Join us in observing American Education Week and National Apprenticeship Week -- This Week in BCPS

Monday, November 18, 2024

Join us in observing American Education Week

BCPS will observe American Education Week 2024 from Monday, November 18, through Friday, November 22, with countywide and school-based activities. Team BCPS members are encouraged to tweet photos of the week’s activities using the hashtag #BCPSAEW.

During the week, many schools will set aside specific times for parents and caregivers to visit their children’s classrooms and/or attend special events.

More than 80 BCPS students participate in paid apprenticeships

Meet one of them: Phillip Martin of Hereford High School

BCPS participates in the Apprenticeship Maryland Program, and through it, juniors and seniors can be hired by approved employers to work in eligible career track occupations. The paid workplace experience of at least 450 hours is supplemented by training in employability, interpersonal, and social skills.

This school year, 82 BCPS students from 18 high schools are participating in the program. One of them, Phillip Martin, a Grade 12 Hereford High School student, serves as apprentice to the school's athletic director, Jean-Paul Bibaud.

Bibaud says of Phillip, “I am confident that this experience has made a positive impact on his life and his future and don’t know if all that we have accomplished in my first year as athletic director could have taken place without his support and dedication.”

Phillip Martin, Grade 12, Hereford High School, apprentice to the school's athletic director

Read more in a blog post about why Phillip was offered this apprenticeship, how it connects to his career goals, what his responsibilities are, and what he has learned.

While many apprentices are assigned to BCPS schools and offices, apprentices are also working this year at Bluestone Communications, BoMark, Caliday School Age Program, Calvert Kiddie Academy, Caton Communications, Clarity Cyber, Constellation Home, Copinger Custom Doors, FloTron, Fluid Plumbing, General Ship Repair, Gold Medal Physical Therapy, Hatzel & Buehler, Hirsch Electric, Holabird Tires, Maryland Auto Insurance, Maryland State Highway Administration, Middle River Aircraft Systems, Miller Refrigeration, Monkey in the Metal, Northwest Hospital, National Security Agency, Phoenix Metals, Saldino's Kiddie College Child Care, State Farm Insurance – Thompson, Timber Industries, Tulkoff Foods, Windsor Electrical, and YMCA.

Honoring education support professionals and substitute educators

During this year's American Education Week, Wednesday, November 20, is Education Support Professionals Day and Friday, November 22, is Substitute Educators Day. Many thanks to these professionals for playing an integral role in promoting progress in our schools.

New season of "The BCPS CTE Show" begins

Program showcases BCPS Career and Technical Education offerings

The first episode of "The BCPS CTE Show" highlights a career fair for BCPS students hosted by Operating Engineers Local 37 Training School, a Lansdowne High student pursuing an electrical career, the BCPS partnership with the Maryland Department of Economic and Workforce Development, the new BCPS CTE Career Center at Junior Achievement's Finance Park, and the role of career navigators in BCPS high schools.

The community is invited to share its thoughts on budget priorities for the BCPS Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget. BCPS seeks to invest its limited resources to effectively improve outcomes for all students. An online survey is open through Tuesday, November 19.

Join Superintendent Rogers for Community Conversations on the FY 26 Operating Budget

During November, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers is hosting Community Conversations to discuss the development of the BCPS Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget. Community members are invited to share their ideas on budget priorities. Spanish interpretation will be provided at each meeting. To request interpreting services for other languages, please call 443-809-1250 as soon as possible.

Thursday, November 21, from 6-7 p.m.

Cockeysville Middle School

10401 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville 21030

Monday, November 25, from 6-7 p.m.

Perry Hall Middle School

4300 Ebenezer Rd., Baltimore 21236

Carver Center teacher earns Maryland Dance Education Association's 2024 Living Legacy Award

Honor recognizes Stephanie Powell's 40+ years as a dance educator

Stephanie Powell, dance education teacher at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, has been honored with the Maryland Dance Education Association’s (MDEA) 2024 Living Legacy Award.

In presenting the award to Powell, MDEA President Sandra Atkinson described Powell as “a person who has shaped the landscape of dance in Maryland for over 40 years through her work at the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, Baltimore Dance Tech, and beyond.”

BCPS celebrates the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans and honors the resilience of Indigenous people.

