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Northwest News
Mr. Smith's Newsletter for the Northwest Community
Sunday, May 5, 2024
NEW: A Message from Mr. Smith
Northwest High School Families,
Happy Cinco de Mayo! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday evening. AP exams start tomorrow, Monday, May 6 and we have two (2) days of MCAP testing this week. It is important that everyone check out the newsletter for all the pertinent details.
This week is Staff Appreciation Week! While all the happenings for our AMAZING staff this week are listed in the flyer below, we ask our community to send a note of gratitude to thank our staff for all they do! You can do so by completing the form linked here. Your message will be emailed to the staff member directly.
Attention Senior Parents! This Tuesday, May 7, we are holding a Senior Parent Information Night at 7:00 in the auditorium. We will be sharing all the important end of the year information for our Class of 2024. We hope to see you there! *For any who cannot attend, we will be posting the slideshow on our website for review.*
The Senior Class Office has put together a Class of 2024 Commits page to highlight what our amazing Class of 2024 will do after graduation. Please view the page here: https://www.instagram.com/nwhscommits24 If a senior would like to submit to be highlighted, please fill out this form! The officers will post two to three a day to make sure everyone gets a chance to shine.
Spring Sports are almost done but the Booster Club still needs your help! Be sure to sign up to support our concessions during the season through this link.
There are many amazing things happening during the school day to support the learning of our students! At times, some students need some extra support to master new learning. MCPS has gathered resources that are free or low cost to families. These resources directly align with our curriculum used to teach our students each day. Let us know if you have any questions about your student’s academic progress. Family Resources
Yearbook Pictures are available for purchase. Please visit: vosphoto.com/uc use your student ID when prompted for the online code. For questions regarding school pictures, please email: underclass@vosphoto.com
Hall Sweeps are continuing and if a student is caught in a hall sweep more than once, they will be assigned an after-school detention. Prioritize regular, prompt attendance to all classes.
Interested in donating to our community? Click this link to support any of our families in need.
In this week's newsletter, you can find new and important items such as this week's Staff Appreciation celebrations, Jewish American Heritage Month, Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Class of 2024 Next Level Celebration, this week's College and Career Updates, the Naviance Senior Exit Survey, college workshop opportunities, information regarding the arrival of our Yearbooks, SGA & Class Officer Election results, Prom Court, Photo Boards, & Prom Music requests, things to know from MCPS for Thursday, May 2, and the athletics & activities schedule for this week.
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Amharic]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Chinese]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [French]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Korean]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Portuguese]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Spanish]
Remind Quick Guides for Parents [Vietnamese]
There are some important reminders including testing season information, summer events of Peace sponsored by the Street Outreach Network, our partnership with K&G for Prom attire, information about our Junior Jags program, our Junior/Senior Prom on May 17, a call for a Booster Club President and Concessions Manager, information regarding our upcoming Prom and After Prom Party, the free store, our graduation date for the Class of 2024, ways to join the PTSA and Booster Clubs, a call for parents to join our parent councils, College T-Shirt Tuesdays, and ways to buy Class spirit gear!
We thank you for your continued support and trust. Let's make it a great week!
This Week is Staff Appreciation Week!
Happy Jewish American Heritage Month!
Happy Asian American & Pacific Islander Month!
NEW: Class of 2024 Next Level Celebration!
We are collecting information from senior athletes who are moving on to compete in a sport in college. Linked below is a google form that MUST BE COMPLETED BY Friday May 10th by anyone who has committed to compete in a sport for a college or university. This means you have a formal agreement with the school. If you are playing NCAA Div 1, 2, or 3, NAIA, or have committed to a NJCAA school, we want to recognize you! If you are competing in a sport not represented at Northwest, we still want to recognize you. Please complete this form as soon as possible so I can begin planning. The event will take place on Monday, May 20th after school in the auditorium. Students participating in the event, as well as their coaches and families, will receive further communication at a later time.
Please complete this google form to register.
Please note- if you are planning to try to walk on to a program once you get to college, that is awesome! That's exactly what I did when I attended Slippery Rock University some time ago and joined the Softball team. Many schools and sports are reliant on walk-on athletes to complete their rosters, so don't feel like if you weren't recruited, your journey is already over! Once you get to campus, find out how it works at your school. If collegiate athletics isn't in your future, many schools offer teams at the club or intramural levels. Whatever you do, don't stop looking for opportunities to keep playing the sports you love!
