Monday, February 12, 2024

Annual haiku

contest begins this Friday.

Be ready to write.

The 2024 Team BCPS Haiku Contest celebrates student writing, student art, and student voice. All BCPS students, from Kindergarten through Grade 12, are encouraged to enter. Students will be asked to write works inspired by a piece of student artwork selected from among 10 pieces.

 

At the conclusion of the contest, three winners will be selected (one each at the elementary, middle, and high school levels) and awarded prizes. This year's contest will accept entries from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, February 16, through 4:45 p.m. on Monday, March 4. Entries must be submitted using an online form. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, April 17, International Haiku Poetry Day. 

 

New this year, winners (who are in Grades 4 through 12) will receive a scholarship to participate in this summer’s asynchronous writing camp (June 24 – August 23), sponsored by the Maryland Writing Project at Towson University. Other prizes will include a gift from The Charmery and a framed print of the winning haiku and the artwork that inspired it.

 

In addition to the winning haiku, additional poetry, selected by the contest judges, will be used to compile an online book. Each school library will receive a print copy.

Aine Cooke, Grade 8

Cockeysville Middle School

Art teacher: Samuel Georgieff

Aveson Smith, Grade 11

Dulaney High School

Art teacher: Chris Marsico

Carter Stevens, Grade 8

Deer Park Middle Magnet School

Art teacher: Briona Vennie

Chase Stevenson, Grade 5

Halstead Academy

Art teacher: Tess Miller

Ethan Irvin, Grade 12

Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts

Art teacher: Jess Powell

Grecia Vasquez Velasquez, Grade 5

Pleasant Plains Elementary School

Art teacher: Helen Meredith

Jaylynne Grinage, Grade 8

Stemmers Run Middle School

Art teacher: Sarah Stanton

SaLaura Chamberlain, Grade 5

Baltimore Highlands Elementary School

Art teacher: April Pink

Sha'Bria Mercer, Grade 10

Milford Mill Academy

Art teacher: Megan Gerstenberg-Kline

Tyshawn McGraw, Grade 10

Maiden Choice School

Art teacher: Darlene Wolinski

Hereford High team named one of 60 national winners of 3rd annual NASA TechRise Student Challenge

A team from Hereford High School has been named one of 60 teams nationwide to win the third annual NASA TechRise Student Challenge.

 

The honor means that the team’s winning entry – called “Ferrofluid Fiesta - Investigating the Issue of Atmospheric Microplastic (MP) Pollution” – will fly on one of two NASA-sponsored suborbital flights this summer.


Read more in a recent news release.


Hereford sophomores Rachel Holbrook, Aya Elamrani-Zerifi, Cecelia Curtis, Amanda Shener, and Athena Zhou

Two BCPS educators are among 44 nominees for the 2024 Maryland School Librarian of the Year award

Travis Knox of Seventh District Elementary School

Jacqueline Schoen of Hillcrest Elementary School

The Maryland Association of School Librarians has recognized BCPS library media specialists Travis Knox of Seventh District Elementary School and Jacqueline Schoen of Hillcrest Elementary School as two of its 44 nominees for the 2024 Maryland School Librarian of the Year award. Read more in a recent news release.

Have you taken the 2024 BCPS Climate Survey?

Survey has fewer questions, can be completed in 3 minutes or less

The annual BCPS Climate Survey has been revised with fewer questions and a focus on school climate and engagement. Students in Grades 3–12, parents/caregivers, community members, and all staff are asked to complete the online survey, which is accessible from the BCPS home page. The survey takes three minutes or less to complete, is anonymous, and is available in multiple languages. The survey window will close on Friday, March 8.

Black History Month spotlight on BCPS graduates

Each school day throughout Black History Month, BCPS will honor on social media a graduate from a BCPS high school. Community members and BCPS staff can continue to submit nominations to ensure that each BCPS high school is represented.


The graduates highlighted last week are:

Carl Jackson

Overlea High School graduate

Member, Maryland House of Delegates



Tamira Dunn

Parkville High School graduate

Co-founder and chief operating officer, DMC Empowering Health Services

John Randall

Franklin High School graduate

School psychologist at Franklin High School



Lariel Yarrall

Loch Raven High School graduate

Ph.D. candidate in neuropsychology, Howard University

William Brown Jr.

Patapsco High School& Center for the Arts

artist/owner, The Portrait of Life; owner, Wills Discount Vending

Volunteers help BCPS students develop financial literacy, career readiness skills at Junior Achievement's BizTown and Finance Park

Please join us in thanking and celebrating our Team BCPS school resource officers! We are grateful for our continued partnership with Baltimore County Police Department in ensuring safe and supportive school environments for all students. 

