Ribbon cutting celebrates expansion, renovation of Pine Grove Middle School -- This Week in BCPS

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Ribbon cutting celebrates expansion, renovation of Pine Grove Middle School

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers and Baltimore County Executive Katherine Klausmeier joined members of the Board of Education of Baltimore County, Baltimore County elected officials, and state dignitaries in formally cutting the ribbon to the new addition and extensive renovations at Pine Grove Middle School. Adding another 16,787 square feet of state-of-the-art learning space, the three-year project boosts the school’s capacity by 158 seats and updates and modernizes space within the 1974-era school. Photos from the May 21 event can be found on Flickr.

13 students from 4 high schools showcase their yearlong research projects

The 13th Annual Student Independent Research Symposium (available for online viewing) showcases the results of original research conducted by students at Hereford, Owings Mills, Parkville, and Western Tech high schools during the 2024-25 school year.

Under the direction of their library media specialists, 13 students engaged in a yearlong research process culminating in their research presentations. Students explored a wide range of topics, including using technology to reduce urban food deserts; generational attitudes toward the humanities; using artificial intelligence to diagnose bipolar disorder; the role of microbiomes in mental health disorders; the efficacy of trans-species gene transfers in increasing cancer resistance; and constructing environmentally friendly cars.

Alaina Kopalchick, graduating senior, Perry Hall High School

Finding her confidence, feeling her power as a star wrestler

Alaina Kopalchick, who has won multiple honors for wrestling, began the sport in the 8th grade, during the COVID pandemic. According to Alaina, wrestling teaches a lot of life lessons about hard work and dedication.

“I just love how physical it is,” she says, “and the confidence it gives me and the power I hold. Being a woman in a predominantly male sport – and excelling in that sport is an incredible feeling.”

A new BCPS Close-Up blog post explores Alaina's successes in wrestling and how the Biomedical Sciences program at Perry Hall High laid the foundation for her planned career as an anesthesia technician.

Commencement exercises have begun!

By Friday, June 6, more than 7,000 students will become 2025 BCPS graduates. All graduations will be held at Towson University’s TU Arena, unless otherwise noted. BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers will attend and offer remarks at several commencement exercises. While in-person seating will be limited at upcoming BCPS high school graduations, friends, extended family, and community members are invited to witness these milestone events via livestream. The graduation schedule webpage includes links to the livestreams.

Grab your popcorn and view the finalist entries in the BCPS Film Expo

Members of the Class of 2025 can offer parting words to BCPS and younger students

Graduating seniors are invited to share (in no more than two sentences) their favorite BCPS memories OR words of advice for younger students. Selected messages will be shared on social media in late May and June and captured in a blog post. Please note that messages must be accompanied by photos of the students. The student should be the only person in the photo. Messages and photos can be submitted using an online form or sent to communications@bcps.org.

On the last Friday of each May, BCPS pauses to recognize its custodians, groundskeepers, maintenance personnel, and logistics personnel for their commitment to excellence and many contributions to creating and maintaining environments that support productivity and academic success. Please join us in showing appreciation.

Recent honors

School Resource Officers of the Year announced

Officer Andrea Palmerino, Elementary School Resource Officer of the Year

Officer Randall Murphy, Middle School Resource Officer of the Year

Officer Roy Mitchell,

High School Resource Officer of the Year

BCPS celebrated its 2025 School Resource Officers (SROs) of the Year during surprise ceremonies on May 13 and 19. The honorees are Officer Andrea Palmerino, Elementary School Resource Officer of the Year; Officer Randall Murphy, Middle School Resource Officer of the Year; and Officer Roy Mitchell, High School Resource Officer of the Year.

“BCPS is fortunate to have these exemplary SROs working alongside our teachers, administrators, and staff every day to keep our students safe and our schools welcoming and productive,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers. “Not only are these SROs effective and caring peace officers, but they also serve as mentors and role models for our students. We owe them our gratitude and congratulations for being such important and positive resources for BCPS children and schools."

