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News From the Mill Page 1
NEWS FROM “THE MILL” September 1-30, 2017
Watkins Mill High School
10301 Apple Ridge Road
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879
(301) 284-4400 FAX (301) 840-3980
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/
IN THIS NEWSLETTER: Message from Ms. Goddard
College and Career Center Update
Athletic News
PTSA & Booster
Health Room/Wellness Center
Orange Nation Update
MESSAGE FROM MS. GODDARD, PRINCIPAL
2017-18 school year is off to a great start! Students arrived with clear excitement of a new school year-eager
to get their schedules, see their friends, and meet their teachers. I can attest that this has been one of the best
opening weeks of school ever! Our staff was just as excited to welcome students back to school, and classes are off to a great start. As I have walked the halls and visited classes, I have been so impressed with how all of
our students have started the year. There is a positive “buzz” in the air and palpable anticipation of a great school year ahead. Wolverine pride is on the rise!
As always, I would like to thank the hardworking parents of our PTSA and Booster Club, for their amazing support of our school. Parents, please show your support by becoming a member now! It’s very easy to become
a member of both organizations, with one fee and one registration form. Registration form found here.
Twitter and Snapchat is a great way to stay connected with all that is happening at the Mill. On the topic of technology, Watkins Mill HS is fully “wifi” for student, teacher, and guest access on their own devices. Simply
find the “MCPS Student” or “MCPS Guest” wifi access points account when you are here, and you will be
connected. Students are still allowed to use their phones before school, between classes, at lunch, after-school, and now—in class at teacher discretion for learning activities.
On that note, I need to remind everyone that as more and more students bring valuable electronic devices to
school, we have had more incidents of items going missing. We are reminding all students to keep these
valuables with them or secured in a locker at all times. While we will investigate and take action for any thefts, we also need students to avoid carelessness, leaving phones in bathrooms, on desks, charging, etc.
The WMHS staff remains committed to: - a positive, safe school environment;
- personalization of the educational experience and knowing our students well;
- a culture of high expectations;
- college and career readiness for all students; - the International Baccalaureate (IB) education;
- high levels of student engagement, collaboration, innovation, and communication in the classroom;
- supporting students’ social/emotional learning; - student/parent involvement, school pride, and engagement that permeates the entire community.
- Fun! Enjoyable, memorable, exciting high school years.
News From the Mill Page 2
To that end, we continue to strongly encourage our students to take the most challenging courses possible,
particularly in the IB Programme. In addition, course offerings in Advanced-Placement (AP), Honors, Pre-IB, the arts, world languages, engineering/technology, physical education/health, and multiple career academies
remain available for enrollment this fall. Students and parents can simply contact their counselor to make any scheduling adjustments for the upcoming year.
I am also thrilled to be in our 5th year of operating the School-Based Wellness Center, in partnership with the
Department of Health and Human Services. All students have access to a wide range of medical and social/emotional services matched to their individual needs. These services are complemented by a multitude of
positive youth development programs, student groups, and mental health services. Wellness Center programs and services will be offered exclusively to Watkins Mill students and will be available to the entire student body.
To access these services, parents must complete a Wellness Center registration form, which is available here.
As you know, another primary goal is to ensure a positive, safe learning environment for all students and
staff. The administrators and I spoke to the students during an assembly the first week of school to go over our
expectations for their behavior; keys to success; and the MCPS Student Code of Conduct. We will also be covering other policies and procedures, such as policies about dress code, electronic devices, and the attendance
policy.
Please note that the school administration will not tolerate any forms of bullying, harassment, or intimidation,
whether physical, verbal, or online. All incidents of bullying or harassment should be reported to a staff member,
counselor, or administrator, and immediate action will be taken. I would like to draw your attention to this form, which parents and students can use to submit a formal bullying complaint. The form should be turned in to the
main office, counselor, or administrator, and an investigation will be conducted immediately. For more information on our bullying policies, click here.
We are very excited about our fall sports season, and we are anticipating great things from all of our teams.
We promote sportsmanship and tenacity while competing against other high schools. We need your help in getting off to a winning start by getting involved and packing the stands! Don’t forget, you can also have dinner
at our concession stand, sponsored by the Booster Club. Please plan to come out and support the Wolverines at an athletic contest this year. We hope the entire community comes out to support our student athletes! The
complete schedule can be found here: http://www.watkinsmillathletics.com.
