Supporting the school district through health expertise, health partnerships and health-focused community engagement.
Our mission is to help the school community work together to understand and elevate the health and well-being of students, their families, and staff, through collaboration, innovative health initiatives, and programmatic support.
Medical Office
850 Hungerford Drive, Suite 162
Rockville, Maryland 20850
240-740-1594
From the Allergy & Asthma Network: Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies peak in spring and fall in our area. Spring allergies are often triggered by pollen released from trees and grass heading into early summer. In late summer into fall, ragweed and other plants are the main culprits. Allergies can cause cold-like symptoms (sneezing, runny or stuffy nose) and itching of the eyes, nose, or throat. For people with asthma, exposure to certain allergens can trigger asthma symptoms.
For seasonal allergies, it can be helpful to monitor daily allergy conditions if someone in your family is sensitive to pollen. For more information about pollen and health, and prevention tips for high pollen conditions, see the CDC’s website on Pollen and Your Health.
Treatment for mild allergy symptoms are available without a prescription. Always be cautious using medications in children. The FDA has a helpful guide to allergy treatments, including treatments for children. The National Center for Complementary Health has information on non-medication therapies for seasonal allergy relief.
If you have allergies, enjoying the warmer weather can be much more pleasant with a little extra work!
Over 1,300 attendees participated in our second Girls’ Summit. Girls and their caregivers took part in work sessions on mental health, physical wellness, healthy eating, relaxation, creative arts therapy and more. The summit concluded with the Girls Empowerment Fashion Show sponsored by White House Black Market, which celebrated diverse body types and fashion.
The first ever Girls’ Summit was held on October 20, 2023 at Clarksburg High School. Over 1,000 attendees participated in supportive sessions related to mental health, physical wellness, healthy eating, relaxation, creative arts therapy and more. The summit concluded with the Girls Empowerment Fashion Show sponsored by White House Black Market, which celebrated diverse body types and fashion.
MCPS hosted the Montgomery County Human Trafficking Prevention Committee and a group of experts in the field for a training designed for school system staff. Attendees learned about the impacts of human trafficking on students and families, the school system’s role in prevention and intervention, and supporting victims. The next training is scheduled for January 9th, 2024 (PDO Course# 92054)
The Dads On Duty program holds regular student meetings throughout the year to offer information on topics like mental health and wellness, academic success, career preparation, and more. Students from Seneca Valley High School attended the most recent meeting on December 15, 2023 and were able to ask questions and hear information from volunteers.
The internet is a great way to share knowledge, but finding useful health information online can be challenging. Good health information should be understandable, up-to-date and reliable. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers a useful guide on how to find reliable health information online.
Health information for teens and young adults (Boston Children’s Hospital)
GirlsHealth.gov: An easy to navigate website geared towards girls, with many health topics from the Office on Women’s Health.
Nemours Foundation has websites for both teens and younger children.
The MCPS Employee Wellness Program within the Employee and Retiree Service Center (ERSC) offers many health education opportunities and programs for employees, and support navigating employee health benefits.
In addition to confidential counseling and consultation, the MCPS Employee Assistance Program offers mental health and well-being education for staff, including:
General health information:
Montgomery County Public Schools |
MCPS Athletics Health & Safety Resources |
District Policies and Regulations Student Health (Subsection JP) |
MCPS |
Food and Nutrition Services – |
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Office of Wellbeing, Learning & Achievement |
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Special Education |
Developmental Screening |
Interim Instructional Services (formerly Home & Hospital Teaching) |
Dr. Kapunan's Message on Fentanyl Prevention
Fentanyl Message (Spanish)
MCPS partners with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) School Health Services program.
DHHS staff provide health services to students in school health rooms and school-based health clinics.
Be Well 365 incorporates a comprehensive approach to student health and wellness.
The Be Well 365 website describes the programs and people supporting its six essential focus areas, and provides links to local wellness resources for specific schools.
For additional detail about health and wellness curriculum and supports in MCPS, refer to the Health and Wellness page.
We recognize that community providers are part of every student and family’s home team. Here are key links to health forms and health-related processes across the school system. Thank you for your partnership!
In this episode of MCPS Waymaking, the new School System Medical Officer (SSMO), Dr. Patricia Kapunan, joins Dr. Chester to discuss the role and responsibilities of this new position within the school system and how she will help lead in matters related to the health and well-being of MCPS students and staff.
We would love to hear your thoughts or feedback on how we can improve the Office of the School System Medical Officer website.