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Prom night reflects schools’ new diversity
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With the help of her 13-year-old sister Flor, Gaithersburg High School senior Corixa Alfaro, 18, prepares for her senior prom Friday. – Greg Whitesell/Examiner
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Dancing close amid flashing lights and thumping music, dazzling prom-goers from Gaithersburg High School proved Friday night that some traditions transcend achievement gaps and demographic change.
Corixa Alfaro was a part of the festivities, and also a part of one of the most significant changes at Montgomery County schools in the past 20 years: an influx of Hispanic immigrants and English-language learners.
The number of Hispanic students in Montgomery County has grown steadily from 6,376 students, or 7 percent of the system, in 1988, to 29,723, or 22 percent, in 2008. At Gaithersburg, one of the district’s most diverse schools, 31 percent of the student population is Hispanic, and 12 percent of its students have limited English skills.
Alfaro, a graduating senior, and two siblings moved to the United States to join their mother. Their father fled political and economic instability resulting from El Salvador’s 12-year civil war.
Now reunited and living in a modest, spotless Gaithersburg home, Alfaro’s parents looked on proudly as their oldest daughter put small white flowers in her hair and donned a deep purple dress in preparation for the dance.
Her father, Amado, laughed as he tried to recall a similar experience in El Salvador. “I didn’t even go to school,” he said.
Maria, her mother, wore a long lavender sundress to match her daughter and said she felt very “contente,” a Spanish word that translates as “happy” but with a feeling of deep satisfaction.
Alfaro and a friend from her English classes went stag to the dance, held in a banquet room at the Rockville Hilton where near-equal proportions of black, white and Hispanic students appeared to mingle freely.
Manifestations of the Hispanic influence came in small doses, and practically without notice by the students, by now accustomed to each other even as the school system doggedly attempts to close the persistent achievement gaps between them.
“Some of my Spanish-speaking friends were talking the other day, and we were saying we hope they play some Spanish music,” Alfaro said, citing Puerto Rican stars Wisin & Yandel and Daddy Yankee as two of her favorites.
To the prom’s deejay, the selections were obvious. “Oh, yeah, I’m gonna play them. They’re both really popular now.”
lfabel@dcexaminer.com
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Examiner Reader #2 said:
We should make a stand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you think so?
1 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
People who bully Autistic/disabled kids should have some punishment!!! Don't you think?
1 agree | 0 disagree
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Students pics OK said:
But now Superintendent Edwards says that Mont. Co. Public Schools can post students pictures on the Internet because they came from the yearbook. Why isn't the PTA standing up for these kids?
7 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Are these the same students that our Superintendent and his staff referred to as "The Cream of the Crap"? Both were from the same presentation MCPS officials gave at Harvard.
5 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner reader said:
If it's not obvious from the article, the funds that used to be available to fund the math team and fund classes that had managable numbers of students are now diverted to fund ESOL classes for anchor babies and for illegal aliens. Shut down the day laborer centers and start enforcing immigration law and the schools will very rapid improve.
12 agree | 4 disagree
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Still world class said:
From the MCPS website Mission To provide a high-quality, world-class education that ensures success for every student through excellence in teaching and learning
3 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Valerie Ervin is a district councilmember. Only the people that live in her district could vote for that seat. The math program cuts are countywide, not just at Blair.
3 agree | 3 disagree
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Outraged Taxpayer said:
Not all students who attend Blair live within the borders of Ms. Ervin's council district.
4 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Blair is in Valerie Ervin's District. YOU voted for her. She backs MCPS 100%. Stop blaming MCPS for something YOU did. This is what you the voters want and now you have it. Either vote her out of office or stop complaining. As for calling MCPS 'world class,' if you notice, the co. gov't. and MCPS have dropped that from their descriptions of our school system. At least they are honest in this respect.
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Outraged Taxpayer said:
This is why our own Superintendent considers us "Cream of the Crap." Nice work Jerry - after 40 years in education and 9 at the helm of MCPS - is that the best YOU can do?
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Examiner Reader said:
America never get short of math talents, we can always harvest them from outsides US when we need.
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Examiner Reader said:
Weast continues to travel and pile up the credit card bills, but kids' participation in ARML (national math competition) gets cut?
