Greetings QOHS Families & Staff,

Quince Orchard is committed to increasing opportunities for our 9th and 10th grade students to learn early in their high school career about all of the college and career readiness programs available to them, including MCPS’ robust Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, Work-based Learning and Apprenticeships, Advanced Placement Courses, Early College, and Dual Enrollment. In the future, we plan to bring in guest speakers, current program participants, and alumni to share their experiences, to allow our students to hear firsthand the benefits of these programs. Our 9th and 10th grade students will also participate in goal setting, strength finding, and interest inventories, in addition to more targeted academic planning, so they have what they need to be successful should they choose one of these pathways. We want our 9th and 10th grade students to be ready for what is available for them as upperclassmen, and to be motivated, curious, and excited about where these opportunities can take them. Ms. Eileen Gardner, Assistant Principal, in partnership with our college and career readiness staff members, will be directing our efforts with the development of this exciting new program.

On Friday, April 11, 2025 Quince Orchard High School partnered with the Montgomery County Career Advising Program (MoCoCAP) to give our 9th grade students the opportunity to visit Stevenson University in Owings Mills. Eighty-five students attended the trip. They learned about academic programs, available financial aid and scholarships, and student life at Stevenson. Students also toured the campus and saw typical dorm rooms, classrooms, and student activity spaces. Our students were phenomenal guests at Stevenson and we appreciated their engagement and participation throughout the day. MCPS offered this field trip to students free of charge, confident that early exposure to college can assist students in making more informed decisions about their post-secondary plans, and further students' development toward college, career, and community readiness.

Last but certainly not least, I had the pleasure of enjoying our wonderful Prom this past Friday night. The students (and many staff chaperones) had a great deal of fun. I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Ms. Deirdre Coyoy, 11th grade class sponsor, Ms. Kirsten Jackson, 11th grade administrator, and all of those who helped out with preparations and facilitation of this amazing event. Your hard work and commitment provided our students with "a night in hollywood" to remember. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Dr. Lee Evans

Interim Principal

• Tuesday 4/29 - Spring Concert #1 @ 7 pm in the Auditorium
• Wednesday 4/30
• LS MISA testing - Please make note of the modified schedule below
• Mock AP Exams
• Junior Caregiver Meeting (Virtual) @ 6:30 pm
• Spring Concert #2 @ 7 pm in the Auditorium
• Thursday 5/1
• LS MISA Testing - Please make note of the modified schedule below
• Mock AP Exams
• Help us celebrate - Principal Appreciation Day!
• Friday 5/2
• Help us celebrate - School Lunch Hero Day!
• Senior Interim Grades Due
• Prowler Distribution

Students will be taking the MCAP Government and LS MISA assessments this Wednesday and Thursday. Please help ensure your student is ready by reviewing these important reminders:

Chromebooks: Bring a fully charged Chromebook and charger each day.

Bathroom Use: Students should use the bathroom before testing. Emergency breaks only during the test — missed time cannot be made up.

Electronics: All cell phones, smartwatches, wireless earbuds, and similar devices must be turned off and collected at the start of testing.

Testing Rooms: Students should know their assigned testing location before arriving. PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW YOUR TESTING LOCATION.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dTjH2uJS-c8_8jS7_iKe9UHVp-gftkIhi48voxVJiJc/edit?usp=sharing

Starting Tuesday, April 29, 2025, parents/guardians will begin receiving weekly ParentSquare notifications for any student with a negative meal account balance exceeding -$5.00. This will replace the current paper-based notification.

Payment can be made:

• Online at www.MySchoolBucks.com where parents can also check meal account balances, sign up for recurring payments, and more.
• Directly to the school cafeteria using cash, check, or money order (made payable to Quince Orchard HS Cafeteria). Please be sure to include the Student Name, Student ID, and home phone number with the payment.

Families may apply for Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) online at www.MySchoolApps.com and visit the Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) website for more information. DFNS may be reached at 240-740-7400 or via email at DFNSOffice@mcpsmd.org.

