Weekly Newsletter

November 2, 2025

Dear Coyote Community,

I hope everyone enjoyed an extra hour of rest with our “fall back” time change! While the added sleep is welcome, the early evening darkness—arriving now around 5:30 p.m.—brings new safety concerns. I want to remind our students who walk, bike, or scooter home after school or extracurricular activities to wear bright or reflective clothing. I’ve noticed many students dressed in dark colors on busy roads, and I want to ensure everyone gets home safely.

A quick reminder that there is no school for students tomorrow, Monday, November 3, as it is a grading and reporting day for teachers. The second quarter begins Tuesday, and I encourage all students to start strong and stay focused. Remember, semester grades are calculated as the average of both quarters—there’s no “trending up” or “trending down” from previous terms. Every day counts, and every effort matters!

This week, we are proud to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week at CHS. As shown in the flyer below, there are many engaging activities for students and staff throughout the week. I hope everyone takes a moment to participate and prioritize their well-being.

I also want to highlight a few upcoming community engagement opportunities in November:

• November 10 – Government Worker Appreciation Dinner
  Clarksburg Cluster principals, staff, and students invite all caregivers who are government employees impacted by the current shutdown to join us for a Thank You Dinner at Hallie Wells Middle School from 6:00–7:00 p.m. Please RSVP by November 5 using this form.

• November 11 – CHS Caregiver Open House (8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.)
  We welcome caregivers to visit CHS and observe classes in action. To help us plan for a smooth arrival and visitor check-in, please complete this form by November 7.

• November 20 – CHS PTSA Karaoke & Music Night
  Join us for a fun-filled evening of music, laughter, and community! This family-friendly event will showcase performances by our talented students and clubs. More details to come soon.

It continues to be an honor and a joy to serve the Clarksburg High School community. Thank you for your partnership in making CHS a place where scholarship, leadership, and relationships thrive.

Warmly,
Ms. O’Neill

November 3 Non-Instructional Day (No School for Students)

November 3-8 Mental Health Awareness Week

November 6 AI Learnng Workshop for Students (7:00 pm, Media Center)

November 7 Report Cards in ParentVUE

November 10 Clarksburg Cluster Government Worker Appreciation Dinner (6:00 pm, Hallie Wells)

November 11 CHS Open House

November 12 Reports Distributed at School

November 14, 15, 21, 22 Fall Play (7:00 pm, Auditorium)

November 18 PTSA Meeting (6:30 pm, Media Center)

November 20 PTSA Karaoke Night (7:00 pm, cafeteria)

November 24-25 Early Release and Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 26 Systemwide School Closure

November 27-28 Thanksgiving Break

We want to learn more about your family's experience in our schools. Your voice matters and helps us understand how students and families experience teaching, learning, and the school environment. Please take about 10 minutes to complete this caregiver survey.

Why is your feedback important?

It helps us:

• Better understand the experiences of students and families,

• Recognize what’s working well and where support may be needed,

• Ensure schools are welcoming, respectful, and inclusive for all.

Will anyone at the school know who filled out the survey?

• No. Your responses are confidential.

How will the responses be used?

• School and district leaders will review the feedback to understand family and student experiences and inform planning and decision-making for the upcoming school year.

In this issue:

• November digital resource collections: Democracy and Elections, Veterans Day, and National Gratitude Month
• Native American Heritage Month Resources
• November Contest to Win a Prize: What Do You Know-vember?
• Spotlight on Digital Citizenship: Critical Ignoring
• Student Fall Book & Song Recommendations
• Sneak Peak: Scholastic Book Fair is Coming!!

We feel it is important to support all our families in every way possible. One way we can support is through our Holiday Giving Project that focuses support during November and December. Please see this important message and a link to indicate support that is needed.

The Clarksburg Ambassadors student leadership club conducting it's Thanksgiving Dinner drive giveaway. The Ambassadors will be raising money to purchase 60 Thanksgiving Dinners and then donating those dinners to families in need at Clarksburg High School and Rocky Hill Middle School. Please donate to our cause by clicking on the link below. Thank you for your support.

https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/103460/354/False/True

CHS PTSA is excited to host an AI Learning Workshop for all high school students on Wednesday, November 6, at 7:00 PM in the Media Center.

This interactive session, led by Amit Arora (Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University), will introduce students to practical ways of using AI tools like Claude and Notebook LM to enhance learning.

Students will explore real-world examples, participate in hands-on experiments, and discover how to use AI to learn faster, think critically, and understand topics more deeply.

The session is free, open to all levels, and promises to be both fun and informative!

👉 Register here: AI for Learning Workshop Registration

Apply online for meal benefits today! A new FARMS application must be completed every school year, even if your children qualified the previous year. Households meeting federal income standards are eligible for free school meals, but must apply to receive this benefit. Only one application is needed for all students in a household.

Learn more.

This past Friday morning, the CHS PTSA surprised our entire staff with a delightful “Tea & Treat” event — a spontaneous celebration of appreciation and community. On short notice, more than 150 staff members stopped by the break room to enjoy an array of teas, chai, snacks, and sweet treats thoughtfully prepared by our PTSA volunteers. The surprise gathering filled the room with laughter, warmth, and gratitude. As written on the custom bookmarks shared with our faculty and staff that day, “You may never see all the hearts you’ve touched — but we do.” It was a heartwarming reminder of just how special our teachers and staff truly are, and how deeply they are appreciated by our PTSA and the entire Clarksburg community. Thank you, PTSA!

This week Girls Flag Football, Girls Volleyball, and Boys Football compete in regional contests. Cross Country will compete in the state championship this week.

Tuesday: Girls' Flag Semifinal and Final games at CHS starting at 4:30

Wednesday: Volleyball at Urbana (time TBD)

Thursday: Boys' Football at Churchill at 6:30

Saturday: Cross Country at Hereford HS at 10:30 for boys and 11:30 for girls