Northwest News
Mr. Smith's Newsletter for the Northwest Community
Saturday, September 23, 2023
NEW: This Week's Message from Mr. Smith
Northwest High School Families,
In honor of those who celebrate Yom Kippur which begins tomorrow, Sunday, September 24, this week's edition of Northwest News is coming to you on a rainy Saturday evening. A reminder there is no school for students or staff this upcoming Monday, September 25. It is Homecoming Week and we are thrilled for the excitement that brings. Be sure to check out this week's newsletter with all the happenings for the week and beyond.
Yearbook loves to feature our seniors with their current NWHS siblings!
Do you want your senior to be featured in the yearbook with their sibling(s) that currently attend NWHS?
Please complete this form by October 2.
In this week's newsletter, you can find new and important items such College and Career Updates, Five Guys Class of 2026 Fundraiser, Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations, Homecoming Spirit Week, Homecoming Hallways, Things to Know from MCPS for Thursday, September 21, the athletics and events schedule for the week, information for the NW Step Club and information about the Iridescent Dance Team.
There are some important reminders including information regarding the upcoming PSAT Day, Homecoming festivities in just a week, yearbook information, ways for preschoolers to join our program, ways to buy our NW GSA Jag Pride shirts, information for MCPS' Girls Summit, the Class of 2024 Graduation Survey, ways to order the Class of 2024 t-shirts, an opportunity to join the Principals' Advisory Council, a call for free store donations, a note about our upcoming Financial Aid Webinar, SGA community photo folder and elections information, parking permit information, ways to join the PTSA and Booster Clubs, a call to support our Booster Club, the new face coverings policy in effect, a call for parents to join our parent councils, parentVue resources, College T-Shirt Tuesdays, and ways to buy Class spirit gear!
We thank you for your continued support and trust. Let's make it a great week!
NEW: College and Career Updates!
COLLEGE CAREER Community e-NEWS BULLETIN HIGHLIGHTS: View the complete e-NEWS Bulletin on the college career web page and click on the e-NEWS link for all details. For details on all college career information and resources, visit the college career webpage. Questions? Reach out to Rochelle_Davis@mcpsmd.org
NEW: A College Education Within Your Reach. The event Estudios Universitarios a su Alcance is a free workshop in Spanish and will have extensive information about admissions, financial aid, and college opportunities. The program includes presentations, a college, career and community agency fair, and campus tours. The event will take place on Saturday, September 23 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center at the University of Maryland in College Park. Para cualquier pregunta, llame al 301-445-8460 - call 301-445-8460 if you have any questions. Click HERE to register. | Post 20 September 2023
NEW: Career Council/National Hispanic College Fairs, Inc. 2023 College Fair Field Trip. October 13. The field trip is open to all current high school juniors and seniors, with priority given to seniors. One bus has been reserved for Northwest. Our bus will depart school at 10:30 and return to school by 12 noon. Permission and fair registration are required. Click HERE to download the College Fair Field Trip Packet. Permission forms must be submitted to the College Career Information Center no later than student lunch on Friday, October 6. College fair registration must be confirmed when submitting permission forms. The fair is FREE to Montgomery County Public Schools students.
NEW: Career Council/National Hispanic College Fairs, Inc. 2023 Financial Aid Workshops. "Learn how to apply for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA for Undocumented Students)". Sessions will be in English and Spanish. Click HERE to scan registration QR-Code. | October 11th at Seneca Valley from 6-8pm | October 12th at Montgomery Blair from 6-8pm
NEW: College Application Support!
Wednesdays after school
2:30 until 3:15 in Room 126
If you need to meet virtually, send an email to Rochelle_Davis@mcpsmd.org
REMINDER! Join ACT for a free webinar, delivered by the financial experts at Collegewise, where attendees will learn the knowledge and tools that they’ll need to chart their path through the rising costs of higher education. Invest in Your Future: Expert Tips on Scholarships, Financial Aid, and Paying for College. Tuesday, October 17; 7:00 PM EST (6:00 PM CT)
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding Family Budgets: Making informed choices starts here.
- A Real Breakdown of College Costs: Get a clear picture of what to expect.
- The Financial Aid Process: From forms to timelines, we cover it all.
