Northwest News
Mr. Smith's Newsletter for the Northwest Community
Sunday, November 21, 2021
NEW: A Message from Mr. Smith
Happy Sunday Evening! This week begins the holiday season with Thanksgiving on Thursday. As a reminder, we have half days on Monday, November 22 and Tuesday, November 23 for parent/teacher conferences as well as no school on Wednesday, November 24 through Friday, November 26.
As we reflect this week on all we are thankful for, I wish to send words of THANKS to the entire Northwest community. I am THANKFUL for all my students as they make me smile on a daily basis. I am THANKFUL for my staff for giving their all, every day for our students and families and I am THANKFUL for our parents/family members for their unwavering support of our school and most importantly, their students. The Northwest community is the best around and I am THANKFUL for being a part of it.
A special congratulations to our cast and crew of "Radium Girls" for putting on four (4) amazing shows this weekend. Another congratulations to our Boys Soccer team for a truly impressive fall season and for an even more impressive showing at the State Championship game yesterday. This Friday, November 26, our Football team will take on Quince Orchard at Quince Orchard in the State Semi-Final game. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.
There is just so much for which to be #JagProud!
This week, there are only a few new items including an upcoming straight "A" student celebration, SGA's Thankfulness Week this week, an opportunity for interested AP Chinese students and this week's college and career information.
Looking forward to great, albeit short week!
NEW: Honoring Straight "A" Students!
Congratulations to these students for their hard work!
NEW: AP Chinese Opportunity
Northwest is offering the AP Chinese test to ONLY Northwest students in May. If your student would like to take the test, please email our AP Coordinator, Ms. Amy Mason (amy_m_mason@mcpsmd.org) for more information.
NEW: SGA's Thankfulness Week
Day 1, Monday 11/22: Life at Northwest: friends, clubs, classes, teachers, traditions, or anything else Northwest provides to you
Day 2, Tuesday 11/23: Life at Home: your family, your pets, your possessions, your community, experiences you’ve had outside of school, or anything else you want to share!
Please reach out to Ms. Ledrick with any questions at Margaret_M_Ledrick@mcpsmd.org.
NEW: This Week's College and Career Information
9th Grade Counselor Orientation presentation is on the counseling web page.
Updated College Career e-NEWS Bulletin (Google doc) link for this week's edition of the Northwest News Community Newsletter:
e-NEWS Bulletin Highlights:
REMINDER: Northwest Student Participation Invitation and Instructions to attend the November 30 Career Council Inc. National Hispanic College Fairs. All high school students are invited to attend with emphasis on juniors & seniors.
REMINDER: Maryland General Assembly Page Program now accepting applications
REMINDER: West Point Leadership Conference Opportunity for Juniors
REMINDER: Safeway Job Fair
NEW: Things for Seniors To Do After Applying to College and Before January 1
NEW: A Fall To Do List for Juniors
NEW: Scholarship Transcript Form on the web!
NEW: Apprenticeship Opportunities
NEW: A.R. Tilghman Memorial Scholarship for Seniors
NEW: Virtual MCPS 14th Annual HBCU College Fair - Save the Date
NEW: High school College Career visits return on December 2
e-NEWS Bulletin Content:
College Career Information Center e-NEWS Bulletin
Week Ending: November 19, 2021
5 Things for Seniors to Do After They Have Applied to College; from LINK for Counselors Newsletter, article by Barbara Leventhal, JRA Educational Consulting & Score Academics
Things for Seniors to Do Before January 1, 2022:
- Apply for Scholarships and Develop a Scholarship Calendar
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you are considering working while in college please check YES to the interest in the Federal Work Study (FWS) question on the FAFSA.
- Review State Scholarship and Grant Programs: Students should consider applying to at least one college or university in their home state. This is a way to compare pricing for in-state versus out of state schools. Applying for state scholarship and grant programs might provide you with additional funding, to go along with any earned private scholarships and FAFSA funds. Check the deadlines for the programs and apply as soon as possible. Some programs tend to be based upon your FAFSA results while others are for students in specialized academic majors or for families with a military background. Maryland residents resource mhec.maryland.gov.
A Fall To-Do List for Juniors (a great read for students and parents); from LINK for Counselors Newsletter, article by Lee Bierer, an Independent College Advisor based in Charlotte
Career Council Inc., National Hispanic College Fairs, Inc. MCPS College Fair Day! Virtual Event on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, from 9 am to 1 pm. FREE. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
All high school students are invited to attend with emphasis on juniors and seniors.
