Northwest News

Dear Northwest Students and Families,

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend and has had an opportunity to recharge after another busy week at Northwest. As we prepare for the week ahead, I want to thank our students, staff, and families for the continued partnership, energy, and commitment that have helped us build a strong start to the 2026–2027 school year.

We are now several weeks into the school year, and our focus continues to shift from simply learning routines to consistently meeting the expectations and habits that lead to student success. This is an important point in the first marking period for students to take an honest look at their attendance, grades, assignments, and overall engagement and make adjustments early when needed.

As always, the Northwest News is sent each Sunday and remains one of our primary sources of schoolwide communication. Please take a few minutes to review the newsletter each week for important dates, reminders, activities, athletics, academic opportunities, and other information affecting our students and families.

Help Support the Northwest Community

We have established a donation link through SchoolCash Online (SCO) to assist Northwest families experiencing difficult circumstances. Contributions will go directly toward helping purchase food and other essential items for families in need. If you are able, please consider making a donation. Every contribution, regardless of size, can make a meaningful difference for a member of our Northwest community.

Upcoming Dates & Events

🎓 MC2 Senior Parent Meeting – Monday, September 14

Our MC2 Senior Parent Meeting will be held tomorrow, Monday, September 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Northwest auditorium. Families of MC2 seniors are encouraged to attend to learn more about their student's senior year as a full-time Montgomery College student.

📸 School Picture Days – September 15–17

School Picture Days will take place this week on Tuesday, September 15; Wednesday, September 16; and Thursday, September 17.

Pictures will be available approximately two weeks after photo day.

Pre-order Online: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001417124
Ordering Questions: underclass@vosphoto.com

Student Expectations

At this point in the school year, our schoolwide expectations and procedures are fully in effect. Students have reviewed expectations related to safety, behavior, attendance, academics, student identification, and Personal Mobile Devices (PMDs), and we appreciate families continuing to reinforce these expectations at home.

Personal Mobile Devices (PMDs): Students are expected to follow our PMD expectations throughout the school day and comply immediately with staff directions. Protecting instructional time and reducing unnecessary distractions remain priorities as we work to ensure classrooms are environments where students can fully engage in teaching and learning.

Student IDs: All students should have their Northwest student ID with them each day and follow established identification procedures. These expectations are an important component of maintaining a safe and secure school environment.

Attendance & Being On Time

As we move further into the first marking period, consistent attendance and punctuality are essential. Students should arrive at school and to every class on time and ready to learn. Missing portions of instructional time—even a few minutes at a time—can quickly accumulate and affect academic progress.

Families can monitor attendance through ParentVUE and submit absence documentation directly through the platform. We encourage families to review their student's attendance regularly and communicate with the school when questions or concerns arise.

Students should also make arriving to each class on time a priority. Being present is important, but being on time, prepared, and engaged is equally important to making the most of each instructional day.

Academic Progress & Staying Connected

With several weeks of instruction now completed, this is a good time for students and families to review academic progress. Students should be regularly checking Canvas and StudentVUE, completing and submitting assignments on time, reviewing teacher feedback, and seeking assistance when they do not understand something. Students should not wait until the end of the marking period to address academic concerns. Families are encouraged to use ParentVUE to monitor grades, assignments, and attendance and to reach out directly to teachers when questions arise. Early communication between students, families, and staff gives us the greatest opportunity to provide support before a concern becomes a larger challenge.

Arrival, Dismissal & Transportation

Thank you to our families for continuing to support safe and efficient arrival and dismissal procedures. Car riders must be dropped off and picked up through the lower/gym lobby entrance. Car drop-offs and pick-ups are not permitted in the upper bus lot during arrival (7:00–7:55 a.m.) or dismissal (2:20–2:55 p.m.) Drivers should continue to allow adequate time, slow down, remain alert for students, pedestrians, and cyclists, and follow all posted traffic directions. Students utilizing MCPS transportation should continue using their assigned bus stop to support safe and efficient routing.

Looking Ahead

As we begin another full week of school, I encourage every Jaguar to think about one question: Am I establishing the habits now that will help me be successful later? Strong academic outcomes are built through what students do each day—coming to school, arriving to class on time, putting away distractions, participating in instruction, completing assignments, asking questions, and seeking help when needed. Small choices made consistently over time make a significant difference.

Our staff remains committed to supporting every student, but that work is strongest when school, students, and families are aligned, accountable, and all in for student success.

This week's Northwest News contains additional information about upcoming events, athletics and activities, college and career opportunities, PTSA and Booster Club information, ParentVUE resources, and opportunities for students and families to become involved in our Northwest community. Please take a few minutes to review the newsletter in its entirety.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Northwest High School. Enjoy the remainder of your Sunday, and we look forward to welcoming our Jaguars back tomorrow morning for another productive week.

Go Jags!

Northwest Drama is excited to begin preparations for its upcoming fall production! Students interested in getting involved are encouraged to audition on Friday, September 18.

Mark your calendars now and plan to join us for one of our performances:

🎭 Saturday, October 24 — 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

🎭 Sunday, October 25 — 2:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing our Jaguars take the stage and hope our Northwest community will come out to support our talented student performers!

