BCPS earns national recognition for championing music education – for the 21st consecutive year | | |
BCPS has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) designation from The NAMM Foundation. Now in its 27th year, the program continues to spotlight and celebrate school districts and individual schools across the United States for their exemplary dedication to music education and their ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access to music learning as part of a well-rounded education.
BCPS students can choose from extensive music offerings, including courses in music and audio technology, world music, and Advanced Placement music theory. Students perform throughout the community in choral groups, jazz ensembles, steel pan ensembles, orchestras, marching bands, ukulele ensembles, and student composition presentations. In addition, partnerships with the area’s leading arts organizations provide opportunities to see and interact with professional musicians.
| | BCPS launches Idle Reduction Campaign | | Eastern Technical High School | | Lyons Mill Elementary School | | Hampton Elementary School | | |
Members of the Class of 2026 can offer parting words to BCPS and younger students
All 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 and in a blog post 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.
| | A few sample messages from the Class of 2025 | | 2026 high school graduations to begin on May 19 | | |
More than 7,000 students will graduate from BCPS this spring. All graduations will be held at Towson University’s SECU Arena, unless otherwise noted. The graduation schedule is available online.
While in-person seating will be limited, all BCPS graduations at SECU Arena can be viewed live on the BCPS-TV YouTube Live channel, on BCPS-TV (Comcast Channel 1073 and Verizon Channel 34), and on the BCPS website.
In addition, BCPS invites students, families, and staff to submit their favorite 2026 high school commencement snapshots. By submitting a photo, the sender agrees to its use by BCPS. Many of the pictures received will be shared by BCPS on its social media accounts and/or posted online in a BCPS Flickr album. To contribute a photo via email, individuals are asked to send the photo as a jpeg file (no larger than 4 MB) and email it to communications@bcps.org – including the school name.
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Graduating seniors share favorite BCPS memories
As the last day for seniors approaches, BCPS-TV is asking them to share their favorite BCPS memories.
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Pupil Personnel Workers Week, Monday, May 11 – Friday, May 15
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Make plans to attend the 2026 BCPS Film Expo | |
BCPS Film Expo
Thursday, May 21, at 7 p.m.
(The doors will open at 6:30 p.m.)
Pikesville High School, 7621 Labyrinth Rd., 21208
The annual BCPS Film Expo challenges middle and high school students to create films on their topics of interest. Films selected as the finalists in the BCPS Film Expo will be shown to the public during this free and family-friendly event. There will be photo opportunities and a display of poster finalists. The GIF reel of all submitted GIFS will run before the main show. Following the main show, awards will be presented to the finalists and audience members will be able to ask questions of the student filmmakers. Film categories include documentary, short-form, animation, experimental, promotional, and live-action narrative.
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Ryan Chen,
Western School of Technology
High School Winner, BCPS People's Choice Film Expo Poster Contest
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Tamara Han,
Parkville Middle School
Middle School Winner, BCPS People's Choice Film Expo Poster Contest
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The graduating senior profile series continues for the Class of 2026
To honor the Class of 2026, 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 22, the last day for seniors. These profiles highlight the strengths of our seniors and their diversity. Please follow along and share your support on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) as they are posted each day.
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Featured this week will be:
| | Catonsville High senior Aiman Butt earns The Gates Scholarship | |
Aiman Butt, a Catonsville High School senior, has earned a prestigious national Gates Scholarship. Out of more than 61,000 applicants, 3,000 were named semifinalists, 1,500 advanced to finalist standing, and ultimately 750 students were selected as scholars. The program provides full-ride scholarships for four years of college. With it, Aiman will attend Georgetown University, where she will participate in the University Scholars Program and the Community Scholars Program.
| | Towson University to honor Hereford Middle Assistant Principal Fay Davenport with an educational leadership award | | |
The faculty members of the Department of Instructional Leadership and Professional Development at Towson University have chosen Fay Davenport, assistant principal at Hereford Middle School, to receive the 2026 Dr. Michael E. Hickey Educational Leadership Award.
This award is given annually to a Towson University alumnus from their graduate educational leadership program who is making significant contributions to teacher and student learning, as well as building leadership capacity in the schools.
The award will be presented at an Instruction Leadership and Professional Development Award Ceremony and Alumni Reunion on Tuesday, May 19, at 5 p.m.
| | Perry Hall High team won the 14th Annual Electric Vehicle Grand Prix | | |
A team from Perry Hall High School won first place out of 32 schools in the Stock Class of the 14th Annual Electric Vehicle Grand Prix. This regional competition challenges high school teams to design, build, test, and race their own electric vehicles. In the hourlong race, teams aim to complete the most laps while meeting strict design specifications. Teams from Washington, D.C., Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia competed in the Grand Prix held on May 2 at RFK Stadium, hosted by Global EEE in conjunction with Truck Touch.
