Updates on status of Eastern Humanities magnet curriculum for *current* students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think BOE has approved MCPS's exploration of a new social studies curriculum for MS. But I expect that when the time comes, BOE won't say no to that curriculum. And then it will start Fall 2026.

Is the social studies curriculum going to be a home-grown curriculum like HS English? Might as well use Josh Starr's curriculum 2.0.

I think all social studies curriculum in MCPS (K-8, anyway) are home-designed? I don't think there are curriculum companies that make curricula that meet the Maryland requirements for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

We also got a spot at Eastern. We live in Kensington near Einstein HS. Would love to connect w families who go to eastern who live over here.

[Anonymous]

How many students per grade are enrolled in the Eastern Humanities program currently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

We also got a spot at Eastern. We live in Kensington near Einstein HS. Would love to connect w families who go to eastern who live over here.

We are neighbors! Good to know there are close folks for carpools. Maybe we will meet at the welcome night

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

CKLA will not be the humanities ELA curriculum. The interdisciplinary nature of the program is done by teacher planning and collaboration to bring together different curriculum and projects across the courses. There isn’t a curriculum out there that does that well and meets all the state standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

CKLA will not be the humanities ELA curriculum. The interdisciplinary nature of the program is done by teacher planning and collaboration to bring together different curriculum and projects across the courses. There isn’t a curriculum out there that does that well and meets all the state standards.

You must not be familiar with CKLA. All they would need to do is rewrite the SS and media curriculums to match the CKLA topics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

We also got a spot at Eastern. We live in Kensington near Einstein HS. Would love to connect w families who go to eastern who live over here.

We are neighbors! Good to know there are close folks for carpools. Maybe we will meet at the welcome night

I put a question out on the Offshoot of Buy Nothing FB page and a number of parents of kids in the Eastern Magnet responded, so you should look there and reach out to me! I won't be there tonight but my husband and son will be

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

CKLA will not be the humanities ELA curriculum. The interdisciplinary nature of the program is done by teacher planning and collaboration to bring together different curriculum and projects across the courses. There isn’t a curriculum out there that does that well and meets all the state standards.

You must not be familiar with CKLA. All they would need to do is rewrite the SS and media curriculums to match the CKLA topics.

I am familiar with CKLA which is how I know it’s an on-level curriculum, as indicated by the company itself. Also the Humanities program has SS as the base and ELA and media aligns alongside and on top.

[Anonymous]

We will also be at the meeting tonight. My DS is skeptical after watching the video that highlighted acting. I think he would love the history and english elements, but the acting totally turns him off. Is that really a huge part of the curriculum ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

CKLA will not be the humanities ELA curriculum. The interdisciplinary nature of the program is done by teacher planning and collaboration to bring together different curriculum and projects across the courses. There isn’t a curriculum out there that does that well and meets all the state standards.

You must not be familiar with CKLA. All they would need to do is rewrite the SS and media curriculums to match the CKLA topics.

They have said they are not using CKLA. They will be mixing units from a different external curriculum (I forget which) with other content.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

CKLA will not be the humanities ELA curriculum. The interdisciplinary nature of the program is done by teacher planning and collaboration to bring together different curriculum and projects across the courses. There isn’t a curriculum out there that does that well and meets all the state standards.

AEI is writing a new curriculum for the humanities magnet. It will not be the same teacher-designed curriculum, but it will still be interdisciplinary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

1. Magnet changing curriculum, starting with incoming 6th graders (that's your kiddo). Actual curriculum TBD. Teachers prob not know themselves yet.

2. I imagine they will strive to still be interdisciplinary. That's a question for the school.

3. Yes. They all ride the same bus/route. Goes Blair to Eastern to TPMS. But that might change once the regional model bussing goes into effect in Fall 2027.

4. After school music, yes. Prob cuz most of the students who play are not local students, but that's just me speculating.

