Blake Updates
September 22, 2019
Attendance Updates
There are two major ways that we are looking at attendance this year. The first ways is in total absences our students have. At the state level part of the way our school is assessed is on attendance rate. This is reflected in our annual state report card that can be found on www.mdreportcard.org. Fifteen percent of our overall score as a school is based on the attendance of our students, labeled by the state as "students not chronically absent", which is defined as, "the percent of students not absent 10 percent or more school days during the school year." In terms of this measure, the state does not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences, they just look at total days missed by students. During the 2017 - 2018 school year 76% of our students were labeled as "not being chronically absent". Our goal for the 2019 - 2020 school year is to increase that to at least 80%.
The second attendance area we are looking at this year is unexcused absences and unexcused tardies to classes possibly resulting in a loss of credit in the impacted course(s). This policy is outlined in MCPS Regulation JEA-RA (specifically on pages 7 and 8). Here is a brief summary:
- When students obtain 3 unexcused absences in a class (note that 3 unexcused tardies is equal to one absence) families receive a letter in the mail.
- When students obtain 5 unexcused absences in a class families receive a second letter in the mail.
Through the AIP development process we will work with and engage our student's family as well as the stduent. The AIP outlines those things that students need to do in order to earn credit in the impacted course(s) and will be monitored and updated. At the end of the semester the school administrator and counselor will meet with the student, review the progress towards meeting the AIP goals and will determine if the student will earn credit for the course based on fulfilling the AIP goals. Failure to meet those goals will result in the students receiving a grade of an E3, noting that they did not receive credit in the course due to attendance.
Mock SAT at Blake
The Blake High School Career center is offering an opportunity for students to take a practices SAT here at Blake on Saturday, October 19, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm . This practice test is administered like an actual test except student scores will not be reported. The practice test is sponsored by the Blake High School Career Center and Revolution Prep and costs $10.00 to register. Students must register online by October 9, 2019 at https://www.revolutionprep.com/partners/1394/
If you have questions or concerns please contact Ms. Prochnow in the career center.
AP Exam Fee Assistance
Attention Blake AP students! Fee waivers for May’s tests are due to Ms. O’Neill by November 1. Please make sure your name is on your waiver form. The form can be found at the link below.
PSAT & College Readiness Day Information- REMINDER
The James Hubert Blake High School College Readiness Day and the College Board’s Preliminary SAT (PSAT) will take place on Wednesday, October 16 starting at 7:45 a.m. Here are the details for the day:
Students in 9th grade will have the following two options on our college readiness day:
- Students in 9th grade who wish to take the official PSAT may do so by registering and paying online by Tuesday, October 8. The cost is $17.00, and you can register by going to the Blake website, clicking on the “Online Payments” link on the left and then going to the “PSAT Test – 9th Grade Registration Fee” link. All students in 9th grade wishing to take the official PSAT must register online.
- Students in 9th grade who do not wish to take the official PSAT will take a practice version of the test. There is no cost for this version and students do not need to register. All 9th grade students who do not take the official PSAT will take the practice test and will receive an evaluation of their performance.
All students in 10th grade are expected to take the PSAT, which is paid for by Montgomery County Public Schools. No registration is needed for 10th grade students. Students will receive a full report on their performance in December 2019. This feedback is important to help prepare for their future college testing.
Students in 11th grade have the option of taking the official PSAT. The College Board’s PSAT is critical for students in Grade 11 as it is the qualifying exam for the National Merit, National Hispanic, and National Achievement Scholarship programs. This is arguably the most important step juniors will take to prepare for life after high school. Students in 11th grade who wish to take the PSAT must register for the test and pay the $17 fee. To register go to the Blake Website, click on the Online Payments link on the left and then select “PSAT Test – 11th Grade Registration Fee”. Students in 11th grade who would like to pay by cash or check may do so in the main office during lunch, on Tuesday, September 24 or Tuesday, October 1. These are the only two days payments will be accepted in person.
- Additionally, the College Board provides a limited number of fee waivers for qualifying grade 11 students who have a financial hardship. If you feel your student qualifies for a waiver, please have them pick up and return a fee waiver form by Tuesday, October 8, 2019 in the main office. The form outlines all of the criteria that may qualify a student to test for free. Fee waivers are limited and will be given on a first come first served basis.
Students in 12th grade who have not taken and/or received a minimum passing score on either the SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER exams will be scheduled to take the ACCUPLACER on Wednesday, October 16. Seniors who have met these standards will be provided with time to get caught up on classwork.
If you have any questions please contact Mr. Mark Brown (Mark_Brown@mcpsmd.org), Assistant Principal.
Saturday School
The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc. kicks off its 2019–2020 season of Saturday School on Saturday, September 21. Saturday School is a low-cost tutoring and mentoring program that provides a sixth day of learning and helps MCPS students enhance their mastery of core academic subjects. Students who are in need of additional academic support can attend sessions at one of 12 locations across Montgomery County. Classes begin on Saturday, September 21 and will end in May 2020. More information can be found at www.saturdayschool.org/.
Preview Nights Set to Explain High School Programming Options
MCPS has developed a long-range strategic plan for high school programming. The plan will be implemented in phases during the next six years, with new programs available to Grade 9 students in fall 2020. MCPS will host four preview nights to discuss these options with students and their families.
The preview nights will be held:
- Wednesday, September 25, at Watkins Mill High School
- Thursday, September 26, at John F. Kennedy High School (Parents/guardians and students who attend this preview night will also receive information on the Choice process.)
- Wednesday, October 2, at James Hubert Blake High School (Parents/guardians and students who attend this preview night will also receive information on the Choice process.)
Each preview night is designed for specific high school clusters. All preview nights will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be live streamed on the MCPS website.
More information is available here or on the Options webpage at
Stay Informed with MCPS QuickNotes
MCPS QuickNotes is a bimonthly newsletter that provides MCPS families with important news and information about MCPS programs and activities, plus emergency information. MCPS QuickNotes is offered in seven languages: English, Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Amharic. Visit news.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/ to read the latest edition.
Key Dates
- September 25- Blue Block Day
- September 26- Silver Block Day
- September 30-No School
- October 4- Early Release Day
- October 8- Financial Aid Information Night, 7:00 p.m. in the Amphitheater
- October 9- No School
- October 10- Students report to homeroom at the start of the day to complete the Equal Opportunity Schools student survey
- October 14- MCPS Open House for all schools
- October 16- College Readiness and PSAT Testing Day (information included in this week's update)
- October 22- Choral Cluster Concert, 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium
- October 28- Homework Spirit Week
- October 28- Hallway Decorating New Date
- October 30- Powder Puff Game New Date
- October 30- Blue Block Day
- October 31- Silver Block Day
- October 31- Hallway Decorating
- November 1- Homecoming Game
- November 2- Homecoming Dance
James Hubert Blake High School
James Hubert Blake High School is a Signature School for the Fine Arts and Humanities
#BESTBlake — #WeAreBlake — #BengalPride
Email: Robert_Sinclair@mcpsmd.org
Website: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/blakehs/
Location: 300 Norwood Road, Silver Spring, MD, United States
Phone: (240)740-1400
Facebook: facebook.com/BlakeHSPrincipal/
Twitter: @Blake_Principal