I hope this message finds you well! We are heading into the 4th week of school with a mid year interim check on academic success next week on Friday, September 27th.

Last week we officially completed our first week of open lunch, and I am happy to report that it has been a great success with a few reminders for our students. Students are not allowed to sit in their cars or leave campus in their cars unless they have an abbreviated schedule. Students with an abbreviated schedule cannot take students with them in their vehicle. A huge thank you to our students for demonstrating responsibility and respect during this time.

As a reminder, we are now in full ID requirement mode. Students must have their IDs visible while on campus. If anyone still needs an ID, please visit security to get one as soon as possible.

We also want to acknowledge that with increased enrollment comes a growing need for resources, including more staff and, as many of you are aware, the use of portables to accommodate classroom space. We know this has an impact on our school environment, and we appreciate your patience as we continue to manage the impact on our shared spaces. As an example, parking permits are limited, and while we understand the frustration this may cause, we simply do not have the space for all requests at this time. Please know that this is not a personal matter, and we are actively seeking a partnership with Safeway to explore more parking options for our students. We greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work through this challenge.

We are also excited to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month which begins today! Throughout the month, we have a variety of activities and events planned to celebrate the rich culture and contributions of our Hispanic and Latinx community. Be sure to check out the schedule of events so you can join in on the celebrations!

In addition to these highlights, here are a few important upcoming events to note:

- PSAT Information: Details about the upcoming PSAT can be found in this newsletter. Be sure to review this information to ensure students are registered and prepared for our in school PSAT day on Wednesday, October 16th.

- First Home QO Flag Football Game: Come out and support our team this Wednesday at our first home flag football game of the season!

- PTSA and NAACP Parent Council Meeting: Our next PTSA and NAACP Parent Council meetings are this Tuesday, September 17th with NAACP at 6:00 pm and PTSA at 7:00 pm. These meetings are a great opportunity for parents and caregivers to stay involved and connected to our school community.
- Congratulations to Emily Hsieh for her acceptance into the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Youth Fellowship Program! This is an incredible achievement and we are extremely proud of Emily!

Thank you all for your continued support and involvement in making Quince Orchard the special community that it is and remember, we can't hide our Cougar Pride!

All the best,

Elizabeth (Beth) Thomas

Principal, Quince Orchard High School

The Latino Student Union and supporting organizations are excited to kick off Hispanic/Latin Heritage Month this week, so dust off your dance shoes and join us in the lobby at lunch all week! Juntos will be giving dance lessons and we'll have a dance party on Friday, September 20th. Everyone is welcome!

All MCPS students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate from high school. Middle school and high school students should continue earning SSL hours towards their SSL graduation requirement by engaging in SSL opportunities during the 2024-2025 school year, including traditional in-person opportunities and select virtual/remote opportunities that follow the amended guidelines posted on the MCPS SSL webpage (www.mcps-ssl.org).

SSL forms for service completed after June 1, 2024, should be turned into the school’s SSL coordinator (Kelly_P_Miller@mcpsmd.org) by the recommended due date of September 27, 2024.

September 2024 Announcements for Students & Families

September 2024 SSL Opportunities

Permission Slip Form (English): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eHTMX7ic_xeyd9HfqjztVZxgHYwRyjhe/view?usp=sharing

Permission Slip Form (Spanish): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wpxB2V4_2a--ta66Mm4MRNzbUrvXFhKK/view?usp=sharing

Attend our upcoming College Fair on Monday, September 30th at 6:30pm in the school cafeteria and meet over 50 college representatives!

Click the link below to view a list of the colleges that will be attending - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UJX287HwK5Lp4uzQ0LjjYD2zfTTBiAK-cT36U5lyeX0/edit?usp=sharing

Hello! I'm so excited to be the Career Advising Coach at Quince Orchard High School. I look forward to working with your children this year as I help them with career exploration. I am in room 235 so your children can find me there. If you would like me to speak to your child, please feel free to email me at coleen_m_djouha2@mcpsmd.org

Click below to learn more about Ms. Djouha and the MoCo CAP Program!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1o5xrs0-MqIojX3kj7xqHcihegzxXL_yO

Families, please encourage your students to sign up for college visits at Quince Orchard High School. For instructions on how to sign up for a college visit or to view a list of colleges coming to Quince Orchard High School, please click on the link below: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/qohs-counseling/the-college-career-center/visits?authuser=0

QOHS E Sports is back for the Fall Season. Reach out to Mr. Rockwood in room 302B or via email at nathaniel_c_rockwood@mcpsmd.org if you are interested in joining the team! E Sports Team will meet on Tuesdays and Wednesday after school.

