Weekly Newsletter

April 19, 2026

Dear Coyote Community,

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone had a good weekend with opportunities for a little fun mixed in among the to-do lists that we all try to tackle.

It is hard to believe that we have already started Marking Period 4. Time is flying by, and we have reached the point in the year when celebrations and activities seem to occur daily. It is exciting to think that in less than two months, our wonderful Class of 2026 will walk across the stage at UMBC. Seniors now have just five weeks to complete all graduation requirements. Those who have not met all requirements by May 22 (the seniors’ last day) will continue to come to school until all requirements are met. Since graduation is not until June 10, we still have time to provide individualized support as needed to ensure every senior crosses the finish line.

In typical Maryland fashion, our temperatures continue to fluctuate. Please be aware that our school has completed the transition from heating to air conditioning for the season. This process prepares our building for warmer weather and ensures that cooling systems are fully operational. Because spring temperatures can vary, you may still notice some differences in indoor temperatures. I encourage students to dress in layers or keep a sweater or sweatshirt handy in case one classroom feels cooler or warmer than another.

This week’s newsletter is full of important information for both our school and MCPS. On Tuesday, our PTSA is hosting Create with Kindness beginning at 6:30 p.m. Please see the flyer below, as registration is required to help with the food count. On Wednesday, we will hold SGA elections, and a link is included below so students can review candidate information. Finally, there are two important surveys included in this newsletter—the Culture and Climate Survey and a survey to collect feedback about proposed changes to next year’s school calendar. Please take a few moments to share your feedback.

I hope everyone has a great and productive week!

Ms. O'Neill

April 24, 25 Spring Show (High School Musical)

April 21 NACAC College Fair (Juniors)

April 21 PTSA Create with Kindness Event (See Flyer Below)

April 23 APPS Induction and Showcase

April 23 Take Your Child to Work Day

May 1 Extreme Latin Dance Social

May 2 Naach Showcase

MCPS facilitates local schools collection of feedback related to culture and climate. You may remember there was a survey in the fall. Spring administration is now open and closes Sunday, May 10. Please take a few moments to complete the survey. Our Instructional Leadership Team uses this data in our school improvement work. Each stakeholder group has its own link:

• Families: https://parentsurvey.mcpsmd.org/
• Staff: https://staffsurvey.mcpsmd.org/
• Students: https://stud.mcpsmd.org/

During its work session today (April 16), the Board of Education discussed proposed amendments to the 2026-2027 school year calendar. Due to a Maryland State Board of Education requirement that public school systems end their school years by June 18, 2027, the Board will need to amend the school calendar. Changes could affect: religious observances, the shortening of winter and/or spring break, or potentially beginning the school year earlier in August.

MCPS is asking for its community’s input on these changes. Please fill out this survey and let us know your preferences for making changes to next year’s school calendar.
The Board will take final action at its business meeting on April 30.

The CHS Athletics Boosters scholarship application for Senior student-athletes is now open! Booster Scholarship Application. The application has been emailed to all Senior athletes directly!

The Offices of U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks invite you to attend our virtual U.S. Service Academy information event on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM EST. This is an opportunity for students, parents, educators, and community leaders to hear directly from representatives of each of the five U.S. Service Academies about what each Academy has to offer and to learn more about the Service Academy nomination process. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

If you have not already, click HERE to register for the event.

As seniors celebrate milestone moments this spring, we want to remind families about the risks associated with the “Senior Assassins” Game. While intended as fun, this activity, often involving water guns and social media, has been linked to unsafe behaviors such as reckless driving, trespassing and alarming situations in public spaces.

Even toy water guns can be mistaken for real weapons, creating potentially serious consequences. We strongly discourage participation and encourage families to talk with their students about making safe, responsible choices. Let’s work together to ensure a positive and safe end to the school year for all students.

You are invited to attend the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) College Fair on Tuesday, April 21st. This is an excellent opportunity to explore a variety of colleges and connect with admissions representatives.

Participation Requirements:

To attend, students must complete and submit both the NACAC Field Trip Form and the Begin Registration: NACAC National College Fair - Montgomery County (MD) Please submit the field trip form to Mr. M in room 108.

Trip Details:

• Departure: 10:45 a.m. from Clarksburg High School
• Return: Approximately 1:00 p.m. to Clarksburg High School

Permission Form and Deadline:

• The Permission Form must be signed by a parent or guardian and submitted to the College Career Information Center (Room 108) no later than Thursday, April 16th.
• Forms will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until all available bus seats are filled.
• Students without access to a printer may visit the College Career Information Center to obtain a hard copy of the form.

Cost and Payment:

The cost of the trip is $5.00. Payment can be made in cash, by check, or through the SchoolCash website. Please bring payment to the College Career Information Center (Room 108) unless using SchoolCash website.

Additional Information:

Students are encouraged to bring a bagged lunch to eat at the venue, as food will not be available for purchase at the NACAC College Fair.

Take advantage of this valuable opportunity to explore your future college options!

The Division of Specialized Support Services will hold a webinar for families from 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, focused on what’s new in special education services, staffing and supports — and why. MCPS special education leaders will provide context for what this means for schools and classrooms. The session will be held virtually, featuring a brief presentation followed by questions and answers. The Zoom link is available here.

There are two other upcoming events for special ed families — the monthly SECAC meeting on April 23 and the Special Education Family Resource Fair on May 9. Read more.

Find the CHS course registration request form here.

Congratulations to the CHS Science Olympiad team for a successful season. In only their second year at CHS, the team qualified as a wildcard entry for the state competition and participated this Saturday at UMBC. The team was led by captains Shiviom Pandey and Priyam Agarwal. While test scores are still being finalized, the team is celebrating their growth and achievements over the year and looks forward to next year's competitions.

Congratulations to the CHStage on the opening weekend of High School Musical. The performances are awesome and the crowds were really getting into it this weekend. If you missed out this weekend, please come out next weekend for the final two shows on Friday and Saturday nights (7:00 pm).

Safety Day: Learn about pedestrian safety, Safe Routes to School and the Vision Zero program during this free event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville.

Maryland Center for School Safety’s Prepare 2026 Art Showcase : This year’s theme, Future Ready Schools, calls on student artists in Grades 3-12 to share their perspectives on what school safety means to them. Deadline: Sunday, May 31.