Ridgely Middle School art teacher Raine Dawn Valentine shares her indigenous heritage

A new blog post, available in English and Spanish, shares the story of Raine Dawn Valentine, visual arts teacher at Ridgely Middle School, who spent her childhood summers visiting the reservation in North Dakota where her mother grew up as a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

The post explores the impact of Chippewa culture on her life and work. The post also covers her approach to teaching, why she loves working with middle school students, and why teaching educators is so important to her.

Online haiku book celebrates student writing and student artwork

The judges’ favorite 102 entries to the 2024 Team BCPS Haiku Contest have been compiled into a new online book. The book also features the 10 artworks that inspired the poetry. Print copies of the book are being distributed to all BCPS school libraries.

During the 2024 contest, held this past spring, nearly 1,800 entries were received from 111 schools, centers, and programs – including the Virtual Learning Program.

Around the county

Lansdowne and Woodlawn middle school teams compete in flag football program

Lansdowne and Woodlawn middle school teams participated in a flag football tournament at Morgan State University on November 6. The tournament was the culmination of a six-week season coordinated by Lee Lee Kiddz, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering youth through sports, mentorship, and education. The other 23 teams that participated all represented Baltimore City schools.

Lansdowne Middle School's boys team

Woodlawn Middle School's boys team

Woodlawn Middle School's girls team

Baltimore County is developing Vison Zero Action Plans to identify priorities for roadway safety. County residents are encouraged to take a brief online survey by Monday, December 9, to help the government identify problem areas on our roads.

for parents

from BCPS Parent University

Talkspace to offer free live webinar on helping children manage stress during the winter holidays

Join the Talkspace live webinar, "Managing Holiday Stress & Anxiety," on Tuesday, December 3, at 12 p.m. The free webinar is designed to help parents support their children through the holiday season's unique challenges. The webinar will cover strategies for coping with holiday expectations, managing disappointment, and recognizing signs of sensory overload. Learn how to maintain routines, balance screen time, and create meaningful family interactions. Discover ways to promote emotional well-being through gratitude, mindfulness, and open communication, fostering resilience in kids. Plus, explore intentional activities that build stronger family connections and deepen bonds during holiday gatherings. Participants must register online.

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

"The Art of Being Home" by Jamie Diaz-Sorto, Grade 10, Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts. This artwork was featured in the 2024 BCPS Art is for Everyone! exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

Announcing the latest 21st Century Instructional Initiative Grant recipients

The Education Foundation is pleased to announce the 21st Century Instructional Initiative grant recipients for 2024-25. This year, 26 grants were awarded for a total of $50,859! Project funds were awarded to schools that submitted proposals designed to enhance the skills and knowledge students must have to be successful in life and employment in the 21st century.

Congratulations to following grant recipients:

Carney Elementary School
Catonsville High School
Chesapeake High School STEM Academy (2 grants)
Dogwood Elementary School
Dulaney High School
Dumbarton Middle School
Edgemere Elementary School
Fifth District Elementary School
Glyndon Elementary School
Holabird STEM/Middle School
Maiden Choice School
Office of Visual Arts and Digital Media

Orems Elementary School
Owings Mills High School (3 grants)
Perry Hall Middle School
Pikesville Middle School
Pine Grove Middle School
Sparks Elementary School
Sparrows Point Middle School
Timonium Elementary School
Western School of Technology
Woodbridge Elementary School
Woodholme Elementary School

A new Mission Moment blog post shares more details about the funded projects as well as a reminder about the opportunity to apply for the 2025 Newrez Little Free Library Read in Color grant.

Examples of projects funded by the 21st Century Instructional Grants during the 2023-24 school year

A word from Dr. Rogers

November 18, 2024

Dear Reader:

BCPS is excited to observe American Education Week 2024 this week with countywide and school-based activities!

During the week, many schools will set aside specific times for parents and caregivers to visit their children’s classrooms and/or attend special events. The BCPS Parent University American Education Week webpage features links to classroom observation checklists as well as resources to help parents and caregivers prepare for upcoming conferences.

BCPS strives to live each school day with the spirit of American Education Week. We are focused on making our schools even more inclusive and welcoming environments for both students and their families. Schools will continue to develop additional year-round opportunities for family and community engagement. This is a shift toward even more meaningful and frequent connections with Team BCPS families.

Year-round, BCPS encourages parents and caregivers to support their schools through their parent teacher organizations and by serving as volunteers and in booster clubs. Community members are also welcome as volunteers, and businesses are encouraged to explore partnership opportunities.

Working together, we can engage and empower our students to excel.

Regards,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent