Phoenix Community Update

• Monday- Non-Instructional Day - No school for students and teachers
• Tuesday- Period One Phoenix Time
• Wednesday- Period Two Phoenix Time
• Thursday- Period Three Phoenix Time
• Friday- Period Four Phoenix Time

Per MCPS, "schools provide directory information for public listings such as honor roll, awards, and other notices in the newspaper or on the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) website. A student’s name, address, and telephone number may also be released to organizations of any combination of parents/guardians, teachers, and students of a school. Unless you tell them not to, schools can release the information without your prior consent. If you do not want your school to release your directory information, complete the document linked and attached, and return it to your child's school."

Please open the attachment to read the annual notification of asbestos management plan.

Saturday School Is Back—The Sixth Day of Learning Can Go a Long Way!
Sleeping in is great. But you know what else feels pretty good? Getting ahead. Saturday School is gearing up for another year of learning, confidence-building and extra academic support for MCPS students. With certified teachers, support aligned with the MCPS curriculum and locations across the county, it’s a Saturday morning well spent.
Opening ceremonies are Saturday, Sept. 19, and registration is coming up—so don’t forget to get your student signed up!

Learn more about Saturday School and register

One Quick, Confidential Application. More Support for Your Family.
Here’s one school form that’s worth a few minutes of your time. If your family may qualify for Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS), apply! There’s no stigma, no special lunch line and no reason to hesitate. A student’s eligibility is confidential, and students receiving free meals use the cafeteria just like everyone else.
Best of all, you only need one application for all MCPS students in your household, even if they attend different schools.
It’s quick. It’s confidential. And it could make a real difference for your family. Don’t count yourself out, take a few minutes and see if you qualify.
Apply for FARMS and learn more

Grading & Reporting: One-Page Guidance
MCPS has updated its Grading & Reporting guidance to provide students and families with clearer, more timely information about assignments, grades and academic progress.
The goal is simple: clear expectations, timely communication and strong academic support so students know what is expected and families have the information they need to help.
See the One-Page Guidance here.

A Reminder: Quick Answers for Families, All in One Place
Need a quick answer about MCPS? Remember, the Quick Guides for Families are available throughout the school year to help you find clear, easy-to-use information when you need it.
Find helpful guidance on ParentVUE and digital tools, transportation, grading and assessments, study skills, school safety, mental health, student conduct, social media, personal mobile devices and more. Many resources are available in eight languages.
Explore the MCPS Quick Guides for Families

Check out our offerings using the link below and use the Google form on the “sign up” tab to register.

https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/nbms-eca/activity-offerings

French Club is starting this week! 🇫🇷

Our first meeting will be Thursday, September 24th after school. French Club will meet once a month and is open to ANY student who is interested in French language and culture — you do not need to be currently taking French to participate!

Throughout the year, we will explore and celebrate cultures from across the French-speaking world through fun activities, games, food, music, traditions, and more.

Come join us and discover the Francophone world! 🌍🥐🎶

Come to the Science Olympiad interest meeting if you love science and want to show your stuff! Students who were unable to attend Thursday's after school meeting, should plan to come to the Phoenix Time meeting on Tuesday, September 22. Get a Phoenix Time pass from your science teacher.

Hello Eco-Warriors -

All new and returning members are welcome to join the environmental club. Our first meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 22nd afterschool in Mrs. Sadeghi's class (A107) from 3:15-4:15. Options at dismissal are: catch the activity bus, get picked-up or walk home. Please be advised every club member needs to have a guardian fill out the *new electronic permission form* that needs to be submitted before you can participate. A paper copy is no longer necessary. This club generally meets every Tuesday - unless posted otherwise.

Important club meeting dates to note:

Sept. 22 - club meeting

Sept. 29 - club meeting

Oct. 6 - no club (due to outdoor ed)

Oct. 13 - no club (due to outdoor ed)

Oct. 20 - club meeting

Please stay tuned for more reminders and upcoming information in the announcements. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out: jacklynn_f_sadeghi@mcpsmd.org

Good evening NBMS Families,

Are you interested in challenging yourself with mathematics beyond the classroom? North Bethesda Middle School students have opportunities to participate in Math Team and a variety of local, regional, and national math competitions throughout the school year.

Complete this form to let us know which opportunities interest you. Completing this form does not commit you to participating in every competition you select. Additional information and registration forms will be sent as competition dates approach.

