A new season of "The CTE Show" premieres -- This Week in BCPS

Monday, October 30, 2023

A new season of "The CTE Show" premieres

Continues to showcase BCPS career and technical education programs

"The CTE Show" soars into another great season with an episode focused on aviation technology programs currently offered at Hereford and Kenwood high schools and soon to be available at Lansdowne High School. The episode, hosted and written by student Abigail Evans, also explores the critical role the Community College of Baltimore County plays in the program. "The CTE Show" is produced regularly throughout the school year by BCPS-TV.

"Hip Hop as Literature" course now offered at 6 high schools and by Virtual Learning Program

BCPS now offers the "Hip Hop as Literature" course at Catonsville, Lansdowne, Loch Raven, Parkville, Patapsco, and Randallstown high schools and via the Virtual Learning Program. BCPS-TV visited Randallstown High to speak with a teacher and some students about the new course.

Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget "Community Conversations" continue

Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough) is hosting “Community Conversations” regarding the development of the BCPS Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget. Please join us to share your ideas on budget priorities and the investments you believe the system should make to ensure it provides the greatest public education for every student.

A recording of the October 17 conversation at Pikesville High School is available online.

Thursday, November 9,

from 6-7 p.m.

Parkville High School—Cafeteria

2600 Putty Hill Ave., Baltimore 21234

Tuesday, November 14,

from 6-7 p.m.

Western School of Technology and Environmental Science—Cafeteria

100 W. Kenwood Ave.,

Catonsville 21228

Spanish interpretation will be provided at each meeting. Interpreting services for other languages are also available upon request at no cost to participants. Please call 443-809-1250 as early as possible to request.

In addition to the budget forums, BCPS recently launched its new "Budget 101" website. The website provides an overview of the BCPS operating budget—where our funding comes from, how it is spent, and how we ensure we are meeting the needs of every BCPS student.

Magnet applications deadline is 1 p.m. this Friday

Applications for magnet programs for the 2024-2025 school year are due by Friday, November 3, at 1 p.m. More information, including the Magnet Program brochure and application instructions, is available on the BCPS magnet programs website.

PTA Council of Baltimore County seeks students for its Multilingual Community Partnership Steering Committee

The PTA Council of Baltimore County, Inc., will significantly increase its outreach to multilingual students and their families through a brand-new project, the Multilingual Community Partnership (MLCP). The MLCP Steering Committee is seeking youth delegates from the central and northeast areas of the county.

Ideal delegate candidates will be bilingual, have some prior experience/knowledge of the issues and needs of multilingual students, be children of immigrant parents, or possibly have the dual role of interpreting for non-English-speaking family members. If you can recommend a student or if you are a student interested in participating, please email president@bcptacouncil.org.

for parents

from BCPS Parent University

Read the latest Special Education Family and Community Engagement Newsletter

The November edition of the Department of Special Education's Family and Community Engagement Newsletter is available online. This edition is titled "Understanding your child's quarterly IEP Progress Report."

The BCPS 2024 Graduation Schedule is now available online.

What school counselors hope parents know

In a post on the National PTA website, a veteran school counselor shares several thoughts she hopes parents know about school counselors. They include:

1. School counselors care deeply about student success and wellbeing.

2. School counselors are unbiased mediators who advocate for teachers and parents as well as students.

3. Initial signs of mental health concerns are often subtle, and parents/caregivers play a critical role in identifying changes in their children's behavior.

4. School counselors are most effective working as part of a team alongside teachers, parents, school resource officers, coaches, and tutors.

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

"Louise Bourgeois in Her Studio" by Melissa Katz, visual arts teacher, Mars Estates Elementary School. Work featured in the annual BCPS Teacher as Artist 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

Announcing the 2023-2024 Putting Students First Grant recipients

On October 25, eleven Baltimore County public schools were awarded 2023-2024 Putting Students First Grants at a celebration held at First Financial Federal Credit Union’s (FFFCU) headquarters.

The Putting Students First Grant program was established collaboratively by FFFCU with The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc. Funds are awarded to schools to provide unique resources, opportunities, and experiences designed to ignite students' love of learning and support their well-being.

Congratulations to the following 2023-2024 Putting Students First grant recipients:

Chadwick Elementary School – "Battle of the Books Reading Challenge," Principal Katherine Miller & Grant Liaison Amy Yorko
Halethorpe Elementary School – "Increasing Community and Autonomy Through Communication," Principal Lisa DeDeo & Grant Liaison Abigail Metcalf
Hampton Elementary School – "Building Proficient Readers," Principal Scott Conway & Grant Liaison Ann Keen
Hawthorne Elementary School – "Feeding Husky Readers," Principal Jennifer Burch & Grant Liaison Michelle Schnell
Milbrook Elementary School – "Excellent Attendance Initiative," Principal Anne Gorman & Grant Liaison Wendy Olsson
Perry Hall High School – "Robotics Competition Participation," Principal Abbey Campbell & Grant Liaison William Weber
Southwest Academy – "The Hero and Heroine Within," Principal April Franklin & Grant Liaison Dr. Tatanisha Love
Sudbrook Magnet Middle School – "STEM Careers Exploration Opportunities," Principal Gordon Webb & Grant Liaison Marcella Upshur-Dudley
Sudbrook Magnet Middle School – "Young Men of Honor Leadership Program," Principal Gordon Webb & Grant Liaison Iterny Joseph
Western School of Technology and Environmental Science – "Wolverine Technology Club," Principal Jewell Ralph & Grant Liaison Irvin Sutton
Woodlawn High School – "Learning About the Trades and Apprenticeships," Principal Jamel Jernigan & Grant Liaison Kimberly M. Simms

A new Mission Moment blog post describes more about the program, and a Flickr album showcases photos from the event.

A word from Dr. Rogers (Yarbrough)

October 30, 2023

Dear Reader:

At the end of this newsletter every week, we list upcoming advisory group and boundary study meetings. Please consider this an open invitation for all stakeholders to become more actively involved. There are advisory groups focused on geographic areas as well as advisory committees centered on career and technical education, gifted and talented education, and special education.

We deeply value the voices and insights of our students, parents/caregivers, staff, community members, and business partners, and we continually seek new ways to collaboratively strengthen the school system.

Please join us in our efforts to move the school system forward.

In partnership,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent