Northwest News
Mr. Smith's Newsletter for the Northwest Community
Sunday, September 3, 2023
NEW: This Week's Message from Mr. Smith
Northwest High School Families,
Happy Labor Day! This is just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow, Monday, September 4 in observance of Labor Day. It was great to have our over 2,410 students back in the building, our first Pep Rally of the year as well as several athletics contests last week. It was a great first week!
In this week's newsletter, you will find a reminder about our Back to School Night this week, an opportunity to join the Principals' Advisory Council, the class of 2024 Family Night, our upcoming Ulysses Parent Night, a call for free store donations, a note about our upcoming Financial Aid Webinar, things to know from MCPS for Thursday, August 31, SGA community photo folder and elections information, parking permit information, the athletics and events schedule for the week, ways to join the PTSA and Booster Clubs, a call to support our Booster Club, and fundraisers to support our PTSA.
There are some important reminders including the new face coverings policy in effect, the arrival and dismissal procedures, lunchtime expectations, 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. Have a safe holiday and let's make it a great week!
NEW: Back to School Night is this Week!
NEW: 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
NEW: Class of 2024 Family Night Coming Soon!
Attention all parents and/or guardians of the Class of 2024!
You are cordially invited to attend our Senior Parent Night on September 12, 2023, where we will be sharing invaluable information about college and career choices. Whether your student is considering a two or four-year college, trade or vocational school, or the military, we've got you covered! Our counselors will be on hand to guide you through Naviance and other resources, ensuring that you are equipped to make informed decisions for your child's future. As an added bonus, we will be holding exciting NWHS raffles throughout the night, and the first 10 families that arrive will be highlighted in Mr. Smith's weekly newsletter on Sundays! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to gain insight into your child's next steps to a wonderful future beyond high school. We look forward to seeing you!
NEW: Ulysses Parent Night is Coming Soon!
NEW: 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!
NEW: Things you need to know from MCPS for Thursday, August 31
1. MCPS Moment: First Week of School 2023–2024
MCPS opened its doors on Monday, Aug. 28, welcoming more than 162,000 students to the start of the 2023–2024 school year. We were also thrilled to introduce Cabin Branch Elementary School, the 211th school in MCPS, and to celebrate the opening of four newly renovated school buildings across the county.
Watch a recap and check out a photo gallery from the first day.
MCPS Schools Implement Remind, A New Communication Tool
2. What Is the Remind App?
Remind is a messaging platform that will be used to communicate among MCPS schools, teachers, students and parents. School staff, central office staff, students and parents will all have Remind accounts to enable them to send and/or receive messages using a preferred mode of communication, such as text message, email or phone call and in their preferred language.
When and How Will My School Use it?
By winter break, schools will be transitioning to and regularly using the Remind app. When your school makes this transition, parents and older students will receive a text message or email notification from the teacher(s).
For Parents
Parents can log into their Remind account via the web or using the Remind app.
For Students
Students 13 and older will be able to reply to teachers’ messages. All students can log into their Remind account via the web using the Log in to Google option, which uses their MCPS Google apps credentials. Students 13 and older who have a mobile phone can download the Remind app and log in using the “Log in to Google” option as well.
3. Important News for Grade 9 Students Regarding State Assessment
Starting this school year for students in Grade 9 (Class of 2027), the Maryland Comprehensive Assessments for biology and government will count as 20 percent of the student’s final grade in each course. A virtual parent night will be scheduled this fall to share additional information.
4. Safety Updates Ahead of the Fall Sports Season Opening Night
MCPS is committed to promoting a safe and welcoming environment for student-athletes, coaches, spectators and our communities. The MCPS Athletics Safety Plan will continue to drive operations and procedures for athletic events in order to promote a safe and welcoming environment for all. Read more.
- This school year, MCPS announced a new partnership with Medstar Health to enhance the school system’s sports medicine program for athletics. Athletic trainers have been hired and have started working in all 25 MCPS high schools. A coordinator of health and safety, Shawn Hendi, has also been hired. Athletic trainers, now MCPS employees, will provide streamlined and enhanced care for student-athletes and across the program. WATCH: Learn more about this innovative program.
- Congratulations! Your Student-Athlete Has Made the Team…Now What – Quick guide for Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of MCPS Student-Athletes
In Case You Missed It …
Schools to Host Back to School Events
The Watkins Mills Cluster will host the first ever joint “Back to School Block Party” on Thursday, Sept. 14, 6–8 p.m. It is just one of the events happening now through September to welcome back students. The event will be held at Montgomery Village Middle School, 19300 Watkins Mill Road in Montgomery Village.
Be sure to check with your student’s school for the date and time of this year’s Back-to-School night.
Thousands Attend Annual Back-to-School Fair
Thousands of MCPS students, parents and community members joined school system staff and community partners on Saturday, Aug. 26, to kick off the 2023-2024 school year at the Back-to-School Fair. See photos from the fair.
Montgomery County Public Schools
NEW: 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.
NEW: Parking Permit Information
Applications and payment will be accepted by the Business Office, Room 322, before school (7:25–7:40 a.m.), during lunch (11:13–11:51 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 29-September 16), students may use any parking space in the lower parking lot. All approved parking permits will be distributed to students before school in front of the Business Office, Room 322, on September 15 and 16. Beginning Monday, September 19, all cars driven by students must display a valid 2022-2023 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.
NEW: Athletics Schedule for the Week of Monday, September 4 - Sunday, September 10
NEW: 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!
NEW: 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!
NEW: PTSA Fundraisers are here!
Eat at Tortacos in Germantown on Monday, September 11 and mention Northwest! 15% of sales will come back to the school. Additionally, be sure to purchase a shirt which raises money for our after prom coming in May. Check out both flyers for more information.
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: School Day Arrival/Dismissal Procedures/Reminders
If students are arriving by car, they must be dropped off at the lower gym lobby entrance until 7:45am. After 7:45 am, car riders must be dropped off at the upper main entrance. Students who walk to school may arrive at the main entrance or the gym lobby. All buses will drop students off at the upper main entrance. Please note that these procedures are the same for dismissal in the afternoon.
Families, please remember to adhere to the speed limit on Richter Farm Road. Additionally, please do not let students out of your vehicles on Richter Farm Road. We want everyone to arrive to school safely.
REMINDER: 2023-2024 Lunch Expectations
The Northwest HS lunch plan for the 2023-2024 school year aims to maximize available seating options to reduce density at lunch in shared spaces. Students may eat lunch:
In a school hallway (Only on floors 1 and 2)
In a classroom under staff supervision
In the center school courtyard (weather permitting)
If students have any questions about our school lunch plan, please contact the Northwest HS main office at (240)740-7100.
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