RICA February Family Newsletter

We had a great parent meeting last month and looking forward to this month. We will hear from our MCPS social workers as well as include a special session for Class of 2025 Senior Parents as we gear up for the final stretch of their student's senior year in high school.

Thanks!

Please use the zoom link below:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/86938738920?pwd=FkRJsheb6Q5s58SDOm9HS0RBIlaTaz.1

Meeting ID: 869 3873 8920

Passcode: 221169

As educators who respect our students and their diverse backgrounds and needs, we will work to help them:

GET READY...

by supporting them with a safe, structured behavioral program to address social emotional concerns.

GET SET...

by providing a rigorous academic environment for learning.

GO...

to less restrictive schools, to higher education, to the world of work.

As we step into February, we are excited to share important updates, upcoming events, and reminders with you. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child’s education!

Here are a few important updates and reminders for February:

Upcoming Events:

This January has been a challenging month for our community, with freezing temperatures, snow and icy conditions affecting our daily routines. Students, staff and families have navigated these tough weeks with resilience, being cautious while traveling and layering up against the cold. We can now look forward to a welcome warm-up in the coming days; however, we must make a necessary adjustment to the school calendar due to the weather-related closures earlier this month.

Schools and offices were closed on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, and Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. The 2024–2025 MCPS school calendar includes 182 instructional days, two more than the state of Maryland's minimum requirement of 180. As a result, the closures on Jan. 6 and Jan. 7 will not affect the school calendar.

However, the closure on Jan. 8 requires using one designated make-up day in the calendar. The school year will be extended by one day, with the last day of school for students now scheduled as an early release day on Monday, June 16, 2025. Additionally, Friday, June 13, 2025, which was scheduled as an early release day, will now be a full instructional day for students.

Should there be more closures, further calendar adjustments will need to be considered, MCPS may request a waiver from the state-mandated 180 instructional days from the Maryland State Department of Education. To qualify for a waiver, however, MCPS must demonstrate efforts to make up lost instructional time, including adjusting the existing school calendar.

During severe weather, closure decisions are made to maintain the safety of students and staff. Should our community receive any further weather-related closures, resulting in necessary calendar changes, those changes will be determined and communicated swiftly.

See the updated Traditional School Day calendar here. Arcola Elementary School, which follows an innovative calendar, does not change.

Montgomery County Public Schools

The Struggle for Black Freedom: Black Communities in Montgomery County Post Civil War to Today

Featuring Celeste Winston, Author of How to Lose the Hounds: Maroon Geographies and a World Beyond Policing

February 6, 2025

6 PM – 7:30 PM

Zoom Webinar Registration Link

Students may earn up to 2 SSL hours for attending.

In collaboration with the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition

Flier

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fair: Will be held from 6–8:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG). This event offers an opportunity for students in Grades 8 through 12 and their parents/guardians to meet with representatives from more than 50 HBCUs. There will also be on-the-spot scholarship opportunities for seniors (offered by the National Pan-Hellenic Council), a panel discussion on college life and several workshops. More information
MCPS HBCU Fair, Feb. 14, 2025

FAFSA/MHEC One Application Completion Event: Set for 6–8:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 at USG, this event is open to all high school seniors and their parents. Representatives from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), the Montgomery College Financial Aid Outreach office and the TRiO Educational Opportunity Center will share information about the FAFSA and MHEC One applications. Spanish interpreters will be available. More information
FAFSA, MHEC Completion Event Flyer, Feb. 14, 2025

Summer RISE 2025 Student Registration: The Summer RISE program is open to current sophomores and juniors who want to gain real-world experience over the summer. Participating students will be matched with career hosts based on their industry preferences for a minimum of 50 hours in person, virtually or through hybrid opportunities from June 23–July 25. Registration closes on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

The following event is open to students, staff and community members. Students can earn up to two Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for attending.

The Road to Advocacy: The River Road Community’s Fight to Stop the Erasure of African American History, in collaboration with the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition

Thursday, Feb. 6, 6-7:30 p.m.
Zoom Webinar registration link
The Road to Advocacy, Feb. 6

MCPS has clear procedures in place to ensure student safety if immigration officials visit a school. These steps help staff respond appropriately while prioritizing student well-being:

• Verify the visitor's identity and obtain official documentation.
• Notify MCPS legal counsel for guidance.
• Contact the impacted student’s family in their preferred language.
• Follow security protocols to protect all students and staff.

For more information and Frequently Asked Questions, visit the MCPS Immigration Supports page.

MCPS is reviewing the current cell phone use in schools due to so many issues occuring over social media causing unsafe situations in schools. At this time all day students can have phones and resident students who attend Edison can have their phone when they leave but must return them when they arrive back to RICA. We know many issues we have had at school have had a social media involvement as well as may record incidents that have occured at school. At this time we will be starting focus groups with students, families and staff about the cell phone use in school and looking to begin a new cell phone policy during the 25-26 school year.

Please find below link for “Get Emergency Alerts. Get Alert Montgomery”

The Alert Montgomery System provides accurate and immediate emergency notifications from Montgomery County to your cell, work, or home phones via text, email, or voice message. Receive notifications about emergencies that may affect your home, workplace, child's school, or any other locations within Montgomery County, Maryland.

• Government and School Status for County government and public-school closures, cancellations, or delays due to inclement weather or other emergencies
• Weather Alerts for your family's home, business, school, childcare, and more
• Infrastructure Issues including Water and Power Outages
• Severe Traffic Issues including accidents and prolonged road closures

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oemhs/alertmontgomery/