News from The Mill – May 2020

NEWS FROM “THE MILL” May 1 - 31, 2020

Watkins Mill High School

10301 Apple Ridge Road Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879

(301) 284-4400 FAX (301) 840-3980 http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/

MESSAGE FROM MS. GODDARD, PRINCIPAL Happy Spring! The 4th marking period is underway and our remote learning is in full swing. I applaud the staff and students’ efforts to succeed while embracing this new technology and course work during the closure. Please be sure to follow our calendars, website, and this newsletter containing important information.

Looking ahead to the 2020-2021 school year, we are now developing the master schedule for next year, based on the course selections that students made earlier this year. It’s not too late to make changes, particularly if moving into Honors, AP, and IB courses, electives, or special programs. Students will be contacted regarding course selections toward the end of May. If you have any questions, please feel free to email the appropriate staff with any questions.

Parents/guardians of children receiving special education and related services are asked to complete the 2020 Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey (English and Spanish) over the next few weeks. The information you provide will help guide the state’s efforts in improving special education and related services in public schools. The survey is anonymous and can be completed online at https://www.mdparentsurvey.com/. The deadline to complete the survey is Monday, May 18.

Encuesta 2020 de Educación Especial sobre Participación de los Padres Se solicita a los padres o guardianes de estudiantes que reciben educación especial y servicios relacionados que en las próximas semanas completen la Encuesta 2019 de Maryland de Participación de los Padres en Educación Especial. La información que usted provea servirá para guiar los esfuerzos del estado a fin de mejorar la educación especial y los servicios relacionados en las escuelas públicas. La encuesta es anónima y se puede completar en línea. El plazo límite para completar la encuesta es el lunes, 18 de mayo. Visite www.mdparentsurvey.com/ para completar la encuesta.

Thank you for your support of students and our school community. If we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to email. A full staff directory can be found here: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/staff/directory.aspx

Sincerely,

Carol Goddard, Principal

IN THIS NEWSLETTER: • Message from Ms. Goddard

• The Daily Virtual Schedule/Attendance Update

• PTSA and Booster Club Information

• News and Virtual Happenings from the Mill

News from The Mill – May 2020

THE DAILY VIRTUAL SCHEDULE

News from The Mill – May 2020

NEWS AND VIRTUAL HAPPENINGS FROM THE MILL: “ATTENDANCE” DURING ONLINE LEARNING WEEKS

Teachers will report out student engagement in online learning each week, beginning the week of 4/27 and use this as “attendance” for each week. If your child is not engaging in online learning and is missing work in one or more classes during the week, teachers will mark your child “Absent” the following Monday for you to receive an automated message on Tuesday. Please consult the schedule of online office hours available on the WMHS website, and email your child’s teachers with questions about required or missing work for your child. (Please note that “attendance” is marked by work submission and communication with the teacher throughout each week, not by live attendance in any of the optional live sessions that some teachers may choose to run.) Students must be sure to check in with each of their teachers online and submit work each week in order to earn credit for MP4/second semester! Check with teachers during posted online office hours for details.

SUMMER R.I.S.E.—CONNECTING STUDENTS TO CAREERS

MCPS is partnering with WorkSource Montgomery and the Montgomery County Government on

the 2020 Summer R.I.S.E. program that will provide rising juniors and seniors with enriching

summer career development experiences through local Montgomery County businesses and

nonprofit organizations. Through Summer R.I.S.E. (Really Interesting Summer Experience),

students will participate in a three-week career exploration that will introduce them to the

structures of businesses, technical skills, the role of technology, and the importance of

customer service. Sign up today! Due to COVID-19, please check the website for updates. More

information is available at:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/partnerships/summer-rise/.

SUMMER R.I.S.E.— CONNECTANDO ESTUDIANTES a CARRERAS

MCPS se está asociando con WorkSource Montgomery y con el gobierno del Condado de

Montgomery para el programa Summer R.I.S.E. (Really Interesting Summer Experience

(Experiencia Realmente Interesante Durante el Verano), que ofrecerá a estudiantes que

ingresarán a los Grados 11 y 12 experiencias enriquecedoras de capacitación profesional

durante el verano a través de empresas locales y organizaciones sin fines de lucro del Condado

de Montgomery. Por medio de Summer R.I.S.E., durante tres semanas los estudiantes

participarán en una exploración de carreras que les dará una introducción a las estructuras de

empresas, destrezas técnicas, el rol de la tecnología y la importancia del servicio al cliente.

¡Inscríbase hoy Mismo! Debido a COVID-19, consulte el sitio web para obtener actualizaciones.

