Damascus High School
“Home of the Swarmin’ Hornets”
25921 Ridge Road Main Office: 301-253-7030
Damascus, MD 20872 Fax: 301-253-7046
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/damascushs
August 2015
Dear Students and Parents/Guardians:
I hope that you are having a wonderful summer! In just a few short weeks, our students will return to campus.
Our staff has worked this summer to get ready for a new school year, and we are looking forward to another
great year. This year, we have a new bell schedule because the school system has changed the bell times for
high schools to 7:45 am – 2:30 pm. We have also changed our numbering of the periods to be periods 1 – 7,
without giving lunch a period number. Thus, we no longer have eight periods.
Our new bell schedule is:
Warning Bell
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
LUNCH
Period 5
Period 6
Period 7
7:40 a.m.
7:45 - 8:30 (45)
8:35 - 9:20 (45)
9:25 - 10:10 (45)
10:15-11:05 (50)
11:10-12:00 (50)
12:05-12:50 (45)
12:55- 1:40 (45)
1:45 - 2:30 (45)
We have one lunch for all students and staff in our schedule, as well. The intention of this schedule is to allow
time for students to receive academic support from staff and for staff to have the opportunity to collaborate
with one another. Seniors may go out to lunch if they have a signed permission slip from their parent or
guardian. This permission slip is enclosed in your summer materials and may be returned as early as the first
day of school. Seniors who bring their signed permission slip to the security office will be given a sticker on
their student ID to indicate they have permission to go off campus during lunch. Seniors must carry their ID
with the lunch sticker on it to exit the building each day. This privilege may be revoked by staff at any time
for disciplinary reasons. Seniors are also expected to stay in the building to work with teachers when
academic support is needed.
Off campus lunch privileges are also available to juniors during second semester if the junior is academically
eligible (minimum of a 2.0 GPA) after the second marking period. Juniors will also need to have a signed
permission slip to get a lunch pass sticker for their id cards. All students with off campus lunch privileges
should keep their id with the lunch pass sticker with them at all times. Security and administration will be
checking students leaving campus for the ids daily. Any student caught leaving campus without permission is
endangering his/her ability to have off campus lunch privileges.
For our students eating lunch at the school, they may eat in the cafeteria or on the main floor in designated
areas. The hallways are marked with signs indicating where students may eat. Student(s) may also take
lunches to a teacher’s classroom if the teacher has given the student(s) permission.
During the lunch period, there is an open gym a few days a week, tutoring, and club activities. Teachers will
also be available to help students. Teachers will have department planning/meeting time some days during
lunch, so they will be posting their availability for students to receive academic support.
For our incoming freshman and new 10th, 11th and 12th graders, we have an orientation half day on Thursday,
August 27th, from 7:45 am – 11:30 am. Bus transportation is provided and a copy of the bus schedule is
posted on our school website. The purpose of the orientation day is to welcome students to Damascus and
introduce them to some of their teachers. When students arrive, they will report to homerooms. The
homerooms are organized by last name and will be posted around the school for students. In homeroom,
students will receive their draft schedules. There may be slight changes to the schedules before the first day of
school, but this will give students an idea of how to navigate the building and about the courses they are
taking. Students will then have the opportunity to follow the draft schedule of classes. The students who are
new to 10th, 11th and 12th grade should report to the College and Career Information Center next to the
counseling office when they arrive for a special tour of the building and a chance to review their schedules
with the counselors.
For our parents of freshman, we will have a welcome picnic and parent orientation meeting on Thursday,
August 27th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. When students arrive, they should report to the cafeteria for an
overview of the activities and the welcome. The Student Government Association (SGA) and other student
leaders will be organizing activities for the students. Students will be able to gather on the lower field, beyond
the main football field for food, sporting activities and socializing. We will be selling Potomac Pizza and
drinks at the stadium for families to purchase dinner. For parents, we will have an informational meeting from
6:30 – 7:00 pm in the cafeteria. During this meeting, we will have administrators, counselors and parents
presenting information that we hope will be helpful to introducing you to Damascus High School. After the
meeting, we can all head out to the field to eat and socialize, as well. We hope the evening will be a warm
welcome to DHS!
All students should plan to join us for the first day of school on Monday, August 31st. In the first week of
school, all 9th graders will receive a student assignment book. The assignment book should be used as an
organizational tool to keep track of homework, tests, and other important activities. Students in grades 10 – 12
should consider how best to organize their schoolwork and activities and plan accordingly. We know many
students are using electronic planners or calendars instead of paper planners. We are starting the 9th graders
out with the paper planner, but by grade 10, we ask that students use a system that works best for them.
Extracurricular clubs and sports are a big part of life at Damascus High School. Becoming involved is an
excellent way to feel that you are a part of the school. Enclosed with this letter, you will see starting dates for
fall sports and some other important information. Fall sports include: cheerleading, cross country, field
hockey, football, golf, pompons, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, girls’ tennis and girls’ volleyball. All students
who wish to participate in sports are required to have a current physical exam and pay an extracurricular
activity fee. Physical exam forms are available in the main office or the athletic director’s office, as well as
on our school website. Extracurricular Activity Fee Remittance Forms were mailed home to every student.
