In the Richard Montgomery High School football stadium Wednesday night, a sideline packed with teenage girls jumped and cheered as their Springbrook High School teammate ran with a football down the field.  

Eventually, an opposing player from Albert Einstein High School brought the runner to a halt by capturing one of the detachable flags hanging from her uniform. But that didn’t take away from the students’ excitement of almost scoring getting a touchdown in one of the first-ever Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) girls flag football games.  

Wednesday night was the kickoff for the school system’s high school girls flag football season, making MCPS one of four Maryland districts to add the sport to their roster of high school athletic teams while also providing county students an opportunity to participate in a typically male-dominated sport.  

“I’ve been watching football all my life,” said senior Kesare Bakare, a co-captain of the Gaithersburg High School flag football team. “I wanted to be able to play it in an actual [team] setting.” 

Flag football has been gaining popularity over the years, according to CBS, because the fast-paced sport poses less risk of injury when compared to tackle football. The biggest difference between flag and tackle football is the lack of tackling, but there are also other rule differences. The size of the playing field also is smaller and there are fewer players on the field than in traditional football, according to NFL flag football. Organized flag football leagues for all genders have increased over the years, and the sport also will be debuting at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, according to USA Football. 

For Montgomery County, the idea of bringing girls flag football to schools came from student surveys identifying interest in the sport, MCPS Director of Systemwide Athletics Jeffrey Sullivan told MoCo360. After discussions with the Baltimore Ravens and athletic wear company Under Armour brought in grant funding for equipment and uniforms, the sport became a reality for MCPS. Grant funding also paid for other expenses, including coach stipends, transportation and awards, according to MCPS.  

More than 600 students are playing flag football this fall, according to Sullivan. “With every checkpoint, it has more than exceeded the excitement level and the experience for our student athletes and coaches,” he said. 

MCPS joined Baltimore City and Washington County public schools to pilot the girls flag football program this fall, while Frederick County Public Schools entered its second season after piloting the sport last year.  

Wednesday’s opening night took place at four county high schools: Richard Montgomery and Thomas S. Wootton in Rockville, Paint Branch in Burtonsville and Seneca Valley in Germantown. All 25 teams took part in opening ceremonies held at all four high schools and 24 got their first taste of competing in flag football during games played that night.  

“I was at Wootton and Seneca Valley, and the energy was just–it’s hard to put into words,” Sullivan said. “My job ultimately is to create opportunities and spaces for student-athletes to thrive. … It’s really surreal when you’re watching it unfold in front of your eyes.”  

In the lead up to the sport’s debut, Sullivan said the district tried to “build momentum.” It held skills clinics for players interested in joining, opportunities that Tina Fitzpatrick, athletic director at Einstein High School in Kensington, said helped get more students involved.  

“We’re not just like dropping it out of nowhere,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s not up to just our schools to get it off the ground, but we’ve done it kind of together as a collective county effort, which I think shows in the amount of girls that are participating.”  

For Bakare, along with her co-captains Yvette Larios and Edita Kentale, both juniors, joining the Gaithersburg High team came down to wanting to try something new and get involved in a sport they loved. 

“I used to watch YouTube videos of people [playing] flag football,” Kentale said. “I was like, ‘I want to do this. … I want to be part of a team sport where we’re all working together.’ ”  

The three also play other sports, with Bakare and Kentale participating in track and field and Larios swimming and playing soccer. None of the trio had played flag football before, though, an aspect of the new sport that Fitzpatrick said makes it more approachable.  

Larios said the members of the Gaithersburg team have grown close in part because they are learning flag football strategies and rules together. After clinics in June, tryouts and practices for teams began in mid-August in preparation for the September opening.  

“These girls, they’re all brand new,” Larios said. “We’re all starting at the same level and we’re growing together. So, it makes us even closer.”   

However, learning the new sport wasn’t easy, the players said. 

“When you’re not used to people coming at you, a natural instinct is to block or push them away right? So, with flag football, you can’t do that,” Larios said. “So learning how to not push people away when they’re running at you … is really hard.” 

And there are aspects of the game and plenty of new vocabulary that the girls said they had to get used to. It took a lot of repetition to remember lingo such as “blitzer” or “line of scrimmage,” and even more repetition to memorize strategic plays. 

Despite the challenges, they said they learned about the value of teamwork–especially Kentale and Bakare, who typically compete in non-team sports.  

