Northwest News

Dear Northwest High School Families,

Happy Labor Day! This is just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow, Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor Day. It was great to have our over 2,300 students back in the building, our first Pep Rally of the year as well as several athletics contests last week. It was a great first week!

Are you interested in earning SSL hours? Do you speak multiple languages? Lakelands Park Middle School is offering SSL hours to any student willing to support with translation services during their Back to School Night this Wednesday, September 4. Sign-up using this link.

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 $40/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 $89/exam.

• 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.

Don't forget to mark you calendars for Back to School Night which is this Thursday, September 5. More details below.

In this week's newsletter, you will find a reminder about our Back to School Night this week, 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, parking permit information, an opportunity to join the Principals' Advisory Council, our college and career updates, information regarding the upcoming College Fair, an opportunity to attend a college readiness seminar, various FAFSA workshops, a way to buy spirit gear to support the NW after prom, things to know from MCPS for Thursday, August 29, and the athletics and event schedule for the week.

There are some important reminders including the upcoming Latina Legacy conference, the administrator and counselor assignments for the year, the administrative duties chart, the Free Store, Class of 2028 elections information, the upcoming Activities Fair, a call to support our Booster Club, a call for submitting photos for this year's yearbook, the arrival and dismissal procedures, parentVue resource, a call for parents to join our parent councils, ways to join the PTSA and Booster Clubs, College T-Shirt Tuesdays, and ways to buy Class spirit gear!

We thank you for your continued support and trust. Have a safe holiday and let's make it a great week!

Our annual Back-to-School Night will be on the evening of Thursday, September 5. The evening will begin at 5:30 pm with a Community Information Fair in the hallway between the main office and the auditorium. The PTSA, Booster Club, and various other student and parent groups will have tables containing information about student activities and ways that parents can become involved in the life of the school. After the Community Information Fair, there will be a brief welcome in the auditorium at 6:30 pm, and then you will have an opportunity to visit each of your child's classes. Northwest Ambassadors will be available to assist you in locating specific classrooms. The program will conclude by 9:00 pm. Based on previous experience, parking will be very tight. Please arrive early and carpool if at all possible.

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.

Parking permit applications and payment will be accepted by the Business Office, Room 322, before school (7:25–7:40 a.m.), during lunch (11:10–11:56 a.m.), or after school (2:30–2:45 p.m.). Students must not have any outstanding financial obligations to the school and must be academically eligible (2.0 cumulative GPA with no more than one E) to be eligible for a parking permit. The price for a full year parking permit is $78.00 (processing fee included) payable by cash, check (made out to Northwest High School), or online using a credit card through SchoolCash Online. To pay online, a link will be sent to the student’s school email once the application has been received and approved for eligibility.

During the first three weeks of school (August 26-September 13), students may use any parking space in the lower parking lot. All approved parking permits will be distributed to students before school, during lunch, or after school in front of the Business Office, Room 322, on September 12 and 13. Beginning Monday, September 16, all cars driven by students must display a valid 2024-2025 parking permit and be parked in the student’s assigned space. Cars that are parked in the incorrect space or that do not have a valid parking permit may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.

The focus of the PAC is to give students regular opportunities to provide important input and feedback to the principal on policy and climate issues facing our school and to weigh in on decisions that impact us all as members of our school community. All students, regardless of previous leadership experiences or GPA, are invited to apply.

In order for the PAC to be successful, we need a wide range of voices represented. Most PAC meetings will be held during the school day through Jag PAWS time or during lunch. On some rare occasions, an after-school meeting may be required. If you would like to be considered for membership on the 2023-2024 PAC, please complete this brief application. Applications are due by October 4, 2024. All members will be notified by October 25, 2024.

UMD College Park Fall Open House: On October 11, 2024, students can attend Fall Open House. This daylong event is geared toward high school juniors/seniors and transfer students. Registration required.

TERRAPIN TOUR: A 60–90-minute student-led campus tour. Terrapin Tours are geared toward prospective high school and transfer students, this tour is 60-90 minutes long. Registration required.

MARYLAND INFORMATION SESSION: A brief presentation from an admission representative followed by a student-led campus walking tour. This visit is approximately 2 hours and geared toward prospective high school and transfer students. Registration required.

SELF-GUIDED AUDIO TOUR: An alternative way to visit campus when other options reach capacity or are otherwise unavailable is our self-guided walking tour. See the iconic sights of the University of Maryland at your own pace with your phone as your guide.

NEW: Quince Orchard High School is hosting its annual College Fair on Monday, September 30th, at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. This event is open to the MCPS community. Meet over 50 college representatives and learn about college applications, admissions requirements, scholarship opportunities, and more! Click HERE to see a list of colleges attending. Contact Ms. Romero at Lisa_D_Romero@mcpsmd.org or (240) 740-3670 with any questions.

