News & Notes - October 16, 2026

Hope this message finds you well. Similar to last school year, we have gotten off to a strong start with student attendance. Yet, in late October, November, and December we saw a decrease in students' attendance. Daily attendance matters. Students who are consistently in school are better positioned to stay connected to their learning, keep pace academically, and fully engage in the Whitman experience. As such, we ask our parents/caregivers to continue partnering with us by making every effort to ensure students are in school each day and arriving on time.

You may be wondering why I am emphasizing this so much. MSDE and MCPS define chronic absenteeism as missing 10% or more of the school year, regardless of whether those absences are excused or unexcused. Simply put in a 180 day school year, that means a student who misses 18 or more days is considered chronically absent. This is an area we continue to monitor closely, while also looking for opportunities to improve. More importantly, we want to be proactive in providing interventions and supports for students and families when attendance becomes a concern.

If you have specific questions or concerns regarding your student’s attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to their grade level administrator. We are here to partner with you and help address any barriers that may be impacting regular attendance.

Switching gears a bit (and hopefully next week will be one of our highest-attendance weeks of the year) Homecoming Week is here! A big thank you to our SGA, student leaders, staff, and community members who have worked hard to plan a fantastic week filled with school spirit and Whitman pride. I strongly encourage all Whitman students to participate in the activities throughout the week. These moments are an important part of the high school experience and provide great opportunities for students to connect with their peers and feel an even stronger sense of belonging to our school community. Please review the information below, along with the Homecoming letter originally sent on October 5, for additional details about Homecoming Week.

Let’s have a great week and go Vikes!

The Math Work Room is up and running. Students can get extra help after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. In addition to the teacher present, peer tutors will also be available to help. Support is available up to PreCalculus. No signup is needed ~ just show up! Big thank you to the Whitman Foundation for their support in keeping this academic intervention available for students.

• Tues/Thur ~ Room 412 with Mr. Thomas

• Wed ~ Room 384 with Ms. Cline.

• Time: 2:30-4:00 pm

The Whitman Writing Center provides students with a quiet, supportive space to strengthen their skills and grow as confident writers. Students can receive guidance with understanding assignment prompts and rubrics, developing ideas, creating strong thesis statements and arguments, and improving grammar, syntax, word choice, and overall style. The Writing Center also supports students with research, MLA citations and documentation, as well as the planning and development of college essays. Whether students are just getting started, working through a challenging assignment, or looking to refine a final draft of their college essay, the Writing Center is a resource designed to help every student become a stronger, more confident writer. Another big thanks to the Whitman Foundation for their support with the writing center.

• Mon-Fri ~ Room 296

• During lunch & after school until 3:15pm

The Class of 2027 is organizing a fundraiser to support upcoming senior events. All MCPS graduation ceremonies will be held at UMBC, which requires attendees to use clear bags for security purposes. Families have the option to purchase clear bags for $20, with all proceeds benefiting the senior class.

Don't have a senior? You can still rep Whitman at concerts and sporting events with your very own Whitman clear tote!

Need more than one? Contact Ms. Bagley to get more added to your School Cash Online cart!

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

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, Mathematics, Science (Grades 5 & 8), LS MISA, Government, or Social Studies (Grade 8).
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.

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

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

Regional High School Center Programs: Fall Showcases Are Underway
MCPS is expanding access to specialized regional high school Center programs, giving 8th grade students more opportunities to pursue programs connected to their interests while continuing to offer rigorous programming at every local high school.
Center programs span five areas: Medical Science; International Baccalaureate, Humanities & Languages; Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM); Leadership & Public Service; and Visual & Performing Arts. Additional Middle College dual-enrollment opportunities are also being explored in partnership with Montgomery College.
Fall High School Showcases are happening now across all six MCPS regions. These events give 8th grade students and families an opportunity to visit schools, explore programs and courses, meet staff and learn more about the high school options available to them.
Showcases are being held throughout October in the Southern, Eastern, Central South, Central, Central North and Northern regions.
Get informed and explore your options:

• Watch the new Center Programs overview videos: English | Spanish

• Watch: Now You Know — Center Programs: The Basics

• See the full Fall High School Showcase schedule and find an upcoming event in your region.

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.

Wear Your MCPS Pride—It’s for a Good Cause!
Show your MCPS spirit with official gear for the whole family! From sweatshirts and pullovers to shirts and more, there’s something for every MCPS fan. Every purchase gives back—all proceeds help offset student meal debt.
Shop the MCPS Gear Store today!

Student Opportunities

• *NEW* 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

• Smokey Bear Poster Contest: Open to 7th grade students. In celebration of its 120th anniversary, the Maryland Forest Service is sponsoring a Fire Prevention Month Smokey Bear poster contest for 7th grade students. Students are asked to create original artwork inspired by Smokey’s classic message: “Only YOU can prevent wildfires!” to explore wildfire safety and forest conservation. Deadline: Monday, Nov. 2. Learn more.

• 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

• School calendar

• Parent resource page

• News and Information page / Noticias en Español

• Latest photo galleries

• MCPS TV videos

• MCPS TV español