More information about the honored SROs can be found in a recent news release. Photos from the awards ceremonies for Officers Palmerino and Mitchell and for Officer Murphy can be found on Flickr.

Mildred Murray Scholar-Athlete and Allied Sports scholarships awarded

School system leaders and families gathered at Baltimore County Public Schools administrative offices on May 21 for a special ceremony to honor the two newest recipients of the Mildred Murray All-Academic Scholar-Athlete Award and Scholarship and five recipients of Allied Sports scholarships. The honored students are:

Mildred Murray All-Academic Scholar-Athlete Award and Scholarship recipients:

Theodore Brown of Towson High School and Lacey Schleig of Sparrows Point High School

Brittney Reese Allied Sports Scholarship recipient:

Licha Hobenu, Chesapeake High School

Chase Kalisz Allied Sports Scholarship recipient:

Maaseiah Miller, Lansdowne High School

Tradepoint Atlantic Allied Sports Scholarship recipient:

Heidi Giesler, Dulaney High School

League of Dreams Allied Sports Scholarship recipient:

Christopher Umberger, Parkville High School

The O’Meara Family Allied Sports Scholarship recipient:

Jacob Sittler, Chesapeake High School

More information about the scholarships and recipients can be found in a recent news release. Photos from the Mildred Murray awards presentation and Allied Sports scholarships presentation can be found on Flickr.

Dulaney High senior Emily Noonan named Baltimore County Young Woman of the Year

Emily Noonan, a graduating senior at Dulaney High School, has been named Baltimore County's Young Woman of the Year by the Baltimore County Commission for Women. Noonan was honored at a ceremony on May 22 at the Sheraton Baltimore North in Towson.

At Dulaney High, Noonan serves as president of the student government; co-founder and president of Not On Our Watch, a mental health awareness club; and editor-in-chief of the yearbook.

Beyond her school, Noonan has served as chief of staff for Baltimore County Student Councils and special issues deputy director for the Maryland Association of Student Councils. This school year, Noonan served as an intern for State Delegate Michele Guyton. Her work included researching childcare, environmental, and mental health issues and assisting in preparing bill drafts for the legislative session.

Noonan plans to pursue a degree in public policy at University of Maryland College Park.

School Counselors of the Year, School Counselor Advocate of the Year announced

The Baltimore County Association for Counseling and Development has recognized a new class of outstanding school counselors for the 2024-25 school year.

School Counselors of the Year are:

Adel Boyd,

Sandalwood Elementary School

Morgan Snodderly, Woodlawn Middle School

Megan Fiorito,

Woodlawn High School

The following school counselors with fewer than five years’ experience were named Rookie School Counselors of the Year:

Brittney Kittrell,

Lyons Mill Elementary School

Peter Bell,

Catonsville Middle School

Ariana Bease,

Woodlawn High School

In addition, the association honored Cindy Sexton, president of TABCO (Teachers Association of Baltimore County), as its School Counselor Advocate of the Year. This award honors a BCPS administrator, teacher, support staff, parent, or community member who supports the critical work school counselors do for all children.

More information can be found in a recent news release.

Cindy Sexton

President, TABCO

The graduating senior profile series concludes for the Class of 2025

In honor of the Class of 2025, BCPS profiled one senior from each high school. The series concluded on May 23, the last day for seniors. Here are the final students featured in the series:

Raheem Bashir,

Perry Hall High School

In the fall, Raheem will major in commerce at the University of Virginia. He studies business at Perry Hall and helps lead FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America).

Elijah Smith,

Western School of Technology

Elijah is a state and regional indoor shotput and outdoor discus champion. He will continue his athletic career as a Division 1 thrower at Morgan State University, where he will major in nursing.

Lundon Brevard,

Rosedale Center

A future real estate agent, Lundon has been very involved at Rosedale Center, playing volleyball, serving on the student council, and helping to organize spirit weeks, food drives, and a reading program for elementary students.

