Magruder News

Starting this week 9/14, all students must have a valid parking permit issued to them and their vehicle and displayed on the rear view mirror of their vehicle to park at Magruder 7:00am-3:00pm each school day.

• New this year: Students may no longer park in the spaces at the furthest edge of the parking lot along the treeline. This area will be marked when students arrive.
• Student vehicles that do not have a valid parking permit displayed will receive posted warnings and then may be towed at the owner's expense.
• As a remind, approval of a parking permit and parking on campus during the school day is a privilege that may be denied and revoked at any time by Principal Ascienzo.

• Vehicles dropping students off before 7:45am must use the stadium-side student parking lot entrances and exits.
• Vehicles that cut through the parking lot or stop along Muncaster Mill Rd. for drop off or pick up may be tickets and/or towed by authorities by law
• Students may enter the building starting at 7:10am and have access to the auditorium and cafeteria until 7:40am when they report to period 1 class.

Check the Student Assembly Slides (2026-27) from the first week of schools for reminders and other updates shared with students.

Check the links below for information on the annual MCPS Environmental Compliance information for Families.

• Asbestos Management Plan
• Pest Management Plan
• School building water flushing plan

Are you interesting in volunteering at a school event to earn SSL hours? We need student ambassadors and translators to help out at our Fall Showcase on October 5th from 5:30-8:00PM.

• Jobs will include passing out maps, showing families around, translating, and more.
• If you are interested in the October event, please reach out to counselor Jodie_M_Ackerman@mcpsmd.org or see her in the Counseling Office by September 25th.
• Students will earn SSL hours for the time they serve!
• Students may also submit the Student Translation Interest form linked here to serve as language interpreters for other events at Magruder and Magruder cluster schools.

Please come and support the Class of 2029 for their first fundraiser of the year by eating at Chipotle in Olney on September 15th from 5-9 PM.

• Make sure that you inform the cashier that you are buying for the Magruder Class of 2029 fundraiser, show the linked flyer, or enter this code for online orders: PRVAXDB
• Click here for online ordering instructions.

Principal Ascienzo invites you to our first PTSA meeting this Thursday Sept. 17th at 6:30pm. While the meeting is a hybrid format of in-person at Magruder and online via zoom, we encourage anyone interested to attend in-person to avoid interruptions to internet service.

• Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss Magruder's response to the serious incident on Sept. 3rd at Magruder and hear how you can educate and support your students following traumatic events and help them resolve conflicts peacefully.
• Click here for the zoom link to attend the meeting online.
• Please join principal Ascienzo and PTSA President Shivaun Wilkinson in welcoming the new school year. Click here to join the PTSA!

Class of 2027 Senior Photos & Events

• Senior class of 2027, click here for an early calendar of school year events!
• Senior photos continue September 16-18 by appointment only - click here to reserve a photo appointment.
• View the letter from photo vendor Victor O'Neill for more info & email seniors@vosphoto.com with any questions.

• Make-up pictures for all other grades are scheduled on October 21 on a walk-in basis.

• Tuesday September 15th: Activity bus service begins Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday
• Thursday September 17th: PTSA meeting in-person & online 6:30pm
• Friday September 18th: Cluster Night Home football game 6:30 pm
• Tuesday September 22nd: RecZone service starts at lunch & after school Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
• Friday October 9th: Homecoming Football Game
• Saturday October 10th: Homecoming Dance 7:00 - 10:00 pm

The Magruder High School Athletics Booster Club is excited for another great year of supporting our student-athletes, coaches, and athletic programs. Here are a few ways you can get involved:

• We need concession stand needs volunteers for stadium & gym events. Sign up for a shift at this link.
• Become a Booster Club member and help fund athletic equipment, team needs, facility improvements, recognition programs & events. Join today at this link.
• Become a corporate sponsor for the 2026–2027 school year. Sponsorship is a great way for local businesses to support our athletes and gain visibility in the community with your company's name and logo displayed at Magruder. Reach out for more information at boostersmhsathletics@gmail.com.
• Whether you join, volunteer, sponsor, attend a meeting, or simply cheer from the stands, your support makes a difference for our student-athletes.

