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Montgomery Blair HS
February 2024
Dear Montgomery Blair High School Families,
I hope that you and your family are doing well. Our second semester has begun, and I am reminding our seniors that this is the last semester of their high school education, so finish strong. Our senior parent meeting will take place at Montgomery Blair High School Auditorium, on March 5, 2024, at 7:30 a.m. or 7:30 p.m. We will provide you with all the need-to-know very important information for all upcoming events and address your questions. As always, if you cannot attend, the presentation slides will be posted on our school website after the meeting.
This month we are celebrating Black History Month. Our staff and students have planned instructional activities and a spirit week to celebrate the achievements of Black/African Americans. Our annual performance of Sankofa, a celebration of Black History and Culture, is next weekend. Ticket information is here, https://t.co/iKm9zx9wt1.
Finally, after 33 years in MCPS and 13 years as the principal of Montgomery Blair High School, I will retire at the end of the school year, June 30, 2024. My full retirement letter is here, https://minio.mbhs.edu/strapi/Renay_Johnson_s_Community_Retirement_Letter_5572db2b85.pdf. Mr. Sean McGee, Director of the Blair Cluster, shared this community letter with meeting information on the search and selection process for the next Blair Principal, https://drive.google.com/file/d/105IgbCSEeJ0KHhNlVTlSTsv60bFSA0ac/view.
As always, please check our website at https://mbhs.edu/ and social media pages for up-to-date school news and information.
Follow on X/Twitter @blairprincipal
Like Montgomery Blair High School on Facebook
Follow on Instagram @blairprincipal
Thank you for your support,
Renay Johnson
Proud Principal
Celebrating Black History Month
From Our Student Government Association
Dear Blazers,
Get ready to celebrate Black History Month in style with Montgomery Blair High School's Spirit Week starting Monday, February 12th! We have an exciting lineup of activities that highlight the richness of Black culture and history.
Monday kicks off with Shoe Game Day and our Black History Karaoke Contest on Blair Boulevard during lunchtime. Join us as we groove to clean music from Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop, and Rap while learning about influential Black artists. Participate and stand a chance to win Chick Fil A Gift Cards!
Tuesday is Celebrity Day, where you can wear attire featuring your favorite Black celebrity. We're thrilled to welcome Kimberly Griffin, UMD Professor and Dean of the College of Education, for a Q&A session about college and higher education. Dr. Griffin's insights into Black professors' engagement with students will provide valuable perspectives.
Wednesday celebrates DMV Day, and we have a special treat with the Sankofa Dancers previewing their showcase on Blair Boulevard. Experience the vibrant energy of their performances as they share the richness of African diasporic culture.
Thursday brings our Black Out theme along with an enlightening HBCU Panel hosted by SGA's One Blair in the Media Center during lunch. Hear firsthand experiences from MBHS teachers who attended HBCUs and gain valuable insights into the college environment.
Finally, Friday is Culture Day, where you can showcase clothing representing your heritage while enjoying clean Afrobeats music on the Boulevard. It's a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the diversity and unity within our school community.
Don't miss out on these incredible events as we come together to honor Black excellence and history at Montgomery Blair High School!
Sankofa, A Celebration of Black History & Culture
We are hosting our annual BHM showcase, Sankofa next week! We have 3 nights filled with acting, dancing, poetry and singing. Tickets are $12 at this link, gofan.co/event/1371629
Report Card Distribution Dates
Quarter 1: November 9, 2023 ✅
Quarter 2: February 5, 2024 ✅
Quarter 3: April 18, 2024
Quarter 4: June 24, 2024
Interims and mid-quarter progress reports will be available on ParentVue and StudentVue.
End of Course Exam Reminder and Update on the Grading and Reporting Regulation
MCPS 5 Things to Know
Free SAT for 11th Graders- Tuesday, March 19!
On Tuesday, March 19, Montgomery Blair High School will offer the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) free of charge to all Grade 11 students. All students are required to be assessed for college and career readiness in English and mathematics by the end of Grade 11 on the SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER. Any junior not registered to take the SAT will take the Accuplacer exam. If your student has already taken the SAT or ACT on their own, please contact Leslie Blaha. Other activities available for students at school that morning will include a Senior Workshop, mock AP exams, and SSL opportunities. Registration for these activities will take place in a few weeks. Please read the linked letter for more information!
PTSA Meeting, Ayo Atterberry, President
Joining the Montgomery Blair High School Parent Teacher Student Association (Blair HS PTSA) is one of the best ways to get connected and support the Blair community.