If your student will be involved in our Fall Production, please put Monday, September 16th at 6:30pm on your calendar! We will be having our Caregiver meeting that evening it’s important that everyone attends if possible!

More info and will be shared once the Cast list is announced and after our Crew interest meeting.

🎓 Attention, students!

• All 10th-grade students will be registered automatically and for free to take the PSAT. Do not complete registration link below.
• 9th graders have the option to take the PSAT 8/9 for a fee of $13. Register here by September 9.
• 11th graders can take the PSAT/NMSQT for a fee of $17. Register here by September 9.

💡 Bonus: All students will participate in wellness activities during the school day!

📧 Questions? Email Kirsten_N_Jackson@mcpsmd.org

Stay tuned for more details in an upcoming newsletter!

Dear QO Community,

As an integral part of our community, I want to extend an invitation for you to serve as a member of our Community Partnership Committee. This volunteer group is composed of dedicated parents, staff, and community members who work towards supporting and enriching our Project Lead The Way (PLTW) program. We typically convene once a month with times and dates to be determined. Our meetings will be a blend of in-person and virtual meetings, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for all involved. The committee is primarily focused on planning and executing enrichment events, such as our “Lunch and Learns” series. This unique initiative aims to connect our students with professionals from diverse career fields, to provide insights into potential future career paths, and to assist in resume building.

In addition, we aim to strengthen our ties with local organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Energy (DOE). Our goal is to give our students opportunities to explore operational environments and experience hands-on learning in the real-world. The committee also aids in fundraising efforts to support all PLTW programs in their entirety. We also have several extra-curricular activities that would benefit from additional support including our Engineering and Robotics Club, Computer Club, and more. This year we are hosting an FTC Qualifier Competition here at QO! This is a large event and one of the first in an MCPS facility in recent history.

We view parents as critical players in our school community. Your unique perspective, energy, and ideas would make an invaluable contribution to the workings of this committee. We would be truly thrilled if you decide to share your time and talent with us in supporting our PLTW programs. If this opportunity interests you or if you need further information, please feel free to contact me directly.

If you could respond by September 30, 2024 , we would greatly appreciate it. This will allow us to finalize our committee-member list and organize our inaugural meeting. Interest form: https://forms.gle/yW2DjwWH4KvU7dcT7 Thank you for the constant support you provide to our school's mission. We hope that you consider this opportunity to make a strategic and measurable impact on our PLTW programs, directly benefiting our students and shaping their future endeavors.

Yours sincerely,

Omari Sarjeant, Teacher, Quince Orchard High School

QO Athletics Full Year, Fall, 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

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

Make Plans to Join Us!

As part of Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s entry plan, he will be meeting with as many stakeholders as possible to learn more about the Montgomery County community. Part of this includes upcoming listening sessions at four schools. Save the date for one of these sessions:

• Monday, Sept. 16, Poolesville High School, 17501 West Willard Road, Poolesville, 7–8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 18, (Updated Location) Rockville High School, 2100 Baltimore Road, Rockville, 7–8 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 23, Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd. East, Silver Spring, 7–8 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 21, Paint Branch High School, 14121 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, 7–8 p.m.

Interpretation services will be available in Spanish at each event.

The upcoming community engagement session will allow parents, students, staff, and community members to share their input on two key questions regarding the district's operations and academics.

• Regarding operations, what is working well in the district and what needs attention?
• Regarding academics, what should be done differently to improve student academic results?

Attendees will have the opportunity to voice feedback verbally during the session. Those who prefer to submit feedback digitally can do so on this Google form.

Summer SSL Hours Due by Sept. 27

Students who completed Student Service Learning (SSL) hours over the summer must submit their Activity Verification forms to their schools SSL coordinator by Friday, Sept. 27.

All MCPS students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate from high school. Students who enroll in MCPS after Grade 6 will receive a waiver that prorates the SSL requirement.

A full list of SSL in-person and virtual opportunities, reminders and updates are available on the SSL website.

School Menus Now Available for All Grades in All Languages

Updated school menus for 2024–2025 are now available for all grades—from PreK/Head Start through high school. The menus, which include student picks and vegetarian options, are available in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Portuguese, Korean, Vietnamese and Amharic.

In addition, the Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) application is available for this school year. Families must reapply every year to determine whether they are eligible for the FARMS program, even if their child qualified the previous year. Students/families can request a paper application at any school, but processing is faster online.

