FCPS Community Bulletin Board
Two FCPS football teams are playing in the state semifinals this weekend for an opportunity to advance to a state championship game at Navy-War Memorial Stadium in Annapolis in early December.
Linganore is hosting Oakland Mills from Howard County at 6:30 p.m. Friday, November 29.
Middletown will travel to Patuxent High from Calvert County at 7 p.m. Friday, November 29.
Interested in a college and career pathway focused on the arts?
Register today to shadow the Academy for the Fine Arts, which is the visual and performing arts pathway for high school students in grades 10-12. The AFA meets during the school day and is housed in Gov. Thomas Johnson High. In addition to rigorous advanced level courses, many of which count as Dual Enrollment credit, the AFA provides a unique artistic community for students who are seeking to challenge themselves in a collaborative environment.
During the shadow day, students will spend 2 blocks of the day learning about the program from our student ambassadors, taking a tour of the facilities, learning about the application process, and visiting any of the following focus areas:
- Music
- Dance
- Visual Art
- Theatre
- Musical Theatre
Our next Shadow Day will be Wednesday, December 11th
To register for the shadow day, please visit www.fcpsartsacademy.org For questions, please contact Jonathan Kurtz at jonathan.kurtz@fcps.org or 227-203-3450 Ext 54668.
Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter School is excited to invite prospective families to our upcoming school tours for all interested students entering PreK – 11th grade in Fall 2025. You will have the chance to explore our campus and learn about the exceptional program we offer. This is a wonderful opportunity for families considering our school to get a feel for our vibrant community and see firsthand what makes our school so special.
Please join us on:
Wednesday, December 18th 10:00 - 11:00 am or 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Wednesday, January 15th 10:00 -11:00 am or 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Location: 64 Thomas Johnson Drive, Frederick, MD 21702
**Please note: for the both morning tours please allow at least 15 minutes to check in. All adults must bring a photo ID in order to tour the building.
RSVPs are very helpful and strongly encouraged, but not required. Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/p9BMNR1qpuZazNHP7.
These tours will include a 30-minute overview of our school and program followed by a 30-minute tour of our beautiful location.
MVMPCS is the only charter school program in the county to expand to include high school. MVMPCS was started over 20 years ago, and any student that resides in Frederick county can apply for open spots through the lottery which will be open through March 11: https://mmcimd.org/charter-schools/enrollment/. More information can be found about our high school on our website: https://mvmpcs.org/highschool/
Do you know an FCPS support employee who goes beyond the call of duty? Have you observed a support staff member excelling in their day-to-day activities? Have they done something particularly noteworthy? There are so many reasons to nominate someone for the FCPS Support Employee of the Year Award! The Support Employee of the Year Award categories have been updated to make them more balanced. The new categories are listed on the Support Employee of the Year Award page found at the link below, as well as in the nomination packet. Complete eligibility, nomination criteria, process and selection guidelines are located online at www.fcps.org/awards.
- Administrative Support
- Food Service Support
- Operations Support
- School Support
- Special Education Support
- Systemic Support
- Technical Support
- Transportation Support
The deadline for nominations is Friday, January 31. (No nominations will be accepted after this date.) It is important to follow the directions for submissions. Please contact Dorian.Munoz@fcps.org or 240-586-7102 with any questions.
The 5-Star Service Award is for community use in recognizing FCPS employees who show excellence in one of the 5 FCPS goals. Community members are welcome to nominate any worthy FCPS employee.
This award is designed to provide recognition by community members to employees for excellence in one of the 5 FCPS goals.
Community members are encouraged to nominate any worthy FCPS employee.
Nominations will be reviewed on the 15th and 30th of each month by staff in the Offices of the Chief of Staff, Human Resources, and Public Affairs.
More information on the selection timeline and next steps can be found on the 5-Star Service Award nomination form.
We are happy to share that FCPS has seen a noticeable reduction in unauthorized personal mobile device use this year at all levels. We began the year with new expectations for the use of PMDs and provided the first term for students, staff and families to become acclimated. Beginning this term (Term 2), we will follow the progressive discipline process detailed in the Student Code of Conduct for students who violate the PMD expectations.
What is considered a personal mobile device (PMD)?
Any technology not provided by FCPS and brought to school by a student that includes: cell phones, headphones, smartwatches, speakers, cameras, and/or eReaders or the like. However, since FCPS provides students with laptops for instructional use, non-FCPS issued laptops are not permitted. Exceptions will be made under special circumstances, including, but not limited to documented accommodations.
Why are the expectations being updated?
Some studies have indicated cell phones and other electronic devices can be detrimental to the intellectual, social, and emotional development of children. It is also recognized that we live in a world where personal mobile devices are tools used in the world of work. The intent of the updates is to be evidence-informed in our approach to cell phone use in our educational environment.
What if I need to communicate with my child during the school day?
In case of emergency, please contact the main office of your child’s school. Staff members will be able to put you in touch with your child.
What are the consequences of violating these expectations?
FCPS used the first term of the 2024-25 school year to acquaint students, staff, and families with the new expectations. School administrators reviewed these updated expectations with students during the first few weeks of school.
At this time, in term 2, consequences for PMD violations will be in accordance with the FCPS Student Code of Conduct. The consequences may include the confiscation of a PMD by school administrators including the requirement for a parent or guardian to retrieve the device. This process is not new. Multiple infractions may lead to more progressive consequences as detailed in the FCPS Student Code of Conduct. FCPS is not responsible for any damaged, lost, or stolen PMDs.
For Anyone Interested in Receiving FCPS and/or School Updates
Frederick County Public Schools uses SchoolMessenger for email, text messages and automated phone calls. Community members can sign up to receive SchoolMessenger updates. This step-by-step guide will show you how to quickly sign up to get messages!
Who can sign up
Anyone interested in receiving FCPS and/or school updates. This can include family members not already signed up for messages and community members.
Who Does Not Need to Sign Up
All FCPS employees automatically receive messages to their work email address and contact information they have entered in via PeopleSoft. All FCPS family members who are listed as a primary contact in our Student Information System do not need to sign up.
FCPS employees benefit from market-competitive salaries and outstanding benefits. We provide a supportive working environment, professional development training and mentoring. Most importantly, we offer the opportunity to make a difference in our students’ lives!
We recognize that educating our county's students requires a team effort. This involves contributions made by team members, both inside and outside of the classroom.
