Monday, May 8, 2023

BCPS-TV premieres special on mental health wellness

Program highlights services, initiatives throughout Baltimore County Public Schools

 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Baltimore County Public Schools has released “Let’s Talk About It,” a new 30-minute television special that explores mental health services and initiatives throughout the school system.

 

“Let’s Talk About It” is hosted by Roah Hassan, student member of the Board of Education of Baltimore County, a senior at Perry Hall High School, and a mental health advocate.

The program can be viewed anytime on Vimeo. Throughout May, it will air on BCPS-TV (Comcast channel 73 and Verizon channel 34) weekdays at noon and 6 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Recognizing the essential work of pupil personnel workers

Five longtime PPWs reflect on how the work has changed and its many rewards

In honor of Pupil Personnel Worker Week 2023 (May 8-12) and to celebrate a few of the amazing pupil personnel workers (PPW) who serve BCPS, the blog conducted short interviews with five of them. 


The Office of Pupil Personnel Services provides direct services and case management to students who are experiencing academic, behavioral, emotional, physical, and social difficulties, as well as to their families. Pupil personnel workers act as the liaison between the home, school, school climate office, and the community to coordinate services to families to promote student success. Pupil personnel workers and residency investigators work together to resolve residency issues.

Roxann Anderson

Stephen P. Kimos

Valerie Patterson

Tonya Robinson

Mary Jo Slowey

Maiden Choice School wins challenging Safe Racer 2023 competition


At the end of April, the BCPS Office of Elementary Science held its 19th annual Safe Racer competition at Randallstown High School. Students from around the county competed with cars they built themselves to see who could go the farthest and keep their passengers (eggs) the safest. A team from Maiden Choice School emerged victorious.

Maiden Choice and Ridge Ruxton schools hold first joint track meet


Friends and family members of Maiden Choice School and Ridge Ruxton School students cheered them on during the seven running events of the schools' first joint track meet. The meet was held at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology.

Watch Dance Festival videos featuring student dancers from across the county

Thirty schools participated in the 26th Annual BCPS Dance Festivals. Students participated in master classes, received adjudication on dance pieces, and saw performances by the Johns Hopkins University Peabody Dance Company and CCBC Essex Dance Ensemble. Each festival concluded with an evening performance and award ceremony honoring the performers and dance educators for their hard work. 

West Zone

Central Zone

East Zone

Milford Mill Academy and Western Tech earn grants to enhance plumbing, HVAC programs

Milford Mill Academy and Western School of Technology and Environmental Science are among 11 schools nationally selected to receive “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” grants from the Explore The Trades nonprofit organization and Ferguson plumbing products distributor. Each grant award includes equipment and products valued at up to $10,000.

The graduating senior profile series continues


In honor of the Class of 2023, BCPS is profiling one senior from each high school. A new profile will be posted each school day until Friday, May 19, the last day for seniors. These profiles highlight the intellectual and personal strengths of our seniors and their diversity.


Here are the most recent seniors profiled:

Kendall Allen

George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology

Brandon Hampton

Battle Monument School

Faith Higgins

Perry Hall High School

Stella Oikonomou

Dundalk High School

Andrew Ratajczak

Sparrows Point High School

Natalie Trefill

Parkville High School Extended Day Learning Program

for parents
from BCPS Parent University

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

"Intrusive Thoughts" by Grant Godwin, Grade 9, Western School of Technology, from the "2023 BCPS 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

This Saturday, join us for Let's Play Ball! 2023

Let's Play Ball! 2023


Saturday, May 13

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.


George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology

938 York Rd.

Towson 21204


free and open to the public


To park on Carver Center campus, use the Kenilworth Drive entrance

Let’s Play Ball! is a family/community-focused fundraising event hosted by The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc., in partnership with The Baseball Warehouse, LLC, and the League of Dreams, Inc., and supported by The Ed Reed Foundation and BCPS Allied Sports. 


The day's events:


10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Vendor Village, food trucks, and a variety of celebrations


10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

A skills clinic facilitated by League of Dreams for nearly 100 BCPS middle school Allied Sports athletes.


12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Celebrity Home Run Derby featuring regional talented celebrities and pro athletes.


1:40 – 4 p.m.

Softball game: Team BCPS administrators versus Team BCPS educators. A Mission Moment blog post reveals the team rosters.


Another blog post offers more details about the day.

A Word from Dr. Williams, Superintendent

May 8, 2023


Dear Team BCPS,


Please take the time to watch “Let’s Talk About It,” a new 30-minute television special that explores mental health services and initiatives throughout the school system.

 

The program can be viewed anytime on Vimeo. Throughout May, it will air on BCPS-TV (Comcast channel 73 and Verizon channel 34) weekdays at noon and 6 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

 

The Team BCPS community has an abiding commitment to promoting mental wellness. This program does an excellent job of profiling several of the many ways that the Board of Education, central office and school administrators, students, and even volunteers are involved in keeping the issue in the forefront and ensuring that support and resources are available.

 

Initiatives highlighted in the program include the year-round, systemwide Mind Over Matters campaign; the availability of school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists in BCPS schools; the Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework used by BCPS; safe spaces in classrooms (to allow students to express and cope with their feelings): and a new Board resolution emphasizing its commitment to mental health.


As the special demonstrates, each of us has the opportunity to make a positive difference in the mental health of our community.


Sincerely, 


Darryl L. Williams, Ed.D.

Superintendent

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