Welcome Back Bengals

Time to get used to setting your alarm and walking Blake’s halls, Bengals, because school is back in business. Yes, there will be changes, your grade level obviously, but also many administrative and school culture shifts as well. The Blake Beat wants to welcome you back and keep you updated on all the new developments for this school year. 

New Principal 

Blake has appointed a new principal, replacing Ms. Shanay Snead. Mr. Ahmed Adelakan serves his first term as principal this year. Mr. Adelakan was previously principal at Benjamin Banneker, a feeder middle school. If you’d like to learn more about how the selection process works, check out this recent Blake Beat article: 

Journey to the Jungle: How Blake Appointed Its New Principal

Phone Policy 

Yup, that’s right, Blake has once again changed its phone policy. But it’s not solely Blake this time; Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) released a statement applying to all MCPS High Schools. They stated that “students may use their personal devices during lunch and between classes, but not during instructional time.” This is part of a movement called “Cell Phone and Personal Mobile Device (PMD) Regulation.” The Blake Beat will keep monitoring this policy and keep you updated on how it goes throughout the school year. 

Source: 

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/news/mcps-news/2025/08/cell-phone-regulation

Electronic Passes 

As mentioned during Tuesday’s homeroom video, featuring Blake administrators, our school will now enforce the use of electronic passes. This is an MCPS policy. This is to avoid the use of writing a paper pass (which will reduce paper use) or using an object as a pass (ex, a lanyard or charm). The electronic pass is located in Synergy, and students must request a pass from their teacher on their Chromebook (Not PMD). The goal for these passes is to limit the number of students roaming the halls at any given time, a big issue Blake and other schools had in the past.

Grading Policy 

MCPS has launched a new grading policy, going into effect this school year. This policy affects all grades, including graduating seniors. MCPS stated that “final grades will be based on the average of marking period grades for all secondary students.” This change also comes with structured reassessment opportunities and other guidelines for teachers when it comes to grading.

Source:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/grading-and-reporting

Additional Portables

Blake has added additional portable classrooms, expanding its lineup from last year. There are now nine total portables. The new structures are located behind the school, in front of the track, and outdoor ball court area. This change comes after the school’s numbers have slightly surpassed capacity. 

Blake is now a 4A School

Blake Athletics has entered the 4A division of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) this school year. 4A is designated as the classification for Maryland’s “largest schools.” The decision is based on a school’s enrolment number.

Overall, there are a few changes to Blake for 2025-2026. But that also comes with new opportunities! The Blake Beat hopes you have a great school year, Bengals!