Grades, Achievement Dominate Discussion at MCPS Town Hall in Germantown

Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr hosted a Town Hall at Seneca Valley High School Monday, capping his third community day of the school year.

When addressing a crowd of nearly 300 parents, the leader of Montgomery County’s public schools didn’t talk about bad grades. He took it a bit further—he said he doesn’t believe in them. “I've been joking about this, and, no, I’m not really going to do it [get rid of grades],” Starr said. “But I don't know why we have grades other than to compare kids to each other. I don't know why we have grades.” Starr was speaking to a cafeteria full of parents, teachers and a few students at a town hall Monday at Seneca Valley High School, capping a string of Community Day events at Upcounty schools. After a brief introduction by Starr, parents had the opportunity to ask questions. Achievement gaps, construction funding and bullying were among the …

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Storify: MCPS Superintendent Starr Visits Germantown, Upcounty Schools

On Monday, MCPS Superintendent Joshua P. Starr met with staff, parents and kids at the district's Clarksburg, Northwest, Quince Orchard, and Seneca Valley clusters. Here's a recap of how Starr's day went, as told through Twitter.

As spoken from the lips of from the Twitterverse, "community day" was a successes for the leader of Montgomery County's public schools. In his third round of community day visits, superintendent Joshua P. Starr spent the day meeting with staff, parents and kids at the district's Clarksburg, Northwest, Quince Orchard, and Seneca Valley clusters. The community day upcounty culminated with a town hall at Seneca Valley High School, with more than 300 people in attendance. And there was lots and lots of tweeting along the way. Here's a recap of how Starr's day went, as told through Twitter. Stay tuned for the story on Starr's town hall meeting at Seneca Valley High School. The next Community Day is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 28, covering …

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Blind Seneca Valley Runner Awarded County Proclamation

Angie Fuentes, a junior at Seneca Valley High School, was awarded the proclamation on Tuesday. Fuentes is legally blind.

When we caught up with Seneca Valley High School runner Angie Fuentes in September, we walked away with a new consideration for what it means to have blind ambition: Angie Fuentes is legally blind athlete who aspires to be the fastest runner on her cross-country squad. “To me, it's freedom," said Angie, on why enjoys the sport. "Nothing stops you from anything. You just go.” Well, last week Angie's ambition took her straight to Rockville, where on Tuesday Montgomery County Councilman Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2, Germantown) awarded her with a proclamation in recognition of her feat.  The county posted this video on its YouTube channel.

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Remembering ‘Tina’

Seneca Valley students, Germantown community pay tribute to Christina Morris-Ward, teen who was struck, killed while walking to school.

Seneca Valley Sophomore Struck By Vehicle, Killed

Christina Morris-Ward, 15, was struck by a car on Germantown Road, near Wisteria Drive, according to Montgomery County Police Cpt. Paul Starks.

Watkins Mill-Damascus Wins Game of the Week Poll

Edges Northwest-Seneca Valley, the Battle for Germantown.

For the second week in a row, Watkins Mill football support poured in to upset a marquee matchup in the Patch Montgomery County Football Game of the Week Poll. With 41 percent of the vote, Watkins Mill-Damascus will be featured as the Patch Game of the Week. Gaithersburg-Springbrook was second with 18 percent and the highly anticipated Battle for Germantown between Northwest and Seneca Valley finished third with 13 percent. The Wolverines are coming off a 42-14 win over Poolesville in Week 1 and head coach Kevin Watson said a win over Damascus would be a breakthrough win for his program. PREVIEW: Watkins Mill v. Damascus Damascus (1-0) is coming off a 41-6 drubbing of Clarksburg. The Gazette's No. 3-ranked team scored all of its points in …

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Hootie & the Blowfish Guitarist Rocks Montgomery Village

Former Montgomery Village resident Mark Bryan, a founding member of Hootie & the Blowfish, reunites with his childhood friends for a free concert Friday.

To Billboard, Mark Bryan is the lead guitarist with Hootie & the Blowfish, the easygoing blues-rockers who cracked through the ’90s Grunge scene with hit singles “Hold My Hand” and “Let Her Cry.” But on Friday, Bryan was the hometown kid back to give a free show as Mark Bryan and the Screaming Trojans. The former Montgomery Village resident and Seneca Valley High School alumnus performed with his childhood friends at Dr. Gordon W. Bowie Music Pavilion, as part of a free summer concert series. The crew played originals, covers and some Hootie fan favorites — with shout outs to Bryan’s mom, family, and close friends sprinkled throughout the show. For years, The Screaming Trojans have performed occasional shows throughout the region. The band…

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'Rines Romp in Lax Opener

Shane Soghomonian sets a school record with 9 goals as Watkins Mill blows past Seneca Valley 13-1.

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Pete Young

9:44 am on Thursday, March 22, 2012

Looks like Watkins Mill Spring athletics are off to a great start, following tremendous Fall and Winter seasons for the programs! Way to go 'Rines - it was great game last night!   more ›