3 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
MCPS says yes to artificial turf for private sports team but NO to helping out its own students for Math Team. MCPS/BOE have misplaced priorities.
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Examiner Reader said:
Where is the county PTA association in lobbying for kids resources? Why is the MCCPTA sitting back and letting parents get tapped to open their wallets once again to subsidize the $2 billion school system? Parents are already paying for playgrounds, class supplies, renovations etc...now they must fund a county wide arm of a national competition that boosts MCPS' math standing?
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Examiner Reader said:
Montgomery County falls to 11th best in Maryland for Math. 11th of just 24. A terrible disappointment for the once excellent Montgomery County Public Schools. Heads should roll. Montgomery County spends $2B a year on our schools. Being middle of the pack in Math is not okay.
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Examiner Reader said:
PS, I was in there getting help for not algebra, but Calculus II.
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Examiner Reader said:
Cut up the MCPS credit cards. How much would be saved if MCPS staff stayed in the county and stopped traveling to "seminars"? Cut the credit cards, the lunches and the travel. They can walk to seminars.
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Examiner Reader said:
K-5 should not have to walk a mile to get to school. 6-9th should not have to walk 1.5 miles. That is unacceptable for as much tax dollars we pay out and the fact that these children are defenseless against an attack or kidnapping. Montgomery County needs to step up and protect our children.
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Examiner Reader said:
What about the Principal at Richard Montgomery spending $30000 on a golf cart with special wheels so he can ride around the halls? Why didn't the county take it out of his pocket. That money could go to the fuel cost so that our elementary school children would not have to walk 1 mile to school. And middle school 1.5 miles.
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Robin Ficker Broker Robin Realty said:
It is a plain and simple fact that school kids are not getting enough physical exercise during the average school day. It is also true that Montgomery County is unnecessarilhy selling hundreds of school buses at auction every year to other school districts for cents on the dollar. Our buses should be getting many more miles before being sold. Can't we fix anything?
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Examiner Reader said:
And a Comcast graduation for the 4th largest MCPS senior class?
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Paid the dues, now what? said:
When will MCCPTA advocate for equity in math offerings? What do PTA dues do for kids?
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Examiner Reader said:
Did the reporter bother to ask how much of the outstanding debt is actually recovered?
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Towel Tax said:
My children have had to pay for all sorts of things, including $4 for paper "towels" used in gym classes at a MCPS school. PTSAs love these, because its one less thing the principals ask them for. The schools love these charges, but honestly, keeping kids from graduating because of bogus charges? PTSAs and parents shouldn't be fundraisers, but when you have the head of the PTSAs saying its ok, what else can you expect?
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Examiner Reader said:
Where is MCCPTA on the charging of fees?
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Examiner Reader said:
Does "the law" allow students and their parents to not take responsibility for the textbooks they are issued? That's the point I was making. I was NOT referring to fees.
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Examiner Reader said:
It;s called the law. And MCPS has to follow it just like everyone else. Fees connected to curriculum are a violation of state law and a guarantee of a free and public education. Read and learn.
4 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Were all Business Managers asked about the amount owed? The article doesn't say if they were or if they weren't. Once again certain people like to read things that aren't there. And yes, the case is CLOSED. Kids turn in their books and they don't get charged. It's called RESPONSIBILITY!
7 agree | 4 disagree
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Inquiring Examiner reader said:
Why wouldn't school district officials reveal the total amount owed? Is it because they are don't know, or because they are trying to cover up something? And why did only five schools provide their numbers? Do the rest of the schools even know how much is owed? It seems that five school business managers have a good handle on their financial situations, and quite a few others are clueless. This is very concerning.
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Examiner Reader said:
FEES are also included. Fees cannot be charged in connection with curriculum - something MCPS does all the time. Case open.
5 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It is so sickening to continually hear about MCPS this and MCPS that. How about all of these whiny parents taking control of their kids? Why should the school system be left on the hook when your kids "forget" to turn in their materials at the end of the year? You lose it, you pay for it!
9 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
A comment states "schools must be open to all without expense." That does NOT mean that MCPS has to pay for your children's inability to turn in their textbooks! You don't turn in your book you pay for it. Case closed!
7 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
MD Court of Appeals "schools must be open to all without expense." MD Atty General "anything directly related to a school's curriculum must be free."
