The Pine Crest Newsletter

Message from Ms. Stump

On Friday, our staff participated in a deeply meaningful day of professional learning centered on the science of learning. Together, our educators explored evidence-informed strategies to strengthen daily instruction, helping students deepen their understanding, build lasting confidence, and retain what they learn. Just as we inspire our students to grow every day, we remain firmly committed to evolving our own practices. We are proud to continually refine our teaching to support the unique needs of all our students.

Digital Citizenship

Each October, Common Sense leads Digital Citizenship Week, an annual campaign to promote a healthy, balanced, and positive approach to media and tech use among young people. Participate all week with helpful calendars of suggested activities and resources for every grade, K–12: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship-week)

Pine Crest students participate in digital literacy instruction using the Common Sense curriculum. Students receive instruction in mindful technology use, privacy & safety, digital literacy, and becoming critical consumers and creators of online content. Students discuss chromebook and technology care in their media lessons. All MCPS students are held to a high standard for proper use of technology that aligns with the student code of conduct. Should damage to a student device occur, the device will be evaluated and charges may potentially be assessed if the damage is deemed careless or intentional. Please consult this grid to be aware of assessed costs: FY 2027 Chromebook Obligation & Repair Costs

Open House

Open House gives families a firsthand look at their child’s school experience. By visiting classrooms and observing learning, parents and caregivers can better understand what students are learning, how teachers support them, and how classroom routines help children succeed.

Pine Crest Open House will be November 11, 2026. We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Open House!

Please note these important details for this year's event:

Two Time Slots: We are offering two different time slots, 9:30-11:30 and 1:30-3:30. You can choose which part of the school day works best for your schedule to observe our classrooms. SY 26-27 Comprehensive Schedule
New Option: There will be opportunities to “Snack & Chat with Administration.”
Short Visits: We invite you to stop by for a brief visit within your chosen time slot so we can welcome all families.
Adults Only: For space and focus, we kindly ask that all visitors are adults.

MCPS Calendar & Feedback

The MCPS Board Moves School Calendar Proposals Forward for Public Comment.
The Board of Education received a presentation on Oct. 8 outlining proposed school calendars for 2027–2028 and 2028–2029 and moved the proposals forward for public comment and feedback. A key feature of the discussion was a two-year calendar approach, designed to give families and staff greater ability to plan ahead by establishing major calendar dates earlier.

Under the approach, the Board would adopt the next school year’s calendar while tentatively setting major dates, such as the first and last days of school and winter and spring breaks, for the following year. The community will now have an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed calendars, with final adoption scheduled for Nov. 19.

See the video of the presentation here. See the slide deck here.

Round 2 SY 2027-2028 Calendar Survey

MCPS School Closure and Consolidation Study: Community Conversations Begin

Your voice matters, and we want to hear from you! As MCPS continues its elementary and middle school closure and consolidation study, families, staff and community members are invited to upcoming engagement meetings to learn more, ask questions and share their perspectives.

Let's be clear: No schools have been identified or recommended for closure or consolidation, and no decisions have been made. These meetings are an important part of a thoughtful, transparent process that includes community input before any recommendations are developed or decisions are considered by the Board of Education.

Have questions? Start with the FAQs! Visit https://mcpsstudy.org/#/faq to explore the study website, review frequently asked questions, learn about the process and find information about upcoming meetings. The website is a great place to get answers and stay informed as the study moves forward.

A note about meeting locations: Meeting sites were selected to provide opportunities for participation across Montgomery County and reach as many families as possible. Hosting a meeting at a particular school or in a particular community does not mean that school or community is being considered for closure or consolidation.

We want everyone to be able to participate!

Childcare: Families who need childcare during an engagement meeting are encouraged to complete the childcare request form or scan the QR code above.
Language access: Interpretation will be available in Amharic, Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese and Vietnamese, as well as American Sign Language (ASL).

As we've shared in previous updates, MCPS is facing sharply declining enrollment; this study is about planning responsibly for the future while considering other factors such as building conditions, educational opportunities and the needs of our communities. Community engagement is essential to that work.

We look forward to seeing you, hearing your questions and listening to your ideas. Your participation helps inform the process, and there is still much work to do before any decisions are made.

Explore the Study, FAQs and Meeting Information

Your Student’s Spring 2026 MCAP Results Are Available

Your student’s Spring 2026 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) Individual Student Report (ISR) is now available electronically in Synergy for students who participated in ELA Grades 3-5, Mathematics Grades 3-5, Science Grades 5.

The ISR provides information about your student’s performance and progress toward Maryland’s academic standards. Please log in to Synergy to view the report.

Log in to ParentVUE in Synergy to view your child’s report. Need help understanding the results? Visit the MCPS MCAP webpage for family-friendly guides, or contact your child’s school for assistance. Printed copies are also available upon request.

Saturday School

Saturday School Spotlight: Boosting Skills, Building Confidence

Website

October 21, 6:30-7:30 pm

This event will be virtual via Zoom. The session will be virtual. This session is going to be in English only. Here’s the Zoom link: https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/85499776579?pwd=SI7hjMkLxigf3ajmEmdQwH3aB3Lsx0.1

This presentation provides an inside look at how the MCPS Saturday School program supports students through affordable, community-driven academic enrichment. It highlights Saturday School’s mission to reinforce classroom learning, build confidence, and close opportunity gaps by offering tutoring in various core subjects. The session explains how students benefit from small-group instruction, certified teachers, and a welcoming environment designed to strengthen skills at every grade level. Families will learn how to enroll, what a typical Saturday session looks like, and how the program partners with MCPS schools to align instruction with the curriculum.