Please note that SEASON ATHLETIC PASSES can now be purchased at the financial office during normal
business hours (7:30-3:30). Prices are as follows:
Fall Adult = $30
Fall Student = $18
Winter Adult = $40
Winter Student = $24 Year Adult = $70
Year Student - $40
News From the Mill Page 3
SAVE THE DATES: Please be sure to join us for Community Resource Fair (5:00 – 6:30 pm), College Night
(6:00 pm for juniors and seniors) and Back to School Night (7:00 pm) on September 19. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to see firsthand the great things that are happening at school and meet your child's teachers.
Booster Club Meeting September 11, 7pm
Mill Madness September 12,
Underclass Picture Day September 14, 15 (English Classes)
Community Resource Fair September 19, 5:00 – 6:30 pm Senior College Night September 19 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm
Back To School Night September 19 7:00 pm
No School (Rosh Hashanah) September 21
Early Release Day – (K-12) October 6
PSAT/Practice ACT October 11 Homework Free Weekend October 13-15
Homecoming Game October 20
Homecoming Dance October 21
End of First Marking Period November 9
COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR
The Watkins Mill Cluster Project will be hosting a community resource fair before Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 19th from 5-6:30pm at Watkins Mill High School. Please come to connect with
representatives from various county and community agencies including income supports for food stamps, temporary cash assistance, child care subsidy, rental assistance programs, Medicaid, and Child Support Office.
Representatives will be offering appointments and taking client information to ensure that someone reaches back out to them for more specific case information. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with program
representatives before meeting with your child’s teachers. . Please Call Paty 240-777-1184 with questions.
El Proyecto de Watkins Mill les invita a una Feria de Recursos en la Comunidad el Martes 19 de Septiembre de
5-6:30pm en Watkins Mill High School antes de la Noche de Regreso a Clases. Vengase antes del evento escolar para tener la oportunidad de hablar con representantes de varias agencias del condado y de la
comunidad incluyendo programa de estampillas de comida, programa de asistencia con dinero efectivo,
asistencia con subsidio de cuidado de niños, asistencia con la renta, programas de seguros de salud y la oficina de Manutencion alimenticia. Los representates de estas agencias daran citas y tomaran informacion del cliente
para asegurar que alguien les contacte para proveer informacion especifica relacionada a su caso. Por favor, llame Paty 240- 777 1184 con preguntas.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Please note that the attendance policy remains in place for all high school students in Montgomery County Public Schools. It is imperative that students attend every class every day, in order to receive the best possible education and opportunities for success.
Students who accumulate more than 5 unexcused absences in a marking period risk of losing credit for that semester course, regardless of their current grade. Teachers, guidance counselors, and
administrators will work together to keep parents and students informed, and in extreme cases will collaborate to develop and implement attendance contracts. However, students with serious attendance issues will lose
credit for the entire semester of that course.
News From the Mill Page 4
FREE AND REDUCED MEALS
Households must apply every year to determine if they are eligible for the FARMS program. Federal income
guidelines change each year, and it is likely that most household situations change each year. If a completed
FARMS application is not APPROVED by Friday, September 29, students who were eligible for free
or reduced meals last year will revert to full paid. Even if students do not plan on eating school lunch,
completing this application may open up access to scholarships and other financial supports. Forms in English
and Spanish found here.
Family Food Market: Watkins Mill High School will be hosting another Family Food Market on
Saturday, September 16. Please come to school and shop for food items at NO COST! All you need is your
own grocery bags to carry the food. Please note, if the food truck arrives early, we will open the doors early.
Great SSL opportunity too.
School Photos: All underclassmen should be prepared to take student photos on September 14 and 15.
These photos will be used for purposes of portrait packages, yearbook, and photo ID.
Mill Madness 2K17, Don’t miss Mill Madness Pep Rally & Party, September 12, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Doors open
@ 6pm. Click here for flyer!
COMMUNICATIONS
We have several communication vehicles that will be used for routine and emergency communications. For example, an automatic phone calling system, Connect-Ed, will be used to send telephone calls from school with
important information about school events and/or emergencies, and when students are absent. An active telephone number and email address are essential to maintain these communications. Please be sure to update
emergency communication sheets.
