Springbrook Weekly Digest
Week of Oct 15, 2023
A Message from Ms. Valentine, Principal
Greetings, Students, Staff, and Families,
I hope you had a great weekend. We are grateful and appreciative for an amazing staff that supported the PSAT administration despite the technical challenges with the new Collegeboard digital testing platform—a huge thank you to Ms. Curtis and Ms. Lipinsky for their leadership. Likewise, Ms. Tammy Patterson, CCIC extraordinaire, organized a magnificent College and Career Readiness Day, which provided multiple panel presentations, various resources, and over 100 college and career representatives for SBHS students.
- Be sure to see this week's calendar to view Homecoming Spirit Days and learn when to purchase Homecoming Dance tickets.
- Also, on Thurs., Oct 19, 2023, at 6:30 PM in the auditorium, we look forward to meeting with students, parents, and caregivers at the Grade 9 Class of 2027 Parent Meeting.
- The marking period one ends Tues, Oct 31, 2023.
Mark Your Calendars for upcoming Student, Parent, and Caregiver Meetings
- Class of 2025 - Tues, Nov 14, 2023 at 6:30 PM
- Class of 2026 - Wed, Dec 6, 2023 at 6:30 PM
In this issue:
- Schedule for the week
- ACES - Grade 10 students apply for the ACES program now
- Celebrating Diversity - Oct 15 Concludes Hispanic Heritage Month
- Athletics - Boys Cross Country, Senior Nights, Girls Volleyball DigPink Night, V Football Game Themes
- Varsity Football Game Themes - only 2 games left
- Springbrook athletes enter games FREE
- Fall Festival & 3x3 Basketball Tournament of SBHS Students - Oct 28
- Congressional App Challenge
- Schedule senior portrait makeup appointments
- Thanking Staff for their Commitment - PSAT Day and CCRD
- College Visits
- Fire and Rescue Cadet Open House
- Fundraiser at Panera - Oct 16, 2023
- Homecoming is this week - View the Spirit Week Flyer and purchase tickets for the dance
- Weekly Math Trivia
- PSA Contest
- PTSA News
- Safe Schools Week - Oct 23 -27, 2023
- Seal of Biliteracy
- Shoe Drive
- Check out Thomas Edison Technology HS Programs
- See Something, Say Something
- Women's Bar Association Mentorship Opportunity
Warm regards,
Stephanie Valentine
Principal
Springbrook High School
Follow Principal Valentine on Instagram and Twitter
X formely Twitter @SBHSPrinc
ACES is Accepting Applications for Grade 10 Students
Are you a 10th grader with plans to go to college? Consider applying to the ACES Program! ACES stands for “Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success,” a countywide partnership with MCPS, Montgomery College, and The Universities at Shady Grove. Students admitted to the program receive the following:
- 1-on-1 coaching and
- a personalized plan leading to a seamless educational pathway from high school to college completion.
ACES also prepares 11th-grade and 12th-grade students for life after high school, with targeted support for students who have been historically underrepresented in the higher education system.
The application is NOW OPEN and will close on January 12, 2024! For more information, including the admission criteria and application link, please visit our website at www.acesmontgomery.org. If you have further questions, contact Mr. Cristian Pineda, the Springbrook Coordinator for ACES, at cristian.a.pineda@mcpsmd.net.
We Conclude National Hispanic Heritage Month by Celebrating Leila Cobo
Boys Cross Country Perform Blue Devil Bold at the Gunpowder "North" Cross Country Invitational
Senior Athletes Recognized During Fall Sports Season
Volleyball "DigPink" Night
Blue Devils Be Sure to Rep Springbrook Themes at Varsity Football Games
Springbrook Athletes Enter Games FREE
Springbrook's Fall Festival Is Coming Up
2-Day Hackathon Sponsored by Brook Codes
Springbrook's Brook Codes hosts a virtual 2-day hackathon for middle and high school students interested in computer science; no coding experience is required! Students have an opportunity to:
- earn prizes worth up to $200, such as Sony headphones, Amazon Echo Dots, or high-quality keyboards,
- participate in 2 beginner and 2 advanced challenges
- engage in workshops to learn from professors, engineers, computer scientists, and outreach coordinators.
Workshops include:
- Java Foundations
- Ethical Hacking and How to Do It
- Cybersecurity
- Website Development
- Becoming an Electrical Engineer
- Girls in Physics
and mentors to assist with projects!
The VIRTUAL hackathon runs from Sat, Oct 14 through Sun, Oct 15, 2023. Register here at bit.ly/bc23Register (use your home account)! For additional questions, refer to our website: brookcodes.org or email us at brookcodes@gmail.com!