We also have copies in the main office at school and they are also located on our website along with
directions for paying the fee online. If the fee is not paid, a student will not be permitted to participate in any
extracurricular activity. In addition, students who have financial obligations will not be permitted to
participate in extracurricular activities until these obligations are paid.
Once the year starts, you will also have the opportunity to learn more about a variety of clubs we offer that
might be a great way to get involved at DHS! This year, the Student Government Association (SGA) is
helping to organize a clubs fair during lunch in the first few weeks of school. This will be an opportunity for
DHS clubs to share what they do and attract new members.
Our first PTSA meeting of the year will be Thursday, September 17th at 7:00 pm in the media center. During
this meeting, I will be sharing an overview of our school improvement focus for the year and new initiatives
for 2015-16. I will also be sharing information about changes DHS has made to our course offerings that are
designed to open access to honors level instruction to all students. We hope you can join us for this important
and informative meeting! I look forward to seeing you there and also answering any questions on your mind.
On a personal note, I am pregnant and am anticipating being out on maternity leave from early February until
mid-April. During that time, Ms. Lakeisha Adamson will be the acting principal, and we will have a substitute
assistant principal filling in for her grade level work. My family and I are excited about this new addition to
the Webster family, and I am also happy that I’ll be back in plenty of time to get ready for graduation! 
I look forward to seeing you soon! Best wishes and enjoy the rest of the summer.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Webster
Principal
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Summer Reading/Math- Please don’t forget to complete your summer reading(s) and Math packet, if
appropriate. Check out the DHS website for more information at:
http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/damascushs/
1. BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT will be held on Thursday, September 10, at 7:00 p.m. Parents will have
the opportunity to walk through your child's schedule, meet his/her teachers and join the PTSA and Booster
Clubs. There will also be a meeting for parents of seniors starting at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium on
September 10th.
2. SENIOR OPEN LUNCH – We hope to start open lunch during the first week of school; however, seniors
must have their senior ID pictures taken by Victor O’Neill Studios before a student can go off campus for
open lunch. If you have not received an appointment time yet, please call 1-800-320-2894.
3. STUDENT PARKING for SENIORS & JUNIORS ONLY – Preliminary applications for first semester
parking will be available in the Business Office and on the web page (under ‘Parent Information’). Due to
limited spaces, seniors will be given priority. Requirement: Seniors must have completed 60 SSL hours,
and Juniors are required to have completed 50 SSL hours by the September 3rd application deadline.
Also, students must not have any financial obligations and have a minimum 2.0 GPA (based on 4th quarter
2013, unweighted). Parking fee is $37.50.
4. SCHOOL MEALS – The Board of Education has announced there will no change in the prices for school
cafeteria breakfast and lunch for the 2015-16 school year. Breakfast will remain at $1.30 and Lunch will
remain at $2.80.
5. STUDENT PICTURES – Pictures for grades 9-11 will be taken on September 2nd and 3rd in social
studies classes. Senior portraits are arranged by appointment through Victor O’Neill. Victor O’Neill is our
approved company. It is important to note that all students should be photographed by Victor O’Neill for the
yearbook, and there is no fee for the yearbook only pose.
6. SENIORS: GRADUATION INFORMATION – As you know, we have always held graduation at our
school, and we will do so again this year on June 3rd for the class of 2016. However, if there is inclement
weather, the ceremony cannot be held on our football field and will be held in the auditorium, with auditorium
seating limited to two guests only. The ceremony will also be televised throughout the classrooms for the rest
of our guests. We also plan to have our graduation ceremony live streaming via our school website for those
who are unable to attend.
7. YEARBOOK SENIOR AD INFO – Senior Ads are created by the yearbook staff to leave a lasting
message for your senior. Please see information and Senior Ad examples at:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/damascushs/departments/cte/yearbook.aspx?sid=80438
8. FALL SPORTS
All students who wish to participate in a sport are required to have an annual physical exam and pay
an extracurricular activity user fee. Physical exam forms are available in the main office, the athletic
director’s office, or on the website. If the ECA fee is not paid, a student will not be permitted to participate in
any extracurricular activity. In addition, students who have financial obligations will not be permitted to
participate in extracurricular activities until these obligations are paid.
The start of the practice schedule is as follows:
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Cheerleading, Varsity
Cheerleading, JV
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Football, JV/Varsity
Golf
Poms
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Girls Tennis
Girls Volleyball
August 12
August 12
August 17
August 12
August 12
TBD
August 13
August 12
August 12
August 17
August 12
3:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
8:00 a.m.
8:00 a.m.
7:00 a.m.
TBD
9:00 a.m.
7:30 a.m.
4:30 p.m.
10:00 a.m.
7:15 a.m.
DHS Track
DHS Track
DHS Track
DHS Field Hockey Field
DHS Stadium
TBD
DHS Dance Studio
Woodfield ES
DHS Gym Entrance
DHS Tennis Courts
DHS Gymnasium