In recognition of Inclusive Schools Week (December 4-8), BCPS reiterates its commitment to ensuring equity and access in all areas of academic programs, social-emotional supports, and business operations. | |
New exhibit at The Avenue skating rink highlights talents of visual arts and graphics and printing students | |
Artwork from BCPS students across the county is now on display at the skating rink at The Avenue at White Marsh. The work was printed and installed by career and technology education students in Kenwood High School's graphics and printing program. A drone video of the installation process was produced by Kenwood High career research and development teacher James Roeder. | |
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Help us choose a name for Baltimore County's newest middle school
Northeast Middle School or Nottingham Middle School?
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Baltimore County’s newest middle school, on King Avenue in Rosedale, will open in August 2024. In November, more than 3,500 community members submitted suggested names for the school, and the two most-suggested names were Northeast Middle School and Nottingham Middle School.
Now you can cast a ballot for your favorite name. A multilingual survey to determine the top vote-getter will be open through Tuesday, December 12.
Once a winner has been chosen, the name will be reviewed by BCPS leadership and submitted to the Board of Education of Baltimore County for final approval by January 23, 2024.
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Sandalwood Elementary School 'Hair Drive' empowers students, engages community
A blog post written by Sidonie Brown, Grade 4 teacher, Sandalwood Elementary School, describes how two staff members – Markia Burton and Janiya Parnell – hosted a ‘Hair Drive’ for Sandalwood students.
“Having your hair done is empowering, and when students feel empowered, they are motivated in the classroom,” said Parnell. “A person's hair tells a lot about who they are and, for kids, it is a big part of their confidence. As a child, when I did not have my hair done, my drive was diminished and so was the confidence in my identity.”
Burton and Parnell recruited 20 volunteers to complete hairstyles for more than 40 Sandalwood students.
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Eight BCPS seniors to serve as 2024 Maryland General Assembly Pages | |
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Eight BCPS seniors have been selected to serve as student pages for the 2024 Maryland General Assembly. The students are:
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Ivana Awuah, Catonsville High School
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Yeily Benitez, Kenwood High School
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Nikolai Brodie, Overlea High School
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Khumari Burgess, Towson High School
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Claire Cabral, Hereford High School
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Xin Yue Lu, Dulaney High School
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Anya Mangoroban, Perry Hall High School
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Sabrina Thaler, Eastern Technical High School
The annual program, which began in 1970, is designed to foster student leadership, educate students about the legislative process, and promote youth interest in government. Student pages are engaged in activities such as distributing materials and messages to legislators, maintaining bill books, and assisting visitors.
During the 13 weeks of the legislative session, which runs from the second week in January to early April, each page will serve for one week during the first seven weeks and returns for a second week of service during the last six weeks of the session.
Each page is paid a stipend of $55 per day worked to help defray expenses. The page office arranges for students from outside of Anne Arundel County to stay in page housing near the State House for the cost of $25 per night.
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Applications open for the 2024-2025 Baltimore County Student Member of the Board of Education
The Student Member of the Board application for 2024-2025 is now available. The deadline to submit applications is Monday, January 8, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Applications received after the deadline and incomplete applications will not be considered. Students are advised to carefully review the application instructions and timeline as well as the Student Member of the Board (SMOB) position description and frequently asked questions before applying. Only BCPS students who are current sophomores or juniors and have a principal nomination are eligible to apply.
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2023-2024 SMOB
Kayla Drummond
Parkville High School
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2022-2023 SMOB
Roah Hassan
Perry Hall High School
(now a first-year student at University of Maryland College Park)
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2021-2022 SMOB
Christian Thomas
Eastern Technical High School
(now a sophomore at Yale University)
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2020-2021 SMOB
Josh Muhumuza
Dundalk High School
(now a junior at Yale University)
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2019-2020 SMOB
Omer Reshid
Pikesville High School
(now a George Washington University student and a real estate agent)
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Central Area Elementary School Boundary Study survey open through Sunday, December 17
The Central Area Elementary School Boundary study affects students currently attending Carroll Manor, Cromwell Valley Regional Magnet, Halstead Academy, Hampton, Jacksonville, Lutherville Laboratory, Mays Chapel, Oakleigh, Padonia International, Pine Grove, Pinewood, Pleasant Plains, Pot Spring, Rodgers Forge, Riderwood, Stoneleigh, Timonium, Warren, and West Towson elementary schools.
Through Sunday, December 17, community members are invited to complete an online survey and share their opinions about four draft options for new school boundaries to relieve overcrowding. The survey is available in several languages.
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Know an extraordinary student leader or change-maker?
Nominate them for an 18 Under 18 Award!
