Monday, September 16, 2024

BCPS Teacher of the Year Stephanie Gerhold named one of seven finalists for Maryland Teacher of the Year

Stephanie Gerhold, an English language development teacher at Woodlawn Middle School and BCPS Teacher of the Year, has been named one of seven finalists for 2024-2025 Maryland Teacher of the Year.

The 2024-2025 Maryland Teacher of the Year will be announced on Friday, October 4, during an awards gala to be held at Martin’s Valley Mansion in Cockeysville. The program will be aired on Maryland Public Television on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

The selected Maryland Teacher of the Year will compete for the esteemed National Teacher of the Year Award. Maryland’s Teacher of the Year will also spend the coming year as an educational speaker and advisor in Maryland.

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers will host two community meetings focused on creating safe and supportive learning environments. Team BCPS students, families, staff, and stakeholders are invited to participate in these important conversations and learn more about BCPS efforts to ensure student and staff safety, connect to community resources, and build positive partnerships for student support. 

Spanish interpretation will be provided at both meetings. Interpreting services for other languages are also available upon request at no cost to participants. Please call 443-809-1250 as early as possible to request. 

Students, parents, caregivers, and stakeholders are invited to experience BCPS curriculum and explore current system efforts to make improvements.

• View curricular and instructional materials.
• Ask questions and connect with content area experts.
• Participate in interactive demonstrations.
• Receive tips and resources on how to support students at home.
• Explore resources from Baltimore County Public Library, the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks, and more!

12 BCPS students named National Merit semifinalists

Twelve BCPS students have been named semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, based on their scores on the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NSMQT®).

The honored students are:

Most of the more than 16,000 national semifinalists will advance to the finalist level and compete for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million.

Learn more about the State of the Arts in BCPS

Last week, in honor of National Arts in Education Week, September 9-13, the BCPS blog published its annual State of the Arts blog post. With a 117-year tradition of excellence, arts education in BCPS engages students in art making and art appreciation, provides opportunities for them to excel, and empowers them to find a lifelong path in the arts. 

In the new blog post, Sherri Fisher, director of the Office of Integrated Arts, Sonia Synkowski, coordinator of the Office of Performing Arts, and Ryan Twentey, coordinator of the Office of Visual Arts and Digital Media, review dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and media arts instruction in BCPS and look ahead to program enhancements this school year.

Community school facilitators share examples of projects supporting their communities

In honor of BCPS Community School Facilitator Week, September 15-21, in a new blog post, several community school facilitators describe projects making a difference in their communities.

According to Melissa Forster, BCPS director of community schools, facilitators focus on addressing the barriers that impact academic success. They identify needed resources and programs and have expertise in building partnerships and working with all stakeholders. In 2018-2019, BCPS had four community schools. That number has grown to 91 this school year. 

Projects shared in the post include food distributions, resource fairs, connecting families to pro bono immigration attorneys, purchasing books in Spanish and Arabic, immunization clinics, and a "Read Across America" night.

Schools represented in the post are Battle Grove, Logan, Norwood, and Victory Villa elementary schools; Lansdowne, Middle River, and Northwest Academy of Health Sciences middle schools; Kenwood and Lansdowne high schools; and Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies.

Kenwood High School

Victory Villa Elementary School

Northwest Academy of Health Sciences

Middle River Middle School

Lansdowne High School

Logan Elementary School

Join us in celebrating Attendance Awareness Month with countywide spirit days

In honor of Attendance Awareness Month, the BCPS Here for It! Attendance Awareness campaign encourages staff and students to participate in countywide spirit days on Fridays in September.

September 20 – Wear your favorite sneakers.

Take the necessary "steps" to be on time and attend regularly.

September 27 – Wear your favorite team colors, shirt, or jersey.

Be a "team player" by showing up on time every day.

Year round, the Here for It! campaign promotes the importance of on-time, regular school attendance.

Seeking students, staff to profile for BCPS blog

This school year, the Department of Communications and Community Outreach seeks to profile students and staff on the BCPS blog. The series will feature students and staff for their accomplishments, unique skills, special interests, compelling stories, and/or leadership. To recommend a student or staff member to profile, please send an email to communications@bcps.org and include their name, a way to contact them, and a brief explanation of why they should be featured.

Seeking Hispanic students and staff to spotlight during Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized annually from September 15 - October 15. Throughout the month, the BCPS community is invited to share celebrations and recognitions on social media using #BCPSHerencia.

In addition, BCPS will spotlight Hispanic students and staff on the BCPS Spanish Facebook page.

To be recognized or nominate a student or staff member, please contact Gevene Harden with the following information:

• Name, job title/grade, and school/office
• A recent, high-quality photo
• Country or countries of origin
• A brief blurb (en español o en inglés) about why you are proud of your Hispanic heritage and/or how you connect with your roots (1-2 paragraphs)

New episode of "The Parent University Show"

The latest episode of "The Parent University Show" explores the Department of Special Education's efforts to support families; National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and BCPS mental health services; reasons to join a PTA; and why school attendance is so important.

Baltimore County Public Library is "wild" about the return of Sunday hours

After a short break, Sunday hours (1-5 p.m.) have returned at the following Baltimore County Public Library branches:

• Arbutus 
• Cockeysville 
• North Point 
• Owings Mills 
• Perry Hall 
• Pikesville 
• Towson 

To celebrate the return of Sunday hours, the library is hosting "Wild About Sundays" events through October. The schedule is as follows: 

• September 22, at 2 p.m. — "Where the Wild Things Are" Character Appearance, Perry Hall Branch 
• September 29, at 1 p.m. — Succulent Giveaway, Towson Branch 
• October 6, at 2 p.m. — Reptile Show with Eco Adventures, North Point Branch 
• October 13, at 1 p.m. — Succulent Giveaway, Cockeysville Branch 
• October 27, at 2 p.m. — Reptile Show with Eco Adventures, Owings Mills 

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.

"Untitled" by Oliver Lush, Grade 8, Ridgely Middle School. This artwork and several others created during the BCPS Summer Art Enrichment Camp are on display in The Superintendent's Gallery at BCPS headquarters.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

Foundation's associate director embarks on leadership development journey

Leadership Baltimore County has accepted Dr. Heather Wooldridge, associate director at The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., into its signature community leadership program.

Throughout the 10-month program, the Class of 2025 will participate in interactive educational sessions to learn more about how Baltimore County works, meet its leaders, understand the community’s challenges and opportunities, and assess how to affect positive change in the region. In addition, each member of the class participates in a 360° leadership assessment and one-on-one executive coaching sessions to gain insight into their own leadership strengths.

More about Wooldridge and Leadership Baltimore County can be found in a new blog post.

A word from Dr. Rogers

September 16, 2024

Dear Reader:

Last week, we were able to share the amazing news that our own Teacher of the Year, Stephanie Gerhold of Woodlawn Middle School, is one of seven finalists for 2024-2025 Maryland Teacher of the Year.

We are so proud of Stephanie Gerhold for her work, her passion, her advocacy, and her talents, all of which she uses to advance, encourage, and celebrate her students and the joy of learning. Ms.Gerhold represents the very highest level of what being an educator means, and in earning this honor, she has the opportunity to demonstrate to a greater audience how great teachers can truly change the world, one student at a time.

This honor brings attention to the excellence of the teaching corps in BCPS. Please join me in sharing appreciation for the approximately 10,000 educators who are essential to the success of our students and this school system.

I began my career in education as a classroom teacher and so I know that it is challenging work, but the satisfaction gained from preparing the next generation for the future is priceless.

In partnership,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Upcoming Board, advisory group, and boundary meetings

All are welcome to attend

Southeast Area Education Advisory Council meeting

Monday, September 16, at 7 p.m.

Chase Elementary School library, 11701 Eastern Blvd., Chase 21220

Topic: “Discipline”

Holly Manor Community Boundary Study Committee meeting

Wednesday, September 18, from 6-8 p.m.

Westchester Elementary School cafeteria, 2300 Old Frederick Rd., Catonsville 21228

Community members can learn more about the process online and are invited to attend this meeting as observers.

Greenleigh Community Boundary Study Committee meeting

Thursday, September 19, from 6-8 p.m.

Vincent Farm Elementary School cafeteria, 6019 Ebenezer Rd., White Marsh 21162

Community members can learn more about the process online and are invited to attend this meeting as observers.

Board of Education meeting

Tuesday, September 24, at 6:30 p.m.

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

Northwest Elementary School Boundary Study #2 Meeting

Wednesday, September 25, from 6-8 p.m.

Milford Mill Academy, 3800 Washington Ave., Windsor Mill 21244

Community members can learn more about the process online and are invited to attend this meeting as observers. 

Baltimore County PTA Fall Workshops & General Meeting

Thursday, September 26, at 7 p.m.

Location to be determined