March 2024

Baltimore County Public Library celebrates the growth of its Library at Lunch program

In 2021, Baltimore County Public Library began a Library at Lunch program at one BCPS school -- providing secondary students with materials for borrowing and browsing during their lunch period while fostering positive relationships between students and library staff.

The successful program is now at 16 BCPS schools: Catonsville, Deep Creek, Franklin, Lansdowne, Pikesville, Southwest Academy, and Woodlawn middle schools; and Dundalk, Franklin, Milford Mill Academy, Overlea, Owings Mills, Parkville, Patapsco, Perry Hall, and Western School of Technology high schools. In just five months this school year, 5,500 students have participated in Library at Lunch, checking out more than 3,200 books. 

A new county library blog post shares more details. 

Partners bring information, resources to BCPS families at Mind Over Matters Annual Conference

More than a dozen community-based partners participated in the Mind Over Matters Annual Conference held on March 9 at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. The goal of the event is to raise student/parent/caregiver awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and substance use prevention.

Towson University takes Outstanding Young Women Leaders to Annapolis

The fifth cohort of Outstanding Young Women Leaders visited Annapolis on March 4 for Towson University in Annapolis Day. The young women toured the State House and met with Maryland legislators. The event was led by Towson University Presidential Scholar Dr. Nancy Grasmick. The young women met with leaders including Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Senator Sarah Elfreth, Senator Shelly Hettleman, Delegate Michele Guyton, and Delegate Kathy Szeliga as well as Katie Maloney, Towson University's associate vice president for government relations and public policy. The young women also attended House of Delegate proceedings and were recognized for their participation in the program.

Towson University’s Outstanding Young Women Leaders program pairs a female student from each BCPS high school with mentors from local businesses, nonprofits, and Towson University faculty. The students participate in a series of leaderhip development activities.

New episode of "The CTE Show" features partner Johnson Controls

The March episode of "The CTE Show" highlights the carpentry program at Owings Mills High School, part of the 4-year apprenticeship program with Associated Builders and Contractors. Another segment features Johnson Controls, a partner in the school system's P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) program.

Maryland Business Roundtable for Education honors a Towson High student among its "The 24: Maryland's Emerging Scholars"

The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) has named Wangechi Njuguna, a Grade 10 student at Towson High School, as one of the winners of The 24: Maryland's Emerging Scholars award. This prestigious award recognizes 24 high school students from across Maryland, each representing their school district, for their outstanding achievements in “compassion initiatives, leadership, and academic success.”

The recipients were recognized at an award reception in Annapolis on March 13, following MBRT's signature Youth Congress Day event. The annual event brought together students, educators, and government and business leaders to celebrate the achievements of Maryland's youth and to discuss the future of education and workforce development in the state.

Around the county: Partners enriching our students' learning

CCBC at the Crossroads Center

CCBC emergency medical services technicians visited the BCPS Crossroads Center to talk to students about heart health and career opportunities in healthcare.

National Security Agency at Sandalwood Elementary School

The National Security Agency (NSA) visited Sandalwood ES for International Language and Culture Diversity Day. Students would learn about the importance of learning a language with a focus on Korean, Russian, Chinese, Spanish and Pakistani.

Baltimore County Fire Department at Woodlawn High School

Baltimore County Fire Department staff provided a hands-on Stop the Bleed training for Woodlawn High's Project Lead the Way BioMed students in late February.

Real estate consultant/businessman at Pikesville High School

Pikesville High School graduate and former Student Member of the Board of Education Omer Reshid returned to his alma mater to talk to students about entrepreneurship. Reshid is a vice president with Compass realty and founder of Refitified, a real estate digital marketing agency.

Dentist rewards student attendance with college basketball tickets

Dr. Joel Danziger of Elite Dental, a Towson University graduate, donated more than 700 Towson University basketball tickets to Dumbarton Middle School students and faculty. The tickets are a reward for exceptional attendance.