This school year, myMCPS Parent Portal will replace Edline as the primary home-to-school communication
vehicle for schools to share information regarding grades, attendance, scheduling, and more. The myMCPS Parent Portal will be live soon for teachers, parents, and students in grades 6 through 12! The Parent Portal for elementary students will be implemented on a staggered schedule, you will be notified when your school goes live. Parent letter with information on how to create a myMCPS Parent Portal account and link it to your student(s) will be sent out soon. Click here to view information on our MCPS website on myMCPS Parent Portal.
Also, please be sure to follow us on Twitter, yet another way we will be sending important communications,
updates, and glimpses into daily activities and classroom instruction. A summary of steps that all parents should
do are listed found below:
- Sign up to follow us on Twitter
- Sign up to follow us on Snapchat - Bookmark our website and check our regularly - Return the emergency contact sheets sent home the first day of school
- Notify the school of changes to email addresses and cell phone numbers - Read this monthly newsletter
- Sign up for MCPS Quick Notes
- Sign up for MCPS Alerts
News From the Mill Page 5
Thank you for your support of WMHS and our school community. Our students deserve our very best
each and every day and I’m here to see that through. If we can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to email or call.
A full staff directory can be found here:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/staff/directory.aspx
2017-18 is off to a great start! Looking forward to a great year!
Sincerely,
Carol Goddard, Principal
NEWS FROM COUNSELING & THE COLLEGE/CAREER CENTER: COLLEGE NIGHT FOR SENIORS & PARENTS AT WATKINS MILL
Seniors and their parents are invited to join us on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 6:00 pm in the Media Center for a brief meeting before Back-to-School Night. The Counseling Department will explain
the College Application Process at Watkins Mill including the request of official transcripts, teacher
recommendations and counselor recommendations for students planning to attend both two year and 4 year colleges.
COLLEGE VISITS AT THE MILL BEGIN IN MID-SEPTEMBER
Throughout the fall, college admissions representatives make appointments to visit & recruit Watkins Mill juniors & seniors. These meetings are usually held in the College/Career Center. A list of colleges
that have already made appointments can be accessed on Family Connection,
https://connection.naviance.com/family-connection/auth/login/?hsid=wmhs Juniors/Seniors can log-in by entering their six digit MCPS ID as both their username and their password.
Once on the site, click on the “Colleges” tab and then click the “View all Upcoming Visits”
link to see the current list (subject to change).
In order to attend a visit, students must first click “sign me up” on Family Connection, print out the confirmation page, and obtain teacher approval from the teacher whose class you will be missing. This signed confirmation page is the student’s pass to attend. 3rd ANNUAL SCHOOL-WIDE COLLEGE NIGHT – OCTOBER 12th
This jammed packed evening begins at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria with free pizza for students and their
parents, while supplies last. At 7 pm, we will have college representatives speak about “What Colleges Are Looking For,” “How To Find The Right Fit,” “How To Earn Scholarships,” and “How To Apply For
Financial Aid” Learn insider information! This event is always a wild success.
PSAT
This year, the PSAT will be administered on Wednesday, October 11th at all Montgomery County High Schools. Students in grade 10 will take a practice PSAT at no cost. For juniors who take the official
PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), the fee is $15. The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT Reasoning Test. It is administered only once during the school year and consists of one
reading, one writing and language, and one math section totaling 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Registration for juniors will take place in early October. Juniors who do not sign up to take
the official PSAT/NMSQT will take a practice ACT at no cost. There will be more announcements to remind students about this opportunity as we get closer to this date.
Kate Heald
College/Career Coordinator
301-284-4432
ACES ACES (Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success) is now approaching its 5th year at Watkins Mill High
School and is looking forward to the 2017-2018 school year! The ACES program is a collaborative effort between Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College (MC), and the Universities at
Shady Grove (USG). There is an ACES Academic Coach, Ms. Tiffany Shaw, at Watkins Mill High School working with qualified 11th and 12th grade students to provide individualized support while completing
high school and navigating through the college entrance process. ACES assists students with getting into
the college of their choice and if they choose to attend Montgomery College and transition to earn a four-year degree through the Universities at Shady Grove, continuous support will be provided. Postcards have
been mailed to current students in the 10th grade with information on how to apply. The application is open from September 5 - December 23. The direct link to the application is:
https://aces.montgomerycollege.edu/form2018/
If you have any questions, please contact:
Ms. Tiffany Shaw
ACES Academic Coach Room E107
Monday-Thursday during lunch and after school
[email protected] (MC e-mail) [email protected] (MCPS Email)
301-284-4424 (Direct Office) 240-495-5584 (Work Cell)
ATHLETIC NEWS
The fall sports season kicked off on Wednesday, August 9 with teams conducting their first day of tryouts. Please be on the lookout for some exciting action this year!
