MCCPTA has partnered with Montgomery County Public Libraries to present special film screenings of “Can’t Look Away,” a documentary on the dark side of social media and its sometimes fatal impact on teens. The film also touches on legal efforts to hold social media companies responsible for the addictive design of their platforms, which has also recently been in the news.

Participants can earn 3 SSL hours for attending and providing feedback. Parents and caregivers are also encouraged to attend.

There are currently three upcoming screenings:

• November 9, Sunday, 2-5 pm – Kensington Park Library – Register Here
• November 15, Saturday, 2-5 pm – Potomac Library – Register Here
• December 13, Saturday, 2-5 pm – Potomac Library – Register Here

Don’t wait to register; seats fill up fast!

Learn the fundamentals of computer science and programming through fun, hands-on Python projects.

MCode offers beginner and intermediate classes for all experience levels:

• Beginner Class: Covers the basics of Python and core computer science concepts through engaging projects that build logic and problem-solving skills.
• Intermediate Class: Expands on prior knowledge with data structures, game development, and Object-Oriented Programming.

Completely free – just bring your laptop or school Chromebook.
Participate in fun events like Coding Fests!

Interested?
Email: cjmscoding@gmail.com
Learn more and register.

Board of Education Representative Julie Yang is hosting a meeting for the Churchill community to discuss the Crown/Damascus Boundary Options and potential impacts on their school communities. MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor is invited. 

Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Winston Churchill High School – Cafeteria

11300 Gainsborough Rd, Potomac, MD 20854

PTA leaders from each potentially impacted school will first provide comments, and then invite questions/comments from their communities. Time is limited to a total of 20 minutes per elementary school and 10 minutes per middle school. Because of the limited time available, PTA leaders may need to prioritize questions from their communities. Comments should focus only on the boundary options and the potential impacts to the current Churchill cluster.

• 6:30 Introductory Remarks – Julie Yang and Dr. Taylor

• 6:40 Wayside ES

• 7:00 Potomac ES

• 7:20 Bells Mill ES

• 7:40 Herbert Hoover MS

• 7:50 Cabin John MS

• 8:00 Follow-up Questions & Comments

• 8:25 Closing Remarks – Julie Yang

• 8:30 Adjourn

If you would like to submit input to your PTA or have an individual question/comment to submit before the meeting, please reach out to your school’s PTA president. The contact information for Cabin John MS is Debbie Fleischer, CJMS PTSA President, at president@cabinjohnptsa.org. 

The Cabin John Middle School PTSA is proud to participate in the 2025-2026 National PTA Reflections Arts Program. 

We are now accepting submissions for this year’s theme: “I Belong!” 

Display your creativity via Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, or Visual Arts.

For details, submission forms, contest rules, and questions, please visit: https://cabinjohnptsa.org/reflections-arts-program/.  

Submission Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025.

Cabin John, in partnership with Bookworm Central, is excited to host our Fall Book Fair in the Media Center this November.

Opening Night: Friday, November 7th, during the SGA Fall Movie Night
Open During School: Monday, November 10th – Friday, November 14th

Discover a wonderful selection of books for every age and interest, from exciting new releases to beloved classics. It’s a great opportunity to find your next favorite read and support our school at the same time.

New This Year: We’re offering eWallet, a safe and easy digital payment option for on-site student purchases. Create or log in to your child’s eWallet here. Every purchase from the Book Fair helps us earn rewards and resources for our school.

Volunteers Needed: We’d love your help to make this event a success. Whether you can assist with setup, cleanup, or work a shift or more during the fair, your time and support make a big difference.

Sign Up to Volunteer

We’re almost there – just 10 members away from reaching our goal of 450 by the end of the month! When you join the PTSA, you’re not just helping us fund programs, events, and resources that make our school shine, you’re joining a community that supports every student and family. Plus, members get access to our online PTSA Directory. Let’s reach this goal together—join the PTSA today and help us cross the finish line!

Join and Donate HERE!

A few weeks ago, MCPS released revised boundary study options for its opening of the new Crown High School in Gaithersburg. These options impact which middle school some of our Cabin John communities would attend. Please use the Interactive Map Tool to enter your home address and understand the impact of the options on your assignments. We want our community to be aware of the following changes:

• Two of the proposed options would split students from Bells Mill ES between CJMS and Hoover MS, then all move onto Churchill
• All of the proposed options would send students from Stone Mill ES to Frost MS and then onto Wootton
• All of the proposed options would send students from Cold Spring ES to Hoover MS and then onto Wootton
• All of the proposed options keep students from Seven Locks going to CJMS then onto Churchill

What can you do?

• Provide feedback on these options to MCPS using this survey. It is important to share which options you prefer and what you like and do not like about them.
• Attend a public meeting (more to be scheduled), watch a recording of one, or participate in virtual office hours (starting next week) to learn more and provide feedback
• Share this information with your friends and neighbors
• Engage with the PTAs of your local Schools to learn more about their advocacy efforts
• Information will be shared in Cougar Clips as we know more. Reach out to Debbie Fleischer at president@cabinjohnptsa.org if you have questions.

UPDATE: At the October 16, 2025, Board of Education meeting MCPS suggested it may pause the opening of Crown High School due to declining enrollment. However, until that decision is final we encourage families to review the options above and provide comments to MCPS. 

In addition, if you support pausing the opening of Crown to allow it to be used as a holding school while renovations take place at Damascus HS, Wootton HS, and Magruder HS, you can email the Board of Education at boe@mcpsmd.org to share your support. 

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the CJMS PTSA table at the Wootton Fall Festival! We enjoyed meeting so many families, students, and community members and sharing all the exciting things happening at Cabin John. We appreciate your time, your smiles, and your support!

The Cabin John MS Counseling Department is partnering with the Salvation Army for a second year to support Montgomery County students in need this holiday season. The CJMS community will sponsor 50 students.

There is a giving tree in the main office by the VMS. Each tag (“angel”) represents a student and lists four gift categories:

• Need: essentials like diapers, shoes, coats, or grooming/hair kits
• Want: a toy from their age range (no bikes, scooters, tablets, drones, or other high-cost items)
• Wear: clothing such as pajamas, socks, underwear, shirts, or pants
• Read: a book

When you choose an angel, please plan to purchase all four items (Need, Want, Wear, and Read) for that student. For many of these children, these may be the only gifts they receive this holiday season.

How to participate:

1. Take an angel from the tree (feel free to take more than one if you’re able).
2. Scan the QR code on the tree to let us know which student you selected.
3. Take a photo of the tag in case it gets misplaced.
4. Drop off all unwrapped gifts at Cabin John Middle School by Wednesday, December 3.

For any questions, please contact Ms. Poole in the counseling office at Jennifer_A_Poole@mcpsmd.org or 240-406-1560.