Northwest News
Mr. Smith's Newsletter for the Northwest Community
Sunday, April 28, 2024
NEW: A Message from Mr. Smith
Northwest High School Families,
I hope this message finds everyone enjoying this beautiful Sunday evening. We have a full week ahead with this Friday, May 3 being the interim day for seniors. It's going to be May which means we are beginning the last full calendar month of school. The last day will be here soon so it is important everyone stay focused.
Four Northwest students got juried into the Yellow Barn High School Art Show this year. They had 167 entries from all over the DMV and only took 40 works.
https://www.friendsoftheyellowbarnstudio.org/25th-high-school-show-gallery
(if you scroll down this link you can see the works)
Emily Goggin-11th gr.- Honorable Mention for her Parrot charcoal drawing
Seyram Ameevor- 11th gr. - Juried in for her Desk Charcoal Drawing
Kaylia Jones-12th gr.- Juried in for her Self Portrait Acrylic Painting
Elena Wilson-10th gr. Juried in for her Fruit Acrylic Painting
The Senior Class Office has put together a Class of 2024 Commits page to highlight what our amazing Class of 2024 will do after graduation. Please view the page here: https://www.instagram.com/nwhscommits24 If a senior would like to submit to be highlighted, please fill out this form! The officers will post two to three a day to make sure everyone gets a chance to shine.
Spring Sports are almost done but the Booster Club still needs your help! Be sure to sign up to support our concessions during the season through this link.
Attention AP Families! All students enrolled in an AP class need to verify their AP exam order. To do so, students should log in to their College Board account (myap.collegeboard.org). Students should see each of their exams, and their order status listed. The cost of exams is being fully paid for by MCPS this school year. If a student is missing an exam, they should email the Northwest AP Coordinator, Ms. McClintock (amy_m_mcclintock@mcpsmd.org), to have an exam ordered. If a student no longer wants to take an exam listed, they should also email Ms. McClintock (amy_m_mcclintock@mcpsmd.org) to drop the exam. We must have an accurate number of test takers to provide the correct number of proctors on test day.
There are many amazing things happening during the school day to support the learning of our students! At times, some students need some extra support to master new learning. MCPS has gathered resources that are free or low cost to families. These resources directly align with our curriculum used to teach our students each day. Let us know if you have any questions about your student’s academic progress. Family Resources
Yearbook Pictures are available for purchase. Please visit: vosphoto.com/uc use your student ID when prompted for the online code. For questions regarding school pictures, please email: underclass@vosphoto.com
Hall Sweeps are continuing and if a student is caught in a hall sweep more than once, they will be assigned an after-school detention. Prioritize regular, prompt attendance to all classes.
Interested in donating to our community? Click this link to support any of our families in need.
In this week's newsletter, you can find new and important items such as this week's College and Career Updates, the Naviance Senior Exit Survey, testing season information, things to know from MCPS for Thursday, April 25, summer events of Peace sponsored by the Street Outreach Network, the athletics and activities schedule for the week of April 29 through May 7, and a way to support NWHS PTSA at Berries and Bowls this week.
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Amharic]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Chinese]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [French]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Korean]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Portuguese]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Spanish]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Vietnamese]
There are some important reminders including information about our partnership with K&G for Prom attire, our Junior/Senior Prom on May 17, a call for a Booster Club President and Concessions Manager, information regarding our upcoming Prom and After Prom Party, the free store, our graduation date for the Class of 2024, ways to join the PTSA and Booster Clubs, a call for parents to join our parent councils, 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. Publication date: 04/26/2024. For details on all college career information and resources, visit the college career webpage. Questions? Reach out to Rochelle_Davis@mcpsmd.org
NEW Senior Exit Survey: MCPS requires each high school to report the plans of their graduates and the total number of scholarships graduates were offered. The data is reported collectively and not by each individual graduate. Click HERE for survey instructions. The survey will be completed using Naviance. Please complete the survey by May 24. | Post 22 April 2024 |
REMINDER: The Universities at Shady Grove Undergraduate & Graduate Open House. Saturday, May 4 from 10 am to 2 pm. High school families invited! Registration & more information. | Post 21 March 2024 |
REMINDER: BOARD OF ELECTIONS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS: The Future Vote program is available to county students grades 6-12. Students must be able to speak, read and write the English language. Students with bilingual and American Sign Language skills are encouraged to apply. The initiative combines civic participation and the opportunity to observe democracy in action. Volunteers will earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for their service. Training is required for students and guardians. Details and volunteer expectations are provided at the training. Training dates and locations are provided during registration. | Post 17 April 2024 |
FAFSA
Federal Student Aid @ StudentAid.gov
NEW RESOURCES: FAFSA Completion Resources & Video Tutorials
- Video: What is FAFSA?
- FAFSA Checklist & Timeline for Students & Families
- FAFSA Checklist & Timeline for Students & Families – in Spanish
- Pro Tips for the 2024-2025 FAFSA Form
- FAFSA “How To” Videos
- FAFSA Bootcamp Webinar Recording
- Ways to Engage Your Community (See Page 2)
You can also find additional resources, toolkits, pro-tips, and “how to” videos in the U.S. Department of Education’s website here.
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.
REMINDER: JOB POSTING: KIDspired Summer Camp is HIRING: My name is Justin Marshall, and I am the Camp Director of KIDspired Summer Camp, hosted at Wilson Wims Elementary School. We are excited to announce that we are currently seeking passionate and motivated individuals, aged 16 and up, to join our team as summer staff members.
Interested students should reach out to Justin Marshall @ JustinM@kidspiredllc.com.
Justin Marshall
KIDspired Summer Camp Director
KIDspired Events Coordinator
MyKIDspired.com
240-429-3367
NEW JOB POSTING: Temple Allen Industries, a small technology firm in Rockville, makes smart automation systems that sand airplanes for customers like Boeing and NASA. NOW hiring for summer internships!
We're looking to hire some students for full or part time work this summer annotating images for machine learning models that will be used in a real production environment. While the annotation task is narrow, students will also learn about daily operations documentation and work completion procedures by using and reviewing documents such as Bills of Material (BoMs), Purchase Order Requests (PORs), etc. When time allows, and as appropriate, students may have the chance to support daily manufacturing operations or assist engineers in developing, building, or testing prototypes.
Ideal candidates will be current juniors or seniors with a track record of success with engineering, math, physics, or computer science coursework and experiences (e.g., robotics club, math club, coding contests, etc.).
| HS Junior Internship Description | HS Senior Internship Description |
Candidates should send an email to "jobs@templeallen.com" with subject line "ML Intern-High School" and include a resume if they have one, and a cover letter explaining why they'd be both interested in and suitable for the experience.
| Post 25 April 2024 |
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).
NEW SCHOLARSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
- NEW SCHOLARSHIP: KAPPA GAMMA CHAPTER ALPHA PI CHI NATIONAL SORORITY INC., SCHOLARSHIP: SENIORS. African American Female. Minimum 2.5 GPA. Scholarship application includes official high school transcript, two letters of recommendation, verification of community service, 500-word essay and recent photograph. $1,000. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: MAY 20 | Post 24 April 2024 |
- NEW SCHOLARSHIP: American College Foundation Visionary Scholarship Program. Available to high school students in ALL GRADES. $1,000. DEADLINE FOR ESSAY SUBMISSION: JUNE 1 | Post 24 April 2024 |
SCHOLARSHIP REMINDERS: (for details on all opportunities listed below, download the latest Jag Scholarships Bulletin ‘Apply Now’ available on the web)
- SCHOLARSHIP REMINDER: The “Officer Noah Leotta Act Responsibility Scholarship”. High school SENIORS committed to pursuing a career that serves a community and the public. There are many ways in which a person can have a meaningful impact on the people around them. Applicants will be evaluated on leadership, civic and volunteer activities, as well as academic performance. Strong consideration will be given to applicants demonstrating their belief in, and commitment to, the ideals embodied by Officer Leotta. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: APRIL 26 | Post 11 April 2024 |
- SCHOLARSHIP REMINDER: Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association (MVMA) $1,000 Scholarship. SENIORS. Applicants must be Vietnamese American and residing in Maryland. Scholarship recipients will be required to participate in at least one MVMA community activity or outreach event in the upcoming academic year. Application includes official transcript, personal essay, and letters of recommendation. Questions should be directed to hoan.dang@vietnameseassociation.org. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: MAY 6; 5:00 PM EST | Posted 16 April 2024 |
- SCHOLARSHIP REMINDER: Rural Women’s Republican Club (RWRC) Scholarship. SENIORS currently attending Poolesville HS, Damascus HS, Clarksburg HS, Quince Orchard HS, Seneca Valley HS, or Northwest HS. Applicants must plan to pursue a vocational, trade school, or certification program, including certification from a community college during the 2024-2025 academic year. Essay required. $3,500 scholarship. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: MAY 17. | Post 16 April 2024 |
- SCHOLARSHIP REMINDER: Delegate Acevero Scholarship for high school graduates residing in Maryland District 39. SENIORS. Applicants should complete the FAFSA. Online application includes a short essay of 250 words or less (topic specific). Scholarships are reviewed on a rolling basis by a committee beginning April 10. Funds will begin disbursement by Mary 1. DEADLINE TO APPLY: OCTOBER 1, 2024 | Post 18 April 2024 |
NEW: Testing Season is here!