Please go to www.watkinsmillathletics.com and follow on Twitter @TheMillSports.
What Do Students and Parents Need to Know?
Helpful Information for Student-Athletes and Parents
(The following information is placed on the Athletics web page) http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/athletics/
Required Forms and Required Reading
Students must review the following information and must complete and submit the following forms to the
coach prior to participating in practices or tryouts. These materials are available at the school from either the coach or athletic director, or forms may be found on-line at the MCPS Athletics webpage:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/athletics.
Required Reading – Parents and student-athletes are asked to review the following materials, all of which
can be found on the document entitled Required Safety-Related Forms, Documents, and Courses under the heading of Parents/Student-Athletes – Required Forms and Required Reading in the Health and Safety section of the MCPS Athletics webpage.
• Concussion Information for Parents • Baseline Testing Parent Letter
• Heads Up Concussions: A Fact Sheet for Parents
• Heads Up Concussions: A Fact Sheet for Athletes • Sudden Cardiac Arrest Information for Parents
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Frequently Asked Questions.
Required Forms
• Student-Parent Participation Contract and Parent Permission Form. The form includes information that
student-athletes and parents are required to review, including reference to the Health/Safety section of the MCPS Athletics website. This form must be submitted for each sport in which the student wishes to
participate and is available in Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese.
• Pre-participation Physical Evaluation. The Pre-participation Physical Evaluation is valid for one year from the date of the exam, and covers participation for all sports within that time period. Students submit only
the last page to the school/coach (Clearance Form). Schools keep the form on file. • Emergency Medical Card. This form must be submitted for each sport in which the student wishes to
participate. • Consent Form – ImPACT Baseline Concussion Testing. All student-athletes must undergo baseline testing
at least once every two years. This form indicates that the parent and student are aware of the purpose of
baseline testing and that they consent for their child to undergo baselines testing. • Pre-participation Head Injury/Concussion Reporting Form. This form indicates whether the student has
previously suffered a concussion. • MPSSAA Concussion Awareness and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Acknowledgement of Awareness Form. This
form indicates that the parent and student-athlete have received information regarding concussions.
• Transportation Form. This form is applicable whenever students are transported to games in cars. The coach of the team will provide this form if it is necessary for that sport.
• Proof of Medical Insurance. This form is only required for football.
Information Important information regarding athletic participation, health and safety, and eligibility is included in the
following sources, all of which are obtainable from the school and/or the
• Student Information. This document includes four pages from the MCPS High School Athletics Handbook regarding a wide range of information affecting student-athletes, including eligibility, transfer rule,
ejections, drug policies, attendance, etc. • Health and Safety. Parents and students are required to review the Health/Safety section of the MCPS
Athletics website. The information included in this section is very important to the safety and welfare of
students. • Student’s Rights and Responsibilities. Distributed to all students early in the school year. Includes criteria
for participation and school system rules and regulations. Available in the main office of the school. • Student-Parent Athletic Participation Information. Provides information on athletic participation including
eligibility requirements. Available on the MCPS Athletics website or the athletic director.
Extracurricular Activity Fee (ECA)
Students who are selected to participate on MCPS athletic teams must pay an extracurricular activities fee prior to competing in the first contest. The ECA fee is $32.50 per year and covers all extracurricular activities
for the year. Information is sent home to students during the summer. Additional ECA fee information can be found by searching Extracurricular Activity Fee on the MCPS home page or the Parents/Student section
of the MCPS Athletics website.
Tryout Dates for the 2017-2018 School Year
The following are the tryout dates/ first practice dates for all fall, winter, and spring sports. • August 9—Fall Sports
• November 15, 2017—Winter Sports
• March 1, 2018—Spring Sports
ORANGE NATION – JOIN THE MOVEMENT!