Hay más información disponible en

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/partnerships/summer-rise/.

COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS Ms. Heald is working remotely and is here to help you with anything involving:

College Scholarships Financial Aid

News from The Mill – May 2020

Work shops Naviance

Seniors - be sure to check your email daily for updates on financial aid from the government. If you do not claim money offered it will go to someone else. Please email her at Catharine_E_Heald@mcpsmd.org YEARBOOK

https://www.jostens.com/yearbooks/high-school-yearbooks.html

The yearbook staff has 30 copies left to sell. Once those are sold, that's it. We will arrange for distribution soon. REGIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL REGISTRATION (Due to COVID-19- check website for future updates.) Information regarding summer school registration can be found by following the link below.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/extendedhours/summerschool/ COURSES AND SITES:

SS1 = Daily Face-to-face Session 1 (June 22 to July 10; 8:10am to 1:00pm) - Northwest HS, Springbrook HS, Bethesda Chevy Chase HS and Wheaton HS. SS2 = Daily Face-to-face Session 2 (July 14 to July 31; 8:10am to 1:00pm) - Northwest HS, Springbrook HS, Bethesda Chevy Chase HS and Wheaton HS. SOPTG = Summer Online Pathway to Graduation (June 22 to August 6) - Walter Johnson HS, Gaithersburg HS, Northwest HS, Springbrook HS, Bethesda Chevy Chase HS and Wheaton HS. Blended = Blended Learning (Dates vary; 9:00am to 1:00pm) - Gaithersburg HS, Northwest HS, Springbrook HS, Bethesda Chevy Chase HS and Wheaton HS.

WELLNESS AT THE MILL The Wellness Committee here at WMHS is starting a Mill Mental Health Month. Ms. Makosy and Mr. Jackson have set up a new Twitter and Instagram sites called @Still_Well2020. Our hope and expectations are that all staff will take a picture or video showing how they are working out or maintaining a positive wellbeing during this time of stress and post it while tagging our Twitter handle. “Rines let’s stay connected!!”

News from The Mill – May 2020

ESOL DEPARTMENT OLNEY THEATRE TRIP

Mega ESOL-Department Field Trip to “Miss You Like Hell” at Olney Theatre Center -- Impacts Students and Continues to Resonate

On February 27, 2020, two-hundred eighty students and staff (7 buses!) took a field trip to the award-winning Olney Theatre to experience a very meaningful musical, “Miss You Like Hell” by Quiara Alegria Hudes and music by Erin McKeown. The play is about a Latina mother and daughter who were reunified after being apart for several years. It underscored the need for family communication, forgiveness, and the sadness of deportation. Students appreciated the raw authenticity of the mother-daughter relationship and could truly relate to the poignancy of Olivia's personal story about being reunited with her Mexican mother. The play hit the mark for our ESOL students in so many ways -- many of them have been through (or are living through) similar experiences or know people who have. The wonderful music, movement, and beautiful theater venue were truly appreciated by students who had never been to a live theater. ESOL students were also joined by some of Mr. Tarzwell’s Theatre students and Mr. Allen’s IB Film students. Olney Theatre also provided pre-show and post-show bilingual workshops at school for ESOL students to share their own personal stories.

News from The Mill – May 2020

Talk-back session with some of the amazing cast of “Miss You Like Hell” – Olney Theatre

Watkins Mill High School is truly appreciative of the free transportation and tickets available to us by Olney Theatre, and for ESOL-Theater Teacher, Sharon Asro Faber, for working together with Olney Theatre to make it happen, for ESOL Resource Teacher, Margaret Vanbuskirk (who orchestrated huge logistics), for our wonderful administrators who facilitated the trip, and to our wonderful staff chaperones and students who made us proud. A big thank you to everyone!

Sharon Asro Faber, ESOL-Theater Teacher, Watkins Mill High School

News from The Mill – May 2020

WMHS students and staff settle into their seats before the show

Hanging out in Olney Theatre’s state-of-the-art facility

SPRING BREAK 2021 TRIP GREECE w/CRUISE

First let me say, I hope all the Watkins Mill families and friends are healthy and safe. It's a hard time to be a student, especially those who were ready to enjoy the last years of their high school careers. In the hopes that we can get back to our lives next school year, here's a little reminder of a positive opportunity.

