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BCPSfest 2024 attracts more than 3,400 attendees
Fun festival connects families to BCPS and community resources
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BCPSfest, the school system's annual back-to-school festival was the biggest yet – with more than 3,400 students and family members coming to George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology on August 17. Students engaged in hands-on learning, field games, Double-Dutch jump roping, a Story Time area, and live entertainment. Hands-on learning activities included launching straw rockets, interacting with a robot dog, playing word games, and taking on the Wheel of Dance.
The event featured more than 60 vendors and a Baltimore County Health Department vaccine clinic and allowed families to connect with BCPS and community services and resources.
More photos from the event can be found in a Flickr album.
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Four photos above by Andrew Hall, an apprentice in the BCPS Department of Communications and Community Outreach and a senior at Woodlawn High School | |
Many thanks to our generous BCPSfest sponsors! | |
Nearly 700 new BCPS educators participate in first day of weeklong New Educator Orientation | |
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Nearly 700 new BCPS educators gathered at New Town High School on August 12 for the first day of their weeklong New Educator Orientation. The theme of the 2024 orientation was "Engaging and Empowering Educators in Pursuit of Excellence."
On the first day of NEO, the educators were welcomed by Board Chair Tiara Booker-Dwyer, Teachers Association of Baltimore County (TABCO) President Cindy Sexton, and Executive Director of Employee Development Liz Berquist, and they heard from a panel of BCPS Teachers of the Year. They had opportunities to meet colleagues, learn about benefits and the certification process, and participate in curriculum training.
More photos from the first day can be found on Flickr.
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Catch up on the latest Summer Stories | |
BCPS students, advisors participate in Jostens Yearbook Camp at Gettysburg College | |
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Eight students and three advisors from BCPS high schools attended Jostens Yearbook Camp on the campus of Gettysburg College. The participants were: students Alyssa Hughes and Emily Noonan and advisor Kristi Korrow, Dulaney High School; students Monique Franklin and Paige Rossi, Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts; student Jonah Spiegelman and advisor Chantel Yadush, Pikesville High School; students Nick Gallant, Laci Gorman, and Ashlee Taylor, and advisor Jessica Lord, Sparrows Point High School.
The BCPS students joined more than 170 other students and advisors from six states for the camp held July 28-30. Over the course of 18.5 hours of instruction, students and advisors worked on developing themes, folios, layouts, social media outreach plans, and visuals for their 2025 yearbooks. Groups took part in general sessions led by experts in the field of journalism and yearbook instruction. In addition, groups participated in specific tracks designed to meet the needs of their school teams. Schools networked for best practices and collaborated through team building.
A new Summer Stories blog post includes reflections from participating students and more photos.
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Cockeysville Middle School takes center stage at National AVID Summer Institute | |
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Eleven AVID students from Cockeysville Middle School served as AVID Student Leaders at the National AVID Summer Institute, held at the Baltimore Convention Center from August 5-7. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination and is a college readiness program.
The Cockeysville Middle Student Leaders worked with teachers, administrators, district directors, and superintendents from across the country. The students shared their AVID experiences and expertise on AVID tutorials through student panels and working one-to-one with teachers.
In addition, a recent Cockeysville Middle graduate, Jayden Yancey, was one of two Student Speakers, and Cockeysville art teacher Samuel Georgieff curated a student art exhibition.
More about this experience can be found in a Summer Stories blog post written by Megan Thomas, Cockeysville Middle's AVID coordinator. Additional photos from the event can be found on Flickr.
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Student Leaders from Cockeysville Middle with AVID Coordinator Megan Thomas | |
Jayden Yancey onstage at the AVID Summer Institute | |
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Seeking more summer stories
Every summer since 2018, BCPS has invited its students, teachers, and staff to share stories about their summer activities and adventures on the BCPS blog. The invitation to contribute to the Summer Stories series is extended again this year. To submit a blog post or suggest a story idea, please write to communications@bcps.org. We want to know about your summer jobs/internships/externships, vacations, creative projects, competitions, camps, and more!
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There's always time to dive into a great book!
Each week this summer, our wonderful friends in the Baltimore County Public Library Collection Department have recommended some of their favorite books for us to read. These books have taken us to other times and places and introduced us to unforgettable characters and situations. This is the last week for the 2024 series. See descriptions of the books recommended for this week in the newest Dive into Summer Reading blog post, which is available in English and Spanish.
Please join us in thanking this fantastic team – Jackie Greenberg, Noel Knepper, Angelique Kopa, Todd Krueger, Maureen Roberts, and Jamie Watson – for their outstanding recommendations.
And please remember to stop by your local library branch year-round for more great books and to participate in their many activities.
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for parents
from BCPS Parent University
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Time for families to get ready for new school year | |
Is your child starting Kindergarten this month? | |
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The start of Kindergarten is a major milestone in a child's education. Here, from a recent article in The Baltimore Banner, are some ideas from local early childhood experts about how to prepare children for a smooth transition and a successful school year.
- Take your child to visit the school and the classroom before the school year starts. Many schools host "sneak a peek" or "meet and greet" events.
- Give your child practice in following a schedule and regular routines.
- Read books about Kindergarten or going to school. Here are a few titles: "The Night Before Kindergarten," "Monsters Love School," "David Goes to School," "Chrysanthemum," and "First Day Jitters."
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for your viewing pleasure | |
"Hrvatska" by Anja Durkovic, Grade 8, Perry Hall Middle School. Work is featured in 2024 Middle School Art Exhibition. ('Hrvatska" is the Croatian word for Croatia.) | |
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mission moment
from The Education Foundation of BCPS
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BCPS schools and offices have until Friday, October 25, to apply for 21st Century Instructional Initiative Grants | |
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BCPS schools and offices can apply for 21st Century Instructional Initiative Grants of up to $2,000 each to fund projects that focus on one or more of the following 21st century themes: Financial, Economic, Business, and Entrepreneurial Literacy; Health Literacy; Environmental Literacy; Civic Literacy; Arts and Culture; Global Awareness; and/or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Grant applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 25. An optional grant information session will be held on at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4.
For more information about the application process, grant information session, past projects funded, and grant program history, see the newest Mission Moment blog post.
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