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Silver Chips 2020 Election Voter Guide
By Rekha Leonard and Marijke Friedman | Oct. 16, 2020, 4:22 p.m. | In Print News »
Meet the candidates and learn about the issues on this year's ballot!
MCPS teachers' contract moves to mediation
By Grace Walsh | Oct. 16, 2020, 4:13 p.m. | In Print News »
On Aug. 28, the Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) and the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) jointly filed a formal notice of impasse with the Maryland Public Schools Labor Relations Board (PSLRB). The filing marked the first time in over twenty years that the two sides were not able to reach a contract agreement before the existing one expired. The two sides have since started a mediation process, as outlined in the current contract.
Ebbing enrollment
By Jasper Swartz | Oct. 16, 2020, 4:08 p.m. | In Print News »
Following an announcement from MCPS on July 21 that students would not return to in-person school for at least the first semester, a large number of MCPS families opted to unenroll in favor of private education or homeschooling options. At the Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) meeting on Oct. 6, MCPS revealed that the enrollment total for the 2020-2021 school year is 161,150 students, marking a drop-off of more than 4,100 students since last year, when enrollment totaled 165,267.
Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg dies at 87
By Luther Voltaire | Oct. 16, 2020, 4:05 p.m. | In Print News »
On Sept. 18, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of pancreatic cancer at age 87 at her home in Washington, D.C. She served as one of the nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court for more than 27 years.
County council considers removing police from school
By Cal Tobias | Oct. 16, 2020, 3:43 p.m. | In Print News »
Community leaders, such as Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando and former MCPS Student Member of the Board (SMOB) Nate Tinbite, have called for the reduction or elimination of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, which installs Montgomery County police officers in county high schools.
Adam's Analysis
By Adam Chazan | Oct. 16, 2020, 3:38 p.m. | In Print News »
Questions C and D on this year’s ballot have sparked vigorous debate in Montgomery County, as the looming census report and redistricting are amplifying concerns about fair representation on the county council.
Broadening the beltway
By Samantha Rodriguez | Oct. 16, 2020, 3:31 p.m. | In Print News »
Governor Larry Hogan’s controversial highway expansion plan, which includes adding four toll lanes to Interstate Highways 270 and 495, will, if enacted, cut into Blair’s athletic fields and affect the entire capital suburban community.
MCPS provides 45-day notice of reopening, At-Large Board of Education candidates respond
By Oliver Goldman, Anika Seth | Sept. 27, 2020, 8:21 p.m. | In Print News »
On September 25, MCPS and three union associations (the Montgomery County Education Association, the local Service Employees International Union and the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals) wrote a joint message to staff and faculty about the potential of reopening classrooms to students, formally providing employees the minimum 45-day notice required prior to reopening. Silver Chips reached out to Lynne Harris and Sunil Dasgupta, the at-large candidates for the Board of Education, for written statements in response.
Students can choose a letter grade one higher than their third quarter mark or a “pass” for their transcript, MCPS announces
By Anika Seth | May 12, 2020, 2:38 p.m. | In Print News »
MCPS will allow high schoolers to choose how their second semester grades appear on their transcript, the Board of Education declared in a 7-1 vote today. Students can opt for their transcript to reflect a “pass” or one letter grade higher than what they received in the third quarter. A COVID-19 marker will also be added to all transcripts for the second semester.
US experiencing a blood shortage
By Rekha Leonard | May 11, 2020, 2:13 p.m. | In Print News »
The United States is experiencing a blood shortage due to mass cancellations of blood drives amidst concerns over large gatherings of people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local COVID-19 testing
By Ashley Thommana | April 30, 2020, 1:54 p.m. | In Print News »
In Maryland and Montgomery County, there are several COVID-19 testing sites. Compiled below is a list of testing sites within a few miles of Blair and the requirements for being tested.
New Montgomery County law limits rent increases
By Anna Fisher Lopez | April 29, 2020, 1:42 p.m. | In Print News »
County Executive Mark Elrich signed the COVID-19 Renter Relief Act on April 24 prohibiting landlords from raising rent more than 2.6 percent during or for the 180 days after Maryland’s state of emergency.
