Governor Moore highlights CTE during Western Tech visit -- This Week in BCPS

Monday, September 18, 2023

Governor Wes Moore highlights career and technical education during visit to Western School of Technology

Maryland Governor Wes Moore visited Western School of Technology & Environmental Science on September 13, accompanied by Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu, Maryland Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough), Maryland Senator Charles Sydnor, Board Chair Jane Lichter, Board Vice Chair Robin Harvey, and other state and local leaders.

The governor’s visit focused on career and technical education programs and apprenticeship programs. After greetings, the governor toured Allied Health, culinary arts, and cosmetology classrooms. Next the governor and other leaders held a roundtable discussion with students and employers who are participating in the Apprenticeship Maryland program. The roundtable included apprenticeship students from both Western Tech and Lansdowne High School.

Governor Moore ended his visit by addressing questions from the media. He gave kudos to Principal Jewell Ralph for having "one of the finest schools in the state" and called the visit "the high point of my week."

Later in the evening during a televised town hall on education, he spoke again about Western Tech and some of the students he met. More details about the day can be found in a blog post.

Celebrating the unsung heroes of community schools – community school facilitators

September 17-23 is BCPS Community School Facilitator Week

According to Melissa Forster, coordinator of community schools for BCPS, the school system has 56 community schools this school year, and next school year, she anticipates that there will be more than 70.

Forster credits community school facilitators as the unsung heroes of the initiative. “Our facilitators are focused on addressing the barriers that are impacting academic success, some of which we haven’t been able to address before,” she says. “They are essential to making community schools work. They identify needed resources and programs and have expertise in building partnerships and working with all stakeholders. In addition to their expertise, they have a strong set of soft skills, the ability to listen, be compassionate and patient.”

In honor of BCPS Community School Facilitator Week, a new blog post takes a closer look at the work of three of them: Whitney Leonard, Darryl Perry, and Dominique Willis.

Whitney Leonard, Sandy Plains Elementary School

Darryl Perry, Scotts Branch Elementary School

Dominique Willis, Halstead Academy

Checking in on the state of the fine arts in BCPS

What's new in BCPS fine arts instruction? The BCPS blog conducted interviews with the school system's art administrators to catch up on changes to curriculum, program expansions, upcoming events, and the growth of partnerships and camps.

One new project that involved all of the fine arts was the creation, in collaboration with the Office of Early Childhood Programs, of an arts program for PreKindergarten students now that they attend school full-day instead of half-day.

Share traditions to honor Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15, BCPS invites Hispanic and Latino students, staff, and families to share some of their favorite traditions on social media using #BCPSHerencia.

Seeking student leaders to represent their schools

Applications for the 2023-2024 Board of Selected Students accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 22

The Board of Selected Students (BOSS) brings together two students from each middle and high school to share their schools' views with Baltimore County Student Councils and to collaborate with other student leaders from across the county. BOSS will meet virtually, once a month, throughout the school year. BOSS applications are open to students who are not already involved in student council/government leadership at their schools. Students can apply by completing the BOSS application found on the BCSC website.

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 are available now through November 3, 2023.

The Seventh Annual BCPS HBCU College Fair is fast approaching!

The BCPS Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) college fair will be held on Saturday, October 14, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at New Town High School, 4931 New Town Blvd., Owings Mills 21117.

Registration through StriveScan is open to all BCPS high school students and their families. Participants are also strongly encouraged to complete the Common Black College Application prior to the event. School counselors and college counselors are available to help with registration and applications. (Those who register who need assistance in traveling to the event are asked to complete a transportation request survey.)

At the fair, students can meet college admissions representatives from more than 25 HBCUs and participate in workshops related to the college selection process, college admissions, financial aid, and college life. Drop-in support for college application essay writing will be offered throughout the day.

for parents

from BCPS Parent University

New parent information series aims to support families of students with disabilities

To support families of students with disabilities, the Maryland State Department of Education has published a new Parent Information Series. These booklets provide essential information on important topics to assist in education planning.

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

"School Supplies" by Ademide Jibodu, Grade 5, Glenmar Elementary 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 new board members of The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc.

A new Mission Moment blog post features short bios of the newest members of The Education Foundation's Board of Directors.

“While the day-to-day operations are led by Executive Director Debbie Phelps and the foundation headquarters staff, the Board of Directors relationship is a partnership, and appropriate involvement of the board is critical,” said Board President Cindy Jones. “We pride ourselves in working collectively and collaboratively as a team supporting the needs of the students and educators in BCPS. We extend gratitude to our current directors for their time, talent, and service and are looking forward to actively involve all those who will become part of our team in September.”

Marianne Crampton, president, MK Consulting Engineers, LLC

Sheila Heaphy, national account executive, Cigna Healthcare Mid-Atlantic

Jim Jones, president, American Design Associates

Carin Lazarus, president, Media Star Promotions

Jim Longenecker, director of government and external relations, Northbay Education, Inc.

Tom Nowakowski, director of reimbursement, Medstar Health, Inc.

Alice Sooklal, water resources engineer II, McCormick Taylor

Andrew Will, associate attorney, Jackson Lewis Law Firm

A word from Dr. Rogers (Yarbrough)

September 18, 2023

Dear Reader:

Last week, we enjoyed a wonderful visit from Governor Wes Moore and other state and local leaders. This group of dignitaries visited career and technical education programs at Western School of Technology and held a roundtable discussion with students and employers engaged in our apprenticeship program.

We welcome opportunities like this to showcase the strengths of our teachers, students, schools, and programs and to highlight the diverse paths available to career success.

This week, we are celebrating our community school facilitators and by extension our community schools in general. While the community schools initiative is still not widely known, nearly a third of our schools now qualify for this designation. These schools receive additional staffing and resources to address barriers to student success, which might range from hunger or housing to the need for tutoring or enrichment activities.

I applaud our community schools for looking comprehensively at the needs of their communities and for empowering families and engaging partners to make a positive difference in the lives of our students.

In partnership,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent