Blake Updates
December 3, 2017
Principal's Message
Members of the District's crisis team were at Blake to support us. This morning we made an announcement to students sharing this information as well as letting them know that we were here to support them. Students were permitted and/or encouraged to come to the counseling office to speak with staff if they wanted.
We recommend that you take time today and through the weekend to listen to any further questions your child may have. if you feel that your child would benefit from talking with our school psychologist or school counselor, please call us and share your concerns. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of our school staff at 240-740-1400.
Here are some resources that may help you in working with your child(ren)
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Covering Cost of SAT or ACT for Grade 11 Students
As a result, Blake High School will be offering one voucher per student to cover the cost of the SAT or ACT on the following national administrations:
- SAT: Saturday, March 10 or Saturday, June 2, 2018
- ACT: Saturday, April 14 or Saturday, June 9, 2018
In order to process the voucher, students will register at school with the support of their school counselor. We will be working with students over the next couple of weeks to identify the assessment they will be taking and to help them register. We will also be communicating more information to parents in the very near future.
Awesome Blake Musicians
Congratulations to the following Blake musicians for earning spots in various county and state ensembles this year! (We are still waiting for the Maryland All-State Jazz Band auditions, so we may add more to this list!)
- Sarah Clermont: MCPS All-County Orchestra
- Malachi Davenport: Montgomery County Youth Chorus
- Noah Ferguson: Montgomery County Youth Chorus & Maryland All-State Chorus
- Julia Gonski: Montgomery County Youth Chorus
- Jared Haftel: MCPS Junior Honors Jazz Band, MCPS Junior Honors Band & Maryland All-State Band
- Kahlil Murray: Montgomery County Youth Chorus
- Dorian Toussaint: Montgomery County Youth Chorus
- Abby Vogel: MCPS All-County Orchestra
- Jasmine Voon: MCPS All-County Orchestra
- Bronwyn Weikert: Montgomery County Youth Chorus & Maryland All-State Chorus
- Beth Ann Zinkievich: Montgomery County Youth Chorus & Maryland All-State Chorus
- Joel Zinkievich: Montgomery County Youth Chorus
Cluster Concert
It was a great evening, filled with amazing sounds from our kids. Videos of our Blake Choral groups are included throughout this newsletter and you check out all of the performances here.
Congratulations to the students on an amazing evening and congratulations to all of the choral instructors for their hard work, especially our very own Mr. & Mrs. Zinkievich for their work coordinating this event!
Free Office 365 for MCPS Students
The Maryland Department of Education and Microsoft have entered into a collaborative partnership that allows all students and all school system staff to get the latest version of the Microsoft Office software suite, Office 365 ProPlus, at no charge. Office 365 ProPlus includes the full suite of Microsoft applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as the ability to create, save, and share Office files online. Under the program, students and staff are able to download and install the Microsoft Office software on up to five devices free of charge. The devices may be PCs, Macs, tablets, or phones. For FAQs and download instructions in multiple languages, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/parents/.
MLK Visual Arts Contest Open to MCPS Students
Students at all grade levels are encouraged to participate in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Literary Contest and Visual Arts Show. The 2018 theme is “Fulfilling the Dream—A Celebration of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” Students are asked to interpret what their dreams are for the future. Prints, posters, collages, murals, photographs, and all other two-dimensional visual art forms may be submitted. Group projects are welcome. Send entries to Linda S. Adams, supervisor, Pre-K-12 Fine Arts, Carver Educational Services Center, Room 258, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850. The deadline is 5:00 p.m., Friday, December 15.
Senior Yearbook Ads
Seniors and Senior Parents! The Early Bird deadline for Senior Ads is Tuesday, 12/5.
Design your ad online at jostensadservice.com. If you would like to purchase an ad at this price but are not ready to create an ad, you may lock in this price by paying by cash or check (made payable to Blake High School) by the deadline and then submitting your photos via email at a later date.
If you would prefer to purchase an ad online but need more time, please email Ms. Kim, and we can set something up.
Prices go up after 12/5, so don’t delay! Make sure you create a memory to look back on for years.
Superintendent’s Operating Budget Presentation
Staffand community members are invited to attend Superintendent Jack Smith’s Fiscal Year 2019 Operating Budget Presentation at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19, in the auditorium at Rockville High School, 2100 Baltimore Road in Rockville. Interpretation services will be provided. Come hear about the budget priorities for the 2018 - 2019 school year.
Board of Education Approves $1.83 Billion Capital Improvements Program
The Montgomery County Board of Education has unanimously approved a $1.83 billion six-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) request for Montgomery County Public Schools that will help ease overcrowding caused by years of rapid enrollment growth and address aging facilities. The CIP includes 30 new capacity projects.
You can read the Board of Education’s Resolution here and the Superintendent’s Recommended FY 2019 Capital Budget and the FY 2019–2024 Capital Improvements Program here.
Additionally, the Board selected a boundary plan for a new elementary school in the Richard Montgomery Cluster. The school will open in fall 2018.
Upcoming Dates
- December 4- National Honor Society Induction (6:30 p.m.)
- December 5-11- "What is Art" Exhibit- Blake Art Gallery During Lunches
- December 7- Senior Parent Meeting- Amphitheater (7:00 p.m.)
- December 7- Senior Panoramic Picture in the Gym
- December 11- Instrumental Music Concert- Auditorium (7:30 p.m.)
- December 12- 10th & 11th Grade Parent Meetings- Amphitheater (7:00 p.m.)
- December 12 & 13- Club Pictures for Yearbook During the Day
- December 14- 9th Grade Parent Meeting- Amphitheater (7:00 p.m.)
James Hubert Blake High School
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
Twitter: @Blake_Principal