BCPS celebrates Youth Art month with performances, exhibitions -- This Week in BCPS

Monday, March 2, 2026

BCPS to celebrate Youth Art Month with music and dance performances, art exhibitions, and more

Throughout March, Youth Art Month, BCPS will celebrate with art exhibitions, dance and music performances, and more.

Some highlights include:

Art exhibition at AFSLS (Azrael, Franz, Schwab, Lipowitz & Solter) Law Firm

Reception: Thursday, March 19, from 5-6:30 p.m.

AFSLS Law Firm, 101 E. Chesapeake Ave., Towson 21286

The AFSLS Law Firm Exhibition features more than 60 pieces of artwork created by BCPS student artists in Grades 9–12. This exhibition reception is open to the public.

BCPS Dance Festival #1

Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m.

Milford Mill Academy, 3800 Washington Ave., Windsor Mill 21244

This dance festival will feature dance performances from Dogwood, Lyons Mill, and Relay elementary schools; Deer Park Magnet, Southwest Academy, Sudbrook Magnet, and Windsor Mill middle schools; Lansdowne, Milford Mill Academy, New Town, Owings Mills, and Woodlawn high schools; as well as the countywide BCPS Men’s Ensemble and Middle School Honors Ensemble. This event is free and open to the public.

BCPS Dance Festival #2

Wednesday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m.

CCBC Essex, F. Scott Black Theatre, 7201 Rossville Blvd., Rosedale 21237

This dance festival will feature dance performances from Chatsworth, Pinewood, and Timonium elementary schools; Deep Creek, Franklin, Middle River, and Nottingham middle schools; Dulaney, Hereford, Franklin, Overlea, Parkville, and Patapsco high schools; as well as the countywide BCPS Men’s Ensemble. This event is free and open to the public.

BCPS Dance Festival #3

Thursday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m.

CCBC Essex, F. Scott Black Theatre, 7201 Rossville Blvd., Rosedale 21237

This dance festival will feature dance performances from Cedarmere and Dundalk elementary schools; Dundalk, Loch Raven Technical Academy, Pikesville, and Stemmers Run middle schools; George Washington Carver Center, Kenwood, Perry Hall, and Pikesville high schools; as well as the countywide BCPS Men’s Ensemble and High School Honors Dance Ensemble. This event is free and open to the public.

Annual BCPS Art Is for Everyone! Exhibition

Exhibition Open: Wednesday, March 25, and Friday, March 27, through Sunday, March 29, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Thursday, March 26, from 10 a.m.-9 pm.

Reception Date: Saturday, March 28, from 1-4 p.m.

Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore 21218

The annual BCPS Art Is for Everyone! exhibition will showcase the artwork of BCPS students in PreKindergarten through Grade 12.

Annual BCPS/Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Side by Side Concert

Friday, March 27, from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore 21201

For nearly 40 years, the BSO has partnered with BCPS for the Young Soloist and Side-by-Side programs, which culminate in a performance at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall before an audience of 1,000 students. For Side-by-Side, talented students perform onstage next to Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) members. As the chosen Young Soloist for 2026, Stella Wong, a Grade 9 student at Dulaney High School, will perform the third movement of the “Violin Concerto in E minor” by Felix Mendelssohn, accompanied by BSO musicians.

Registration still open for BCPS dance and music enrichment programs

Families encouraged to register promptly

Registration for BCPS summer fine arts camps opened last week, and the BCPS Broadway Theatre Connection camp and Summer Art Enrichment Camp are already full. (Waitlist applications for theatre camp and art camp might still be open.) Families interested in music or dance camps are encouraged to families are encouraged to register promptly.

Each camp will introduce students to related career fields. Enrollment priority will be given to current BCPS students and children of BCPS staff. All camps will cost $185 per student, which includes a camp t-shirt or tote bag and bus transportation (if needed). Fee waivers are available for students who do not have permanent or adequate housing. Financial assistance and payment plans can be requested. Translated camp information will be available on the summer camp websites.

Summer Dance Intensive

Wednesday, June 24, through Friday, June 26, and Monday, June 29, through Wednesday, July 1, from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Milford Mill Academy, 3800 Washington Ave., Windsor Mill 21244.
Open to students in Grades 5-12.
Summer Dance Intensive registration form

Summer Music Camp

Wednesday, June 24, through Friday, June 26, and Monday, June 29, through Wednesday, July 1, from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Perry Hall High School, 4601 Ebenezer Rd., Perry Hall 21236
Open to students in Grades 5-12 who are enrolled in their school’s music program.
Summer Music Camp registration form

Getting to know BCPS school social workers

BCPS celebrates National School Social Work Week, March 1-7

To celebrate National School Social Work Week, March 1-7, BCPS presents brief profiles of six of its many talented and dedicated school social workers. The profiles highlight their backgrounds, responsibilities, and impact on their school communities.

