Northwest News
Mr. Smith's Newsletter for the Northwest Community
Sunday, January 8, 2023
NEW: This Week's Message from Mr. Smith
Northwest High School Families,
Happy Sunday Evening! I hope this finds everyone warm on this chilly Sunday. We are looking forward to a regular five-day week ahead. A reminder that the end of the marking period is Thursday, January 26 so there is just a few short weeks to finish out semester one (1) strong!
Academic Advisement for the 2023-2024 School year
Course registration for the 2023-2024 school year for current Northwest High School students kicked off on January 3, 2023. The counseling department will be visiting students through English classes to share information about the course registration process and course offerings. Throughout the month of January, students will meet individually with their counselor to review and finalize course selections. All registration materials are posted on the Northwest website on the Courses/Registration quick links tab. If students or parents have any questions, please reach out to your student’s counselor.
A reminder for students in grades 9-11! You can order your student photos by visiting vosphoto.com/uc. Use your student ID when prompted for the online code.
Yearbook purchase link, personal ads info:
The FINAL date for reserving ad space is January, 27, 2023.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vJSlmCUxsW_mFU_w1MfYPY8vdK2yABafR4_Vep1PcI0/edit?usp=sharing
In this week's newsletter, there are several new items including an update from our College and Career Center, SAT School Day Information, an opportunity for Juniors and Seniors, this week's Ulysses Fair Information, ways to purchase parking permits for semester two (2), things to know from MCPS for Thursday, January 5, athletics and activities calendar for this week and information regarding what the Student Member of the Board does for our school system.
The rest of this week's newsletter contains reminders including a welcome to our new head football coach, information regarding the school cash online process, information regarding our Middle College Program applications, our Science National Honors Society tutoring opportunities, the class of 2027 Ulysses Signature Program Application, a call for volunteers to run concessions during winter events, all the after school tutoring opportunities for Northwest students, information about our school's project pantry, Northwest specific grading and reporting guidelines, news from our Green Team, a note about our School's Free Store, tutoring opportunities, ways to join the PTSA and Booster Clubs, College T-Shirt Tuesdays, and a way to buy Class spirit gear!
Thank you for your continued support and trust. We are looking forward to a great week ahead!
NEW: This Week's College and Career Center Update
College Career Information Center e-NEWS
For details on all college career information and resources, visit the college career webpage.
COLLEGE CAREER e-NEWS HIGHLIGHTS: View the complete e-NEWS Bulletin on the college career web page and click on the e-NEWS link!
REMINDER! ASVAB: The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is administered FREE to interested tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students and is an excellent career exploration tool.
The test date for the 2022-2023 school year is February 9, 2023 @ 7:45 am. Parental consent will be required for a student to test at Northwest High School. Parental consent is granted by submission of this Google Form. The test will be offered once each school year. Testing and score interpretations will be during the school day. Visit the NEW Official ASVAB Career Exploration Program web site and enter as an applicant for more information on testing and resources.
Save the Date for the 15th Annual HBCU College Fair. Friday, February 17, 2023, from 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm. During the fair, workshops will be provided on financing college, college life and more.
JAG Jobs: Hiring for Summer! City of Gaithersburg Aquatics. Tuesday, January 24 during lunch. Gym Lobby.
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
Summer Programs: A list of summer programs/opportunities is regularly updated in the NW Counseling Canvas classroom on the “Summer Opportunities” page.
REMINDER! SUMMER INTERNSHIP: NIH summer internship program application portal has opened! https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip. The application portal will close March 1. Applying to the NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP):
LAST CALL! Webinar and Q&A January 10, 2023, 3:00–4:00 pm (ET);
Register @ https://nih.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscOCtqzwvHdFNbAzqldWeCP_RxEbWIko
The 2023 Summer Internship Program is for students who
- are 17 years of age or older on June 15, 2023,
- are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, AND
- are enrolled at least half-time in an accredited college (including community college) or university as an undergraduate, graduate, or professional student at the time of application*, OR
- have graduated from high school but have been accepted into an accredited college or university program for the fall semester.
REMINDER! Northwest High School Financial Aid Workshop evening virtual event on Thursday, February 2 from 6 to 8:00 pm. Registration is required. Registration includes completion of the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) Intake Form. The Intake Form is a confidential form for the EOC office. Completion of this form allows EOC to provide free financial aid support to our community. Events will be facilitated by the Montgomery College Office of Student Financial Aid and the Educational Opportunity Center. Click HERE to access the Event Registration Form and event details.
