Northwest News

Dear Northwest High School Families,

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! I hope this message finds everyone enjoying this beautiful Sunday evening! Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

A reminder that school pictures are being taken through Math classes on September 17, 18, and 19. Beginning September 20, ALL students must wear and display their IDs while on campus.

In response to the recent student arrest that took place on September 6, we understand there may be questions and concerns within our community. To provide clarity and open communication, we invite you to join us for a Parent Information Session.

Date: Tuesday, September 17

Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Northwest Auditorium

MCPS will pay for exam registrations for students enrolled in the AP course and registered by November 15, 2024. Students will register for their exams, through AP classroom in their AP classes.

• Students registering late, canceling the exam, or not present to take the AP exams will be responsible for the AP fee of $41.75/exam.
• Students who elect to take an AP exam and are NOT enrolled in the corresponding AP course will be responsible for paying the AP exam fee of $94.
• Students enrolled in an AP course for the 2024-2025 school year are expected to participate in the corresponding AP exam.
• Schools are NOT permitted to charge an administrative fee for AP exams.

Rho Kappa Social Studies Honors Society Applications are open! The application is currently only open to Seniors in the Class of 2025. Applications are due by October 4th. Criteria for recognition can be found in the application. Please email Ms. Emily McDermott (she/her) at emily_f_mcdermott@mcpsmd.org with questions.

Application Link: https://forms.gle/G9L5GHDTBfi46Pxd8

In this week's newsletter, there are just a few new items. Please see them listed below and check out the details in the newsletter.

• Hispanic Heritage Month happenings
• The Northwest Free Market
• Picture Day this Week
• Parking Permits Reminder
• Homecoming Information
• Date, Time, How to buy a ticket
• College and Career Updates
• The Upcoming College Fair
• The College Readiness Seminar
• FAFSA information
• A seminar on paying for college tuition
• SAT information
• ACT Dates
• Digital Library Information
• Athletics and Events Calendar for the Week (September 16 - September 22)
• Class of 2026 fundraiser at Playa Bowls
• PTSA fundraiser at Chipotle

There are some important, and timely reminders this week including important early dismissal and absence procedures, our upcoming Diversity Night, our new Cell Phone Policy, our new ID policy, the new policy for chromebooks, chromebook chargers and the costs for families to replace them, an opportunity to join the Principals' Advisory Council, a way to buy spirit gear to support the NW after prom, the upcoming Latina Legacy conference, the Free Store, the upcoming Activities Fair, a call to support our Booster Club, a call for submitting photos for this year's yearbook, parentVue resource, a call for parents to join our parent councils, ways to join the PTSA and Booster Clubs, College T-Shirt Tuesdays, and ways to buy Class spirit gear!

We thank you for your continued support and trust. Let's make it a great week!

REMINDER! Picture Day is coming to Northwest High School!

Victor O'Neill Studios is looking forward to photographing your students and staff members soon!

School Picture Day is Coming!

📅 Date: Tuesday September 17th, Wednesday September 18th & Thursday September 19th 2024

📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two to three weeks after photo day

🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001141457#login

📧 Questions about Ordering? Email underclass@vosphoto.com

As a reminder, beginning tomorrow, Monday, September 16, all cars driven by students must display a valid 2024-2025 parking permit and be parked in their assigned space. Cars that are parked in the incorrect space, or do not have a valid parking permit, may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. If you would like to a pickup or turn in a student parking permit application, please go to the Business Office (room 322) before school, during lunch, or after school until 2:45 p.m.

NEW: WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY EVENT. A unique opportunity to delve into the world of West Point. RSVP to reserve your place for what will be a great opportunity to learn more about the Academy, whether it is the right fit, and how to apply.

Event Details:

Date: 10 October 2024

Time: 6:00-8:00 PM EST

Location: Catholic University, Gowan Hall, Washington, DC 20064-000, United States

RSVP: Washington D.C.

During the Admissions Brief, we will discuss:

1. What West Point Offers: Learn why West Point stands as a premier institution for leadership development, academic excellence, and character growth.
2. Life as a Cadet: Gain firsthand insights into the daily life of a West Point Cadet, including academics, athletics, and leadership training.
3. The Application Process: Understand the steps to apply to West Point and gather valuable tips to enhance your application.

Please see above detailed information on the event. Space is limited, so be sure to secure your spot at the event and RSVP as soon as possible.

NEW: The Career Council National Hispanic College Fair Field Trip. This field trip is open to juniors and seniors. Seniors will be given priority based on first-come, first-served basis.