Please see information about the PTSA and join here: https://blairptsa.org/join/
Please see our listservs here: https://blairptsa.org/listserves/
Mark your calendars for our PTSA meeting dates at 7:00 PM:
Below are the dates for our PTSA meetings:
- Tuesday, February 20, 2024
- Tuesday, April 16, 2024
- Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/89219565825?pwd=TGhQd2ZydzhqSjFlQWxBUWt5WFhRZz09
Meeting ID: 892 1956 5825
Passcode: BLAIRPTSA
Seniors: Class of 2024
Very Important Senior Parent Meeting:
Don’t miss this meeting. This will be the only opportunity you have to hear the latest information for the journey to graduation. This meeting will include information regarding Senior Events and most importantly Graduation. The meeting will take place at Montgomery Blair High School Auditorium, on March 5, 2024, at 7:30 a.m. or 7:30 p.m. We will provide you with all the need-to-know very important information for all upcoming events and address your questions. As always, presentation slides will be posted on our school website after the meeting.
Graduation Tickets: Due to our school stadium capacity and our senior class being 750+ students strong, each senior will receive 5 tickets for family and guests to attend graduation. If your family needs more than 5 tickets, we encourage students to speak with their classmates who will not be using all of their assigned tickets.
Roxanne F Fus and Jody Gil, Senior Class Co-Sponsors
REMIND APP FOR BLAIR INFORMATION
Parents: Have you been receiving our school communications via Remind? Check out the quick guide for how to set up and use the app.
For questions, please contact Mr. Bernstein, assistant principal, Aaron_M_Bernstein@mcpsmd.org
NEW ATTENDANCE REGULATION:
In order to be in line with Maryland State Department of Education guidelines and other school districts in Maryland, Montgomery County Public Schools will be reducing the number of unexcused absences from 15 to 10 for students to be withdrawn for non-attendance. Please email Roxanne Fus, Roxanne_F_Fus@mcpsmd.org, if you have questions about our attendance policy.
SCHOOL MEALS
NEW this year:
- Breakfast: FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS, 7:00 a.m. - 7:35 a.m.
- Lunch: Regular Price: $2.80 (Middle and High); Reduced Price (All Levels): No Cost for those who qualify.
- Supper: FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
Apply online NOW! Families who meet certain federal income standards are eligible for free or reduced-price meal benefits. All children use their MCPS ID number at the register so confidentiality is maintained and no child is overtly identified as receiving free or reduced-price meals. Only one application is needed for all students in a household.
A new application must be completed for any family requesting assistance this school year. The online application is now open for families to submit applications.
For more information, visit the Food Services website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/meal-payments/
MCPS POLICY HANDBOOKS
In order to ensure a safe, productive, and positive learning environment, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) publishes these handbooks to help students, parents/guardians, and staff understand the Montgomery County Board of Education's core values and commitments; students' rights; school rules; expectations for student conduct; and the possible consequences for violating the rules. If you have questions, please speak to the administration at your school. If you have comments about any of these publications, please send them in writing to the MCPS Department of Communications at pio@mcpsmd.org.
Counseling Department News & Information
Happy February Blazer Families! School Counselors are appreciative of the THANK YOUs from our community during National School Counseling Appreciation Week (Feb 5th to Feb 9th)!
Within our February Newsletter, we breakdown the transcript to give an understanding to semester grades, give insight to our upcoming Signs of Suicide lessons, and so much more. Our CCIC Ms. Delos Reyes has gotten many questions about FAFSA, so be sure to check out her February Newsletter that highlights upcoming college/career events, FAFSA, and so much more. We also want to communicate that if your senior is in jeopardy of not graduating, you will be receiving a certified letter this February. And if your 9th - 11th grader was not successful within a course needed for graduation, summer school information will be mailed to you with this information as well. As always, reach out to your school counselor if you have any questions.
Embedded Above:
Counseling February Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nzoONAjqcSfHgQTzyQbriAIvX-AOjExc/view?usp=sharing
CCIC February Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N2P_yXucvYQL6m348dNnOAaNcXauvC7h/view?usp=sharing
Signs of Suicide Community Letter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fnzQngp50nnsJ6nmREmGBRswfsg-1_Gj/view
Thank you,
Mrs. Makeyda Soriano, NCC (she/her)
Resource School Counselor
Montgomery Blair High School
Phone: 240-740-7220
School Counseling Website: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-schoolcounseling-team/home
Learn About Work-Based-Learning
Blair Academies
English Language Development News
Blazers in the Park is back in action and about 20 EMLs have spent part of their recent weekends giving back to their community by cleaning and beautifying our local parks! Special thanks to Ms. Haas and Ms. Gil for organizing and supervising.
Fine Arts
Congratulations to Blair’s Orchestra teacher Kat Smolen who was the Director/Manager of the MCPS Senior Honor Orchestra, and Blair’s Band teacher Raife Oldham who was the Assistant Director/Manager of the MCPS Senior Honor Band, which participated in the MCPS Instrumental Gala Concert on Saturday, February 3, 2024, along with the MCPS Junior Honor Band and Junior Honor Orchestra. These ensembles are made up of the best instrumental students in the county and students earn entry by annual audition.