Money Matters: Scholarship Highlights for New Posts & Winter Break Reminders
NEW! The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship is available for the 2023-2024 academic year to students who enroll at a Maryland community college. All interested applicants must submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) by March 1 each year.
Important Promise Scholarship Deadlines:
March 1: FINAL deadline to submit the FAFSA or MSFAA
June 1: MHEC awards renewal recipients
July 15: Deadline to submit all required documentation
August 1: MHEC awards initial applicants
For all applicant eligibility requirements, including how to sign up for a MDCAPS account can be found on the MHEC website. If you have questions, call the Office of Student Financial Assistance at 410-767-3300 and follow the prompt to press #1. You can also meet virtually with a financial aid specialist to talk more about your options when applying for financial aid to achieve your higher education goals.
NEW! SCHOLARSHIP: The Montgomery County (MD) Alumnae Chapter (MCAC-MD) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (DST). SENIORS (both male and female). Three scholarship programs are available with varying criteria. Minimum GPA 2.0. Awards available for two- and four- year college bound students and career/vocational/technical schools. Questions should be directed to scholarship@mcacdst.org. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: MARCH 17 | Post 3 Jan 2023 |
NEW! SCHOLARSHIP: NORTHWEST PTSA and Booster Club Scholarships. Northwest High School (Montgomery County Public Schools) SENIORS. $500 awards. Requirements/Qualifications:
- Have received a letter of acceptance and plan to attend a two- or four-year college or university or other post-secondary program/training
- Have completed a minimum of 100 SSL hours for the PTSA scholarship; minimum of 75 SSL hours for the Booster Club scholarship
- Submit a 300- to 500-word essay based on the prompts provided
Questions should be directed to Kim Summers, PTSA & Booster Club President; DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: APR 23 | Post 3 Jan 2023 |
NEW! SCHOLARSHIP: The Rudolph W. Snowden Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc. (RWSMSF) was established in 1978 by the Mu Nu Chapter, an unincorporated association of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.in honor and memory of Mu Nu’s principal Founder, a Charter member and first Basileus, Bro Rudolph W. Snowden (Omega Chapter). In keeping with the primary purposes of RWSMSF, eligible applicants are considered from those who are/have:
- African American male, Montgomery County Public School (Maryland) high school graduating seniors;
- Seeking a bachelor’s degree from an HBCU; and,
- A 3.0 or better GPA on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent.
Applications must be submitted by email to info@rwsmsf.org; DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: MAY 1 | Post 3 Jan 2023 |
NEW! SCHOLARSHIP: PINES FEDERAL ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP. SENIORS. Applicants must be interested in civil service, federal employment law, or becoming a federal employment attorney. $1,000 award. Award based on essay. DEADLINE FOR SCHOLARS APPLICATION: AUGUST 1 | Post 3 Jan 2022 |
CORRECTION! SCHOLARSHIP: JACKIE ROBINSON FOUNDATION. MINORITY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. See link for eligibility and details. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: JAN 11 (not JAN 15)
SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE: Montgomery College MONTGOMERY SCHOLARS. SENIORS applying/planning to attend MC. Students must complete the MC Online Credit Application no later than December 1. Program Information | Application Guidelines | DEADLINE FOR SCHOLARS APPLICATION EXTENDED TO JAN 31 | UPDATED Post Date: 14 Dec 2022 |
For a complete list of available scholarships, download the latest publication of our Jag Scholarships ‘Apply Now’ Bulletin on the web. No time to download? In the building visit the QR-Code Board just outside the College Career Information Center (Room 126) and scan the ‘Apply Now’ Bulletin QR-Code for immediate access on your mobile device!
NEW: SAT School Day is Coming!
Attention all grade 11 students and students in the class of 2024!
The SAT School Day, without essay, will be offered in all Montgomery County Public Schools high schools on March 22, 2023. Students opting to take the SAT during the school day will automatically be registered. Students taking the SAT during the school day must adhere to the same testing protocols that take place on national testing dates, including approval of individualized accommodations. We will share more information in the next weeks and prior to SAT School Day. If you have any questions, please email Nyurka_I_Morales@mcpsmd.out
NEW: Calling all Juniors and Seniors!