NEW: College and Career Updates!
COLLEGE CAREER Community e-NEWS BULLETIN HIGHLIGHTS: View the complete e-NEWS Bulletin on the college career web page and click on the e-NEWS link for all details. Publication date: 05/03/2024. For details on all college career information and resources, visit the college career webpage. Questions? Reach out to Rochelle_Davis@mcpsmd.org
NEW College Career Summer Workshops: | MCPS College Preparedness Summer 2024 | Local Lineup
REMINDER: Senior Exit Survey: MCPS requires each high school to report the plans of their graduates and the total number of scholarships graduates were offered. The data is reported collectively and not by each individual graduate. Click HERE for survey instructions. The survey will be completed using Naviance. Please complete the survey by May 24.
REMINDER: Montgomery College visits Northwest on May 10 @ 10:30 am.
REMINDER: BOARD OF ELECTIONS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS: The Future Vote program is available to county students grades 6-12. Students must be able to speak, read and write the English language. Students with bilingual and American Sign Language skills are encouraged to apply. The initiative combines civic participation and the opportunity to observe democracy in action. Volunteers will earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for their service. Training is required for students and guardians. Details and volunteer expectations are provided at the training. Training dates and locations are provided during registration. | Post 17 April 2024 |
State Financial Aid Priority Deadline is Extended to May 15, 2024
MHEC anticipates that the first round of awards will be completed by May 1 including all eligible applicants who have completed a FAFSA by April 15.
Eligible applicants who have completed the FAFSA by May 1 are anticipated to be awarded by May 15.
Eligible applicants who complete the FAFSA by May 15 (i.e., priority deadline date) will be guaranteed to be awarded. Please Note: The Maryland Higher Education Commission’s proposed timeline is dependent on the U.S. Department of Education’s timeline and is subject to change.
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.
REMINDER: JOB POSTING: KIDspired Summer Camp is HIRING: My name is Justin Marshall, and I am the Camp Director of KIDspired Summer Camp, hosted at Wilson Wims Elementary School. We are excited to announce that we are currently seeking passionate and motivated individuals, aged 16 and up, to join our team as summer staff members.
Interested students should reach out to Justin Marshall @ JustinM@kidspiredllc.com.
Justin Marshall
KIDspired Summer Camp Director, KIDspired Events Coordinator
MyKIDspired.com, 240-429-3367
REMINDER: JOB POSTING: Temple Allen Industries, a small technology firm in Rockville, makes smart automation systems that sand airplanes for customers like Boeing and NASA. NOW hiring for summer internships!
We're looking to hire some students for full or part time work this summer annotating images for machine learning models that will be used in a real production environment. While the annotation task is fairly narrow, students will also learn about daily operations documentation and work completion procedures by using and reviewing documents such as Bills of Material (BoMs), Purchase Order Requests (PORs), etc. When time allows, and as appropriate, students may have the chance to support daily manufacturing operations or assist engineers in developing, building, or testing prototypes.
Ideal candidates will be current juniors or seniors with a track record of success with engineering, math, physics, or computer science coursework and experiences (e.g., robotics club, math club, coding contests, etc.).
| HS Junior Internship Description | HS Senior Internship Description | Candidates should send an email to "jobs@templeallen.com" with subject line "ML Intern-High School" and include a resume if they have one, and a cover letter explaining why they'd be both interested in and suitable for the experience.
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).