Math Department News
Health & Physical Education
John Rivera spoke at lunch to members and guests of the Weight Training Club.
John is a 2022 Blair Graduate that competes in Power lifting. He spoke about how he got started with the sport while lifting weights at Blair. He talked about different aspects and demonstrated Deadlift form (even lifting 500lbs for the audience).
Media Center News
Happy February from the Media Center team! We are celebrating Black History Month with a month-long reading challenge to read books by Black authors. Any student who checks out, reads, and reviews a book from our display is eligible to win a bookish prize. We're also hosting a monthlong giveaway of 75 free books highlighting Black stories, including RUN by John Lewis, STAMPED by Dr. Ibram Kendi and Jason Reynolds, and LOVE RADIO by Ebony LaDelle. Students just need to fill out this form using their MCPS accounts: https://forms.gle/DaCJGeZd21GA2shYA
Lunchtime movies in the auditorium will spotlight films about Black pioneers, romance, music and arts, and education this month. We're showing everything from HIDDEN FIGURES and SOUL to QUEEN OF KATWE and LOVE & BASKETBALL. Check out the poster in front of the media center to see when each movie is playing.
Timed with Valentine's Day, we're also featuring a Mystery Date with a Book display for our romance readers. Students can take a chance on a wrapped young-adult love story for the rest of the month. Anyone who goes on a "mystery date" and writes a mini-review of the book for us to share on social media will also receive a little prize.
Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blairlibrary/ to keep up with media center programming!
See you at the library!
Student Government Association
Students Service Learning (SSL) Information
Last Wednesday, SGA’s Blazer’s Trail Committee planned and hosted a discussion on student engagement, student-teacher relationships, and expectations that students and teachers have for each other in the classroom.
This marked the first of a series of activities and discussions that this committee is planning. We recognize the challenges in rebuilding the culture of teaching and learning and we welcome all teachers, staff, students, and the Blair community in this critical time as we tackle these important issues.
We wholeheartedly thank all of the dedicated staff and teachers at Blair, the more than sixty student co-facilitators, and the many students who participated in the discussion. Keep an eye out for future initiatives!!
SGA EVENTS: SAVE THE DATES:
International Night: March 7, 5:30-8:00 P.M.
Spring Fling: April 13, 7:00 - 10:00 P.M.
Blair's Spring Musical
Blair's spring musical is Lionel Bart's Oliver!, the heartwarming tale of an orphan who dares to ask for more. Acting auditions are Jan. 16 and 17; contact Ms. Smolen about orchestra auditions; and stage crew is already underway, planning and building the Victorian London sets—new members welcome! Rehearsals start Feb. 20, and performances run April 19-27. Join us for the song-and-dance filled adventures of Oliver!
George B. Thomas Learning Academy Saturday School at Blair!
Through this county-wide program, we strive to ensure every student believes they can achieve and has the tools to maximize their potential. SAT/ACT prep classes are also available at our site, in addition to general tutoring in the core subjects, for high school students. Please register online at www.saturdayschool.org.
Rahman A. Culver, M.P.A. (he/him) What’s this?
George B. Thomas Learning Academy Center Director
Montgomery Blair High School
51 University Blvd. East, Suite 340
Silver Spring, MD 20901
(240) 621-2760
rahman.a.culver@mcpsmd.net
www.mbhs.edu
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/blazing-toward-equity-mbhs
Twitter: @mrculverteaches
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrculverteaches
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mrculverteaches
Explore Montgomery Blair High School's equity journey!
Register now for the 2022-23 year of the George B. Thomas Learning Academy Saturday School Program!
Congratulations Blazers!
Blair Network Information (BNC) Daily Show
Congratulations Blazers on the College Board Award!
Congratulations Blair Computer Science Team, 2nd Place at UMD CS Competition!
Blair Poms Win the MCPS Division III Spirit Award!
MBHS Academic Bowl Place 3rd at the at Beltway League!
Congratulations Blair Science Bowl Team, Regional Champions! Next up, Nationals!
Kindness Corner
If you or someone you know needs resources and seasonal items, please refer them to Kindness Corner at Blair High School. Together, we provide resources and supplies to our students and families, through Kindness Corner and county and federal resources.
Please visit the resources page at https://blairpcc.weebly.com/
Kindness Corner at Blair is grateful to many for their generous contributions and we continue to collect gift cards and other items through the Kindness Corner registry.
Please contact Faye Nabavian with any questions.
Cell: 240-506-8576
Email: Farzaneh_Nabavian@mcpsmd.org
Kindness Corner
Distributes Free Coats, Clothes & Personal Items
To Our Students
WHERE IS MY TEEN?