Calling all rising MCPS 2023-2024 juniors and seniors interested in learning about a career during the month of July. The MCPS Partnerships Unit will begin taking applications to participate in the 2023 Summer RISE program at 8AM on Wednesday, February 1. Summer RISE provides students with a five-week/50-hour, career-based learning experience and introduces students to high-demand career options that match their interests. Students must be available between June 26th through July 28th. Student registration will close at 5PM on Tuesday, March 7.
For more information about Summer RISE and how to register, visit the Summer RISE website and/or attend a student and parent information session in-person on Monday, February 6th from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. or virtually on Thursday, February 23rd from 7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. A registration link will be available on the Summer RISE website.
NEW: Visit the Ulysses Fair 2023
The Ulysses Signature Program will host their Winter Ulysses Fair this Thursday, January 12th, and Friday, January 13th, in the auditorium. All Ulysses seniors in the Senior Research Project would love to see their families and friends come by and visit their exhibitions. Vising hours are as follows: between 8 am and 10 am in the morning and between 12:10 pm and 2:10 pm in the afternoon. Please use the main entrance to sign in and out of the building using the Visitor Management System. Please wear the name tag or sticker at all times in the building for safety and security purposes. All the visitors must remain in the auditorium and the surrounding areas. Parking is available around the school building. However, due to the student dismissal in the afternoon, the school bus lanes of the school parking lot must be cleared up by 2 pm. We look forward to seeing you at the Winter Ulysses Fair 2023. For more information, please visit the Ulysses Website/Ulysses Fairs. Feel free to email our Ulysses Coordinator, Ms. Doona Kim, if you have any questions at DooNachristi_Kim@mcpsmd.org. Thank you.
NEW: Semester 2 Parking Permits
Second semester parking permits will be available for purchase beginning Monday, January 9, 2023, for $39.00 (processing fee included) payable by cash, check (made payable 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 address once the application has been received and approved for eligibility. Applications and payment can be brought to the business office, Room 322, before school starting at 7:25 a.m., during lunch and after school until 2:45 p.m. Applications (two-page document) are also available in the Business Office for students to pick up, as well as on the Northwest HS webpage under the Back-to-School Resource Bank. As a reminder, students must be cleared of all obligations and have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA in order to be eligible for a student parking permit.
NEW: Five Things to Know from MCPS for Thursday, January 5
1. Application to 2023-2024 Montgomery Virtual Academy Now Open
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is already planning for the start of the upcoming school year 2023 – 2024, including the Montgomery Virtual Academy (MVA). The primary focus of the MVA is to foster a safe, inclusive online learning environment that meets the individual needs of all students in an academic setting where staff know their students' interests, and want to see them excel as learners. The open application period will begin on January 5, 2023 and run through February 2, 2023. Please access the MVA Application Link to apply. Read the full message here: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/virtualacademy/news-index/fy24-application-announcement/
Apply here: https://md-mcps.edupoint.com/PXP2_OEN_Login.aspx
2. Spring and First Semester Student Service Learning (SSL) Hours Due Friday, Jan. 6
Students who completed SSL hours during the summer and first semester are encouraged to submit the forms to their school’s SSL coordinator by Friday, Jan. 6. Students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate. Students can find a variety of traditional in-person and virtual/remote opportunities on the MCPS SSL webpage.
3. Reminder: Weekend Vaccine Clinics Are Open
As you settle into the new year, a reminder that free COVID-19 boosters are available at school-based weekend clinics for individuals 6 months and older. The bivalent boosters are designed to provide the most updated protection.
4. Student Spotlight
- Paint Branch High School 11th grader and Air Force JROTC cadet, Malik Aremu is one of 26 students from across the country selected for the prestigious Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) Summer 2023 Flight Academy. This scholarship program is intended to inspire and encourage high school youth toward aviation careers. Upon successful completion, participants will earn a private pilot's license and receive college credits.
- Thirteen Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students have been named recipients of full-tuition, four-year college scholarships from the Posse Foundation. The Posse program identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential that may have been overlooked by traditional college selection processes. Students Selected.
5. MCPS In the News
Four MCPS coaches have been named 2022 All-Met Coaches of the Year by The Washington Post—Peg Keiller, girls’ soccer coach at Quince Orchard High School, Kellie Redmond, girls’ cross country coach at Thomas S. Wootton High School, Prasad Gerard, boys’ cross country coach at Poolesville High School, and Michelle Hunsicker-Blair, girls’ golf coach at Poolesville High School.
For the latest news and information, visit: MCPS News Center.