The only other BCPS team to compete represented Sollers Point Technical High School, and that team received the Sportsmanship award.
| | Dulaney High's Tamia Edwards and Eastern Tech's Isaac Klos honored with Mind in Motion Scholarships | | Graduating seniors Tamia Edwards of Dulaney High School and Isaac Klos of Eastern Technical High School are the 2026 District VI Minds in Motion Scholarship winners. These awards are presented annually by the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) to recognize seniors who have excelled on the playing field and in the classroom. Selected male and female recipients from each of the nine MPSSAA districts will receive a $1,000 scholarship. | | |
Eastern Tech High and Perry Hall Middle students elected to National Student Councils board
Two BCPS students have been elected to the National Student Councils board. Samuel Park, Grade 11, Eastern Technical High School, will serve as the board's vice president of communications. Anderson Louis Jay, Grade 7, Perry Hall Middle School, will serve as the board's middle level representative.
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Samuel Park
Eastern Technical High School
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Anderson Louis Jay
Perry Hall Middle School
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Towson High and Mays Chapel Elementary students recognized for Law Day essays and artwork
Several Towson High School and Mays Chapel Elementary School students were honored during the Baltimore County Bar Association’s annual Law Day Ceremony on May 4. The ceremony began with Wangechi Njuguna, a Towson High School student, singing the national anthem. At the ceremony, the Bar recognized several BCPS students who were winners in this year’s poster and essay contests. The honored students are:
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1st Place Essay Award
Diana Bobukulova
Towson High School
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2nd Place Essay Award
Maxwell Kosmides
Towson High School
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3rd Place Essay Award
Piper Kennedy
Towson High School
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Art Award, Primary Grades
Landry Erdman
Mays Chapel Elementary School
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Art Award, Primary Grades
Ryker Erdman
Mays Chapel Elementary School
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Enhancing communications between schools and families
Office of Multilingual Achievement staff give presentation at statewide conference
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Two BCPS staff members presented at the Maryland English Language Learning Family Involvement Network’s 21st annual conference held on April 30 in College Park, Maryland.
Angela Dregier, multilingual family engagement specialist, and Laura Schreiber, English language development specialist, both from the BCPS Office of Multilingual Achievement, shared how BCPS is addressing language barriers with TalkingPoints (a messaging platform that provides two-way communication in more than 150 languages). The platform has become one of the main channels of communication for all BCPS parents, staff, administrators, and teachers.
| | Amanda Ensor of TalkingPoints with Laura Schreiber and Angela Dregier from the BCPS Office of Multilingual Achievement | | A new blog post shares highlights of the presentation, including how increased communication is yielding improved attendance. | | |
You'll want to see this! The 25th Annual BCPS Steel Drum Panorama Concert
The 25th Annual Steel Drum Panorama Concert, held on April 24 at CCBC Dundalk, featured students from:
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- Catonsville High School
- Hereford High School
- Hereford Middle School
- Nottingham Middle School
- Perry Hall High School
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- Rossville Elementary School
- Sparrows Point High School
- Stemmers Run Middle School
- Stoneleigh Elementary School
| | And this! Ridgely Middle School students performing at an Orioles game | | Ridgely Middle School students performed the national anthem at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 30. The Orioles were playing a doubleheader against the Houston Astros. | | |
Tree planting at Pikesville Middle School
In honor of Arbor Day, Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier visited Pikesville Middle School on May 5 and planted trees with students. See more photos on Flickr.
| | Carver Center student stars in play at Center Stage | | |
Zachary Corey, a senior in the Acting Prime at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, made his professional debut with Center Stage in the lead role of Stanley in the play "Holes." (The play ended on May 10.) This summer, Corey will perform in CCBC's Cockpit in Court's production of "Footloose."
He thanks Carver Center teachers Paul Diem and Emily Hall along with the Carver staff and administration for helping to make this possible.
| | Corey, right, with another cast member onstage. (J. Fannon Photography) | | Announcing the BCSTAT 2026 Data Contest, open to all Baltimore County High School students | | |
Baltimore County high school students are invited to enter the BCSTAT 2026 Data Contest and use data to find solutions to issues facing Baltimore County residents. Registration forms and submissions are due by July 31.
Winning students will present their projects to department leaders, spend time with data and policy analysts, and experience day-to-day local government operations.
| | 'Tis the season for PreKindergarten and Kindergarten registration | | |
It is time to register children for PreKindergarten and Kindergarten ahead of the 2026-2027 school year.
Parents/guardians who wish to register their child for enrollment in a PreKindergarten 3 or PreKindergarten 4 class should contact their home school.