Link to Official Guide - https://bit.ly/qowblguide

2025 QO AP Exams Update

Here is the link to the one pager that is the home of all QO AP exam information. All students and caregivers of students should click here: https://tinyurl.com/5bbwnsf2

Email QO AP Coordinator Chris Campbell with any questions.

Are you interested in planning school-wide events, advocating for your classmates, and engaging in county-wide leadership initiatives? QO's Student Government will be holding elections for next year on May 30th. If you would like to run you MUST attend one of TWO interest meetings on Thursday, April 24th or Thursday, May 1st at lunch in room 102. Come enjoy a meet and greet with current SGA members and receive important information about election materials and guidelines. Join SGA and create a better QO!

The National Honor Society and the National English Honor Society will be co-sponsoring a charity book and clothing drive on Saturday, 5/3 at QOHS. We will be accepting lightly used clothing and books of all types from 9 AM - 12 PM by the front auditorium entrance. Clothing donations will benefit Goodwill of Greater Washington and book donations will benefit the Friends of the Library.

Dear Students, Parents, and Community Members,

I am pleased to invite you to attend our upcoming Engineering Design and Development (EDD) Symposium, a signature event of the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) program at Quince Orchard High School.

Event Details

📅 Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025

🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

📍 Location: QOHS Media Center

This culminating event is an opportunity for our senior engineering students to showcase the projects they have developed over the course of the year—from initial research and problem definition through prototyping and testing. These capstone projects address real-world challenges and reflect months of dedication, creativity, and collaboration.

In addition to viewing student presentations, we are seeking individuals with backgrounds in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or Business to serve as judges. Your insights and feedback provide an invaluable learning experience for our students. If you’re interested in serving as a judge, please complete our Judging Interest Form here:

🔗 https://forms.gle/SSrfrgnXvrc6mQUx6

Feel free to share this link with others who might be interested.

Whether you join us as a guest or a judge, your presence makes a meaningful difference. Thank you for supporting our students and helping us inspire the next generation of engineers, designers, and innovators.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at omari.r.sarjeant@mcpsmd.net.

Warm regards,

Omari Sarjeant

Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology Teacher

Quince Orchard High School

The QOHS Horticulture students are proud to announce their annual Spring Seedling Sale! Check out our flyer for availability, and email kelly_p_miller@mcpsmd.org to place an order or ask any questions.

QOHS 2025 Spring Seedling Sale Flyer

Please consider joining our amazing PTSA!! There are some key positions open for next year and without dedicated leaders in these positions, we are worried about the future of this organization that provides so much support to our school community!! Join today!

Show your Cougar Pride and JOIN THE PTSA!

Here is a list of open & current positions:

· President - OPEN

· VP - OPEN

· Treasurer - Kelly Couts

· Secretary - Kristin Johnston

· Communications Chair – Rabiah George -

· Staff Appreciation – Jen Wang & OPEN SPOT

· Membership Chair – OPEN - URGENT

· NAACP Coordinators – OPEN

· Senior Night Coordinators - Jayme Holstein and Beth Gelfman

· MCCPTA Delegate- Peter Hmel

· QO Cluster Coordinator – OPEN

· Fundraising Chair – OPEN

Please reach out to Sue Kravitz if you have any questions or interested in helping out in any way possible!!

skravitz@are.com

suekravitz@comcast.net

• Students may earn up to 8 SSL hours for participating. Lunch will be provided.

• Interested students may view additional details at the following link.
  

Are you interested in jumpstarting your college education while still in high school? The Dual Enrollment Program at Quince Orchard High School, in partnership with Montgomery College, offers you the opportunity to take college courses at no cost. This program provides enriching pathways, such as the Jumpstart to College (JTC) Pathway and the Early College Program, allowing you to earn college credits or even an associate degree by the time you graduate high school.

Fall 2025 Courses Offered at QOHS (Registration begins April 21; Deadline June 6)

📚 BSAD 101 – Introduction to Business (T, R | 9:30 – 11:00 AM)

📚 MGMT 101 – Principles of Management (M, W | 9:30 – 11:00 AM)

📚 ENGL 101 – Introduction to College Writing (M, W, F | 12:00 – 1:00 PM)

📚 ENGL 011 – Introduction to College Writing Support Module (M, W, F | 1:05 – 1:50 PM)

To learn more about these exciting opportunities and the eligibility requirements, visit your new Dual Enrollment Program Assistant (DEPA), Ms. Neelam Mehta, in Room 103 or email at Neelam_Mehta@mcpsmd.org.