Northwest Student Instructions to Attend:
- Student must register @ https://gotocollegefairs.swoogo.com/NHCF_registration
- Select a period to attend between 9 am and 1 pm (periods 2, 3, 4, LUNCH or period 5)
- Request permission from your teacher to attend. Be prepared to show proof of registration.
- Bring your Chromebook and headphones to the College Career Information Center (Room 126)
- Scan the 'Visit Us - Participation' QR-Code for attendance
- Enjoy the college fair!
Click here to download the event flyer with program details specific to Northwest HS students.
Click here to download the student registration instructions in English.
Click here to download the student instructions in Spanish.
REMINDER: New College Career web pages!
- College Application Resources Page (a link provided on the college career home page: College app fee waivers - The College Essay - The Resume - links to Resource Guides and more…
- The Military & Recruitment Information (under Quick Links): Contact information for Northwest recruiters - The ASVAB - Northwest policies on recruiter activity at your school…
Scholarship Transcript Request Form on the web! Counseling & College Career Financial Aid & Scholarships pages. Requests by electronic submission @ https://forms.gle/dNp4SSPQvFN83mHE6
The West Point Leadership & Ethics Conference (WPLEC) is inviting four Northwest juniors to participate in this year’s event on the campus of George Mason University (Arlington). Juniors must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and have demonstrated leadership both in and out of the classroom. Highlights of the 2020 conference can be viewed here. This event will be in-person on March 17, 2022. To express interest in participating, complete this form @ https://forms.gle/YvN8ZUTdqYRXYYT78 no later than December 17.
The Maryland General Assembly Page Program is now accepting applications from high school SENIORS! If you are interested in government or history and you’re looking for an opportunity to learn more about the Maryland State Legislature, apply to be a Page for the Maryland General Assembly 2022 Legislative Session! This is a great opportunity to participate in online conversations with senators and delegates and to virtually join legislative sessions and committee hearings. There will also be a one day in-person component, in which students can opt to visit the Annapolis Legislative campus, tour the State House complex, and experience serving on the chamber floor. Applications are due by 5pm on Monday November 22nd. To find out more information, go to bit.ly/MGAPageProgram.
Job opportunities posted in the latest Jag JOBS Bulletin.
NEW Opportunity: SAFEWAY / ALBERTSONS JOB FAIR! December 4 from 11 am to 3 pm. All STORE locations. To apply and for employment information, including benefits, visit safeway.com/careers.
The Washington, DC Joint Plumbing Apprenticeship Program now accepting applications for Apprentice Training for 2022/2023. Applicants must apply online at local5training.org. Questions should be directed to info@plumbersualocal5training.com. The application process is open year-round. The school calendar operates from September through July.
Steamfitters Local 602 JATC Apprenticeship Program accepts applications in person at their Landover Maryland location (UA Mechanical Trades School, 8509 Ardwick Ardmore Road, Landover, MD 20795 (301) 341-1555) or Springfield Virginia location (UAM Steamfitters Local Union 602, 7552 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, VA 22150 (703) 569-0602. Exciting careers in Pipefitting, Welding, Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Construction, Service & Maintenance! Visit 602training.org for more information about the programs offered and to apply.
Maryland College Application Campaign (MCAC) Resources:
The Maryland College Application Campaign is removing barriers for post-secondary opportunities! College application fee waivers listed below:
- REMINDER: Stevenson University is currently waiving their college application fee. No code is needed. MCAC notification 10/27/2021.
- REMINDER: St. Mary’s College of MD will be waiving the application fee. Use the code AccessSMCM. MCAC notification 10/27/2021.
- REMINDER: Frostburg State University has a limited number of application fee waivers available. To request a waiver, send an email to Rochelle_Davis@mcpsmd.org. Include your full name, student ID and Frostburg ID as proof of intent to apply. Waivers will then be requested from the Maryland State Department of Education on a first-come, first-served basis.
- REMINDER: Salisbury University will be waiving application fees. Use the code MDAPP22.
- REMINDER: Bowie State University will be waiving application fees for Fall 2022 incoming freshmen
SCHOLARSHIP NEWS & ALERTS: Details on all the opportunities listed below, including links to apply, can be found on the College Career Financial Aid & Scholarships page of our school website.
- Seniors: THE A.R. TILGHMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. Applicants should be planning to pursue a major/career in the field of special education. $5,000. Deadline: March 1, 2022.
