Summer Stories: Pine Grove Middle science teacher trains to trek across Maryland for charity | | |
A new Summer Stories blog post reports on teacher Ken Mihalyov's participation in Maryland Trek – a weeklong, 329-mile journey across the state. The annual fundraising trek, to take place August 3-9, is organized by local meteorologist Justin Berk. The project supports Berk’s nonprofit that helps children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Mihalyov invites the community to follow his journey and support the cause by donating through his fundraising page.
Training for and participating in the trek will consume much of Mihalyov's summer. In the fall, he will begin teaching Grade 6 science at Pine Grove Middle School. In 2024-25, the veteran educator taught Grade 5 at Harford Hills Elementary School.
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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!
| | Like a First Financial Federal Credit Union Instagram post and raise money for BCPS | | | | |
For 24 hours, from noon on Tuesday, July 15, through noon on Wednesday, July 16, First Financial Federal Credit Union will donate $1 for every LIKE their Instagram post (@fffcuofmd) receives! An additional $1 will be donated for each SHARE on your story using #FFFCULikeForACause.
The donations will help our community prepare for a successful school year!
| | BCPS Purchasing Office earns national honor | | |
The BCPS Purchasing Office, led by Purchasing Director Melanie L. Webster, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® from the National Procurement Institute, Inc. The award is earned by agencies that demonstrate a commitment to procurement excellence. This annual program recognizes procurement organizations that embrace innovation, professionalism, productivity, leadership, and e-procurement.
For 2025, there were 216 successful applicants including 85 cities, 48 counties, 23 special districts, 26 school districts, 15 higher education agencies, seven state or provincial agencies, and 12 others.
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Eastern Tech's Foresight Ogungbe begins tenure as Student Member of the Board | Foresight Ogungbe, a rising senior at Eastern Technical High School, was sworn in as the 2025-26 student member of the Board of Education of Baltimore County on July 7. The ceremony took place at the County Courts Building in Towson. More images from the swearing-in ceremony can be found on Flickr. | Board Member Emory Young, Board Chair Jane Lichter, former Student Member of the Board Ugonma Chike-Kalu, incoming Student Member of the Board Foresight Ogungbe, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers, and BCPS Chief of Staff Mildred Charley-Greene | | Photos showcase BCPS Summer Dance Intensive and Summer Art Enrichment Camp | | A new Flickr photo album captures images from the BCPS Summer Dance Intensive. The eight-day camp served 80 students in Grades 3-12 and concluded on July 3. The campers performed for their families and teachers on July 2. | | A second Flickr photo album highlights the eight-day BCPS Summer Art Enrichment Camp. More than 125 students in Grades 3-12 participated and the camp hosted a community art exhibition on its last day, July 10. Both camps were held at Nottingham Middle School. | | Summer Food Service Program continues | | |
To reach as many children (ages 2-18) as possible, the Summer Food Service program, managed by the BCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services, offers several ways to access free summer meals through Friday, August 15.
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Summer Meals TO-GO: Families can register to pick up summer meals at Carroll Manor or Kingsville elementary schools or Hereford High School. Each week, registered families can pick up boxes containing five breakfast meals and five lunches per child.
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Organized program sites: Summer programs (including camps, day cares, sports teams, and religious groups) can register to have free breakfast and/or lunch meals delivered to their sites in Baltimore County. Last year, more than 300 programs participated. Registration is required, and participating programs must serve at least 25 children per day.
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Baltimore County Public Library branches: Sixteen branches of Baltimore County Public Library are serving free lunches each weekday. These meals must be eaten on site. The list of participating branches and their mealtimes is available online.
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BCPS Summer School: All students attending summer school receive free breakfast and lunch each day. No registration is required for these meals. Summer school (Monday through Thursday) continues through July 31.
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Are fish trustworthy? Should you ever suppress your special abilities? Are the best things in life worth waiting for? Should you risk a friendship for love? Possible answers to these questions and more can be found in the books recommended this week by our wonderful colleagues in the Baltimore County Public Library Collection Department. The recommendations are available in English and Spanish.
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.
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for parents
from BCPS Parent University
| | University of Maryland offers option for families seeking sports pre-participation physical exams | | New edition of Parent University show highlights preparations for the upcoming school year | | The July edition of the Parent University show focuses on school system efforts to prepare for the upcoming school year, including collaborative professional development for teachers, employing students to repair devices, and the multifaceted work of the Office of Copy and Print Services. | | for your viewing pleasure | | |
"Sisterly Bond" by MyLien Nguyen, Franklin High School, was featured in the 37th Annual High School Art Exhibition.
Artist statement:
Blinded by the clear sky as I stepped out of the plane. I was immediately dragged by the person who had accompanied me through this whole trip to two unfamiliar figures, “Hi…,” my older sister said. Until then I didn’t know I even had an older sister, having lived in Vietnam till four, I lived with a family friend who I believe to be my real parents. It wasn’t until I came to the states that I realized my family was here. While our relationship started out on an unusual foot, our bond has grown even stronger despite our strange family situation.
My artwork is inspired by my relationship with my older sister and how we grew to appreciate one another over the years. The composition centers around various photos of us during our youth and has items symbolizing our relationship scattered around. I used gouache, alcohol markers, color pencils, and oil pastels. I chose a blue and green pallet because it was reminiscent of the scenery in Vietnam. Additionally, the hints of orange add a nice contrast to all the blues. Overall, this piece is meant to be a commemoration to my sister and our bond.
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mission moment
from The Education Foundation of BCPS
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Join our school supply drive
Time to collect Tools for School
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It is time to kick off our 2025 Tools for School Drive. Collect school supplies to help stock the Exchangerees – educator resource centers where teachers shop for school supplies, classroom resources, and more at no cost to themselves.
A new Mission Moment blog post describes the many ways to support Tools for School, including hosting a supply drive, shopping via Amazon, Target, or Walmart wish lists, and making a monetary donation. The post also features a list of the most needed school supplies.
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Upcoming Board meeting
All are welcome to attend
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Board of Education meeting
Tuesday, July 22, at 6:30 p.m.
BCPS headquarters/Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, Towson 21204
At this date special virtual meeting, the board will discuss personnel matters only.
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