Thoughts on the new Churchill principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOVE it that she enforced the rule even when it had implications for the game. She didn’t bow to pressure, which is great. Wish the students knew the full story (mine doesn’t) so it can serve a broader lesson. (What are seniors doing skipping in early fall, anyway? I get it at the end of the year, but in October??)

As a Churchill parent, I agree Mrs. Heckert is on the right path when she consistently enforces school rules. I also agree with your point that to have a greater effect, sending out an email addressing why the event was cancelled would remind students to not skip school in the future.

However, a reminder before the event would have persuaded students to be in school on Thursday and not skip. Perhaps the reminder was forgotten in this situation but perhaps could be done in the future. Mrs. Heckert is new and learning. Not the end of the world but room for correction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOVE it that she enforced the rule even when it had implications for the game. She didn’t bow to pressure, which is great. Wish the students knew the full story (mine doesn’t) so it can serve a broader lesson. (What are seniors doing skipping in early fall, anyway? I get it at the end of the year, but in October??)

As a Churchill parent, I agree Mrs. Heckert is on the right path when she consistently enforces school rules. I also agree with your point that to have a greater effect, sending out an email addressing why the event was cancelled would remind students to not skip school in the future.

However, a reminder before the event would have persuaded students to be in school on Thursday and not skip. Perhaps the reminder was forgotten in this situation but perhaps could be done in the future. Mrs. Heckert is new and learning. Not the end of the world but room for correction.

And why is she obligated to send a reminder? 17 yr olds should know by now that skipping school is NOT okay. We are in a different non-w cluster and our Principal would never send such note either. Good for the Churchill Principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOVE it that she enforced the rule even when it had implications for the game. She didn’t bow to pressure, which is great. Wish the students knew the full story (mine doesn’t) so it can serve a broader lesson. (What are seniors doing skipping in early fall, anyway? I get it at the end of the year, but in October??)

As a Churchill parent, I agree Mrs. Heckert is on the right path when she consistently enforces school rules. I also agree with your point that to have a greater effect, sending out an email addressing why the event was cancelled would remind students to not skip school in the future.

However, a reminder before the event would have persuaded students to be in school on Thursday and not skip. Perhaps the reminder was forgotten in this situation but perhaps could be done in the future. Mrs. Heckert is new and learning. Not the end of the world but room for correction.

And why is she obligated to send a reminder? 17 yr olds should know by now that skipping school is NOT okay. We are in a different non-w cluster and our Principal would never send such note either. Good for the Churchill Principal.

Reminders are considered a best teaching practice in education. Sure, Mrs. Heckert is not required by MCPS policy to send out a reminder. However, with her training she should know about these types of best practices and it is something easy to do. The rule applies to extracurricular activities for anyone leaving school or absent from school - the student's reason could have been legitimate and just needed prior attendance approval. This rule has only been stressed in the athletic program in the past, not all extracurricular activities so there has been a change in the enforcement of the rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOVE it that she enforced the rule even when it had implications for the game. She didn’t bow to pressure, which is great. Wish the students knew the full story (mine doesn’t) so it can serve a broader lesson. (What are seniors doing skipping in early fall, anyway? I get it at the end of the year, but in October??)

As a Churchill parent, I agree Mrs. Heckert is on the right path when she consistently enforces school rules. I also agree with your point that to have a greater effect, sending out an email addressing why the event was cancelled would remind students to not skip school in the future.

However, a reminder before the event would have persuaded students to be in school on Thursday and not skip. Perhaps the reminder was forgotten in this situation but perhaps could be done in the future. Mrs. Heckert is new and learning. Not the end of the world but room for correction.

And why is she obligated to send a reminder? 17 yr olds should know by now that skipping school is NOT okay. We are in a different non-w cluster and our Principal would never send such note either. Good for the Churchill Principal.