“One of my coaches said, ‘How you do anything is how you do everything,’ ” Kentale said. “We need to all work together because if one person is down and we don’t try everything to pick them up, it’s going to affect us as a team and how we play.” 

Plus playing flag football has been a lot of fun, both for the players and Jeremy Brown, coach of the Gaithersburg High team. 

“I’m just having a lot of fun working with them and seeing them compete,” Brown said. “I’m coming up with a scheme and what not to win games, but I’m also teaching a lot about the sport and strategy.” 

Brown said providing students with more opportunities to play sports gives them the chance to learn how to be a team member as well as how to lose and to deal with adversity. 

“If an opportunity comes up and you feel like you’re down to do it, having options like this is really, really good,” Larios said. “You learn more about yourself as an individual, and you also learn more about opportunities that you can get.”  

Those new opportunities are reflected in the division names for the 25 flag football teams: Dreamers, Pioneers, Innovators and Trailblazers. Sullivan said the divisions were intentionally named “for what our students are doing with this initiative.”  

“This really allows girls … an opportunity to play football for some of us [who] actually enjoy the sport,” Kentale said. “It shows that women can also do anything.”  

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This story, published at 4:53 p.m. Sept. 5, 2024, was updated at 8:55 p.m. to provide more information about the incident and to clarify where it occurred.

Two Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students were arrested Tuesday following a shooting in the Wheaton-Glenmont area that did not result in any injuries, according to county police and school officials.  

The two boys, ages 15 and 13, are “being charged with multiple charges of first-degree assault” following a shooting in the 2300 block of Glenmont Circle, police said Thursday night in a statement.

On Wednesday, the principals of three nearby schools–Odessa Shannon Middle School and John F. Kennedy and Wheaton high schools–sent a community letter concerning the incident. According to the letter, police made the principals aware Wednesday of a “serious incident” that had occurred Tuesday near the schools. 

According to Montgomery County police, officers responded shortly after 3:30 p.m. to a report of a shooting in progress.

Detectives determined the two students were involved in a confrontation with several other juveniles during which “a handgun was displayed,” police said in the statement. The juveniles “ran away and the suspects chased after them.” 

A short time later, the 15-year-old suspect shot at the occupants of a vehicle in the area of the 2300 block of Glenmont Circle, police said. The two occupants were not injured. Shell casings were recovered from the scene.

The two suspects are in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Services, police said.

Neither the police statement nor the community letter identified the students or said which school they attended.  

The community letter did note that an “investigation and any resulting actions are a police matter, not a school disciplinary matter,” as defined by a memorandum of understanding between MCPS and county police.

MCPS can’t share additional information due to student privacy laws, specifically the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), according to the letter.  

“While this may understandably pose frustrations, particularly in contexts where transparency is desired, it’s crucial to recognize that these regulations are in place to uphold the safety and privacy rights of all students, even those who may be subjects of a criminal investigation,” the letter said.  

In the letter, the principals asked families to “reinforce at home that violence is not ever a good choice to resolve conflict; students should reach out to a trusted adult at home or in school to seek help resolving conflict.” 

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Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and county police plan to focus more on communication and collaboration when addressing school safety, according to district and police officials.  

With new MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor making safety the district’s “No. 1 priority,” former police Chief Marcus Jones, who’s now serving as the head of security and compliance for the school system, said he’s developing a culture that requires all employees to focus on keeping schools safe.  

“It’s more than just the security team and the police department providing those [safety nets],” Jones said Wednesday during the county government’s weekly press briefing. “And so we have this … motto that says, ‘It’s my job, it’s your job, it’s our job. We’re all in this together.’”  

Acting Assistant Chief David McBain said communication is an “overwhelming positive” for the police and the school system going into the new year. McBain said the police department has met with Jones and Taylor, as well as meeting with athletic coordinators to address safety at sporting events.  

The 2023-2024 school year faced several safety issues, including numerous bomb threats, a Paint Branch High School student charged for on-campus gun possession and brawls breaking out at football games.  

“We’re coordinating our efforts to just provide a safe school year for our kids, but inside the school, outside the school, around the schools, and obviously, to provide safe routes to school,” McBain said. 

One example of communication that McBain highlighted is when the police department releases information about potential concerns, such as when incidents happen off campus that might impact the school day, to MCPS soon after receiving it regardless of the time of day. McBain said this helps give schools time to prepare to handle a potential incident.   

