Monday, June 17, 2024

Annual Mildred Murray All-Academic Scholar-Athlete Award and Scholarship and Allied Sports scholarships awarded

School system leaders and families gathered at Baltimore County Public Schools administrative offices on June 12 for a special ceremony to honor the newest two recipients of the Mildred Murray All-Academic Scholar-Athlete Award and Scholarship and five recipients of Allied Sports scholarships.

The Mildred Murray scholarships, each worth $10,000, are given annually to two senior student-athletes who have maintained a minimum 3.5 unweighted grade point average for each quarter and have participated in at least two varsity sports.

Olivia Gardner, Sparrows Point High School

Mildred Murray All-Academic Scholar-Athlete Award and Scholarship recipient

Roman Kaminski

Dulaney High School

Mildred Murray All-Academic Scholar-Athlete Award and Scholarship recipient

Several scholarships of $500 each were awarded to students who participate in the BCPS Allied Sports program. The BCPS Allied Sports program, which began in the 1994-1995 school year, is an inclusive program that provides students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in interscholastic sports alongside their peers without disabilities. Participants play soccer, bocce, and softball.  

Kehinde Adebowale Franklin High School Chase Kalisz Allied Sports Scholarship recipient

Cara Beaufelter

Dulaney High School

Brittney Reese Allied Sports Scholarship recipient

Tyree Gregory

Catonsville High School

League of Dreams Allied Sports Scholarship recipient

Michael Oulou

Maiden Choice School

The O’Meara Family Allied Sports Scholarship recipient

 Leah Ranck

Dulaney High School

Tradepoint Atlantic Allied Sports Scholarship recipient

More photos from the awards ceremony can be found on Flickr.

Join us in celebrating the Class of 2024

A new video created by BCPS-TV captures the sights and sounds of this spring's high school graduations. Videos and photos from each school's commencement exercises can be found online. Also, don't miss our graduating senior profile series featuring one representative of each high school as well as our Dear BCPS blog post in which members of the Class of 2024 share favorite memories and thoughtful advice for younger students.

Free summer meal service begins this Thursday

BCPS will offer free breakfast and lunch meals through the Summer Food Service Program on weekdays from Thursday, June 20, through Friday, August 16 (with the exception of Thursday, July 4). Free meals are available for all children ages 2-18.

This year, daily on-site lunch meals will be offered at 16 community locations across the county. All students who attend BCPS summer school from July 8-August 2 will receive free breakfast and lunch every weekday. There is no registration required. If a student is enrolled in summer school, they will automatically be able to receive meals.

In addition, in two rural areas, once per week, families will be able to pick up five breakfast and five lunch meals per child. 

Weekly bulk meals will be distributed at two drive-through locations:

Mondays, 12-12:30 p.m., beginning Monday, June 24

Kingsville Elementary School, 7300 Sunshine Ave., Kingsville 21087

Tuesdays, 8-8:30 a.m., beginning Tuesday, June 25

Sparks Elementary School, 601 Belfast Rd., Sparks 21152

Lunch meals, which must be consumed onsite, will be 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, 3736 White Pine Rd., Middle River 21220
• The Commons at White Marsh, 9901 Langs Rd., Middle River 21220

Baltimore County Library Branches (times vary by location)

• Arbutus Branch, 855 Sulphur Spring Rd., Arbutus 21227 – 12-1 p.m.
• Essex Branch, 1100 Eastern Blvd., Essex 21221 – 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• Lansdowne Branch, 500 Third Ave., Lansdowne 21227 – 12-1 p.m.
• Loch Raven Branch, 1046 Taylor Ave., Towson 21286 – 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• North Point Branch, 1716 Merritt Blvd., Dundalk 21222 – 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• Parkville-Carney Branch, 9509 Harford Rd., Parkville 21234 – 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• Perry Hall Branch, 9685 Honeygo Blvd., Perry Hall 21128 – 12-1 p.m.
• Randallstown Branch, 8604 Liberty Rd., Randallstown 21133 – 12-1 p.m.
• Reisterstown Branch, 21 Cockeys Mill Rd., Reisterstown 21136 – 12-1 p.m.
• Rosedale Branch, 6105 Kenwood Ave., Rosedale 21237 – 12-1 p.m.
• White Marsh Branch, 8133 Sandpiper Cir., Baltimore 21236 – 12-1 p.m.
• Woodlawn Branch, 1811 Woodlawn Dr., Woodlawn 21207 – 12:30-1:30 p.m.