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In partnership with Baltimore magazine, Junior Achievement of Central Maryland seeks to honor the most extraordinary young people in the Greater Baltimore area through its second annual JA 18 Under 18 awards program. Winners will be featured in the May 2024 edition of Baltimore magazine, profiled on the Junior Achievement of Central Maryland website, have opportunities to network with area executives and leaders, and be recognized at an awards ceremony.
Nominations are being accepted online through January 15, 2024.
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for parents
from BCPS Parent University
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Planning ahead for winter break: Ways to make the season more meaningful | |
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If you are seeking ways to make the winter holiday season or winter break more meaningful, the ParentMap.org website offers a dozen ideas. Here are just a few of them:
- Pick a country or culture and learn more about it as a family project. Explore traditions, foods, landmarks, and language.
- Create a family fitness routine with special activities every day. These activities could be as simple as a family walk, a dance-off, jumping rope, or playing basketball.
- Encourage your children to interview elders in the family or in the community (perhaps on video). Prompt them to ask about the elders' childhood memories and how life was different then vs. now.
- As a family, write cards or thank you notes to share with essential workers, including medical professionals, store clerks, mail carriers, and delivery drivers.
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for your viewing pleasure | |
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"My Sister" by Janine Jiang, Grade 11, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. Work featured in The Superintendent's Gallery: Central Zone Exhibition.
Artist's statement:
"'My Sister' is a birthday present. It includes a figure laying against white blankets. The subject of this piece is about the comfort of one’s bed. The spiraling pattern around the girl represents the chaotic, ever busy world, contrasting against the soft pillows. I underpainted this piece with a light, beige acrylic, and then went over it with oil paints. I also mixed a little linseed oil to help with the smooth application of the background."
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mission moment
from The Education Foundation of BCPS
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10 'Read in Color' Little Free Libraries open across the county | | |
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Over the last few months, the 10 recipients of the 'Read in Color' grants from The Education Foundation have held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for their new Little Free Libraries.
Each recipient each received a Read in Color Little Free Library, a box of 25 diverse books, and the opportunity to select hundreds of additional diverse books at no cost to them.
More about the program can be found in a new Mission Moment blog post.
The 10 grant recipients are:
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- Battle Grove Elementary School
- Catonsville High School
- The Chatsworth School
- Highfields Homeowners Association
- Holabird STEM Middle School
- Martin Boulevard Elementary School
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- Meadowood Education Center
- Oakleigh Elementary School
- Owings Mills High School
- Southwest Academy Magnet School
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A word from Dr. Rogers (Yarbrough) | |
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December 4, 2023
Dear Reader:
Each month, I invite members of the media to BCPS headquarters to share school system updates with them and to answer their questions. This initiative is just one of many my administration has instituted to enhance transparency and two-way communication.
These monthly media events are livestreamed on the BCPS YouTube channel and available for later viewing. In addition, I share highlights of the updates through online community messages.
Here are a few highlights I discussed at the November 28 media availability:
- In alignment with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, BCPS is working to increase access to full-day prekindergarten. In January 2024, BCPS will open two, full-day prekindergarten classes at Dogwood Elementary School. The school system is working closely with county government and private partners to finalize the expansion of other full-day programs that we hope to launch by January 2024 or by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
- Also in January, Red House Run and Summit Park elementary schools will move into new, larger, state-of-the-art buildings designed to the LEED silver level for environmental design.
- Over the past several weeks, we have engaged the Team BCPS community in multiple conversations about the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget. Among the themes that rose to the top were safety and security; teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries; additional programs and opportunities for students; and infrastructure operations. This input will help me shape my budget presentation, which is tentatively scheduled for Monday, January 8, 2024.
- Finally, I was pleased to share information about a new mental health service support line that will be piloted for students at select BCPS middle schools. The CIGNA Student Support Line will provide 24/7 support in English and Spanish for students, families and staff at Franklin, General John Stricker, Northwest Academy of Health Sciences, Perry Hall, and Stemmers Run middle schools.
The next media availablilty will take place on Tuesday, December 19, at 10 a.m. Please tune in if you can.
In partnership,
Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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Upcoming advisory group and boundary study meetings
All are welcome to attend
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Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee meeting
Monday, December 4, from 7-8:30 p.m.
Meeting link
Topic: "Special Education 101"
Northwest Area Elementary School Boundary Study committee meeting
Wednesday, December 6, from 6-8 p.m.
Pikesville Middle School cafeteria, 7701 Seven Mile Ln., Pikesville 21208
The snow date for this meeting is Thursday, December 7. If the committee determines that another meeting is needed, that meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 13, with a snow date of Wednesday, January 3.
Gifted and Talented Citizens Advisory Committee meeting
Wednesday, December 6, at 7 p.m.
Meeting details
Meeting with BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough)
Southwest Area Education Advisory Council meeting
Monday, December 11, at 7 p.m.
Meeting details
Topic: "Department of Planning"
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