- Maximizing Aid and Scholarships: Crafting winning strategies with the right college list
Can’t make the live show? No problem — registrations include access to the recording. We’ll deliver these insights straight to inboxes to make sure your students and families travel the journey to higher ed with confidence. REGISTER HERE.
REMINDER! Towson University's Department of Art is hosting an Art Major for a Day on Friday, October 27th from 9am-2pm. Prospective students interested in visual art, design, art history, and art education are invited to come to TU’s campus and explore our various programs, engage with current students, tour our facilities, visit on-campus galleries, meet distinguished faculty, and learn about the admissions process along with available scholarships. Parents are also welcome to attend. Art Major for a Day is free for students and families, but advance registration is required. Please register using this link by 10/20/2023: https://www.towson.edu/cofac/departments/art/art-major-day.html. For any additional questions or access needs for the event, contact us at artdepartment@towson.edu or 410-704-2808.
NEW: Each student is unique: help them find their individual pathway. Specialty virtual fairs offer a convenient way to explore post-secondary options.
Live fair hours are 12:00pm - 2:00pm and 6:30pm - 9:30pm (ET) each date for the following fairs:
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Virtual College Fair - Wednesday, October 4
- Learning Differences Virtual College Fair - Thursday, October 12
- First-Generation Virtual College Fair - Wednesday, October 25
Learn more here or Register now!
Students and Families:
- Use this platform to explore options and services that are available to you at the participating institutions.
- Expert-led educational sessions will guide you on maximizing the benefits of higher education.
- Visit institution booths and chat live with admissions representatives.
- Participating students have a chance to win a $50 Starbucks gift card through a TikTok contest. Details will be emailed to registered students.
- This experience will be ADA and WCAG-compliant.
Get helpful information about navigating a virtual fair HERE.
UPDATES have been made on the Northwest College Career web page! The Career Exploration Programs page now includes Apprenticeship Opportunities and Information! (Under College Career Quick Links)
Just added:
- National Apprenticeship Week Open House Event. November 15. 9 am until 2 pm. 8510 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. Hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Carpenters’ Training Center. Click HERE to register for the National Apprenticeship Week Event!
- The Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP). SEAP places high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories where they take part in real Naval research for eight weeks during the summer. The application cycle for summer of 2024 is open until November 1, 2023. Click HERE to download the SEAP Information Flyer.
JAG Jobs: All job opportunities are published in the latest Jag JOBS Bulletin available to download at any time from our College Career web page ‘Jag Jobs’ under College & Career Quick Links. https://bit.ly/3sKZRVw.
Money Matters → Scholarship Highlights & Reminders:
For a complete list of scholarships, including details for those listed below, download the latest publication of our Jag Scholarships ‘Apply Now’ Bulletin on the web. Post date refers to the first date published in the Jag Scholarships ‘Apply Now’ Bulletin. Additional Northwest High School Scholarship Resource (PDF format)
COMING FALL 2023… NORTHWEST FINANCIAL AID SEMINAR for the Class of 2024. Learn when to apply for financial aid, how to apply for financial aid and what’s new with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 6:30 pm. Virtual. A link will be published on the Northwest home page on the day of the event.
College Career Calendar → High School Visits:
- Boston University on Tuesday, September 26 @ 8:30 am
- U. of Delaware on Tuesday, September 26 @ 9:30 am
- Washington Adventist University on Tuesday, September 26 @ 10:30
- Wilkes University on Wednesday, September 27 @ 10:00 am
- Lafayette College on Wednesday, September 27 @ 11 am
- Bishop’s U. on Wednesday, September 27 @ 1 pm
- Princeton U. on Thursday, September 28 @ 10:15 am
The entire College Career high school visits schedule is listed in Naviance. Visits are also available to view on our website using the Jag Events link (College Career page). Visits are hybrid format, both in-person and virtual. Students must register for each visit in Naviance.
Once a student is registered for a visit an email is sent to the student’s mcpsmd.net account. This email should be shown to teachers requesting permission to attend (print or on your electronic device). Students should request to leave their current class AND let the teacher know they may be late to the class they will return to. Visits are scheduled based on the availability of our admissions representatives and not necessarily based on our class schedules.
When attending a visit, students scan a QR-Code linked to a Google form for attendance. This form lists the student’s information, the visit information, and the period teachers (from and to). This information goes directly to the attendance office.
