Welcome Back!

Dear Titan Students and Families,

I hope this message finds you well and that you have had an opportunity to rest, and hopefully relax, this summer. As you might know, School Year 23-24 begins in just a few short days; the first day of school is Monday, August 28. Time has gone by quickly!

This coming school year, we will build on our work from last year and continue to focus on establishing an anti-racist foundation here at Albert Einstein High School. We will do so by holding fast to our three pillars that help us realize our school’s vision and mission: Instruction, Well-being, and Environment. This year, we are enhancing our focus on student engagement, specifically as it relates to monitoring student attendance, as our data clearly shows that those who are present most often, experience the greatest success on classroom, district, and external measures.

In addition to our new teaching and supporting services staff members, I want to introduce you to our new 9th grade administrator, Mrs. Aisha Rooke, who is a veteran assistant principal with several years of MCPS experience. Mrs. Rooke comes to us most recently from Tilden Middle School, and has previously served as a staff development teacher at Sligo Middle School, and a teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels.

Each week this school year you will receive an AEHS Community Message that will be shared on Sunday evenings via SMORE. Sunday messages will be archived under the “Quick Links” tab on the Albert Einstein High School webpage, and are labeled as “Principal Weekly Messages.”

Below you will find information that will help answer questions you might have specifically related to AEHS for the upcoming school year. Please read in its entirety and be sure to reach out should you have any questions.

I am looking forward to an amazing school year as I enter my fourth year as principal here at Albert Einstein High School, along with the graduating class of 2024, who I have had the pleasure of watching grow since their first day as freshman three years ago! I look forward to seeing you all soon, and meeting our newest Titans and their families.

All the best, always!

Mark Brown, Jr.

Principal

Welcome to all the new and returning Titans! The PTSA is excited to kick off another great year. We'd love to have EVERYONE be a part of this community that is such a large part of our kids' lives. Learn what's going on at Einstein, hear more about MCPS resources available to students, engage with other families -- and even hear from our amazing Einstein students. Make sure your voice is heard at Einstein -- and that Einstein families are represented at the county and the state. Here are some updates for the beginning of school:

• Anne Salzman will be the incoming President. You can see the other Executive Board members and Task Leads here on the PTSA website.
• You can join the PTSA here.
• To join the free AEHS PTSA listserv, send a blank email to einsteinhs+subscribe@groups.io
• Join us in welcoming our AEHS staff and letting them know how much we appreciate all that they do for our kids at the Staff Appreciation Lunch on August 24. You can sign up here to contribute items for the lunch.
• The PTSA will have a table at the New Student Orientation Picnic on August 27 and Back to School Night on September 7.
• Our *virtual* kick off meeting is Tuesday, September 19 where you can hear from our principal Mr. Mark Brown, learn about 2023-2024 budget and activities, and meet new PTSA board members. We will provide login details closer to the meeting date.
• Please join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram!
• We're looking forward to meeting all our wonderful Einstein families!

Albert Einstein HS PTSA

Please consider joining and supporting the Booster Club!

The AEHS Booster Club supports all of our Titan athletic teams with equipment, advocacy and fundraising opportunities. Last year the booster club purchased a new sound system for Titan Stadium, upgraded the equipment in the concession stand to provide refreshments during athletic events, supplied meals to all student athletes and their families at fall, winter and spring sports banquets and awarded six $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors. In order to continue to support our athletes we need your help! Use the link or QR code to join the booster club for the 2023-24 school year.

Website: aehsbooster.com

We support the visual and performing arts at Einstein by raising funds, arranging publicity and providing volunteer help for all extra-curricular activities, performances and much more.

Join our mailing list by emailing SIGN ME UP to: aehs.pace@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pace.aehs

Follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/aehspace

Visit www.aehspace.com to donate. PACE is a charitable organization established under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Last spring we shared that MCPS is piloting Remind at our school. If you are not already familiar with Remind, it is a classroom communication tool that makes it easy to stay involved with your child's learning. Remind is free to use, and you will be able to get and send messages on any device - even a simple text message from your phone!

As part of this pilot, accounts will be created for all teachers, staff, parents and students ages 13 and above. You will receive an email or text message to your mobile phone from Remind. All you need to do is follow the steps in the message to finish setting up your account. Here is a video demo to see how Remind works. Also, we have already set the preferred language for you and your child so you can receive messages in your home language. As long as the teacher is receiving replies, you can also send messages back in your preferred language, and they will automatically be translated into the teacher's preferred language. You can learn more about the translation tools by reading Remind's Preferred language translation FAQs (frequently asked questions).

We encourage you to watch the Getting Started with Remind Video and review Remind's Parent Web Guide to get more specific tips on how to use Remind. We are excited to use Remind to make connecting with your family more easy and engaging!

New Student Orientation & Cookout:

All new students, grade 9 and transfer students, are encouraged to attend our New Student Orientation on Thursday, August 24, 7:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Bus transportation will be provided to and from the school. Please click here for more information on New Student Orientation.

New students and their families are also invited to attend our Einstein Cluster New Student Cookout Thursday, August 24, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Please click here for more information on New Student Orientation.

