Monday, May 19, 2025

Annual ceremony honors 154 outstanding Career and Technical Education students

The 51st Annual Career and Technical Education Student Recognition Ceremony, held virtually, honored one graduating senior from each career and technical education program at each high school. Via partner donations, each student will receive an award for being chosen as the outstanding senior in their program at their school. Throughout the program, several student speakers discussed their CTE programs and related work experiences.

2025 BCPS Film Expo recognizes 26 films from 11 schools

In direct competition with the Cannes Film Festival in France, Baltimore County Public Schools hosted its 2025 Film Expo on May 15 at The Senator Theatre in Baltimore. 

An enthusiastic audience of students, educators, and family and community members viewed finalist films created by BCPS middle and high school students. The audience laughed at a rivalry between race car drivers, learned about a panic surrounding the Dungeons and Dragons game, enjoyed the sights and sounds of a cultural festival, empathized with students trapped in a closed school, learned history as toy soldiers reenacted a battle, witnessed a man grieving, explored the experiences of an immigrant, and so much more. 

All of the finalist films (first place and honorable mention) will be available for viewing in the next few weeks.

The first place films are:

Beyond BCPS: Christian Benford, Randallstown High School graduate and cornerback for the Buffalo Bills

A new Beyond BCPS blog post, written by Andrew Hall, BCPS Department of Communications and Community Outreach apprentice and a senior at Woodlawn High School, profiles Christian Benford, a Randallstown High School graduate and cornerback for the Buffalo Bills.

In the post, Benford credits his Randallstown coaches for instilling in him an unrelenting work ethic, reminisces on his favorite moments as a pro, and discusses some of him passions, including his son Calvin, writing children's books, modelling, acting, and real estate.

Benford will return to Randallstown High on Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. to host a free football camp with the school's football coaches. The camp is open to children ages 9-14. Registration is limited to 80 registrants and is open now.

Commencement exercises to begin!

Beginning this week, more than 7,000 students will become 2025 BCPS graduates. All graduations will be held at Towson University’s TU Arena, unless otherwise noted. BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers will attend and offer remarks at several commencement exercises. While in-person seating will be limited at upcoming BCPS high school graduations, friends, extended family, and community members are invited to witness these milestone events via livestream. The graduation schedule webpage includes links to the livestreams.

Owings Mills Elementary School team emerges as Grand Prize Winner of 21st Annual BCPS Safe Racer Competition

Members of the Class of 2025 can offer parting words to BCPS and younger students

Graduating seniors are invited to share (in no more than two sentences) their favorite BCPS memories OR words of advice for younger students. Selected messages will be shared on social media in late May and June. Please note that messages must be accompanied by photos of the students. The student should be the only person in the photo. Messages and photos can be submitted using an online form.

Recent honors

BCPS received national recognition for its music education program for the 20th consecutive year

Red House Run Elementary also honored with SupportMusic Merit Award

BCPS has been honored for the 20th consecutive year with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding support and commitment to music education. Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to school systems that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students. 

Two awards are given each year: Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) for school systems and the SupportMusic Merit Award (SMMA) for individual schools. Red House Run Elementary School is the only elementary school in Maryland to achieve SMMA recognition this year. More than 1,000 school systems and individual schools were recognized for having the highest commitment to producing exceptional music programs.  

Overlea High School junior Mujeeb Waheed selected to serve on NFHS National Student Advisory Council

Mujeeb Waheed, a junior at Overlea High School, is one of 16 high school student leaders from across the country recently selected to serve on the National Student Advisory Council (NSAC) of the National Federation of State High School Association NFHS National Student Advisory Council (NSAC).

The students are involved in sports or performing arts in their schools and will be attending several meetings throughout the 2025 calendar year to provide NFHS student perspectives on high school athletics and activities. Two students from each of the eight NFHS geographical regions were chosen for the NSAC, all of whom have exhibited outstanding leadership skills, achievements in academics and sports/activities, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.