During this session, families will learn how to,

access affordable academic support through Saturday School, including tutoring and enrichment in core subjects across grade levels
understand what students can expect from a typical Saturday School experience, including small-group instruction, certified teachers, and support aligned with the MCPS curriculum
Get their child connected by learning how to enroll, what programs are available, and how Saturday School can help strengthen skills, confidence, and academic success.

Important Messages from MCPS

The Hard Truth: Aging Schools, Fewer Students and Rising Costs

MCPS is facing some difficult realities: aging school buildings, declining student enrollment and construction costs that continue to rise. During its Oct. 15 meeting, the Board of Education received an off-cycle update to the Capital Improvements Program (CIP), with only minor adjustments requested to the existing plan. But the presentation highlighted a much larger challenge: the need to make thoughtful, sometimes difficult decisions about how the district invests in its facilities.

With enrollment projected to decline further and many schools in need of significant repairs, MCPS must find new ways to provide safe, healthy and effective learning and working environments. The proposed adjustments focus on critical infrastructure and exploring alternative approaches to future construction projects.

The hard truth is that doing nothing is not an option. Learn more about the challenges facing MCPS, the proposed adjustments and what comes next.
Read the full story

Cooling to Heating Changeover begins Monday

To prepare for the chilly weather ahead, MCPS will begin the changeover process from air conditioning to heating in all schools, facilities and office buildings on Oct. 19. This process takes time and can be complicated. It is not as simple as flipping a switch. Maintenance teams must gradually transition building systems, check equipment and make adjustments to ensure heating systems are operating properly and safely. Because the changeover happens across hundreds of buildings, temperatures may vary from building to building — and even from room to room — as the process gets underway keep an eye on this HVAC Changeover Status website for updates.

Have Your Say: Board Policies Open for Public Comment
MCPS invites families, staff and community members to share their feedback on proposed updates to Board of Education policies.

Board of Education Policy IPD, Travel Study Programs, Field Trips and Student Organization Trips - Provide feedback here Deadline: Friday, November 6, 2026.
Board of Education Policy BLB, Rules of Procedures in Appeals and Hearings - Provide feedback here Deadline: Friday, November 6, 2026.

Take a few minutes to review the proposals and share your thoughts.
Review proposed policies and submit feedback

Synergy Upgrade Completed: What You Need to Know
Synergy underwent a scheduled upgrade on Thursday, Oct. 15, to improve the user experience. The upgrade required system downtime from 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, until 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16.

As a result of the upgrade, older versions of the ParentVUE and StudentVUE apps for iOS and Android are no longer supported. Families and students should download the new versions and delete the older apps. Learn how to download the new ParentVUE app.

Now You Know — School Meals
The MCPS Department of Food & Nutrition Services serves more than 18 million high-quality meals each year. The menus are planned by licensed, registered dietitians and include local ingredients and international flavors that reflect our diverse community. Purchased foods, recipe ingredients and preparation techniques are reviewed to ensure our menus comply with nutritional guidelines. What’s for breakfast or lunch? Find your school’s menus, with pictures and nutritional information.
Learn more: English | Spanish | Amharic | Chinese | French | Korean | Portuguese | Vietnamese

FARMS Applications Matter: Help Your Family and Our School
Completing a Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS) application can benefit your family and help our school maintain important programs.

Changes in school eligibility mean every application matters. Schools must have at least 40% of students eligible for FARMS to participate in Maryland's free in-classroom breakfast program. When fewer eligible families apply, schools may lose access to this benefit.

Applying is quick, confidential and available in multiple languages. Only one application is needed per household, but families must reapply every school year, even if they previously qualified.

See if your family qualifies and help support our school.
Learn more about FARMs and apply here

Explore What Your Child Is Learning at MCPS Curriculum Day, Oct. 19

MCPS is hosting Curriculum Preview Day, an opportunity for families to explore instructional materials, learn more about what students are learning and discover resources available to support learning at home. This event is open to K–12 families for all MCPS courses. Join us for our drop-in sessions, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or 5-7 p.m. in the Carver Educational Services Center cafeteria on Monday, Oct. 19. Families can connect with MCPS instructional specialists, ask questions, explore curriculum materials and receive support accessing digital learning resources.

Share Your Vision for America: Students in Grades 5–12 can write and perform a presidential speech and win prizes up to $1,000. Make Your Speech calls on students to imagine they’ve just been elected president and are delivering their inaugural address in a 2-3 minute video. Learn more. Deadline: Friday, Oct. 30

Capital Weather invites K-8 kids to submit original artwork inspired by weather, seasons, climate or nature to its Kids Art Showcase. Learn more.

Stay Connected to MCPS

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). Visit the AskMCPS website.
READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS News page.
FOLLOW the MCPS social media pages:
x.com/mcps / facebook.com/mcpsmd / instagram.com/mcps_md facebook.com/mcpsespanol / x.com/MCPSEspanol / 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

More MCPS Resources

Important Dates

October 22 5th Gr Field Trip to Strathmore Hall

October 22 PTA/MKPC Family Yoga Night 6:15-7:30pm

October 28 3rd Grade Field Trip to Butler’s Orchard

October 30 Marking Period 1 Ends

November 2 Grading & Planning / No school for students

November 3 Election Day - Schools/offices closed

November 3 PTA Sponsored Bake Sale at PCES

November 5 PTA Sponsored In-House Assembly: Word Play to Kick Off the Read-a-Thon

November 5-11 PTA READ A THON

November 6 Food Market @ MKES

November 10 PTA Meeting @ PCES 7:00 pm

November 10 Marking Period 1 Report Cards Available in Synergy

November 11 Open House 9:30-11:30 & 1:30-3:30

November 12 MP1 Report Cards Distributed

November 16-20 PCES Book Fair

The Pine Crest Newsletter

October 18, 2026

Joan Stump, Principal

This Week's Pine Crest Message Includes: