BCPS Partnership Fair brings together schools, offices, and current and potential partners | |
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BCPS welcomed nearly 90 organizations to its 2024 Partnership Fair, held on July 17 at New Town High School. At the event, current and potential partners met with school leaders to discuss new opportunities to contribute to school and student success. BCPS partnerships augment staff capacity, enable innovative learning opportunities, and connect students to authentic learning and development through mentoring, volunteering, student work experiences, service learning, and scholarships.
Partnership Fair participants included county agencies, local cultural organizations, child advocacy groups, justice advocacy groups, area colleges and universities, youth empowerment groups, mentoring and tutorial services, financial institutions, health care providers, mental health services, faith-based organizations, sports organizations, and area nonprofits.
Photos from the event can be found in a new Flickr album.
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Summer Stories: Arbutus Middle Spanish teacher participates in group project in Colombia | |
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In a new Summer Stories blog post, Sherri McCusker writes: "As I enter my 18th year of teaching Spanish at Arbutus Middle School, I continue to find experiences to foster my own personal and professional growth. I applied for this Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad 'Colombia in the 21st Century: Youth Civic, Social, and Political Engagement and National Reconciliation' knowing that it would provide me the opportunity to experience Colombia in ways not accessible to a 'regular' traveler."
She also writes: "During our five weeks, we are touring seven major cities, along with day trips to several smaller towns, visiting public and private universities to engage with Colombian academics and professionals who are experts in their fields, interacting with local and national government agencies, meeting with teachers and students in schools throughout the country, hosting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and English language activities in cultural and community centers in vulnerable neighborhoods, engaging with local poets and musicians, and sharing stories and experiences with our hosts and presenters."
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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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Thursday, July 25, from 1-3 p.m.
George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
938 York Rd., Towson 21204
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BCPS is committed to hiring a diverse workforce representative of the students and communities it serves. At this job fair, BCPS is seeking college graduates of all majors in addition to other qualified professionals. BCPS encourages applicants to apply online prior to attending the job fair. Individuals are being sought for positions as teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, school nurses, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, additional adult supports, building service workers, bus drivers and attendants, food service workers, grounds workers, and maintenance employees. | |
Free summer meal service continues | |
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BCPS is offering free breakfast and lunch meals through the Summer Food Service Program on weekdays through Friday, August 16. Free meals are available for all children ages 2-18. All students who attend BCPS summer learning programs from July 8-August 2 will receive free breakfast and lunch every weekday.
Weekly bulk meals (five breakfast and five lunch meals per child) will be distributed at two rural drive-through locations:
Mondays, 12-12:30 p.m.
Kingsville Elementary School, 7300 Sunshine Ave., Kingsville 21087
Tuesdays, 8-8:30 a.m.
Sparks Elementary School, 601 Belfast Rd., Sparks 21152
Lunch meals, which must be consumed onsite, are offered at 16 community locations:
Monday – Friday, from 12-12:30 p.m.
- Essex Park Townhomes & Apartments, 1572 Alconbury Rd., Essex 21221
- Lakebrook Circle Park, 2926 Lakebrook Cir., Lansdowne 21227
- Morgan Properties Community Pool, 509 Gwynnwest Rd., Reisterstown 21136
- The Commons at White Marsh, 9901 Langs Rd., Middle River 21220
Baltimore County Library Branches:
Arbutus (12-1 p.m.); Essex (12:30-1:30 p.m.); Lansdowne (12-1 p.m.); Loch Raven (12:30-1:30 p.m.); North Point (12:30-1:30 p.m.); Parkville-Carney (12:30-1:30 p.m.); Perry Hall (12-1 p.m.); Randallstown (12-1 p.m.); Reisterstown (12-1 p.m.); Rosedale (12-1 p.m.); White Marsh (12-1 p.m.); and Woodlawn (12:30-1:30 p.m.)
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Mark your calendar for BCPSfest 2024!
Saturday, August 17, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Rd., Towson 21204
Visit the BCPSfest website for updates on vendors, entertainment, and activities!
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Summer learning –
We're here for it!
The BCPS "Here for It!" attendance campaign is ready to guide students to summer program success! Twenty days present is 20 days of progress! Are you here for it?
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Everyone has a story
The first two books recommended this week by our wonderful colleagues in the Baltimore County Public Library Collection Department tell the stories of a T. Rex with a wild pet and an ant embarking on a journey. The two books for older readers explore deeper themes related to self-esteem and body image and class differences and changing family roles. See descriptions of all four books in this week's Dive into Summer Reading blog post, which is available in English and Spanish.
Everyone has a story, and by reading, we step into the lives of others and better understand them and ourselves.
Please remember to stop by your local library branch to participate in the summer reading program, have them put together a Be Surprised Bundle for you, and take part in their many activities.
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for parents
from BCPS Parent University
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Make it a mentally healthy summer with Talkspace | |
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This is a reminder that BCPS high school students (ages 13+) can access free virtual therapy or online support through Talkspace.
Talkspace has also shared a summer wellness "bucket list" that is good for teens and others.
- Take a beautiful photo and set it as your phone background.
- Go for a day without using the internet.
- Take daily or weekly walks.
- Try a new exercise, like yoga, and do it outside!
- Watch the sunrise and think about what you are grateful for.
- Devote some time to a meaningful friendship.
- Clean and organize your space.
- Get a good night's sleep.
- Make time to relax.
- Eat fresh fruit.
- Create a summer playlist.
- Read a new book.
- Jump in the water!
- Volunteer your time to help a family member or a community organization.
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for your viewing pleasure | |
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"Tousled" by Audrey Norton, Grade 8, Hereford Middle School. Work is featured in 2024 Middle School Art Exhibition and received a Grade 8 Best in Show award.
Artist statement:
I chose to paint with watercolor and acrylic to express my soul through various colors. I chose this option because it allows me to use my imagination, and it is also a tedious process, which I like. The color black represents the times when I zone out, teal represents my moral and supportive moments, mauve represents my sentiments, and yellow represents the optimistic and joyful parts of my life. I think that I successfully portrayed my “opposites” personality with the background by using yellow and mauve watercolor brushstrokes on the top to show my fiery and extroverted side, but then painting longer and cooler toned wisps to show my chill and introspective side. A title I would give my portrait is “Tousled” because my personality and appearance are all over the place.
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mission moment
from The Education Foundation of BCPS
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Application window open for two social-emotional learning grants | |
To address the national mental health crisis, The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc., established partnerships with The United Way of Central Maryland, Breathe For Change, and Wayfinder to bring new grant opportunities to BCPS designed to strengthen the social emotional well-being of students and staff. | |
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The Purpose-Centered Social-Emotional Learning Grant in partnership with Wayfinder
Ten schools will have the opportunity to participate in the Purpose-Centered SEL program during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. The selected schools will receive virtual and in-person training, a comprehensive curriculum, access to an activity library, and assessments to track student growth. All resources and materials focus on helping students develop six core skills – self-awareness, adaptability, empathy, collaboration, agency, and purpose.
The Purpose-Centered SEL Grant Timeline:
- Application is open.
- Application window closes: August 2 at 5 p.m.
- Application review: August 5-9
- Grant recipient notification: August 14
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The Yoga for Social-Emotional Learning Grant in partnership with Breathe for Change, funded by The United Way of Central Maryland
Eleven educators will have the opportunity to participate in the Breathe For Change 200-hour mindfulness, SEL facilitator, and yoga instructor training during the 2024-2025 school year. This is a research-based, trauma-informed training recognized by the Yoga Alliance. Grant recipients will then create and execute a plan to embed their learned strategies into their classrooms and train their colleagues to do the same.
The Yoga for SEL Grant Timeline:
- Application is open.
- Application window closes: September 6 at 5 p.m.
- Application review: September 9 –20
- Grant recipient notification: September 25
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