Weekly Newsletter

August 30, 2026

Dear Coyote Community,

Happy Sunday! I imagine many of our families were just as tired as our staff after a busy first week back! I hope the weekend provided everyone with some time to rest, recharge, and enjoy a slower pace.

I am happy to report that student compliance with our new cell phone policy was strong during the first week. We will continue our morning and pre-lunch reminders as everyone adjusts to new routines and habits. We especially appreciate our students for responding appropriately when an adult provided a reminder about putting away a personal mobile device.

Back-to-School Night is Thursday, September 3. The schedule is included below, along with a link for families to indicate whether they plan to purchase pizza for dinner before the event. Please complete the form if you are interested so we can get an approximate head count for ordering purposes.

As in previous weeks, I am resharing several items because they are especially important and I want to make sure everyone has had an opportunity to review them. There is a lot of information, so I encourage you to focus first on the sections most relevant to your family and return to others as needed.

Finally, this week is expected to be very hot. Like schools across the county, CHS can experience occasional challenges with air conditioning, and temperatures may vary significantly from room to room. Students should bring water, stay well hydrated, and avoid overexerting themselves in the heat. Dressing in layers is also a good idea, as some classrooms may feel warmer while others may be quite cool.

It is an honor to serve this wonderful community, and I am truly excited about the year ahead. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we will make it a great year!

Warmly,
Ms. O’Neill

September 3 BTSN (See info below)

September 7 No School

September 9 Student Expectations Lessons

September 18 Clarksburg Day Lite and Student Early Release

September 21 No School

September 22 PTSA Meeting (Media Center)

Did you complete SSL hours over the summer? If so, there are three ways to submit SSL forms to Mrs. Coe:

• Drop off in the main office
• Bring form directly to Mrs. Coe in room 159
• Use our CHS google form to submit electronically

**Mrs. Coe CAN NOT accept forms that are emailed**

UPDATE: There is a new SSL form beginning this year! Old forms will be accepted through August, but any hours completed after August MUST use the new reflection form.

Don't forget that we have our CHS Bank of Projects that are open to all students. These virtual SSL hours are a great way to complete your hours!

We are pleased to share that Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will pay the exam fees for Advanced Placement (AP) exams for the 2026–2027 school year.

Students who enroll in an AP course and register for the corresponding exam will not be required to pay the exam fee. This reflects MCPS's continued commitment to expanding access to rigorous academic opportunities and supporting student success.

Now that MCPS will cover AP fees, some students may be interested in taking an AP course. Students and families who would like to discuss their academic options are encouraged to contact their school counselor. We encourage students to enroll in challenging coursework that aligns with their interests, strengths, and future goals.

If you have questions, please contact your school counseling office or Ms. Daly, the CHS testing coordinator.

Apply online for meal benefits today! A new FARMS application must be completed every school year, even if your children qualified the previous year. Households meeting federal income standards are eligible for free school meals, but must apply to receive this benefit. Only one application is needed for all students in a household.

Learn more.

MCPS has revised aspects of its Grading and Reporting policy for the 2026–2027 school year. One important update is that students who intentionally skip a class or school without authorization will not be permitted to make up missed work.

We encourage families to review all of the updates outlined in the chart below together. These expectations will also be reviewed with students during homeroom during the first week of school to ensure they understand the changes and how they may impact their grades.

This year, CHS is placing an increased emphasis on recognizing and rewarding students who are persistently present and engaged in their learning. Students who maintain an attendance rate of 90% or higher will be considered persistently present and will have access to a variety of privileges and incentives, as outlined in the flyer below.

An important part of strong attendance is arriving to every class on time and remaining in class for the entire period. To support this expectation, CHS will also continue to address patterns of tardiness. Students who are tardy three or more times to a particular class will be assigned a teacher and/or administrative lunch detention.

Our goal is simple: we want every student in school, on time, and in class each day. Every class period provides opportunities to learn, participate, ask questions, and connect with teachers and peers. When students miss class—whether through an absence, tardiness, or leaving class early—they miss valuable learning opportunities.

We ask families to partner with us by reinforcing the importance of showing up, being on time, and staying engaged. Together, we can build strong attendance habits that help every student make the most of each school day.

Help your child build confidence and academic success with Saturday School (George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy). Programs run on Saturday mornings for students in grades K–12, focusing on reading, math, test prep and STEM enrichment, such as coding and robotics. Clarksburg is a Saturday School site.

The opening ceremony is on Sept. 19 for families to register and learn about the program. The first tutoring session is Sept. 26 from 8:30-11 a.m.

Cost: $85/year ($40 for FARMS recipients) Note: Fees increase to $100 / $50 FARMS after Sept. 1.

Transportation: Free MCPS bus routes available to center sites.

Details & Registration: saturdayschool.org

Getting students to and from school safely is a shared responsibility. MCPS operates more than 1,200 bus routes serving more than 100,000 students each day, and a few simple steps can help keep everyone safe.

• Know your route. Families should review their student’s bus route, stop and schedule before heading out each morning.

• Be safe at the stop and on the bus. Students should stay clear of the roadway, follow the driver’s directions, remain seated and avoid distractions while riding.

• Drivers: Stop for the bus. Slow down around school buses and stops, and always obey flashing red lights and stop arms as required by Maryland law.

• Especially early in the year, buses may run late because of traffic, congestion or student needs. Safety comes first.

Remember to Ride by the Rules!

• 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.