (one per category) and consist of $1000 for the student, $1000 for the student’s school, and VIP treatment for the winner at the WTOP Studios – including a tour and chance to be featured on-air and online at WTOP.com.
Entries will be accepted beginning midnight on Monday, Sept. 30 through 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20 at WTOP.com search “Junior Reporter” and must be submitted by a parent or guardian. Kids that can compete to be a finalist will be selected from eligible entries by a WTOP panel of judges. Voting for finalists will take place at the same website from Nov. 2 through Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. The three winners will be selected from the top finalists at WTOP’s discretion (based on set criteria) from Nov. 11 - 13.
Winners will be unveiled online and on air between Nov. 13 through Nov. 17.
Saturday School
The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc. kicks off its 2019–2020 season of Saturday School on Saturday, September 21. Saturday School is a low-cost tutoring and mentoring program that provides a sixth day of learning and helps MCPS students enhance their mastery of core academic subjects. Students who are in need of additional academic support can attend sessions at one of 12 locations across Montgomery County. Classes begin on Saturday, September 21 and will end in May 2020. More information can be found at www.saturdayschool.org/.
Student Rights and Responsibilities and Code of Conduct
In order to ensure a safe, productive, and positive learning environment, MCPS publishes two documents that help students, parents/guardians, and staff understand school rules and regulations; the expectations for student conduct; and the possible consequences for violating the rules. A Student’s Guide to Rights and Responsibilities is an overview of the rights and responsibilities students enjoy in MCPS and a summary of the laws and regulations that affect students.
The MCPS Code of Conduct provides an overview of discipline procedures and protocols and the range of consequences students could face for violating various policies, regulations, and rules. The guide also discusses the MCPS philosophy toward discipline.
All families received copies of these documents and are encouraged to review them with their child(ren). The documents are available online at
Preview Nights Set to Explain High School Programming Options
MCPS has developed a long-range strategic plan for high school programming. The plan will be implemented in phases during the next six years, with new programs available to Grade 9 students in fall 2020. MCPS will host four preview nights to discuss these options with students and their families.
The preview nights will be held:
- Thursday, September 19, at Richard Montgomery High School
- Wednesday, September 25, at Watkins Mill High School
- Thursday, September 26, at John F. Kennedy High School (Parents/guardians and students who attend this preview night will also receive information on the Choice process.)
- Wednesday, October 2, at James Hubert Blake High School (Parents/guardians and students who attend this preview night will also receive information on the Choice process.)
Each preview night is designed for specific high school clusters. All preview nights will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be live streamed on the MCPS website.
More information is available here or on the Options webpage at
Stay Informed with MCPS QuickNotes
MCPS QuickNotes is a bimonthly newsletter that provides MCPS families with important news and information about MCPS programs and activities, plus emergency information. MCPS QuickNotes is offered in seven languages: English, Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Amharic. Visit news.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/ to read the latest edition.
Key Dates
- September 17- First PTSA Meeting- 7:00 pm in the Media Center
- September 25- Blue Block Day
- September 26- Silver Block Day
- September 30-No School
- October 4- Early Release Day
- October 8- Financial Aid Information Night, 7:00 p.m. in the Amphitheater
- October 9- No School
- October 10- Students report to homeroom at the start of the day to complete the Equal Opportunity Schools student survey
- October 14- MCPS Open House for all schools
- October 16- College Readiness and PSAT Testing Day (information included in this week's update)
- October 22- Choral Cluster Concert, 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium
- October 28- Homework Spirit Week
- October 29- Powder Puff Game
- October 30- Blue Block Day
- October 31- Silver Block Day
- October 31- Hallway Decorating
- November 1- Homecoming Game
- November 2- Homecoming Dance
James Hubert Blake High School
James Hubert Blake High School is a Signature School for the Fine Arts and Humanities
#BESTBlake — #WeAreBlake — #BengalPride
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
Facebook: facebook.com/BlakeHSPrincipal/
Twitter: @Blake_Principal