Waheed is in the back row, second from left

Middle School SRO of the Year named

On May 13, Officer Murphy of Deer Park Middle Magnet School was surprised with the news that he has been named the Middle School Resource Officer of the Year. The Elementary and High School Resource Officers of the Year will be announced soon. 

More photos from the award presentation to Officer Murphy can be found on Flickr.

Western Tech students Kifa Ul-Eman and Tyler Washington earn prestigious Exelon Foundation scholarships

Kifa Ul-Eman and Tyler Washington, both seniors at Western School of Technology and Environmental Science, have earned Exelon Foundation Chris Crane Memorial Scholarships . In addition to covering tuition, room and board, books, and incidentals, the “full-ride” scholarship program includes paid summer internships and support of a study abroad program.

The Chris Crane Memorial scholarship is designed to recognize students’ academic and civic achievements, engagement in the Exelon Foundation STEM Academy/Exelon Foundation Boys to STEM Academy, and their engagement with Exelon and BGE. (STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

BCPS students, teachers honored at annual MCEE Student Achievement Awards

Each year, the BCPS Office of Social Studies collaborates with the Maryland Council for Economic Education (MCEE) and First Financial Federal Credit Union to encourage participation in a host of economic experiences. BCPS teachers and students in Baltimore participate in experiences like The Stock Market Game, a Financial Literacy Poetry Contest, an InvestWrite Essay Contest, and the MCEE Poster Contest. Each experience is hosted by the Maryland Council for Economic Education and/or the Council for Economic Education.

Several teachers and students were honored at the annual MCEE Student Achievement Awards on May 14 at Towson University. The list of winners is below:

Woodlawn High NJROTC team earns distinctions at Aerial Drone National Competition

A team from Woodlawn High School's Naval JROTC program earned recognitions for drone autopilot training and for autonomous flight at the Regional Brain Brawl and the National Navy Drone Competition held on April 26 at the United States Naval Academy.

The Woodlawn High team, the only team to compete from BCPS, was comprised of Petty Officer 1st Class Ameer Hamza Panjri and Supply Officer Cadet Weither, led by instructor Chief Spikes.

Ameer Hamza Panjri, Chief Spikes, and Cadet Weither

The graduating senior profile series continues for the Class of 2025

In honor of the Class of 2025, BCPS is profiling one senior from each high school. A new profile will be highlighted on the website and social media each school day until Friday, May 23, the last day for seniors. 

Please follow along and share your support on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) as they are posted each day.

During the week of May 12-16, the series featured the following students:

Amadou Sylla,

Loch Raven High School

Amadou plans to study communication design or business marketing in college and to continue pursuing his interests in modeling, business, barbering, and fashion. 

Alexis Zahn,

Hereford High School

Alexis says that learning about drones at Hereford sparked her love for aviation. The aspiring pilot is working toward her private pilot license and will be attending University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Yousef Regela,

Ridge Ruxton School

Yousef played Buzz Lightyear in the school play this year and is a very social member of the school community. Post-graduation, he will continue working on his vocational and communication skills. 

Christian De Jesus, Parkville High School

Christian will be heading to UMBC in the fall as he works toward becoming a pharmacist. In high school, he has studied computer science and served as a school counseling student aide.

Tion Kennedy,

Randallstown High School

At Randallstown, Tion has been a mentor, managed various sports teams, and helped capture sporting and club events in photographs and on video.

Parents and caregivers of young children with developmental delays invited to virtual Family Support Wednesdays

Every Wednesday throughout the year, the BCPS Office of Birth to Five Services host virtual hourlong gatherings of parents and caregivers of children ages 0-5 with developmental delays. It is designed to be a welcoming space for parents to build connections and explore resources.

Raising children with developmental delays brings unique challenges. It's easy to focus on what’s difficult and forget to celebrate successes. Each week, at Family Support Wednesdays, everyone is invited to share a "golden nugget"—a recent positive experience.