Reminders are considered a best teaching practice in education. Sure, Mrs. Heckert is not required by MCPS policy to send out a reminder. However, with her training she should know about these types of best practices and it is something easy to do. The rule applies to extracurricular activities for anyone leaving school or absent from school - the student's reason could have been legitimate and just needed prior attendance approval. This rule has only been stressed in the athletic program in the past, not all extracurricular activities so there has been a change in the enforcement of the rule.

Please these aren't 5 year old's. They are going to college, many can vote. If they can't figure out that ditching school means you will loose a privilege, then too bad. This is not a tragedy that the game was cancelled. There are worst things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOVE it that she enforced the rule even when it had implications for the game. She didn’t bow to pressure, which is great. Wish the students knew the full story (mine doesn’t) so it can serve a broader lesson. (What are seniors doing skipping in early fall, anyway? I get it at the end of the year, but in October??)

As a Churchill parent, I agree Mrs. Heckert is on the right path when she consistently enforces school rules. I also agree with your point that to have a greater effect, sending out an email addressing why the event was cancelled would remind students to not skip school in the future.

However, a reminder before the event would have persuaded students to be in school on Thursday and not skip. Perhaps the reminder was forgotten in this situation but perhaps could be done in the future. Mrs. Heckert is new and learning. Not the end of the world but room for correction.

And why is she obligated to send a reminder? 17 yr olds should know by now that skipping school is NOT okay. We are in a different non-w cluster and our Principal would never send such note either. Good for the Churchill Principal.

Reminders are considered a best teaching practice in education. Sure, Mrs. Heckert is not required by MCPS policy to send out a reminder. However, with her training she should know about these types of best practices and it is something easy to do. The rule applies to extracurricular activities for anyone leaving school or absent from school - the student's reason could have been legitimate and just needed prior attendance approval. This rule has only been stressed in the athletic program in the past, not all extracurricular activities so there has been a change in the enforcement of the rule.

Please these aren't 5 year old's. They are going to college, many can vote. If they can't figure out that ditching school means you will loose a privilege, then too bad. This is not a tragedy that the game was cancelled. There are worst things.

Obviously, you are not an educator. Mrs. Heckert is. An educator is trained in best practices that have research to back them up and they are the recommended methods when working with students. These are after all adolescent students who brains are changing and sometimes make poor decisions - again, provable with data from research that I am sure Mrs. Heckert as a high school teacher, assistant principal, and principal is aware of.

FYI - Not everyone punished skipped school. Punishment should always be a last resort, not the first method to changing an unwanted behavior in a teenager.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOVE it that she enforced the rule even when it had implications for the game. She didn’t bow to pressure, which is great. Wish the students knew the full story (mine doesn’t) so it can serve a broader lesson. (What are seniors doing skipping in early fall, anyway? I get it at the end of the year, but in October??)

As a Churchill parent, I agree Mrs. Heckert is on the right path when she consistently enforces school rules. I also agree with your point that to have a greater effect, sending out an email addressing why the event was cancelled would remind students to not skip school in the future.

However, a reminder before the event would have persuaded students to be in school on Thursday and not skip. Perhaps the reminder was forgotten in this situation but perhaps could be done in the future. Mrs. Heckert is new and learning. Not the end of the world but room for correction.

And why is she obligated to send a reminder? 17 yr olds should know by now that skipping school is NOT okay. We are in a different non-w cluster and our Principal would never send such note either. Good for the Churchill Principal.

Reminders are considered a best teaching practice in education. Sure, Mrs. Heckert is not required by MCPS policy to send out a reminder. However, with her training she should know about these types of best practices and it is something easy to do. The rule applies to extracurricular activities for anyone leaving school or absent from school - the student's reason could have been legitimate and just needed prior attendance approval. This rule has only been stressed in the athletic program in the past, not all extracurricular activities so there has been a change in the enforcement of the rule.

Please these aren't 5 year old's. They are going to college, many can vote. If they can't figure out that ditching school means you will loose a privilege, then too bad. This is not a tragedy that the game was cancelled. There are worst things.

