Springbrook Weekly Digest

Greetings, Students, Staff, and Families,

Welcome back to another edition of the Springbrook Weekly Digest! I hope you had a splendid weekend. This is week 7 of marking period 4. Interims for grades 9 -11 students will be available on Synergy Wed, May 22, 2024. Remember schools are closed on, Mon, May 27th, in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday.

LAST DAY OF ACTIVITY BUSES

The last day of activity buses is Thurs, May 23rd. Students, parents, and caregivers, please ensure your student has a safe way home should they remain after school for clubs, athletic training, and workouts.

AP and IB EXAMS CONTINUE THIS WEEK

We administer several make up AP exams this week. All testing students received information regarding their testing sessions. Students, parents and caregivers, please click here to refer to the schedule for week for upcoming AP and IB examinations.

CLASS OF 2024

Senior Updates:

• Senior obligations are due May 20, 2024.
• Seniors return Chromebooks and chargers in English and ELD classes on Wed, May 22nd and Thurs, May 23rd.
• The last day for seniors is May 24, 2024. All work should be submitted by students in the Class of 2024 by this date.
• Graduation rehearsal is at 7:30 AM on Mon, June 3rd.

LAST PTSA MEETING - TUES, MAY 21, 2024

The PTSA last's meeting for school year 2023-2024 will be held in the media center on Tues, May 21st at 6:30 PM. Light refreshments will served. During this meeting elections for our new PTSA Board members will take place. Elections for the following positions are available:

• President
• Vice President
• Treasurer
• Secretary

If interested in running for a position, please email springbrookptsa@gmail.com. Additionally, please visit here for detailed position descriptions. Finally, Ms. Maria Fernanda Villarroel, Career Coach will also present to parents/caregivers. Please spread the word!

SUMMER SCHOOL 2024 INFO

MCPS offers Regional Summer School and Central Summer School. Please read the segment on summer school and contact your student's counselor for more registration information.

Please click English or Spanish versions to access more details regarding summer school and contact your student's counselor for additional information.

Please view the Table of Contents to review what's in this issue of the SWD.

Warm regards,

Stephanie Valentine

Principal

Springbrook High School

@springbrookprinc

As the nation approaches Memorial Day, Americans prepare to honor the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to this country. Observed annually on the last Monday of May, this occasion holds signicant cultural and historical importance, serving as a reminder of bravery and selfishness displayed by countless inidividiuals throuhout Unitied States history. As a reminder schools are closed for students and staff on Monday, May 27, 2024.

During the month of May we raise awarness of and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues, as well as highlight how illness and addiction may affect individuals, families, and society at large.

This month we recognize the achievements and the influence of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander Americans whose ingenutiy, courage, and perseverance have contributed to the great American experiment.

Acclaimed Amercian arts leader and choreogrpher Edwaard Liang is the first person of color and first Asian American to lead a major American ballet company. Liang is the Artistic Director of the Washington Ballet Company, DC. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, and raised in Marin County, California, Liang began his dance training at age five with Marin Ballet. After studying at the School of American Ballet, he joined New York City Ballet in 1993. In 2001, Liang joined the Tony Award winning Broadway cast of Fosse. Over the last decade, he has created work for the Bolshoi Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Kirove Ballet, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, Singapore DanceTheatre, and Washington Ballet.

Students of the Class of 2025, now is the time to work to apply for an internship or apprenticeship for the SY2024-2025. All sessions will occur during lunch and students must bring their chromebooks. See the flyer for the Friday, dates, and locations during the lunch block.

Ms. Nicole Brown, Internship Coordinator, consistently thinks of creative ways to advantage our Springbrook students. Ms. Brown connects hundreds of students each year with apprenticeships and internships. However, many students must apply for their Maryland state driver's license or take the Maryland permit driving test. To mitigate this challenge and provide opportunities for students to be eligible to drive to apprenticeships and internships, Ms. Brown has partnered with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to provide onsite permit (pen/paper) examinations at the Brook.

• Interested Apprenticeship and Intership students and additional students should see Ms. Brown in G202 to pick up a field trip form.
• Students must be 15 and 9 months by May 20, 2024
• The opportunity is limited to the first 60 internship or apprenticeship students (first come, first served)
• Examination will take place on Wed, May 29 at 2:30 PM in TR2

Juniors interested in the Urban Alliance paid full-year internship must register here and attend the following virtual information sessions:

• Monday, May 14 - 4:00 - 4:30 PM
• Monday, May 28 - 4:00 - 4:30 PM

Zoom Information:
Meeting ID: 823 5175 9746
Passcode: 495403
Link:https://theurbanalliance-org.zoom.us/j/82351759746?pwd=a09yeXh4Y3RJOGlrTkp1UElwbFFsQT09&from=addon

Congratulations to Coach Tyrone Hines and the Varsity Boys Tennis team for being Division Champions. Senior Chandler Cloman qualified for regional singles and seniors Rishan Ganger and Noah Oppelt qualified for regional doubles. We are very proud of the talented Springbrook Boys Tennis team's showing for the 2023-2024 school year.

Pictured left to right: Haile Hemmings, Chandler Cloman, Rishan Ganger, Natna Zena, and Elias England.

On Fri, May 19th, four senior athletes were celebrated at athletic signing day at Springbrook High School. The following students will continue their athletic careers at their respective colleges of intent.

• Ricky Dixon - Wrestling at McDaniel College
• Christel Emmanuel - Soccer at Penn State Abington
• Christian Miles - Men's Basketball at Montgomery College
• Naiya Wood - Women's Basketball at Penn State Lehigh Valley

Pictured left to right: Christian Miles, Naiya Wood, Christel Emmanuel, and Ricky Dixon.

