Weekly Newsletter

April 26, 2026

Dear Coyote Community,

Happy Sunday! I have to admit—I was not a big fan of this weekend’s weather. Saturday’s rain and the cooler temperatures did not quite align with the plans I had in mind. I hope you had better luck with your weekend activities!

We are now just one week away from May Madness—otherwise known as a month full of testing! You can find the CHS testing schedule here. These assessments are important, and we want every student to do their very best. During the May 6 and May 7 MCAP testing blocks, all Algebra 1 students who are not taking the Government test will participate in mandatory MCPS review lessons designed to support proficiency on the Algebra MCAP. Students are being supported in a variety of ways, including targeted review sessions focused on specific content and skills. Proficiency levels from these assessments contribute to our school’s Maryland Report Card ratings and are published on student transcripts. Students should report to Room 240 by 7:45 a.m., where staff will direct them to their assigned revew locations.

The window for the MCPS Spring Survey and the calendar adjustment survey for next year is now open. Links are provided below, and I encourage you to take a few minutes to complete both surveys—they are very brief, and your feedback is important.

Finally, on May 1 and May 2, we have two exciting cultural events open to our community. On Friday, we will host our Extreme Latin Dance Social, featuring our talented CHS dance team along with teams from several other schools. On Saturday, our Naach Showcase will highlight the incredible talents of our own dancers as well as performers from across the region. Both events promise to be lively, engaging, and a lot of fun—I hope you will consider joining us!

Have a wonderful, productive week!

Ms. O'Neill

May 1 Extreme Latin Dance Social

May 2 Naach Showcase

May 4-15 MCAP and AP testing

May 18-22 Make Up APs

May 18-28 Make Up MCAP

May 22 Seniors' Last Day, Clarksburg Day, Senior Sunset

May 25 No School

May 27 No School

MCPS facilitates local schools collection of feedback related to culture and climate. You may remember there was a survey in the fall. Spring administration is now open and closes Sunday, May 10. Please take a few moments to complete the survey. Our Instructional Leadership Team uses this data in our school improvement work. Each stakeholder group has its own link:

• Families: https://parentsurvey.mcpsmd.org/
• Staff: https://staffsurvey.mcpsmd.org/
• Students: https://stud.mcpsmd.org/

During its work session today (April 16), the Board of Education discussed proposed amendments to the 2026-2027 school year calendar. Due to a Maryland State Board of Education requirement that public school systems end their school years by June 18, 2027, the Board will need to amend the school calendar. Changes could affect: religious observances, the shortening of winter and/or spring break, or potentially beginning the school year earlier in August.

MCPS is asking for its community’s input on these changes. Please fill out this survey and let us know your preferences for making changes to next year’s school calendar.
The Board will take final action at its business meeting on April 30.

As seniors celebrate milestone moments this spring, we want to remind families about the risks associated with the “Senior Assassins” Game. While intended as fun, this activity, often involving water guns and social media, has been linked to unsafe behaviors such as reckless driving, trespassing and alarming situations in public spaces.

Even toy water guns can be mistaken for real weapons, creating potentially serious consequences. We strongly discourage participation and encourage families to talk with their students about making safe, responsible choices. Let’s work together to ensure a positive and safe end to the school year for all students.

Find the CHS course registration request form here.

We are proud to celebrate our Clarksburg High School esports team for winning the Rocket League championship last Saturday!

The team entered the playoffs as an underdog and delivered an impressive run, defeating #1 seed Rockville to advance to the finals. On the other side of the bracket, #2 Poolesville defeated #3 Richard Montgomery, setting up a competitive championship matchup.

In the finals, Clarksburg faced Poolesville in a best-of-seven series that went the distance. In a thrilling back-and-forth contest, our team secured the championship with a 4–3 victory.

The championship team included:

• Andrew Knight (Captain)
• Tavian Delgado
• Lewis Feng

This outstanding achievement reflects the team’s dedication, teamwork, and perseverance. Congratulations to our student-athletes for representing Clarksburg with excellence!

Thank you Coach John Schuilen for his time supporting the team.

Last Friday's opening night audience of High School Musical included members of The National Capital Area Cappies. This is a writing and awards program that trains high school theater and journalism students to be expert writers. The members attend productions all over the area and write reviews with the hope of theirs being published in a local media outlet. Below is one of many reviews about our spring production.

The C

"Let's go, Wildcats!" Step into the halls of Clarksburg High School's production of High School Musical, where a jock can bake and a brainiac can perform onstage, as long as they're brave enough to break free from the status quo.

High School Musical is based on the 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie of the same name. The show follows students at the fictional East High School, where everyone is stuck in a clique. However, when basketball star Troy and math nerd Gabriella decide to defy their stereotypes and audition for the school musical, they must convince their friends that their individuality makes them stronger.

Sharpay (Savin Criddle) and Ryan (Evan Barnes) had a similarly strong dynamic, as Barnes's quiet comedy perfectly complemented Sharpay's overdramatic personality. Alongside powerful and smooth vocals, Criddle brought infectious energy and commitment to her character. From her distinct, sassy walk that announced Sharpay's presence before she even spoke, to her hilarious, kicking and screaming tantrum at not getting the lead role, Criddle's Sharpay earned constant laughs on her journey to rule the drama club.

Another standout performance came from Max Van Akkeren as Jack Scott. Acting as the school's announcer and an ad hoc-narrator, Van Akkeren brought remarkable energy to his role, making every scene transition fun and interesting. Additionally, his exuberant voice and full-body commitment to character made his cheesy dialogue feel like a perfect addition to the show.

The ensemble of High School Musical brought undeniable enthusiasm to the halls of East High. Each student had a unique personality and maintained their character throughout the entire show. Whether they were a bully stuffing someone in a locker or a theatre kid pretending to be a seal in detention, the ensemble created a vivid student body and never failed to make the audience laugh.

One standout of the show was its dancing, choreographed entirely by Halle Eades. Eades put her own spin on the iconic movie choreography, incorporating multiple styles, including hip-hop and cheerleading, to create dynamic and eye-catching movements that brought East High to life. Every number was incredibly clean and sharp, especially "Get'cha Head in the Game," where actors bounced basketballs in perfect unison.

The environment of East High was further enhanced by set designers Lauren Acker, Sasha Batista, Alexa Davaltova, and Vincent Fonseca. The red-and-white multi-level set perfectly represented the spirited high school, and rotating doors painted with different designs, like drama masks or beakers, allowed for the creation of separate rooms within the school. Sara Perez, Kristina Bogojevic, Sofia Rickhoff, and the Props Crew decorated the set with posters and flyers, adding to the authentic high school environment.

The cast and crew of High School Musical brought electric energy and enthusiasm to the stage, creating a vibrant show that had the audience cheering "Go Wildcats" from start to finish. They reminded the audience that "we're all in this together," and breaking free from expectations is what lets us soar.

by Julie Kessel of Albert Einstein High School

Safety Day: Learn about pedestrian safety, Safe Routes to School and the Vision Zero program during this free event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville.

Maryland Center for School Safety’s Prepare 2026 Art Showcase : This year’s theme, Future Ready Schools, calls on student artists in Grades 3-12 to share their perspectives on what school safety means to them. Deadline: Sunday, May 31.