College Fair USA Field Trip- Juniors & Seniors

We are excited to offer a FREE Field Trip for Juniors & Seniors! The field trip is hosted by College Fair USA at Bohrer Park on Friday, October 9, 2026. The bus leaves Northwest HS at 10:00am and returns by 12:00pm. Below you will find all required information:

· Student Permission Form (Hard copies are available in the College/Career Center)

• Permission forms are due to Ms. Miller in the College/Career Center (Room 126) no later than Monday, September 28, 2026.

· Student Google Form

· Seats are limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached or at the deadline.

· If you need a bagged lunch from the cafeteria, please indicate that on the Google Form

Questions? Please reach out to Ms. Miller in the College/Career Center.

Grade 9 College Tour Experience: Lincoln College of Technology- NWHS is excited to partner with the Montgomery County Career Advising Program (MoCoCAP) to offer grade 9 students an opportunity to visit Lincoln College of Technology on Friday, December 11, 2026. Please check out this flyer with all information, including the student permission form. Seats are limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached or at the deadline.

Student Workshops:

Common Application & Scholarship Workshops: Common App assistance is available on Thursdays during lunch, and Scholarship Workshops are held on Wednesdays during lunch

Financial Aid Assistance On the dates listed in the flyer, students can receive assistance during lunch with creating their FSA ID or MDCAPS account

Financial Aid Events:

Financial Aid Information Nights September 17 – Virtual English Session; October 13 – Virtual Spanish Session. Click the flyer to register

Montgomery College Information Night September 22 at 6:30 p.m.

FAFSA Completion Night November 10 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Click the flyer to register

ASVAB @ NWHS: 10/23/26:

Northwest High School is offering Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors the opportunity to take the ASVAB or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery on Friday, October 23,2026 from 7:45am-11am.

The ASVAB is a valuable career exploration tool that helps students identify their strengths and interests; whether they plan to join the military or pursue a civilian career. Find out more about the ASVAB and how to register HERE. Completed permission forms must be returned to Ms. Miller in the Career Center by Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

ATTENTION STUDENT DRIVERS: This is the final week of open parking. Beginning Monday, September 14, all student vehicles must display a valid 2026-2027 parking permit and park exclusively in their assigned spaces. Unpermitted cars or vehicles parking in the wrong spaces risk being ticketed and towed at the owner's expense.

Through Friday, September 11, you may still park in any space in the lower parking lot. Use this week to submit your application and purchase your permit before the open parking window closes.

How to Apply & Pay:

• Submit Applications: Drop off your forms at the Business Office (Room 322), before/after school or during lunch.
• Cost: A full-year permit is $78.00 (processing fee included).
• Payment Method: Paid online through SchoolCash Online. A custom payment link will be emailed to your student account once your application is approved.

Eligibility Requirements:

To qualify for a permit, you must meet the following criteria:

• Academic Standing: Hold a 2.0 cumulative GPA with no more than one "E."
• Financial Standing: Have zero outstanding financial obligations to the school.

Permit Pickup:

All approved parking permits will be distributed in the Business Office (Room 322) on September 10 and 11, before/after school or during lunch.

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

Students who enroll in an AP or IB 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 and IB exam fees, some students may be interested in taking an AP or IB 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.

We will share additional information about exam registration procedures and timelines as it becomes available. If you have questions, please contact our counseling office or AP/IB coordinator, Ms. Amy McClintock at Amy_M_McClintock@mcpsmd.org.

This survey represents one component of the initial process for developing a school year calendar for the school years 2027-2028 AND 2028-2029 incorporating feedback from our students, staff, families, and community members.

In alignment with MCPS Board Policy IDA, School Year Calendar, we will consider educational interests, operational needs, mandated school closures by state law, compliance with minimum instructional days and credit hour requirements, contingencies for inclement weather and other emergencies, staff professional days and early release days, alignment with assessment schedules, etc.

MCPS provides a school year calendar that allows for effective use of time for teaching and learning, for professional growth opportunities, and planning instructional strategies focused on improving student achievement, while maintaining our lens of equity for all students and commitment to community engagement.

Please limit to one response per person. This survey will close on September 20, 2026.

Please see MCPS Board Policy IDA, School Year Calendar for more information about the School Year Calendar for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and MCPS Calendar Central for the current school year calendar.

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Sick of shopping for school supplies at Target? Come shop locally at Northwest instead. The Free Store in room 264 has binders, prep books, paper, backpacks, and more, and everything is free!

Do you have any school supplies you no longer need? The Free Store would love your donations! We take all gently used school supplies, but at the start of the year, we especially need backpacks, calculators, and test prep books. At the moment, we have NO SPIRAL or COMPOSITION notebooks, and we are desperate to stock up. Students have been asking for them non-stop. Please bring items to the front office or The Free Store in room 264.

The Free Store is open most days at lunch in room 264 and is available to all NW students and staff. Thank you for reusing materials, and thank you for your support.

Do you love to take photos of you and your Jag friends?

Did you photograph summer events? School events? School friends?

Contribute to the PHOTO bank that yearbook uses to create the 2026-2027 edition of Silver Paws.