Last year may have been one of the best years of school spirit in the history of Watkins Mill High
School…definitely within the last decade! We are still coming down from the great success of Rock the Block 2017, which had over 800 people in attendance from all around the community, including: students, staff,
cluster families, MVF, MCPD, RecZone partners, community business owners and organizations, and even a
couple Board of Education members! If you did not make it out, check out the great coverage at this link: Rock the Block 2017.
Orange Nation has not stopped working through the summer in preparation for another amazing school
year. We plan to repeat our events from last year and make them even bigger and better with new themes, new partnerships, and plenty of new free giveaways! Our partnerships with Chipotle and Kona Ice continue
on and we have added California Tortilla to our list of great sponsors, in addition to working with Papa John’s to fundraise. Other companies and corporations are getting involved with donations and sponsorship
opportunities to help make our school and community the best in the county. If you are interested in helping,
donating, volunteering, or know someone that might be interested, please contact Matt Johnson at 301-980-8736. We will be selling Papa John’s Buy-one-Get-one cards for $15 through September and October—
this is an amazing deal that can be used ALL YEAR. Buy one, get one free. Buy ten, get ten FREE! Purchase yours at any upcoming event or through Mr. Johnson.
September is chock-full of great events and sporting events. Our fall sports have been working hard in
August to prepare for a great season.
Here is a sampling of upcoming dates in September at Watkins Mill High School:
September 12 – MILL MADNESS 2K17 – Main Gym – Doors Open at 6:00PM - $1/student
September 15 – Home football game – Tropical Night – get a free lei when you enter! Buy a Kona Ice in a new Watkins Mill logo cup!
September 19 – Back to School Night! Come meet the great staff at WM, sign-up for PTSA/Boosters, and
buy an Orange Nation T-shirt!
September 27 – Chipotle Fundraiser – N. Frederick Ave. – 4-8PM – 50% back to us!
NOTE FROM OUR PTSA PRESIDENT – Laura Franke Welcome back to school! We are looking forward to a great year.
I want to thank all of the staff, students and families who became PTSA members last year. Because of
you, we were able to provide breakfast for the staff three mornings throughout the year, grant some
teacher mini-grants, organize a bus for seniors and families who did not want to drive to graduation, hold
four community meetings, provide emails with regular updates of news and events from the school, provide
two seniors with scholarship money for college and more. When you join the PTSA, your membership fees
and donations make sure that we are able to help our school community. Of course, everyone in the PTSA
volunteers their time, and we always could use more help. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their
time last year! Joining the PTSA and volunteering at the school are a couple of the ways that you can show
your children and the staff at the school that your child’s education is important to you.
Have YOU joined the PTSA yet for the 2017-2018 school year? Our membership dues remain
the same. Staff $10 Students $5 Parents/Guardians $15 Families $30
You can join at Back-to-School Night on September 19th or fill out a form from the website
and send a check with the form to the school c/o the WMHS PTSA
And remember, your PTSA membership is a joint membership with the Booster Club! By joining, you can
take an active role in your child’s education and support our school. For seniors to be eligible for PTSA
scholarships at the end of the year, they must be members of the PTSA.
Do you want to learn more about what’s happening at WMHS and the PTSA? Be sure to mark
your calendar for our first meeting on Tuesday, October 17th at 7:00 pm in the media center. Find out
everything you need to know about life at Watkins Mill!
See you at Back to School Night! Go 'Rines!
Laura Franke
PTSA President
BOOSTER CLUB
Welcome new Wolverine students and families. We are excited for the energy you will bring to the Mill.
Watkins Mill High School PTSA and Booster Club, look forward to your input of ideas, time, talent, through
active membership and participation.
The WMHS Booster Club is an all school organization supporting our Wolverine athletic teams, theater and
music programs, and extra-curricular activities (ECA) clubs. We raise funds and coordinate volunteers for
numerous school events through concessions, spirit wear, March to the Mill Sports Camp, and so much
more. We need new Wolverine parent volunteers and leaders every year to replace graduation parents.
Through participation you will learn and continue our tradition of success. We offer a joint Family
PTSA/Booster Club membership @ $30. Individual memberships are also available. You can also complete
the membership form found further in this newsletter or click here, and return to the school office when
complete.
GET YOUR MCPL LIBRARY CARD!
MCPS students will be accessing many of the free resources available for them from our
Montgomery County Public Library! Your child will need their free MCPL card in order to access
all the wonderful databases the public library has to offer!