Updated Timeline for Blended Learning Program for Long-Term Medically Impacted Students

MCPS is moving forward with its timeline for establishing a new Blended Learning Program for Long-Term Medically Impacted Students. This program will provide consistent and comprehensive educational services in both synchronous and asynchronous virtual environments to students with medical conditions who, as identified by a licensed medical professional, cannot be served in an in-person school environment for up to one year.

An application for the program will be available online starting Oct. 1, 2024, and the program will officially launch on Nov. 6, 2024. As the development process continues, more detailed information about the program's logistics will be communicated.

Remind App Now Available in All Schools

Remind is a messaging platform that has been implemented in all schools this year for communication among MCPS schools, teachers, students and parents. School staff, central office staff, students and parents all have Remind accounts to enable them to send and/or receive messages using a preferred mode of communication, such as text message, email or phone call in their preferred language.

Parents don’t have to sign up for Remind or download an app to receive messages. Messages will be sent to the email and phone number registered with the school, and parents will automatically receive messages when they are sent. If parents wish to respond to a message, they will need to download the app or create an account on the website. See below for information on how to download the app.

YouTube video on how to use Remind

Parent Quick Guides

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

Job Fair for Bus Drivers Set for Sept. 17

MCPS is hosting a job fair for bus drivers from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Sept. 17. The fair will be held at the Shady Grove Transportation Depot, 16651 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville.

To become a bus driver, the minimum qualifications are:

• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Have a clean driving history; no more than one point on driver’s license.
• Have at least three years of driving experience, with at least one year driving in the U.S.
• Meet all pre-service training and testing requirements.

Interested candidates are asked to create a profile on the MCPS Careers portal. They can also receive help with this during the event. For more information, call 240-740-6080.

Student Leadership and SSL Opportunities

The following leadership and extracurricular opportunities are available to students. Some also provide Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. All MCPS students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate from high school.

For middle and high school students: The Association for Safe International Road Travel and the Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association are hosting a competition centered on road safety and how to keep students and others safe on the roads. Participants who submit a public service announcement (PSA) that meets contest requirements will earn 10 SSL hours and have a chance to win Amazon gift cards. Entries are due Sunday, Oct. 6. Learn more.

Open to high school girls: Girls With Impact is offering a free, 10-week course on business and leadership. This program offers online courses with trained coaches who hold MBAs. Learn more and register by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4.

In Case You Missed It …

Earlier this week, three Title I schools in MCPS participated in the district's first Reading & Robes initiative, where Maryland state judges read aloud culturally diverse books with themes of justice and fairness to students. Check it out.

• 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
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• 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

©1995–2024 Montgomery County Public Schools

• 9/15: First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month
• 9/17: 1st NAACP-PC/ PTSA Joint Meeting - 6 pm in the Media Center
• 9/27: Early Release Day

October

• 10/1: LGBTQ+ History Month & School Principal Month
• 10/2: Building Service Worker Appreciation Day
• 10/2: Homecoming Class Hallways
• 10/3: Non-Instructional Day—No School For Students And Teachers
• 10/4: Marking Period 1 (MP1) Interims Distributed
• 10/5: Homecoming Dance - 8:00 pm
• 10/9: PSAT Day
• 10/15: NAACP-PC Meeting - 6 pm in the Media Center
• 10/15: PTSA Meeting - 7 pm in the Media Center
• 10/16: Booster Club Meeting - 7 pm in the Media Center
• 10/18: No School for Students - Professional Day for Staff
  
• 10/22: QO Cluster Fall Pyramid Concert - 6 pm in the Auditorium
• 10/23: QO Cluster Fall Pyramid Choral Concert - 6 pm in Auditorium

**11/3 Marks the end of the 1st quarter

Please visit www.qocougars.com for the fall Athletics Calendar!

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.

If your student has not received a lanyard to carry their student ID, please have them stop by the main office during lunch.

As we open our doors and welcome students back on campus for the 2024-2025 school year, we are continuing our commitment to student well-being, safety and security to ensure that our students feel welcomed, supported and safe.

To support this commitment, all students will be required to carry and show their Quince Orchard High School student ID. For the first two weeks of school, students can utilize their ID from the 2023-2024 school year. Once student pictures have been taken on September 9th and 10th, they will be required to have a 2024-2025 ID. Students will need to have their student identification every day so Quince Orchard staff can ensure only students are accessing campus during the school day.