NEW SCHOLARSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
- NEW SCHOLARSHIP: MONTGOMERY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ACADEMIC POTENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP. Available to ONE NORTHWEST SENIOR planning to enroll full-time at Montgomery College (MC) in the fall of 2024. This is a NOMINATION for a full scholarship for graduating high school seniors and will cover the cost of up to 15 credits per semester at the county rate for the first year. The award is based on academic achievement and potential, not financial need. For consideration, students must have already applied to Montgomery College. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required. Nominees must plan to attend MC full time in fall of 2024 and spring of 2025. Use THIS FORM to Request Nomination. DEADLINE TO REQUEST NOMINATION IS MAY 16 (END OF SCHOOL DAY). | Post 1 May 2024 |
- NEW SCHOLARSHIP: IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE OF AMERICA ROCKVILLE CHAPTER Thomas W. Fisher Conservation & Environmental Studies Scholarship. IWLAR is offering six $2000 scholarships to qualified Montgomery County MD SENIORS. The Chapter’s Thomas W. Fisher Conservation Scholarships are awarded to young people studying conservation or environmentally related disciplines. Application includes a 500-word essay and two personal letters of recommendation. An unofficial transcript is also required. Visit the IWLAR website for the application and more information @ iwlar.org/scholarships-and-service-learning/. DEADLINE TO APPLY: JUNE 18 | Post 1 May 2024 |
SCHOLARSHIP REMINDERS: (for details on all opportunities listed below, download the latest Jag Scholarships Bulletin ‘Apply Now’ available on the web)
- SCHOLARSHIP REMINDER: Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association (MVMA) $1,000 Scholarship. SENIORS. Applicants must be Vietnamese American and residing in Maryland. Scholarship recipients will be required to participate in at least one MVMA community activity or outreach event in the upcoming academic year. Application includes official transcript, personal essay, and letters of recommendation. Questions should be directed to hoan.dang@vietnameseassociation.org. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: MAY 6; 5:00 PM EST | Posted 16 April 2024 |
- SCHOLARSHIP REMINDER: Rural Women’s Republican Club (RWRC) Scholarship. SENIORS currently attending Poolesville HS, Damascus HS, Clarksburg HS, Quince Orchard HS, Seneca Valley HS, or Northwest HS. Applicants must plan to pursue a vocational, trade school, or certification program, including certification from a community college during the 2024-2025 academic year. Essay required. $3,500 scholarship. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: MAY 17. | Post 16 April 2024 |
- SCHOLARSHIP REMINDER: KAPPA GAMMA CHAPTER ALPHA PI CHI NATIONAL SORORITY INC., SCHOLARSHIP: SENIORS. African American Female. Minimum 2.5 GPA. Scholarship application includes official high school transcript, two letters of recommendation, verification of community service, 500-word essay and recent photograph. $1,000. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: MAY 20 | Post 24 April 2024 |
- SCHOLARSHIP REMINDER: American College Foundation Visionary Scholarship Program. Available to high school students in ALL GRADES. $1,000. DEADLINE FOR ESSAY SUBMISSION: JUNE 1 | Post 24 April 2024 |
- SCHOLARSHIP REMINDER: Delegate Acevero Scholarship for high school graduates residing in Maryland District 39. SENIORS. Applicants should complete the FAFSA. Online application includes a short essay of 250 words or less (topic specific). Scholarships are reviewed on a rolling basis by a committee beginning April 10. Funds will begin disbursement by Mary 1. DEADLINE TO APPLY: OCTOBER 1, 2024 | Post 18 April 2024 |
NEW: The Yearbook is here!
Here is a sneak peak at the 2023-2024 Silver Paws Yearbook:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GxoZLcahGLyfxBc_3GUqusNW-fP4ppcq/view
Supplies are limited and going quickly!
Seniors can pick up preordered yearbooks at the Senior Signing Party on 5.23 after period two (2) in the stadium (rain=gym). There will be donuts, waters, and signing pens for all who attend.
A limited number of books are still for sale for $105 and can be purchased at Jostens.
Underclass distribution (and seniors unable to attend the Senior Signing Party) will begin on May 15 in room 112 during lunch and after school. Beginning on May 17, the books can be picked up in room 261.
Email dorothy.k.ellis@mcpsmd.net with questions.
NEW: Prom Court, Photo Boards, and Music Requests!
Prom is less than two weeks away! Be sure to buy your tickets on SchoolCash and pick them up before May 12. (The earlier, the better- less lines!) Review all Prom ticket info, as well as other important Senior information, in this presentation.
Below, we have a few opportunities for Seniors to make your last Prom special:
1. Prom Court: Please nominate your SENIOR classmates for this year’s prom court by Monday, May 6th. Prom attendees will vote on the two Prom Royalty winners once signing in at Prom. Winners will be announced at/after 9:30 pm.
Nominate your Prom Court here!
2. Photo Boards! and 3. Music Requests!
We want to compile photos of everyone's favorite senior year memories. Please share them with us at the link below!
You can also add some songs you'd like to hear at Prom for us to tell the DJ.