Cameron Norris,

Towson High School

Cameron participated in the Law and Public Policy Program at Towson High. He also played football, ran track, and shared his musical talents with the community.

Jackson Matz,

Pikesville High School

Jackson is headed to University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Duke University as a Robertson Scholar. During high school, he founded an a capella group and had crossword puzzles published in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

for parents

from BCPS Parent University

May episode of the Parent University Show focuses on successful transitions to college, work of school counselors

for your viewing pleasure

"Resilience" by Logan Holman, Grade 12, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, is featured in the annual statewide High School Juried Art Show at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.

BCPS Elementary Choral and Recorder Festival available for viewing

The BCPS Elementary Choral & Recorder Festival was held on May 3 at Perry Hall High School. Students from 34 elementary schools across Baltimore County participated in an All-County Elementary Recorder group and an All-County Elementary Chorus. The recorder group was conducted by Theresa Iacarino, a vocal music teacher at Cromwell Valley Elementary Magnet School. The chorus was conducted by David Simeone, the vocal music teacher at Orems Elementary School.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

Grants! Grants! Grants!

A new blog post honors recent grant recipients and promotes grant opportunities

Recent grant recipients

Hawthorne Elementary School has earned the inaugural American Design Associates Alternative Learning Space Grant.
The following are the newest recipients of Little Free Library Read in Color Grants:
Berkshire Elementary School
Christina Pumphrey, Board of Education Member
Felicia Stolusky, Board of Education Member
Deer Park Elementary School
Hebbville Elementary School
Hereford Middle School
Multilingual Language Center
Northwest Academy of Health Sciences
Winfield Elementary School

Upcoming grant opportunities (application window opens June 1)

21st Century Instructional Grants
First Financial Federal Credit Union's Putting Students First Grants
ABC Construction Pathway Grants (new!)

Ongoing grant opportunities

Cal Ripken Sr. STEM Center Grants
The Clean Green 15: Litter Challenge Grants
The Growing Our Own Teachers for BCPS Grants

The Education Foundation's inaugural Let's Play Pickleball fundraiser is this week!

The Education Foundation of BCPS is pleased to present the inaugural Let’s Play Pickleball fundraiser. Community members are invited to a competitive pickleball tournament, friendly pickleball clinic, Pickle Pong, networking, and more! Please join us on Thursday, May 29, from 2-5 p.m., at Copper Union, 5700 Cottonworth Ave., Baltimore 21209. All proceeds will go toward supporting the mission-driven work of the foundation.

Sponsorships and tickets are now available. A Mission Moment blog post offers details about ways to participate in and support this event.

Join our team!

Spread the word: BCPS is hiring! Interested candidates are encouraged to join us at an upcoming recruitment event or apply online today.

BCPS Job Fair

Tuesday, June 3, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Catonsville High School, 421 Bloomsbury Ave., Catonsville 21228

BCPS is hiring for the following positions: teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, nurses, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, additional adult support positions, building service workers, bus drivers and attendants, food service workers, senior HVACR mechanics, senior building automation systems technicians, and grounds workers. Benefits offered include health/dental/vision insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave. Please bring your resume and be prepared for interviews. Interested parties are encouraged to begin their applications online.

The full meeting and the list of administrative appointments can be viewed online.

A word from Dr. Rogers

May 27, 2025

Dear Reader:

On May 22, the Baltimore County Council approved the County Executive’s Fiscal Year 2026 proposed budget. We are grateful for council’s support of Baltimore County Public Schools and for funding the system above Maintenance of Effort (MOE).

Full funding of the County Executive’s proposed budget means that we can move forward with finalizing the FY26 operating budget. With the confirmation of additional state funds available to BCPS and further savings measures, we are able to commit to step and COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) enhancements for our dedicated staff members that are comparable to county government. We look forward to meeting with our union leaders this week and sharing a positive outcome with Team BCPS.

Thank you for your continued support.

Regards,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent