Author: Heather Braswell-Ho

The CJMS PTSA is proud to share exciting news about our students’ exceptional performance at the 2026 MATHCOUNTS Maryland State Competition, held on March 14 at The McDonogh School in Baltimore County.

This year’s competition was highly competitive, with more than 850 mathletes from 94 schools who competed at the county level in February. From that pool, only 227 students representing 65 schools advanced to the state competition, including 112 individual competitors and 29 4-member school teams.

We are thrilled to announce that the CJMS team earned an impressive 3rd place finish overall!

Individually, our students also delivered outstanding results:

• James Wang (4-member team, Individual 3rd, Countdown 4th)
• Mila Wang (4-member team, Individual 12th)
• Yuchu Li (4-member team, Individual 18th, tied)
• Colin Zhao (4-member team, Individual 18th, tied)
• Mirabelle Li (Individual 22nd)

In total, five CJMS students are among the top 25% in individual rankings, a remarkable achievement.

A special congratulations to James Wang, who placed 3rd individually and will be part of the 4-member team to represent Maryland at the 2026 RTX MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Orlando, Florida, on May 10–11.

This success would not have been possible without the dedication of our incredible volunteer coaching team Lewis Lau, Sophiana Jiang, Yunbo Li, Eric Xie, and our high schoolers who are all CJMS MATHCOUNTS Club alumni. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the parent coordination committee, Yuqun Abigail Luo, Eric Zhao, Jing Janet Liang, and Ying Zheng. as well as the many parent volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Your collective support has been instrumental in sustaining and growing the MATHCOUNTS program since its inception in the 2018–2019 school year. We look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence and supporting our students again next year!

Our CJMS Multicultural Night is a special evening that celebrates the rich cultures, traditions, and talents within our school community, and we are looking for parents and students to get involved.

We are currently seeking:

• Parents To Host a Country Table (students can assist)– Share your culture with the CJMS community! Country hosts may display cultural items, share traditions, and offer small samples of food. It’s a fun and meaningful way to celebrate and teach others about your heritage. The PTSA will reimburse up to $75 per country (with receipts) to help cover costs.
• Volunteers to Perform on Stage – Do you or your student have a cultural performance to share? We welcome student and parent performers, including music, dance, demonstrations, storytelling, or other cultural performances. Performances should be 5 minutes or less.

Your participation helps make this event an engaging and memorable experience, and students who volunteer can earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for their time.

 Sign up here PLEASE NOTE: Countries listed were represented last year based on prior sign-ups. This list is not intended to be exhaustive or to exclude any countries. If you do not see your country listed, please select the “OTHER COUNTRIES” option and include your country when signing up. We would love to expand the list and encourage you to participate!

Thank you for helping us celebrate the diversity that makes our CJMS community so special. We look forward to an incredible Multicultural Night together! 

Step into 1962 Baltimore as teenager Tracy Turnblad goes from being a social outcast to an overnight celebrity when she has the chance to dance on a popular TV show. This heartwarming and energetic Tony Award winning musical embraces youth activism, social justice, and body positivity. Come watch the Patriot Players re-tell this upbeat story filled catchy tunes, heartfelt ballads and teen-focused dance anthems! Get Tickets Here!

Event Links:

• Purchase Tickets Here
• Register for The Color Run Here
• Volunteer Sign Up

Tickets On Sale Now – Learn More Here

Our CJMS Multicultural Night is a special evening that celebrates the rich cultures, traditions, and talents within our school community, and we are looking for parents and students to get involved.

We are currently seeking:

• Parents To Host a Country Table – Share your culture with the CJMS community! Country hosts may display cultural items, share traditions, and offer small samples of food (optional). It’s a fun and meaningful way to celebrate and teach others about your heritage.
• Volunteers to Perform on Stage – Do you or your student have a cultural performance to share? We welcome student and parent performers, including music, dance, demonstrations, storytelling, or other cultural performances. Performances should be 5 minutes or less.

Your participation helps make this event an engaging and memorable experience, and students who volunteer can earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for their time.

 Sign up here to volunteer or perform PLEASE NOTE: Countries listed were represented last year based on prior sign-ups. This list is not intended to be exhaustive or to exclude any countries. If you do not see your country listed, please select the “OTHER COUNTRIES” option and include your country when signing up. We would love to expand the list and encourage you to participate!

Thank you for helping us celebrate the diversity that makes our CJMS community so special. We look forward to an incredible Multicultural Night together! 

The CJMS PTSA is proud to participate in the National PTA Reflections Program. This year, 22 CJMS students submitted creative entries.

We have exciting news …

After judging coordinated by the Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations (MCCPTA), nine Cabin John Middle School students have been selected to advance to the state-level competition!

Those students are:

• Dance Choreography: Delara Chini, Olivia Seo
• Film: Emerson Field, Elijah Harmelech
• Literature: Julia Chahalis
• Photography: Amir Ahmed, Layla Najafi
• Visual Arts: Ella Gerson, Victoria Kaydanov

Congratulations to our CJMS students who are progressing to the Free State PTA Reflections Program competition! We are so proud of your creativity, talent, and hard work, and we wish you the best of luck in the upcoming competition.

Your achievements are a wonderful reminder of the importance of arts education and the meaningful role it plays in our schools and community. Governor Wes Moore has officially proclaimed March 2026 as National Arts in Our Schools Month in Maryland. The month celebrates student creativity and supports continued efforts to expand access to arts education for all Maryland students. The CJMS PTSA extends our gratitude to Cabin John educators who inspire creativity in our students every day!

Families of 7th-grade students are invited to join Mrs. Snider for a 7th Grade Principal’s Tea on Wednesday, March 25, from 6:00–7:00 pm in the CJMS Cafeteria. This informal gathering is a great opportunity for 7th-grade parents and caregivers to ask questions and build connections with other 7th-grade families.

Immediately following the tea, the PTSA will hold our next meeting from 7:00–8:00 pm in the CJMS Cafeteria. All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend to hear updates, learn about upcoming events and initiatives, and find ways to get involved in supporting our school community. We hope you can join us for one or both events!

Save the date for our March Restaurant Fundraiser Night at Five Guys in Potomac Village on Tuesday, March 24, from 5:00–9:00 PM.

Treat your family to a fun night out and enjoy Five Guys’ famous burgers, hand-cut fries, and delicious milkshakes, all while supporting our school community. It’s an easy way to skip cooking, connect with other CJMS families, and give back at the same time.

A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated directly to the CJMS PTSA to help fund important programs, events, and resources for our students and teachers.

We hope to see many familiar faces there, so bring your friends, neighbors, and your appetite!