Greetings QOHS Community,

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” (Coretta Scott King)

I would like to again applaud the amazing teachers and support staff at Quince Orchard High School. Celebrating you during Teacher’s/Staff Appreciation week could never fully demonstrate my appreciation for the work that you do every day in the name of excellence in education. Last week's celebrations would not have been made possible without the support and thoughtfulness of our PTSA, Booster Club, and other members of our school community. On behalf of the QOHS staff I want to say thank you. Your generosity and the many hours you put into making last week's events memorable is truly commendable. Your involvement directly impacts the work we do to meet the educational and social needs of our students. You have a way of bringing a bright light and positive energy when our work seems most challenging. You make a difference in the best way possible.

I must also acknowledge that these awesome volunteers are QOHS mothers. I want to wish a very Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, caregivers, guardians, and grandmothers in the QOHS community and beyond. I hope this day of honor and gratitude brought you great joy! Your nurturing love and guidance truly lay the foundation for students to grow, learn & succeed.

Testing continues this week. Please make sure students are aware of testing locations ahead of time, and that students who are not testing are familiar with the modified schedule. We are not ringing bells this week due to testing, so it’s important that students are mindful of moving from class to class in a timely manner.

We have a little over a month left of school. As a reminder, the school year has been extended, and students' final day is June 17, 2025. Let’s finish strong!

With appreciation,

Dr. Lee Evans

Interim Principal

NO BELLS this week - AP Testing all week - schedule & details are linked below:

• Monday 5/12: Algebra 1 MCAP Testing - MODIFIED SCHEDULE (see below)
• Tuesday 5/13: Algebra 1 MCAP Testing - MODIFIED SCHEDULE (see below)
• Thursday 5/15: MAP M Testing during Algebra Classes
• Friday 5/16:
• MAP M Testing during Algebra Classes
• Interims Distributed

**Looking forward to the week of 5/19-5/23/25, there are a number of upcoming awards ceremonies and seniors last day of school is May 23, 2025! More details to follow in next Sunday's newsletter!

QO Families and Students,

This is a reminder that students enrolled in Algebra 1 will be taking the MCAP Algebra 1 Exam this Monday and Tuesday. This assessment is a graduation requirement.

Here's what students need to know:

✅ Testing Dates: Monday May 12th , Tuesday May 13th

✅ Testing Time: Please arrive by 7:45; testing begins promptly. If students arrive late, they will need to sit in the cafeteria until testing is over.

✅ Location: Check below for your assigned room. If you do not see your name, please email Ms. Ross or Ms. Gardner immediately with your name and ID number.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dMAi0M8MQqBoXEfkRweXLFQnjNo8b_Vh8tSkVlWj90g/edit?usp=sharing

✅ What to Bring:

• Charged MCPS Chromebook.
  
• No smartwatches, phones, or electronic devices allowed during testing.

Reminder: Get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and be on time.

Thank you for your continued support as we help students meet their goals.

Take your musical talent to the next level and join the QO Marching Cougars! The QO Marching Cougars are an integral part of the QO Red Army! Join our family for a musically rewarding experience! Our season starts in August, and is full of football games, pep rallies,

competitions, and more events all the way through November! If you would like to register, please scan the QR code below or use this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScConP4CkukLnhc1a1gaZqMKFIwPMII957F_fRsi4leHnYJjQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Click the link to view countywide SSL opportunities for May!

May 2025 SSL Opportunities

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 and go through this information: https://tinyurl.com/5bbwnsf2

Remember that you MUST use an MCPS Chromebook for all digital and hybrid exams. In addition, you cannot use Google Chrome or your phone to log into College Board. When using the Bluebook app on your Chromebook, you must have your login email and password memorized. You may write it down on a 3x5 or 4x6 notecard but nothing else can be written on that card.

Also remember that no drinks except water in a clear water bottle (must be “see through”) are allowed into any testing location. We will provide snacks and water during breaks. Make sure to look at the slides related to what to bring and what not to bring from the One-Pager.

Please note that hats, caps, and other head coverings will not be allowed in testing except for medical or religious exceptions. Also take note of the slides on what to bring and what not to bring to the exam(s).

Email QO AP Coordinator Chris Campbell with any questions at Christopher_G_Campbell@mcpsmd.org.

See you soon!

Chris Campbell (he/his)

Quince Orchard HS

AP Program Coordinator

SENIORS! There is still time to send your future plans (college, military, employment, etc. and intended major, if applicable) to The Prowler to be listed in our annual Senior Issue.

Submit your information to QOHSprowler@gmail.com or to Ms. Cooley-Klein at megan.m.cooley-klein@mcpsmd.net

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

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

All students are invited to apply to the State's Attorney's Office Summer Academy. The week-long academy will be offered twice at the Circuit Court in Rockville Town Center — June 23-27 and July 21-25.

The application must include an essay written by the student describing why the student wants to attend the academy. The selection process is competitive rather than first-come, first-served. See the attachment below for more information.

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.

All seniors are required to complete the Senior Exit Survey.

Seniors, submit your survey no later than May 25!

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.

Mon 5/12 Girls Lacrosse Region Finals vs. Whitman at QO 6:00pm

Mon 5/12 Boys and Girls Tennis Region Quarterfinals at Walter Johnson HS 3:15pm

Tue 5/13 Boys and Girls Tennis Region Semifinals at Walter Johnson HS 3:15pm

Wed 5/14 Boys and Girls Tennis Region Finals at Walter Johnson HS 3:15pm

Tue 5/13 and Wed 5/14 Track and Field Region Meet at Seneca Valley HS 4:00pm

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.

There are no more Booster, PTSA or NAACP-PC meetings for the remainder of the year. Please make sure you join our amazing organizations and help support our students, staff & community for the 2025-26 school year. See the post above regarding open positions & who to contact to join!

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

Parkland Middle School Educator Wins MCPS Teacher of the Year

Megan Campbell, instrumental music teacher at Parkland Middle School, was named the 2025–2026 MCPS Teacher of the Year during the Distinguished Service to Education Honors celebration earlier this week. She will go on to compete for Maryland Teacher of the Year. Paraeducator John Sparrow was named Supporting Services Employee of the Year, and German Diaz-Peña, a senior at Rockville High School, won the Board of Education’s Student Service Award.

A number of other MCPS staff members and community members were also recognized for excellence and commitment. Read more.

Watch a video replay of the evening and see photos from the event.

Join Us for “Counted Out” Documentary on May 13

The MCPS PreK-12 Mathematics team, in partnership with Montgomery County’s NAACP Parent Council and The Black and Brown Coalition, will host a free screening and panel discussion of the documentary, “Counted Out,” from 6:15-9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13. This documentary explores the need to reform math education to address societal issues, follows the math crisis, and investigates causes and effects for math illiteracy. There will be food provided.

The screening will be held at 15 West Gude Drive, Suite 100 in Rockville. Space is limited; registration is required. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion of the implications raised concerning access to mathematical proficiency and how the newly proposed Maryland Mathematics Policy intends to address them. Register.

More information

Job Fair for Bus Drivers Set for May 16

MCPS is hosting a job fair for bus drivers from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16. The fair will be held at the Department of Transportation, 16651 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville.

To become a bus driver, the minimum qualifications are:

• Must be at least 21 years old.

• Have a clean driving history; no more than one point on driver’s license.

• Have at least three years of driving experience, with at least one year driving in the U.S.

• Ability to meet all pre-service training and testing requirements.

Interested candidates are invited to create a profile on the MCPS Careers portal. They can also receive help with this during the event. For more information, call 240-740-6080.

Reminders

High School Programs Survey: Be sure to check your email for a survey MCPS is conducting to ensure that high school students have equitable access to high-quality academic programs that reflect student needs. Some programs are available at students' home schools, while others require travel. This survey is collecting input to help decide which programs should be available to all students within a reasonable distance. Learn more about the High School Academic Programs Analysis. Take the survey.

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. More information

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. Special Education Family Resource Fair Flyer, 2025

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. The event is appropriate for all ages, with dozens of activities and community partners to visit for giveaways and prizes.

Gaithersburg Book Festival: Set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. Shuttles from the Shady Grove Metro and the Montgomery County Fairgrounds are free. This event will feature more than 100 authors for talks, panel discussions, programs, workshops for children, teens and adults, and activities to promote interest in reading, writing and illustrating.

The Latest from the News Page

• Did your school make the list?: MCPS adds 12 new Green Schools; four schools recertify.

• Watch how John F. Kennedy High School teacher Kendra Smith is fostering relationships using intergenerational techniques.

• From Rockville High School to the End of the Earth! Read where teacher Krista McKim is off to this fall.

• Read about the graduating seniors honored by the Montgomery County Alliance of Black School Educators.

• Watch how Jones Lane Elementary School celebrates school pride and positivity through an original song and music video.

• Stay tuned to our News Page for more stories this week.

MCPS Website Maintenance

The MCPS website will be undergoing routine maintenance around 10 p.m. on Friday, May 9, and will be unavailable for a short period of time.

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

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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