After School Enrichments
For more information and any additional updates, click HERE for the Kiddo website. Click these links below for additional information on:
Special Education
The Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is composed of parents/guardians, MCPS staff members, and representatives of Montgomery County community groups that advocate for students with special needs and serve to advocate for, and advise, the Division of Specialized Support Services. This includes:
- A process to determine what services a child may be appropriate for a child after age three through collaborative planning, assessment/evaluation, exploration of community resources, and decision making in order to determine. In order to receive ANY services after age three a child must first be found eligible for Special Education Services. This meeting is called an Eligibility Meeting.
- Instructional Supports
- Program Modifications
- Social/Behavior Supports
- Physical/Environment Supports
SECAC's mission is to deliver high-impact, inclusive supports that empower students with disabilities to engage fully, think critically, and develop the resilience to thrive in learning and life.
Resources
- SECAC Website
- SECAC Membership Sign Up Form
- MCPS Special Education Services Website
- B-5 Infants and Toddlers, Main Office, 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20854
- Deborah Gudger, FSN Coordinator, 240-777-4809, deborah.gudger@montgomerycountymd.gov
- Patricia Cochrane, MCPS Special Education Transition Services Unit, patricia_cochrane@mcpsmd.org
- Dr. Brigid C. Meyer, Acting Coordinator, Cross Functional Team Area 3 Churchill, Richard Montgomery, Poolesville Clusters, 240-740-3900, Brigid_C_Meyer@mcpsmd.org
- MCPS Family Support Center
- MCPS Family Support Center Distribution List Sign Up Form
- Facebook: MCPSMDSpecialEd
- Who to Call Cheat Sheet
- xMinds — Resource organization for parents and educators who want to improve education for autistic students
- Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County
NAACP Parents' Council
The Montgomery County NAACP Parents' Council (PC) is a network of parent representatives from schools across Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Working in partnership with the Montgomery County Branch of the NAACP, school leaders, families, and the community, the Parents' Council advocates for equitable educational opportunities and meaningful family engagement for all students—especially Black and Brown students.
Each participating school has parent representatives who serve as a connection between families, school leadership, and the countywide Parents' Council. Together, we share information, elevate family voices, celebrate our diverse school communities, and work collaboratively to improve educational experiences and outcomes for every child.
The Parents' Council supports families through:
- Family engagement and community building
- Educational equity and advocacy
- Parent leadership and empowerment
- Partnerships with schools and community organizations
- Celebrations of culture, diversity, and student achievement
Schedule of Events
- September 4, 2026 – First NAACP Playdate on the Blacktop at 5:30pm
- October (date TBD) – Wayside NAACP cluster Play date
- Sunday, November 15 – NAACP Community service event in the library (cards/bookmarks)
- December 11 – Nursing Home Visit
- January 8, 2027 – Pajamas, Pillows, and Pages in the library
- February (date TBD) – MLK Community Service Event
- March 7 – March Madness Basketball event
- April 11 – Wayside NAACP cluster Play date
- May 14 – Play date on the blacktop
- June 5 – Churchill cluster School transition celebration
Resources
- NAACP Education Committee - Parents' Council | “Embracing Change Through Partnerships”
- NAACP Montgomery County MD Unit
- Free tutoring resources: Tutoring - Montgomery County Public Schools
- Workshops with useful information and resources to support children's academic and emotional well-being: Montgomery County Public Schools Parent Academy
- Understanding report cards: Elementary Report Cards - MCPS
- Accelerated and Enrichment instruction: Accelerated and Enriched Instruction - Montgomery County Public Schools
Green Team
Join the Wayside Green Team!
Ready to make a real difference at Wayside? The Green Team is a student-led club where kids roll up their sleeves for 30 jam-packed minutes of hands-on environmental action, from hatching sustainability projects to helping Wayside earn its official Green School certification. Students will learn what it takes to protect our planet while leaving their mark on our school community.
Ready for more? We invite your kids to join our Green Leadership Team! As part of this special leader group, students will work collaboratively all year long to plan, create, and facilitate the very activities and presentations the rest of the club enjoys.
The Green Team meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 8:30am in the Media Center. Please reach out to greenteam@waysidepta.org with any questions.
Gifted and Talented Program
There are many enrichment and acceleration opportunities for students at Wayside, but sometimes parents need to individually advocate for their child or the PTA has to raise collective issues and concerns to the school. The Wayside PTA partners with the MCCPTA, which advocates for more opportunities for enriched and accelerated learners in the Montgomery County School System.
Enrichment at Wayside
- Students may receive enrichment in literacy and/or math on an ad hoc or consistent basis through 2nd in coordination with their teacher.
- Prior to 3rd grade, parents are notified if their child will receive enrichment in literacy in 3rd grade.
- Prior to 4th grade, parents are notified if their child will receive math enrichment in 4th grade.
- Enrichment and/or acceleration should continue through 5th grade.
New Curriculum Information (2026-2027)
- Math - MCPS is adopting a new math curriculum this year and while its policies are currently in flux, the current plan is to have various levels of enriched or accelerated math for 4th and 5th graders. The new curriculum is Amplify Desmos Math.
- Literacy - Students in grades 3-5 may have new enrichment or accelerated literacy curriculum.
- You will be notified by the school if your child will receive enrichment or acceleration; it may vary by grade.
Center for Enriched Studies
- Fourth and 5th graders may be invited to attend a Center for Enriched Studies (CES). For Wayside Elementary students, this is at Cold Spring Elementary School. The program is throughout Montgomery County and provides an enriched language arts curriculum for students at nearby schools.
- Students must meet certain criteria to be invited to the Center; however, there are not enough slots for all qualifying students, so they are selected through a lottery. Parents would receive a letter at the end of 3rd grade inviting their child to attend if selected. For more information, visit the MCPS CES Website.
Resources
- MCCPTA Gifted Education Committee (GEC) Website
- MCCPTA Gifted Education Facebook Page
- MCCPTA GEC Advocacy Toolkit for Elementary Parents (May 2026)
- MCPS Accelerated and Enriched Instruction Website
- MCPS Elementary School Programs - Centers for Enriched Studies Website
- MCPS Webinar - Enriched Learning Opportunities for Elementary School
- MCPS Webinar - Enriched Learning Opportunities for Middle School
Free Online Learning Resources for Students Recommended by Wayside Parents
The Wayside Gifted & Talented liaison provides resources for and advocates for parents of children who require accelerated and enriched instruction beyond the grade level curriculum, as well as serves as the liaison to the MCCPTA Gifted Education Committee.