NEW: Things to Know from MCPS for Thursday, May 2
- Gaithersburg High School Educator Wins MCPS Teacher of the Year
Melissa Porter Parks, English Language Development resource teacher at Gaithersburg High School, was named the 2024–2025 MCPS Teacher of the Year during a celebration on May 1. She will now compete for Maryland Teacher of the Year. Also during the annual Champions for Children event, Bruno Smith, building service manager at Mill Creek Towne Elementary School, was named Supporting Services Employee of the Year. Read more.
2. May 6–10 is Teacher Appreciation Week!
MCPS wants to honor the amazing educators who have made an incredible impact on our students' lives. The role of a teacher is one of the most important and challenging jobs out there, and their hard work and dedication should be recognized. Join us next week as we say “Thank You” to our teachers. Watch this video to learn more about this year’s Teacher of the Year winner.
3. 2024 Graduation Schedule Available Online
High school commencement ceremonies will be held between Wednesday, May 29, and Wednesday, June 12. Graduation ceremonies will take place on individual high school campuses, at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., and on the campuses of Mount St. Mary’s University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Click here for graduation dates, locations and times for every high school.
4. Join Us At The Special Education Resource Fair
Don’t miss this year’s Special Education Family Resource Fair on Saturday, May 11 at Montgomery Blair High School. The free event will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., and is open to MCPS parents, staff and community members. The fair will include valuable resources from a variety of community resources and vendors, and fun children’s activities, including moon bounces, music, arts and crafts, and balloon artists.
Montgomery Blair is located at 51 University Blvd. East in Silver Spring.
Special Education Family Resource Fair, 2024
5. Free Out-of-School Time Coed Football Clinic on May 14
Students in grades 1-8 are invited to a free coed football clinic from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 when they are off from school. The clinic will be hosted by the 480 Club, in partnership with the MCPS Out-of-School-Time program at Laytonia Turf Field in Gaithersburg. The event will also feature food trucks, a DJ, special guests, autograph sessions and a photo booth.
Sessions by grade level:
Grades 1-5: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Grades 6-8: 1:30- 3:30 p.m.
RSVP here for elementary school students.
RSVP here for middle school students.
Laytonia Turf Field is located at 7300 Airpark Road in Gaithersburg.
6. Free Summer Coding Camp Available For Middle School Students
Montgomery Can Code’s summer camp is a free, weeklong camp open to MCPS rising 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Participants in the camp will learn to code with Swift, Apple’s easy-to-understand programming language used by professional developers to create world-class apps.
Register here or students can contact their school counselor.
7. School Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week
During School Nutrition Employee Appreciation week on April 29–May 3, MCPS is recognizing and saying thank you to the more than 800 Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) staff members who provide more than 90,000 meals daily in 211 schools. Learn more.
8. Getting Students College and Career Ready
Albert Einstein High School held its second annual Career Day earlier this spring. It is one of the many ways students can engage and learn from working professionals to become college and career ready. These opportunities not only support the MCPS strategic plan, but also the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation. Visit the Blueprint For Maryland’s website to learn more.
9. Spring Parent Academy Schedule Available
Families can stay engaged throughout the school year with Parent Academy TO GO. Parent Academy is designed to inform and empower families as advocates and partners in their children's education. Read more.
Upcoming Topics: Active Parenting Now! (Series); Positive Discipline; What’s Narcan? and more.
Visit the Parent Academy website for dates.
Registration is available here.
10. Safety Day To Offer Family Fun and Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Information
All families are invited to Safety Day on Saturday, May 11 in the Carver Educational Services Center (CESC) parking lot at 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. Safety Day will bring the community together to learn more about traffic safety in a fun and festive environment. Read more.
11. Don’t Miss the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 18
The Gaithersburg Book Festival, a celebration of books, writers and literary excellence, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. This year's author lineup includes Watkins Mill High School educator Sara Goodman Confino. Read more.
12. MCPS French Immersion Program Turns 50
The MCPS French Immersion program celebrated 50 years during an event on April 27 at Walt Whitman High School. The French Immersion program began at the former Four Corners Elementary School, and since then, has grown. There are now two schools in MCPS that have programs at the elementary level—Maryvale and Sligo Creek, and two that have programs at the middle school level—Gaithersburg and Silver Spring International. The MCPS program serves as a model and inspiration for immersion programs across the country. Check out the photo gallery.
Athletics and Activities Schedule for the Week of May 6 - May 12
REMINDER: Testing Season is here!