While the district is planning to implement some security measures such as installing vape detectors, making the wearing of student IDs mandatory and reforming the way serious incidents are reported, others, such as the operation of the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) program, are just getting clarified. Determining whether the district should install weapons detectors is also in the very early stages of exploration, Jones said, noting security staff will be more visible to address drug-related concerns.  

Jones has said there’s confusion surrounding the CEO program, in which police officers are assigned to high school clusters, but don’t patrol within schools. Instead of changing the program this school year, officials are clarifying expectations. McBain said officers won’t be patrolling hallways but will use offices in high schools to be available to staff and students when needed. There are 21 CEOs assigned to high school clusters and the police department is actively filling another position, he said.  

In addition to the 21 CEOs, MCPS has more than 280 security staff, plus counseling staff and principals, to address safety concerns.  

Before the school year began Aug. 26, CEOs and MCPS security staff trained together to ensure that everyone understood their roles within the school system, Jones said. He also noted there are 70 principals who are in their first or second year as leaders who will be given assistance to understand the different roles between CEOs and security staff as well.   

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The Bullis School community is mourning the loss of head football coach Ray Butler after the “deeply respected” coach and mentor died Monday night, the school announced Tuesday.  

According to a statement from the Potomac private school, Butler died peacefully, surrounded by family. The statement didn’t specify the cause of death, but a GoFundMe started by a Bullis parent said Butler suffered a massive brain hemorrhage on Aug. 24 and was in the ICU.  

“His passing has left a significant void, particularly among the students and athletes who were inspired by his guidance and care,” the statement said.  

Butler began his time at Bullis as a member of the security team and an assistant football coach. In these dual roles, he was “more than just a protector of the campus”–he was also a mentor and “positive force” in the lives of Bullis students, the statement said. Butler took on the role of head varsity football coach in 2023.  

As a head coach, Butler continued to “shape the lives of his players with his calm demeanor, compassion, and unwavering dedication,” the school’s statement said.  

“He committed himself fully to them — in-season or out, rain or shine, win or lose,” the school said.  

According to NBC4 Washington, Bullis Head of School Christian G. Sullivan said in a letter that Butler made a “profound impact” on the lives of students.  

“His legacy at Bullis will be remembered not only for the victories he led but for the countless lives he touched with his kindness, patience, and steadfast dedication,” the letter said. 

Shawn Yancy, a news anchor for NBC4 in Washington, D.C., and the mother of two former Bullis football players, paid tribute to Butler during the station’s 11 p.m. broadcast Tuesday night, saying Butler had a “remarkable impact.”  

“For him, it was always about the young men, it was always about the kids that he coached,” Yancy said. “He was … a gentle, kind man but his spirit and his motivation were huge.”  

Social media also lit up with tributes to the coach, including from other private school football programs including the Potomac School.  Others, including parents, former students and County Councilmember Will Jawando shared that Butler had been a pillar in the community. 

Bullis’s statement said funeral arrangements for Butler will be shared once they’re available. The school didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.  

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Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor sat down with The Washington Post recently to answer questions about his plans for the district and whether he’d be in the classroom as a substitute teacher.  [The Washington Post]

Marriott International earns accolades in annual People magazine list

Bethesda-based hospitality company Marriott International made People magazine’s annual list of businesses that “demonstrate outstanding respect, care and concern for their communities, their employees and the environment.” Marriott was lauded for its commitment to hiring refugees. [People]

‘Pull Up a Chair 2.0, Mental Health and Wellness’ exhibit opens

Mental health is the uniting theme for this new exhibit at the Gaithersburg’s Arts Barn. Fourteen chairs will be on view through Oct. 6 and a panel discussion will be held Friday. [WTOP]

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Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks wasn’t seeking the input of voters at this week’s roundtable discussion in Silver Spring–instead she says she wanted to hear from a group of students about the impact of antisemitism on their lives.

A dozen Jewish teens, gathered by state Del. Jared Solomon (D-Dist. 18), met with the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate at the Silver Spring Civic Center on Wednesday. Alsobrooks is facing Republican challenger and former Gov. Larry Hogan in the Nov. 5 general election.

The teens represented a mix of students from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) as well as area private schools. Solomon, who chairs the Maryland General Assembly’s Jewish Caucus, said Alsobrooks’ campaign team had asked him to arrange the roundtable.

“I don’t think hate should be a normal part of your experience,” Alsobrooks said after a student said he’d come to expect casual antisemitism. “We need to think of things officials can do.”