For virtual visits, students can bring their Chromebook and headphones to the College Career Information Center (Room 126) to log on for the visit. Virtual visit links are sent the evening before the visit to students who registered. Students can request permission from a teacher to remain in class and log in. QR-Codes are scanned if the student attends a virtual visit in the College Career Information Center.
Students who attend Montgomery College and do not have a college class during the visit time are welcome to attend. Based on the honor system, there is no attendance taken for those students.
If there is ever a question or concern, please reach out to: Rochelle_Davis@mcpsmd.org.
REMINDER! It is that time of year – letters from the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) start arriving. Please know that the counselors and/or school staff at Northwest High School have not nominated your son or daughter, because this organization is for-profit. We support the National Honor Society (NHS) which has a chapter at Northwest High School and is non-profit. The National Honor Society (NHS) is respected and honored by colleges and universities.
Here is some basic information: The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) is a for-profit national organization established in 2002. Their website states that “NSHSS is a distinguished academic honor society, committed to recognizing and serving the highest-achieving student scholars in more than 26,000 high schools across 170 countries. With access to valuable resources and a network of more than 2 million exceptional peers spanning high school to college and career, NSHSS scholars embody academic dedication and outstanding leadership in their schools, workplaces, and communities.” NSHSS is operated from a corporate office in Atlanta, Georgia and invites you to explore the benefits of membership.
Recognitions such as NSHSS, often referred to as Vanity Awards, should be checked out thoroughly before a payment is made to the organization. It should also be noted that joining NSHSS, or similar types, will not cast a student in a more favorable light or give them any advantage in the college application process.
NEW: Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations at Northwest
NEW: Homecoming Spirit Week
NEW: Homecoming Hallways are Back!
NEW: Things to know from MCPS for Thursday, September 21
Stone Mill Elementary School Named National Blue Ribbon School
Stone Mill Elementary School has been selected as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Stone Mill is the 43rd MCPS school to win this honor. The school was among 313 public and 40 private schools being recognized this year. It is one of six schools in Maryland to win the honor. Read more.
Register and Verify Your ParentVue Information
The Annual Verification process allows for families to update contact information, collect important information about parent(s)/guardian(s) and the student. This includes any medical, immunization, language preferences, and emergency information that school staff need to know. MCPS uses ParentVUE to collect this information electronically. Online registration is available now until Oct. 20th.
We have online registration quick guides in several languages available to support you in this process.
English | Español | 中國人 | 한국인 | Français | Português | Tiếng Việt | አማርኛ
National Hispanic College Fair Set for Oct. 13; Financial Aid Sessions Oct. 11 and 12
The National Hispanic College Fair will be held on Friday, Oct. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Bohrer Park Community Center in Gaithersburg. Sponsored by the National Hispanic College Fair and MCPS, the fair will feature more than 50 colleges, universities and service organizations.
MCPS students must register to attend. Registration is open until Wed. Oct. 11; permission forms are available from their school’s College and Career Information Coordinator.
There will also be free sessions open to the public on Financial Aid: Completing the FAFSA and MSFAA in Spanish and English.
Monday, Oct. 11 at Seneca Valley High School from 6-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 12 at Montgomery Blair High School from 6-8 p.m.
Summer SSL Hours Due by Sept. 29
Student Service Learning (SSL) hours earned over the summer should be turned in to the school SSL coordinator by Friday, Sept. 29. All SSL forms completed during the summer and the 2023-2024 school year should be turned into the school’s SSL coordinator no later than the required deadline of May 31, 2024.
All MCPS students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate. Middle school and high school students can find a variety of opportunities that follow the SSL guidelines on the MCPS SSL webpage.
Good News This Week
Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month (Embed Video, waiting for english link)
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Throughout the month, MCPS schools will be celebrating the unique culture and traditions of students, teachers, staff and community members who trace their roots to hispanic heritage.
Hear from some of our students.
Watch MCPS Moment: Actress Lisa Ann Walter Visits Montgomery Blair High School
Actor and Montgomery Blair High School alumna Lisa Ann Walter stopped by her alma mater to speak to current students and staff. Walter spoke about her time at Blair and how much being a product of MCPS meant to her life and career.
Volunteers Help Beautify Outdoor Spaces at Community Schools
Habitat for Humanity will be working with MCPS community schools to help with beautification and the development of gardens and outdoor spaces. This week volunteers came out for the first school clean up at Georgian Forest Elementary School.
MCPS in the News
NEW: Athletics Schedule for the Week of Monday, September 25 - Sunday, October 1
REMINDER: PSAT Day is October 11, 2023!
The PSAT is coming to Northwest on October 11, 2023, for all 10th grade students and 11th grade students who register to take the assessment. The PSAT provides an important measure of each student’s readiness for advanced coursework, college and careers, and preparation for future college readiness examinations. All 10th grade students have been registered to take the PSAT by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), free of cost. For 11th grade students, the cost of the PSAT is $15.25, and this practice version of the SAT can also qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship Program. This year, the College Board has moved to a digital version of the PSAT and we will be administering the digital assessment here at Northwest.
All 11th grade students or parents/guardians must register for the PSAT. We have extended the deadline for 11th grade students to register for the PSAT to Wednesday, September 13th. If you/your child is interested in taking the PSAT, please complete and submit the 11th grade PSAT Interest/Registration Form. If you have already registered, you will be receiving additional information in the coming days via email.
As part of the pre-administration of the PSAT, students will have the opportunity to participate in the optional Student Data Questionnaire. All 10th and 11th grade test-takers must provide parent/guardian consent to complete the questionnaire. Please review the linked PSAT Student Questionnaire Consent Form for more information. You can print and return the consent form to the main office or provide consent electronically here.
REMINDER: Homecoming is Saturday, September 30
REMINDER: Yearbook Sale Information
We have a community upload spot for candids. Please upload any pics of your student(s) that may end up as features in the yearbook. Please add names and grades.
Pick up your 2023 yearbook supplement that features spring sports, graduation, prom, spring musical. If you purchased a yearbook, these are included in the price. Pick up in 250 or 261 before school, during lunch, after school until 2:45. Ask for Ms Koutsos.
The 2024 yearbook is available for purchase.
The first sale price is $90
The 2nd sale price is $95
Then the rest are $100
$105 in person at distribution
Senior only can purchase ad space in the back of the book. Personalized ad space is available for sale. And baby pics/quotes space can be purchased for a community page.
REMINDER: Join our Preschool Program!
Attention Junior Jags! We are looking for Junior Jags to join our Preschool Program designed to provide an environment where children can develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially! High school students are trained to provide individual attention that addresses the needs of each preschooler. They ensure a warm, loving, kind environment with an exciting and adventuresome atmosphere. We are committed to a safe, healthy environment where learning can take place. Students are provided with instruction in developmentally appropriate practices in accordance with guidelines established by the Montgomery County Public Schools.
The program’s curriculum is appropriate for the year before a child enters kindergarten. Children must be toilet trained and 4 years old by September 1. Since many different high school students will be teaching the preschoolers, the program is designed for the pre-kindergarten child who can cope with daily changes and flexible scheduling. Special education services are not provided through this program.
If interested, please reach out to Katherine_S_Skiscim@mcpsmd.org for an application.
REMINDER: NW GSA Shirts are Back!
The Jag PRIDE T-Shirts are back! All proceeds from the sale go to benefit the NW Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA). Show your PRIDE with your choice of the logo on a black or white shirt. The sale is open from September 11th-27th. Thank you for your support!
Sale Link: https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/41557/354/False/True
REMINDER: Class of 2024 Graduation Survey
REMINDER: Be a part of Mr. Smith's Advisory Council (PAC)
All students, regardless of previous leadership experiences or GPA, are invited to apply. In order for the PAC to be successful, we need a wide range of voices represented on the PAC. Most PAC meetings will be held during the school day through Jag PAWS time or during lunch. On some rare occasions, an after-school meeting may be required. If you would like to be considered for membership on the 2022-2023 PAC, please complete this brief application. Applications are due by October 3, 2022. All members will be notified by November 1, 2022.
Click Here to Apply: https://forms.gle/JU4tcBnS9EzQyKHH8
REMINDER: Free Store Supplies are in Demand!
Many NW students visit The Free Store daily. Because of high demand, the Free Store has run out of composition books and spiral notebooks! If you have any gently used, no longer needed school supplies, please donate them to the Free Store, room 264. We also always need calculators, backpacks, and test prep books. We take donations all year long. We will also be collecting donations during Back to School Night. Thank you, NW community, for your support!
