Ridgeview Review Weekly

I hope everyone has had a restful weekend. As I stated in my previous email this afternoon, a few Ridgeview students received a text warning them of a possible school shooting taking place tomorrow. The threat, which was very general and provided no specifics, claimed that there could be a shooting at our school on Monday. We immediately informed the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and MCPS Safety and Security to investigate the matter. MCPD began an investigation, and their investigation is ongoing at this time.

Out of an abundance of caution, we will have extra security at school throughout the day for additional support. Further, we have formally requested that we have a police presence at our school tomorrow. We will continue to work with our police partners to determine the validity of these rumors and continue to support our school with essential safety measures.

Safety and security is our number one priority, and I will provide additional updates as they are brought to me. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact me at Daniel_Miller@mcpsmd.org.

We are in need of a NAACP Parent Representative. Our Parent Rep will join a districtwide network of parents, who work in individual schools, and system-wide to facilitate effective engagement, communication, and advocacy among parents of color and increase the academic achievement of students of color. Additional responsibilities are below:

• Working to help parents be more effective advocates individually and collectively.
• Working to have the voice of students heard by teachers and parents.
• Supporting a school and classroom environment based on restorative practices.
• Supporting and increasing BIPOC participation in School Improvement Process planning (SIP)
• Working to increase understanding of teaching practices that are informed by their impact on equity, including mitigating students’ fight and flight response.

If interested or would like more information, please contact our main office at 240-740-3330.

National Walk and Roll to School Day is Wednesday, October 9, 2024. We encourage students, families, and staff to walk and/or bike to school to commemorate this very healthy and safe alternative to traveling to school. More information is available at the following website: https://www.walkbiketoschool.org/.

MCPS recently sent out information regarding appropriate student speech and expression. The message has been linked HERE for your review. The message includes important resources, including how MCPS handles incidents involving hate bias. We speak with students regularly about the power of words/images and stress the importance of inclusion and cultural awareness and empathy. Our students are very receptive to these messages and will engage in lessons during upcoming Bobcat Boost sessions. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please contact our main office at 240-740-3330.

We’re excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Ridgeview Middle School, and we invite parent volunteers to be a part of this vibrant and meaningful event! From September 16th to October 15th, we will host a series of activities and presentations during the school day and after school, that highlight the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Hispanic community.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to help with cultural displays, interactive activities, and classroom discussions, creating an engaging and educational experience for our students. Your involvement will not only enrich our celebration, but also foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Hispanic cultures within our school community.

If you’re passionate about sharing your heritage or simply want to contribute to this special month, we would love to have you on board. Please contact Mrs. Wanakee Sheku (Wanakee_R_Sheku@mcpsmd.org) to sign up or for more information.

Let’s make this Hispanic Heritage Month a memorable and impactful experience for all our students!