Kelly Andrew, LCSW-C

Halethorpe Elementary School

Steven Harris, LCSW

formerly at Rosedale Center, Catonsville Alternative School, and other schools

Dana Reaves, LCSW-C

Kenwood High School

Leah Ragusa, LCSW-C

Dundalk Elementary School

Lolamae Russell, LCSW-C

Stemmers Run Middle School

Missy Sachs-Kohan,

LCSW-C

Kenwood High School

BCPS 2026 Haiku Contest closes this Friday

BCPS students, from Kindergarten through Grade 12, are encouraged to enter. Students will be asked to write works inspired by a piece of student artwork selected from among 10 pieces. Entries for the annual BCPS Haiku Poetry Contest will be accepted online through 4:45 p.m. on Friday, March 6.

A winning haiku will be chosen at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Winners will be announced on Friday, April 17, International Haiku Day. Winners will receive a $100 Amazon gift card and special gift basket provided by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools Inc., a $25 gift card from The Ivy Bookshop, and a framed print of their haiku and the artwork that inspired it.

Parkville Middle School and Western School of Technology students win BCPS People’s Choice Film Expo Poster Contest

Film submissions for expo will be accepted through Friday, April 17

Ryan Chen, a Western School of Technology student, and Tamara Han, a Parkville Middle School student, have been named the winners of the 2026 BCPS People’s Choice Film Expo Poster Contest.

More than 800 BCPS students and staff members cast votes to select the winners from the 11 poster designs chosen as finalists by the Film Expo Committee from among 28 entries. The winning posters designed by Chen and Han will be used to promote the Film Expo, and the student artists will receive printed copies of their posters.

While the poster contest for the Film Expo has concluded, students still have time to submit films. The deadline for student film submissions to the Film Expo is Friday, April 17. All BCPS middle and high school students are welcome to enter. More information can be found in the BCPS Film Expo Schoology Group (Access Code: 7CC62-C8M8K) or on the Film Expo website.

Poster by Ryan Chen

Poster by Tamara Han

Owings Mills, Pikesville high school students visit BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport during National Engineer Week

BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport welcomed students from Owings Mills and Pikesville high schools on February 25 for a celebration of National Engineers Week, February 22-28. Shannetta Griffin, an engineer serving as the airport's executive director/CEO, spoke to the students about her career path and about career possibilities for them in engineering. Students visited the new Southwest Airlines aircraft maintenance facility and met with members of the BWI Airport Professional Firefighters - IAFF Local 1742 during an airfield tour. The event was also supported by Jacobs Solutions, Inc., and The Engineers Society of Baltimore.

Four BCPS students honored during the Annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony for the Outstanding Young Women's Leadership Program

The 6th cohort of the Outstanding Young Women's Leadership Program held its culminating Annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony on February 24 at the National Aquarium in Baltimore City. The program, coordinated by the Towson University Women's Leadership Collective, engages one junior from each BCPS high school in a yearlong program of leadership and mentorship activities. Several students from Carroll County also participated this year.

Each year, the cohort completes a community service project. The 6th cohort's project was a free leadership conference, "Dream big. Do bigger." held on January 10 for an audience of 200 girls in Grades 6-12.

During the Annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony, the following BCPS students were honored based on their participation and their reflections on what they have gained from the program. More photos from the event can be found on Flickr.

Grace Berquist, Hereford High School

$2,000 award

Anisa Kalil, Towson High School

$1,000 award

Noelani Shimomura,

Dulaney High School

$500 award

Kayla McMurray, Milford Mill Academy

$500 award

Annual Climate Survey concludes on Friday

Stakeholders encouraged to participate

The annual BCPS Climate Survey is open through Friday, March 6. Focusing on school climate and engagement, the survey is for all stakeholders: students in Grades 3–12, parents/guardians, community members, and all staff. It takes three minutes or less to complete and is anonymous.

Participation in the 2025 Climate Survey was the highest on record and included more than 68,000 student responses. However, parent/guardian participation was under 12,000. For all voices to be represented, BCPS encourages more parent/guardian participation in 2026.

Previous Climate Survey reports are available on the BCPS website; the annual reports may be found on the Key Reports page, and data displays are available on the Climate Survey public dashboard.

for parents/caregivers

from BCPS Parent University

BCPS CCBC College Fair to be held on CCBC Catonsville and Essex campuses

Co-hosted by BCPS and the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), the exclusive BCPS CCBC College Fair connects BCPS students with representatives from more than 100 universities, colleges, and proprietary and military schools from across the nation.

Catonsville

Tuesday, March 10, from 6-8 p.m.

CCBC Catonsville, 800 South Rolling Rd., Center for Arts, Parking Lot 5, Catonsville 21228

Registration encouraged.

Essex

Wednesday, March 11, from 6-8 p.m.

CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd., Wellness and Athletics Center, Parking Lot 2, Essex 21237

Registration encouraged.

Throughout March, BCPS Parent University and several of its community partners will present free virtual workshops on a variety of topics. Registration required.

"Bullying in the Age of Social Media”

Wednesday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m.

“Raising Social Citizens: Teaching Young Children About Kindness, Diversity, and Community”

Friday, March 6, at 12:30 p.m.

“Understanding Credit”

Tuesday, March 10, at 12:30 p.m.

“Dementia”

Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m.

“Brain Health”

Wednesday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m.

Join us for an in-person workshop: “Red Flags of Advertising and Scams – Protecting Seniors and Caregivers in Today’s Marketplace”

Tuesday, March 24, at 5:30 p.m.

Cockeysville Branch of Baltimore County Public Library, 9833 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville 21030

This workshop will be presented by the Better Business Bureau in partnership with the Baltimore County Department of Aging, BCPS Parent University, and Baltimore County Public Library. The workshop will explore how to recognize misleading ads, avoid falling victim to scams, and safeguard money. Registration requested but not required.

Upcoming county library visits with Battle of the Books authors

In March, Baltimore County Public Library is hosting in-person visits from two authors of books featured in this year's Battle of the Books program. Families are invited to lively conversations as authors Johnnie Christmas and Sally J. Pla share the inspiration behind their books, insights into their writing process and a glimpse into their lives and current projects. If you have questions about your favorite characters, story events or what happens next, there is time to ask during the Q&A session following the presentation. Enjoy giveaways, prize drawings and snacks. Book sales and signings available afterward.

Author Johnnie Christmas visits

Randallstown Branch

8604 Liberty Rd., Randallstown 21133

Saturday, March 7, at 10 a.m.

Perry Hall Branch

9685 Honeygo Blvd., Perry Hall 21128

Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m.

Author Sally J. Pla visits

Reisterstown Branch

21 Cockeys Mill Rd., Reisterstown 21136

Saturday, March 21, at 10 a.m.

Cockeysville Branch

9833 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville 21030

Saturday, March 21, at 2 p.m.

for your viewing pleasure

"Rosy Mug," by Jahayra C. D., Grade 10, Lansdowne High School. This artwork is part of the 2025-2026 Superintendent's Gallery Online Exhibition. The entire exhibition of more than 280 submitted works can be viewed online.

Artist Statement:

This piece investigates the beauty of nature, a theme inspired by blooming flowers. I was influenced by the shape of a rose, which led me to make a cup that looks like a blossom. To develop this work, I experimented with making wavy edges look like petals. I used a bright grapefruit glaze to strengthen the feeling of a garden. The small rose on the handle adds a special finishing touch to the design. The work is intended to show that everyday things can be beautiful art. Through this piece, I invite the viewer to think about the pretty flowers they see outside.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

Calling all readers:

Please contribute to the Books for Bins Campaign!

The Education Foundation is conducting a book drive to support its Books for Bins

Campaign. The Books for Bins Campaign provides new and gently used books to

educators in BCPS to build their classroom libraries, help students build their home

libraries, and to stock more than 150 Little Free Libraries in the foundation’s network.

Donations are accepted by appointment on Tuesdays at our Rosedale location and on

Thursdays at our Windsor Mill location. Please email Associate Director Dr. Heather

Wooldridge to schedule your donation drop off: hwooldridge@bcps.org.

Since 2018, the foundation has distributed more than 95,000 books to BCPS students, educators, and members of our school communities. A new Mission Moment blog post shares more details about the book drive and the impact of Little Free Libraries in Baltimore County.

Watch the full meeting and view administrative appointments online.

a word from Dr. Rogers

March 2, 2026

Dear Reader:

Last week, I announced that I will retire from Baltimore County Public Schools, effective July 1, 2026. This decision was made after thoughtful reflection and conversations with my family and loved ones.

I am humbled by the privilege to have begun and concluded my career serving Team BCPS, and I am confident that I am leaving the system strategically positioned for continued success …. Recently, when asked by the State Board of Education what has driven our gains across multiple measures of student performance, my answer was simple: the relentless, focused efforts of Team BCPS. Our teachers, administrators, support staff, and central office employees locked in on the mission, and the evidence of that intentional work is clear.

Thank you to Team BCPS, the Board of Education, our elected officials, stakeholders, and community partners for entrusting me with this work of increasing achievement, strengthening climate and safety, and improving operational effectiveness. We have laid a stronger foundation, and I am confident the next leader of BCPS, in partnership with all stakeholders, will continue accelerating student achievement and building toward our shared vision of BCPS as one of the highest-performing school systems in the nation.

I will always be a proud supporter of and advocate for Team BCPS.

Regards,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Dr. Roger’s full message to staff and the community can be found online in English and Spanish.