If your child does not have a library card please consider getting a card for them this year!
Please email [email protected] if you have any further questions.
Don’t forget to stop by the Media Center on BTSN (Back-to-School-Night) to pick-up your online
Usernames & Passwords for this year’s MCPS Online Databases! This should be stored by your
home computer for homework help and other assignments! A google form will also be shared
with students through Google Classroom.
Here’s a look at this year’s MCPS online Databases that our students will be using.
Want to make a book request?
We now have a request box located in the Media Center for
Students to request books! See Ms. Mitton for details.
Follow us on Twitter @WMMC89
NEWS FROM THE HEATLH ROOM/HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER
Welcome back to Watkins Mill! I am excited to be back at the Mill this school year working with your students. We have some very exciting things happening with health and wellness.
NEW!!! Incoming and Retained TENTH Grade students: All 10th grade students are required by state
law to have a current Tdap and Meningitis vaccine. Many of you received these vaccines in middle
school. Those who did not must present Proof of obtaining the vaccine to the health room personnel by SEPTEMBER 28. A letter has be mailed to those who are in need of these vaccines. Students who need
these vaccines can make an appointments in the health room/health center to receive the vaccine at school. ALSO...Flu vaccines will be available for all students in the health center very soon. An
announcement will be made when the flu vaccine is available at school.
MEDICATIONS: I would like to remind you that if your student needs any medication during the school
day, either over the counter or prescription, a medication administration form is available from the health room or on the MCPS web page for parents: forms, (MCPS 525-13). Parents and physicians must sign this
form prior to the student having medication in the health room. Students are not allowed to carry
medication on their person during the school day without permission.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Please provide current contact phone numbers for parents/guardians/designated emergency contact personnel. Students may become ill or injured during
the school day and parents will need to be notified. Please call or email the main school office or health
room with changes to this information.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER: I would also like to say a little bit about the School Based Health and Wellness Center that has opened here at Watkins Mill. The Wellness Center is a partnership between
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and Montgomery County Public
Schools. Services provided will include physical, mental and emotional care and resources/referrals for WMHS students and their school age siblings. Staff includes a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, registered
nurse, certified medical technicians, mental health professionals and counselors. Students must enroll in the program and parents/guardians will need to complete and sign the enrollment form prior to a student’s
participation/receival of services. (This form may be picked up at school in the health room, wellness center, guidance office or main office. You can also download a copy found on the WMHS website link: wellness
center. PLEASE TURN IN THE COMPLETE FORMS TO THE HEALTH ROOM.)
We offer some walk-in clinic services, sports physical exams, hearing and vision screening, lab and
diagnostic testing, immunizations, group therapy, one-on-one counseling and after school programs/clubs for students and parents.
Please feel free to contact Juan Toscano Madrid or myself with any questions or concerns regarding the health room/youth development programs or Health and Wellness Center at Watkins Mill High School. Have
a very safe and healthy school year.
Nancy Caruso, RN/SCHN 301-284-4455.
Juan Toscano Madrid, Site Coordinator 240-406-1545
PARKING PERMIT APPLICATIONS: Student parking permits are available in the Financial Office.
Please pick up an application for you and your parent/guardian to fill out. After it has been completed, return it to the Financial Office with a check, money order, or cash for $37.50 (one semester parking) or
$75.00 (full year parking). Please make checks payable to Watkins Mill H.S. You have until September 26, 2017 to purchase your passes before Security starts ticketing. If you have any questions, please feel free
to stop by the Financial Office.
How to Receive Emergency Information from MCPS
MCPS parents can receive emergency information from the school system in a variety of ways including MCPS QuickNotes, Alert MCPS, Twitter, the MCPS website, MCPS TV, and a recorded telephone information
line. Please visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergenc y for more information on how to keep in
touch with Montgomery County Public Schools and stay informed in times of emergencies.
Cómo Recibir Información de Emergencia de MCPS
Los padres de estudiantes de MCPS pueden recibir información del sistema escolar en casos de emergencia
de varias maneras incluyendo MCPS QuickNotes, Alert MCPS, Twitter, el sitio de Internet de MCPS, MCPS TV
y la línea de información con mensajes grabados. Para más información de cómo mantenerse en contacto con Montgomery County Public Schools y mantenerse informado durante emergencias visite
www.montgomer yschoolsmd.org/emergenc y.