AMC 8 or AMC 10 Competitions

Please use this google form to register your child for the AMC 10 and/or AMC 8 competitions. (These are optional competitions. If you love Math and want to try something new...go for it!!)

The AMC 10 will be held on Thursday, November 5th, from 2:35 - 4:15. This test covers high school curriculum up to 10th grade. It is 25 questions, 75 minutes.

The AMC 8 will be held on Thursday, January 21st, from 3:15 - 4:15. This test covers typical middle school math curriculum up to 8th grade. It is 25 questions, 40 minutes. (Snow Date, Wednesday, January 27th)

More info about both competitions can be found here: https://maa.org/student-programs/amc/

Both tests will be held in person in the cafeteria (If less than 32 students, it will be held in C103). There is a $7 registration charge for AMC 10 and $4 for AMC 8, which includes all processing fees. The deadline to sign up is Friday, October 2, 2026 by 3:00 PM. The payment link will be sent to you after registration closes. You will have one week to submit your payment.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy Watkins at Amy_Watkins@mcpsmd.org

📅 Date: Thursday September 24th & Friday September 25th 2026

📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day

🛒 Pre-order Online: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001417123

📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com

Students will take pictures with their PE classes and the schedule is linked here.

Activity Buses are running. They will be available for students who are participating in extracurricular activities on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The buses leave campus at 4:30 p.m. and stop at central locations as opposed to individual student addresses. The routes for the buses are linked here.

The NBMS Counseling Department is here to support you and your student. Our website offers great resources for developing adolescents and their caregivers. We also update upcoming events in the Counseling Department and Community Mental Health workshops weekly. Bookmark our tab!

Did you miss Coffee With the Counselors, Meet the Team, on Friday, September 11th? Find the recording and slides here and on our website.

On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, all Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Grade 8 students will participate in the PSAT™ 8/9 and Grade 11 students will participate in the PSAT/NNMSQT during the regular school day at no cost to students or families. Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, MCPS is expanding the College Board suite of assessments to provide students with earlier access to nationally recognized college and career readiness resources. The PSAT 8/9 establishes an early academic benchmark to support instructional planning and high school course planning, provides students and families with early access to College Board college and career planning resources, establishes a baseline for measuring academic growth throughout high school, and provides one common academic measure that may be considered, alongside multiple indicators, as part of the comprehensive review process for criteria-based regional academic programs. Administering the assessment during the school day removes financial and scheduling barriers and ensures equitable access for all students.

More information regarding the PSAT will be sent directly to all eighth grade families.

Many students were having issues signing into their Chromebooks or with their passwords. As a parent/caregiver, you have the ability to reset your child's password. Please follow the instructions linked here.

• Be at your stop on time and wait safely away from the road.
• Wait for the bus to stop and the driver to signal before approaching or crossing.
• Board safely—no pushing, shoving or horseplay.
• Listen to the bus operator and follow directions just as you would from a teacher or school administrator.
• Stay seated, keep the aisle clear and keep hands, feet and belongings inside the bus.
• Be respectful of others—no bullying, harassment, fighting, inappropriate language or disruptive behavior.
• Respect neighborhoods and property around bus stops and help keep buses clean.
• Ride your assigned bus unless you have permission to do otherwise.
• Speak up about unsafe behavior and tell the bus operator or a trusted adult if there is a problem.
• Remember: Your choices matter. Safe, responsible behavior helps everyone get to and from school safely.

Ride by the Rules: Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe.

North Bethesda Middle School is continuing to embrace the appropriate use of technology for students throughout the school day to enhance students’ learning experience. Please review the information below as it relates to the NBMS use of personal mobile devices (PMD’s). PMD’s are defined as cell phones and personal listening devices, including earbuds, headsets, ear accessories, etc.

Cell Phones/ Personal Mobile Devices: If you choose to send your child to school with a personal mobile device to include smartwatches, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the device is turned off and locked away in their locker during the academic day. Moreover, students must turn off and refrain from using their phones once they enter the school building in the morning (this includes while they wait in the cafeteria, Media Center or gym for school to begin) until they exit out of the building to go home. Any cellphone seen by staff during the instructional day may be confiscated. NBMS is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen cell phones.

Please note: recording eyeglasses and smart glasses are also prohibited and unauthorized.