Magruder is also looking for members of our NAACP Parents' Council.

• The NAACP Parents’ Council empowers African American and other minority parents to take a more proactive role in school. The Council is made up of parents, guardians & grandparents of minority MCPS students and county residents who share the goal of equal education for all children, particularly minority children.
• Click here for more information and contact Irene Johnson, Magruder NAACP Parents Council Representative, with questions and interest.

We are pleased to announce that MCPS is paying the exam fees for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams for the 2026–2027 school year.

• If you are interested in taking an AP courses(s) now that MCPS will cover AP exam fees, please contact your school counselor as soon as possible to avoid missing any more time in AP courses. We encourage students to enroll in challenging coursework that aligns with their interests, strengths, and future goals.
• More information is in the letter linked here and we will share additional information about exam registration procedures and timelines as it becomes available.
• If you have questions, please email Ms. Virginia Snyder, Magruder AP coordinator.

• Students are not permitted to utilize personal mobile devices from 7:45am-2:30pm. This includes during lunch and in the hallways as students transition to class and use the restroom.

• MCPS has updated the Grading & Reporting policy. Students who intentionally skip a class or school without authorization WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE eligible to make up missed work once the absence is determined to be skipping by an administrator.

• Students will receive their new ID card this week and must wear their ID visibly upon entry and at all times in school. Students that are chronically tardy, absent, and/or in violation of the Code of Conduct may lose their privileges to participate in and attend athletics & extracurricular activities.
• A new Free Meal Application must be submitted online at www.Myschoolapps.com. Families may add funds for lunch purchases at www.myschoolbucks.com or by check payable to ‘Magruder Cafeteria’ with your student’s name & ID number in the memo line. Cash is accepted but not recommended. Breakfast is free to all students at Magruder!

• Ninth grade students will vote for officers on September 17 & 18 in Canvas. Click here for more details.

• Each class has 5 officers (president, vice president, secretary, historian, and treasurer) who work with their class sponsors to support their grade level. This includes planning for Homecoming, banquets, fundraisers, and any Class of 2030 needs/wants! Follow along on IG at @magruderclassof2030 and @magruder_sga.

Magruder's Homecoming Dance will be on Saturday, October 10 from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM.

• You can purchase your ticket NOW at School Cash Online, cash, or check. The deadline for purchasing a ticket is October 7.
• If you would like to bring a non-Magruder guest, pick up a permission slip from the main office and return it by October 2. If you would like to pay for another Magruder student using School Cash Online, complete this Google Form.
• We are looking for donations & volunteers for the Homecoming Dance! If you are able to help, please sign up using this link.

All MCPS families should register for a ParentVUE account and ensure your contact information is up-to-date.

• Click here for instructions on how to register and update your account.
• Parents and guardians can view instructional information and resources, and get alerts about assignments and grades through ParentVUE
• Click on these links to set up your ParentVUE account: English, Spanish, French,
• Students, please go HERE to set up your StudentVue accounts.

MHS Administrative Roles/Responsibilities

Follow Mr. Ascienzo for updates and links to the weekly newsletters at X (Twitter): @MHS_principal and Instagram: magruderhs_principal.

Administrator Email Contact Information:

Chris Ascienzo, Principal

Karla Barrow, Assistant Principal

Nicole Kimball, School Business Administrator

Brian Gertzen, Assistant Principal

Marie Koch, Assistant Principal

Kristi Ricca, Assistant Principal

Scott Zanni, Athletic Director

Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/magruderhs/
Location: Col. Zadok Magruder High School, 5939 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood, MD 20855, USA
Phone: (240)740-5550
X (Twitter): @MHS_principal & @Magruder_HS

Instagram: MagruderHS_Principal & MagruderColonels