Northwest High School's spring testing season will begin, Thursday, April 4, 2024, and go through May 24, 2024. The state of Maryland has set the Spring MCAP (ELA 10 & Algebra 1) window for April 4th through May 24th and the HSA (Science & Government) window for May 1st through May 15th. College Board has scheduled AP exams during the first two weeks of May; that window is May 6th through May 17th. We have put together this memo that provides additional information regarding what the Spring testing season will look like at Northwest this year. Please take a moment to review the linked memo, and reach out to your child's counselor, Ms. Tara-Dee Henry, Ms. Nikki Morales, or Ms. Amy McClintock, our testing coordinators with any questions or concerns.
NEW: Things to Know from MCPS for Thursday, April 25
1. New District Webpage Provides Progress Updates on Corrective Actions
MCPS has launched a new webpage to inform the community about the vital work to correct process deficiencies identified by the Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The Corrective Actions Progress Report webpage features the findings and recommendations of the OIG, as well as the district's responsive actions, including the status of that work. It also provides updates on policy work by the Board of Education and the recommendations from the Community of Practice workgroup. MCPS is committed to appropriately addressing complaints of any kind, particularly those related to bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. You can visit the webpage here or search corrective action on the MCPS website.
2. Superintendent Search Online Survey Closes Friday, April 26
All families, students and community members are encouraged to take a few minutes to complete a brief online survey by April 26. Feedback collected in the survey, along with other public engagement, will help shape the development of a leadership profile. The Board will use the leadership profile to guide them as they consider candidates for superintendent of schools. The survey is available in multiple languages, including Spanish, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Korean, Vietnamese and Amharic.
Stay informed and engaged throughout the process by visiting the Superintendent Search webpage and following MCPS and the Board on social media.
3. Preparing Students for a Pathway to College, Career & Community Readiness
Watch the latest episode of To the Point to learn about a guide to help families, students and teachers work together to ensure student success. The Pathway to College, Career and Community Readiness helps identify students’ strengths and areas of improvement to ensure each student receives the support they need. The Pathway has a series of milestones and core competencies that students should meet by certain grade levels.
4. Save the Dates For These Upcoming May Events
Tune In May 1 for This Year’s Champions For Children Celebration!
Be sure to join us for the livestream of this year’s event for the announcements of the MCPS Teacher of the Year and Supporting Services Employee of the Year on Wednesday, May 1. The ceremony will also recognize other exceptional teachers, administrators and supporting services staff. Read more.
Tune in on the MCPS website at 6:30 p.m. to view this year’s celebration. You can also watch the livestream here.
Families Are Invited to Special Education Resource Fair
Don’t miss this year’s Special Education Family Resource Fair on Saturday, May 11 at Montgomery Blair High School. The free event will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., and is open to MCPS parents, staff and community members. The fair will include valuable resources from a variety of community resources and vendors and fun children’s activities, including moon bounces, music, arts and crafts, and balloon artists.
Safety Day To Offer Family Fun and Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Information
All families are invited to Safety Day on Saturday, May 11 in the Carver Educational Services Center (CESC) parking lot in Rockville. Safety Day will bring the community together to learn more about traffic safety in a fun and festive environment. Read more.
Students Invited to Free Out-of-School Time Co-Ed Football Clinic on May 14
Students in grades 1-8 are invited to a free coed football clinic on Tuesday, May 14 when they are off from school. The clinic will be hosted by the 480 Club in partnership with the MCPS Out-of-School Time program at Laytonia Turf Field in Gaithersburg between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Read more.
RSVP here for elementary school students.
RSVP here for middle school students.
Don’t Miss the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 18
The Gaithersburg Book Festival, a celebration of books, writers and literary excellence, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. Read more.
5. Good News
Hundreds of students, MCPS and county leaders, and community and business partners attended an Earth Day groundbreaking and volunteering event for the new REACH Hub urban farm at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School. Read more. Click here for photo gallery.