We receive many calls and visits from parents looking for their teens after school. Here are a few safety tips for parents:
1. Speak with your teen about their after-school plans. School dismisses at 2:30 p.m. for students who have 8 class periods, and 3:20 p.m. for students with 9 class periods. After school, students must be under the direct supervision of a staff member or participating in a school-sponsored activity to remain in the building.
2. Make sure your teen has their cell phone charged and turned on after school and is checking phone messages.
3. Cell phones have a locator function, have your teen turn it on so that you can know their location.
4. Students without cell phones, can come to the main office to call their family or ask a staff member for assistance. Our main office is open until 3:50 p.m. daily.
A SAFE PLACE FOR TEENS AFTER SCHOOL? BLAIR AFTER SCHOOL RECREATION PROGRAM: REC ZONE IS BACK!
Montgomery Blair High School in partnership with Montgomery County Recreation Department offers a FREE after-school recreation program, Monday - Friday • 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., in Blair's cafeteria. The program has begun, but students can still register for the program and attend on the same day. This program is open to all students. In addition, free dinner is available for students.
Blair High School Fundraiser
Our winter fundraiser is in full swing with only a few weeks left. Great deals both locally and nationwide await you, so please consider donating to our school. Your donation literally pays for itself!
El Golfo: $5 Off for one year!
Ledo’s: Free Small Cheese Pizza (with purchase) for one year!
Fusion Bar & Grill: $5 Off for one year!
And Dozens More!
This school fundraiser really is an opportunity to save hundreds of dollars over the course of 2024 while also supporting the local Silver Spring/Takoma Park Community AND our academic programming at Montgomery Blair High School!
To get your Digital Discount Card, please click the link below.
https://supporter.goldathletics.net/campaigns/2209/users/93537
Dr. Andrew Fields
School Business Administrator
Montgomery Blair High School
240-740-7213
Coming Soon...Blair Fair!
Blair Fair: Calling All Craft and Community Vendors!
School Information
ParentVUE: If you need support with log-in information for your teen, please contact Ms. Maria Tanos, Latino Achievement Coordinator, Maria_E_Tanos@mcpsmd.org, or Ms. Andrea Lamphier, Media Specialist, Andrea_Lamphier@mcpsmd.org.
Scheduling, Transcript, Social Emotional Wellness Questions, Contact Your Teen's Counselor
School Counseling Department:
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-schoolcounseling-team/home/mbhs-school-counseling-team
All Things College and Career: Contact Jazmine Delos Reyes, College and Career Coordinator. jazminechareez_g_delosreyes@mcpsmd.org
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/mbhscollegecareercenter/home?authuser=0
MyMCPS/Synergy Parent Portal Staff Liaison: Maria Tanos, Maria_E_Tanos@mcpsmd.org
Social Worker: Emily Callaghan, Emily_P_Callaghan@mcpsmd.org
Health Room: Full-Time School Nurse: Anisa Harris, Anisa_Harris@mcpsmd.org
Health Room Tech: Angela Romero, Angela_Romero@mcpsmd.org
Principal's Administrative Secretary, Ms. Eileen Heiss, Eileen_F_Heiss@mcpsmd.org
Attendance Office: Roxanne Fus, Roxanne_F_Fus@mcpsmd.org
Blair Security Office: Adrian Kelly, Security Team Leader, Adrian_D_Kelly@mcpsmd.org
Financial Specialist: Donna Franklin, Donna_M_Franklin@mcpsmd.org
Parent Community Coordinator: Faye Nabavian, Farzaneh_Nabavian@mcpsmd.org
Pupil Personnel Worker: Tee Clark, Tee_Clark@mcpsmd.org
MBHS ADMINISTRATION:
Renay Johnson: Principal, Renay_C_Johnson@mcpsmd.org
Adriana Burgos-Ojeda: Grade 12, Administrator, Adriana_Burgos-Ojeda@mcpsmd.org
Rahman Culver: Grade 11, Administrator, Rahman_A_Culver@mcpsmd.org
Aaron Bernstein: Grade 10, Administrator, A-L, Aaron_M_Bernstein@mcpsmd.org
Ramona Washington, Grade 10, Administrator, M-Z, Ramona_L_Washington@mcpsmd.org
Tracy Pettis-Jones: Grade 9, Administrator, A-L, Tracy_Pettis-Jones@mcpsmd.org
Brenda Barrera Mercado, Grade 9, Administrator, M-Z, Brenda_A_BarreraMercado@mcpsmd.org
Peter Ostrander: Magnet Program, Peter_M_Ostrander@mcpsmd.org
Andrew Fields: School Business Administrator, Andrew_S_Fields@mcpsmd.org
Montgomery Blair High School
Website: http://mbhs.edu/
Location: 51 University Boulevard East, Silver Spring, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 740-7200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Montgomery-Blair-High-School/1631578030396596
X: @blairprincipal
Principal, Montgomery Blair High School