Monday, December 11, 2023 | |
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Cockeysville Middle School students spend a day exploring careers with STEM professionals
Held on National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Day, Cockeysville Middle School's STEM Day was produced in partnership with the Maryland STEM Festival initiative. On November 8, Cockeysville Middle students spent the day learning from area professionals and participating in hands-on activities.
Presenters included a DNA scientist, a systems engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense, a forensic scientist with Baltimore City Police Department, the director of data science for a video game company, and an architect and principal of technical services projects for Northrop Grumman.
A blog post describes the day's activities and impact.
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Students learn about being an architect from Kezia Black. | |
Students use straws to build structures around Ms. Denton, world languages chair. | |
BCPS connects with multilingual families via Talking Points app | |
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Talking Points, an engagement platform for multilingual students and families, is now available for use across all BCPS schools and offices. Talking Points allows teachers, administrators, and schools to communicate with families in more than 100 languages. BCPS staff can use Talking Points to connect with multilingual families directly in their preferred languages. The platform is now live, and school staff can immediately message multilingual families in their school community.
This service is currently only available for use with families whose children receive English for Speakers of Other Languages services. School staff also continue to use other language access resources to connect with multilingual families such as Language Line, School Messenger, and requesting on-site interpreting services.
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5 BCPS students named among the 700 YoungArts award winners for 2024 | |
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Five BCPS students have been named 2024 YoungArts winners by the YoungArts organization. This year, nearly 700 young visual, literary, and performing artists earned this national recognition through a highly competitive application process and rigorous reviews by panels of esteemed artists.
The BCPS students named 2024 YoungArts winners are:
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Chiara Adjoh-Davoh, film/experimental, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology (Carver Center)
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Jada McAliley, photography, Carver Center
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Jenna Nesky, writing/poetry, Carver Center
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Tehya Shapiro, classical music/trumpet, Towson High School
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Akili Williams, writing/non-fiction, Carver Center
The 2024 winners were selected from more than 9,000 applications across 10 artistic categories – classical music, dance, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing. Each award winner will receive an award of $250. YoungArts award winners are eligible for exclusive lifelong creative and professional development support; microgrants and financial awards; presentation opportunities nationwide; and a private online platform to connect with other YoungArts artists. The 2024 YoungArts winners also can participate in YoungArts Labs, all-expenses paid learning experiences with acclaimed artists in New York and Los Angeles.
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Survey to choose a name for Baltimore County's newest middle school closes Tuesday, December 12
Northeast Middle School or Nottingham Middle School?
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Baltimore County’s newest middle school, on King Avenue in Rosedale, will open in August 2024. In November, more than 3,500 community members submitted suggested names for the school, and the two most-suggested names were Northeast Middle School and Nottingham Middle School.
Now you can cast a ballot for your favorite name. A multilingual survey to determine the top vote-getter will be open through Tuesday, December 12.
Once a winner has been chosen, the name will be reviewed by BCPS leadership and submitted to the Board of Education of Baltimore County for final approval by January 23, 2024.
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Team BCPS Day is coming! Prepare to wear blue on Thursday, January 11 | |
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Soon after winter break, BCPS will invite the entire community to participate in Team BCPS Day, an annual celebration of its schools, students, teachers, staff, volunteers, and supporters.
On Team BCPS Day 2024, Thursday, January 11, all community members are encouraged to wear blue and post photos on social media using hashtag #BCPSblue. Prizes will be awarded for the best photos.
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Applications open for the 2024-2025 Baltimore County Student Member of the Board of Education
The Student Member of the Board application for 2024-2025 is now available. The deadline to submit applications is Monday, January 8, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Applications received after the deadline and incomplete applications will not be considered. Students are advised to carefully review the application instructions and timeline as well as the Student Member of the Board position description and frequently asked questions before applying. Only BCPS students who are current sophomores or juniors and have a principal nomination are eligible to apply.
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Central Area Elementary School Boundary Study survey open through Sunday, December 17
The Central Area Elementary School Boundary study affects students currently attending Carroll Manor, Cromwell Valley Regional Magnet, Halstead Academy, Hampton, Jacksonville, Lutherville Laboratory, Mays Chapel, Oakleigh, Padonia International, Pine Grove, Pinewood, Pleasant Plains, Pot Spring, Rodgers Forge, Riderwood, Stoneleigh, Timonium, Warren, and West Towson elementary schools.
Through Sunday, December 17, community members are invited to complete an online survey and share their opinions about four draft options for new school boundaries to relieve overcrowding. The survey is available in several languages.
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December Family Support Newsletter available in English and Spanish | |
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The December issue of the Department of Education's Family Support Newsletter is now available for viewing in English and in Spanish.
The issue explores the first three steps in the special education process: Referral, Evaluation, and Eligibility. For more information about the remaining three steps – Individualized Education Program (IEP) Development, IEP Implementation, and the Annual Review – caregivers are directed to a Maryland State Department of Education website.