BCPS continues to seek organized summer programs where free meals can be served

Each summer, BCPS provides free meals to more than 300 organized programs in Baltimore County, such as summer camps, daycare programs, and religious groups. Programs can register online to receive free breakfast and lunch meals for participating children. The program must serve at least 25 children (ages 2-18) daily, and staff will be required to complete annual compliance training. For additional information, program organizers can email SFSP@bcps.org or call 443-809-7855.

Each week this summer, our wonderful colleagues in the Baltimore County Public Library Collection Department will put together a list of some of their favorite book recommendations. Learn more about this week's suggestions in a new blog post.

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.

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!

This June for national Pride Month, the BCPS Mind Over Matters campaign offers a variety of activities, resources, and tools related to the theme “Pride Matters.” 

Enjoy performances by some of the best student dancers in BCPS

Baltimore Music Educators Wind Symphony 21st Annual Kids Helping Hopkins Benefit Concert

A video of the Baltimore Music Educators Wind Symphony’s 21st benefit performance for Kids Helping Hopkins is now available for viewing. The April 27 concert, held at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, was conducted by Dr. Shane Jensen, BCPS music education specialist, and Dr. Brian Schneckenburger, BCPS music education supervisor.

Baltimore County Public Library and Vision To Learn offer free eye exams and glasses for youth ages 17 and under

Baltimore County Public Library is partnering with Vision To Learn for a sixth year to offer free eye exams, and provide glasses if needed, for youth 17 and younger. If glasses are required, further examination is provided by a licensed optometrist. The child is then able to choose from a limited selection of youth and adult frames. The order is processed, and the new glasses arrive within two to three weeks—parents are notified. The entire process, including the glasses, are free to families. 

How to Register

Pre-registration is required for the visits and because space is limited, the spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Families must register in person at the branch of their choice and a parent or legal guardian must sign a consent form, available at the branch. On the day of the program, each appointment is 10 to 15 minutes, which includes an exam, glasses selection and equipment cleaning between patients.  

Schedule

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 Emma Okoye, Grade 6, Deer Park Magnet Middle School. Work featured in The Superintendent's Gallery: West Zone School 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.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

New social-emotional programming grant available, offered in partnership with Wayfinder

Through a new grant opportunity from The Education Foundation and Wayfinder, 10 BCPS schools will have the opportunity to participate in Wayfinder's Purpose-Centered Social-Emotional Learning Program during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.

The chosen 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. All lessons incorporate “meaning-making” (the process of interpreting things in one’s life), critical thinking, purpose development, and durable skill-building to prepare students for the 21st century. 

Grant applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Friday, August 2. Those interested can find more information in a new Mission Moment blog post and on the foundation's website.

The list of administrative appointments and a video of the meeting are available online.

A word from Dr. Rogers

June 17, 2024

Dear Reader:

This morning at 11:30 a.m., I invite you to live-stream my presentation to Baltimore County education, political, and civic leaders. I will be sharing BCPS progress and highlights from the 2023-2024 school year and reviewing our initiatives to fast forward student achievement.

I am so proud of the work we are doing as a school system and as a community to prepare our youth for the future, and I cannot be prouder of the more than 7,000 young people who just graduated from our schools and are on their way to higher education and bright careers.

Have a wonderful summer!

Regards,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Wednesday, June 19 – Schools and offices closed for Juneteenth

Upcoming Board meeting

All are welcome to attend

Board of Education meeting

Tuesday, June 25, at 6:30 p.m.

This will be a virtual meeting on personnel matters.