The TidePod

Welcome back to the 6th episode of the Tidepods 8th season. Today, we will discuss grades vs. learning. Many students and educators feel as though the current American education system prioritizes short-term memory retention for tests and quizzes rather than long-term retention. To learn more about this debate, we spoke with teachers at RM to get their input. 

Currently at RM with the implementation of the new grading, bathroom, phone, and ID policies, many students feel as though they are not being heard by the Administration. Even though outlets such as the SGA try to bridge the gap between students and Administrators, is it enough? We decided to interview students, staff, and SGA Members to get their insight on RM’s current student representation.

With the end of the quarter gone and the start of a new one, in this episode, we sat down to discuss our reflections. From the challenges we faced to the obstacles we persevered through, we gave our recent quarter a final review.

In this episode of the TidePod, we sat down with Mr. Wong, a math teacher at Richard Montgomery, to break down his thoughts on the new grading policy following the end of quarter one.

 From making s’mores to carving pumpkins, in this episode, we’ll be going over the many ways people in our community may celebrate the season. We’ll also be interviewing students at RM about their favorite fall memories and what makes fall such a great time. 

 In this episode, we sat down with the college and career navigator, Mrs. Whitehurst, Counselor Mrs. McKelvey, and student James Luo to discuss the college and career resources that are available to students and how students use and access them.

In this episode of the TidePod, we spoke to students about their goals for the rest of the spring season. The season started in March and includes various sports such as softball, lacrosse, tennis, track, and baseball. From setting new PRs to building stronger team dynamics, students reflect on what drives them and how they’re staying motivated this season. 

In this episode of the TidePod, we spoke with Mr. Taylor and mock trial team members about their current season. The team is split into two groups, defense and prosecution. The two sides alternate competitions as they argue the two sides. The team finished their regular season and is now transitioning to the playoffs. After winning the state championship in 2023, the team looks to make a deep run...

In this episode of the TidePod, Ria, Ari, Ella, Aditi, and Jakob discuss the current MCPS semester grade rounding system. Introduced in the 2016-2017 school year, the current system functions by students receiving two different letter grades in both quarters of a semester. MCPS will then take the higher letter grade for the overall semester grade. Listen to the group discuss this current semester&...

Five minutes left in the period. You’re frantically pouring and mixing chemicals into glass beakers and graduated cylinders in search of the promised results, scribbling numbers and observations onto a sheet of paper, trying to finish before the bell rings. We’ve all had experiences with labs in science classes, and when everything goes well, it can be a lot of fun - but what happens when somethin...

In this episode of TidePod, we sat down with Mrs. Miller, the College and Career Center Coordinator at Richard Montgomery. The College and Career Center has provided students with resources for many years. These include SAT prep, college visits, FAFSA information, etc. To learn more about the College and Career Center email Lisa_A_Miller@mcpsmd.net. 

In this episode of the TidePod, we spoke with Junior Rosie Clemans-Cope about her climate activism journey. Rosie has been a climate activist for six years with FridaysForFuture DC, the Sunrise Movement as the Rockville hub leader, and has been a United Nations YOUNGO Climate Finance and Markets Working Group member since 2023. Rosie is the UN YOUNGO coordinator for the UN’s Paris Agreement Articl...

In this episode of the TidePod, I sat down with the president of the Manna Food Market Ansuya Bisbey to discuss its impact on the Richard Montgomery Community. The new market that opened this school was put in place with the help of the principal Mrs. Deeny to provide fresh produce to staff and students. The Manna Food Center which sponsors the Richard Montgomery community strives to eliminate hun...

With the recent passing of New Year's and the signaling of 2025, all across the globe people use this time to celebrate with others. From the ball drop in New York to parties with friends and family, people everywhere find a way to enjoy the clean slate the holiday brings. New Year's helps set the stage for new goals, resolutions, and traditions for the upcoming year. In this episode, we...

In this episode, we'll discuss students' favorite holiday activities and what they look forward to during winter break. From December 23rd to January 1st, students get a break from school to enjoy the holiday spirit. Winter brings new activities such as ice skating, skiing, sledding, etc. It also serves as a time for students to spend more time with family over the holidays. We spoke to...

Over the years we have seen a change in the holiday Black Friday, with no more early hours, large crowds, enormous lines, or massive deals that have Americans standing outside in the cold for hours on end. But why is that, let's dive into the background of Black Friday to explain why.

It seems to be that over the decades younger generations have begun to involve themselves more in the world of politics. The polarized atmosphere of the political circle seems to have drawn the interest of Gen Z in recent years. But why is that? That's what we discuss in this episode. 

The winter sports season begins on November 15th with sports such as boys and girls basketball, bocce, cheerleading, indoor track, poms, swim and dive, and coed wrestling being available for students. Tryouts will also begin on November 15th this school year. Many students entering the winter season have already had experience in the sport they are trying out for. But what are their hopes and goal...

Many teenagers begin to apply and get jobs during high school for various reasons, such as saving up for college or a car. But how are students balancing the demands of school and part-time work? Juggling school and work while trying to make time to thrive socially can take a toll on students mentally, physically, and academically. Students often have to make adjustments to their schedule as there...

Over the past couple of years, the prices of events such as homecoming prom and sporting events have been a hot topic of debate within the RM community. Although prices for sporting events such as football and soccer are set at a reasonable cost of 5 dollars, with Richard Montgomery’s homecoming price set at 30 dollars, students within the RM community have wondered if SGA events are still worth t...

As we wrap up exams and testing and approach the last week of school, many students have been preparing for summer. RM rockets will be doing a variety of things over their break, so we wanted to recap some of the activities and plans people have. 

Starting Thursday, May 2, and continuing until May 9, Montgomery County voting centers will be offering early voting for all voters. In this election, Maryland voters can cast their ballots for the presidential primary along with elections for state senators and representatives in Congress, and delegates to the Democratic National Convention and Republican National Convention. This year, Montgomer...

As we approach the end of the year, more and more RM seniors have been committing to the schools they plan on attending after high school, or announcing their post-high school plans in general. One way to share these plans is through the RM Commitments account on Instagram, where seniors can fill out a google form with their name, college, major, and a photo to be featured on the account’s page. F...

As RM students approach spring break, some have started thinking about the exams they have coming up in the spring. Between AP and IB exams in May, students have plenty to worry about, and some students feel stressed or nervous about studying for everything they have going on. Students typically start studying for exams in the weeks after spring break, so we decided to share some techniques for st...