5. Yes, lunch can be that early.

Re the bus question, it depends on where you live. Our kid rides a direct bus to and from school that consists only of Eastern magnet kids, but it's only really an option for kids within the TPMS/SSIMS attendance zones, so I can't speak to other buses. But how would TPMS and Eastern magnet kids be riding with Blair students in the morning when HS starts like an hour earlier? I think there might be some overlap with the afternoon activity buses that involve a change at Blair.

Re: lunch, technically the first 15 minutes or so are advisory so the actual eating will be after 10:30 at least

Re: after-school band, I assume this exists because there is staff to support it but also the kids to support it (not necessarily because kids live farther away but because magnet students only get one elective and choose to use it on something other than band).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

1. Magnet changing curriculum, starting with incoming 6th graders (that's your kiddo). Actual curriculum TBD. Teachers prob not know themselves yet.

2. I imagine they will strive to still be interdisciplinary. That's a question for the school.

3. Yes. They all ride the same bus/route. Goes Blair to Eastern to TPMS. But that might change once the regional model bussing goes into effect in Fall 2027.

4. After school music, yes. Prob cuz most of the students who play are not local students, but that's just me speculating.

5. Yes, lunch can be that early.

Re the bus question, it depends on where you live. Our kid rides a direct bus to and from school that consists only of Eastern magnet kids, but it's only really an option for kids within the TPMS/SSIMS attendance zones, so I can't speak to other buses. But how would TPMS and Eastern magnet kids be riding with Blair students in the morning when HS starts like an hour earlier? I think there might be some overlap with the afternoon activity buses that involve a change at Blair.

Re: lunch, technically the first 15 minutes or so are advisory so the actual eating will be after 10:30 at least

Re: after-school band, I assume this exists because there is staff to support it but also the kids to support it (not necessarily because kids live farther away but because magnet students only get one elective and choose to use it on something other than band).

Don't the middle school magnet kids just catch the Blair school buses school super-early so they can get to Blair by the HS start time, then transfer at Blair to TPMS/Eastern?

But this will potentially be different starting in fall 2027 when they do the new regional busing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

1. Magnet changing curriculum, starting with incoming 6th graders (that's your kiddo). Actual curriculum TBD. Teachers prob not know themselves yet.

2. I imagine they will strive to still be interdisciplinary. That's a question for the school.

3. Yes. They all ride the same bus/route. Goes Blair to Eastern to TPMS. But that might change once the regional model bussing goes into effect in Fall 2027.

4. After school music, yes. Prob cuz most of the students who play are not local students, but that's just me speculating.

5. Yes, lunch can be that early.

Re the bus question, it depends on where you live. Our kid rides a direct bus to and from school that consists only of Eastern magnet kids, but it's only really an option for kids within the TPMS/SSIMS attendance zones, so I can't speak to other buses. But how would TPMS and Eastern magnet kids be riding with Blair students in the morning when HS starts like an hour earlier? I think there might be some overlap with the afternoon activity buses that involve a change at Blair.

Re: lunch, technically the first 15 minutes or so are advisory so the actual eating will be after 10:30 at least

Re: after-school band, I assume this exists because there is staff to support it but also the kids to support it (not necessarily because kids live farther away but because magnet students only get one elective and choose to use it on something other than band).

Don't the middle school magnet kids just catch the Blair school buses school super-early so they can get to Blair by the HS start time, then transfer at Blair to TPMS/Eastern?

But this will potentially be different starting in fall 2027 when they do the new regional busing.

PP here, yeah, in looking at the schedules you are right. The pickups are before 7am in many cases and drop off at Blair, then Eastern/TPMS. That said, I've never heard any complaints about riding buses with Blair magnet students; I would guess that the MS and HS kids probably keep to themselves. I guess we are lucky in that we live close enough to get one of the few direct buses. But activity buses are the same for everyone; there is a shuttle to Blair at 4:15/4:30 and then a second bus the kids take home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

CKLA will not be the humanities ELA curriculum. The interdisciplinary nature of the program is done by teacher planning and collaboration to bring together different curriculum and projects across the courses. There isn’t a curriculum out there that does that well and meets all the state standards.

ELA will be CommonLit