Each student shared their experiences with antisemitism both in and out of school. Over the past two years, the county has seen an increase in reported antisemitic incidents. In December, the Montgomery County Anti-Hate Task Force adjusted its recommendations to the County Council following an increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, which began Oct. 7. In August, vandalism was reported at multiple MCPS schools and an area synagogue. 

But many of the students who spoke to Alsobrooks said their experiences of antisemitism weren’t recent, relaying stories from as early as sixth grade.

Eliza Bevington, a senior at Wheaton High School, shared a story of a time another student AirDropped photos of swastikas to her phone. She said that while the school’s administration was sympathetic about her experience and other antisemitic incidents at the school, she felt it became her responsibility to educate her fellow students when she was asked by an administrator to create a presentation about antisemitism. While she said she was willing to do it, she says she would’ve liked more support. 

“There were no support systems. There was no further education done,” Bevington said. “It really falls on the Jewish students.”

Gabby Kux, a student at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, shared similar experiences.

“It’s kind of traumatic having to be the one to report something that is making you a victim … and then you’re the one that has to go through the process of making it better,” said Kux, who is the vice president of her school’s Jewish Student Union.

However, Kux added that she has also felt empowered by her school’s leadership to have conversations with fellow students about antisemitism. The Jewish Student Union at Whitman partnered with the Muslim Student Association to host a town hall to discuss emotions students were experiencing after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

“No one had had a space to talk about it. No one felt comfortable talking about it. I felt very isolated, so we hosted this forum. We brought in an imam and a rabbi, and they shared their perspectives and it was completely apolitical,” said Marisa Janger, the president of Whitman’s Jewish Student Union. “I think the support we had from [the school’s] administration during that time, promoting interfaith relations and that kind of conversation, was just the most productive thing we’ve done.”

Maya Seligman, a sophomore at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, said she wished students were provided with more education about the Holocaust.

“This is a complex issue. … I think a lot of what really needs to happen is a lot of big systemic change, which is hard, and I understand that,” Seligman said. “But I think to start, there needs to be, to some level, some benchmark to establish that these kids know what the Holocaust was.”

Solomon commended the students for sharing their experiences.

“I think some of our schools are better than others. We’re really trying at the local and state level to fix that, but we wanted to hear straight from you all,” he told the students.

Alsobrooks said she agreed with the students that education was important in addressing antisemitic incidents. She said she believes adults are teaching hate to their children and that “the younger generation will correct this.”

“Our education and understanding the experiences of other people is important to all of us to make us stronger and more understanding of each other,” Alsobrooks said.

She told reporters after the event that she wanted to talk to the students because she “loves kids” and feels their insights are important.

“The children have had the keenest things to say,” Alsobrooks said. “You can’t represent people you don’t understand. I have to represent kids, whether they can vote or not. I represent their parents, but I also represent them.”

Hogan has also met with Montgomery County Jews during his campaign. He spoke at an event hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) at a synagogue in Potomac in March. Alsobrooks spoke at a similar JCRC-sponsored event in April. “The Jewish community–I think they’ve had a specific, unique experience. And I think it’s important that to represent people, you have to understand what that experience is,” Alsobrooks said. “So I’ve spent a lot of time meeting, but I’ve also spent a lot of time

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Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is looking to evaluate how serious incidents are reported after only 130 fights were reported in the 2023-2024 school year–a decrease from the year before but a number that doesn’t encompass all fights, according to MCPS staff.  

“The number of incidents, when you look at that number, and you think about the number of school days and what we’ve experienced–the validity of that is extremely questionable,” Peter Moran, MCPS chief of schools, told the school board Aug. 20. 

Serious incidents are defined as those that involve some harm, risk or threat of harm to staff or students; seriously disrupt school operations; or concern staff or students and could escalate to a community concern or police/legal matter, according to school board documents.  

During the 2023-2024 school year, 4,424 serious incidents were reported. Of those, 16%, or 726, were classified as “critical,” meaning they had the potential to impact student safety and security, according to school board documents. The 726 incidents were classified into categories, including those involving knives or other weapons, false alarms or bomb threats, fighting, drug-related issues and trespassing.   

There were 21 bomb threats during the 2023-2024 school year.  

Data show a significant decrease in the number of reported fighting incidents from 2022-2023 to 2024-2025, according to a presentation from Moran; Marcus Jones, the former county police chief who now heads the MCPS Department of Security and Compliance; and Dana Edwards, chief of district operations.  

