Monday, November 27, 2023

Deer Park Elementary School holds groundbreaking ceremony for its new replacement building

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough) and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski joined members of the Board of Education of Baltimore County and the Baltimore County delegation on November 20 to officially break ground for a new replacement school building for Deer Park Elementary School. The $70.6 million project will expand the school's capacity from 431 seats to 735 seats and increase the school’s footprint from 60,304 square feet to 102,218 square feet. Designed to be Maryland’s first net-zero elementary school – meaning it produces as much energy as it consumes each year – the new building is scheduled to open to students in 2025.

A video from the event is online, and more photos from the groundbreaking can be found on Flickr.

Ravens running back Gus Edwards hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for Scotts Branch Elementary School students and their families

Ravens running back Gus 'The Bus' Edwards hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for 75 Scotts Branch Elementary School students and their families on November 20. To the student's delight, Edwards was accompanied by fellow Ravens Justice Hill and Jameel McClain.

More photos from the event can be found on Flickr.

USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program expands from 27 to 50 BCPS elementary schools

The number of BCPS elementary schools engaged in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program has almost doubled from 27 schools in 2022-2023 to 50 schools this school year.

The program encourages children to try new fruits and vegetables they might not otherwise experience and promotes childhood nutrition education. The students are introduced to the new fruits and vegetables outside of the schools' regular breakfast and lunch meal services.

According to a USDA evaluation of the program, participating students eat more fruits and vegetables and consume more vitamins A and C and fiber than non-participating students.

The elementary schools offering the program are: Arbutus, Baltimore Highlands, Battle Grove, Bear Creek, Bedford, Berkshire, Carney, Chadwick, Charlesmont, Church Lane, Colgate, Deep Creek, Deer Park, Dogwood, Dundalk, Edmondson Heights, Elmwood, Featherbed Lane, Glyndon, Grange, Halstead Academy,  Hawthorne, Johnnycake, Lansdowne, Logan, Mars Estates, Martin Boulevard, McCormick, Middlesex, Milbrook, Norwood, Oakleigh, Orems, Owings Mills, Pleasant Plains, Powhatan, Randallstown, Red House Run, Riverview, Sandalwood, Sandy Plains, Scotts Branch, Seneca, Shady Spring, Sussex, Timber Grove, Victory Villa, White Oak, Winfield, and Woodmoor.

Tom Burch, management analyst, BCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services

Carver Center graduate cooks up a career that nurtures students

Tom Burch's lifelong interest in cooking has taken him from the culinary arts program at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology to the prestigious Culinary Institute of America to working in acclaimed New York restaurants.

But when a desire to be closer to family brought him back to Baltimore, he discovered the 'secret world' of school food services and joined the Team BCPS staff as a cafeteria manager trainee. He now serves as a management analyst in the BCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services.

The rest of his story can be found in a new blog post.

Northwest Area Elementary School Boundary Study survey open through Sunday, December 3

The Northwest Area Elementary School Boundary study affects students currently attending Bedford, Fort Garrison, Milbrook, Scotts Branch, Summit Park, and Wellwood International elementary schools as well as Campfield Early Learning Center.

Through Sunday, December 3, community members are invited to complete an online survey and share their opinions about four draft options for new school boundaries. The survey is available in several languages.

Central Area Elementary School Boundary Study survey open through Sunday, December 17

The Central Area Elementary School Boundary study affects students currently attending Carroll Manor, Cromwell Valley Regional Magnet, Halstead Academy, Hampton, Jacksonville, Lutherville Laboratory, Mays Chapel, Oakleigh, Padonia International, Pine Grove, Pinewood, Pleasant Plains, Pot Spring, Rodgers Forge, Riderwood, Stoneleigh, Timonium, Warren, and West Towson elementary schools.

Through Sunday, December 17, community members are invited to complete an online survey and share their opinions about four draft options for new school boundaries to relieve overcrowding. The survey is available in several languages.

Lyric Baltimore Youth Theater is seeking youth who are actors, storytellers, comics, singers, visual artists, videographers, puppeteers, photographers, poets, and playwrights. To apply and sign up for an audition, please complete an online form. Auditions will be held on Thursday, January 4, and Saturday, January 6. Those accepted into the free program will participate in workshops from late January to early June in preparation for a final production in June at the Lyric Baltimore. For more information, email education@mdlyric.org.

Know an extraordinary student leader or change-maker?

Nominate them for an 18 Under 18 Award!

In partnership with Baltimore magazine, Junior Achievement of Central Maryland seeks to honor the most extraordinary young people in the Greater Baltimore area through its second annual JA 18 Under 18 awards program. Winners will be featured in the May 2024 edition of Baltimore magazine, profiled on the Junior Achievement of Central Maryland website, have opportunities to network with area executives and leaders, and be recognized at an awards ceremony.

Nominations are being accepted online through January 15, 2024.

Stakeholders invited to take survey about special education staffing

The BCPS Department of Special Education is conducting a brief survey about the staffing of services and supports for BCPS students receiving special education services. This information will be used in developing the Special Education Staffing Plan for next school year.  Please take a moment to offer your feedback. The survey closes Friday, December 1.

Woodlawn High School to host financial aid workshop for parents

Interested in applying for early admission to Kindergarten?

Students in Maryland are eligible to begin Kindergarten in the 2024-2025 school year if they are five years old on or before September 1, 2024.

However, early entrance to Kindergarten is offered to children who demonstrate the need for additional learning support. To be eligible for early admission testing, the child’s fifth birthday must fall between September 2, 2024, and October 14, 2024.

Parents can begin sending early admission requests to schools from January 15 through May 1, 2024.     

Detailed information about the process can be found online.                

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.

"Portal" by Julie Lauver, visual arts teacher, Towson High School. Work featured in the annual BCPS Teacher as Artist Exhibition.

To see more artwork by BCPS students, teachers, and other members of the BCPS community, please visit the Office of Visual Arts gallery webpage.

A word from Dr. Rogers (Yarbrough)

November 27, 2023

Dear Reader:

Welcome back from Thanksgiving break!

We are approaching the end of the calendar year and the beginning of winter break, but this is not a time to slow down or slack off.

Although this is a season of many celebrations, it is also a time for us to continue our collective efforts to support our students, teachers, staff, and schools. I am so proud of the Team BCPS family for its commitment to educational excellence for all.

In partnership,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Upcoming advisory group and boundary study meetings

All are welcome to attend

Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee meeting

Monday, December 4, from 7-8:30 p.m.

Meeting link

Topic: "Special Education 101"

Northwest Area Elementary School Boundary Study committee meeting

Wednesday, December 6, from 6-8 p.m.

Pikesville Middle School cafeteria, 7701 Seven Mile Ln., Pikesville 21208

The snow date for this meeting is Thursday, December 7. If the committee determines that another meeting is needed, that meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 13, with a snow date of Wednesday, January 3.

Gifted and Talented Citizens Advisory Committee meeting

Wednesday, December 6, at 7 p.m.

Meeting details

Meeting with BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough)

Southwest Area Education Advisory Council meeting

Monday, December 11, at 7 p.m.

Meeting details

Topic: "Department of Planning"