Scholarships will be awarded to Montgomery County High School graduating seniors based on the following criteria:

Community Service

Academic Achievement

Personal Statement

Financial Need

The minimum award will be $1,500.

Students can apply for the scholarship -

For questions about the scholarship, send an email to Scholarship@dstpvac.org.

Application for students with 2.5-3.0 GPA - https://form.jotform.com/250115356893156

All seniors are required to complete the Senior Exit Survey.

Seniors, submit your survey no later than May 25!

Juniors and seniors can attend college visits at Quince Orchard HS. A representative from the college visits QO, and meets with students to share information on their academic programs, financial aid, extracurriculars, and much more. If students wish to attend, they must register on Naviance. Contact Ms. Romero in Room 103 for more information.

Calling all seniors! Apply today for Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation’s (MCPSEF) Student Scholarships and Awards.

The primary goal for our scholarships and awards is to fund students who are passionate about pursuing educational goals, and face opportunity gaps in achieving those goals.

To be eligible for any of our student scholarships and awards, you must:

• Be an MCPS senior

• Graduate with class of 2025

• Plan to pursue education after high school

Each opportunity has additional preferences and eligibility criteria. Visit our website to see if one of our student scholarships or awards is right for you!

Any 12th grade student attending college or trade school for Fall 2025, this is your friendly reminder to submit your 2025-2026 FAFSA application. Completing the FAFSA gives you access to money to help pay for school. FAFSA includes scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans with low interest rates! Friendly reminder that you will need to have the following information handy when starting the application: https://studentaid.gov/help/info-needed. If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, please contact Ms. Romero by email at Lisa_D_Romero@mcpsmd.org.

Attention Seniors! Are you planning to attend college next year? Are your application deadlines rapidly approaching? If this is you, you MUST request your transcript be sent out to all the schools you are applying to! If you have not yet done so, please request your transcript ASAP! It takes several days to process your request and send out your documents! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScR5j16bnD0bf6svKNmLUmM96jGlp6D5YPEksKE3QjUM2qByA/viewform

Seniors! If you are using the Common App to apply to schools, and are getting stuck, we have created a resource document for you! There are very helpful documents, resources and videos! Please check it out, and if you still need help, come see us in the College/Career Center of the Counseling Services Suite!

Common App Resource Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17N5y6PKFMRo2KwlDtT1osKqxkjV3fU9gfkybxBtjoJc/edit

QO Athletics Spring 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

HEY, SENIORS! The Prowler, QO's student newspaper, needs your help to create the annual Prowler Senior Issue, a FREE, full-color, special edition of the paper includes photos,

future plans, & memories of the senior class. To be included, complete the Prowler Senior Issue Questionnaire by Friday, May 2 at 11:59 PM at tinyurl.com/prowler25 . The issue will be distributed on the seniors' last day, Friday, May 23.

Send any questions to the Prowler's sponsor Ms. Cooley-Klein at megan_m_cooley-klein@mcpsmd.org

Please review this one-pager that contains a lot of details regarding the next eight weeks until graduation on May 29. The documents includes a link to our upcoming senior meeting on April 2 as well as the forms to request extra graduation tickets and special seating vouchers. Click here to view: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xbk0qJ6tz_MoRobeAbKtLyYji3bO0L03Qoc8m1M_hh0/edit?tab=t.0

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 12th grade administrator Ms. Eberhart-Bliss at elicia_m_eberhart-bliss@mcpsmd.org.

Attention Seniors! Are you planning to attend college next year? Are your application deadlines rapidly approaching? If this is you, you MUST request your transcript be sent out to all the schools you are applying to! If you have not yet done so, please request your transcript ASAP! It takes several days to process your request and send out your documents! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScR5j16bnD0bf6svKNmLUmM96jGlp6D5YPEksKE3QjUM2qByA/viewform

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.

Dear Quince Orchard High School parent leaders,

Thank you for stepping up last summer at the last possible moment trying to find a family for an exchange student with a sudden change of hosting situation. Last year he ended up going to a family in a different school district, but I got several emails from Quince Orchard parents interested in hosting an exchange student in the future. It was too late for MCPS exchange enrollment that year, but I am now looking for local host families for two wonderful exchange students for the year 2025/26.

Leontine (F, Catholic) from France will be 16 and going into 11th grade; she speaks French, Spanish and English, plays basketball and likes to cook and bake; she is the oldest of three kids. She is a strong student with an A GPA.

Ulugbek (M, Muslim) from Uzbekistan is a winner of a competitive FLEX scholarship for exchange students, also an A student. He will be 16 going into 11th grade. He speaks Uzbek, Russian and English; he likes basketball, swimming, playing chess and reading books, and he is very funny and has a great sense of humor and is family-oriented.

Here is a link to brief summaries with more information about these wonderful students. Please share them with the parent body, so we can bring them to experience American high school education and family and community life in Quince Orchard High school. The MCPS international student enrollment period has already started for the next school year, and these students are available on a first come first serve basis. Families can start a hosting application at https://hub.exos2.pax.org/index.php?mid=1&smid=2&uref=207851

Thank you in advance for your help, and I will be glad to answer any questions. You can share my contact email anna.tiratgefen@gmail.com with families.

Anna Tirat-Gefen

International High School Student Exchange Program Local Coordinator

PAX Academic Exchange

anna.tiratgefen@gmail.com

There will be no April or May NAACP Parent Council meeting. If you are interested in being a representative for the next school year, please contact Mr. Yarborough.

Please review the links below to learn more about an upcoming Study Abroad in Taiwan opportunity!

Taiwan 2025 Summer Study Abroad Info

Program Details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v6W1FtSBIGN2Qi7_wDzqgNR_H_gUwbxA/view

Interest Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KBSU4CuQwGZ-as5CED7iLoFaT9n57gbj4ArhJl-U5CY/edit?usp=drivesdk

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

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

Join Us to Celebrate the Best of MCPS!

The entire community is invited to join MCPS and the Montgomery County Board of Education for the 2025 Distinguished Service to Education Honors—a free event to celebrate the power of public education—on Tuesday, May 6.

This ceremony is the largest and most prestigious recognition of Montgomery County educators, students and community partners. This signature event will honor this year’s top staff and unveil the MCPS Teacher of the Year, the Supporting Services Employee of the Year and the Board of Education’s Student Service Award.

Join us at The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane in North Bethesda. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.; the program begins at 6:30 p.m. Read about the honorees and RSVP.

Anuva Maloo Elected as Next Student Member of the Board

Ms. Anuva Maloo, a junior at Montgomery Blair High School, has been elected as the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for the 2025-2026 school year. Ms. Maloo’s term begins on July 1, 2025.

All secondary students were eligible to vote in the election, held on April 23. Ms. Maloo received 62 percent of the vote. Her opponent, Mr. Peter Boyko, a junior at Northwest High School, received 38 percent.

Ms. Maloo serves as her school’s class president and workshop deputy for the Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association.

The SMOB is a member of the Montgomery County Board of Education, who can vote on matters related to collective bargaining, capital and operating budgets, and school closings, reopenings and boundaries. The SMOB cannot vote on negative personnel actions. The SMOB is not paid, but does receive a $25,000 college scholarship, Student Service Learning hours and one honors-level social studies credit. Read more.

Next Stop for the Opportunity Express: April 30!

The next stop for the MCPS Opportunity Express is the Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS), 8401 Turkey Thicket Drive in Gaithersburg. MCPS’ new mobile recruitment vehicle will stop there between 8:30–11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, and will be hiring for jobs within DFNS and the Division of Maintenance and Operations.

DFNS will be hiring for the following positions: cafeteria workers, permanent substitutes and temporary part-time staff at the following locations: Bannockburn and Carderock Springs elementary schools, Francis Scott Key and Silver Creek middle schools, and Paint Branch and Wheaton high schools.

