Greetings QOHS Family,

I am using this opportunity to share some concerns and to enlist your support in improving the situation. During my time as interim Principal, I have benefitted from a very polite and engaging student population. I have been able to share in their many successes and achievements. I attribute much of this to their appreciation of the many learning opportunities and extracurricular activities at QOHS as well as a dedicated staff. While the majority of our students are cooperative and focused on adhering to school policies and procedures, we continue to experience challenges that negatively impact teaching and learning in a safe environment.

I recently wrote about the significant absenteeism that occurs on a regular basis. The number of students who are tardy to school and those who willfully disregard the demand that they get to class on time continues to be a major concern. Acknowledging that there are often legitimate reasons why a student is late for school, the numbers are staggering on a daily basis. The willful disobedience of students who refuse to arrive to class on time is a continuous disruption to the process of teaching and learning. During a recent schedule change that included a longer homeroom period, several students simply left school grounds without permission to visit local establishments. When staff, including myself, went to these establishments to instruct students to return, we were met with resistance. This as well as other acts of defiance and disregard, will not be tolerated. As a result, we are reinstituting forms of discipline to deter this irresponsible behavior. We will be conducting hall sweeps, assigning after-school detention, and conducting parent/caregiver conferences as needed. In addition, we are reaching out to parents/caregivers for your support in getting students to school for our 7:45 am start time, for those who drive or are driven to school.

We realize that as the weather gets warmer, these concerns may only get worse. Please support our efforts to maintain a structured and safe school environment that is conducive to teaching and learning in a community of caring staff. These measures are vital first steps in establishing and maintaining a safe school climate. Please review the links below regarding attendance.

QOHS Attendance & Tardy Policy FY24-25

Sincerely,

Dr. Lee Evans

Interim Principal

Happy Music in our Schools and Women's History Month!!

• Monday 3/10/25: Spring Sports Parent/Caregiver Meeting Night (details in the Athletics portion of the newsletter)
• Wednesday 3/12/25
• Last day for Mulch Sale purchases https://www.qohsboosters.com/product/mulch/
• The Booster Club is also still looking for volunteers for the Mulch Sale, sign up below:
• https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F48ACA62FAA8-47527128-2024#/
• Booster Club Meeting - 7 pm in the Media Center
• Thursday 3/13/25
• Grade 11/12 Academic Townhall and 11th grade SAT Digital Readiness Check (see alternate schedule below)
• Community Meeting regarding the Principal hiring process - 6 pm
• 3.10.25 Letter to the Community re: Meeting (in English and Spanish) https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1a1DFPQjRi8Zxcj4raB3MpmBqMnPwq3IG?usp=sharing
• Friday 3/14/25
• Accuplacer Testing
• Prowler Distribution
• Friday & Saturday 3/14 - 3/15/25: Mulch Sale Distribution

Don't miss out on this year's MSP Retreat which is opened to all students and staff. Students earn 8 SSL Hours for participating. The MSP Retreat is a student led conference where students learn and exchange ideas to elevate student voices. See Ms. Justilien in Rm. 232/231 or Mr.Carter in counseling for a fieldtrip form.

Calling all leaders!! The SMOB election is on April 23rd. We need students to be ballot judges on the day of the election. Ballot Judges will help students with the voting process. We will have a training for Ballot Judges in room 124 on March 26th at lunch.

Juniors, mark your calendars! 🗓️ this week, March 13, all 11th-grade students must be present and in homeroom to complete the Digital Readiness Check for the upcoming SAT on March 19th.

🔹 This check ensures your device is ready for test day.

🔹 Attendance in homeroom is required—don’t miss it!

🔹 More details will be shared by your teachers.

Be prepared and set yourself up for success! ✅

Less than two weeks until “Mamma Mia!” hits the stage at Quince Orchard High School! Come see this fantastic show March 21st & 28th at 7pm or March 22nd & 29th at 2pm and 7:30pm. Tickets on sale through GoFan or at the door for cash or check! https://gofan.co/app/school/MD24824_1

The deadline to order mulch is Wednesday, March 12th! Please see the link below to order.

https://www.qohsboosters.com/product/mulch/

We are in need Parent Volunteers as well. Please see the link below and sign up to help!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F48ACA62FAA8-47527128-2024?useFullSite=true#/

Here are the Mulch Sale Shifts for this year. It is expected that all students will help out through the end of their shift. If they are a multi-sport athlete or in multiple clubs, they should go with the sport or activity they most recently were a part of. Everyone will receive SSL Hours!