Kindergarten is required for all students living in Maryland. Parents/guardians should contact their neighborhood elementary school to register their child for Kindergarten.
| | | Families may also call the Department of Early Childhood Programs at 443-809-4313 for more information. | | Registration deadline for BCPS dance and music enrichment programs is Friday, May 15! | | |
Registration is still open for BCPS dance and music camps. Enrollment priority will be given to current BCPS students and children of BCPS staff. All camps will cost $185 per student, which includes a camp T-shirt or tote bag and bus transportation (if needed). Fee waivers are available for students who do not have permanent or adequate housing. Financial assistance and payment plans can be requested. Translated camp information is available on the summer camp websites.
All registration forms and payments are due in full to the Office of Integrated Arts (Performing Arts) no later than Friday, May 15. Any registration forms received after May 15, will not be guaranteed transportation.
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Summer Dance Intensive
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Wednesday, June 24, through Friday, June 26, and Monday, June 29, through Wednesday, July 1, from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Milford Mill Academy, 3800 Washington Ave., Windsor Mill 21244.
- Open to students in Grades 5-12.
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Summer Dance Intensive registration form
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Summer Music Camp
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Wednesday, June 24, through Friday, June 26, and Monday, June 29, through Wednesday, July 1, from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Perry Hall High School, 4601 Ebenezer Rd., Perry Hall 21236
- Open to students in Grades 5-12 who are enrolled in their school’s music program.
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Summer Music Camp registration form
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for parents/caregivers
from BCPS Parent University
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Get ready for the Baltimore County Public Library's annual Summer Reading Challenge
Open to children of all ages
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Children of all ages are invited to participate in Baltimore County Public Library's Summer Reading Challenge, from Saturday, June 6, through Saturday, August 29. This year's theme is "Unearth A Story."
Participants can track their reading using the Beanstalk app or on a paper game board. Those who read for 10 hours will earn a completion prize and be entered into drawings to win exciting prizes such as a one-year family membership to the National Aquarium or Maryland Science Center!
To begin, please register online or by downloading the Beanstack app to your phone. Track your reading and begin earning points starting Saturday, June 6.
Also on June 6, the community is invited to the Summer Reading Challenge kickoff from
11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the library system's Arbutus Branch, 855 Sulphur Spring Rd., 21227. The event will feature face painting, balloon animals, live music, and giveaways.
| | for your viewing pleasure | | "As We Grow," by Derrian Bolden, Grade 12, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. This artwork won second place in the 2026 High School Juried Art Show on display at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture through February 28, 2027. The show features 15 artworks by Carver Center students. | | |
mission moment
from The Education Foundation of BCPS
| | Carin Lazarus of Media Star Promotions named 2026 BCPS Business Partner of the Year | | |
On April 29, Media Star Promotions was named 2026 Baltimore County Public Schools’ Business Partner of the Year. Media Star Promotions is led by founder and CEO Carin Lazarus, who serves as the vice president of programs and allocations for The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc.
“We call Carin the Fairy Godmother of The Foundation,” says Dr. Heather Wooldridge, the foundation’s associate director.
| | Board Chair Jane Lichter, Carin Lazarus and Carrie O'Meara of Media Star, and BCPS Superintendent Dr. Rogers | | |
“Carin and her team at Media Star Promotions are the most generous and talented humanitarians I have ever met.
"They are constantly giving. They give giant checks for our Stuff the Bus Campaign. They give thousands and thousands of dollars' worth of clothing for our neediest students. They give balloons and decorations for our events and then give their time to support the events. And, this year, they helped us transform our two Exchangerees by donating 700 clear bins to help us better stock our shelves for our educators to pick up donated school supplies and other materials. They truly are Champions of Education and our foundation. This recognition is so well deserved.”
Learn more in the latest Mission Moment blog post.
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May 11, 2026
Dear Reader:
When we get this close to the end of the school year, calendars fill with award ceremonies, performances, and special events. It is a joyous time to celebrate all that we have accomplished.
But it is also time to renew our focus on learning. I encourage families to remind their children that there is still work to be done and knowledge to be gained. Maintaining positive habits – like good nutrition, physical exercise, and designated times for homework and sleep – will help students stay on track for success.
Please remember also to reach out to teachers and school counselors to resolve any issues.
We want to do all we can to ensure that every student ends the 2025-26 school year on a positive note!
Regards,
Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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Upcoming Board meetings
All are welcome to attend
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FY 2028 Capital Budget Public Hearing
Wednesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m.
BCPS headquarters/Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, Towson 21204
Southeast Area Education Advisory Council meeting
Monday, May 18, at 7 p.m.
Logan Elementary School, library, 7601 Dunmanway, Dundalk 21222
Topic: Facilities and Enrollment Update
Board of Education meeting
Tuesday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m.
BCPS headquarters/Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, Towson 21204
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