New Transition Team report offers recommendations to improve BCPS -- This Week in BCPS

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

New Transition Team report offers recommendations to improve BCPS

The 39-member Transition Team, assembled this summer by BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough), has completed its work and released a report.

The Transition Team, led by Dr. Douglas Anthony of the University of Maryland College Park and Jill Snell of BCPS, represents a broad cross-section of Team BCPS stakeholders. The group assessed areas of strength and opportunity for BCPS and developed 23 short-term and long-term recommendations that will spur school system progress in the following focus areas:

Teaching and Learning
Culture and Climate
Infrastructure
Operations
Community Engagement and Communication

The Transition Team's full report is available online.

In the coming months, the superintendent will share details about how the Transition Team’s recommendations will be reviewed and implemented.

Towson High students organizing music festival to benefit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Free event to be held on Saturday, Sept. 9, as part of the Towson Fall Festival

A group of Towson High School students are organizing The 2023 Tributary Festival, a third annual music festival to benefit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

This year’s scheduled performers are Lutherville Rock School, Luvable Idiots, Yutzi, MLLN, Blake Ruby, Bleached, Stages Music Arts, Crocodile Tears, Music Space, and Thunder Club.

The Tributary Festival was launched in 2021 by Reed Spaulding, then a junior at Towson High and now a freshman at Drexel University. In its first two years, the festival raised $19,000 for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Please join us for the always popular Magnet EXPO! Come to meet representatives of the 32 BCPS schools with magnet programs. Come to see career and technical education exhibits and demonstrations. In addition, meet representatives from the BCPS offices of special education and English for speakers of other languages.

Learn more about BCPS magnet programs and the application process online. Applications for the 2024-2025 school year will be available September 12 - November 3, 2023.

Off to a great start: Video and images of the first day of school 2023

Images from the first day of school taken by BCPS-TV. Hundreds more can be seen in a Flickr photo album.

Images from the first day of school submitted by the community. More can be seen in a Flickr photo album. Please share more images by posting them on social media using #BCPSFirstDay.

Summer Stories: Scouting takes a Carver Center junior to the summit of Mount Fuji

In the latest Summer Stories post, Anastasia Graff, a Grade 11 student at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, shares her experiences traveling with a delegation of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to participate in an exchange program with Kawasaki, Japan.

During the week, Anastasia, an Eagle Scout, stayed with a host family, attended summer camp, met the mayor of Kawasaki, and climbed to the summit of Mount Fuji (proudly wearing a Carver Center sweatshirt).

for parents

from BCPS Parent University

“Reducing Anxiety & Increasing Confidence”

Wednesday, September 13, at 12 p.m.

A free virtual workshop offered by BCPS Parent University and presented by Mariposa Education will explore how to support children dealing with anxiety. By exploring the science linking anxiety and behavior, participants will develop a new understanding of their children’s anxiety, as well as strategies and language to use. Registration is required.

“Using Schoology to Support Student Organization Online”

Wednesday, September 20, at 12:30 p.m.

In this free online session, presenters will discuss the challenges and importance of students’ organizational skills in the remote learning environment. Practical solutions for everyday problems will be provided with a focus on the support available to students and families through the Schoology platform. All BCPS parents/caregivers are invited to attend. A link to the virtual meeting will be emailed to the provided email address prior to the day of the event. Registration is required.

“Back-to-School Jitters: How to Help Your Child Transition from Anxious to Excited”

Friday, September 22, at 12:30 p.m.

The Center for Family Success is partnering with Parent University to offer monthly online Lunch & Learn sessions on parent hacks, early learning, and health-related topics. Registration is required.

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

"Firefly Lamp" by Raquel Roberge, Grade 12, Towson High School. Work featured in the 2023 Art is for Everyone! 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

Introducing the foundation's Executive Leadership Committee

This week's Mission Moment blog post introduces the foundation's Executive Leadership Committee. These directors support the foundation's executive director in decision-making, planning, and the execution of the myriad fundraising events, programs, and advocacy initiatives that enable the foundation to carry out its mission.

The Executive Leadership Committee consists of:

Cindy Jones, President

Youth Outreach Manager, First Financial Federal Credit Union

Kristin Huber, 1st Vice President

Director of Marketing & Operations, Advance Business Systems

Joe Mondell, Vice President of Advancement

Vice President, Legacy Capital/ Ameriprise Financial

Christie Compeau, Vice President of Programs and Allocations

Executive Agent/Team Leader, NTA: A Horace Mann Company

Nancy Hofmann, Vice President of Communications

Certified Real Estate Agent, Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors/Compass Realty

Scott Rodgville, Treasurer

CPA & Director, Gorfine Schiller Gardyn

Tom Nowakowski, Assistant Treasurer

Director, MedStar Health, Inc.

Jaime Bakert, Secretary

Strategic Account Executive, Microsoft

Mick Rayburn, Past President

Vice President, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Tony Baysmore, Ex-Officio Member

Director, Governmental Relations and Constituency Services, Baltimore County Public Schools

A word from Dr. Rogers (Yarbrough)

September 5, 2023

Dear Reader:

Last week was a wonderful start to the school year. I had the tremendous pleasure of traveling across the county talking to students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other school staff. The level of enthusiasm and positivity they expressed was unparalleled. Our community is clearly committed to our students and their success.

Another example of this commitment is the work of my 39-member transition team, led by Dr. Douglas Anthony of the University of Maryland College Park and Jill Snell of BCPS. The team, whose members represent a broad cross-section of Team BCPS stakeholders, spent the summer helping me thoroughly assess areas of strength and opportunity and develop strategic plans to improve academic performance, climate, and operational efficiency. I was proud to release their findings and recommendations last week, and I look forward to the work ahead as we collaborate to elevate our school system to world-class.

In partnership,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent

VISIT THE BCPS WEBSITE