- REMINDER! Seniors: Javier Bardales Juaripata Scholarship. Seniors with a Peruvian heritage/background. 2.5 minimum GPA. $1,000. Apply peruviansofusa.com. Deadline: December 30, 2021.
- REMINDER! Seniors: Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship. Last dollar scholarship available to students who enroll at a Maryland community college. FAFSA completion required by March 1. Click here for application information. Deadline: March 1, 2022.
- REMINDER! Juniors: The Coolidge Scholarship. Full tuition, room & board & expenses. Applicants must be strong academically and have an interest in public policy. Reading assignment required. Visit coolidgescholars.org. Deadline: January 16, 2022.
For a complete list of available scholarships, download the latest publication of our Jag Scholarships ‘Apply Now’ Bulletin on the web. No time to download? Visit the QR-Code Board just outside the College Career Information Center (Room 126) and scan the ‘Apply Now’ Bulletin QR-Code for immediate access on your mobile device!
Financial Aid REMINDERS for the Class of 2022:
Applications opened for the FAFSA and MSFAA on October 1. There is a filing deadline!
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) @ studentaid.gov
MSFAA (Maryland State Financial Aid Application) is available to students who are graduating Maryland high school seniors and are ineligible to receive federal aid using the FAFSA. MSFAA application is through the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) MDCAPS (Maryland College Aid Processing System) platform. MHEC is a resource for state financial aid.
Montgomery College FAFSA & MSFAA Days. Help with completing the FAFSA and MSFAA will be available by remote access. Registration is now open.
College Career NEWS & EVENTS:
Virtual MCPS 14th Annual HBCU College Fair. Friday, February 18, 2022 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. On the spot admission interviews will take place Monday, February 14 through Thursday, February 17. More details to follow.
THE HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE CAREER VISIT SCHEDULE:
Students in all grades are welcome to attend high school visits. Priority seating will be given to seniors on a space available basis. Students who register to attend these visits MUST come to the visit location prepared with headphones and a Chromebook. Unless otherwise noted, visits will be in the College Career Information Center, Room 126. BRING A CHROMEBOOK AND HEADPHONES!
Thursday, December 2:
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania at 10 am. The visit URL.REMINDER: Inova Blood Drive - Friday, December 3
The Key Club is holding their annual Inova Blood Drive on Friday December 3rd from 8 am to 2:30 pm in the auditorium. We will be distributing permission forms during lunch 11/16-11/23 in front of the gym lobby and outside of the media center. You can also get a permission slip directly from Mr. Maradei in room 181. All forms are due back to Mr. Maradei in room 181 before December 1st. Act fast to schedule your time of choice and help Northwest High School to reach their goal of 57 pints contributed.
REMINDER: A Student Opportunity(message from another student)
Hello Northwest students!!
My name is Katie Gardiner and I need your help! As a Leukemia Survivor, I have a cause that is dear to me as well as thousands of teens and children in our area! I have been nominated to be a part of the Student of the Year program, which is a community based program that raises funds to further research to find a cure and lessen the burden on families. LLS is a charitable organization which is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer in the world. The LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS helped my family through the difficult time of my treatment, which is why I decided to be a part of the Student of the Year program. Student of the Year is also a leadership development program for teens. This program gives you opportunities to have more experience with fundraising, earn significant SSL hours and community-based recommendations for college and beyond while giving yourself to a good cause.
I will be leading one of the first teams ever from Northwest and the surrounding communities in an effort to raise money and compete for the team that raises the most!! I NEED YOUR HELP JOINING MY TEAM!!!!
The job of a team member is to raise money through people you know, community members, corporate sponsorships, etc! My goal is to raise $50,000 at the end of the fundraising period. The fundraising does not start until January 22, 2022 and goes to March 12th. Don’t worry, it’s not just about work, there are lots of fun opportunities and a gala at the end!! Interested? Curious?? Want to make a difference in our community?!?!
I will be holding an interest meeting on Zoom On Wednesday 11/17 8-8:30 pm that will go into more detail about the program and what to expect if you were to join. Here’s the zoom link if you are interested: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77950850233
And if you need to contact me my email is katiegardiner2005@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Katie Gardiner
REMINDER: MCPS Quarantine Changes
Based on the guidance from MDH and MSDE, and in collaboration with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), there will now be two categories for no quarantine or a shortened quarantine period for close contacts of an individual who tests positive with COVID-19. Close contacts are individuals who are less than 6 feet from someone who tests positive for a cumulative total of 15 minutes over the course of 24 hours, or less than 3 feet in a classroom setting.
