|
BCPSfest 2025 attracts more than 2,000 attendees
Fun festival connects families to BCPS and community resources
| | |
BCPSfest 2025, the school system's annual back-to-school festival, was the best ever –drawing more than 2,000 students and family members to New Town High School on August 16. Participants enjoyed an Imagination Playground, registered to vote, dug for fossils, had their faces painted, rode bikes to blend healthy smoothies, rode other bikes to make spin art, took their turns before the camera, launched straw rockets, played word games, learned Double-Dutch jump roping, met a bicycling champion, and much more.
The event featured more than 70 vendors and a Baltimore County Department of Health vaccine clinic and allowed families to connect with BCPS and community services and resources.
New Town High School's own Code Cardinal Varsity Cheerleaders and The Titan Legion of Sound Marching Band welcomed attendees, in addition to DJ Kevin of Three J's Entertainment.
More photos from the event can be found in a Flickr album.
| |
|
Summer commencement ceremony: "One dream realized"
A commencement ceremony on August 13 at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology celebrated the more than 120 BCPS graduates countywide who completed their 2025 graduation requirements over the summer.
Following welcoming remarks from BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers, keynote speaker and former Student Member of the Board Ugonma Chike-Kalu addressed the new graduates.
In her remarks, Chike-Kalu shared a quote from journalist Elaine Welteroth: "Your life is a series of dreams realized. You do not have to be defined by one job, by one success, by one failure, relationship, or even one dream. You get to dream up new dreams. You get to pivot. You get to continue to blossom. And that's the beauty of life."
Chike-Kalu added, "That beauty is here in this room today. Today is one dream realized, but it is not the only one you'll have, and I hope it's not the biggest one you'll have either."
| | New BCPS educators spent last week in orientation | | |
Last week, 470 BCPS educators participated in the New Educator Orientation, a systemwide professional learning opportunity and part of the school system’s comprehensive induction program for educators. During NEO, educators who are new to BCPS (including teachers, school counselors, school nurses, occupational/physical therapists, school social workers, and speech-language pathologists) met key stakeholders and became familiar with system leaders, processes, procedures, and other valuable information.
The week began with special remarks from BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers, Baltimore County Board of Education Vice Chair Robin Harvey, County Executive Katherine "Kathy" Klausmeier, TABCO President Kelly Olds, and BCPS 2025 Teacher of the Year Brittany Jakubowski.
More photos from the first day can be found on Flickr.
| | National PTA website highlights Overlea High School digital citizenship event | | |
The "PTA Connected" section of the National PTA website highlights an Overlea High School PTSA event.
The school's "Build Up and Belong" event focused on online safety and good digital citizenship and was supported by a grant from National PTA and Discord. The event featured a guest speaker, breakout sessions and a resource fair.
| | Summer Stories: Hereford Middle student Andrew Sinyushkin trains at monthlong badminton camp in China | | | | |
Andrew Sinyushkin, who begins Grade 6 at Hereford Middle School next week, spent one month of his summer at an elite badminton training camp in Chengdu, China.
A serious player, Andrew competes several times a year and trains multiple days each week. He began playing at age 9.
In the latest Mission Moment blog post, Andrew answers questions about his experiences at the camp and how it helped him become a better player and a more independent person.
| | There's still time to share YOUR summer story! | | |
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!
| | |
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 2025 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.
| |
for parents
from BCPS Parent University
| | Mobile Vaccine Clinic Events | | |
The Baltimore County Department of Health is offering several mobile vaccine clinics to help students and families get their school-required vaccines. At the following clinics, only the MCV and Tdap vaccines will be administered. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required.
| | |
Tuesday, August 26, from 4-6 p.m.
Cockeysville Middle School, 10401 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville 21030
Thursday, August 28, from 4-6 p.m.
Holabird Middle School, 1701 Delvale Ave., Dundalk 21222
Tuesday, September 2, from 4-6 p.m.
Nottingham Middle School, 5210 King Ave., Rosedale 21237
Wednesday, September 3, from 4-6 p.m.
Lansdowne Middle School, 2400 Lansdowne Rd., Halethorpe 21227
| | Lunch & Learn: How to Find a Job: The Basics | | |
Friday, August 29, at 12:30 p.m.
Presented by Joe Harber from the Center for Family Success, this virtual workshop will explore how the internet has changed how we look for a job. Learn some of the basics of job hunting online as well as the latest tips for creating a resume. Registration required.
| |
|
BCPS recruitment event for multiple positions
Wednesday, August 27
Hunt Valley Workforce Development Center, 11101 McCormick Rd., Hunt Valley 21031
BCPS is hosting an in-person recruitment event to include an information session and pre-employment scheduling. This event is for individuals interested in school bus driver, bus attendant, grounds worker II, cafeteria worker, and building service worker positions. BCPS encourages applicants to apply online prior to attending this session, but walk-ins will be accepted. For more information, please call 443-809-7872.
Schedule for the day:
- Bus Drivers/Bus attendants – 9:30-10:30 a.m.
- Building Service Workers – 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Grounds Workers II – 12-1 p.m.
- Cafeteria Workers – 2-4 p.m.
| | for your viewing pleasure | | |
"Endangered Amur Leopard" by Brooklyn Henneberry, Cockeysville Middle School, is featured in the 2025 Middle School Art Exhibition currently on view at BCPS headquarters/Greenwood in Building A.
Artist statement:
I've always been a fan of animals. I've liked sharks, elephants, giraffes, and leopards. This project took a bit of hard work and time, but I think it turned out good. In the picture I was influenced by, it had looked like the leopard was looking at something bad. I had put in the back of my mind that they were facing deforestation in their habitat, but I hoped that others would see the same thing I was and try to fix this problem many animals are facing today.
| | |
mission moment
from The Education Foundation of BCPS
| | |
The latest Mission Moment blog post highlights a number of The Education Foundation's activities designed to support students and staff at the start of a new school year – including the Stuff the Bus event promoted earlier in this newsletter and the upcoming 11th Annual Tee Off for Team BCPS Golf Classic.
The post also includes a reminder that BCPS educators may shop at an Exchangeree educator resource center one time per month for school supplies, classroom resources, books, social-emotional support tools, and more at no cost to themselves! BCPS educators are asked to bring their BCPS IDs and bags/boxes for their adopted treasures.
There are two shopping dates left in August:
- Tuesday, August 19 | The Exchangeree Rosedale | 3-6 p.m.
- Thursday, August 28 | The Exchangeree Windsor Mill | 3-6 p.m.
All shopping dates for the 2025-26 school year can be found on The Education Foundation website or flyer.
| | |
Upcoming Board meetings
All are welcome to attend
| | |
Board of Education meeting
Tuesday, August 26, at 6:30 p.m.
BCPS headquarters/Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, Towson 21204
Board of Education meeting
Tuesday, September 9, at 6:30 p.m.
BCPS headquarters/Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, Towson 21204
| | | | |