4 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Up in the air? What is up in the air are MCPS administrators as they travel out of state. No cost cutting on travel or credit card use by MCPS admin.
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How many of the things Montgomery County students are being charged for are legal? State law guarantees a free and public education.
6 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Appropriate differentiation of instruction is essential in order for ALL students to have an opportunity to grow and excel. MCPS has lost what advantage it had when it opened its magnet schools at both the high and middle level: 1) qualified leadership in gifted and talented instruction, and 2) the understanding that excellent programming at the top level sets the tone, pace, and example for all others. When would a coach ever train to the level of a team's middle athlete? When would a coach allow a runner to race just to the finish line and not past it?
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Does anyone know if there is any data available through outside evaluation on the efficiency of operations in MCPS? Seems only internally produced information is released to the public, doesn't it?
7 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It is long past time for the burgeoning central office of Montgomery County Public Schools to be downsized. It has grown like a tumor with its own blood supply and its vessels are just as unorganized. Like a tumor, it has convinced itself that it supports the rest of the organism, the schools, when it exists to support itself, its growth, and metastasis.
8 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Programs, especially in Special Education, are being cut left and right and they spend 8.7 million on bragging about their successes? Give me a break!
9 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Only enough money for publicity for the administrators in MCPS - When are the students celebrated?
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Please, call it what it is - OVERHEAD. "Most of the new positions are supporting roles, so the increase has not pushed down class size"
8 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
MCPS budget is not shrinking. The proposed budget is an increase over last year's budget. MCPS will end up with a larger budget than last year with no increase in students.
7 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Sensationalism at the expense of our most vulnerable is unacceptable. The Examiner has taken a worthwhile news event and turned it into something ugly and hamrful to those in desperate need of support. This serves to highlight the issues that individuals with mental illness and their families struggle with. Would you call someone who suffers from diabetes, broken or less than whole? Then why do this to someone with mental illness! The proposed cuts would be devestaing to a program that has & does work. This is this issue and this is what should have been highlighted and followed up on, not the physiological illness that the children suffer from. An apology is owed to the individuals who opened up their hearts to the writer and to all who fall into the category of dealing with mental health issues.
11 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I have heard many good things about RICA's successes with its emotionally diabled students who have failed in other special ed programs. The whole thing about staff and budget cut at RICA seems illogical. Where would the MCPS send these severely diabled kids to if they cut or shut down RICA? Don't even think that they can be placed in those "inclusion" special ed programs (like Bridge Programs) at the regular schools. They have failed these students before they were sent to RICA. Any reasonable private special ed schools will definitely cost more. Don't break a good thing that works. The risk to screw it up is too high. In many casses we could be risking people's life by messing up with this successful school(RICA).
12 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
too many supervisers. just fire half of them.
6 agree | 6 disagree
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Parent and Alumni Parent of RICA said:
While I appreciate RICA being highlighted since MCPS will dismantle the program if they remove 6 of the 31 staff as wanted... calling these children and adolescents as disturbed is very very concerning... It is prejudicial and leads to more prejudice. ED refers to or should refer to Emotional Disabilities and more appropriate our children at RICA are those with a mental illness. This is of no fault of their own. Many of these children have lots of potential to be contributing members of society. The Examiner should be more sensitive and appologize for the term "disturbed" used in this article.
10 agree | 5 disagree
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Robin Ficker, Broker Robin Realty said:
Do we need 1100 people working for the school board making over $100,000 and 16 who make as much as the county executive, all of whom do not teach? I don't think so. Do we need to raise property taxes past the charter limit for people who are paying $4 a gallon for gasoline to give these 1100 people more of an increase than the 2.3% increase social security recipients get in 2008? I know we do not.
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Examiner is the only news source in the area that is covering the systemic dismantling of special education and other specific programs for children with specific needs in Montgomery County. Why are all of the other news sources so silent?
11 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
RICA is not a school for the "Disturbed". It is s school for students who, through no fault of their own live with mental illness. Like every member of our communicty, these students need respect and resources to mature into functional members of society. The Examiner needs to be more aware of its use of language to not further reinforce the stigmatization of this population.
9 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How are administrators "supporting kids and teachers" during the summer months? Maybe they should be 8.5 month employees too. Less time that they would have to say "I never heard that" and "Not a problem".
5 agree | 4 disagree
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