VA Weekly Navigator
Your guide to news, updates, and reminders in the Upper VA
(Week of May 9, 2022)
Upcoming Events
- May 15: MVAPTC In-Person Meet and Greet at Filicori Zecchini in Park Potomac
- May 18: Early Release Day
- May 21: Gaithersburg Book Festival
- June 17: Last Day of School - Early Release
Summer Opportunity for HS Students
HS students—are you interested in learning how to start a for-profit business that can create social change? MCPS is hosting a Social Entrepreneurship Summer Program for rising 9th-12th-graders at The Universities of Shady Grove in Rockville.
Classes will be held Monday - Thursday from July 18 - July 28, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM. The program culminates in a Shark Tank Pitch Competition on Friday, July 29th. See the flyer below for more information, and click here to register.
High School Essay Writing Contest
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is seeking submissions for its 2022 essay contest. Students are invited to consider and share their thoughts on the question: "Is the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause sufficient to secure the rights of all citizens, or is the ERA necessary to promote gender equality?"
The contest is open to all students currently in grades 9 through 12 from Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Essays are limited to 1,000 words and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 27, 2022.
Students have the opportunity to win one of three cash prizes: first place, $2,000; second place, $1,500; and third place, $1,000.
Winners will be announced in August, and the winning essays will be presented at the court's Essay Awards Program in September 2022.
For additional information and instructions on how to submit an essay, visit www.ca4.uscourts.gov/essay-contest.
For questions, contact the Fourth Circuit Clerk’s Office at essaycontest@ca4.uscourts.gov or (804) 916-2706.
Please note: Prior award winners as well as children, grandchildren, stepchildren, and members of the household of a federal judge or federal judiciary employee are excluded from the competition.
MCEA Recognizes MVA Special Educator Jade Pridgeon!
"Her dedication to students in the MVA, and her support of the Special Education Team, have helped to make this year much less stressful than it could have been in this new endeavor."
We celebrate Ms. Pridgeon, the entire MVA Special Education department, and ALL of our teachers and staff! Thank you to all the parents and students who made Teacher Appreciation Week so special last week!
Support for Seniors - Every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday!
Use this Zoom link to join: https://bit.ly/MVASeniors
- Meeting ID: 878 5717 9561
- Passcode: mva
Signs of Suicide Lessons
The Counseling department will be delivering the annual MCPS lessons regarding the" Signs of Suicide" information in PE Classes for our Middle School students during the weeks of May. 9-16. High School lessons will be announced at a later date. Please reach out to your child's counselor if you have questions.
FREE Summer Gym Membership for Teens
Teenagers can work out for free all summer at Planet Fitness. Sign up starts May 16th via the Planet Fitness website. The membership lasts from May 16th until August 31st and allows teenagers to work out for free at their home club via a digital key tag. There are Planet Fitness locations in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville, and two in Silver Spring.
Any teenager to sign up for the program is automatically entered for a chance to win a $500 scholarship (one winner per state). Additional information can be seen on their website: https://www.planetfitness.com/summerpass/preregistration.
High School Summer Pass is just for teens 14 – 19. Under 18? Sign up with a parent/guardian (online or in-club) from May 16 – August 31.
New LGBTQ+ Resources
MCPS has launched a resources webpage with helpful information for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and parents. Resources include information on supporting LGBTQ+ students at home and in the classroom, informational handouts, and a glossary of terms supported by MoCo Pride Center:
Final Open Mic Session (for this school year)
Save the date! We hope you will all join us for our last open mic of the school year on Thursday, May 19 from 12:30-1:00.
MVA Student Enrollment for 2022-2023
Students who are currently enrolled in the Montgomery Virtual Academy (MVA) and wish to continue in the MVA in the 2022-2023 school year are not required to re-apply. However, we are asking for current families to please complete the form linked below for each child. In the form, please indicate whether you wish your child to remain in the MVA for the 2022-2023 school year OR plan to have them return to their home school. Families who have already completed the form do not need to re-submit it.
Montgomery Virtual Academy 2022-2023 Enrollment Commitment
https://forms.gle/P1TvdtdzLXDuxafq8
Questions regarding continuation of enrollment may be sent to MoCoVirtual@mcpsmd.org. Thank you for your cooperation and support!
Check Out Our New VA SSL Website!
Here you'll find...