ACTIVITY BUS NEWS! – Watkins Mill will be running an activity bus. See below for the schedule. This
will assist our students who participate in High School Plus, as well as those that are staying for any school -related activities.
An activity bus will be offered at 5:00pm from Monday, September 18 – Thursday, September 21. Beginning on Monday September 25th we will have 2 buses every Monday thru Thursday at 4:35pm
and 5:00pm.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The main office is in need of parent volunteers to assist the office by answering phones, greeting visitors, and special projects the office is currently working on. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Sue
Brown in the main office, 301-284-4400.
Students and Parents! Show some school spirit and support your community with a 2017-2018 Watkins Mill High School Yearbook!
Yearbooks can be purchased online at: jostensyearbooks.com Cost: $75.00 Questions about how to order? Contact Julie Walthers at [email protected]
Parents of Seniors: Looking for a creative way to tell your student, “I love you and I’m proud of you”? Place a recognition ad in the yearbook!
It’s easy to create a recognition ad. Just head on over to jostensyearbooks.com and complete the online form! Just like the yearbook, your message will be a permanent memory. Questions about how to complete your recognition ad? Contact Julie Walthers at [email protected]
8/28/2017 CollegeTracks Watkins Mill Newsletter - September 2017
https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1128698081049&format=html&print=true 1/9
WMHS ACCESS NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017
Watkins Mill High School CollegeTracks Team
Ms. Lindsey Barclay
Program Director 240.221.1699
Ms. Estefani Rondon Program Coordinator 301.541.8239
Mr. Dominic Chappell Program Assistant
301.284.8169 [email protected]
Fall Workshop Calendar
WELCOME BACK SENIORS!
8/28/2017 CollegeTracks Watkins Mill Newsletter - September 2017
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We are thrilled to welcome students back to school and CollegeTracksfor the new year! There is a lot to accomplish and we are excitedabout helping you complete your college milestones.
Whether you attended Summer Jumpstart workshops or we haven'tseen you in a while, NOW is the perfect time to schedule anappointment with us or attend our Fall Workshops!
To view our Fall Workshop schedule, click here. Remember, we can help you:
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT Roberta E.
What have you gotten done withCollegeTracks this summer?Picked out colleges to apply to andapplied to scholarships.
What is your favorite part aboutcoming to CollegeTracks?I get help with college from people whocan understand where I'm coming from.
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What advice do you have for other12th graders who have not come toCollegeTracks yet?Get your stuff together before thedeadlines. Do not play with your future.
VOLUNTEERSPOTLIGHT
Tracey F.
What degree did you earn and whatis/was your career? I earned a Juris Doctor from AmericanUniversity and worked as anInternational Lawyer.
What is your favorite food?Crispy french fries (with lots of salt andketchup)
What advice would you give a highschool senior?Do the best you can with what you haveand ask for help with what you don'thave and need.
INTRODUCING THE FAFSA!
What is the FAFSA and why do Ineed to submit it?
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The Free Application for FederalStudent Aid. You must submit it toobtain federal and state financial aidfor college this year and every yearthat you are enrolled in college.
Who can submit the FAFSA? U.S.Citizens and legalPermanent Residents are eligible tofill out the FAFSA. Other students arealso eligible! Find out more fromCollegeTracks staff. When do I submit the FAFSA? The
2018-2019 FAFSA opens on October 1, 2017. Complete the FAFSA before yourearliest college financial aid deadline. Where can I submit the FAFSA? Online at https://fafsa.ed.gov/ What can I do now to prepare for the FAFSA? (1) Create an FSA ID (federalstudent aid username and password) for the student and for one parent, (2)Complete the FAFSA4caster to estimate the amount of financial aid your family mayreceive, (3) Gather 2016 tax returns.
CollegeTracks will help students and families submit the FAFSAbeginning in October. Stop by CollegeTracks Room A006 to make a
FAFSA appointment today!!
SENIORS DO NOW!Complete your resumeComplete your Brag SheetEmail us your college essay draftfor review and feedbackReview your college list with usBegin completing your Common ApplicationBegin completing your Coalition Application if you areapplying to University of Maryland- College ParkCreate an FSAID for yourself and one parentIdentify 4 scholarships that you can apply forSign up for ACT prep with CollegeTracks if you plan totake the October or December ACT - contact Mrs. E
Schedule an appointment with CollegeTracks TODAY!