Back to School Night:

We are also happy to share that Back to School Night will take place in person, here at Albert Einstein High School, and will be held on Thursday, September 7, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Additional information is forthcoming.

Transportation:

Please read this letter from the Department of Transportation, and be sure to read What you Should Know About Riding the Bus.

The SY23-24 AEHS Bus Routes (Arrivals and Departures) can be accessed using the embedded links and on the AEHS webpage under "Student Information." Students should keep in mind that the Student Code of Conduct extends to MCPS transportation as well as the school building.

Pick-up and Drop-off:

Parents, please be sure to only use the parent pick-up and drop-off line when bringing your child to school or picking them up in the afternoon. Please also stay to the left to allow buses in on the right. To be safe, please do not drive into the bus loop when buses are present, and please do not attempt to drop off students in the parking lot. This is reserved for students and staff.

NOTE: It is important to note that traffic is heavy in the morning, particularly at the start of the school year. It does get better as we get accustomed to traffic pattern. With this in mind, please be sure your students are ready to exit the vehicle once you enter the drop off lane, so we can keep traffic moving.

Student Parking:

Requests for parking permit applications began in June. Students have until August 25 to submit all of the necessary information to request a parking permit using this Google form.

Because parking for students is limited, senior applications will be prioritized first. Parking permit applications must be submitted to the Financial Specialist, Mr. Valerio, to obtain a parking permit. Applications will be considered on a first come, first serve basis.

Only students with approved parking permits will be permitted to park on campus. This means students should not attempt to park along the sidewalk near Newport Mill Park or in the back of the building. Montgomery County Park Police have asked that we inform students that Newport Mill Park should not be used for student parking. Please do not park in the park, or in the neighborhood in permitted areas.

Student parking spaces should not be used until a parking permit has been granted. Security will be monitoring throughout the school day to ensure compliance.

For questions, please contact Ms. Alyson_L_Gordon@mcpmd.org, assistant principal, or Mr. Victor_M_Valerio@mcpsmd.org.

Student Absences:

All students must submit an excused note from a parent, guardian, or caretaker within three days of the absence so the absence can be excused. Please note that the excused note is for the absence, and does not excuse students from completing work missed. Notes should be submitted to Ms. Debra_L_Gedling@mcpsmd.org.

Notes for early dismissal must be presented to the Attendance Office prior to the start of the school day. Students must sign in and out of the main office when arriving late and/or leaving early. We respectfully request that, when possible, doctor appointments are made after-school hours and on days when there is not school. Likewise, please pay careful attention to the enclosed school calendar and schedule vacations and college visits for the times when school is not in session. Students will remain responsible for the content and work missed as a result of an absence.

PLEASE NOTE: The AEHS Attendance Monitoring Team has already begun reaching out to students and their families who have had attendance concerns during the 2022-2023 school year.

Student Rights and Responsibilities and Student Code of Conduct:

The MCPS Code of Conduct and A Student's Guide to Rights & Responsibilities will be distributed to all students in September. They can also be accessed using this link.

Personal Mobile Devices: (Cell phones, Chromebooks, Laptops, etc.)

Students will be responsible for bringing their MCPS-issued Chromebook to and from school daily. There will be opportunities for new students to receive Chromebooks on orientation day and in Social Studies classes for 9th grade students during the first week of school. Students are not permitted to use their own laptops or devices. In addition, students will not be permitted to use their cell phones and other mobile devices during class for non-instructional purposes. Failure to abide by this policy may result in confiscation of the device, parent contact and/or other disciplinary actions. The mobile device policy will be reviewed in detail with students and families.

Lunch:

Lunch begins daily at 11:10 a.m. and ends at 12:00 p.m.. Unlike last year, lunch is no longer free for all students and is priced at $2.80. However, students may apply for Free and Reduced-Priced Meals by completing the Free and Reduced-Price Meals Application.

School Meal Prices for School Year 2023–2024:

Breakfast for All Schools - $1.30

Elementary Lunch - $2.55

Secondary Lunch - $2.80

You can find more information regarding MCPS meals at the MCPS Division of Food & Nutrition Services website.

Chromebooks:

• Grade 9 students will be issued chromebooks in their Social Studies classes during the first week of school.
• Transfer students in grades 9-11 should go to the media center to be issued a chromebook
• Students who lost a chromebook and need one to be reissued should also go to the media center to have their replaced

Vaccinations:

Certain immunizations are required for school attendance, as determined by the state health department, and are monitored by school-based staff. MCPS strongly recommends eligible students and staff members remain up to date on all CDC recommended immunizations that protect against infectious disease, including the COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines.

According to MSDE: All school requirements are listed in COMAR 10.06.04 and will be in effect at the start of the 2023-2024 school year. Students who do not have the required vaccinations on the first day of school must demonstrate proof of vaccination, positive titer results, or proof of a vaccination appointment that is scheduled within 20 calendar days from the date the student is temporarily admitted or retained.