We look forward to celebrating an exciting and successful year in Springbrook sports! Springbrook's Athletics Banquet will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024 beginning at 5:30 PM. ALL students who plan to attend HAD TO RSVP on Wed, May 15th.

Dinner will be from 5:30 - 6:30 PM in the Springbrook cafeteria, followed by the awards program at 6:30 in the auditorium. Anyone may attend the awards ceremony at 6:30pm in the auditorium.

• SIGN UP TO HELP AT THE EVENT: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D44A4A62E5-48338662-volunteers#/

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, and understanding the rationale for therapy dog visits, the Book of the Week is Understanding the Bond Between Humans and Pets, edited by Lisa Palltroni, Scientific Project Editor.

The book discusses the characteristics and behaviors of cats and dogs, and other animals that allow humans to create such a strong bond with them. It also looks at recent reseach on the advantages pets have on physical and mental health. Articles run anywhere from one to 16 pages, making it easier to accommodate different readers. Another strength of this book are the variety of viewpoints presented that feature articles particulary useful for classroom debate and discussion, (School Library Journal Review, Nov 1, 2023).

Seniors interested in showcasing a talent during graduation should audition on Monday, May 20th in D-107 during lunch. Students should prepare for one of the following areas:

• an original poem or speech - related to graduation or years in high school
• a musical selection

Senior Natna Zena is a Cornell University Scholar, receiving a full-ride at this Ivy League institution. Zena is a three-program student, having completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP), the Academy of Information Technology (AOIT), and the Justice, Law, and Society (JLS) program. Zena looks forward to attending Cornell Univerisity in the fall, majoring in biomedical engineering or public health. He hopes to effect change in public health in the arenas of government and non-government organizations and mitigate the health disparities in underserved communities. We are Blue Devil Proud of Natna!

Senior Omotola Alaofin is a John Hopkins University Scholar. Alaofin is a distinguished scholar who received the Government's Merit Award as she is in the top 5% of her graduating class. Alaofin also completed the SBHS NAF Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) program. This fall, Alaofin will attend the prestigious John Hopkins University on a 4-year scholarship, where she plans to major in molecular and cellular biology. In the future, Omotola intends to pursue her interest in becoming a doctor while conducting intervention research on diseases that impact disadvantaged communities. We are Blue Devil proud of Omotola!

Celebrations of honor ensued as over 150 Springbrook seniors received their honor cords, stoles, medals, and pins on Thurs, May 16, 2024, for completing one or multiple Signature and Pathway programs at Springbrook High School. Seniors completed the following college and career readiness programs at Springbrook High School:

Signature Programs

• International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
• Academy of Information Technology
• Project Lead the Way

Pathway Programs

• Child Development
• Hospitality Management and Tourism
• Justice, Law, and Society
• Visual and Performing Arts

International Baccalaureate Diploma honorees and recipients in stoles, medals, and pins

Academy of Information Technology honorees and recipients in NAF AOIT Medals.

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) honorees and recipients of honor cords and certificates of completion.

Child Development Progarm honorees and recipients in honor cords.

Hospitality Management and Tourism honorees and recipients in honor corrds.

Justice, Law, and Society honorees and recipients of honor cords.

Visual and Performing Arts honorees and recipients of honor cords.

Melat Ghrebralassie, Peter Palma, Vincent Vincent, and Kenneth Tanguilig.

Left to right: Brian Rozario, Bryce Powell, Kenneth Tanguilig, Robel, Finnan Beals-Simon, Justin Der, and Chandler Cloman.

Left to Right: Yoseph Zerihan, Fekir Seife, Hewan Zelalem, Omotola Alaofin, and Lydia Efrem.

Pictured left to right: Enoch Asare-Nkrumah, Eliana Tedros, and Izzy Lambos.

The Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation (MCPSEF) recognized more than 225 recipients of scholarships and awards, including the 2024 Ruth and Norman Rales-Patricia Baier O'Neill Scholarship Recognizing Academic Excellence. All recipients were honored at the Evening of Excellence celebration on Thurs, May 15, 2024. Springbrook High School has 13 Rales-O'Neil Scholars (See below.). The prestigious scholarship provides high-achieving MCPS graduating seniors $10,000 to support their post-secondary educational plans. Congatulations on your accomplishment Blue Devils!

The Springbrook PTSA makes us aware that Harris Teeter supports Springbrook High School when you use the school code at checkout.

1. Link your Harris Teeter VIC card to the Springbrook school code 1781 by visiting www. harristeeter.com, sign in to your profile and add 1781 to your account.

2. Use the school code at checkout.

Springbrook parents and caregivers, consider ordering native plants if you have an outdoor garden. Planting native plants is a beautiful way to promote environmental stewardship while supporting local wildlife. The National Wildlife Federation's Garden for Wildlife program has educated and empowered people to plant to save wildlife. Native plants provide vital food and shelter for local wildlife. Native plants build healthy soil, reduce water usage, and withstand local weather and pests.

Tuesday, April 16th, we will have our PTSA Meeting at 5:30PM in the Media Center with dinner catered by our Culinary Arts Department. Also, we will have a guest speaker, Ms. Maria Fernanda Villarroel, our Career Coach. Please join us and spread the word!

In need of tutoring. Please click the English or Spanish link to contact teachers who support tutoring opportunities at Springbrook High School.

Safety is extremely important to our Blue Devil Community!

Blue Devils if you've seen something concerning at school, please use this QR code to report the incident. Providing details, location, and timeframe is really helpful.