Author: Divya Tonse

Update! Teacher Appreciation Week is next week and we REALLY need help from our community. Please consider making a monetary donation and we’ll do the shopping or donating the following:

• Breakfast items for Monday
• Lunch items for Thursday
• Snacks and refreshments throughout the week

Note that non-perishable donations may be dropped off in the main office or at the PTSA table at Multicultural Night on Friday, May 1. Volunteers in the Cold Spring, Stone Mill, and Bells Mill/Seven Locks areas are also collecting donations for closer drop off – check the Signup Genius! 

We are also looking for volunteers to help with setup for Monday morning’s breakfast and Thursday’s lunch.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! 

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Lights, camera, appreciation—this Hollywood-themed Teacher Appreciation Week celebrates our incredible staff as the stars they are, and we invite families to help us roll out the red carpet in their honor. Join the PTSA as we celebrate the amazing cast and crew at CJMS from Monday, May 4 – Friday, May 8. Sign up to contribute food items for meals and snacks or donate to this amazing appreciation event! 

Sign up at the following links to help or donate! 

• Monday, May 4: VIP Premiere Breakfast
• Tuesday, May 5: Directors’ Cut Café (sign up to donate refreshments and snacks)
• Wednesday, May 6: Craft Services  (sign up to donate refreshments and snacks)
• Thursday, May 7: Red Carpet International Lunch
• Friday, May 8: That’s a Wrap! After Party  (sign up to donate refreshments and snacks)

Can’t shop or cook? We are accepting monetary donations to help towards the costs of Teacher Appreciation Week. Donate here. Thank you for your support!

Join us for an unforgettable evening at Multicultural Night this Friday, May 1, from 6:30-8:30 pm (Multipurpose Room)! Come celebrate the vibrant cultures, traditions, and talents that make our community so special. This is a chance to travel the world right here at Cabin John MS. Bring your family and friends, learn something new, and share in the joy of our diverse global community.

Together, we can celebrate what makes each of us unique while recognizing the connections that bring us all together. Bonus – The Spring Book Fair will also be open from 6:30-8:00 pm during the event. We hope to see you there!

A huge thank you to this year’s PTSA Board for their time, leadership, and dedication to our school community. Your efforts have made a meaningful impact on our students, staff, and families. We’ve been able to increase membership, add new events, engage students in PTSA, and ensure our long-term financial stability as an organization.

As we look ahead, we’re seeking parents and caregivers to fill open board positions. With upcoming changes to our feeder elementary schools, it’s especially important that we have strong representation from all four schools. Your involvement will help ensure a smooth transition, promote inclusive decision-making, and help maintain continuity within our community. Please consider getting involved—your voice and perspective are important.

Several board members are interested in continuing to serve and will run for re-election. We are actively recruiting for the following open Board of Directors positions for next year: 

• VP for Communication & Events – This individual helps oversee committees for our communication channels and individual committees for events such as the Back to School Picnic and Multicultural Night.
• VP for School Support – This is a new role added in our recent bylaw update. This person will help oversee the committees for student affairs, after school programs, teacher appreciation, and the Reflections Art contest.
• Treasurer:  This individual is responsible for managing the budget, authorized disbursements, financial reporting to the board and membership, and required compliance activities (e.g., prepare/file taxes). Support from the current treasurer will be available throughout the year to ensure a smooth transition.
• Communications Chair — Working with the VP for Comms & Events, this individual coordinates communication and supports our weekly Cougar Clips newsletter.
• Membership Chair — Working with the VP for Membership & Fundraising, this individual helps to promote and track membership.

Please reach out to Debbie Fleischer at president@cabinjohnptsa.org if you are interested in discussing a role in our PTSA.

The PTSA needs your help! We are looking for 3 volunteers who are current PTSA members to serve on the nominating committee to elect next year’s PTSA Board of Directors. The nominating committee formally nominates interested & eligible persons for open PTSA board positions and reports the nominees to the membership before the election at the general membership meeting on May 12th.

We estimate the time commitment to be less than 1 hour and can be done remotely! Being a member of the nominating committee is a great way to meet other families while supporting the school community. If you are able to serve on the nominating committee, please email us at president@cabinjohnptsa.org as soon as possible.

School Beautification Day has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 16, from 9–11 am. Join us as we show pride in our school and community! Families and students are encouraged to participate, and students can earn SSL hours.

The PTSA will help coordinate volunteers and provide supplies such as gloves and bags. Volunteers may also bring their own gardening gloves, clippers, rakes, reusable water bottles, or other helpful items. Please note that the PTSA and CJMS are not responsible for the use or loss of personal equipment.

SIGN UP HERE (Note: MCPS student accounts don’t allow form access so guardians should complete for students)

By completing this form, you are giving your child permission to participate in this event. If you have any questions, please email the CJMS Assistant Principal, Mr. Lee, or parent volunteer Riyad Aile. Thank you for helping beautify CJMS!