Join hourlong sessions in English every Wednesday at 10 a.m. or 1p.m. in English, or join hourlong sessions in Spanish every Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. or 3 p.m.

for your viewing pleasure

"Ocean Sunset" by Gabriela Sandoval-Monroy, Grade 3, Woodbridge Elementary School, was featured in the 2024-25 Winter Art Exhibition at THE AVENUE at White Marsh.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

Education Foundation hosts exclusive "shopping" event for 2024 & 2025 Teachers of the Year

On March 29, The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., in partnership with 4EveryKid and the BCPS Department of Logistics, hosted an exclusive free "shopping" event for the 2024 and 2025 BCPS Teachers of the Year. All 356 educators who were nominated as their schools’ Teachers of the Year in 2024 and in 2025 were cordially invited to select brand-new, authentic Coach items in celebration of their dedication and commitment to providing the best educational experiences possible to our 110,000 students. A new Mission Moment blog post tells more of the story.

Do you have tickets for The Education Foundation's inaugural Let's Play Pickleball fundraiser?

The Education Foundation of BCPS is pleased to present the inaugural Let’s Play Pickleball fundraiser. Community members are invited to a competitive pickleball tournament, friendly pickleball clinic, Pickle Pong, networking, and more! Please join us on Thursday, May 29, from 2-5 p.m., at Copper Union, 5700 Cottonworth Ave., Baltimore 21209. All proceeds will go toward supporting the mission-driven work of the foundation.   

Sponsorships and tickets are now available.  A Mission Moment blog post offers details about ways to participate in and support this event.

Join our team!

Spread the word: BCPS is hiring! Interested candidates are encouraged to join us at an upcoming recruitment event or apply online today.

Joint Recruitment Session for multiple positions

Wednesday, May 21

Hunt Valley Workforce Development Center (in the CCBC building), 11101 McCormick Rd., Hunt Valley 21031

BCPS is hosting an in-person recruitment event to include an information session and pre-employment scheduling. This event is for individuals interested in the following positions: building service workers, bus attendants, bus drivers, and grounds workers II. (At this session, BCPS will not be recruiting cafeteria workers.) BCPS encourages applicants to apply online prior to attending this session, but walk-ins will be accepted. For more information, please call 443-809-7872. 

Schedule for the day:

Transportation (Bus Attendants and Bus Drivers) – 10 a.m.

Grounds Worker II – 12 p.m.

Building Service Workers – 2 p.m.

A word from Dr. Rogers

May 19, 2025

Dear Reader:

This week marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for more than 7,000 BCPS graduating seniors. Their last day of high school classes is this Friday, and commencement exercises begin this week and continue through Friday, June 6.

Even before graduating from high school, members of the Class of 2025 have earned professional certifications, completed associate degrees, won sports championships, launched small businesses, started nonprofit organizations, earned national recognitions in the arts, successfully competed in academic and skills competitions, advocated for the causes that are important to them, volunteered throughout the community, and much more.

We are so proud of what they have already accomplished and so inspired by their potential.

Many thanks to the BCPS educators and staff who supported the academic and personal growth of these young adults and to the families who nurtured them and who entrusted us with their education.



Regards,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Upcoming Board and community advisory group meetings

All are welcome to attend

Central Area Education Advisory Council meeting

Monday, May 19, at 7 p.m.

Meeting details

Southeast Area Education Advisory Council meeting

Monday, May 19, at 7 p.m.

Chesapeake Terrace Elementary School library, 2112 Lodge Farm Rd., Baltimore 21219

Topic: Facilities update

Board of Education meeting

Tuesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m.

BCPS headquarters/Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, Towson 21204

At this meeting, the board will hear recommendations regarding the Greenleigh Community Boundary Study. 

Board of Education semi-annual meeting with area education advisory council members

Wednesday, May 21, at 6 p.m.

BCPS headquarters/Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, Towson 21204