There were only 130 fights reported in the last school year and a slight decrease in reported drug incidents. However, there was an increase in incidents involving knives or other weapons, false alarms/bomb threats and trespassing.  

The rest of the 3,698 reported serious incidents were “non-critical,” posed no threat to student safety and didn’t require activation of school-based emergency protocols. These designation can include anything from a small animal entering a school to a temporary power outage, according to school board documents.  

According to school board documents, 47% of the serious incidents occurred in high schools, 32% in middle schools and 20% in elementary schools and 1% in special schools. Although the district has been collecting data on serious incidents, Moran and several school board members said the way incidents are reported needed to be examined. School board member Brenda Wolff (Dist. 5) said 130 fights seemed like a very low number based on what she’s seen on social media. Moran agreed.  

Moran said the number only included reported incidents. Moran said the guidelines for reporting fights include if they resulted in hospitalization or significant bodily injury that required emergency personnel to respond, but they don’t account for fights that don’t result in serious injury.  

“That’s a problem in and of itself,” Moran said.  

Edwards said there were limitations on how the data is collected, which  the district needs to address this year.  

“That will be part of the build-out for the coming year to go back to: Are the things we’re implementing to address this actually working? And we should be able to connect it back to the data,” Edwards said. 

Wolff, along with board member Grace Rivera-Oven, said administrators shouldn’t be afraid of punishments and know that they’ll get support for reporting an accurate number of serious incidents. 

“We just need to be truthful with our data,” Rivera-Oven said. “How do we move forward with trust to make sure that our administrators, that our teachers, that they feel comfortable reporting what’s going on in their buildings?”  

Jones said schools need to acknowledge problems that occur to solve the problem. He noted one of the first things he’ll be looking at is how serious incidents are reported, and other staff members have been willing to devise new reporting strategies.  

Moran said MCPS staff worked with all principals to review the incident reporting process and “reset expectations” for the reporting system before the start of the school year.  

He also noted that sometimes things are reported—or not reported—based on the quality of support received. Moran said the district’s central services need to do the work to support schools when incidents are reported.  

“You’ll see [serious incident] numbers increase also as the service we’re providing is delivered in a stronger, more effective way,” Moran said. 

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A team leader at Odessa Shannon Middle School, Erin Kelly, is on leave after she was indicted by a grand jury for allegedly embezzling $161,000 from a Rockville dance studio, according to a Montgomery County Public Schools spokesperson. [Montgomery Community Media]

North Bethesda office sells to New York firm, to be converted into townhomes

A vacant, aging office property in North Bethesda, at 2115 E. Jefferson St. sold to New York-based asset management firm, Kennedy Lewi Investment Management for $21.76 million in early August. The site was approved by the Planning Board in October 2023 for redevelopment into 86 townhomes.[The Washington Business Journal]

Pennsylvania man sentenced for rape of Montgomery County girl

Dylan Lewis, 25, pleaded guilty to the rape of a 13-year-old girl from Montgomery County and was sentenced to four years in prison and five years of supervised probation upon release. Lewis will also register as a sex offender for life, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office said. [The MoCo Show]

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Parents would be able to let their children advance to the fourth grade, even if they failed to meet reading standards that would otherwise lead to them being held back, under a proposed revision to the state’s controversial literacy program.

The change, reviewed Tuesday by the state Board of Education, comes as parents and advocates have filed nearly 1,000 comments in response to the literacy plan unveiled last month, and its proposal to retain third graders who are not reading at level.

“The amount of feedback that we’ve gotten, not just through the website, but we’ve received personal emails, written letters,” said Deann Collins, deputy state superintendent in the department’s Office of Teaching and Learning. “The time that folks have taken to say thank you is remarkable,

“We just wanted to make sure people know that we are listening. We will continue to listen,” Collins said.

Under the change outlined Tuesday, a parent or guardian who did not want their child held back in third grade could insist that the child be allowed to advance – but would have to agree to additional support for the student, such as a summer school program, before- or after-school tutoring, or other instructions “that take place outside of the school day.”

The policy comes as the state seeks to boost student achievement, which ranks 40th in the nation on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known at the Nation’s Report Card. The goal is to put Maryland in the top 10 by 2027.

Prior to the discussion of the literacy program Tuesday, the board reviewed preliminary test results from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, which showed 48.1% of students achieved proficiency scores in English language arts in the last school year.

Collins and other state education officials stressed that the full policy doesn’t simply focus on the third grade, but includes reading intervention and other literacy programs and activities starting in kindergarten.

Some of the revisions include emphasizing promotion and retention based on state guidance, ensuring partnerships with families on the student reading improvement plan and including pre-service training for future teachers.

State Superintendent Carey Wright said the goal is to present a final literacy program plan to the school board for approval in September. Under that timeline, if the policy is approved it would start to be implemented in the next school year, and the retention part of the plan would not kick in until the 2026-27 school year.

An ‘error’

Before the plan comes back, a few school board members would like to see some changes.

School board member Joan Mele-McCarthy said she hopes instructional support is done during the school day.

“When you get kids after school, not everyone is an eager beaver to do after school work,” said Mele-McCarthy, executive director of The Summit School in Anne Arundel County. “They should be playing baseball or going to dance lessons or playing outside or riding bikes. So, I struggle with that, and encourage us to figure out ways to get the instruction done during school.”

Nick Greer, the parent representative on the board from Baltimore, recommended changing the word “waiver” to “informed consent” for parents and guardians.

“I think what should come from this is that the positions of schools and the professionals to be able to make a recommendation in the same way that a doctor would, or a team of medical professionals would,” he said. “It provides parents with the risks to saying yes and the risks to saying no. I think that those pieces of information should be provided from the state, not from the LEA [local education agency, or school district].”

Susan Getty, who expressed concerns with the policy last month, did so again Tuesday, saying the policy has an “error” by not including prekindergarten education.

“First of all, we’re not a K [kindergarten] through 12 school system. We are pre-K through 12 system,” said Getty, who taught prekindergarten and kindergarten for 35 years. “So, it gives a special opportunity to add another whole year of instruction and intervention that I think we can’t ignore.”

Some of the remarks made by former principals, education advocates, PTA officials and parents said the policy would negatively affect students of color, those from low-income families and multilingual learners.

Michelle Corkadel, president of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, said retaining students would also decrease a student’s confidence, learning and other factors.

“Moreover, students retained in elementary grades are more likely to be suspended in subsequent years, facing bullying and exhibit bullying behavior,” she said.

Phelton Moss, a professor of education policy and leadership at American University in Washington, D.C., and a Prince George’s County resident, said the policy implemented in Mississippi where he worked is “even stronger.” Wright, who served as Mississippi superintendent before coming to Maryland, confirmed after the meeting she worked there with Moss.

“However, I must emphasize the importance of state investment and the resources necessary for full implementation,” Moss said, while testifying virtually. “With adequate support, including state assigned literacy coaching and comprehensive teacher training, we can avoid falling short of our goals and potentially harming students who need help.”

For those who didn’t get to comment Tuesday, the department plans to post the revised policy on its website with a comment form people can fill out.

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org. Follow Maryland Matters on Facebook and X.

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Amid local heat and air quality advisories, all outdoor daytime activities at Montgomery County public schools will be held inside Wednesday due to extreme temperatures, according to the district.  

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a heat advisory from 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday for portions of Maryland, including central and southeast Montgomery County. 

The county expects to see temperatures hit roughly 97 degrees, with 68% humidity, according to the Weather Channel. According to the NWS, heat index values are expected to reach 105 to 109 degrees. The heat index is defined as what the temperature feels like due to the combination of relative humidity and air temperature, according to the NWS. 

The Maryland Department of the Environment also issued a Code Orange air quality alert Wednesday.  

A Code Orange air quality alert means the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups. According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, sensitive groups such as people with heart or lung diseases, older adults and children should make outdoor activities shorter and less intense.    

Montgomery County Public Schools announced in a community email Tuesday evening that all outdoor activities, including lunch, recess and any classes on Wednesday, will be moved inside. The district also said the schedule for athletics will be shifted to later in the day, with competition start times delayed until 6 p.m. or rescheduled.  

According to the district’s email, coaches, officials and athletic trainers are expected to monitor student-athletes during competitions held after 6 p.m. Mandatory water breaks must be held every 15 to 20 minutes. Students should have ample water, access to ice towels and the use of a cold immersion tub.  

On social media, the Maryland Department of Health recommended drinking water, limiting time outside, seeking air conditioning and checking in on the elderly or those living alone. To prevent heat-related illness, people should stay indoors as much as possible, move to the lower floors of buildings, schedule outdoor activities for cooler times of the day and take frequent breaks, according to the health department’s website.  

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