This. Given the culture of entitlement at this school, I think it's even more important for the principal to set a level of expectation that she's not going to send out friendly reminders to not skip school. Puhleeze.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOVE it that she enforced the rule even when it had implications for the game. She didn’t bow to pressure, which is great. Wish the students knew the full story (mine doesn’t) so it can serve a broader lesson. (What are seniors doing skipping in early fall, anyway? I get it at the end of the year, but in October??)

As a Churchill parent, I agree Mrs. Heckert is on the right path when she consistently enforces school rules. I also agree with your point that to have a greater effect, sending out an email addressing why the event was cancelled would remind students to not skip school in the future.

However, a reminder before the event would have persuaded students to be in school on Thursday and not skip. Perhaps the reminder was forgotten in this situation but perhaps could be done in the future. Mrs. Heckert is new and learning. Not the end of the world but room for correction.

And why is she obligated to send a reminder? 17 yr olds should know by now that skipping school is NOT okay. We are in a different non-w cluster and our Principal would never send such note either. Good for the Churchill Principal.

Reminders are considered a best teaching practice in education. Sure, Mrs. Heckert is not required by MCPS policy to send out a reminder. However, with her training she should know about these types of best practices and it is something easy to do. The rule applies to extracurricular activities for anyone leaving school or absent from school - the student's reason could have been legitimate and just needed prior attendance approval. This rule has only been stressed in the athletic program in the past, not all extracurricular activities so there has been a change in the enforcement of the rule.

Please these aren't 5 year old's. They are going to college, many can vote. If they can't figure out that ditching school means you will loose a privilege, then too bad. This is not a tragedy that the game was cancelled. There are worst things.

Obviously, you are not an educator. Mrs. Heckert is. An educator is trained in best practices that have research to back them up and they are the recommended methods when working with students. These are after all adolescent students who brains are changing and sometimes make poor decisions - again, provable with data from research that I am sure Mrs. Heckert as a high school teacher, assistant principal, and principal is aware of.

FYI - Not everyone punished skipped school. Punishment should always be a last resort, not the first method to changing an unwanted behavior in a teenager.

Since you think the educators clearly have all the best answers let's look at what the "educators" have let happen in the school the last few years:

1) Consistent fights with no repercussions
2) Drug dealing
3) Coaches with inappropriate contact with students
4) Bullying and its effects on the student population the Principal insisted wasn't happening
5) Closing of all boys bathrooms but 2 to stop drug use
6) Juuling in the classrooms and in the hallways
7) Drinking and drug use at Model UN
8) Emergency situations with staff and administration had no consistent plans
9) Poor teachers in the Math and Foreign Language programs
10) An AD with no clue or unwillingness to handle poor coaches
12) Numerous antisemitic and racist incidents
13) Unresponsiveness from the administration to communications from parents


It is almost laughable that you are going on and on about a stupid powder puff game and the principal not sending a reminder.Where have all the other best practices been?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOVE it that she enforced the rule even when it had implications for the game. She didn’t bow to pressure, which is great. Wish the students knew the full story (mine doesn’t) so it can serve a broader lesson. (What are seniors doing skipping in early fall, anyway? I get it at the end of the year, but in October??)

As a Churchill parent, I agree Mrs. Heckert is on the right path when she consistently enforces school rules. I also agree with your point that to have a greater effect, sending out an email addressing why the event was cancelled would remind students to not skip school in the future.

However, a reminder before the event would have persuaded students to be in school on Thursday and not skip. Perhaps the reminder was forgotten in this situation but perhaps could be done in the future. Mrs. Heckert is new and learning. Not the end of the world but room for correction.

And why is she obligated to send a reminder? 17 yr olds should know by now that skipping school is NOT okay. We are in a different non-w cluster and our Principal would never send such note either. Good for the Churchill Principal.

Reminders are considered a best teaching practice in education. Sure, Mrs. Heckert is not required by MCPS policy to send out a reminder. However, with her training she should know about these types of best practices and it is something easy to do. The rule applies to extracurricular activities for anyone leaving school or absent from school - the student's reason could have been legitimate and just needed prior attendance approval. This rule has only been stressed in the athletic program in the past, not all extracurricular activities so there has been a change in the enforcement of the rule.