DMO will be hiring for general maintenance II workers, general maintenance III workers and compactor truck operators.

The Opportunity Express will continue to visit locations throughout the county to promote job openings the district has available.

Opportunity Express Flyer, April 30

Special Education Parents Asked to Complete Survey by May 30

Do you have a child who receives special education services in MCPS? The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has mailed the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey to all parents/guardians of students receiving special education and related services in Montgomery County.

The purpose of this anonymous survey is to determine how well your child’s school is partnering with you. The information provided will help guide the state’s efforts in improving special education and related services in public schools.

The survey is available here. Parents are asked to complete it by Friday, May 30.

Parent flyer

FAQs

Upcoming Events

Mental Health and Wellness Fair: The MCPS Black Mental Health and Wellness Fair will be held from 1–5 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd. East in Silver Spring. This event is free and open to all MCPS students, families and staff. RSVP.

Used Car, Computer Sale: The last used car and computer sale of the school year will be held from 9–11 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, at Thomas Edison High School of Technology, 12501 Dalewood Drive in Silver Spring. Students in the Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation and Information Technology Foundation will sell used cars and computers they have refurbished as part of their classroom and lab studies. More information will be posted here.

Special Ed Family Resource Fair: This free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown. This event connects families, educators and community organizations with valuable resources and information to support individuals with special needs. Attendees can gather information, ask questions and network with professionals and other families.

Blair Fair: This event will be held rain or shine from noon–4 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd. East in Silver Spring. This event will connect students, families and community stakeholders with local agencies, businesses and organizations. Students will showcase their talents in STEM activities, arts and crafts, music, dancing, performances and other activities. While Blair Fair is free to attend, there will be a cost for some events and activities.

Safety Day: This family-friendly event will be held from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 in the Carver Educational Services Center parking lot, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. Safety Day brings the community together to learn more about traffic safety in a fun environment. The event is appropriate for all ages, with activities and community partners to visit for giveaways and prizes. Rain date: Saturday, May 17.

Don’t Miss the Latest from Our News Page

• Celebrating Poetry in Our Schools: National Poetry Month celebrates the importance of poetry and is spotlighted by Literacy Day at Briggs Chaney Middle School
• Meet the MCPS Finalists of the Washington Post Principal and Teacher of the Year Awards for 2025: Dr Joshua Fine of Flower Hill Elementary School and Rebecca Burtram of Odessa Shannon Middle School.
• Captain Math! Reading Robot! Writing Wizard!: Meet Richard Ensley, this year’s Shirley J. Lowrie “Thank You for Teaching” Award winner.
• Business Pitch Challenge: Read about Thoughtbox, Retractable and Nourish+, innovative student ideas from this year’s Shark Tank-like competition.
• National Merit Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships: Fourteen MCPS Students Receive National Merit Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships financed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Stay Connected

• 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
  https://www.facebook.com/mcpsmd
  https://www.instagram.com/mcps_md

• https://www.facebook.com/mcpsespanol
  https://twitter.com/MCPSEspanol
  https://www.instagram.com/mcpsenespanol/

• 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

©1995–2025 Montgomery County Public Schools

Are you in 10th or 11th grade? Do you love STEM? Stop by the Media center and get information about a free summer program at the University of Maryland.

1. Explore energy and sustainability at the Exelon Foundation STEM Academy! A free, week-long program for young women leaders!

2. Join the Exelon Foundation Boys to STEM Academy! A free, week-long journey in energy, leadership, and sustainability!

Stay connected throughout the school year with these important links:

• MCPS Student Handbooks (Code of Conduct, Rights & Responsibilities etc.)

• QOHS events calendar can be found on the myMCPS Classroom webpage.

• Arrival & Dismissal Bus Routes

• QOHS Website

• QOHS 2024-25 Student Handbook (Here you'll find our lunch policy, ID policy & much more.)

• QOHS Bell Schedules

• Traditional School Year Calendar 2024-25

• Social Emotional Well Being Resources

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