In a WMAR news story, Principal Amanda Shanks said, "For him to offer this is just one more reason why we love being in this community. His generosity and willingness to help us is providing an opportunity that I certainly couldn't have offered to our students myself."

Holt Park partners with BCPS to offer programs for Latino and other families

Every other Thursday morning, Holt Park and Center for the Arts, located in Overlea/Fullerton, hosts an event called "El Jardin Tropical de Lillian" (Lillian's Tropical Garden). This series is offered in partnership with the BCPS Office of English for Speakers of Other Languages. Latino families – and all others – are invited to attend the sessions. While adults engage in hands-on learning about gardening, their young children can spend time in the Little Seeds program, participating in fun educational activities led by a park ranger.

In addition, every Saturday, from 10 a.m.- 12 p.m., the park hosts Garden Club Workshops, also in English and Spanish.

For more information, visit the Baltimore County Recreation and Parks website. 

Black History Month Roundup

Annual Black History Month Jeopardy at Woodlawn High coordinated by police officer

In Woodlawn High School's 2nd Annual Black History Jeopardy, competing teams were comprised of students, Baltimore County police officers, and leaders from local Enterprise (car rental and sales) locations. Black History Month Jeopardy was organized by Officer Kawahn Young, through his nonprofit Save Our Young Baltimore and his work with the Baltimore County Police Department Youth and Community Services Office. 

Pikesville High School welcomes a visit from The Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball

A message from Dr. Rogers

Dear Reader:

At the end of February, the Board of Education approved a $2.58 billion Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget for BCPS. The proposed budget request, which includes a modest increase of $42.3 million over the FY 2024 general fund budget, will allow BCPS to fast forward student achievement.

The proposed budget request includes targeted resources to implement strategic initiatives that will facilitate improvements in its English language arts, mathematics, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and special education programs. This includes:

• Reduced class sizes in Grades 3-5.
• Expansion of full-day PreKindergarten programs.
• Compensation enhancements for staff.
• Special education Individualized Education Program (IEP) chairpersons in elementary schools.
• Elementary math lead teachers pilot.
• Additional special education, ESOL, staff development, and special area teachers.
• New English Language Learner (ELL) and secondary English language arts curriculum.
• Expansion of community schools.
• Virtual academy teachers.
• Student safety assistants and additional athletic trainers.

The Board’s operating budget request reflects input from an array of stakeholders, including staff, parents, students, and community members.

The Board’s budget request will now go to the Baltimore County Executive for review and consideration for his April budget proposal, followed by the County Council’s vote to adopt the budget in May.

In partnership,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent

PTA Council of Baltimore County

Dear Reader:

Spread the word! The PTA Council of Baltimore County is proud to offer scholarships to BCPS high school seniors with no restrictions on the selection of the college, university, or technical school. A number of factors are considered:

• Student's membership in a Baltimore County PTA in good standing (it doesn't have to be the student's high school).
• Academic Record
• Student resume
• Essay

In addition to general scholarships, PTA Council grants two special scholarships:

• The Georgia Clevenger Memorial Scholarship for a graduating BCPS senior planning on a career in nursing.
• The Marilyn Ryan Memorial Scholarship for a graduating BCPS senior with an exceptional volunteering or public service record.

Both Georgie and Marilyn served on the PTA Council board for many years, Georgie as secretary and Marilyn as bylaws and procedures committee chair and directory editor.

The scholarship application is due on May 10, 2024.

The committee will select recipients in May and notify the recipient, PT(S)A president, and principal. Recipients will be recognized at our June 10 Leadership Training.

Details and the application are available online.

Please encourage seniors in your schools, communities, and networks to look into whether they’re eligible and to apply!

For more information, email me at president@bcptacouncil.org.

Leslie Weber

President

Do you have a good news story regarding a partnership? Please send details to communications@bcps.org.

Opportunities to Partner