Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Haiku contest entries accepted through March 2

For the BCPS 2023 Haiku Contest, each student is invited to choose from among 10 pieces of student artwork and to write a haiku inspired by that artwork. (Below are only partial images of each artwork.) Entries for the annual BCPS Haiku Poetry Contest will be accepted through 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 2. 

All haiku must be original and must be submitted using the online 2023 Haiku Contest Form. Winning haiku will be chosen at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Winners will be announced on Monday, April 17, International Haiku Poetry Day, and will receive prizes.

Join us for the Black Excellence Program closing event

Applications accepted now for the Baltimore County Summer Youth Employment Program

The Baltimore County Summer Youth Employment Program offers youth ages 14 - 21 the opportunity to work up to 25 hours each week from July 3 to August 11. Youth selected for jobs will earn $15 per hour. Please note that applying to the program does not guarantee job placement. Apply now! Any questions? Please send them to youthservices@baltimorecountymd.gov.

Time to check student progress

This past Friday, February 17, was the midpoint, or interim date, for the third marking period. Students and families are reminded to check student progress and current levels of performance by logging in to Schoology. Directions for creating a myBCPS account for parent/caregiver access to Focus and Schoology can be found online.

Save the date for the BCPS/CCBC College Fair!

The Community College of Baltimore County, in collaboration with BCPS, is hosting College Fair 2023. At the event, students and their parents can meet representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and for-profit and military schools.

Should college be free? Five Catonsville High students share their opinions

In a new blog post, Rachel Wilkinson, who teaches Advanced Placement English Language Arts at Catonsville High School, shares a few student-written op-eds arguing for and against free college. All opinions expressed are those of the students.

Bronte Feulner

Emerson Grubb

Fatima Jones

Yen Pan

Alice Totaro

Latest "In the Know with BCPS" podcast assists families with financial aid applications

“In the Know with BCPS" is a Parent University podcast that includes in-depth conversations with staff, students, and caregivers. Join Sue Hahn from the Office of Family and Community Engagement to learn more about completing financial aid applications.

Register now for a free, self-paced course on helping an anxious child

The "Building Confidence, Trust, & Hope: Three Things to Help an Anxious Child" course is being offered by Parent University in collaboration with Mariposa Education. The free, self-paced course is designed for parents/caregivers of children ages 3 - 11. Optional in-person coaching and meetings will be offered. The course becomes available on Thursday, March 16. Parents/caregivers can register now.

You are invited to help review the BCPS and Title I District Level Family Engagement Plan

BCPS invites parents and community members to participate in the annual review of the BCPS and Title I Systemwide Family Engagement Plan. Please register now to participate in this virtual meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 8, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in English and Spanish.

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.

"Glimmer in Grey" by Anna Gavin, visual arts teacher, Kenwood High School, from the "BCPS Makes Art!" faculty and staff exhibition

Artist statement:

"We walk around in a haze of not seeing our own reflection in the surface of our coffee, the mist rising in the distance on our drive to work, or the sparkle of sun glinting off a pedestrian. I want to peel the haze from our eyes to show what’s around us, glistening and new. With my paintings, I try to refocus our attention so we can appreciate small visual pleasures every day. In this work, I explore how to find joy in a dreary drive home. Grey is everywhere, yet bright lights glint off wet surfaces to make an exciting panorama of reflections and color. Working with texture and brush size, I tried to minimize detail in favor of elegantly simple marks. I let the underpainting show through in the tree line to enhance implied texture while painting over thick palette knife marks to include actual texture. The resulting piece helps transform wasted time in traffic into a treasure of brilliant visual moments."

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

Three examples of the many ways The Education Foundation supports BCPS students and schools

A new Mission Moment blog post highlights some of the many ways The Education Foundation supports the BCPS community: Books for Bins, 21st Century Initiative Grants, Tools for Schools, and partnerships, like the one with community school facilitators.

The post features three stories. The first is about a Family Reading Night at Johnnycake Elementary School that attracted more than 200 students and family members. In preparation for this event, community school facilitator Rachel Valsing visited The Education Foundation’s Exchangeree in Windsor Mill to stock up on books and book bags, at no cost, to give away.

The second story is about a mentorship program between Dumbarton Middle School Grade 7 students and the Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., Towson-Catonsville Alumni Chapter. Through the mentoring program's Room to Read initiative, Dumbarton students visited Rodgers Forge Elementary School to engage in literacy activities with younger students and leave them with new books. The experience was sponsored by an Education Foundation 21st Century Initiative Grant and the Books for Bins Campaign.

The final story is about the Woodlawn High School AVID site coordinator Kalliopi Lessis visiting The Education Foundation’s Exchangeree in Rosedale/Golden Ring to stock up on 112 new binders for her AVID scholars. AVID is a college and career readiness program. Binders are an essential tool for AVID scholars, helping them to organize their notes.

A Word from Dr. Williams, Superintendent

February 21, 2023

Dear Team BCPS,

Last Wednesday, on National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day, we celebrated and thanked our school resource officers, but we feel and express this gratitude every day.

Our partnership with the Baltimore County Police Department plays an integral role in our work to provide safe and supportive learning environments for all students.

Beyond their public safety responsibilities, the school resource officers are additional caring adults who provide support and encouragement for our students. Many of the officers are involved with school clubs and student athletics. All of them have made enduring, positive relationships with their school communities.

We are thankful that they are part of Team BCPS.

Sincerely, 

Darryl L. Williams, Ed.D.

Superintendent