Underclassman Portraits:

Students in grades 9-11 will take yearbook photos Thursday and Friday September 14-15, and will be scheduled to take photos through their English classes. The make-up date for underclassman portraits is Tuesday, November 14. Additional correspondences will be shared with students and families regarding the cost of underclassman portraits.This link will give you the dates for all student portraits, including grades 10-12.

Lockers:

We have reserved lockers for all of our grade 9 Emerging Language Development levels 1 and 2 students and Alternate Learning Outcomes (ALO) special education students. Students in grades 10-12 who would like a locker should speak with our school business administrator, Ms. Joan_A_Strasnick@mcpsmd.org, to request a locker.

Below is information that will guide you as you prepare for the school year. We will be sending out weekly communication through Synergy every Sunday evening. Please make sure that your contact information is updated in the myMCPS Parent VUE. If you have difficulty with activating accounts, or if you do not receive a communication, please contact the help line at 240-740-7023.

Student Emergency Information should be updated through ParentVUE. Each year parents/guardians are required to complete the Annual Verification of Information through the Online Registration portal (in the right corner of your ParentVUE home screen). We highly recommend that you complete this as soon as possible. It is critically important that we have accurate parent contact information on file with the school and system as soon as possible.

Last school year MCPS transitioned to a new online payment system called SchoolCash Online as its preferred method of payment for school-related fees. Please note that the new system is NOT related to school cafeteria accounts. SCO helps parents/guardians, and community members pay school-related fees safely, quickly, and easily. In addition, SCO will help increase efficiency and security at schools by making payments directly into schools’ bank accounts and eliminating the need for teachers/sponsors to handle money.

A processing fee will be included on all items available for purchase, regardless of the type of payment used on SCO or at the school. Please refer to these registration instructions in English and Spanish for more information, including how to add students to your account and make payments. Also, while SCO is the preferred method of making payments, students, parents/guardians, and community members may continue to make payments using cash or check. Parents/guardians can register now at https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/.

Students are expected to eat lunch in the cafeteria, in a supervised classroom with a staff member, outside in the senior courtyard (Seniors ONLY), or outside on school grounds. Students may not eat nor assemble in any stairwells during the lunch period or on athletic fields.

We recognize that we are a neighborhood school and some students prefer to go home or to nearby eateries as this is a privilege granted to some students at other MCPS schools. Please note, however, that students may not leave school grounds during lunch without parental consent. Therefore, we are asking parents and guardians to have conversations with your children regarding remaining on campus during lunch. If you do not support your student leaving campus during lunch, please be sure to speak with your child(ren) about safety and your expectations for them remaining in school and on school grounds during lunch. We will be having these conversations with students as well during grade level assemblies.

Students are expected to attend class on time at the conclusion of lunch. In addition to between classes, hall sweeps will also be conducted at the conclusion of lunch and may be conducted during arrival to school as well. Students in violation of school policies will be addressed in accordance to the MCPS Student Code of Conduct.

ID BADGES SHOULD BE WORN AT ALL TIMES

All students will receive a school issued ID badge. Students will need to show their ID to receive or use school services, including purchasing lunch. Students who lose, break, or deface their ID’s will have to pay a replacement fee of $5.00 per new ID badge issued. Students entering the school building after the school day has began will need to sign in at the main office using their ID badges. Students can also access their ID badge QR codes using a smart phone and the StudentVue app.

To support our well-being focus we will continue to deliver Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons to students each week during Titan Time. Unlike the past two years, however, these lessons will be developed at the school-level, and many will be created and led by our very own Albert Einstein High School students. Lessons will continue to be delivered on Wednesdays, and will be delivered on a rotating basis, during each class period. Please see the Titan Time Bell Schedule that will be followed for SY23-24.

The AEHS Bell Schedules can be accessed by following this link. Please follow the Titan Time schedule shared above.

Below is a list of all our counselors and the caseloads they support. You can find more information about the counseling department on the Counseling Department webpage.

SCHEDULE CHANGES:

The only schedule changes that will be made for the first two weeks of school are for students who have the schedule concerns listed below. Click here for a visual:

• Student already passed the course and it is not a course that can be taken for credit twice
• Schedule has the same scheduled during multiple class periods
• Student has a hole in their schedule, meaning they do not have a class for one of the seven class periods
• Student is placed in the wrong grade level class.

*Students who wish to take a class that is different from what they are enrolled in will be able to do so beginning September 11, after the errors mentioned above for other students have been addressed. If the above concerns are addressed sooner, we will inform students.*

Stronger Student is the new mobile-friendly mental health and wellness resource app specially designed for MCPS middle and high school students. The app is designed by students, supports multiple languages, and 100% anonymous. Please take a moment to download and explore the app, and use this amazing resource as needed (English / Spanish).

Fall Sports registration is well under way. To try out, students must have a valid physical (good for one calendar year) and parents must register their students via ParentVue. Please encourage your child to participate in one of the many athletic opportunities available – no experience necessary!

Tryouts began August 9. Please email our Athletic Specialist, Mr. Jermaine_A_Howell@mcpsmd.org for more information regarding tryouts:

• Registration via Parent Vue: https://md-mcps-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login.aspx

• Athletics Webpage: https://einsteinathletics.org/