Hogan announces reopening plan, hopes to launch first stage in early May
By Abby Brier | April 24, 2020, midnight | In Print News »
Governor Larry Hogan announced Maryland’s reopening plan for the COVID-19 pandemic today in an afternoon press conference. Hogan said that his administration has been working hard to attain adequate testing, hospital capacity, personal protective equipment (PPE), and staff for contact tracing in order to start the process of recovery. Once these criteria are met and doctors begin to see a decline in the rate of hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the reopening plan will begin.
Northwood employee taken into custody
By Michelle Chavez | June 1, 2012, midnight | In Print News »
Northwood High School media services technician Aaron Lamere was arrested on May 7 and charged with over a dozen counts of sex-related crimes, according to police reports. A letter signed by Northwood Principal Henry Johnson was sent home informing students about the situation on the day of the arrest.
Horticulture club starts gardening
By Ruth Aitken, Hannah Weintraub | April 26, 2012, 11:51 a.m. | In Print News »
Blair's Horticulture club broke ground on the school's new water conservation landscape on April 14 with the cooperation of parents and student volunteers.
Council evaluates dropout prevention spending
By Srividya Murthy | April 26, 2012, midnight | In Print News »
The Montgomery County Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) released a report on county-funded alternative programs for students at risk of dropping out. The study was sponsored by the County Council to evaluate the success of these programs in preparing at-risk students for college and the workforce.
Blair staff continues AP push
By Michelle Chavez | April 26, 2012, midnight | In Print News »
Blair is holding its first Advanced Placement (AP) boot camp this year with a grant from the Montgomery County Education Foundation. Media Specialist Andrea Lamphier worked with the social studies department to organize the boot camp for two Saturday sessions and two after-school sessions.
Math raps engage students
By Srividya Murthy | April 26, 2012, midnight | In Print News »
On March 14, in honor of Pi Day, Superintendent Joshua Starr tweeted a link to math teacher Jacob Scott's music video "Triangle Experts," raising the number of views of the video to nearly 7,000. Scott has gained countywide acclaim for pioneering a new genre of music: math rapping.
Board of Education releases budget
By Josh Schmidt | March 8, 2012, 11:11 a.m. | In Print News »
The Board of Education (BOE) unanimously agreed upon and announced a $2.13 billion operating budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2013. MCPS superintendent Joshua Starr initially requested a $2.1 billion budget.
GT policy enacted
By Srividya Murthy | March 8, 2012, 12:30 a.m. | In Print News »
On Feb. 28, the Maryland Department of Education (MSDE) adopted the first statewide policy on Gifted and Talented (GT) programs, which will establish minimum standards for such programs in school systems across the state.
Seniors scramble for SSL
By Katie Pohlman | March 8, 2012, midnight | In Print News »
The counseling office is mailing letters, making phone calls and sending emails to teachers, students and parents to make sure seniors who are missing Student Service Learning (SSL) hours get them. As of Feb. 10, roughly 30 percent of the class of 2012 did not meet the minimum number of hours needed to graduate, and about 20 to 30 students need 10 hours or less to do so.
Iron Sharpens Iron launched
By Srividya Murthy | March 8, 2012, midnight | In Print News »
Assistant Principal Dirk Cauley and Blair Sports Academy director Jose Segura have piloted a leadership program, Iron Sharpens Iron, to empower male Latino students at Blair.
Silver Quill hosts arts fair
By Michelle Chavez | Feb. 2, 2012, 3:30 p.m. | In Print News »
Silver Quill hosted its fourth biannual arts fair, which featured local band performances, a silent auction and art activities at the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Downtown Silver Spring on Jan. 21.
PTSA starts Amazon store
By Zoe Waldrop | Feb. 2, 2012, 2:53 p.m. | In Print News »
This past holiday season, the Blair Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) launched a new way to raise money for Blair, using the popular online merchant Amazon.com.
Four art electives to be offered at Blair next year
By Katie Pohlman | Feb. 2, 2012, 2:50 p.m. | In Print News »
Four new fine arts electives - Digital Photography, Digital Art 2, Fashion Drawing and Design, and World Drumming - will be offered at Blair in the 2012-2013 school year. New fine arts teacher Jacqueline Armstead will teach two of the new classes.
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