REMINDER: Women Graduates-USA (WG-USA) is a national organization of university women graduates devoted to fostering educational opportunities for girls and women around the world and is the U.S. affiliate of Graduate Women International which has members in over 60 countries.

Women Graduates-USA invites young girls from grades 9-12 to a seminar session on college-readiness called “The Naviance Program”. WG-USA will co-host this event with the Montgomery County Public Schools District. The seminar will be held on Friday evening, September 27th, 2024. “The Naviance Program” is targeted to students who desire to go to college and need guidance, information and mentorship to help them. “The Naviance Program” will support students as they explore and develop their postsecondary plans. The program addresses four key areas of college and career readiness:

• Self-Discovery – “Who Am I? Students find college and career pathways that are right for them.
• Career Exploration – “What Do I Want to Be? Students realize their strengths, goals, skills, knowledge, and interests to help them make better academic decisions.
• Academic Planning – “How Will I Get There?” Students connect academic achievement with long-term goals.
• College and Career Preparation – “Will I Be Successful?"

REGISTER FOR THIS FREE SEMINAR HERE. Please send your QUESTIONS to Blessing Asuquo-Ekpo, blessing.asuquoekpo@gmail.com.

NEW from College Board: SAT Fee Waiver Student Self-Identification. Students who are eligible for fee waivers can now request them directly from the College Board. Requests must be initiated 1-2 weeks before the registration deadline.

REMINDER! It is that time of year – letters from the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) start arriving. Please know that the counselors and/or school staff at Northwest High School have not nominated your son or daughter, because this organization is for-profit. We support the National Honor Society (NHS) which has a chapter at Northwest High School and is non-profit. The National Honor Society (NHS) is respected and honored by colleges and universities.

Here is some basic information: The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) is a for-profit national organization established in 2002. Their website states that “NSHSS is a distinguished academic honor society, committed to recognizing and serving the highest-achieving student scholars in more than 26,000 high schools across 170 countries. With access to valuable resources and a network of more than 2 million exceptional peers spanning high school to college and career, NSHSS scholars embody academic dedication and outstanding leadership in their schools, workplaces, and communities.” NSHSS is operated from a corporate office in Atlanta, Georgia and invites you to explore the benefits of membership.

Recognitions such as NSHSS, often referred to as Vanity Awards, should be checked out thoroughly before a payment is made to the organization. It should also be noted that joining NSHSS, or similar types, will not cast a student in a more favorable light or give them any advantage in the college application process.

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 Law Enforcement Apprentice Program! Send your resume to:

Police.VRS@montgomerycountymd.gov

Click HERE for more information! Must be 16 to apply.

NEW VOLUNTEERS IN POLICING (VIP)!

For more information, visit: www.joinmcp.com

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)

FAFSA rollout for the Class of 2025 is anticipated to be December 1. More to come on FAFSA and financial aid upcoming seminars!

College Career Calendar → High School Visits:

Northwest High School visits with admissions representatives are open to all grades with priority given to the senior class (based on seating availability).

Students register for all high school college career visits through their Naviance account. Once a student is registered for a visit an email is sent to the student’s mcpsmd.net account. This email should be shown to teachers requesting permission to attend (print or on your electronic device). Students should request to leave their current class AND let the teacher know they may be late to the class they will return to. Visits are scheduled based on the availability of our admissions representatives and our class bell schedules.

When attending a visit, students scan a QR-Code linked to a Google form for attendance. This form lists the student’s information, the visit information, and the period teachers (from and to). This information goes directly to the attendance office.

For virtual visits, students can bring their Chromebook and headphones to the College Career Information Center (Room 126) to log on for the visit. Virtual visit links are sent the evening before the visit to students who registered. Students can request permission from a teacher to remain in class and log in. QR-Codes are scanned if the student attends a virtual visit in the College Career Information Center.

Students who attend Montgomery College and do not have a college class during the visit time are welcome to attend. Based on the honor system, there is no attendance taken for those students.

If there is ever a question or concern, please reach out to: Rochelle_Davis@mcpsmd.org.

• Mount Saint Mary’s University on Monday, September 16 @ 9:40 am
• McDaniel College on Monday, September 16 @ 10:30 am
• Moravian University on September 16 @ 12:06 pm
• Purdue University on September 17 @ 8:45 am
• University of Maryland College Park on September 17 @ 9:40 am
• Pratt Institute VIRTUAL on September 18 @ 10:45 am @ https://pratt.zoom.us/j/9272587480
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor on September 19 @ 9:40 am
• Columbia University on September 19 @ 10:30 am
• Pace University on September 19 @ 12:05 pm

Don’t Miss Back-to-School Night!

