Northwest News

Dear Northwest High School Families,

Happy Sunday! We are heading into the last week of the marking period and the last week of October. It is important that students, "lock in" as they say and finish strong to close out the first marking period. A special congratulations to our fall athletes for closing out their regular seasons and continuing on into playoffs. Also, our fall drama show is this Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2. It'll be a great week!

MCPS is seeking input about the 2025–2026 school year calendar! Please take a moment to complete the MCPS School Calendar Feedback Survey. Your input will be used to select the first and last day of school, as well as other important dates for the coming school year.

The team at Victor O’Neill Studios would like to thank your school for a great picture day! If you provided emails to the VOS team, be on the lookout for an email from Victor O'Neill Studios. If you do not see it in your inbox, check the spam/junk folder. Otherwise, you can email underclass@vosphoto.com. Any student who has not had a chance to order, it’s not too late! Also, make-up photos for grades 9-11 are on Thursday, November 7.

We are reviving the LIT MAG. Come join us for the Creative Writing Club on the 3rd Wednesday of each month in room 250. See Ms Koutsos for details in room 250.

A reminder that ALL students must wear and display their IDs while on campus. If you need an ID, a lanyard or a clear ID holder, stop by the main office.

A reminder that 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.

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

• Important AP Exam Updates
• NWHS PTSA Silent Auction
• NWHS Drama Fundraiser at Panda Express
• College and Career Updates
• HBCU Student Panel
• On the Spot Admissions Opportunities
• Financial Aid Workshops
• HOBY Scholarship Opportunity
• Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards
• Athletics and Events Calendar for the Week (October 28 - November 3)

There are some important, and timely reminders this week. Check them out below.

• Class of 2025 - Order your Cap and Gown
• NWHS Fall Show - The Day the Internet Died

• Holiday Giving
• Still need to purchase a yearbook?
• Think Pink Fundraiser at Tortacos

• The Northwest Free Market
• Picture Ordering
• Parking Permits Reminder
• Digital Library Information
• 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
• The Free Store
• A call to support our Booster Club
• ParentVue resource
• A call for parents to join our parent councils
• Ways to join the PTSA and Booster Clubs
• College T-Shirt Tuesdays
• Class spirit gear

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

• All students who are enrolled in AP classes are required to take their corresponding AP exam(s) in May (a schedule of exams can be found here). ALL AP students must be registered for their AP course(s) in AP classroom.
• Joining the corresponding AP Classroom creates an order for the exam. Students should have already registered for their AP Classroom(s) at the beginning of the school year. ALL students should login to their AP Accounts and check that all their courses are listed. If they are missing a course their AP teacher(s) can provide them with the join code. Students must be registered by November 15th to have their exam(s) ordered free of charge.
• Any exams ordered, after November 15th, will be assessed a late order fee of $41.75.
• Any student who orders and exam and then does not take the exam in May will be assessed an unused exam fee of $41.75. These fees are set by the College Board and MCPS. If you have any questions please contact Ms. McClintock (amy_m_mcclintock@mcpsmd.org) the Northwest AP coordinator.
• Any students who have account issues, creating an account or logging in to an existing account, must call the College Board for assistance (888-225-5427). Northwest does not have access to account login information and can't help troubleshoot account issues. The name on your account should match your legal name and the name used on any accommodation paperwork to ensure you receive the correct exams.
• If there are any questions or concerns about AP exams, AP Classroom, or registering for an exam please contact Ms. McClintock (amy_m_mcclintock@mcpsmd.org) the Northwest AP Coordinator.

NEW Why My HBCU: Student & Alumni Panel. October 29 from 6:30 until 7:30 pm on Zoom!

Hear from current HBCU students and alumni about their selection process, experience, life after college and more.

Representation from Spelman, Howard, Delaware State, NCAT, Morehouse and more.

Presented in partnership with Collegiate Directions, Inc., & MCPS

Register @ https://bit.ly/4hvt2Un

The Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) is a NIST-wide summer internship program for students who will have finished their junior or senior year of high school by the start of the program and are interested in scientific research. Students selected for this eight-week competitive program will participate in cutting-edge research at NIST. Eligibility includes a minimum GPA of 3.0 and US citizenship. For application and program information visit https://www.nist.gov/iaao/summer-high-school-intern-program. Address questions to ship@nist.gov.