Upload your photos on the QR code. Add first and last name(s) and a brief summary of the photo.

Yearbook staff will consider featuring your photo(s) in the 2026-2027 edition of Silver Paws.

ALSO, Spring Supplements have arrived and are ready for pickup. You can find them in the media center, the attendance office or room 250 before school, during lunch or after school until 2:45. The Spring Supplement is free and features spring sports, spring events such as prom, graduation, and the spring play.

In order to maintain a safe and secure school environment, all staff and students are required to have their ID badges visible at all times while on campus.

Key Points:

• ID Visibility: Your ID must be visible at all times. We will be providing a lanyard for all students during the first week of school.

• Replacement: If you lose your ID or it becomes damaged, you can get a new ID from the Northwest security office for $5.

• School Events: Students must have their school ID in their possession to attend all school-sponsored events (either at Northwest or away).

NON-NEGOTIABLES (Law, Policy, Regulation citations)

MCPS Regulation JNA-RB, Collection of Student Financial Obligations

MCPS Regulation IGT-RA, User Responsibilities for Computer Systems, Electronic Information, and Network Security

MCPS Chromebook Acceptable Use Policy (Spanish)

GUIDELINES

Each student is financially responsible for avoidable damage to or loss of any Chromebook, case, and/or charger. Charging families for avoidable damage is required, and not left to an individual's discretion. Charges must be assessed in alignment with the following: FY 2027 Chromebook Repair and Replacement Costs. No cost is associated for a student to borrow, possess, or use a chromebook. Obligations must be recorded and processed at the time damage or loss is identified. Families may request an appeal or waiver after the charge has been issued.

MCPS is taking steps to enhance transparency and ensure consistent implementation of core instructional texts. To support this, all parents and guardians will be provided with advanced notification of instructional texts used in the classroom and will be permitted to inspect any text on the notification list. Additionally, parents and guardians will be permitted to inspect texts and will have the opportunity to request that their child be excused from instruction involving material that substantially interferes with their sincerely held religious beliefs.

This process requires the following steps:

• Lists of the instructional material to be used in the core areas of instruction will be made available for your review no later than the first week of each quarter. To review that list, click here.

• You will have the opportunity to review these lists and ask questions of your school about the content of the texts. You may also make an appointment with your school to view the texts in person.

• To the extent that any text on the list of instructional materials, sincerely interferes with your families’ sincerely held religious belief, you may request that your child be excused from instruction by completing and submitting a request form. That form will be made available to you on our school webpage.

• If your request is granted, your child will be excused from instruction when his/her teacher is using the text you identified as objectionable and may be afforded the opportunity for other academic work during the period of time in which the student would otherwise be participating in the instruction the student is excused from.

• We will release more specific information about this process soon with links to and instructions for completing the request form.

If students are arriving by car, they must be dropped off at the lower gym lobby entrance until 7:45am. After 7:45 am, car riders must be dropped off at the upper main entrance. Students who walk to school may arrive at the main entrance or the gym lobby. All buses will drop students off at the upper main entrance. Please note that these procedures are the same for dismissal in the afternoon.

Some additional things to note:

• If parents are going to pick their children up for early dismissal, they must come before 2:10 p.m. Parents should either send a written note or an email with the student's full name, I.D. number, and the full name of their parent or guardian in order for them to get a pass to leave their class. When the parent or guardian arrives to the school to pick up their child, they must present a form of identification to the attendance office. If parents do not send an email or provide a written note, they should be aware that it will take up to 10 to 15 minutes for the student to be pulled from class.
• To have an excused absence, the student must also bring a note or email from their parent or guardian including the student's full name, I.D. number, and the full name of their parent or guardian.
• If a student will be absent for more than three days due to traveling purposes, the parents must present a supporting letter in advance stating the days that the student will be absent and the reason why the student will be missing school.

Families, please remember to adhere to the speed limit on Richter Farm Road. Additionally, please do not let students out of your vehicles on Richter Farm Road. We want everyone to arrive to school safely.

It's a long-standing tradition at Northwest for each grade to wear their assigned CLASS COLOR on Pep Rally days! Each class sits in a designated section at the rallies so make an impact for YOUR CLASS by wearing your grade level color and make your presence known! Although participation with wearing class colors is optional, we hope you will join in the FUN!

The grade level colors are as follows:

Freshmen (Grade 9): YELLOW

Sophomores (Grade 10): GREEN

Juniors (Grade 11): RED

Seniors (Grade 12): BLUE

You can wear any clothing and/or accessories in your assigned color as long as you adhere to the school dress code. You can opt to wear clothing that you already own in your grade level color, you can purchase a shirt from the PTSA/Booster Club website for $8: http://www.nwhsptsa.org/shop (available sizes and quantities are limited), or you can purchase a T-shirt in your color at Michael's or Joanne's (the cost is usually around $5) and personalize with fabric markers or paint pens! The possibilities are endless to show your #JagPride!

Email: Scott_E_Smith@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://northwestjags.org
Location: 13501 Richter Farm Road, Germantown, MD, USA
Phone: (240)740-7100
Twitter: @NorthwestJags