The women's studies classes want to recognize women in our building who have gone above & beyond. Fill out the google form to nominate a staff member and draw attention to all their hard work .

Students will take the Maryland School Survey during school hours on Friday, March 28, 2025. The survey covers topics like student engagement, school environment, bullying, and safety—without asking about personal experiences or private information. This is a valuable opportunity to understand and improve our schools! Letters about the survey can be found linked here. (English: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z5eR3nq2fvKqD65kFgeh-gSPc3FABjCpjyLnKG0D6P4/edit) (Spanish: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AbV_Jy7r5_tTDuNe3BCV2NEQvKsmVBH5Nt-RFdz_iPI/edit)

Women's Studies will be holding a hygiene product drive again throughout the month of March. All donations will go to the Family Justice Center, which provides support to victims of domestic violence. We are accepting diapers, pull ups, baby wipes, shampoo/conditioner, non-scented lotion, shaving cream & razors, toothpaste & toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, etc. Basically, anything used in a bathroom. It’s really important that donated items are new and unopened. They will not accept clothing of any kind, office supplies, luggage, books, and toys. There is a box for donations in the main office.

We are planning for QOHS's 2025 International Night! If you are interested in representing an organization or country with a table at International Night, respond to this google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXJtr-oHtkzqD_Y13mr73GvX-1op0H7jRG6fqgELi1rIq5xw/viewform All necessary information is in the form's description.

This year’s liquidation sales event will take place March 8–16, 2025, at 105 North Stonestreet

Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Sales will be by appointment only to provide an opportunity

for you to purchase these pianos before they are offered for sale to the public. All pianos will carry

a 15-year transferable warranty. Each piano will come with a bench and one free in-house tuning.

For additional information, you may visit the Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc., website at

www.schaefferspiano.com. To make an appointment for the sale, between March 8–16, 2025,

please call the Schaeffer’s Piano Company appointment desk at 301-424-1147.

Click here for translated versions of the Schaeffer's Piano Sale Letter!

On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, you will take the digital SAT at Quince Orchard High School! You are automatically registered, and the test is free. View the SAT Day Parent Letter here (in English & Spanish).

📝 Consent Form for the Student Survey

If you want to participate in the optional Student Survey, which connects you with college and scholarship opportunities, you must submit a signed consent form before the Digital Readiness Check.

📚 Prepare for Test Day!

Get familiar with the digital SAT format by taking free practice tests at:

➡️ https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital

📌 Create Your College Board Account!

You will need a College Board account to access your scores. If you don’t have one yet, create one before March 19 at: 🔗 collegeboard.org

✅ Click "Create Your Account"

✅ Use your personal email (not your school email)

If you have any questions, reach out to Mrs. Ross in the main office. Let’s get ready for SAT School Day! 🎓✏️

Attention freshmen: You are invited to participate in the College Tour Experience at Stevenson University. The trip will be on April 11, 2025 from 8 am- 2 pm. This provides you with an opportunity to visit a college campus and have an enriching experience. The cost is free, but space is limited.

To attend, you must return your signed permission slip AND complete the Google form attached to the cover letter. You may return your signed permission slip to the main office.

Quince Orchard 9th grade students may also choose between the field trip to Stevenson University or participating in asynchronous Virtual College Tours via myMCPS classroom. However, please note that space is limited for the in-person field trip opportunity and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis upon return of the field trip permission form to the Main Office. The deadline to return permission forms is Friday, March 28, 2025. For more information, please contact Ms. Eileen Gardner at Eileen_Gardner@mcpsmd.org, visit the main office or see Ms. Djouha in room 235. Please see Ms. Djouha if you have any further questions!

