Potomac schools, rated among the best in Montgomery County and in the United States, have welcomed students back for another challenging year of education. Last Monday, students entered the doors of elementary, middle and high schools with excitement, enthusiasm and expectations. Teachers and staff greeted their new charges – and parents breathed a sigh of relief that another summer was over and a routine could now be established in their homes.

What changes are in store for students this year? Here’s a few of the highlights:

• Catherine Allie, Potomac Elementary School principal, said, “This year, Potomac Elementary will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of our Chinese Immersion Program. We will be inviting former School Board President, Alan Cheung; Diana Conway from the community, former teachers and principals to join in the celebration on Nov. 17. We will also be inviting former students who have graduated from college. Many have attended college in Beijing and are involved in international business with China. Our school was the first public school to offer such a program. We offer Chinese in mathematics and science at all grade levels. We are proud of our students’ accomplishments and the ongoing program which has served the community for 20 years.”
• Wayside Elementary is being renovated and staff and students will complete this school year at a holding school on Grosvenor Lane as they await the completion of their new building on Glen Road. This time next year they will be in a new school building. Even though they are not in their home school, Wayside has added 14 new staff members to the Wayside team. Principal Donna Michela said, “We will continue our work using formative assessments to inform differentiated instruction so that we can effectively develop strategies/interventions to address the needs of all learners.”
• Potomac Elementary is also scheduled for a revitalization and expansion project with a completion date of January 2020. However, county and state funding must be provided at the levels approved in the Capital Improvements Program. Schematic Design meetings will be held at the school beginning in fall 2016 and are open to the public. The design phase will last approximately 18 months followed by 18 months of construction.
• Beverly Farms Elementary School PTA has been planning innovative educational programs for the 2016-2017 school year. Spencer Delisle, Beverly Farms principal, said, “The PTA is focused on providing enrichment programs and events for students as well as offering community building activities. This year there will be a wide variety of after-school activities offered at Beverly Farms, including foreign language, sports, instrumental music, visual and performing arts, and STEM classes. We will again host our annual Science, Book, and Multicultural Fairs in addition to the Variety Show, Book Club, Movie Night, Picnics, and Club Beverly Farms. The PTA also sponsors in-school assemblies and an Artist and Author in Residence. New this year, we will introduce a community week starting with a ‘Farmraiser’ that will host our local farmers and then continue with a volunteer day on Oct. 22 in which we will construct raised beds for our newly fenced edible garden and clear a Wooden Nature Trail for our kids. Our neighbors and Beverly Farms community are welcome to participate.”
• Churchill High School’s Principal Joan Benz is proud that, “Churchill’s concentration will be the continuation of our Sources of Strength (SOS), an all school, peer-to-peer program which focuses on health and wellness activities for our entire community. Our annual production of Blast, our instrumental and choral concerts and Jazz Coffee Houses will highlight our year. Our academic and college-career expectations for the success of all students have been the key to planning for the 2016-17 school year.”