Date: Friday, October 4, 2024

Destination: Universities at Shady Grove, Rockville, MD

Bus Departure Time: 10:30 am

• Students should plan to report to the College Career Information Center at the end of period 3.

Bus Return Time: 12:00 noon

• Students will be instructed to bring a bag lunch with consideration given to those who need a lunch prepared by our cafeteria.

There is ONE bus reserved based on previous years participation. The trip is FREE to students.

Permission forms and fair registration must be submitted to the College Career Information Center no later than student lunch on October 1.

Permission Packets will be available on the College Career webpage and with counselors.

REMINDER: College Career Calendar → High School Visits:

• Mount Saint Mary’s University. September 16 @ 9:40 am
• McDaniel College. September 16 @ 10:30 am
• Moravian University. September 16 @ 12: 06 pm
• Purdue University. September 17 @ 8:45 am
• University of Maryland College Park. September 17 @ 9:40 am in the Staff Lounge, Room 112
• York College of PA. September 17 @ 12:05 pm
• Pratt Institute VIRTUAL on September 18 @ 10:45 am @ https://pratt.zoom.us/j/9272587480
• CHANGE IN TIME!!! University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. September 19 @12:45 pm
• Columbia University. September 19 @ 10:30 am
• Pace University. September 19 @ 12:05 pm

For virtual visits, students can bring their Chromebook and headphones to the College Career Information Center (Room 126) to log on for the visit. Virtual visit links are sent the evening before the visit to students who registered. Students can request permission from a teacher to remain in class and log in. Attendance QR-Codes are scanned if the student attends a virtual visit in the College Career Information Center.

Students who attend Montgomery College and do not have a college class during the visit time are welcome to attend. Based on the honor system, there is no attendance taken for those students.

If there is ever a question or concern, please reach out to: Rochelle_Davis@mcpsmd.org.

REMINDER:

UMD College Park Fall Open House: On October 11, 2024, students can attend Fall Open House. This daylong event is geared toward high school juniors/seniors and transfer students. Registration required.

TERRAPIN TOUR: A 60–90-minute student-led campus tour. Terrapin Tours are geared toward prospective high school and transfer students, this tour is 60-90 minutes long. Registration required.

MARYLAND INFORMATION SESSION: A brief presentation from an admission representative followed by a student-led campus walking tour. This visit is approximately 2 hours and geared toward prospective high school and transfer students. Registration required.

SELF-GUIDED AUDIO TOUR: An alternative way to visit campus when other options reach capacity or are otherwise unavailable is our self-guided walking tour. See the iconic sights of the University of Maryland at your own pace with your phone as your guide.

REMINDER:

Quince Orchard High School is hosting its annual College Fair on Monday, September 30th, at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. This event is open to the MCPS community. Meet over 50 college representatives and learn about college applications, admissions requirements, scholarship opportunities, and more! Click HERE to see a list of colleges attending. Contact Ms. Romero at Lisa_D_Romero@mcpsmd.org or (240) 740-3670 with any questions.

REMINDER: Women Graduates-USA (WG-USA) is a national organization of university women graduates devoted to fostering educational opportunities for girls and women around the world and is the U.S. affiliate of Graduate Women International which has members in over 60 countries.

Women Graduates-USA invites young girls from grades 9-12 to a seminar session on college-readiness called “The Naviance Program”. WG-USA will co-host this event with the Montgomery County Public Schools District. The seminar will be held on Friday evening, September 27th, 2024. “The Naviance Program” is targeted to students who desire to go to college and need guidance, information, and mentorship to help them. “The Naviance Program” will support students as they explore and develop their postsecondary plans. The program addresses four key areas of college and career readiness:

• Self-Discovery – “Who Am I? Students find college and career pathways that are right for them.
• Career Exploration – “What Do I Want to Be? Students realize their strengths, goals, skills, knowledge, and interests to help them make better academic decisions.
• Academic Planning – “How Will I Get There?” Students connect academic achievement with long-term goals.
• College and Career Preparation – “Will I Be Successful?"

REGISTER FOR THIS FREE SEMINAR HERE. Please send your QUESTIONS to Blessing Asuquo-Ekpo, blessing.asuquoekpo@gmail.com.

Money Matters → Scholarship Highlights & Reminders:

For a complete list of scholarships, including details for those listed below, download the latest publication of our Jag Scholarships ‘Apply Now’ Bulletin on the web. Post date refers to the first date published in the Jag Scholarships ‘Apply Now’ Bulletin. Additional Northwest High School Scholarship Resource (PDF format)

FAFSA rollout for the Class of 2025 is anticipated to be December 1. More to come on FAFSA and financial aid upcoming seminars!