- Contact information for our SSL Coordinator and our counseling team
- An introductory video about SLL hours and how to complete them
- The official submission form for reporting hours
- Timely updates on service opportunities within and outside of the Virtual Academy
- and more!
...And MORE SSL Opportunities!
Hi students!
Need SSL Hours? Want to give back to the community? Participate in our “Care Cards for Healthcare Workers” Project! Come join SGAP LEADERS for a card-writing session to show our appreciation for our healthcare workers! It will be at our office at 15800 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 300, Rockville MD 20855 on May 15, 2022 at 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
We will be writing cards to doctors and you will receive 0.5 SSL hours per quality card, in addition to the time that you are at our office. Materials will be provided; we will have cards and pens available for use. You do not need to stay the whole event to earn SSL hours, in fact, it is possible to just pop in for half an hour or an hour to write cards. We hope to see you there!
Please fill out the form here to sign up: https://forms.gle/ufS43wGPeXeXVYd5A
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to communications@sgapleaders.org
End of Year Procedures for MVA Seniors
The last day for seniors who are on track to graduate is May 27th, 2022.
Seniors who are NOT on track to graduate are expected to continue reporting to classes after May 27th.
Our counselors have been meeting throughout the semester with seniors who are in danger of not graduating, and on a weekly or even semi-weekly basis over the past two months.
For at-risk students, counselors and administrators are collaborating with teachers, families, and student to develop a plan for earning credit.
Counselors will contact and work with teachers regarding work to be done after May 27th. This work may continue through June 15th, the last day of school for all students.
If you have questions, suggestions, or concerns, please contact your student's counselor directly -- information about counselor assignments and contact info is available further down in this newsletter.
Counselors are also now holding support sessions every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to establish individualized action plans for students to ensure they are on track for graduation in June or by the end of summer. Support sessions will be held during the lunch hour, from 11:35-12:35.
Use this Zoom link to join: https://bit.ly/MVASeniors
Meeting ID: 878 5717 9561
Passcode: mva
MVA Summer School Courses (July 6-29)
Virtual Academy Accepting New Applications for 2022-2023
The following message was posted on the MVA Website on February 2, 2022. Please feel free to share and pass it along!
The Montgomery Virtual Academy, a full-time virtual learning program for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12, is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Students interested in the program are required to apply for admission and must be approved to participate. (Students currently enrolled in the Virtual Academy do not need to reapply). Applications will be considered on a rolling admissions basis. Application reviews will begin March 1 for initial enrollment and staffing purposes.
The Virtual Academy serves students in a comprehensive, full-time online instructional program. The program will continue to expand its infrastructure and services, innovative instructional approaches and flexible options to access coursework, particularly for high school students.
Admission considerations include:
- For elementary school students: Primarily for students with extenuating circumstances related to health or other reasons that can be mitigated through a virtual learning program.
- For middle and high school students: For students to gain access to innovative courses, flexible scheduling and specialty courses that may not be available in all schools, and for students with extenuating circumstances, including health and other reasons, that can be mitigated through a virtual program.
Applications can be submitted through ParentVUE beginning Feb. 2.
For families needing assistance submitting an application, please call 240-740-6060 or email MoCoVirtual@mcpsmd.org.
For more information, visit these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or the Montgomery Virtual Academy website.
Montgomery Can Code: Free Coding Camps for Middle School Students!
In partnership with Montgomery College and the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, MCPS is offering FREE virtual coding camps for rising middle school students this summer, as part of the Montgomery Can Code initiative. Students in the camps will receive a loaner iPad and learn to code with Swift, Apple’s easy-to-learn programming language and engage in a fun competition. For more information and registration, please visit: https://www.montgomerycancode.com/. If you have additional questions, please contact Mr. Kelly Dunston, coordinator, at Kelly_A_Dunston@mcpsmd.org
Spring Testing Updates and Reminders
MAP
All MCPS students in grades 6-9 will take the spring MAP-M and MAP-R exams through their English and Math classes.
MAP-M testing will be administered during the week of May 2.
MAP-R testing will be administered during the week of May 9.
MVA English and Math teachers will provide students with additional details about MAP tests.
MAP make-ups will be held on Wednesday, May 18, which is an early release day.
MCAP
Refer to the presentation that was shared with MVA students and families regarding spring MCAP testing.
ALL middle school and many of our high school students will take MCAP tests this spring.
MCAP tests will be administered in person at their home schools.
Students will receive information about their testing days, times, and locations directly from their home schools.
Please make every effort to take the MCAP exams, especially the high school exams, which are graduation requirements.
MVA Parent Teacher Council Updates
Please contact Council President, Jessica at parentcouncil@cpjsweb.com if you’d like to volunteer or have any questions, comments or suggestions. Thank you for your support! Sunday, May 15th, from 2-4PM our second Meet and Greet! We hope to hold the event outdoors, weather dependent. If we have to move indoors, masking is requested. Parent Teacher Council Meeting: Thursday, June 2nd at 6:30 PM If you are interested in running for a MVAPTC board member position on June 2nd, please contact Jessica at presidentmvaptc@gmail.com and she will put you in touch with the nominating chair. No experience necessary!
Activities will be provided or bring your own. Volunteers needed to greet, lead activities, sell shirts and help clean up. Delicious coffee, hot chocolate, sandwiches and treats available for purchase! https://www.facebook.com/filicori.parkpotomac
Montgomery Virtual Academy Shirt Sales and Donations: https://mvaptc.square.site Please contact Jessica at parentcouncil@cpjsweb.com with any questions. Pick up in Kensington or can be mailed at an additional cost.
MVAPTC Links:
Website: mvaptc.org
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=montgomery%20virtual%20academy%20parent%20teacher%20council
Facebook page for MVAPTC Families & Staff Discussion Group called MVAPTC Discussion Group - Montgomery Virtual Academy Families & Staff (MD): https://www.facebook.com/groups/530674078014807
MVAPTC Membership Signup (no dues this year): https://forms.gle/ATxuHnUWnvEqVD9Y8
Clubs and Activities with the Virtual Academy
MVS Technology Survey
There is also an opportunity to indicate interest in a focus group conversation. Thank you for taking the time to complete this helpful survey!
How to Check SSL Hours in ParentVUE
- Navigate to https://md-mcps-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login.aspx.
- Select "I am a parent" or "I am a student."
- Enter your User Name and Password, then click "Login."
- Click "Course History" from the left-hand navigation.
- The Course History page shows the student's graduation progress, test requirements, and SLL hours earned. (Students need 75 hours for graduation.)
- Toggle on "Detail" to see full Service Learning details.
Caring Matters Offers a Free Grief Camp for Children
Camp Erin is an overnight weekend camp for children and teens, ages 6-17, grieving the death of someone close to them. Campers will participate in wide range of activities including: recreation and outdoor activities, sharing memories, expressive arts, trust and bonding activities, campfire and drumming circle. Camp Erin, offered free of charge, is staffed by trained volunteers and professionals. This opportunity is for children and teens who have not attended a previous session of Camp Erin.
Registration is open for the free weekend camp - Camp Erin for grieving students ages 6-17. It will take place May 13-15 2022. see flyers for more details
FLYERS:
English flyer link
español flyer link
Camp Erin can accommodate Spanish-speaking campers!
The deadline for applying is Friday, April 29th at 3:00 PM.
More details and the application form are on the website https://www.caringmatters.org/camp-erin
Russian-Ukranian War Parent Resources
Resources for Elementary Parents
How to talk to children about what’s happening in Ukraine and World War Three anxiety. Although this Metro article is written for a British audience, the themes and information included are universal for dealing with such issues.
Russia-Ukraine war: How to talk to kids about the conflict. This Yahoo News article discusses tips on how to have age appropriate conversations about the Russian-Ukrainian War.
Kids Britannica: This entry gives information about Ukraine, its history, people, culture, government and natural resources that although written for elementary students, is really accessible to secondary students as well.
The Ukraine-Russia crisis explained: a complete visual guide, The Guardian: This article gives an explanation of what is going on with good visual maps, graphs, and charts to convey multiple points of information.
A simple guide to the Ukraine-Russia crisis: 5 things to know: This Al Jazeera article presents some key questions and background to the conflict and what it means for those involved.
How NATO Is Responding to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine. This Time article explains the expansion of NATO since 1949 and how it is responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kids are learning about the Russia-Ukraine conflict on TikTok with a mix of snark and fear. Here's how parents can explain, not alarm.This Yahoo article addresses the fact that many students will get information on social media platforms, such as TikTok. It discusses this phenomena and then gives advice on how to talk to kids at their level, such as high school, middle school, elementary school and preschool.
