Weekly Newsletter

February 9, 2025

Dear Coyote Community,

I hope you’re enjoying a relaxing weekend—whether that means gearing up for tonight’s Super Bowl, catching up on a favorite show, or spending quality time with family and friends. However you choose to unwind, I hope it brings you rest and rejuvenation.

As I analyze data related to our School Improvement Plan (SIP) goals, I’m pleased to share that early indicators show great progress. I look forward to providing a full summary in the coming weeks. Our staff and students continue to do incredible work each day, and I couldn’t be more proud of their dedication and achievements.

Our mission is to provide a high-quality education for all learners, rooted in the belief that every student can succeed through differentiated instruction and support. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of how we’re doing, I would greatly appreciate caregiver feedback. If you have a few minutes, please take this short survey, which includes the same questions we used in our summer caregiver focus groups. Now that we’ve completed the first semester, your insights will be especially valuable. Thank you in advance for your time!

Looking ahead, we may see some weather-related disruptions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please stay tuned for any updates from MCPS regarding possible delays or cancellations. This winter has certainly been unlike any we’ve seen in recent years—I imagine many of us are eager for spring!

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and commitment to our students' success. Let’s make the rest of this semester a great one!

Warm regards,
Ms. O’Neill

February 11 Dual Enrollment Meeting (Zoom . . . see info below)

February 12 Meet a Pro (Lunch/Auditorium)

February 17 No School (President's Day)

February 21 Black History Month Assembly

February 22 CHS Cabaret

February 28 Early Release

Please join Mr. Garofalo for a Zoom information meeting regarding Dual Enrollment options for students. The main goal is for families and interested students to better understand Dual nErollment (benefits, requirements, testing, and next steps). Although Jumpstart to College is the focus, other programs will also be outlined. Please see info here.

The virtual meeting is on Tuesday, February 11th (6:00 -7:00 pm).

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/s/84268066046

Dear Clarksburg HS families:

We thank you so much for all of your support to the PTSA so far. We understand many of us may be facing numerous challenges and we need all of us to rally together as a community.

We hope we can gain your support to complete this quick survey so we can understand how best to proceed for After Prom 2025. We rebuilt the program after covid as we understand its importance to our students and the community. After Prom was established in this area due to a tragedy involving students and impaired driving after leaving prom. Teen driving accidents and fatalities also increase during prom and graduation season. We hope we can continue this program and provide a fun and safe environment for our juniors, seniors, and their guests.

The survey link is here, and also shown on the flyer:

https://bit.ly/CHSPTSAAfterPromSurvey2025

The survey is open until February 10, 2025. We appreciate your attention and support, and we look forward to teaming up with you to create a memorable event for our students.

Thank you so much and kind regards,

The CHS PTSA After Prom 2025 Team

We Want to Hear From You!

Families, please take three minutes to fill out this Clarksburg Cluster Input Form (English) to help inform the ongoing collaborative efforts of Clarksburg Cluster Coordinators and our cluster schools. Clarksburg Cluster Input Form (Spanish).

Free Webinar "Little Know Secrets of Paying for College"

Want to learn key strategies to save for college? Join the Clarksburg community and the College Funding Coach for a free online webinar on 2/6 @ 6:30 p.m. about the "Little Known Secrets of Paying for College". See flyer here to register.

Congratulations to the Science Olympiad teams on their competition Saturday. This group was organized by student leader Shivom P. and supported by Dr. Smith and Mrs. Yu. After a semester of dedicated preparation, the team showcased their engineering projects, including an air trajectory device, a helicopter, and a robot designed to navigate a predetermined course. Additionally, other team members have been diligently preparing resource materials and studying for events such as forensic science, geological mapping, and optics.

Team Members: Ratan H, Rishan R, Priyam A, Shivom P, Pradyumna D, Ranesh Y, Sanjana C, Nidhi N, Shreeya M, Sidhant S, Abhilesh P, Aadit S, Vineet K, Rishi B, Chakradhar N, Vihaan C.

Ms. Gina Miller secured a grant to fund a 9th-grade field trip to the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, where students will experience a live performance of Romeo and Juliet, deepening their understanding of Shakespearean literature.

Ms. Anita O'Neill received a grant to support the Young Entrepreneur’s Accelerator (YEA) in partnership with Double M Studios. This 15-week lunchtime program will provide aspiring entrepreneurs with hands-on experience in business development, guiding them through key concepts and the creation of a business plan. (The program was scheduled to start February 12; however, February 19 is the new start date.)

These grants will provide valuable opportunities for CHS students to engage in experiential learning beyond the classroom.