NEW: SCHOLARSHIP: COCA COLA SCHOLARS PROGRAM. Available to SENIORS. Students need a 3.0 GPA and to complete an online application that requires no essays, no recommendations, and no transcripts. DEADLINE TO APPLY: SEPTEMBER 30; 5:00 PM EST | Post 29 AUG 2024 |

NEW: SCHOLARSHIP: Delegate Acevero Scholarship for high school graduates residing in Maryland District 39. SENIORS. Applicants should complete the FAFSA. Online application includes a short essay of 250 words or less (topic specific). Scholarships are reviewed on a rolling basis. DEADLINE TO APPLY: OCTOBER 1 2024

NEW: SCHOLARSHIP: The Jefferson Scholars Foundation offers Jefferson Scholarships for undergraduate study at the University of Virginia. Students must be nominated by their high school to complete. If selected as the Northwest nominee, you will be asked to complete the online Jefferson Scholar application, provide a recommendation, and upload a photo. UVA Jefferson Scholars information can be found HERE. FAQ's HERE. Submit this Google Form no later than October 10. The one nominee will be selected by the end of October and will have until November 13 to complete the UVA Jefferson Scholars application. | DEADLINE TO REQUEST NOMINATION: OCTOBER 10

NEW: SCHOLARSHIP: The Lindsey Vonn Foundation's Summer 2024 Scholarship season starts NOW! Available to GIRLS AGES 10-18. There are new eligibility requirements intended to make the application process easier for all — to answer any questions regarding scholarship type, eligibility, and beyond, view our comprehensive guide for detailed guidelines and criteria. DEADLINE TO APPLY: OCTOBER 31, 2024; 5:00 PM EST

REMINDER: from College Board: SAT Fee Waiver Student Self-Identification. Students who are eligible for fee waivers can now request them directly from the College Board. Requests must be initiated 1-2 weeks before the registration deadline.

JAG Jobs: All job opportunities are published in the latest Jag JOBS Bulletin available to download at any time from our College Career web page ‘Jag Jobs’ under College & Career Quick Links. https://bit.ly/3sKZRVw.

JOB POSTING: AMERICAN POOL. American Pool is a company that provides custom swimming pool management and maintenance services for clubs, hotels, apartments and homeowner associations throughout the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC regions.

Each of our employees will go through one of our training classes to become lifeguard/first aid/CPR and AED certified. This is a seasonal job which is perfect for high school and college students. It is a fun first job that also teaches our employees responsibility and communication skills while maintaining a clean and safe swimming pool environment. We have some indoor part time positions available as well for anyone interested in starting sooner than May 2025.

Discounted lifeguard certification classes are offered at this time of year. American Pool will be hiring at Northwest on October 17 and December 10. Text SWIM to 464646. Email to APRecruit@americanpool.com. Call 410.363.6800.

REMINDER: Law Enforcement Apprentice Program! Send your resume to: Police.VRS@montgomerycountymd.gov. Click HERE for more information! Must be 16 to apply.

REMINDER: VOLUNTEERS IN POLICING (VIP)! For more information, visit: www.joinmcp.com

If you plan to pick up your child for early dismissal, please arrive before 2:15 p.m. To ensure a smooth process, send a written note or email with your child’s full name, student I.D. number, and the full name of the parent or guardian picking them up. Upon arrival at school, the parent or guardian must present identification at the attendance office. Without prior notification via email or note, please be aware that it may take 10 to 15 minutes to locate and dismiss your child from class.

For absences to be excused, your child must bring a note from a parent or guardian that includes the student’s full name, I.D. number, and the parent or guardian’s full name. If your child will be absent for more than three days due to travel, please provide a letter in advance detailing the dates of absence and the reason for missing school. This will help us maintain accurate attendance records and support your child’s learning during their time away.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us manage early dismissals and absences efficiently!

All electronic devices (e.g., smart phones, iPods, etc.) must be turned off and out of sight in classrooms and during class time, unless students have been given permission by the teacher to use the device for instructional purposes. Items will be confiscated if students do not adhere to the school policy, and confiscated items must be picked up by a parent. Northwest will assume no responsibility or liability for lost, stolen, or confiscated devices or for the unauthorized use of any such device.

*For a copy of the agreement to this policy that ALL students are expected to sign is linked here.

In order to maintain a safe and secure school environment, all staff and students are required to wear their ID badges at all times while on campus.