Juniors and seniors can attend college visits at Quince Orchard HS. A representative from the college visits QO, and meets with students to share information on their academic programs, financial aid, extracurriculars, and much more. If students wish to attend, they must register on Naviance. Contact Ms. Romero in Room 103 for more information.

Calling all seniors! Apply today for Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation’s (MCPSEF) Student Scholarships and Awards.

The primary goal for our scholarships and awards is to fund students who are passionate about pursuing educational goals, and face opportunity gaps in achieving those goals.

To be eligible for any of our student scholarships and awards, you must:

• Be an MCPS senior

• Graduate with class of 2025

• Plan to pursue education after high school

Each opportunity has additional preferences and eligibility criteria. Visit our website to see if one of our student scholarships or awards is right for you!

Any 12th grade student attending college or trade school for Fall 2025, this is your friendly reminder to submit your 2025-2026 FAFSA application. Completing the FAFSA gives you access to money to help pay for school. FAFSA includes scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans with low interest rates! Friendly reminder that you will need to have the following information handy when starting the application: https://studentaid.gov/help/info-needed. If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, please contact Ms. Romero by email at Lisa_D_Romero@mcpsmd.org.

Attention Seniors! Are you planning to attend college next year? Are your application deadlines rapidly approaching? If this is you, you MUST request your transcript be sent out to all the schools you are applying to! If you have not yet done so, please request your transcript ASAP! It takes several days to process your request and send out your documents! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScR5j16bnD0bf6svKNmLUmM96jGlp6D5YPEksKE3QjUM2qByA/viewform

Seniors! If you are using the Common App to apply to schools, and are getting stuck, we have created a resource document for you! There are very helpful documents, resources and videos! Please check it out, and if you still need help, come see us in the College/Career Center of the Counseling Services Suite!

Common App Resource Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17N5y6PKFMRo2KwlDtT1osKqxkjV3fU9gfkybxBtjoJc/edit

Congrats to Coach Tyler, Coach Dimmick & the Girls Wrestling team for finishing 4th in the State!

Aubry Spadoni- 2nd

Amirah Abegesah- 3rd

Esther Hernandez- 3rd

Izzy Peluso- 4th

Maria Gonzalez- Top 8

Congrats to the Boys and Girls teams on finishing 6th and 11th at the State Meet!

Lukas Shafer – broke his own 200 IM record with a time of 1:51.42, Finished 2nd in 100 breast

Colton Mettler – finished 2nd in 50 free, finished 4th in 100 back

Ethan McCurdy – finished 7th in 200 free, finished 8th in 100 back

Andrew Kissel – finished 8th in 500 free

Hannah Takada-Jacobson – finished 6th in 200 free

Girls 400 free relay (Hannah Takada-Jacobson, Ari Katz, Stephanie Marks, Annika Wolfington) – finished 8th

Boys 200 medley relay (Ethan McCurdy, Lukas Shafer, Trent Mettler, Colton Mettler) – finished 3rd

Boys 200 free relay (Colton Mettler, Trent Mettler, Kazuki Nagao, Lukas Shafer) – broke their own record with a time of 1:26.26 and finished 2nd

The Spring Sports Parent/Caregiver Meeting will be held on Monday, March 10th in the QO Auditorium. We have a new format this year. New parents and any other parents that would like to, should arrive at 6:30pm for the AD Presentation. The rest of the parents should arrive by 7pm. At that point, we will cover new items for the season. You will also hear from our Athletic Trainer, Mike Monahan and the QO Booster Club. At 7:20pm, we will dismiss to our individual team meetings.

QO Athletics Full Year, Winter and Season Passes are now on sale at the link below. These passes are good for regular season home games only!

https://gofan.co/app/school/MD24824?activity=Digital%20Season%20Pass

Attention Seniors! Are you planning to attend college next year? Are your application deadlines rapidly approaching? If this is you, you MUST request your transcript be sent out to all the schools you are applying to! If you have not yet done so, please request your transcript ASAP! It takes several days to process your request and send out your documents! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScR5j16bnD0bf6svKNmLUmM96jGlp6D5YPEksKE3QjUM2qByA/viewform

If you have any questions or concerns about senior year information, please contact 12th Grade Administrator Ms. Eberhart-Bliss at elicia_m_eberhart-bliss@mcpsmd.org or Senior Staff Sponsor, Profe Skeen at emily_m_hoefert-skeen@mcpsmd.org.

English / español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ

Make Your Voice Heard!

Montgomery County Council Vice President Will Jawando is hosting a series of upcoming forums on the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget. Jawando, who also serves as chair of the council’s Education and Culture Committee, will be joined by MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor and Montgomery College President Dr. Jermaine Williams.

The events will be held:

• Thursday, March 13, 6:30–8 p.m., Virtual Session via Zoom
  (Link to join: https://mcpstv-org.zoom.us/j/88481640202, Webinar ID#: 884 8164 0202)
• Monday, March 17, 6:30–8 p.m., Springbrook High School, media center, 201 Valley Brook Drive, Silver Spring
• Tuesday, April 1, 6:30–8 p.m., Rockville High School, cafeteria, 2100 Baltimore Road, Rockville

RSVP.

Spanish and American Sign Language interpretation will be available.

Literacy, Math Teams Hosting Curriculum Nights

The final Elementary and Secondary Literacy Curriculum Night is being held tonight, Thursday, March 6, to introduce families to the new elementary literacy curriculum, Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts. This session will be held virtually via Zoom, from 6:30–8:10 p.m. RSVP.

The Elementary and Secondary Mathematics teams are also hosting Curriculum Nights, which will include information on math curricular resources, course programming for Grades K–12 and upcoming changes from the Maryland State Department of Education regarding Integrated Math. Attendees will also participate in learning experiences from the Eureka Math and Illustrative Math curricula.

Two in-person sessions remain and will be held:

• Tuesday, March 18, 6:30–8 p.m., Wheaton High School, 12401 Dalewood Drive, Silver Spring
• Wednesday, March 26, 6:30–8 p.m., Watkins Mill High School, 10301 Apple Ridge Road, Gaithersburg

Recordings will be available on the mathematics website on Monday, April 7, in English and Spanish.

Math Curriculum Nights, 2025

Save the Date: Special Education Fair Set for May 10

The Special Education Family Resource Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown. The free event will host more than 40 community organizations that offer supports, resources and services for families who have students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), as well as fun children’s activities, including moon bounces, a DJ and face painting. Stay tuned for more information.

RespectFest Is Coming March 30–April 6

Secondary students and parents: Save March 30–April 6 on your calendars to learn about healthy relationships, dating violence prevention and consent, and community resources. RespectFest will offer virtual workshops from March 30–April 5 and an in-person festival from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 6 at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. Learn more. Subscribe for updates.

Get a Little Drama in Your Life!

Get your tickets now for spring theater and dance productions at middle and high schools. These great performances started this month and run into May.

From “Mean Girls” and “Shrek the Musical” to “Antigone” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” there’s something for everyone.

2024–2025 Spring Productions

Student Opportunities

Women’s History Month Webinar: MCPS and Montgomery Parks are offering a Student Service Learning (SSL) opportunity via Zoom. The webinar, set for 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, will share how women shaped life in Montgomery County. Students can earn two SSL hours. Spanish interpretation is available. Registration link

Sustainability Poster Contest: This annual contest increases awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability, energy conservation, waste reduction and responsible recycling. All MCPS students and staff are invited to participate, and to vote online to determine the winners. The deadline is Friday, April 4. 2025 Sustainability Poster Contest Entry Form and Contest Guideline

NAACP Scholarships: The Montgomery County branch of the NAACP is awarding $1,000 scholarships to MCPS graduating seniors. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, March 21. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or above, participate in extracurricular activities, participate in faith-based, religious-based or volunteer activities, and submit a 300-word essay addressing the theme, “The Fight for Justice Continues!” Send applications to Rebecca Gibson, Board of Education office, 15 W. Gude Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD, 20850.

LEAAP Scholarships: The League of Educators for Asian American Progress (LEAAP) of MCPS is offering $3,000 scholarships to graduating MCPS Asian and Pacific American high school seniors and plan to major in the field of education. The deadline is Tuesday, April 1. More information

Final Call for Summer RISE Hosts: Registration closes on Friday, March 7 for businesses, government agencies, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations who wish host students for Summer RISE 2025. This five-week program provides hands-on, career-based learning experiences to rising juniors and seniors and helps employers cultivate a talent pipeline. Sign up today! For questions, email Davida Gurstelle or call 240-740-5599.

Don’t Miss the Latest on Our News Page

Check out the latest from MCPS on our news page:

• Recent staff award winners

• Springbrook High School Poms builds bonds through dance

• Winston Churchill High School student named a Maryland Emerging Scholar

• Kennedy High School dance teacher wins $5,000 grant from the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts

MoComCon Set for March 22-23

Montgomery County Public Libraries will host its annual free comic convention, MoComCon, at the Germantown Library and at the BlackRock Center for the Arts.

This year, MoComCon expands to two days, kicking off on Saturday, March 22, at the BlackRock Center for the Arts, at 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown. From 1-5 p.m., the day will feature various activities for teens (13 and older) and adults. Attendees can look forward to a lineup of panels, workshops and contests, including a cosplay contest.

On Sunday, March 23, MoComCon will move to the Germantown Library at 19840 Century Blvd. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the library will be transformed into a vibrant space for families with children of all ages. The day will include a costume parade and interactive displays and activities.

Stay Connected

• VISIT the MCPS homepage.

• CALL 240-740-3000. Staff take calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish (240-740-2845)

• READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS News page.

• FOLLOW the MCPS social media pages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in English and Spanish.

• http://twitter.com/mcps
  https://www.facebook.com/mcpsmd
  https://www.instagram.com/mcps_md

• https://www.facebook.com/mcpsespanol
  https://twitter.com/MCPSEspanol
  https://www.instagram.com/mcpsenespanol/

• SIGN UP for emails and text alerts and make sure your ParentVue information is up to date.

• WATCH the MCPS cable channels Comcast 34 (1071 HD), Verizon 36 or RCN 89

Open Registrations

• Prekindergarten and Head Start Registration Open for Income-Eligible Families

More From MCPS

• School calendar
• Parent resource page
• News and Information page/Noticias en Español
• Latest photo galleries
• MCPS TV videos
• MCPS TV español

Email us: ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org

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It's time for our annual Booster Club Mulch Sale Fundraiser! Click the link below for more information and to place your order!

https://www.qohsboosters.com/product/mulch/

Please review the links below to learn more about an upcoming Study Abroad in Taiwan opportunity!

Taiwan 2025 Summer Study Abroad Info

Program Details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v6W1FtSBIGN2Qi7_wDzqgNR_H_gUwbxA/view

Interest Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KBSU4CuQwGZ-as5CED7iLoFaT9n57gbj4ArhJl-U5CY/edit?usp=drivesdk

Join us for the next PTSA/NAACP meeting.

Our PTSA, NAACP-PC, and Boosters Organizations are key to our success. Our amazing organizations are offering a joint membership option that allows for a 20% discount. Membership forms can be found below or at qohsboosters.com and at https://qohsptsa.memberhub.com/store. I urge you to support these worthy organizations which do so much to support our school and help us provide the best education possible to our students. You will find your involvement with one of our parent groups will help increase your student’s sense of belonging and pride in Quince Orchard High School, as well as bring families together! Check out the links below to get familiar with our volunteers and see how you can get involved:

Welcome Letters & Organizational Info:

• Boosters President Letter
• NAACP Parent Council Welcome Letter

• Why Join the PTSA?

Membership & Sponsor Information:

• Booster Club Sponsorship Letter
• Booster Club Sponsorship Form
• Booster Membership Webpage
• PTSA Membership Hub

Stay connected throughout the school year with these important links:

• MCPS Student Handbooks (Code of Conduct, Rights & Responsibilities etc.)

• QOHS events calendar can be found on the myMCPS Classroom webpage.

• Arrival & Dismissal Bus Routes

• QOHS Website

• QOHS 2024-25 Student Handbook (Here you'll find our lunch policy, ID policy & much more.)

• QOHS Bell Schedules

• Traditional School Year Calendar 2024-25

Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/qohs/
Location: 15800 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
Phone: 240-740-3600