Key Points

Visibility:

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

Replacement:

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

Lunch and School Events:

Students must have their school ID in their possession to leave during open lunch, if permitted as an 11th or 12th grade student, AND to attend all school sponsored events (either at Quince Orchard or away)

Quince Orchard High School's lunch policy varies according to a student’s grade level:

• Students in Grades 9 and 10 must remain on QO property for lunch. They cannot leave QO property unless they are signed out by a parent/guardian/caregiver via the attendance office.

• Students in Grades 11 and 12 may leave QO property for lunch. They must have a student ID card that reflects their 11th and 12th-grade level status. If an 11th or 12th grader wants to leave campus during lunch, they MUST show their current year school ID card to school staff. No exceptions.

All students must follow lunch procedures as outlined below:

1. Students have the option to purchase lunch in our cafeteria or bring food from home.

2. Students may sit in the following areas to enjoy their lunch:

• Cafeteria
• On the designated side of most hallways
• In a classroom with a staff member, if given permission and supervised
• Outside near the main entrance, tennis courts, basketball courts, or backfield area

Students may NOT eat in their cars, auditorium, gymnasiums, the Cougar Dome, or stairwells.

3. Students are reminded that when they leave campus and enter the surrounding community, they must follow the MCPS Student Code of Conduct. Open lunch is a privilege. Permission to leave campus during lunch can be revoked.

4. For 11th or 12th graders allowed to leave campus for open lunch, students must:

• show their current year school ID card to check out with staff at the designated exit

• Students may ONLY exit campus at the bus loop/QO library exit along Quince Orchard Rd.

• not leave campus or attempt to leave campus anywhere except the designated exit

• not access vehicles and/or leave campus in a vehicle without staff authorization

• Students with abbreviated schedules must show staff their schedule to leave campus in a vehicle

• Students who have been signed out in the attendance office must show documentation to staff to leave in a vehicle

• return to the building and arrive to class on time

• use the crosswalk and sidewalks only

• follow staff directions when crossing the street

• behave courteously and respectfully to staff, to other students, to the public, and to the business locations in our community

5. Students who attempt to use another person's ID card for open lunch privilege will result in the revocation for both students and/or other consequences as determined by the MCPS Code of Conduct.

6. Visitors are not allowed in the lunchroom or other areas throughout the school without permission. All visitors must sign in at the welcome center and wear an issued visitor badge sticker.

7. Students are not allowed to have off-campus food delivered to the school. Any food delivered will be kept by the welcome center and available for pick up at the end of the school day.

The full lunch policy is linked here and is available in the student handbook. Each family should thoroughly review and become familiar with the lunch procedures and policies.

Join us for the first meeting of the school year. The PTSA and the NAACP-PC have joined together and the meeting will focus on getting to know what QOHS has to offer. We will share information about clubs and academic programs that are offered at the school. Our special guests include Ms. Justilien (sponsor of the Minority Scholar Program), Ms. Romero, (College & Career Information Coordinator) and Ms. Djouha (Career Advising Coach from MoCo Career Advising Program). Please join us.

Tentative schedule:

Introductions 6-6:05

NAACP updates 6:05 – 6:20

Mrs. Thomas updates 6:20 – 6:40

Speakers:

• Ms. Justilien from the Minority Scholars Program
• 6:40-6:45 Lisa Romero, College & Career Information Coordinator (CCIC) at QO 6:45 – 6:50
• Coleen Djouha, QO’s MoCo CAP Career Advising Coach at QO. 6:50 – 7:10

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

In order to receive accommodations on these tests, a student must request the accommodations by submitting a Student Eligibility Form. The form must be completed by both parents and school officials and then mailed to the College Board at least seven weeks in advance of the student taking the first test.

Please review the criteria established by the College Board for requesting testing accommodations:

https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/request-accommodations/request

Please follow the link below to identify the process for submitting a request for ACT Test Accommodations and English Learner Supports:

https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration/accommodations.html

**Please note that students who have an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan are not guaranteed that College Board or ACT will provide accommodations. The College Board requires current neuropsychological testing (within the past three years) which documents the specific need for each requested accommodation.

All IEP students should work with Ms. Samantha Carter to complete the accommodation request(s) and students with a 504 Plan should work with Ms. Rossini or Ms. Jessica Conter.

This years AP coordinator is Mr. Chris Campbell. Please e-mail him with any questions regarding AP testing.

Please contact Ms. Jessica Conter, Resource Counselor in the Counseling Office (240-740-3620) if you have any further questions about this process.

Stay connected throughout the school year with these important links:

• Arrival & Dismissal Bus Routes

• QOHS Website

• Traditional School Year Calendar 2024-25

• QOHS Bell Schedules

• QOHS 2024-25 Student Handbook

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