Montgomery County Public Schools
NEW: Athletics and Activities Calendar for the Week of January 9 - January 15
REMINDER: Welcome to our New Head Football Coach
Northwest High School is excited to announce the hiring of Mr. Warner “Bucky” Clipper Jr. as our new Varsity Head Coach for Football. Coach Clipper possesses the knowledge, skill and character required of the head coach of our program. He brings with him years of knowledge of the game as well as experience in coaching athletes who have gone on to compete at the D1 college level and beyond. Mr. Warner is currently a security assistant at Baker Middle School in Damascus. He is married to an elementary school teacher who works at Germantown Elementary and is a father of two boys.
Over the years, Coach Clipper has coached at Damascus, Sherwood and Northwest High Schools and has been a part of six (6) state championship teams. Additionally, he has coached three (3) other seasons his teams made it to the state championship game. He was inducted into the Maryland High School Hall of Fame in 2016
Coach Clipper plans to bring on an experienced coaching staff who will support our student-athletes and community to continue to build on our traditions. His work ethic, football knowledge, and leadership abilities are universally recognized & respected. The future of the Northwest football program is in great hands.
NEW: School Cash Online Registration and PIN Information (Important for AP Exams)
MCPS has transitioned to a new online payment system called SchoolCash Online (SCO). This will be the preferred method of payment for all school-related fees, excluding school lunches. SCO will help increase efficiency and security at schools by making payments directly into schools’ bank accounts and eliminating the need for teachers to handle money. A processing fee will be included on all items available for purchase, regardless of the type of payment used on SCO or at the school. Please refer to the attached registration instructions (Spanish and English) for more information, including how to add students to your account and make payments. Parents/guardians should have received notifications via email (scopinprocess@mcpsmd.org) and mail from MCPS in early August and September with their student(s) PIN information, which is required when linking a student to their account. The student PIN number is not the student ID. Parents/Guardians can register for an SCO account here. If you need support with the registration process or adding your student(s), please email MCPS’ community support drop box at communitytechsupport@mcpsmd.org. A parent/guardian can also come to the Business Office with a photo identification to retrieve the SCO PIN number.
Payments can still be made in person at the school by cash or check (made payable to Northwest High School), but we highly recommend using SCO.)
REMINDER: Middle College Program Application - Apply Now!
The Middle College Program (MC2) Application window is open. To apply to the Middle College Program, students must be in 9th or 10th grade at Northwest HS. The online application is due by February 21, 2023. Students and parents will be notified in March as to next steps.
For more information and to apply, visit https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/nw-middle-college/home or contact Mrs. Lisa Shapiro, MC2 coordinator, at Lisa_M_Shapiro@mcpsmd.org for further information.
REMINDER: Class of 2027 Ulysses Signature Program Applications
The Ulysses Program Application window for the Class of 2027 will open on Monday, December 5, 2022. To apply for the Ulysses Program, students must live in the Northwest cluster. Current 8th graders who are accepted into the Ulysses Program will be enrolled in the four-year program. Each applicant is responsible for submitting a complete and accurate online application by February 21, 2023.
For more information, visit Northwest High School Website or Ulysses Signature Program Website/Admissions. You can also contact Doona Kim, Ulysses Signature Program Coordinator
REMINDER: Volunteer for Winter Concessions: Season Begins 12.6.22
Come out and support the NW teams by helping in the Concessions Stand. Your time is crucial to the success of our All-School Booster Club, which supports ALL school-sponsored extracurricular activities. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other parents and to support the students at NWHS! Let's Go Jags! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044eaba87-winter2
REMINDER: NWHS After School Tutoring Opportunities
CARES Tutoring
High Dosage Tutoring in All Current Classes, Credit Recovery, Original Credit, & Edmentum
All Students are Eligible
Assistance in All Subjects
Small Tutoring Groups Led by NWHS Teachers
Online & In-Person Tutoring Opportunities
Flexible Scheduling
Sign-Up Today! Fill-Out the Registration Form @ https://forms.gle/dGyfNwMDzfTsMvQj9
Reach out to CARES Lead Teacher - Emily Turner - Emily_C_Turner@mcpsmd.org
High School+
Focus on Credit Recovery for All Core Subjects (Math, English, Science, History)
All Students are Eligible
Small Tutoring Groups Led by NWHS Teachers
Support available after school; Activity buses are available for students with transportation needs
See your counselor to get more information and if you are interested in working on other subjects
Reach out to High School+ Coordinator - John Gordon - jonathon_m_gordon@mcpsmd.org
Available to all MCPS students
*On-demand and scheduled tutoring through FEV Tutor and Tutor Me Education (virtual)
*School-scheduled in-class tutoring using FEV Tutor (virtual)
Access additional information here
FEV Tutor
*best for grades 3-12
*no camera for tutor or student; WHY???
