Weekly Newsletter

September 1, 2025

Dear Coyote Community,

I hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather over the long weekend—it was a perfect chance to catch up on outdoor projects without the usual summer heat and humidity.

We’ve had a fantastic start to the school year. Teacher leaders and administrators visited many classrooms last week, and it was wonderful to see such high levels of student engagement across the building. Students seemed genuinely happy to be back—learning, reconnecting with friends, and building strong relationships with staff.

I also want to commend our students for their self-control in following the new MCPS cell phone policy. The transition has been smoother than many of us anticipated. As always, consistency and patience will be key in helping students continue to align their cell phone use with expectations. Thank you to our families for reinforcing these efforts at home.

This week promises to be a very busy and exciting one, with multiple athletic contests and several special events:

• Back to School Night – Thursday, September 4
  More details will be shared in next week’s newsletter. Please note that 9th and 12th grade parent meetings will take place prior to classroom visitations.

• Clarksburg Day Lite – Friday, September 5
  A schoolwide celebration for students and staff to reconnect, build relationships, and enjoy time together.

• Clarksburg Cluster Night – Friday, September 5
  Celebrate community spirit at our first home football game, where families, staff, and students from all Clarksburg Cluster schools will come together for an evening of fun and pride.

It is truly an honor to serve such a wonderful community. I look forward to seeing many of you at our events this week as we continue to celebrate and strengthen our Coyote family. Let’s make it a great week!

Warmly,
Ms. O’Neill

September 2 Mandatory MCPS Student Expectations Lessons

September 4 BTSN (Details to come)

September 5 Clarksburg Day Lite for Students

September 5 Clarksburg Cluster Night @ Boys' Football Game

September 26 Early Release

September 26 Pep Rally and Homecoming Football Game

September 27 Homecoming Dance

In order to help us determine how much pizza should be available for sale at Back to School Night, please complete this form if you would like to purchase dinner for your family. If you do not want pizza, do not use the form. We do not need to collect names as we are using this information to plan for sales.

MCPS has introduced the Refrigerator Curriculum—a one-page overview of what students will learn each marking period. Designed to post on the fridge, these guides help families stay informed about key themes and texts, stay engaged in their student’s education, and, if needed, request alternative assignments if a text conflicts with religious views. See the documents for the first quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

Please check out this month's CHS Media Center newsletter here.

National Honor Society applications are now open to sophomores, juniors and seniors who have at least a 3.0 GPA and meet the other application requirements. Please read through the application packet and contact Carla.A.Ingram@mcpsmd.net or Corrine.J.McCloskey@mcpsmd.net if you have questions. The applications are due by September 16th, 2025.

The National English Honor Society is accepting new applicants who are sophomores, juniors, or seniors with a 3.0 overall gpa and a 3.5 gpa in English classes. Contact Carla.A.Ingram@mcpsmd.net or Corrine.J.McCloskey@mcpsmd.netif you have questions. The application is due by September 17, 2025.

Would you like to support the Class of 2026 and their senior activities? If so, please visit this site to donate. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Shuler (rene_m_shuler@mcpsmd.org).

You have probably noticed that you get updates from MCPS that aren't Remind messages. The district is transitioning away from Remind and will be using only Parent Square by the end of December. In order to make this a smooth transition for staff, students and families, CHS staff will receive training during pre-service on how to use the tool. For families, the only action is to ensure that your contact information is up-to-date in Synergy. Our weekly newsletter will begin to be sent via Parent Square not Remind by the end of September. Please see this parent letter for more information.

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.