REMINDER: MCPS On-Site Admit Events continue. Next event is Wednesday, November 13 @ Seneca Valley HS! Registration required. Click here to register. Seniors must have applied to their school of interest prior to the event. Events are scheduled for the following dates:

• Wednesday, November 13 @ Seneca Valley HS from 6 until 8 pm - deadline to register is Monday, November 11
• Tuesday, December 3 @ Richard Montgomery HS from 3 until 6 pm - deadline to register is Friday, November 29

REMINDER: 19th Annual College Fair - Go to High School - Go to College | Sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - Kappa Epsilon Lambda Chapter | Saturday, November 9 from 10 am until 12:30 pm | Student Registration link | Parent Registration link | Southern Regional Technology and Recreation Complex 7007 Bock Road, Fort Washington MD 20744

Click here to view the flier with a list of participating schools.

REMINDER: Mount Calvary Baptist Church's 14th Annual HBCU College Fair. Saturday, November 2 | 9:30am - 1:30pm | HBCU Sunday - Sunday, November 3 @ 11am | Quiz Bowl - Sunday, November 3 @ 1:15pm. 608 N. Horners Lane, Rockville, MD 20850

| Free and Open to the Public | Workshops and Seminars | Connect with HBCU reps | Click here to register | Click here for the flier

REMINDER: 22nd Annual Alfred Street Baptist Church HBCU Festival | Friday, November 8 | 4 pm - 8 pm | Virtual | Saturday, November 9 | 10 am - 2 pm | Virtual & In-Person at the St. James in Springfield, VA. | Alfred Street Baptist Church invited you to the country's most exciting and largest HBCU Festival. Top 5 Reasons Students Should Attend:

• Apply onsite and receive same-day admissions decisions!
• Several opportunities to receive scholarships!
• Fun & informative HBCU seminars!
• Engage with HBCU reps and find out why you should attend an HBCU!
• It's Free!

Click here to register | Click here for the flier

REMINDER: Paying for College: FAFSA and Financial Aid. A free, interactive webinar event for the Class of 2025. November 13 @ 6:30 PM. Offered by Going Merry.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER | Download the Program Flier |

REMINDER: FAFSA & FINANCIAL AID in Spanish

Carmen Palacios-Aguirre from Financial Aid at UNC Chapel Hill will be leading a financial aid and FAFSA presentation on November 19th from 6:30-7:30

Join Zoom Meeting

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/87251880493?pwd=mGhUOit4OezF61K2toihb8FKnN4rqo.1

Meeting ID: 872 5188 0493

Passcode: 159550

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One tap mobile

+13017158592,,87251880493#,,,,*159550# US (Washington DC)

+13126266799,,87251880493#,,,,*159550# US (Chicago)

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Dial by your location

• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Find your local number: https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/u/kbxRR2HAT1

SENIORS & FAMILIES

Rob Maddox from St. Mary’s College of Maryland will be explaining all things Financial Aid. Virtual presentation

Thursday, October 17th 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/88425220638?pwd=AgdG4SkbYUlZeRFminLUYzCEf9ddez.1

Meeting ID: 884 2522 0638

Passcode: 107438

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One tap mobile

+13017158592,,88425220638#,,,,*107438# US (Washington DC)

+13126266799,,88425220638#,,,,*107438# US (Chicago)

REMINDER FOR THE CLASS OF 2027: Be A Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Ambassador for Northwest High School! Represent your high school this spring on the campus of Towson University. HOBY is open to sophomores who are potential leaders in their school and communities. Northwest will send one current sophomore for the 2025 event (student provides transportation to and from Towson U.) The event is scheduled to take place in early June. Interested? Complete the Ambassador Request Form HERE before November 8. Learn more about HOBY at www.hoby.org. Questions? See Ms. Davis in the College Career Information Center, Room 126.

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.

NEW: COLLEGE CAREER CALENDAR → HIGH SCHOOL VISITS:

For a complete list of all college career high school visits use Naviance or view the Jag Events Calendar or our website | Students must register for all high school college career visits using their Naviance account. Select colleges → Select college visits

Monday, October 28:

• Temple University @ 9:40 am
• Christopher Newport University @ 12:05 pm
• Gettysburg College @ 1 pm

Tuesday, October 29:

• Stevenson University @ 9:40 am
• Notre Dame of Maryland University @ 12:05 pm
• William & Mary @ 1 pm

Wednesday, October 30:

• South Dakota School of Mines & Technology @ 10:45 am

Thursday, October 31:

• Catholic University @ 8:45 am
• St. John’s University - New York @ 9:40 am
• University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus @ 12:05 pm

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)

NEW SCHOLARSHIP: Calvin Coolidge Presidential Fun, Inc. Scholarship. JUNIORS. Applicants must plan to enroll in college in the fall of 2026. Applicants must be an American citizen or legal permanent resident. Academic excellence is the primary criteria. The Coolidge Scholarship is an annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study. Alert: the application requires that candidates read President Coolidge’s Autobiography and a few other readings and then write three essays. DEADLINE TO APPLY: DECEMBER 11, 2024; 5:00 PM Pacific Time | Post 17 OCT 2024 |

