FCPS Connect
Thursday, April 11
Now that we’re back from Spring Break and into the fourth term, it’s only a matter of time before our seniors are walking across the stage and graduating!
There is lots of information available about the Class of 2024 via our Graduation Page, including the full schedule. Once again this year, most graduation ceremonies will be held at Knott Arena on the campus of Mount St. Mary's University. FCPS graduations will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend. Our Public Affairs team will be sharing some features on graduating seniors and their journeys to graduation next month.
It’s also a celebratory time of year for recognizing some of our dedicated employees who have gone above and beyond supporting students! In the coming weeks, we’ll be announcing our 2024 FCPS Teacher of the Year, our 2024 FCPS Central Office Support Employee of the Year and our Charles E. Tressler Distinguished Teacher Award recipient. Be on the look out for those as well.
Later this month, we will also be holding ceremonial groundbreakings for the new Green Valley and Valley Elementary School buildings.
A lot to look forward to!
Have a great weekend!
Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson,
FCPS Superintendent
Teacher of the Year Semifinalists announced
We are thrilled to announce our semifinalists for Teacher of the Year! Please join us in congratulating the following teachers:
Anna Claire Ballard-Ayoub
Ashley Philemon
Brandy Baptiste
Lyndsey Weller
Brittany Frownfelter
Dalton Duncan
Emily Sherman
Ivette Vichot-Taboas
Scott Vassalotti
Heather O'Brien
Lucrisha Graham-Clark
Rebecca Delp
All FCPS TOY nominees receive special, personal recognition by the Superintendent and Board of Education. The Teacher of the Year receives a variety of prizes from the State and FCPS, including professional development opportunities throughout the year, recognition at a state-hosted banquet, and other prizes. The Teacher of the Year’s home school also receives special recognition throughout the year.
Frederick High Assistant Principal finalist for national award
Frederick High School’s Sheri Murphy has been named one of three finalists for 2024 National Assistant Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
Murphy is the first FCPS administrator to be named a finalist for this honor.
The NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year program annually recognizes outstanding middle level and high school assistant principals who have succeeded in providing high quality learning opportunities for students. These assistant principals are acknowledged by their peers for the exemplary contributions they have made to the profession.
FCPS Essential: Patti McClain, FCPS Systems Support and Data Quality Specialist
In our final FCPS Essential episode of the year, we are thrilled to introduce you to Patti McClain, our FCPS Systems Support and Data Quality Specialist. She helps manage our student information system. In FCPS, she also supported students at Gov. Thomas Johnson High and employees via our technology help desk.
Learn more about her in this Q and A.
April 8 solar eclipse
Students, staff and community members are gathered at the FCPS ESSL to safely watch this week’s rare solar eclipse!
FCPS Impact student: Laura Gunning, Linganore High
Our latest FCPS Impact Award student recipient is Laura Gunning from Linganore High School. Laura has gone above and beyond supporting Pre-K students in the Little Lancers program. Her impact extends to Green Valley Elementary as well. We were honored to surprise her with an Impact Award and meet some of the young learners she supports every day.
The FCPS Impact Award is given to students who have contributed positively to their school communities. More information about the Impact Award is available via FCPS.org.
April is the Month of the Young Child!
The annual Frederick Children's Festival will take place on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Baker Park in Downtown Frederick.
All families are welcome to the free event that includes entertainment, food trucks, hands-on activities for young children and activity booths provided by local programs and businesses serving young children.
Free and reduced lunch applications available
Did you know families can apply for free or reduced price meal benefits all year long?
We encourage families who feel they qualify, or if they are not sure they qualify, to fill out an online free and reduced meal benefit application.
Families can access the confidential application at LINQ Connect.
For any questions, email FNS at food.service@fcps.org or call 301-644-5061.
Scholarship opportunity for student athletes
Are you an FCPS senior student-athlete who excels in the classroom, community and in athletic competition? If so, apply for the 2024 MPSSAA Minds in Motion Scholar-Athlete Scholarship!
The deadline to apply is Monday, April 15 at noon. Check out this web page for more information.
FCPS releases graduation and dropout rates
Frederick County Public Schools is proud to share the Class of 2023 graduation and dropout rates:
Graduation Rate: Overall, the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for the Class of 2023 remained steady and strong at 93.1%. Nearly 3,200 diplomas were earned from FCPS high school students in 2023.
The FCPS graduation rate is over seven percentage points higher than the state’s overall graduation rate, ranking it first among districts with more than 30,000 students. It is also consistently above the national average.
Dropout Rate: Overall, the four-year adjusted dropout rate for the Class of 2023 declined by almost one-half percent to 3.3%. FCPS continues to have one of the lowest dropout rates in the state.
Teen Wellness Summit coming up
In Frederick County, teens matter, feelings matter, you matter! Youths ages 13-19 are invited to attend our Teen Wellness Summit on Saturday, April 27, from noon-3 p.m. at Tuscarora High School, 5312 Ballenger Creek Pike in Frederick. Doors open at 11:30. Pre-register for a chance to win prizes: https://fcps-md.formstack.com/forms/teen_summit.
FCPS recognized for dedication to music education
We are proud to share that FCPS has earned the Best Communities for Music Education title from NAMM Foundation for its unwavering commitment to music education!
This is the third year that FCPS received this award which serves as official recognition of our dedication to providing a comprehensive education that includes the arts.
Coming this summer: World Language Camps at Parkway Elementary
FCPS will offer World Language Summer Camps again this June at Parkway Elementary.
Registration is open! Two daily meals will be available for students who attend the camps. If parents wish for their students to participate, a free breakfast and lunch will be available each day.
The registration deadline is April 30.
For more information and to register, please click here to register for our “We Are The World” Exploratory Camp for rising 2nd and 3rd graders and click here for our Summer Immersion camp for rising 4th and 5th graders.
Jazz Night 2024
Save the date! Jazz Night 2024 takes place a week from Saturday.
Academy for the Fine Arts Music Festival
AFA Music Recital
Check it out! FCPS Informando
Did you know FCPS has a Facebook page for Spanish speaking community members? FCPS Informando has important updates for families. We encourage our community to check it out!
¿Sabía que FCPS tiene una página de Facebook para miembros de la comunidad de habla hispana? FCPS Informando tiene actualizaciones importantes para las familias. ¡Animamos a nuestra comunidad a comprobarlo!
Calendar update
Contact us
Email: communications@fcps.org
Website: www.fcps.org
Location: 191 South East Street, Frederick, MD, USA
Phone: (301)644-5000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fcpsmaryland
Twitter: @FCPSMaryland