Cases where the infected student and close contacts are wearing masks during the exposure and the exposure was not during a high-risk activity: The close contacts must be enrolled in, or must sign up for, the MCPS COVID-19 screening testing program. As long as they consent to participate in the screening testing program, they can continue to come to school each day. However, they cannot participate in high-risk school-sponsored activities and are expected to still quarantine outside the school setting. The state defines high-risk settings or activities as “indoor or high-contact athletics, and indoor forced exhalation activities, such as singing, exercising, or playing a wind or brass instrument.” Families can enroll in the screening testing program by filling out the form linked here.
All other situations, including when masks are not worn or when the infected individual is an adult: This includes identified close contacts during lunch or for exposure that occurs during high-risk settings or activities. In these cases, unvaccinated close contacts will be required to quarantine for 10 days, but can return to school after day 7 if the close contact submits a negative PCR test taken after day 5 from the last date of exposure.
What Has Not Changed:
Symptomatic individuals with a positive COVID-19 test must quarantine for 10 days, self-monitor for 14 days, and can only return to schools if free from COVID-19 symptoms, including fever of 100.4 or more, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of taste or smell. As before, the quarantine guidance only applies to unvaccinated individuals. Asymptomatic vaccinated individuals will not need to quarantine, as has been the case throughout this school year.
REMINDER: COVID-19 Screening Testing
MCPS, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health, is offering COVID-19 screening tests to students in PreK-Grade 12 at no cost. Testing is one of the significant mitigation tactics MCPS will use this school year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends random asymptomatic COVID-19 testing because it detects and can limit the spread of the virus, even in the absence of visible symptoms.
This individual screening test requires that families “opt-in” and consent for students to be tested. A random sample of students in these grades will be identified and tested on a weekly basis with parental consent. Fully vetted and authorized contractors, not MCPS staff, will administer the tests. The opt-in form is necessary to allow your child to be a part of this testing process and can be found here. All parents are strongly encouraged to complete this form to increase the effectiveness of the testing program overall and increase the safety for all students.
Screening Testing will begin at Northwest High School this Wednesday, November 10 and will occur weekly.
REMINDER: Key Club Holiday Help
NEW: Canned Food Drive
REMINDER: NWHS Toys for Tots Drive
Northwest Gives Back is asking for your help! Each year hundreds of families go without, especially during the holiday season. This year, as a result of the Pandemic, the numbers are even higher. Through just a small act of a kindness, our school can brighten the holiday season for so many people, some of whom may even be in our community. That is why we have started a Toys for Tots campaign; starting this week there will be a drop off box in the main office. Please bring unopened games and toys for kids of all ages like “Operation” and “Guess Who?”. Let’s work together to not only show Jag pride, but to bring joy to individuals in our community.
REMINDER: Tardy Policy
Recently, there have been a growing number of students who are arriving late to class. In order to mitigate this, beginning November 5th, 2021, the administrative team will work with the security team to address the number of students who continuously arrive to class late and without an excused pass. Staff members will submit student's names who have accumulated 3 or more unexcused tardies.
- At the first unexcused tardy, the teacher will talk to the student.
- At the second unexcused tardy, the teacher will call the parent.
- At the third unexcused tardy, the teacher will submit names for an administrative lunch detention to be assigned.
We appreciate everyone's support of stressing the importance of being on time to class. All parts of a class period are vital to a student's academic success.
REMINDER: Tutoring Opportunities
We are pleased to announce that our honor societies have tutoring programs to assist students in their different courses. Students should fill out the google form or contact the sponsor directly to receive this service. Students will have access to this information on our school website as well.
Below you will find the tutoring schedule:
Math Honor Society
Mrs. Krott - Rachel_M_Krott@mcpsmd.org
- Tutoring will be in math teachers classrooms at lunch or after school everyday.