CONNECT WITH THE PTSA

📌 COMING UP — MARK YOUR CALENDAR

⛸️ NBMS Skate Night — September 26!
Join us at Cabin John Ice Rink on Saturday, September 26, from 6:30–8:00 p.m. PTSA members get FREE student ticket! All other tickets are $11 and include admission and skate rental. Get your tickets by September 21.

Volunteers needed! Help with check-in — students can earn SSL hours. Sign up here.

📅 Save the Date: October PTSA Meeting — Oct. 13

Join us Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 PM for our next PTSA meeting! Hear from Principal Snead with updates on the school year and from Ms. Watkins about math programming at NBMS.

The meeting will be hybrid—join us in person at NBMS or via Zoom. Find the Zoom link on the NBMS PTSA calendar. We hope to see you there!

FOR STUDENTS

🏈 Future Wildcats: WJ Community Night — Sept. 24!

NBMS families are invited to Walter Johnson’s Community Night on Thursday, Sept. 24! Come cheer on the Wildcats as varsity football takes on Wootton at 7 PM, and get a taste of the WJ community. Kid activities begin at 6 PM, with concessions, Wildcat gear, face painting, tattoos, prizes, and more.

Elementary and middle school students from WJ cluster schools get in FREE but must be accompanied by an adult. Adult tickets must be purchased in advance—tickets are not sold at the gate. Purchase tickets here.

Come out and see some of the fun that awaits our future Wildcats!

🏪 CARE Store Opens Sept. 25 — Help Us Get Ready!

We’re less than a week away from the first CARE Store of the year, and thanks to our amazing NBMS community, donations are already pouring in! We have lots of student favorites ready to go, but could still use help with a few things:

🍩 Donate Munchkins: Help make our first opening extra special! Sign up to donate 50 assorted Munchkins, to be dropped off at NBMS by 11 AM on Sept. 25. Sign up here.

Donate CARE Store Items: We could especially use games, face masks, lip gloss, phone accessories, and other fun items middle schoolers would love. Shop our Amazon Wish List, or drop off donations labeled “CARE” at the NBMS office.

Thank you for the incredible generosity—we couldn’t make the CARE Store happen without our NBMS families!

🎓 Fall PTSA-Sponsored Clubs Are Open for Registration!

Looking for something fun and enriching after school? Registration is now open for our fall PTSA-sponsored clubs for grades 6–8!

Debate Club — Wednesdays, Sept. 23–Nov. 11, 3:15–4:15 PM
Students will build confidence and communication skills while learning to develop arguments, respond with rebuttals, and consider different points of view. Register for Debate Club

Read All About It — Thursdays, Sept. 24–Nov. 12, 3:15–4:15 PM
Students become the staff of their own newspaper, learning interviewing and writing skills while covering local news, writing opinion pieces, and managing a digital publication. Register for Read All About It

Chess Club — NEW this fall! — 3:10–4:10 PM
Whether your student is brand new to chess or an experienced player, Chess Club offers a fun environment to learn, practice, play, and build their skills with Chess Academy staff. Register for Chess Club

Find these and other after-school activities at the NBMS PTSA Activities page.

GET INVOLVED

🙋 Help Make Our Favorite PTSA Events Happen!

Many of the events NBMS students look forward to each year are organized by parent volunteers—and we’re looking for families to help make them happen this year! We already have resources, information, and experience from past years to share, so you won’t be starting from scratch. Grab a friend and help with one event, or let us know where you’d like to pitch in!

We’re looking for volunteers to help with:

Greetings 6th Grade Families,

We are so excited to share that our preparations for the NBMS Outdoor Education program have begun. Students will receive an information packet regarding the details of the trip during the first week of school. Below you will find the session dates. Students have been assigned their session based on the first letter of their LAST name.

• SESSION ONE (October 5-7) - A E H K Q T W Z

• SESSION TWO (October 7-9) - D G J M P S V Y

• SESSION THREE (October 12-14) - B C F I L N O R U X & All ARS Students

We need 16-20 parent chaperones per session! If you are interested in chaperoning, please first complete the interest form. The interest form also includes important information regarding the three major requirements parents must complete in order to attend. Once you have completed the requirements, you will then need to apply to show proof of completion. As our trip is very early in the school year, the sooner you begin this process, the greater likelihood that you can join us. We cannot do this without you - thank you so much for considering!

This is one of the most memorable events in 6th grade! We are so grateful for all of your support.

Sincerely,

Chris Pichola

Christopher_M_Pichola@mcpsmd.org

Outdoor Education Organizer