Special Education Hybrid Job Fair

Wednesday, February 21, from 4-6 p.m.

Attend in person at BCPS headquarters/Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, Towson 21204 OR join virtually on Microsoft Teams


At this hybrid event, BCPS is seeking to recruit special educators, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. Online applications are encouraged. 


BCPS Job Fair

Tuesday, March 12, from 4-7 p.m.

Timonium Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Timonium 21093


BCPS is hiring teachers, paraprofessionals, additional adult support workers, building service workers, grounds workers, maintenance employees, school nurses, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, school psychologists, school social workers, bus drivers, bus attendants, food service workers, and school counselors. All 176 schools, centers, and programs will be represented, and interviews will be conducted. Those interested are encouraged to bring their resumes and to begin the online application process before the job fair.

BCPS-TV captures the sights and sounds of the 2024 BCPS High School All-County Jazz Concert


The annual BCPS High School All-County Jazz Concert was held at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology on January 26. The performance highlighted high school students from across the county who were selected to perform. Guest conductors were Dr. Darden Purcell from George Mason University and Jim McFalls from Towson University.

for parents
from BCPS Parent University

Families of multilingual learners can register now for Science of Reading virtual event

On Thursday, February 22, from 5-6:30 p.m., the Maryland State Department of Education will present a virtual event to help families support bilingualism and biliteracy by sharing strategies that parents can use at home to support their child's literacy and language development.


Parents/guardians must register online.

Looking for more ideas and information? Please sign up for the Parent University newsletter! It is designed specifically for parents and caregivers and offers ideas, information, resources, and opportunities.

for your viewing pleasure

"Still Life in Light and Shadow" by Abigail Goddard, Grade 7, Perry Hall Middle School. Work featured in The 2023 Winter Art Exhibition at THE AVENUE at White Marsh.

To see more artwork by BCPS students, teachers, and other members of the BCPS community, please visit the Office of Visual Arts gallery webpage.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

$1 million partnership announced to recruit diverse teachers for BCPS

To enhance the teacher pipeline and promote greater diversity within the teaching profession in the county’s public schools, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Baltimore County Public Schools announced the award of a $1 million grant to support the creation of a new Diverse Teacher Recruitment Scholarship: Growing Our Own for BCPS program.



The program is open to juniors and seniors at local colleges and universities, current BCPS paraeducators, and individuals changing careers and currently studying education. To qualify, applicants must be Black, Indigenous, or people of color pursuing teaching careers in any subject area OR women pursuing teaching certificates in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).


In addition, scholarship recipients must commit to completing internships in BCPS schools and commit to teaching with BCPS for three years upon graduation from an accredited teacher education program. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30. 


More about the scholarship program can be found in a new Mission Moment blog post.

A word from Dr. Rogers

February 12, 2024


Dear Reader:


Now that we are in the second half of the school year, I want to share some important reminders with students and families to ensure we are working together to preserve safe teaching and learning environments for all. Positive and secure school climates have a tremendous impact on student well-being and academic progress, and we continue to make significant investments in comprehensive safety measures to keep all students and staff safe.


While the majority of our 110,000 students come to school ready to learn, engage with peers and adults positively, and follow the rules, there are some students (and adults) who make poor choices and engage in dangerous and disruptive behaviors on school property. When these situations occur, our school administrators respond swiftly and are working to ensure consistency in the implementation of consequences.


We do not tolerate dangerous behaviors, and we will continue to use all legally available tools and resources to protect students and hold accountable those who break the rules. We believe that we can and will have a strong and positive second semester. It will take all of us doing our part.


In a community message on February 2, I asked parents/guardians to take time to review with their children the BCPS 2023-2024 Student Handbook, cell phone policy, transportation handbook, consequences for engaging in violence, and more. If you have not had the opportunity to read this message or talk with your children, please do so now.


Thank you for your partnership and support.


Regards,

 

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent

In recognition of Presidents Day/Washington's Birthday, BCPS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 19.

Upcoming Board and advisory group meetings

All are welcome to attend

Joint meeting of the Southwest and Northwest Area Education Advisory Councils

Monday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m.

Meeting details

Topic: “Equity”


Board of Education meeting

Tuesday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m.

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

Information about attending and making public comments at meetings can be found on the Board’s website. 


Southeast Area Education Advisory Council meeting

Monday, February 26, at 7 p.m.

Chesapeake High School library, 1801 Turkey Point Rd., Baltimore 21221

Topic: “Artificial Intelligence”


Board of Education meeting

Tuesday, February 27, at 6:30 p.m.

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

Information about attending and making public comments at meetings can be found on the Board’s website. 

VISIT THE BCPS WEBSITE