- Math Tutoring Request
National Honor Society
Ms. Fowler - Samantha_L_Fowler@mcpsmd.org
Mrs. Pruchniewski - Sarah_J_Hinkey@mcpsmd.org
- NHS tutor and student must arrange to meet in a teacher’s classroom by appointment only
- NHS Tutoring Request
National English Honor Society
Mr. Bolesta - John_W_Bolesta2@mcpsmd.org
- English Honor Society will have tutoring on select Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in room 263
- English Tutoring Request
Rho Kappa - Social Studies Honor Society
Mrs. McDermott - Emily_F_Mcdermott@mcpsmd.org
- Social Studies Honor Society will host tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch in room 229
- Contact Sponsor
French Honor Society
Mrs. McKenna - Kathryn_McKenna@mcpsmd.org
French tutors will be available based on the level of the course:
- French 1, 4, and AP: Available on Tuesdays room 202
- French 2: Available on Thursdays room 214
- French 3: Available on Wednesdays and Thursdays room 219
- Email Mrs. McKenna
REMINDER: Late Arrivals and Sign-in/Sign-Out Procedures
We know that things happen, kids oversleep, need to go to doctors and dentists, etc. However, recently we have had a steady stream of students arriving at school late, not just by a few minutes but until mid-morning. Not only do those students miss instruction, but it is also disruptive to everyone else in the classroom (especially the teacher) when they enter late. Therefore, we would like to ask you to do your best to make sure that your children get to school on time. We most definitely understand the struggle and appreciate your efforts!
Additionally, we want to ascertain that you and your child(ren) realize that it is imperative that they sign in and out at the attendance office when they arrive late or have to leave school early. While it may not seem like a big deal when students skip this step, we absolutely have to be able to account for everyone in the building at all times. In case of an emergency, we might not be looking for your child in the building if he or she signed out early but didn’t sign back in upon return, because as far as we know, they left school. If students don’t comply with this rule their absence will not be excused, even if they bring in a note.
As long as we have written permission (email to Ulrike_robinson@mcpsmd.org or note, no phone calls) from you ahead of time to dismiss your child early, they are able to sign themselves out. If students don’t feel well they should report to the health room and can be dismissed from there.
Hopefully this will clarify some of the procedures. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Robinson in the attendance office.
REMINDER: Student Rights and Responsibilities/Code of Conduct
In order to ensure a safe, productive, and positive learning environment, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) publishes two documents that help students, parents, and staff and 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 Student 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 to discipline and defines the various disciplinary responses.
All MCPS families have access to these documents in print or digital/printable PDF format. Parents and guardians are encouraged to review this document with children so that our students understand their rights and responsibilities and the district’s expectations for student conduct. If you have questions, please speak to a Northwest administrator.
Please click here for additional information and to access digital, printable copies of each document: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/students/rights/ If you would like a printed copy of the guides, stop by the main office to request a copy.
REMINDER: Parents, we need YOU!
We hope that you and your family will join us for future events and that you will consider becoming a part of the Northwest Hispanic Parent Council, African American Parent Council and the Asian American Parent Council. Please take some time to respond to this questionnaire and let us know how you would like to become involved.
Please contact the following administrators for more information about the Hispanic, African American, and Asian Parent Councils at Northwest High School.
Hispanic Parent Council: Nyurka_I_Morales@mcpsmd.org
African American Parent Council: Edward_Pegues@mcpsmd.org
Asian American Parent Council: Danielle_M_Abdelsalam@mcpsmd.org
Northwest Class Spirit!
It's a long-standing tradition at Northwest for each grade to wear their assigned CLASS COLOR on Pep Rally days! Each class sits in a designated section at the rallies so make an impact for YOUR CLASS by wearing your grade level color and make your presence known! Although participation with wearing class colors is optional, we hope you will join in the FUN!
The grade level colors are as follows:
Freshmen (Grade 9): YELLOW
Sophomores (Grade 10): GREEN
Juniors (Grade 11): RED
Seniors (Grade 12): BLUE
You can wear any clothing and/or accessories in your assigned color as long as you adhere to the school dress code. You can opt to wear clothing that you already own in your grade level color, you can purchase a shirt from the PTSA/Booster Club website for $4: http://www.nwhsptsa.org/shop (available sizes and quantities are limited), or you can purchase a T-shirt in your color at Michael's or Joanne's (the cost is usually around $4) and personalize with fabric markers or paint pens! The possibilities are endless to show your #JagPride!
Class of 2025 (9th Grade): Yellow
Class of 2024 (10th Grade): Green
Class of 2023 (11th Grade): Red
Class of 2022 (12th Grade): Blue
Northwest High School
Email: Scott_E_Smith@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://northwestjags.org
Location: 13501 Richter Farm Road, Germantown, MD, USA
Phone: (240)740-7100
Twitter: @NorthwestJags