New Career and Technical Education Career Center opens -- This Week in BCPS

Monday, October 28, 2024

BCPS, Junior Achievement officials cut ribbon on new Career and Technical Education Career Center

The center, located at JA Finance Park, is first of its kind in the nation

BCPS officials joined with Junior Achievement of Central Maryland executives on October 23 to cut the ribbon on the new Career and Technical Education Center at JA’s Finance Park in Woodlawn.

The BCPS CTE Career Center is a storefront facility within JA’s Finance Park simulation, which all BCPS Grade 7 students engage with as they conclude a personal finance social studies unit.

While at Finance Park, students move from storefront to storefront to complete a simulation in which they apply personal finance skills. In the Career Center storefront, students will explore career and technical education options available to them in BCPS high schools. The mission of the Career Center is to accelerate student progress toward their career goals by connecting their experiences and interests to BCPS career and technical education opportunities.

MiVida Parham, BCPS coordinator of College, Career and Technical Education, and Tiara Booker-Dwyer, chair of the Board of Education, cutting the ribbon

Officials from BCPS, the Board of Education, The Education Foundation of BCPS, and JA of Central Maryland

Join Superintendent Rogers for Community Conversations on the FY 26 Operating Budget

During November, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers is hosting four Community Conversations to discuss the development of the BCPS Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget. Community members are invited to share their ideas on budget priorities. Spanish interpretation will be provided at each meeting. To request interpreting services for other languages, please call 443-809-1250 as soon as possible.

Tuesday, November 12, from 6-7 p.m.

Summit Park Elementary School

6920 Diana Rd., Baltimore 21209

Thursday, November 14, from 6-7 p.m.

Windsor Mill Middle School

8300 Windsor Mill Rd., Baltimore 21244

Thursday, November 21, from 6-7 p.m.

Cockeysville Middle School

10401 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville 21030

Monday, November 25, from 6-7 p.m.

Perry Hall Middle School

4300 Ebenezer Rd., Baltimore 21236

BCPS marching bands to present public showcase on Monday, October 28

On Monday, October 28, at 6 p.m., the BCPS High School Marching Band Showcase will take place at Woodlawn High School, 1801 Woodlawn Dr., Baltimore 21207. The showcase will feature marching bands from throughout BCPS, and a performance from The University of Maryland's Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band. This event is free and open to the public. (The rain date for this event is Tuesday, October 29, at 6 p.m.)

Volunteers sought to fill two vacancies on the Board's Ethics Review Panel

The Board of Education of Baltimore County seeks volunteers to fill two vacancies on its Ethics Review Panel. Interested applicants should send a completed application no later than Monday, November 11. Finalists will be required to undergo a routine background check. For additional information regarding required qualifications and panel member responsibilities, please visit the Ethics Review Panel website.

Community partnerships in action

Nissan USA donated to two vehicles to the career and technical education (CTE) automotive technology program at Sollers Point Technical High School. Sollers Point auto tech teacher Justin Rowlands, retired CTE resource teacher Val Brennan, Tim's Towing, and The Education Foundation of BCPS Inc. all played critical roles in facilitating this donation.

In mid-October, the Maryland Smile Program visited Sandalwood Elementary School for the first time, providing full dental care to Sandalwood students! Maryland Smile will return to the school in the spring.

Baltimore County Golf hosted the BCPS Novice Golf Event at Diamond Ridge Golf Course on October 23. Students participated in drive, chip, and putt contests.

Important bus safety reminder

Beginning November 4, motorists who illegally pass a stopped school bus with activated flashing red lights will be subject to a $250 fine.

for parents

from BCPS Parent University

Three important reminders for families

Is your high school senior registered for the BCPS HBCU College fair?

BCPS seniors are invited to register for this year's BCPS Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College Fair, which will take place from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30, at New Town High School. Students should see their college and career counselors to receive permission slips. Bus transportation will be provided. More information is available in a BCPS news release.

Following is an updated list of HBCUs that have confirmed their participation in the fair. (Asterisks indicate that a college plans to offer instant admissions.):

Bowie State University
Central State University
Cheyney University*
Coppin State University*
Dillard University
Elizabeth City State University
Florida A&M University
Hampton University
Lincoln University of Pennsylvania*
Livingstone College*
Morehouse College
Morgan State University

Norfolk State University
North Carolina Central University
Shaw University*
South Carolina State University
Spelman College
Stillman College
University of the District of Columbia*
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia State university
Winston-Salem State University*

Magnet applications due by 1 p.m. on November 1

The deadline for the BCPS magnet application is this Friday! Parents interested in having their children participate in a magnet program during the 2025-26 school year must submit an online application by 1 p.m. on Friday, November 1.

Families can learn more about Online Learning Program before application process opens on November 8

Applications for the Online Learning Program for the 2025-26 school year will be accepted from Friday, November 8, through Friday, December 13. A virtual information session about the program will take place on Tuesday, November 12, from 6-7 p.m. Participants are asked to register in advance.

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.

for your viewing pleasure

"Laila's (Lovely) Pumpkin" by Laila Davani, Grade 1, West Towson Elementary School. This artwork was featured in the 2023 Winter Art Exhibition at The AVENUE at White Marsh.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

Happy 32nd birthday to The Education Foundation of BCPS Inc.!

The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools Inc. celebrated its 32nd birthday on October 26!

Birthday presents of monetary and material gifts, as well as participation as volunteers, are much appreciated.

A new Mission Moment blog post delves into the foundation's history and mission and lists some of the many ways the public can support its work.

Make a monetary donation to support our mission-drive work – including grants, scholarships, and innovative programs.
Host a Tools for School drive to help make sure students have the basic school supplies they need.
Host a Share the Warmth and Joy drive to help keep students warm and healthy.
Host a Books for Bins drive to build our teachers’ classroom libraries, students’ home libraries, and area Little Free Libraries.
Sign up to serve as a volunteer at one of the Exchangerees: Gizmos and Gadgets Galore – educator resource centers where teachers shop at no cost to them for classroom supplies and resources.
Donate your gently used classroom and office supplies to the Exchangeree centers.

A word from Dr. Rogers

October 28, 2024

Dear Reader:

Last Tuesday, I held my monthly media availability to provide updates, information, and important reminders for Team BCPS.

At the event, I discussed opening the new Nottingham Middle School and a new building for Bedford Elementary School; recent curriculum nights and Community Conversations on safety and security; expanded access to behavioral services for students through a new partnership with the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports; our cell phone pilot program; and school bus safety.

A summary of key points from the press event can be found online in both English and Spanish. In addition, you can view the press conference on YouTube.

This Thursday, October 31, our first marking period for this school year comes to an end. While we are confident that the hard work of our students and staff will continue to yield positive academic results, it is important for us to encourage Team BCPS students to finish this marking period strong and begin the second marking period with energy and positivity.

For our students, that means continuing to attend school consistently, actively engaging in instruction, and reaching out to teachers and staff for help when needed. For our parents and caregivers, that means checking student progress and current levels of performance by logging into Schoology and connecting with classroom teachers and administrators for support.

As a reminder, BCPS developed the “Here For It” initiative" to provide parents and educators with tools and resources to promote and ensure good student attendance.

Working together, we can continue moving student academic progress forward.

Regards,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent