It is hard to believe but it is time to begin thinking about graduation for the class of 2025. Graduation is a special time to celebrate, and we would like to get feedback from the Class of 2025 and their families about preferences in graduation venue. The information collected is one source used to make a decision about location. While we do not have an assigned date for graduation, the range of dates for ceremonies is between Tuesday, May 27, 2025 through Thursday, June 12, 2025

Based upon the anticipated size of our graduating class, our indoor venue options are Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena at UMBC or D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Our graduation venue options are:

• University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena - This air-conditioned venue is approximately 38 miles from our school, and has ample free parking. Wootton HS and the PTSA has an option of renting buses to assist with transporting students and families (bus ticket cost applies). The venue fee for a graduation ceremony at UMBC, Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena is approximately $19,968.
• D.A.R. Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C. – This air-conditioned venue is approximately 18 miles from our school, is accessible via the metro, and parking is available at nearby garages. Wootton HS and the PTSA has an option of renting buses to assist with transporting students and families (bus ticket cost applies). The venue fee for a graduation ceremony at D.A.R. Constitution Hall is approximately $10,430.

This survey is to be completed by the 12th grade students (1 response) and their caregiver/parent (1 response). Please do not reply if you/your student are not a Wootton Class of 2025 student or caregiver. The form will remain open until September 25, 2024.

FRI, SEPTEMBER 27 Early Release day for students

This year, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will pay for Advanced Placement (AP) Exams in alignment with the Maryland Blueprint and the MCPS Strategic Plan.

• Exams for students enrolled in an AP or IB course are no cost to students and families
• Students enrolled in an AP course for the 2024–2025 will be expected to participate in the corresponding AP exam
• Students who elect to take an AP exam, but are not enrolled in the corresponding AP course, will be responsible for paying for the AP exam
• Important changes from last year:
• Students who register for the AP Exam, but do not take the exam, will be charged a $40.00 fee for each missed exam
• Students who register late (after November 15th) will be charged $40.00 for each late exam registration
• AP Students should receive information about joining their corresponding College Board AP Classroom Course from their AP Teacher

Important Dates

AP Exam registration deadline is November 15, 2023.

More information about registration will be shared as we get closer to the November 15th deadline. Please email Ms. Gardner at Eileen_Gardner@mcpsmd.org with any questions.

Returning for it's second year, we will again have a school Tie-Dye Event during the school day to create each grades' SPIRIT SHIRTS! Shirts are currently on sale on School Cash Online. You can access that payment link by going to mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com and logging in or registering if it is your first time. Each student's shirt is already automatically linked in your account. Each shirt is only $20 ($22 for 2X and 3X). More information and shirt designs can be found here. For Seniors, your white shirts can also be bundled on School Cash Online for $35 ($39 for 2X and 3X) with the official black senior shirt needed for the panoramic senior photo. We recommend buying them both for that discounted price! More information can be found here.

We will then have the school-wide tie-dye event on Wednesday, October 16th during the school day for us all to tie-dye your class white spirit shirt as a school! The shirt cost includes the shirt, the tie-dye, the rubber bands, and the Ziploc bags we will give you at the event. We will wear these shirts as a full school throughout the year. including the Homecoming Pep Rally the next day on October 17th!

All shirts are only on sale until Wednesday 9/25, so get it early! They are only available for a short time! Show your Wootton Patriots pride and your class spirit! Let Mr. Schwartz (Keith_A_Schwartz@mcpsmd.org or room 123) if you have any questions!

Senior Breakfast is the morning of the PSAT, Wednesday, October 16th at 9:30AM. We need your help to put on the best senior breakfast possible. We’d love it if you could sign up for at least one slot on our SignUpGenius. When signing up to bring something, please specify in the comments the amount and type you’ll be bringing. If you’re signing up to be a server, please arrive by 9AM at the main entrance to help set up. If you’re a server, please plan to stay though clean-up (around 11AM). If you are dropping off food, please drop it off at the main office before 9AM or straight to the cafeteria after 9AM. If you cannot drop off items the morning of, please email us at anna.jeyachandran@gmail.com or Victoria_a_Barry@mcpsmd.org for further instructions. Thank you so much for your help! Go Pats!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EADAA2CA2FDCF8-51177235-senior

Applications for the MCR Equitable Education Task Force are currently open.

The MCR Equitable Education Task Force is unwavering in its commitment to closing educational disparities by ensuring every student, regardless of language proficiency, learning ability, or background, is given equal opportunities for success. We strive to cultivate a system where the growth and potential of all students are universally recognized and nurtured. This task force offers a unique opportunity for students to engage in impactful advocacy, gain countywide recognition, and enhance their extracurricular involvement while championing equitable education. We can't wait to see you soon!

Application link: https://forms.gle/rb7LvgyE3QSA17t66

Best,

Raphaël Utterwulghe

Walter Sha

MCR Equitable Education Taskforce Coordinators

Wootton will be administering the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment to serve as our fall diagnostic for students. The diagnostic assessment is designed to provide teachers, students and parents with an accurate assessment of what a child knows and needs to learn. All students in grade 9 English will take the MAP Growth Reading (MAP-R). All ninth-grade students in Algebra 1 will take the MAP-M test.

Wootton has selected the following dates and times for test administration:

• The MAP-R test will be administered on Monday September 30th and Tuesday October 1st in students’ English classes.
• The MAP-M test will be administered on Wednesday September 18th and Thursday September 19th for 9th grade students who are in Algebra I.
• Makeup exams for both MAP-R and MAP-M will be held on October 2nd and 3rd.

Here are some resources to help you navigate the test and its components: You can learn About the Test, Take the Practice Test (Username: grow Password: grow) and get more of an overview of the test with this resource from the NWEA website, the creator of the MAP assessment.

As a reminder, your child will need to bring their Chromebook to access the test and should have their charger with them as well.

Any questions or concerns about MAP testing can be directed to Gillian Ratti, ASA (Gillian_G_Ratti@mcpsmd.org).

Family Toolkit - NWEA

The Fife and Drum Yearbook Team would like our school community to share photos to appear in this year's book! To do so, you can visit https://photos.jostens.com/Z9KW4J. Make sure to tag the students in your photo, so we can caption them correctly! Stay tuned for news on buying a yearbook. If you have any questions, you can contact Ms. Wollmuth, the yearbook advisor, at wollmuts@mcpsmd.org.

Please take note of the information regarding student absences, early departures, and late arrivals.

Attention Students, Staff, and Community Members:

The Patriot Balloon Factory at Wootton is now taking orders! The Patriot Balloon Factory is an in-school balloon delivery service founded and run by our Wootton School Community Based (SCB) program.

All proceeds go toward the SCB Program Vocational Fund and help to continue and create meaningful work opportunities for our students. Balloon orders can be placed online and will be delivered to students and staff members during the school day. Single balloons are $3.25 and balloon bouquets (one printed balloon and one solid color star balloon) are $5.25.

• Link to order form: https://forms.gle/Jyj8uSGQwt5bemTb7
• Questions? Please contact Ms. Lily Herzing at Elizabeth_A_Herzing@mcpsmd.org

The annual Wootton College & Career fair is Tuesday, October 1, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, in the upper/staff parking lot adjacent to the Auditorium. Over 65 colleges are participating. Military and career resources will also be present.

Babson College

Michael McCarthy

College & Career Center 9/16/24 10:35 AM

Gettysburg College

Maddie Wonder

College & Career Center 9/16/24 11:30 AM

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Keegan Carrasco

College & Career Center 9/17/24 7:45 AM

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Main Campus

Brett Hoffman

College & Career Center 9/17/24 9:15 AM

Oberlin College

Molly Cravens

College & Career Center 9/17/24 11:30 AM

University of Connecticut

Justin Guy Dumdum

College & Career Center 9/17/24 1:00 PM

Virginia Commonwealth University

Frederick Lyles

College & Career Center 9/18/24 10:30 AM

Dickinson College

Rebecca Chernyha

College & Career Center 9/18/24 10:50 AM

Savannah College of Art and Design - Atlanta

Leah Kitchen

College & Career Center 9/18/24 11:15 AM

Mount St. Mary's University

Barbara Jordan

College & Career Center 9/18/24 11:30 AM

Vanderbilt University

Ethan Dastugue

College & Career Center 9/18/24 2:35 PM

The Catholic University of America

Tess Franscioni

College & Career Center 9/19/24 9:45 AM

Hofstra University

Caroline Treco

College & Career Center 9/19/24 10:05 AM

Boston University

Augustus Judd

College & Career Center 9/19/24 11:30 AM

Frostburg State University

Bryant Evans

College & Career Center 9/19/24 2:35 PM

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Shakyrys Charles

College & Career Center 9/20/24 9:15 AM

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Jessica Romich

College & Career Center 9/20/24 11:30 AM

Indiana University-Bloomington

Abby Billings

College & Career Center 9/20/24 12:10 PM

The Annual Verification of Contact Information is available in ParentVUE in Online Registrations. Please take this time to confirm that your information is correct.

ParentVUE Log-In Portal

ParentVUE FAQs

Or you may return the Student Emergency form that was passed out in homeroom this past week.

The safety of our MCPS community is critical, and being able to communicate with students, staff, and families during severe weather or other emergencies is of the utmost

importance. Use this link to find all the ways you can connect with MCPS to receive emergency operational information from the school system. The current operating status options for the school district appear on the MCPS website and on individual school websites. In the event of a change in operational status, this link will provide more information about the MCPS Operating Status options.

Links/Additional Information

● Alert Montgomery - register to receive text, email, or voice message emergency alerts to your cell phone

● Hurricane Safety Information

● Tornado Safety Information

● Tornado Warning Procedures for Buses

● Earthquake Safety Information

● Hurricane and Summer Storm Tips - Montgomery County, MD

● NOAA Prediction for Above-Normal 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

The purpose of social studies curriculum night webinars is for the social studies team to explain how social studies is taught in MCPS and how diverse perspectives are included in the K-11 curricula.

Asian and Asian American History

September 26, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Flyer

Registration Link

Regular daily attendance is expected. It is critical to a child's academic success. Parent/caregiver support of regular daily attendance is essential. Parents/caregivers should provide a note within 3 days stating the reason for absence. This will ensure the absence is marked excused. Students who were absent from school have the responsibility to request make-up work from their teacher.