MCPS will pilot girls’ flag football during the fall 2024 season through a partnership with the Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour. The partnership will provide grant funding for the pilot program, including equipment and Under Armour uniforms for all 25 MCPS high schools. Read more.
Dr. Zadia Gadsden, principal at Takoma Park Elementary School, has been named this year’s Washington Post Principal of the Year. Dr. Gadsden was one of 16 principal finalists chosen for their exceptional work and dedication to students.The Post also honored longtime Winston Churchill social studies teacher Chris Forney as a Teacher of the Year finalist. Read more.
Dozens of young male students attended the spring Game Changer Conference on April 20 at the Universities at Shady Grove. This year's spring conference encouraged students to see themselves as competitors in life's big game, where trying hard, being smart and playing well lead to winning their dreams.
Stephanie Gomer, teacher at Poolesville High School, has been named Maryland History Day High School Teacher of the Year. Read the Maryland Humanities feature on her. She will be honored at the Maryland History Day statewide awards ceremony on May 4.
MCPS In the News:
Montgomery County students build neighborhood farm for Earth Day
Hundreds of Montgomery County Public Schools students volunteered for Earth Day
Ravens partnership puts girls’ flag football front and center in Montgomery County Public Schools
Wheaton High School Students Begin Working on Clearing Area That Was Avery Road Colored Cemetery
Athletics and Activities Schedule for the Week of April 29 - May 5
REMINDER: Prom is May 17!
Attention All Juniors/Seniors: Northwest High School invites Juniors and Seniors to attend this year's Met Gala Prom on Friday, May 17, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Pinstripes in North Bethesda. After Prom will be held at Northwest High School. The ticket price includes entrance into After Prom. You do not need a separate ticket to attend after prom. Your name will be on a list when you check in.
Ticket sales for Northwest students will be sold online only through SchoolCash Online (SCO) beginning April 22, 2024. (If you do not have an account set up already, please email Ms. Jacqueline Miller, financial specialist, at Jacqueline_N_Miller@mcpsmd.org.) Once tickets are purchased, students can pick up their ticket on one of the days listed in SCO when purchasing the ticket. In order for students to pick up tickets, all obligations must be cleared.
NWHS students can bring one Maryland high school guest to this event. Guest tickets can be purchased on ticket distribution days, and must bring a completed Guest Approval Form signed by parents/guardians and their school administrator, as well as a photocopy of their guests ID. Guest forms can be picked up in the Main Office. Guest tickets can be purchased with cash only.
REMINDER: Booster Club seeking President & Concessions Manager for 2024-2025
The Northwest Booster Club is seeking a President and Concessions Manager for the 2024-2025 school year. The one-year term begins July 1, 2024, with the option to continue after that time period.
President: Presides over meetings, oversees events and fundraising, works with principal, athletic director, Booster Club officers, and chairpeople to ensure the Booster Club mission is upheld and served
Concessions Manager: Leads concessions committee to stock and staff the concessions stands for the fall, winter and spring sports seasons as well as two drama productions in the fall and spring.
If you are interested in gathering more information about either of these positions, please contact Ms. Kim Summers, Booster Club President at president@nwhsboosters.org or Mr. Smith, Principal at Scott_E_Smith@mcpsmd.org.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION!
REMINDER: NWHS After Prom Party - 5.17.24
The Northwest After Prom Party is coming May 17th! The NWHS PTSA will once again host an all-night after prom party on 5.17.24 to keep our kids safe and off the roads on prom night! This incredible event includes food, games, DJ, entertainment, activities, tons of prizes and giveaways, and more!
We need to raise a significant amount of money and are in need of many volunteers to make this event successful! Will you donate $24 for the '24 After Prom Party?
It’s important for ALL grade levels to contribute in some way as these juniors and seniors are your children’s classmates, teammates, neighbors, and friends.
Please visit www.nwhsafterprom.com to donate or volunteer!
THANK YOU!
REMINDER: Free Store Updates!
Thank you Northwest Community for all of your donations to the Free Store! We average several visitors a day, and as the new semester begins, students are looking for replacement school supplies. As always, we accept all gently used school supplies, such as paper and binders, but right now we are in particular need of composition and spiral notebooks, and backpacks. Cute trinkets are always welcome to make shopping at the Free Store an especially fun experience. Please drop off donations in the front office or have your child bring them to room 264. Thank you!
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: 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
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
Northwest High School serves over 2400 students and is home of the Jaguars!