Ukraine Russia Conflict Explained | What is happening with Ukraine and Russia 2022?: This video provides a description of what has led up to the Russian invasion. YouTube: MP4 Format
- How to Talk to Kids and Teens About the Crisis in Ukraine. This lifehacker guides parents of little kids, tweens, and teenagers on how to talk about the Russian-Ukrainian War.
Yet Another SSL Opportunity: Hands2Inspire
Our very own Dr. Sandhu owns a non-profit organization called Hands2Inspire. She has created an SSL opportunity that can earn students up 15 SSL hours.
Students will create a Google Slideshow to spread awareness about a scholarship that Hands2Inspire has set up in honor of Dr. Sandhu's grandfather, Sardar Maluk Singh Sandhu. Students will talk about the scholarship and how it can benefit students. These slideshows will then be shared throughout the community and the nation to raise awareness for the scholarship.
This opportunity is open to all students, with special focus on seniors who need credits to meet their graduation requirements. Students are also more than welcome to apply for this scholarship, as it is open to high seniors.
If you are interested in learning more, please contact Dr. Simarjeet directly via email: Simarjeet_K_Sandhu@mcpsmd.org.
Important SSL Links:
Student Service Learning HUB for MCPS Students and Families
MVA Virtual Café
The Virtual Café is a Zoom gathering space where students can get together to meet friends, play games, participate in activities, and engage in casual conversations while they eat their lunch. The Café will be open every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:40-12:15. Teachers will facilitate shared activities such as chess, anime, mindfulness, community circle conversations, and more.
ZOOM LINK: http://bit/ly/mvavirtualcafe
Meeting ID: 854 7704 2831
Passcode: lunch
Virtual Academy Calendar for May 2022
Virtual Academy Accepting New Applications for the 2022-2023 School Year
The following message was posted on the MVA Website on February 2, 2022. Please feel free to share and pass it along! (Students who are currently enrolled do NOT need to complete a new application for next school year.)
The Montgomery Virtual Academy, a full-time virtual learning program for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12, is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Students interested in the program are required to apply for admission and must be approved to participate. (Students currently enrolled in the Virtual Academy do not need to reapply). Applications will be considered on a rolling admissions basis. Application reviews will begin March 1 for initial enrollment and staffing purposes.
The Virtual Academy serves students in a comprehensive, full-time online instructional program. The program will continue to expand its infrastructure and services, innovative instructional approaches and flexible options to access coursework, particularly for high school students.
Admission considerations include:
- For elementary school students: Primarily for students with extenuating circumstances related to health or other reasons that can be mitigated through a virtual learning program.
- For middle and high school students: For students to gain access to innovative courses, flexible scheduling and specialty courses that may not be available in all schools, and for students with extenuating circumstances, including health and other reasons, that can be mitigated through a virtual program.
Applications can be submitted through ParentVUE beginning Feb. 2.
For families needing assistance submitting an application, please call 240-740-6060 or email MoCoVirtual@mcpsmd.org.
For more information, visit these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or the Montgomery Virtual Academy website.
Note for Rising Kindergarteners
Students who will be kindergartners in the 2022–2023 school year must register at their home school prior to applying to the Virtual Academy. To receive a student ID number, contact your local neighborhood elementary school to schedule an appointment. Application reviews for kindergarten students will begin May 1.
Attendance Questions and Absence Notes
- Hikeyya_A_Falden@mcpsmd.org
- 240-740-6060
Advisory ("Homeroom") Reminders
Every student in the VA is scheduled for Advisory (indicated as "Homeroom" on their schedules).
Advisory meets Mondays-Wednesdays-Fridays. Students are able to:
- connect with peers from their home school
- receive Virtual Academy updates and information
- participate in fun and interesting advisory lessons
It is important for students to log in each Advisory day for learning and attendance.
Contact your advisory teacher for information and to answer questions.
Activating and Utilizing ParentVUE
Activate Your ParentVue Account
This important tool will provide near real-time access to information on assignments and scores, attendance, class schedules, transcripts, graduation status, and more. You may access ParentVUE online, but for the best mobile experience, we encourage you to download the ParentVUE App from the Google Play Store or Apple Store, as this app will replace the current myMCPS mobile application.