Congressional App Challenge
Hello! Quickly touching base to remind you of Congressmember Jamie Raskin’s district-wide Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for middle school and high school students.
Participation is simple! All students must do is submit a short video explaining their app and showing footage of any finished portions of the application.
Students must be in middle school or high school on November 1st, 2023. They can compete as individuals, or in teams of up to four (4) students. At least half of the teammates on any team must live or attend school in Rep. Raskin’s 8th Congressional District.
There is still time to take part in the Challenge. The deadline for students to register and submit their app online is 12:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
Below, please find links to important information regarding the CAC:
- Rep. Raskin’s Congressional App Challenge Webpage
- Congressional App Challenge Website
- Congressional App Challenge Rules
- Congressional App Challenge Student Registration
- Congressional App Challenge Prizes
- Congressional App Challenge Past Winners
Through the 2023 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) students have the chance to create an app on any topic and platform they choose – and be rewarded for their efforts! Check out the Congressional App Challenge Past Winners!
If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact us at (301) 354-1000 or nina.weisbroth@mail.house.gov and hailey.roh@mail.house.gov.
Schedule Senior Portrait Make-Ups
Senior Portrait Information
- Victor O'Neill Studios (VOS) is the official school photographer this school year.
- Senior portrait makeup photos will be held October 16-18 from 3:00 - 8:00 PM. A portrait link will be emailed to students, parents, and caregivers in early September. There is no cost for your yearbook photo.
- Click to view sample senior portrait images: Photos
- Click to see what to expect at your senior portrait session: Video
- For senior portrait questions, email VOS at seniors@vosphoto.com or call VOS photo at 703-532-0013.
We are grateful and appreciative to both Ms. Latrice Curtis and Ms. Lindsey Lipinski, testing coordinators for the PSAT, and the entire Blue Devil teaching staff for their commitment on October 11, 2023, National PSAT Day. Although many schools were unable to test due to Collegeboard's technical difficulties which spanned nationwide, Springbrook teachers persevered through the challenges and ensured our students completed the assessment.
#JobWellDone #GoBlueDevils
Montgomery County Department of Fire & Rescue
The High School Cadet Open House is Tues., Oct 17, 2023, from 6:00 - 7:00 PM at the Public Safety Training Academy. Read the flyer, shown below, for more information.
Please spread the word! Support SBHS by enjoying dinner at Panera Bread on Mon., October 16, 2023, at 12285 Tech Road from 4:00 PM-8:00 PM. Please show the attached flyer and 20% of your purchase will go to Springbrook.
Weekly Math Trivia: Presented by the Springbrook Math Honors Society
Email your response to 167995@mcpsmd.net (or melatghebr0@gmail.com) for a chance at being recognized in the next digest! The answer to last week's problem was -44/7.
Speak Up, Save a Life PSA Contest for Students
The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office is hosting a contest that challenges teens to create an original video to promote awareness of the dangers of opioid abuse or overdose and fentanyl among teens. The contest is open to students in Grades 6-12. The top prize is $1,000, second place is $750, third place and fan favorite winners will receive $500. Prizes are being donated by Magnolia Plumbing in honor of two young men who lost their lives to illicit fentanyl. Students can earn up to 10 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. Visit the contest webpage for more information.
PTSA Meeting
Please come and join us for the PTSA meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 17th at 6:30pm in the Media Center. This will be our last in-person meeting until the Spring. Enjoy chili prepared by our very own Culinary Arts Department!
America's Safe Schools Week
Hello Springbrook Community
We will be celebrating America’s Safe Schools Week October 23 - October 27, 2023. The National School Safety Center, our Governor, Wes Moore and our State School Superintendent, Mohammed Choudhury all sponsor America's Safe Schools Week. During this week, Springbrook High School will be holding three of our mandatory safety drill:
- A Fire Drill
- A Severe Weather Drill
- A Shelter in Place/Lockdown Drill
Please discuss this with your child and if you have any concerns, please reach out to your child’s school counselor.
Clean Out Your Closet
We Need Your Shoes
Bring In 3 Pairs of Shoes for Free Admission to A Game
Learn about Technology Programs at Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison High School of Technology will be on hand on October 20, 2023, in the AUD during lunch. Hear about career opportunities, industry licensure, and work-based learning.
Safety is extremely important to our Blue Devil Community!
Blue Devils, please remember the SBHS See Something, Say Something Initiative. 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.Women's Bar Association Program 2023-2024
The Montgomery County Women's Bar Association is excited to launch its 2023 -2024 High School Mentorship Program. The application is now available (go to www.mocowba.com/hs-mentorship). Students must apply by October 13, 2023, and provide two references.
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
Twitter: @SBHSPrinc