All schools are holding Back-to-School Nights in the upcoming weeks. This can be a wonderful opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and staff, find out more about what your student will be learning in class and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Find your school’s event date and time.

Learn More About Superintendent’s Fall Community Engagement Sessions

As part of Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s entry plan, he will be meeting with as many stakeholders as possible to learn more about the Montgomery County community and to build lasting relationships. Part of this includes upcoming listening sessions at three schools. They are set for:

• Monday, Sept. 16, Poolesville High School, 7–8 p.m.

• Wednesday, Sept. 18, Richard Montgomery High School, 7–8 p.m.

• Monday, Sept. 23, Montgomery Blair High School, 7–8 p.m.

More details are coming soon.

Welcoming Students to the 2024–2025 School Year

WATCH VIDEO

MCPS opened its doors on Aug. 26 to more than 160,000 students, welcoming them to the 2024–2025 school year. This year marks an exciting new chapter with the arrival of Dr. Thomas Taylor, our new superintendent. We want to thank you for sending in so many great photos from your first day at school; if you haven’t seen it, make sure to check out our photo gallery.

Mark Your Calendars!: Opening Day for Girls’ Flag Football

Sept. 4 is opening day for the inaugural girls’ flag football season! All 25 MCPS high schools will field teams and participate in opening day festivities that will be conducted at four locations across the county. Ceremonies will be conducted with support from the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders. The schedule and locations are below:

Host Site

Richard Montgomery HS

Wootton HS

3:30 - Game #1

Sherwood at Rockville

Poolesville at Walter Johnson

5:00 - Opening Day Ceremony

5:45 - Game #2

Springbrook at Einstein

Northwest at Quince Orchard

7:00 - Game #3

Gaithersburg at RM

Clarksburg at Wootton

Host Site

Paint Branch HS

Seneca Valley HS

3:30 - Game #1

Kennedy at Blake

B-CC at Damascus

5:00 - Game #2

Wheaton at Magruder

Whitman at Watkins Mill

6:15 - Opening Day Ceremony

7:00 - Game #3

Blair at Paint Branch

Churchill at Seneca Valley

Additional information is available on the Girls’ Flag Football website, including an overview of the season schedule.

Be Aware of Safety Updates Ahead of Fall Sports Opening Night on Sept. 5

MCPS is committed to promoting a safe and welcoming environment for student-athletes, coaches, spectators and our communities. Opening night for the fall sports season is Thursday, Sept. 5. The MCPS Athletics Safety Plan will drive operations and procedures for athletic events. To begin the season, all varsity football games and other large events will operate in Tier 1 of the safety plan. Tier 1 actions include:

• Students of the participating schools will be allowed to attend with a valid ticket and by presenting their student ID or StudentVue verification of their schedule. All other school-aged spectators must be accompanied by an adult chaperone—this includes all elementary and middle school students and high school students from other schools—adult chaperones must stay and supervise students for the duration of their stay at the game.
• Students and spectators must sit in the stands during the game. While there will be potential gatherings at halftime and postgame, gatherings will not be allowed during the game.
• There is no re-entry to events. Spectators will not be admitted after halftime (or halftime of the second game of a doubleheader).
• Backpacks are not allowed.

To prepare for the season, students should ensure that they have their student ID or other StudentVue verification of their schedule to get in to games. Elementary and middle school students and high school students from other schools (not the participating schools) must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, who must stay and supervise students for the duration of their stay at the game.

Please find the breakdown of the counselor and administrator assignments for the 2024-2025 school year here. Do not hesitate to reach out to your student's counselor and/or administrator with any question/concern.

To see the complete list of roles and responsibilities for the 2024-2025 Northwest Administrative team, refer to this document. Families, if you have any questions regarding each respective aspect of the roles and responsibilities of the administrative team, please reach out to them directly.

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.

The school will be open at 7:00 a.m. every morning and unless staying after school for an extracurricular activity, students are expected to exit by 2:45 p.m. daily.

If students are arriving by car, they must be dropped off at the lower gym lobby entrance until 7:45am. After 7:45 am, car riders must be dropped off at the upper main entrance. Students who walk to school may arrive at the main entrance or the gym lobby. All buses will drop students off at the upper main entrance. Please note that these procedures are the same for dismissal in the afternoon.

Families, please remember to adhere to the speed limit on Richter Farm Road. Additionally, please do not let students out of your vehicles on Richter Farm Road. We want everyone to arrive to school safely.

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