PREPARING FOR THE ACT:
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The September 9thACT is approaching!
Keep the following tipsin mind as you preparefor the test this month:
Take a practice testSleep well the night before taking the ACT. Eat a healthy breakfast.Bring a watch, #2 pencils, a good eraser, a permittedcalculator, and snacks on the day of the exam.Have a printed copy of your ACT Admission Ticket andacceptable form of ID.Make a transportation plan to and from the testinglocation.
GOOD LUCK SENIORS!
MAXIMIZE YOUR COLLEGE OPTIONS!Some deadlines are just around the corner! Make
sure you are using your time wisely this semester soyou can enjoy Prom and other Senior activities with
your friends during the Spring semester!
VISIT COLLEGES - Go onroad trips, drive to localcolleges, take publictransportation to areauniversities. See what thecolleges you are interestedin are like.
APPLY FORSCHOLARSHIPS - Checkthe CollegeTracksscholarship packet, check
your emails from CollegeTracks, and do scholarship searches toaccess more free money for college!
KEEP TRACK OF DEADLINES -
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Make a list of college application and scholarship deadlines inyour phone and add calendar reminders so you don't forgetimportant dates!
KEEP THOSE GRADES UP -Don't forget to focus on your schoolwork and try your best in allof your classes. If you are struggling in a class, make sure youtalk to your teacher to get the help you need!
$SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT$
CLICK HERE FOR THE FALL SCHOLARSHIP PACKET
Let Ms. Barclay, Mr. Dom or Mrs. E know if you're applying forany of these scholarships!
NAME: Staples for Students SweepstakesDUE DATE: September 16, 2017AMOUNT: $50,000 and a trip to Las Vegas to attend Lady Gaga World tourELIGIBILITY: Must Be age 13 or older. Must Be a United states Citizen.Must visit a participating Staples location and make a purchase of at least$25 to receive a unique code which will serve as your entry into thesweepstakes or obtain a unique entry code by visiting the sponsor's website.MORE INFO: Click here
NAME: Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology DUE DATE: September 19, 2017AMOUNT: $1,000-$100,000ELIGIBILITY: Available to all high school students. You must be a U.S.citizen or Permanent Resident to apply. developed in an individual. MORE INFO: Click here
NAME: Shout it Out Scholarship DUE DATE: September 30, 2017AMOUNT: $1,500ELIGIBILITY: Must be age 13 or older, and a legal resident of the UnitedStates. Must enroll in an accredited post-secondary institution or highereducation by 2020. Applicants will be asked to submit an online writtenresponse to "If you could say one thing to the entire world at once, whatwould it by and why?".
MORE INFO: Click here
COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT!
DID YOU KNOW?
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Frostburg is a medium-sized, 4-year, public university located in
Frostburg, Maryland.
Frostburg has been named aCollege of Distinction for its excellence in student engagement, high-quality teaching, vibrant community and successful graduates.
Popular majorsinclude engineering,
education,communications,psychology, and
animal behavior.
The Lane UniversityCenter is the hub of
student social life and islocated in the heart ofthe Frostburg campus.
SHOUT OUTSWatkins Mill High schooladministrators and staff, weappreciate all you do tosupport and encouragestudents!Congratulations to all of theSeniors who attended SummerJumpstart Workshops. Yourock, keep it up!Thank you to the CollegeTracksvolunteers for your help with
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summer workshops and ACTPrep, we couldn't have done itwithout your support!
WHERE TO FIND US?Room A006
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays
9:00am-5:00pm
CONNECT WITH COLLEGETRACKS!
@WMHSCollegeTracks @WMHSCollegTrks @WMHSCollegeTracks @CollegeTracksWatkinsMillHS
www.collegetracksusa.org
CollegeTracks, 4827 Rugby Avenue, Suite 302, Bethesda, MD 20814
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IMPORTANT LINKS
WMHS Website Home: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/
Athletics: http://www.watkinsmillathletics.com/
College/Career Monthly Newsletter:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/watkinsmillhs/careercenter/
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
News From “The Mill” will be published monthly on the news pages of the school website and emailed to all active Connect-ed accounts; and is available by hard copy in the main office.
