by Lauren Frank ‘23 The College Board announced earlier this year that the SAT will become entirely online by 2024. This adjustment is intended to make the testing environment less stressful and more accessible. Students will have the option to choose the device they will test on, such as a tablet or personal laptop. Despite the change in platform the … Read More
by Alex Braun ‘23 and Jay Joseph ‘22 MCPS sent a letter to employees and parents on February 26, informing them that the school system anticipates moving to a mask-optional policy on March 8 after a vote from the Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE). The BOE will consider advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Transmission (CDC) and … Read More
by Lauren Hill ‘22 In the wake of the shooting that occurred on January 21 at Magruder, which left one 15-year-old student critically injured, MCPS has vowed to reevaluate every aspect of school safety. The newly appointed MCPS Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnigh,t promised a review of the current security plan which would include consideration of reintroducing Student Resource Officers (SROs) … Read More
by Bryan Kim ‘23 On February 1, the MCPS Board of Education approved a plan to consider transitioning to virtual learning on days in-person instruction is closed due to inclement weather for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year. Board members believe that virtual learning during snow days is an adequate way to avoid further disruptions to the school calendar, … Read More
by Emory Gun ‘22 After Jack Smith unexpectedly quit as superintendent in June of 2020, Monifa McKnight took over as the interim superintendent for MCPS. On February 8, McKnight was named permanent superintendent of public schools in Montgomery County, the 14th largest county in the nation.This is a tough year to be superintendent in any school district in the United … Read More
by Ella Scher ‘23 Just a few weeks into the New Year, MCPS has already been shaken by not one but four reports of guns in schools–one of which left a Magruder student in critical condition after being shot in the abdomen during a dispute in a school bathroom. More than 5,000 MCPS students, parents, and teachers have now signed … Read More
by Emily Siansky ‘22 MCPS has changed the health education graduation requirement starting with this year’s Freshman Class. Previously, students needed to take only a semester of Health, or half a credit. Now, the Class of 2025 and younger will need to take two semesters to fulfill the requirement. The Maryland State Board of Education met on May 25 and … Read More
by Lauren Hill ‘22 Beginning next school year, Sherwood sophomores will no longer have the option to take On-Level English 10. The only available options for English 10 classes will be honors and accelerated honors classes. According to English Resource Teacher Shelley Jackson, the MCPS Central Office requested that schools in the county change the English 10 course options, and … Read More
by Daisia Smith ‘22 Many students can attest that fictional books helped them as children and young adults learn things about themselves and their world that they never had the personal experience to understand on their own. However, efforts to censor what students may access and read has intensified in recent months. Across the country, parents and even some school … Read More
by Bryan Kim ‘23 As students and teachers have adjusted to in-person learning during an unpredictable pandemic, unexcused absences and tardiness has been an issue. Procedures such as hall sweeps were briefly introduced in November to address the problem. However, because of the pandemic and following virtual learning for most of last year, many attendance policies used in past school … Read More