News from The Mill – May 2020

Next year's Spring Break trip is scheduled to go to Greece, with a tour of Athens and multiple Greek islands. That's right this tour includes a cruise! We will even make a stop in one of my favorite towns and one of the Ancient Wonders of the World, Kusadasi and the site of Ephesus. Due to the cancellation of this year’s trip, next year's trip is almost totally full. Register ASAP to secure a spot. Registration contact below... OPAH! Visit the following website or call to register… eftours.com/2296688ZJ (800) 665-5364 This trip is for Juniors and Seniors Only! Thomas Sneddon Watkins Mill High School Social Studies (IB History/Military History) HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT NEWS

The Culinary Arts students attended the Maryland ProStart Invitational culinary competition on March 10th. They were able to hear a presentation from a MasterChef winner, observe competitors from across the state, and critique plating from local teams. It was a wonderful experience for everyone! Coronavirus is not stopping the food safety learning for the Hospitality Management students! All level one students are working to gain their ServSafe Food Handler Certification during distance learning. This certification is an industry recognized certification offered by the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation that focuses on food safety and sanitation skills needed in the industry. Emily J. Nalda Hospitality Management Department WMHS BOOSTER CLUB NEWS Support our Seniors all while enjoying delicious food from Ledo Pizza. From Sunday, May 3rd to Saturday, May 9th, part of the proceeds will go to the Mill’s Class of 2020. Food is available to order for carryout or curb side pickup. Call to order 301-740-3351 and mention Watkins Mill High School. Thank you for your support!

News from The Mill – May 2020

The Booster Club surprised some seniors to show how proud they are of our Class of 2020 and

it was featured on Chanel 7 News (@abc7dc). These signs were posted around town and

if you see one take a picture and tag it using #rines2020. We have a few pictures below and

you might recognize some of the people and places.

#RINES2020 CONGRATULATORY SIGNS AROUND TOWN TO APPLAUD OUR SENIORS

News from The Mill – May 2020

MESSAGE FROM YOUR PTSA

Due to the current pandemic, there will be no PTSA meetings until further notice. All PTSA business will resume as soon as possible, including the nominations and elections of new PTSA Board Members for the 2020-2021 school year. Pamela A. Smith PTSA Vice President EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM The preschool students in Ms. Cloyd’s class have been working on their learning enrichment through online resources like ABCMouse and Scholastic. This week all preschool students were registered in an online course for preschoolers developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium to learn about sea life. Students have also been mailed weekly preprinted packets to work on alphabet and number concepts as not all students have laptops and/or printers. One of the preschool students sent us the photo listed below.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK Teacher Appreciation Week, or National Teacher Appreciation Week, is a week-long celebration in recognition of teachers and the contributions they make to education and society. It is held in the first full week of May of every year and provides an opportunity for students, their parents, and school principals to show their appreciation for the hard work teachers do and the long hours many of them put in. The Tuesday in Teacher Appreciation Week is designated as Teacher Appreciation Day. We are grateful to have a knowledgeable and dedicated supportive staff of Teachers here at Watkins Mill High School. Please feel free to reach out and thank a teacher during this time.

News from The Mill – May 2020

MEDIA CENTER NEWS Check out the latest (Stay well tips & thoughts) from the Media Center. Click here to access the newsletter. Ana Mitton Media Specialist Watkins Mill HS

STUDENT SERVICE LEARNING HOURS The SSL requirements for the Class of 2020 only have been waived by the state. Therefore, no additional SSL hours are required for graduating seniors. If a senior wants to submit an SSL form to be recorded, those will still be accepted. SSL forms for all students should have all parts completed, including the reflection, and emailed to Ms. Torres-Meriwether at kerrin_a_torres-meriwether@mcpsmd.org. It can be a scanned copy or even a clear picture. If you have questions, contact Ms. Torres-Meriwether by email. Follow us on Instagram for updates @wmhsssl

IMPORTANT LINKS WMHS Website Home: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/

Athletics: http://www.watkinsmillathletics.com/ Calendar: http://coldfusion.mcps.k12.md.us/cfms/webteam/calendar/calendar.cfm?calendarID=watkinsmillhs Staff Directory: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/staff/directory.aspx

PTSA Information: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/ptsa/ Booster Club: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/boosters/boostersClub.aspx

Lunch Pre-Payments: https://www.mylunchmoney.com/

Student Service Learning: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/ssl/

Bullying: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/230-35.shtm

Free SAT/ACT Prep: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/hsi/testprep.shtm TWITTER HANDLES @WatkinsMillHS @wmhsCOUNSELING @WMHSTheCurrent @TheMillSports @Still_Well2020 @Wmhsptsa @WMBoosterClub @WatkinsMill2020 @WMmc1989 @wmhsssl