Key Points:

• ID Visibility: Your ID must be worn around your neck and visible at all times. We will be providing a lanyard for all students the first week of school.

• Replacement: If you lose your ID or it becomes damaged, you can get a new ID for $5 from the security office.

• School Events: Students must have their school ID to attend all school sponsored events.

*For a copy of the agreement to this policy that ALL students are expected to sign is linked here.

The focus of the PAC is to give students regular opportunities to provide important input and feedback to the principal on policy and climate issues facing our school and to weigh in on decisions that impact us all as members of our school community. All students, regardless of previous leadership experiences or GPA, are invited to apply.

In order for the PAC to be successful, we need a wide range of voices represented. Most PAC meetings will be held during the school day through Jag PAWS time or during lunch. On some rare occasions, an after-school meeting may be required. If you would like to be considered for membership on the 2023-2024 PAC, please complete this brief application. Applications are due by October 4, 2024. All members will be notified by October 25, 2024.

Do you have any school supplies you no longer need? The Free Store would love your donations! We take all gently used school supplies, but at the start of the year, we especially need backpacks, composition books, spiral notebooks, calculators, and test prep books. Please bring items to the front office or to The Free Store in room 264. We will also have a table at Back to School Night.

Once school starts, The Free Store is open most days at lunch in room 264 and is available to all NW students and staff. Thank you for reusing materials, and thank you for your support.

Fall is here and the Jags are back in action!

The NW Athletic Department and the Booster Club want to provide our athletes and fans with an awesome experience at each and every home game. To make that happen, we need your help to VOLUNTEER at the concessions stand. Parent and community member support is crucial to have a successful year! Please note all volunteers must be adult volunteers. If we do not have volunteers, we will not be able to open the concessions stand.

Pick a slot or two or three...because WE NEED YOU!

There are multiple sports events to choose from. We want you to watch your athletes compete so please come help at other games so those parents can watch their athletes. Don't have a child playing a sport? Come out anyway. It's a great way to connect with other NWHS parents! Remember, concessions volunteers get into the games for free and ALL proceeds go directly toward supporting all of our students! Please put the sport/club you represent in the Comment section!

Thank you from your 2024-2025 Concessions Committee!

Questions? Email Alida Kodjanian at akodjanian@gmail.com or text 202-903-6200.

What is ParentVue?

ParentVUE provides a way to view all school related information and data for all your students. Register for athletics, special programs, communicate with teachers and verify your student information annually. For more information, please check out the "quick guides" linked below in various languages.

ParentVUE Quick Guides for Parents

• English
• Spanish
• Korean
• Chinese
• Amharic
• Portuguese
• French
• Vietnamese

ParentVUE Support Guide (link to translated version is in the footer of every page)

We hope that you and your family will join us for future events and that you will consider becoming a part of the Northwest Hispanic Parent Council, African American Parent Council and the Asian American Parent Council. Please take some time to respond to this questionnaire and let us know how you would like to become involved. This questionnaire has been translated into Spanish.*

Please contact the following administrators for more information about the Hispanic, African American, and Asian Parent Councils at Northwest High School.

Hispanic Parent Council: Nyurka_I_Morales@mcpsmd.org

African American Parent Council: Tara-dee_S_Henry@mcpsmd.org

Asian American Parent Council: Danielle_M_Abdelsalam@mcpsmd.org

It's a long-standing tradition at Northwest for each grade to wear their assigned CLASS COLOR on Pep Rally days! Each class sits in a designated section at the rallies so make an impact for YOUR CLASS by wearing your grade level color and make your presence known! Although participation with wearing class colors is optional, we hope you will join in the FUN!

The grade level colors are as follows:

Freshmen (Grade 9): YELLOW

Sophomores (Grade 10): GREEN

Juniors (Grade 11): RED

Seniors (Grade 12): BLUE

You can wear any clothing and/or accessories in your assigned color as long as you adhere to the school dress code. You can opt to wear clothing that you already own in your grade level color, you can purchase a shirt from the PTSA/Booster Club website for $8: http://www.nwhsptsa.org/shop (available sizes and quantities are limited), or you can purchase a T-shirt in your color at Michael's or Joanne's (the cost is usually around $5) and personalize with fabric markers or paint pens! The possibilities are endless to show your #JagPride!

Email: Scott_E_Smith@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://northwestjags.org
Location: 13501 Richter Farm Road, Germantown, MD, USA
Phone: (240)740-7100
Twitter: @NorthwestJags