REMINDER: SGA Community Photo Folder and Ways to get Involved!
Did you know the SGA compiles digital photos and videos from events throughout the year? Check it out! If you'd like to review media from the year, please click here! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XqgFR8ihedgoVXBxF0JsSem49c8dyDMt
If you'd like to contribute photos or videos, please email them to Ms. Ledrick at Margaret_M_Ledrick@mcpsmd.org or send to the SGA Instagram at @nwhs_sga.
REMINDER: Parking Permit Information
Parking permit applications and payment will be accepted by the Business Office, Room 322, before school (7:25–7:40 a.m.), during lunch (11:11–11:56 a.m.), or after school (2:30–2:45 p.m.). Students must not have any outstanding financial obligations to the school and must be academically eligible (2.0 cumulative GPA with no more than one E) to be eligible for a parking permit. The price for a full year parking permit is $78.00 (processing fee included) payable by cash, check (made out to Northwest High School), or online using a credit card through SchoolCash Online. To pay online, a link will be sent to the student’s school email once the application has been received and approved for eligibility.
During the first three weeks of school (August 28-September 15), students may use any parking space in the lower parking lot. All approved parking permits will be distributed to students before school, during lunch, or after school in front of the Business Office, Room 322, on September 14 and 15. Beginning Monday, September 18, all cars driven by students must display a valid 2023-2024 parking permit and be parked in the student’s assigned space. Cars that are parked in the incorrect space or that do not have a valid parking permit may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.
REMINDER: Join the PTSA and Boosters!
The PTSA and Booster Club are instrumental in providing the school with advocacy, outreach, financial support, and building school spirit for our students, staff, and community. In order for us to be able to support these ongoing efforts, we need our families and staff to join us now! You can join at nwhsptsa.org/membership. Thank you!
REMINDER: NWHS Boosters need your Help!
Are you Ready for FALL Sports? YES! YES! YES!
The NW Athletic Department and the Booster Club want to provide our athletes and fans an awesome experience at each and every home game. To make that happen, we need your help to VOLUNTEER at the concessions stand. Parent and community member support is crucial to have a successful year! If we do not have volunteers, we will not be able to open the concessions stand.
Pick a slot or two or three...because WE NEED YOU! Click here to sign up.
There are multiple sports events to choose from. We want you to watch your athletes compete so please come help at other games so those parents can watch their athletes. Don't have a child playing a sport? Come out anyway. It's a great way to connect with other NWHS parents! Remember, concessions volunteers get into the games for free and all proceeds go directly toward supporting all of our students! Please put the sport/club you represent in the Comment section!
Thank you from your 2023-2024 Concessions Committee!
REMINDER: Face Coverings Policy is in Effect!
For the safety of our school environment, face coverings may be worn indoors only for health, religious and/or cultural purposes. When used for health protection or to prevent disease transmission, acceptable and effective face coverings are well fitting surgical masks, KN95-style masks or N95 respirators. With the exception of face coverings worn for
religious or cultural purposes, individuals will be asked to remove other types of face coverings (such as a ski mask, neck gaiter, or scarf over one’s face). If the alternate face covering is worn for health purposes, NWHS will provide surgical masks for student, staff or visitor use. If a face covering is needed at school for health purposes, NWHS will provide surgical masks for students, staff or visitors who do not already have access to one at school.
REMINDER: Northwest Parents' Councils Questionnaire
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. This questionnaire has been translated into Spanish.*
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: Tara-dee_S_Henry@mcpsmd.org
Asian American Parent Council: Danielle_M_Abdelsalam@mcpsmd.org
REMINDER: ParentVue Resources
What is ParentVue?
ParentVUE provides a way to view all school related information and data for all your students. Register for athletics, special programs, communicate with teachers and verify your student information annually. For more information, please check out the "quick guides" linked below in various languages.
ParentVUE Quick Guides for Parents
ParentVUE Support Guide (link to translated version is in the footer of every page)
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 $8: 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 $5) and personalize with fabric markers or paint pens! The possibilities are endless to show your #JagPride!
Class of 2027 (9th Grade): Yellow
Class of 2026 (10th Grade): Green
Class of 2025 (11th Grade): Red
Class of 2024 (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