Weekly Newsletter

October 18, 2026

Happy Sunday, Coyote Community!

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful fall day and that our students enjoyed their extra day of weekend! On Friday, our staff participated in a full day of professional learning aligned with MCPS instructional priorities and our ongoing school improvement work.

It's Homecoming Week! We have an exciting week ahead filled with spirited themes, football, Cluster Night, and, of course, the Homecoming Dance! As a reminder, students must be persistently present to attend athletic events and bring a guest to the dance. We are continuing to see improvement in student attendance, and we appreciate everyone's efforts to make being present and on time a priority. Let's keep that positive momentum going!

I also want to take a moment to reinforce our expectations regarding personal mobile devices (PMDs). While most students are doing an excellent job keeping their devices away during instructional time, we have recently seen an increase in students disregarding staff directions, particularly in hallways and bathrooms during transitions and lunch.

Please remember that all personal mobile devices—including phones, earbuds, headphones, and tablets—must remain put away throughout the entire school day, from 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This is an MCPS expectation, and it applies to all parts of the school day, including lunch and transitions between classes.

We continue to provide daily reminders during morning announcements and before lunch, and we have been intentional about giving students opportunities to adjust to these expectations. At this point in the school year, however, students are well aware of the rules, and we expect them to follow staff directions. Students who are referred to the office and refuse to secure their devices as directed will need to be picked up by a caregiver.

I have included the expectations and consequences flyer again for your reference. I ask all caregivers to take a few minutes to reinforce these expectations with their students at home. Your partnership makes a meaningful difference, particularly as we work to establish consistent habits across our school community.

We also want to recognize the many students who are making positive choices! We continue to celebrate their efforts with small prizes, positive shout-outs, and personal recognition throughout the building. Our goal is not simply compliance, but creating a school environment where students are engaged, connected, and focused on learning. We need everyone working together to make that happen!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! As always, I look forward to welcoming our wonderful students back tomorrow and kicking off a fantastic Homecoming Week at CHS!

Warmly,

Ms. O'Neill

October 19-22 Biology Class Watershed Experience (Neighborhood Field Trips)

October 20 PTSA Meeting (Media Center)

October 23 Fall Pep Rally

October 23 Homecoming Football Game and Cluster Night

October 24 Homecoming Dance (7:00-10:00 pm)

October 30 End of Marking Period 1

Senior quotes are due to the year book by November 1. Please use this link to submit yours:

https://forms.gle/reHnuXhvJ53S493KA

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!

Did you miss the opportunity to apply for the CHS Advanced Placement Power Scholars (APPS) program in 8th grade? If so and you are interested, here is information about the application process.

The Homecoming Dance is Saturday, October 24. Tickets are now on sale. A reminder that students who are not persistently present may not bring guests to the dance. Make sure you are in all your classes and make sure you buy your ticket soon!

As shared in last week's newsletter, two of our art teachers were celebrated at the state level this week. Congratulations to Malina Danowski, Secondary Art Teacher of the Year and Cassandra Fagan, National Art Honor Society Sponsor of the Year. This recognition is well-deserved. Congratulations, ladies.

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.

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.

Latina Legacy Conference: This event for Latina female high school students will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 at 15 W. Gude Drive in Rockville. To register, students should reach out to their assistant principal by Thursday, Oct. 15.

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

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 below.

• 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

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