Northwest High School's spring testing season will begin, Thursday, April 4, 2024, and go through May 24, 2024. The state of Maryland has set the Spring MCAP (ELA 10 & Algebra 1) window for April 4th through May 24th and the HSA (Science & Government) window for May 1st through May 15th. College Board has scheduled AP exams during the first two weeks of May; that window is May 6th through May 17th. We have put together this memo that provides additional information regarding what the Spring testing season will look like at Northwest this year. Please take a moment to review the linked memo, and reach out to your child's counselor, Ms. Tara-Dee Henry, Ms. Nikki Morales, or Ms. Amy McClintock, our testing coordinators with any questions or concerns.
REMINDER: Prom is May 17!
Attention All Juniors/Seniors: Northwest High School invites Juniors and Seniors to attend this year's Met Gala Prom on Friday, May 17, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Pinstripes in North Bethesda. After Prom will be held at Northwest High School. The ticket price includes entrance into After Prom. You do not need a separate ticket to attend after prom. Your name will be on a list when you check in.
Ticket sales for Northwest students will be sold online only through SchoolCash Online (SCO) beginning April 22, 2024. (If you do not have an account set up already, please email Ms. Jacqueline Miller, financial specialist, at Jacqueline_N_Miller@mcpsmd.org.) Once tickets are purchased, students can pick up their ticket on one of the days listed in SCO when purchasing the ticket. In order for students to pick up tickets, all obligations must be cleared.
NWHS students can bring one Maryland high school guest to this event. Guest tickets can be purchased on ticket distribution days, and must bring a completed Guest Approval Form signed by parents/guardians and their school administrator, as well as a photocopy of their guests ID. Guest forms can be picked up in the Main Office. Guest tickets can be purchased with cash only.
REMINDER: Booster Club seeking President & Concessions Manager for 2024-2025
The Northwest Booster Club is seeking a President and Concessions Manager for the 2024-2025 school year. The one-year term begins July 1, 2024, with the option to continue after that time period.
President: Presides over meetings, oversees events and fundraising, works with principal, athletic director, Booster Club officers, and chairpeople to ensure the Booster Club mission is upheld and served
Concessions Manager: Leads concessions committee to stock and staff the concessions stands for the fall, winter and spring sports seasons as well as two drama productions in the fall and spring.
If you are interested in gathering more information about either of these positions, please contact Ms. Kim Summers, Booster Club President at president@nwhsboosters.org or Mr. Smith, Principal at Scott_E_Smith@mcpsmd.org.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION!
REMINDER: NWHS After Prom Party - 5.17.24
The Northwest After Prom Party is coming May 17th! The NWHS PTSA will once again host an all-night after prom party on 5.17.24 to keep our kids safe and off the roads on prom night! This incredible event includes food, games, DJ, entertainment, activities, tons of prizes and giveaways, and more!
We need to raise a significant amount of money and are in need of many volunteers to make this event successful! Will you donate $24 for the '24 After Prom Party?
It’s important for ALL grade levels to contribute in some way as these juniors and seniors are your children’s classmates, teammates, neighbors, and friends.
Please visit www.nwhsafterprom.com to donate or volunteer!
THANK YOU!
REMINDER: Free Store Updates!
Thank you Northwest Community for all of your donations to the Free Store! We average several visitors a day, and as the new semester begins, students are looking for replacement school supplies. As always, we accept all gently used school supplies, such as paper and binders, but right now we are in particular need of composition and spiral notebooks, and backpacks. Cute trinkets are always welcome to make shopping at the Free Store an especially fun experience. Please drop off donations in the front office or have your child bring them to room 264. Thank you!
REMINDER: Join the PTSA and Boosters!
The PTSA and Booster Club are instrumental in providing the school with advocacy, outreach, financial support, and building school spirit for our students, staff, and community. In order for us to be able to support these ongoing efforts, we need our families and staff to join us now! You can join at nwhsptsa.org/membership. Thank you!
REMINDER: Northwest Parents' Councils Questionnaire
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
Northwest Class Spirit!
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!
Class of 2027 (9th Grade): Yellow
Class of 2026 (10th Grade): Green
Class of 2025 (11th Grade): Red
Class of 2024 (12th Grade): Blue
Northwest High School
Email: Scott_E_Smith@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://northwestjags.org
Location: 13501 Richter Farm Road, Germantown, MD, USA
Phone: (240)740-7100
Twitter: @NorthwestJags
Northwest High School serves over 2400 students and is home of the Jaguars!