Author: Julie Ehrlich

Join MCCPTA’s Curriculum Committee and Gifted Education Committee for a virtual Math Night on 1/29 at 7 p.m.! Maryland has adopted new K–12 math standards, which will affect classes from elementary school through high school. At this virtual Math Night, families will:

• Learn about Maryland’s new K–12 math standards
• Understand how math instruction and coursework will change across grade levels
• Explore what high‑quality math instruction looks like
• Learn ways parents and caregivers can advocate for strong math learning experiences for all students

To encourage open conversation and questions, this meeting will not be recorded. However, presentation slides will be shared with all registrants after the event.

Registration: The event is free, but registration is required. Please register here.

Wootton offers more music opportunities than any other high school, which means there’s truly a place for everyone. We have 3 bands, 3 orchestras, jazz ensemble, marching band, pit orchestra for our annual musical, indoor guard, indoor percussion, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. Students can also be part of Express, our student-led outreach ensemble that brings music into the community.

Our musicians are highly involved and recognized. Wootton students are consistently selected for All-State Band and Orchestra, Honor Bands and Orchestras, attend prestigious summer programs like Interlochen and Tanglewood, and some even perform nationally as members of NYO/NYO2.

Music at Wootton opens doors long after high school. Many students continue playing in college, even if they don’t major in music, finding instant community, new friends, and balance wherever they go. For students who choose to major in music, Wootton musicians are often accepted into top music schools and frequently receive significant scholarship support.

And when it’s time to apply for college, Mrs. Herman and Dr. Eckerle are proud to write strong, personal letters of recommendation for our music students, whom we have known for four years.

Best part? You do NOT need to audition to be part of a Wootton music ensemble.  If you love music, want to keep playing, or are curious about trying something new, there is absolutely a place for you here. Auditions are only for students who want to be considered for a higher-level ensemble.

Fun Perks: 
✨ No practice journals
 ✨A Disney trip for all Band & Orchestra members

Be sure to check out the Canvas course “Wootton Band/Orchestra Information & Auditions” for ensemble info, scheduling help, and a place to ask questions. Audition excerpts are now available here.

We can’t wait to meet you, hear you, and make music together.

Mrs. Herman & Dr. Eckerle 🎶

Come join us for our next PTSA General Membership Meeting! The meeting will take place from 6:30–7:30 pm in the CJMS cafeteria. More details coming soon—we hope to see you there!

Join the Wootton Cluster Community for “A Night With Dr. Taylor” on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Wootton Auditorium. This event offers an opportunity to hear directly from Dr. Taylor as he shares his vision for MCPS and responds to pre-submitted questions from the community. Attendees may submit more than one question, on any MCPS-related topic, through the registration form.

Registration is required – Register & Submit Questions Here

Registration Link(Complete by 1/23/26):  https://forms.gle/2YLfqUnKGiFjJtAN7

On December 1, MCPS released four additional boundary options for the Crown/Damascus Boundary Study (Options E-H). As with the four options introduced in October, changes are being considered that will affect Cabin John and its feeder schools. CJMS PTSA prepared the following summary to help our community understand how MCPS proposes to use the Crown site and the potential changes to Cabin John and the current feeder schools under each option. 

Summary of Proposed Options Impacting Cabin John MS and Feeder Schools

What should I do?

• Review the online mapping tool to understand how you may be affected, particularly in options where there is split articulation.
• Learn more about these options by watching a recording of the 12/01/2025 virtual meeting.
• Learn more about the positions of your individual communities by reviewing advocacy efforts of your elementary school and high school.
• COMPLETE THE SURVEY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO MCPS by January 9, 2026. We have heard from MCPS and the Board of Education that meaningful feedback matters!
• If you have questions or want to share comments/concerns, reach out to Debbie Fleischer at president@cabinjohnptsa.org. 

Join us for our CJMS PTSA restaurant fundraiser on Wednesday, January 14, at California Tortilla in Cabin John Village, anytime from 11 am–9:30 pm.

Stop by for lunch, an afternoon snack, or an easy dinner before the band concert – 25% of all sales support the CJMS PTSA. For in-store purchases, just tell the cashier you’re supporting the fundraiser. Ordering online or in the app? Just follow the flyer steps to participate. Mark your calendar, spread the word, and let California Tortilla do the cooking!

The CJMS Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is proud to participate in the National PTA Reflections Program. This year, we had 22 CJMS student submissions inspired by the theme “I Belong!” in the following categories:

Dance Choreography: Olivia Seo, Delara Chini

Film: Elijah Harmelch, Emerson Field

Literature: Julia Chahalis, Eden Kim, Katherine Cheung

Photography: Kayra Kuter, Amir Ahmed, Sean Wang, Jordan Sussman, Roshni Padhi, Kaitlyn Mahovic, Layla Najafi, Ayaan Jawaid

Visual Arts: Ella Gerson, Claire Chang, Moyosore Sanni, Victoria Kaydanov,
Shukria Mohammadi, Wynee Chen, Kaelyn Huang

School entries were submitted to the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (MCCPTA) for judging. County-level winners will be announced in February and move on to the state-level competition.

We thank our students, families, teachers, and staff for their support of the arts at Cabin John Middle School!

Interested in learning more about K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) programming in MCPS? Join the MCCPTA Curriculum Committee and the Gifted Education Committee for an informative session. They will share updates on the ELA curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school, along with details about enrichment and acceleration opportunities available to students. You’ll also learn what you can do to advocate for stronger curriculum and enrichment options within the school system. Please bring your questions.

Date & Time: Monday, January 12th, at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Virtually – Register here (Zoom link emailed once registered)
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Don’t miss your chance to stock up on brand new CJMS spirit wear! Stay comfortable and show your school pride with cozy hoodies, flannel pants, joggers, t-shirts, hats, and more (click items to see additional color options).

Hurry! The PTSA Online Spirit Wear Store closes today, December 23, 2025

• Orders ship free to the school and will be distributed in January
• A portion of every purchase supports the CJMS PTSA

Order here before the store closes: https://cabinjohnmiddle2025.itemorder.com/shop/home