NEW SCHOLARSHIP: Carson Scholars. $1,000. GRADES 9, 10 & 11. 3.75 GPA required (based on 4.0). Applicants must display strong humanitarian qualities above and beyond what is required in high school. ONE student will be selected to compete for this award (Carson Scholars will make final decisions). To learn more about the Carson Scholars Program visit carsonscholars.org/scholarships/. DEADLINE TO REQUEST NOMINATION: NOVEMBER 15, 2024 | Post 22 OCT 2024 |

SCHOLARSHIP LAST CALL: from The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Mu Nu Chapter (Montgomery County, MD). International High School Essay Contest by writing an essay on the topic identified. The local essay contest winner will receive a $200 check at Achievement week on November 13, 2024.

1. No GPA is required for the essay contest. The local essay contest winner will receive $200 and will compete for a $5,000 national award. The deadline to submit the high school essay is October 31.

The Holiday Giving Project of Montgomery County provides a Thanksgiving meal and December holiday assistance to qualifying families. If you are interested in participating in this program, there are two ways that you can sign up.

1) Download and complete the Referral and Consent Form here, and return it to the Northwest Counseling Office or

2) Call Northwest's counseling office at 240-740-7080 to share your information for a referral. Please leave a message if no one answers, and someone will get back to you at our earliest convenience.

The deadline to request assistance for the Thanksgiving Holiday is October 24th, so please act today! Please feel free to call the counseling office if you have any questions, or email Ms. Kelly Cooper at Kelly_A_Cooper@mcpsmd.org.

Please note: There is only one referral permitted per family. Please include all children attending other MCPS schools. Assistance is based on the county's available resources and is not guaranteed. After referrals are submitted, you will be contacted directly by the organization coordinating distribution. It is the family's responsibility to pick up items at the designated time and location.

El Proyecto de Entrega de Canastas del Condado de Montgomery ofrece comida para el día de Acción de Gracias y asistencia navideña en diciembre a las familias que califican. Si está interesado en participar en este programa, hay dos maneras de inscribirse.

1) Descargue y complete el Formulario de Referencia y Consentimiento aquí, y devuélvalo a la oficina de consejería de Northwest o

2) Llame a la oficina de consejería de Northwest al 240-740-7080 y comparta su información para una referencia. Por favor, deje un mensaje si nadie responde, y alguien se pondrá en contacto con usted lo antes posible.

La fecha límite para solicitar asistencia para las canastas de Acción de Gracias es el 24 de octubre, ¡así que por favor hágalo hoy! Por favor, no dude en llamar a la oficina de consejería si tiene alguna pregunta, o envíe un correo electrónico a la Sra. Kelly Cooper al Kelly_A_Cooper@mcpsmd.org.

Tenga en cuenta: Solo se permite un formulario de referencia por familia. Asegúrese de incluir todos sus niños que asisten a otras escuelas en el Condado de Montgomery. La asistencia se basa en la cantidad de recursos que el condado tiene disponibles y no está garantizada. Después que enviamos los formularios de referencia al condado, la organización que coordina la distribución de sus donaciones, se comunicará con usted directamente. Es responsabilidad de la familia recoger los artículos en el lugar y la hora designados.

Still Need to Purchase a Yearbook?

Purchase Link

The first sale price is $95 (limited amount); the rest are $100. $105 in person at distribution

Seniors must select the picture that they want to appear in the yearbook by December 2. Or the photo company will select for you. We have a community upload spot for candids. Please upload any pics of your student(s) that may end up as features in the yearbook.

Purchase Yearbook Space for Your Senior!!

If you would like to submit a business ad, these prices apply as well.

Personal Ads (upload text and pics online):

Early Bird Price until 10.31

Full page: $275

½ page:$145

¼ page:$85

⅛ page:$50

Baby Pic ad Link to pay

Link to Upload pic and quote - $25

Purchase this as an add-on when purchasing a yearbook in the 1st link. THEN upload quote and pic to the 2nd link to the left.

Final Deadline for all ad space: 1.20.2025

Submit a baby picture of your senior along with a quote that conveys a life philosophy. Quotes are subject to admin approval.

We still have the 2024 spring supplement available for pick up from the vestibule of the main office between 7:45-3 pm OR in room 250 or 261 before school, during lunch, and after school until 2:45.

Seniors With Siblings. It's a yearbook tradition. Help us keep it alive! Please complete this form to be included in the yearbook page. FREE!

Want a copy of the Panoramic Pic of the Entire Senior Class?

Purchase here. ($20)

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.

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.

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