Weekly Newsletter

November 8, 2026

Happy Sunday, Coyote Community!

I hope everyone has an opportunity to get outside and enjoy this beautiful fall day! The leaves are absolutely brilliant right now, and I hope you can take some time to enjoy the season.

This week, we recognize Mental Health Awareness Week. Our planning team has put together a variety of activities designed to promote mental health and wellness, including a Color Run during lunch on Wednesday! You can find a full description of the week's activities below.

Beginning Monday, November 9, we will implement a new digital sign-in system for students who arrive at school after 7:45 a.m. Students arriving late will be required to sign in using the new system, either in the main office or at the entrance near portables 5–14. (Main office only after 8:00 am.)

Here are a few important details to help make this transition as smooth as possible:

• Students with an excuse note MUST enter through the main office. Rather than completing the digital sign-in, they should report directly to one of our secretaries with their note.

• Students should have their student ID ready. Scanning their ID will make the sign-in process much faster. Students may also sign in using their student ID number and Chromebook password.

We appreciate everyone's patience as we adjust to this new, mandatory system. As with any new process, we anticipate a few bumps along the way, but we will work through them together. Of course, students who arrive on time each day won't be impacted at all! Another great reason to make being on time a priority!

Finally, we look forward to welcoming caregivers to CHS on Wednesday for our Open House! If you plan to join us for all or part of the day, please complete the pre-registration form linked in the Calendar of Events section below. Also on Wednesday, students will receive their first marking period report cards to bring home.

Enjoy the rest of this beautiful fall weekend! As always, I look forward to welcoming our wonderful students back tomorrow for another great week at CHS!

Warmly,

Ms. O'Neill

November 11 Open House (Pre-register HERE)

November 13, 14, 20 and 21 Fall Play: Queens (7 pm)

November 23 and 24 Early Release and Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 25 Early Release

November 26 and 27 No School

It's time to order your cap/gown/tassel for graduation!

Orders must be placed by DECEMBER 18th .

Cap/Gown/Tassels: Order here

**IF you are borrowing from a friend/Sibling you MUST let Mrs. Coe know as soon as possible**

**If you need financial assistance, please reach out to Mrs. Coe (room 159)**

If you missed the senior meeting, please view the slideshow for important info!

CHS students serve the school and larger community in many ways. The SHIFT Club organized a service project to make tug toys for rescued dogs using unused fabric and cloth pieces received through donations. These toys are being donated to the Montgomery Animal Rescue Center from our school.

Thank you to SHIFT club members and Bridge to Wellness staff who supported this effort.

Congratulations to our Cheer Team. Last weekend they earned a Second Place finish at the Division III County Cheerleading Competition for the second year in a row. We are very proud of them!

MoCo EmpowHER Passion for Action: Middle and high school students are invited to this event from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. This interactive event will feature hands-on crafting, discussions on issues impacting female students today and a conflict resolution workshop. Register.

Mental Health & Wellness Fair: From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 at James Hubert Blake High School. Free and open to staff, students and families.

KID Museum’s BioInnovation Day: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15. General admission is free to families who register through the QR code on the flyer or pre-register here.

Speak Up, Save A Life Video Contest: Create an original video promoting awareness of the dangers of illicit opioids, overdose and fentanyl among teens. Secondary students can earn 10 SSL hours. Videos can be submitted in English or Spanish. First place wins $5,000, 2nd place, $3,000 and 3rd place, $1,000. Deadline: Monday, Nov. 30. Submit an entry.

C-SPAN StudentCam Documentary Competition: Students in 6th through 12th grades are invited to participate in C-SPAN’s annual national video documentary StudentCam competition, which encourages them to think critically about issues that affect our communities. This year, students are being asked to create a five-to-six-minute video documentary on a topic that relates to the competition theme, “Mr. Speaker, I Rise To …”. Deadline: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027.

ICYMI: Winter Weather Is Coming! Are You Ready?
Snow days, delays and early dismissals—oh my! Winter weather is just around the corner, and MCPS wants families to be ready. In case you missed it, MCPS shared important information about its weather-related color codes, how decisions are made and where to find the latest school operating status updates. Be sure to review the winter weather message and make your family's winter weather plan now.