Please these aren't 5 year old's. They are going to college, many can vote. If they can't figure out that ditching school means you will loose a privilege, then too bad. This is not a tragedy that the game was cancelled. There are worst things.

Obviously, you are not an educator. Mrs. Heckert is. An educator is trained in best practices that have research to back them up and they are the recommended methods when working with students. These are after all adolescent students who brains are changing and sometimes make poor decisions - again, provable with data from research that I am sure Mrs. Heckert as a high school teacher, assistant principal, and principal is aware of.

FYI - Not everyone punished skipped school. Punishment should always be a last resort, not the first method to changing an unwanted behavior in a teenager.

Since you think the educators clearly have all the best answers let's look at what the "educators" have let happen in the school the last few years:

1) Consistent fights with no repercussions
2) Drug dealing
3) Coaches with inappropriate contact with students
4) Bullying and its effects on the student population the Principal insisted wasn't happening
5) Closing of all boys bathrooms but 2 to stop drug use
6) Juuling in the classrooms and in the hallways
7) Drinking and drug use at Model UN
8) Emergency situations with staff and administration had no consistent plans
9) Poor teachers in the Math and Foreign Language programs
10) An AD with no clue or unwillingness to handle poor coaches
12) Numerous antisemitic and racist incidents
13) Unresponsiveness from the administration to communications from parents


It is almost laughable that you are going on and on about a stupid powder puff game and the principal not sending a reminder.Where have all the other best practices been?

I agree with you on all of the above numbered items. These were things definitely ignored by Dr. Benz. Hopefully they won't be continued to be ignored by Mrs. Heckert. Please set up a meeting with Mrs. Heckert so she can hear directly from parents about these concerns because they many were not addressed when she spoke at the PTA meeting in October nor have they been public addressed in the Wednesday Winston Weekly. Being new to the school, Mrs. Heckert is either ignoring serious safety issues to students in the school or she is oblivious as to where the problems are. You can decide which if you meet with her.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps also contact Dr. Moran because he is also the new director for Churchill. He also might not know the history and where serious dangers are in the school.

If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact the MCCPTA Health and Safety Committee (http://www.mccpta.org/mental-health-and-wellness.html). There's also the anonymous tip line at 833-MD-B-SAFE or the MD Safe Schools app (https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/mainstory/story/610966/Safe-Schools-MD/).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps also contact Dr. Moran because he is also the new director for Churchill. He also might not know the history and where serious dangers are in the school.

If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact the MCCPTA Health and Safety Committee (http://www.mccpta.org/mental-health-and-wellness.html). There's also the anonymous tip line at 833-MD-B-SAFE or the MD Safe Schools app (https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/mainstory/story/610966/Safe-Schools-MD/).

I did all that last year with Jennifer Webster. I can't prove it but I do think the culmination of all the issues last year were what got Dr. Benz out the door.

It would be hard to believe that the new director didn't know about all these issues.

Ms. Heckert is taking on the juuling and seems to be proactive in addressing the anti Semitic and racist issue going on since we just got an email detailing what they are going to do within the school in the next few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOVE it that she enforced the rule even when it had implications for the game. She didn’t bow to pressure, which is great. Wish the students knew the full story (mine doesn’t) so it can serve a broader lesson. (What are seniors doing skipping in early fall, anyway? I get it at the end of the year, but in October??)

As a Churchill parent, I agree Mrs. Heckert is on the right path when she consistently enforces school rules. I also agree with your point that to have a greater effect, sending out an email addressing why the event was cancelled would remind students to not skip school in the future.

However, a reminder before the event would have persuaded students to be in school on Thursday and not skip. Perhaps the reminder was forgotten in this situation but perhaps could be done in the future. Mrs. Heckert is new and learning. Not the end of the world but room for correction.

And why is she obligated to send a reminder? 17 yr olds should know by now that skipping school is NOT okay. We are in a different non-w cluster and our Principal would never send such note either. Good for the Churchill Principal.

Reminders are considered a best teaching practice in education. Sure, Mrs. Heckert is not required by MCPS policy to send out a reminder. However, with her training she should know about these types of best practices and it is something easy to do. The rule applies to extracurricular activities for anyone leaving school or absent from school - the student's reason could have been legitimate and just needed prior attendance approval. This rule has only been stressed in the athletic program in the past, not all extracurricular activities so there has been a change in the enforcement of the rule.

Please these aren't 5 year old's. They are going to college, many can vote. If they can't figure out that ditching school means you will loose a privilege, then too bad. This is not a tragedy that the game was cancelled. There are worst things.

Obviously, you are not an educator. Mrs. Heckert is. An educator is trained in best practices that have research to back them up and they are the recommended methods when working with students. These are after all adolescent students who brains are changing and sometimes make poor decisions - again, provable with data from research that I am sure Mrs. Heckert as a high school teacher, assistant principal, and principal is aware of.

FYI - Not everyone punished skipped school. Punishment should always be a last resort, not the first method to changing an unwanted behavior in a teenager.

Police don't always enforce the speed limit but that won't get you out of a ticket. I think it is about time they start enforcing the rules. I'm pretty sure these kids will be ok without their powder puff game. If this is the worst thing that happens to your daughter, she's doing ok.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone else think it's kind of funny, that people are so upset with the last principal because she didn't enforce the rules, and now that the new principal is enforcing the rules, they are upset that she didn't remind them of the rules?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone else think it's kind of funny, that people are so upset with the last principal because she didn't enforce the rules, and now that the new principal is enforcing the rules, they are upset that she didn't remind them of the rules?

I think enforcing the rules is great. However, enforcing a rule that most of the student body didn't know was a rule is a bit unfair. I am not asking Mrs. Heckert to reverse the decision. I think the situation is a learning opportunity for the students so a message as to WHY the event was cancelled would be a proactive step to prevent future infractions. Simple, easy, and the fair thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps also contact Dr. Moran because he is also the new director for Churchill. He also might not know the history and where serious dangers are in the school.

If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact the MCCPTA Health and Safety Committee (http://www.mccpta.org/mental-health-and-wellness.html). There's also the anonymous tip line at 833-MD-B-SAFE or the MD Safe Schools app (https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/mainstory/story/610966/Safe-Schools-MD/).

I did all that last year with Jennifer Webster. I can't prove it but I do think the culmination of all the issues last year were what got Dr. Benz out the door.

It would be hard to believe that the new director didn't know about all these issues.

Ms. Heckert is taking on the juuling and seems to be proactive in addressing the anti Semitic and racist issue going on since we just got an email detailing what they are going to do within the school in the next few weeks.

I have been told by Mrs. Heckert and Dr. Moran that they were unaware of a serious problem I reported last year. Please contact them in writing. Unresolved issues combined with the administrative hand off on July 1st let things fall through the cracks.

I would also suggest contacting the MCCPTA Health and Safety committee (PTA President Bruce Adelson can help you with the specific contact information for the chairs) because they are concerned about several issues within Churchill. With more information and specific details even if they were events you reported to Mrs. Webster in the past, the MCCPTA can help raise the issue at a higher level than the school director to improve the safety of students at Churchill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone else think it's kind of funny, that people are so upset with the last principal because she didn't enforce the rules, and now that the new principal is enforcing the rules, they are upset that she didn't remind them of the rules?

I think enforcing the rules is great. However, enforcing a rule that most of the student body didn't know was a rule is a bit unfair. I am not asking Mrs. Heckert to reverse the decision. I think the situation is a learning opportunity for the students so a message as to WHY the event was cancelled would be a proactive step to prevent future infractions. Simple, easy, and the fair thing to do.

I have a theater kid who knows that that is the rule. If your kid is taking AP classes they should be able to navigate this. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse. Stop making excuses for your kids. It isn't helping.