Contact Your Child's Administrator or Counselor for your activation letter
Free English as Second Language Classes for Parents
In collaboration with MCPS, the Literacy Council of Montgomery County (LCMC) is offering free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for MCPS parents. The classes will be held virtually and there will be options for all levels of English speakers. They are available to any MCPS parent for whom English is not their first language.
Please see this flyer for details:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CWxRzof4pPS95Fi7SjEadPgf3_w39orL/view?usp=sharing
Parents can complete this Interest form to receive a placement test.
Bulk Meal Kits for Virtual Academy Families
Families can now pre-order meals using the same link each week. The link will open on Mondays and will close temporarily over the weekend so that the data can be accessed by our Food Services partners. Please note the form is not managed or maintained by the Virtual Academy.
Virtual Academy Bulk Meal Kits Pre-Order Form
These kits will provide 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 7 Suppers and 7 Snacks. These kits will be distributed every Friday from 11:00am - 1:00pm at most locations (see the form for details).
Magruder HS
Clarksburg HS
Damascus ES
Gaithersburg HS
Paint Branch HS
White Oak MS
Parkland MS
Blair HS
Northwest HS
Richard Montgomery HS
Poolesville ES
Walter Johnson HS
The kits need to be reserved by Friday 12:00 p.m. one week in advance to ensure availability.
Confirmation of order will be sent via email.
Questions regarding meal kits can be sent to the meals drop box: DFNSMealKitOrders@mcpsmd.org
We are so grateful to our partners in Food Services!
(Need to type the Pre-Order Form link? Here it is: https://forms.gle/XQHyNJe5kG6fzj6v9)
Technology Support
If you are having technology issues, please submit an e-ticket by emailing your question or issue to communitytechsupport@mcpsmd.org or submit a ticket via the Community Tech Support portal. This account is monitored daily and you will receive email notifications throughout the process.
For helpful support guides and screencasts in English and Spanish, please visit https://montgomery.service-now.com/csm.
A support guide for the Community Tech Support portal is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cczbhEXF7x3TBquSMQGUGsxIcqsm_BtG2KBBi_bA0_0/edit
Student Newsletter
Click here to review the updates that we share with students each week in our student newsletter Google Site.
VA Weekly Navigator Archive
SEMESTER TWO
- Week of May 9, 2022
- Week of May 2, 2022
- Week of April 25, 2022
- Week of April 18, 2022
- Week of April 4, 2022
- Week of March 28, 2022
- Week of March 21, 2022
- Week of March 14, 2022
- Week of March 7, 2022
- Week of February 28, 2022
- Week of February 22, 2022
- Week of February 14, 2022
- Week of February 7, 2022
- Week of January 31, 2022
SEMESTER ONE
Helpful SSL Tip
When you submit your SSL forms, it’s really important that you complete all sections properly, so the form does not get returned to you. Check out this video from our SSL committee that demonstrates how to complete the SSL form in its entirety.
Thank you, Ms. Marks, for the helpful video!
https://www.loom.com/share/a9aafe11b7c7475caa166006528bf823
SSL Opportunities
As a reminder, students may visit the following quick links to find SSL resources:
SSL opportunities - https://bit.ly/SSLOpportunities and https://bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020
SSL forms, resources, and guidelines - https://bit.ly/SSLHubMCPS
SSL program overview - https://bit.ly/SSLOverview2020
Step-by-step directions for viewing student SSL record on StudentVUE - https://bit.ly/SSLonVUE
April SSL Opportunities: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y1Sp5n6bMNCOHUZ0O_o5tI3olFDEciNViYZNiD7_GPs/edit?usp=sharing
We're also excited to announce that students who attended any of our MVA community building events this semester, including our Chautauqua discussions, the Day of Silence assembly, and our Open Mic sessions, are now eligible to earn SSL hours for their service in coming together to build our virtual community and learn about our local history!
Additionally, students who met with Student Member of the Board Hana O-Looney on February 9 are also now eligible to earn SSL hours for learning about the roles and responsibilities of the SMOB as well as voicing their concerns over school-related issues relevant to them.
In order to earn SSL hours for these opportunities, please complete the MVA SSL Reflection Form. Select the appropriate event in the dropdown menu.
You must submit a separate form for each event you participated in.