FEV found that some students work best without a camera, the idea of being seen is a barrier
-privacy issues - some families do not want eyes into their homes
*highly interactive
*chat, two-way work space, voice to text, text to voice, 25 language toggle
*in-class tutoring
*virtual
*1:1
*sessions are recorded, progress notes taken each session
*Students access through logging into their Clever account
Tutor Me Education
*best for grades K-12
*camera for tutor and student
*highly interactive
*chat, two-way work space
*virtual
*1:1
*sessions are recorded, progress notes taken each session
*Students access through logging into their Clever account
MCPS Weekend Tutoring
*for students referred by the school
*families can choose the school closest to them
*Saturdays and Sundays
*8:00AM - 4:00PM - sites are open to schedule one hour sessions
*taught by MCPS tutors and, if needed, Tutor Me Education tutors
Available to all school-selected students
*MCPS staffed tutoring at local sites before/after school virtual and/or in-person)
*MCPS staffed weekend tutoring at Belmont, Eastern, Julius West, Little Bennett(in-person)
REMINDER: Northwest Grading and Reporting
REMINDER: Great News from the Green Team!
NEXTrex Plastic film recycling is back. Reduce your plastic waste by bringing "plastic film" items to be recycled at our school. Check out the linked flier below for details about what can be placed in the NexTrex Bins.
Bin locations: Gym lobby, hallway outside the main office, and media center.
Acceptable Plastic Film List: https://recycle.trex.com/view/educate#materials1
Thank you for your Support --- NWHS Green Team
REMINDER: Free Store
Do you have any school supplies you no longer need? The Free Store would love your donations! We take all gently used school supplies, but at the start of the year, we especially need backpacks, composition books, calculators, and test prep books. Please bring items to the front office or to The Free Store in room 264.
The Free Store is open most days at lunch in room 264 and is available to all NW students and staff. Thank you for your support.
REMINDER: Tutoring Opportunities
Below you will find the tutoring schedule:
Math Honor Society
Ms. Schuler - Arielle_E_Schuler@mcpsmd.org
Mr. Mahaney - Chris_W_Mahaney@mcpsmd.org
Tutoring will be in math teachers' classrooms at lunch Monday - Thursday.
National Honor Society
Ms. Fowler - Samantha_L_Fowler@mcpsmd.org
Mrs. Pruchniewski - Sarah_J_Hinkey@mcpsmd.org
NHS tutor and student must arrange to meet in a teacher’s classroom by appointment only
National English Honor Society
Mr. Bolesta - John_W_Bolesta2@mcpsmd.org
English Honor Society will have tutoring on select Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in room 263
Rho Kappa - Social Studies Honor Society
Ms. McDermott - Emily_F_Mcdermott@mcpsmd.org
Social Studies Honor Society will host tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch in room 229
Contact Sponsor
French Honor Society
Mrs. McKenna - Kathryn_McKenna@mcpsmd.org
French tutors will be available based on the level of the course:
French 2, 4, and AP: Available Tues, Weds, & Thurs in room 219
French 1: Mme Fowler, Available Tuesdays in room 214
French 1, 3, and 5: Mme Malingo, Available Tues & Thurs in rm 207
Email Mrs. McKenna
Spanish Honor Society
Mrs. Cardona - Yomar_S_Cardona@mcpsmd.org
Spanish tutors will be available at lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays in room 204. The following student groups are supported:
English speakers with their Spanish class (all levels)
Spanish speakers with their academic classes (math, science, social studies, etc.)
CARES Tutoring
Ms. Turner - Emily_C_Turner@mcpsmd.org
Tutoring available after school in person or via zoom
Contact sponsor
Science National Honor Society
Peer Tutoring in all “core” science classes available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunch (11:25-11:55).
- Biology Help: Room 351
- Chemistry Help: Room 302
- Physics Help: Room 377
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!
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 2026 (9th Grade): Yellow
Class of 2025 (10th Grade): Green
Class of 2024 (11th Grade): Red
Class of 2023 (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