BCPS Partnership Spotlight Newsletter, February 2023

February 2023

Career and technical education TV show premieres

Includes highlight of partnership with Gannett Fleming and of a BCPS graduate returning to mentor current students

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month and the perfect time for BCPS-TV to launch its new "CTE Show."

The first episode features segments on the engineering program at Pikesville High School, a student profile, and a partnership profile of Ken Guttman, a vice president of Gannett Fleming and a Loch Raven High School graduate. In addition, the program showcases Bella Seergae, who participated in the culinary arts CTE program at Sollers Point Technical High School and is now studying baking and pastry at Johnson & Wales University. Seergae returned to Sollers Point to talk to current students about her college and work experiences. Throughout the show, in "Ask Dr. G" segments, Dr. Michael Grubbs, the BCPS CTE coordinator, answers questions.

The BCPS Office of Career and Technical Education provides students an opportunity to pursue a sequential technical and academic program of study leading to advancement in a career field. High school CTE programs give students the opportunity to transition smoothly into postsecondary education and to earn college credit and/or industry credentials in a career field of interest.

Golden Ring Middle School students engaged in Johns Hopkins' Lung Health Ambassador Program

Doctors, nurses, and researchers from Johns Hopkins have brought the Lung Health Ambassador Program to Golden Ring Middle School. Students in the school's health sciences magnet program meet with Hopkins representatives to learn how to create a tobacco-free community. Through the program, students learn about x-rays, genetic conditions, and issues brought on by climate change. The program increases student interest in medical careers and advances their science literacy.

Middle school students mentored by Kappa Alpha Psi chapter are now mentoring younger students

At Dumbarton Middle School, members of the Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., Towson-Catonsville Alumni Chapter mentor Grade 7 students. On the Martin Luther King Day of Caring on February 3, the middle school students visited Rodgers Forge Elementary School to mentor Kindergarten students. The older students read to the younger students and participated in literacy activities with them. They left behind for the younger students brand new books secured through The Education Foundation's Books for Bins campaign.

“The young men participating in the Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., mentoring partnership have been in the program since Grade 6,” said Vernon W. Fisher, Guide Right director, Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. “This was our first visit to Rodgers Forge for the Room to Read Project, and we hope to plan future visits to continue the initiative. We appreciate the support of the foundation to implement this program.”

Washington Wizards player donates winter coats to Lansdowne Middle School students

Representatives of the WB5 Foundation, created by Washington Wizards player Will Barton, visited Lansdowne Middle School to donate Under Armour winter coats to its students, BCPS-TV was there for the event.

Randallstown Elementary School students visited by The Maryland Book Bank Ravens Bookmobile

In early February, Randallstown Elementary School Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 students enjoyed a visit from The Maryland Book Bank Ravens Bookmobile and the opportunity to choose a new book to add to their home libraries.

Retired principal, now a children's book author, visits Mars Estates Elementary School to lead a "bookshop"

Pat Goldys, retired principal of Norwood Elementary School and the author of 35 children's books, visited Mars Estates Elementary School to lead a "bookshop," engaging students in a range of creative writing exercises to show them the process of writing their own books.

Partnership with The AVENUE at White Marsh yields opportunity for BCPS art and CTE students

Through a partnership between The AVENUE at White Marsh and the BCPS Office of Visual Arts, an opportunity was created to display a winter exhibition of student artwork. Twelve pieces of student artwork from around the county are now on display on the dasher boards surrounding the shopping center's ice rink. The banners were printed by career and technology education students at Kenwood High School.

Message from Dr. Williams

Dear BCPS Partners,

During this unusually warm February, it is difficult not to think ahead to the upcoming spring and summer. We are into the second half of the school year, but there is still plenty of time to forge new and strengthen existing partnerships between schools and area businesses and organizations.

This issue of the newsletter includes wonderful examples of how partners help shape and advise our career and technical education program, inspire and educate our students, provide resources for our families, and expand our students' awareness of career options.

How can you help us nurture the next generation of citizens, workers, innovators, and leaders? Please send us your ideas using our community partnership form.

Together, we can and are making a positive difference.

Sincerely,

Darryl L. Williams, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Baltimore County Public Schools

Dr. Williams meeting with Featherbed Lane Elementary School Principal Michelle Webster and Assistant Principal Letina Hall. The superintendent is visiting several schools to learn from new BCPS assistant principals about the school system's onboarding and training program.

The heart of the HUB:

Celebrating the foundation's interns

Each year, the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., selects a BCPS student to serve as an intern. This school year, Macie Burnham, a senior at Chesapeake High School, is the heart of the foundation’s HUB – the Exchangeree: Gizmos and Gadgets Galore in Rosedale/Golden Ring, one of the two collaborative educator resource centers for BCPS educators.

A new Mission Moment blog post describes how Macie contributes to the foundation and what she has gained as an intern. The post also celebrates Education Foundation interns since 2012.

Macie Burnham, the Education Foundation's 2022-2023 intern

Macie chatting with BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams

PTA Council of Baltimore County

Dear Reader:

On February 16, the PTA Council of Baltimore County and Baltimore County PTA leaders joined their counterparts from all over Maryland to interact with state legislators at Free State PTA’s 2023 Virtual Advocacy Night. This annual event – in past years, the in-person “PTA Night in Annapolis” – allows attendees to:

hear about legislation under consideration by the Maryland General Assembly and about Free State PTA’s legislative agenda.
have the opportunity to speak to state legislators about issues affecting children and families.
learn how to make an impact on policy decisions.

Delegates Michele Guyton, Sheila Ruth, and Jennifer White – the three Baltimore County legislators in attendance -- spoke on bills they’re sponsoring or supporting. Del. Guyton, a long-time PTA member, recognized that using her “parent voice” led her to the State Board of Education and then to Annapolis. Legislators from around the state expressed gratitude for the work of the PTA and the value of partnering with PTA to meet the needs of children and families and to move communities forward. PTA support and advocacy are making a difference.

Leslie Weber

BCPTA Council President