Also in the newsletter are information about a podcast on understanding the special education process and details about upcoming events.
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Photos from the December 5 Special Education Resource Fair | |
for parents
from BCPS Parent University
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Interim marking period ended Friday
December 8, last Friday, was the midpoint, or interim, of the second marking period.
Families and caregivers are reminded to log in to Schoology to check their children’s current progress and grades. Please be sure to check for any missing assignments and message teachers with any questions or concerns.
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Save the date for upcoming information sessions on federal student aid for college | |
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BCPS is partnering with the Community College of Baltimore County to offer four opportunities for families to receive information and support on completing the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Please RSVP online.
The sessions, all from 6-8 p.m., are scheduled for:
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virtual
New Town High School
4931 New Town Blvd.
Owings Mills 21117
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Parkville High School
2600 Putty Hill Ave.
Baltimore 21234
Dundalk High School
1901 Delvale Ave.
Dundalk 21222
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for your viewing pleasure | |
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"Blossoming Imagination" by Naima Clark, Grade 11, Loch Raven High School. Work featured in The Superintendent's Gallery: Central Zone Exhibition.
Artist's statement:
"My piece, 'Blossoming Imagination,' was heavily influenced by the words I selected and Frank Morrison’s painting named 'I Am' that helped me convey my overactive childhood imagination that has blossomed into me in the future now painting and creating art. In Morrison’s artwork, he put the subject in the center of the canvas and made the subject’s hair excessively big, which I did the same with my piece. Also, in his artwork, he made the subject look to the side to show a profile view of the girl’s face, and I did the same with my younger self looking down to the side on my iPad. Additionally, I used bright colors like Morrison used and made light from my iPad brighten up my face like in his piece where light from the sun is brightening up the subject’s face. This made the tone of the piece connect to that child-like wonder and imagination that I wanted to represent. The flowers in the background surrounding me also represents the blossoming of my imagination, and I made shapes shooting up out of the iPad to portray ideas blossoming when I was growing up."
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Carver Center students produce annual concert of horror-themed music
The Digital Instrumental Music prime at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology presented its annual Halloween season concert of horror-themed music.
The concert includes heavy metal violin, classical guitar, a student-written mashup of Abba with "Phantom of the Opera," music from scary films and video games, a string and percussion quintet, and several varieties of dark-themed rock, pop, folk, and R&B music.
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mission moment
from The Education Foundation of BCPS
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The Education Foundation announces its latest event: Designer Bag BINGO | |
A word from Dr. Rogers (Yarbrough) | |
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December 11, 2023
Dear Reader:
At last Tuesday's meeting of the Board of Education of Baltimore County, I was pleased to share some of the feedback we have received regarding Fiscal Year 2025 budget priorities.
My administration has employed multiple strategies to engage the community in the budget development process including surveys, community forums, area council meetings, public hearings, and the new Budget 101 website.
In comparing survey responses from principals and other stakeholders, we found the following shared budget priorities:
- Hiring and retaining high-quality staff
- Safety and climate in addition to examining opportunities to improve
- Providing academic support services to students in need
All that I have heard from educators and other stakeholders is helping to inform my budget proposal for FY 2025, which I will present on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 9 a.m. at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. The presentation will be live-streamed on the BCPS YouTube channel.
Following my presentation, a FY 2025 Operating Budget Public Hearing will be held on
Tuesday, January 16, at 6:30 p.m. in BCPS headquarters/Greenwood – Building E, 6901 N. Charles St., Towson 21204. The snow date for the public hearing is Wednesday, January 17.
My sincerest thanks to all BCPS stakeholders who have participated in this year's budget development process. Your voices have been heard, and your input and involvement are invaluable. Funding is limited as always, and our needs are great, so we must devote maximum effort to ensuring that our resources are invested wisely to yield significant benefits for our students.
In partnership,
Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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Upcoming advisory group and boundary study meetings
All are welcome to attend
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Southwest Area Education Advisory Council meeting
Monday, December 11, at 7 p.m.
Meeting details
Topic: "Department of Planning"
Central Area Elementary School Capacity Relief Boundary Study committee meeting
Thursday, January 4, from 6-8:30 p.m. (Snow date: Friday, January 5, from 6-8:30 p.m.)
George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology cafeteria, 938 York Rd., Towson 21204
Study webpage
Northwest Area Education Advisory Council meeting
Monday, January 8, at 6 p.m.
Meeting details
Topic: “A Community Partner Panel for Bilingual Families”
Southwest Area Education Advisory Council meeting
Monday, January 8, at 7 p.m.
Meeting details
Topic: "AP vs. Honors, SAT vs. CAT, Sports vs. Clubs"
Central Area Education Advisory Committee meeting
Wednesday, January 17, at 7 p.m.
Meeting details
Topic: “Facilities Planning, MYIPAS (Multi-Year Improvement Plan for All Schools), and other issues regarding repairing and updating our schools”
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