Enjoy a delicious and easy way to support our school community at the Cabin John Village Shake Shack on Thursday, May 28th, from 10:30 am to 10:00 pm. Skip the cooking; gather with family and friends; and give back to CJMS—all in one fun outing!

On February 5, 2026, MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor presented his recommended option for the Crown/Damascus Boundary Study to the Montgomery County Board of Education. Before the Board votes, it is important that our community understand the recommendations and provide comments. 

What did MCPS recommend? Dr. Taylor recommended a modified Option H, and provided a non-recommended alternative (Option D) if the Board does not accept his recommendation.

• Recommendation (Modified Option H): Wootton High School is permanently relocated to the Crown Farm Site in Gaithersburg. Cabin John feeder schools would be Bells Mill, Seven Locks, Potomac, and Travilah. Travilah would articulate to Wootton at Crown, and all other Cabin John students would articulate to Churchill. Stone Mill would go to Hoover then onto Wootton at Crown. Cold Spring would go to Hoover then onto Churchill.
• Non-Recommended Alternative (Option D): Crown opens as a new high school with boundaries assigned per Option D presented in the fall. Under this option, Cabin John feeder schools would be Seven Locks, Bells Mill, part of Travillah, and part of Potomac ES. Travilah would go onto Wootton and Potomac would split between Churchill/Wootton. Stone Mill would go to Frost and onto Wootton. Cold Spring would go to Hoover and then onto Wootton.

What happens next? The Board of Education will take Dr. Taylor’s recommendation into consideration and will vote on a decision on March 26, 2026. Before the vote, the Board has an opportunity to make one or more motions to modify the options and also take public comment either via testimony or email. This means public input is important in these remaining weeks of the process. 

What can I do? We encourage you to review the recommendation and advocacy from impacted elementary schools and high schools. We know there are a lot of positions within our CJMS community and it’s important you allow your voice to be heard. 

• Signup to testify at the Board of Education: There are several upcoming opportunities to provide public comment (pre-registration required)
• Provide written comments to local officials: This includes the Board of Education, Montgomery County Executive and Council and Rockville City Mayor and Council, and the MCPS Superintendent. Comments can include support and/or opposition, as well as recognition of ways your comments were or were not considered in the process to date.
• Get Involved Locally: Many of the feeder elementary school communities and Wootton High School have parent communities that are driving advocacy efforts for their specific communities. We encourage you to reach out and get involved if their efforts and suggested alternatives align with your comments. 

Where can I learn more? For more information about Dr. Taylor’s recommendation, please see the following resources provided to the Board of Education:

• Slide Deck: Secondary Program Analysis and Boundary Studies: Optimizing Facilities and Expanding Regional Program Opportunities
• Superintendent’s Recommendation: Relocation of Thomas S. Wootton High School to the Crown Farm Site and Expansion of Damascus High School
• Report: Determine the Service Area for the Crown Farm High School Site and Expansion of Damascus High School
• Middle School Map, High School Map, and Data Tables

Did you know that 2026 marks a century of national commemorations of Black history? Learn more here. We are excited to join in the following celebrations of Black History Month in our community.

Jazz to Hip Hop Assembly: The CJMS PTSA is pleased to sponsor an in-school assembly on Thursday, February 19 for all students with Vinton Jones aka The Music Man, a professional musician, musical director, and educator. This interactive assembly explores the evolution of these genres, highlighting their roots, rhythms, and cultural significance. Students will experience live performances, learn about key artists and historical milestones, and participate in hands-on activities. From the improvisational spirit of jazz to the powerful beats of Hip Hop, this presentation celebrates the vibrant connection between these musical styles, inspiring students to appreciate and create music.

Minds In Motion Child Care 19th Annual Black History Month Celebration: Friday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Watkins Mill HS. Join the students of Minds in Motion Childcare, Bells Mill ES, Cabin John MS, Churchill HS, and other area schools for this 19th Annual Celebration of Diversity. All are welcome to attend.

Scotland Annual Black History Month Event: Saturday, February 28, 2026, 2 – 5pm at the Scotland Neighborhood Recreation Center, 7700 Scotland Drive, Potomac, MD. Sponsored by the Montgomery County Recreation Department, this event highlights the history of the Scotland Community through a museum-style exhibit. Activities include special guest presentations, storytelling, books, arts and crafts and refreshments. This event is free for all ages. The presentation will start at 3:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Bring the family, invite friends, and let Gregorio’s do the cooking. Join the CJMS community for Restaurant Night at Gregorio’s Trattoria in Cabin John Village and enjoy a delicious meal while giving back to our school.

When you dine in or order takeout, a portion of the sales will be donated to the CJMS PTSA, helping support school programs, student activities, and community events. It’s an easy (and delicious) way to make a difference. We hope to see you there!