And for a little fun, grab some popcorn and enjoy the world premiere of our Snow Day Trailer! Winter is coming, and we're ready!

English /español /中文 /français /Português /한국어 /tiếng Việt /አማርኛ

MCPS Invites Multilingual Families to Special Events
MCPS is bringing families together for a series of six Regional Family Engagement Events designed for Emerging Multilingual Learners (EMLs) and their families.
These free events are an opportunity for families to connect with school staff, learn about MCPS programs and community resources, ask questions and meet other families. Whether your child is in elementary, middle or high school, there's something for everyone!
All families of Emerging Multilingual Learners are welcome! Each event celebrates the languages, cultures and experiences that make our school communities special.
To make participation easier, materials will be available in eight languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Amharic, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. Free childcare will also be provided at every event.

Upcoming Events:

• (Previously) Wednesday, Nov. 4: Paint Branch High School, 5–8 p.m.

• Wednesday, Nov. 11: Gaithersburg High School, 5–8 p.m.

• Monday, Nov. 16: Seneca Valley High School, 5–8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Nov. 17: Wheaton High School, 5–8 p.m.

• Saturday, Nov. 21: Montgomery Blair High School, 9 a.m.–noon

• Wednesday, Dec. 2: Richard Montgomery High School, 5–8 p.m.

Families are welcome to attend one or more events, regardless of which school their children attend.
Come connect, learn and celebrate with us! We look forward to welcoming you and helping every family feel connected, supported and empowered to help their children thrive.
View Event Flyers and Details

Deadline Extended: MCPS 8th Grade Center Programs & Middle School Magnet Consortium Applications
We know choosing the right path for high school is a big decision for your family! To give you extra time to explore options, dig into specific offerings and complete your application, the deadline to submit applications for 8th Grade Center Programs — and the Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC) process — has been extended.
New Deadline: Friday, November 13

Learn more on the Center Programs website, your central place to explore how regional and thematic programs are structured across MCPS, access resources to dive deeper into specialized career paths and get your questions answered with the FAQs. Families interested in the Middle School Magnet Consortium can find details on the MSMC website

• Need help? Contact your middle school counselor or send an email

• What's a Center Program? (English | Spanish)

The Hard Truth Video Series Continues: 75% of Older MCPS Schools Need Repair
The numbers tell a story we can't ignore. Many MCPS school buildings are aging, and the cost of maintaining and repairing them continues to grow. In the latest installment of The Hard Truth, MCPS takes a closer look at the challenges facing our school facilities, why these repairs matter and what it will take to provide safe, modern learning environments for every student.
The hard truth? Our schools need attention, and the needs are real. Watch the video, learn about the challenges and join the conversation about the future of our schools.
Watch The Hard Truth: 75% of Older Schools Need Repair
Watch the Video Series

Firearm Safety Starts at Home
MCPS reminds families that secure firearm storage can save lives. Firearms should always be unloaded, locked and stored separately from ammunition. Families should also ask about firearm storage in homes their children visit.
Please talk with your children about firearm safety, remind them that weapons are prohibited at school and encourage them to “See Something, Say Something” if they become aware of a weapon or threat.

• Learn more: Parent's Guide to Firearm Storage.

• Read the community message sent to families this week

Learn More about the Amplify Desmos Math Curriculum at Nov. 9 Zoom Webinar
Interested in learning more about your student’s new Amplify Desmos Math curriculum? MCPS is hosting a webinar for elementary school families from 6-7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9 via Zoom.
The webinar will explore the daily lesson structure, including access to enrichment as well as Caregiver Hub resources for families, and homework. The webinar will be available in English, with live interpretation available in Spanish, French, Amharic, Chinese, Portuguese and American Sign Language.
Can’t make it? A recording will be posted on the MCPS website after the event.

Join Us for the Mental Health and Wellness Fair on Nov. 14
Be sure to join us for the Mental Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 at James Hubert Blake High School, 300 Norwood Road in Silver Spring. Free and open to staff, students and families, this event will feature workshops, a student-led forum and community partners sharing information about mental health and wellness. Participating students can earn four Student Service Learning hours.