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Join us this Saturday for a youth mental health fair
Mind Over Matters Conference to be held at Carver Center
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Students and families are invited to the BCPS Mind Over Matters Annual Conference on Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Rd., Towson 21204.
The goal of this event, hosted in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, is to raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and substance use prevention. The event is free and open for all BCPS students and their parents/caregivers.
Bus transportation will be provided from every high school. A guardian is required to accompany a student if using BCPS transportation.
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Winners announced in 2025 BCPS Black History Month Writing Contest
Top awards earned by students from Red House Run and Warren elementary schools, Pine Grove Middle School, and Woodlawn High School
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The 2025 BCPS Black History Month Writing Contest, coordinated by the BCPS Offices of English Language Arts and Social Studies, attracted 86 entries from 43 schools. The top entries included two poems celebrating astronaut Mae Jemison, an essay honoring Olympian Florence “Flo-Jo” Griffith Joyner, and an essay connecting the breakthroughs of historian Carter G. Woodson and scientist Ruth Ella Moore.
The winning entries can be read on the BCPS blog. The Education Foundation of BCPS sponsored the contest and provided a $75 prize for each of the four overall grade winners. Eight honorable mention winners will receive a certificate of achievement. More information can be found in a recent news release.
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Kindergarten - Grade 2 Winner:
Reagan Nicole Dunn
Grade 2, Red House Run Elementary School
Reading specialist: Megan Higdon
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Grades 3-5 Winner:
Veer Saywack
(photographed with family)
Grade 4, Warren Elementary School
English language arts teacher: Erin Hays
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Grades 6-8 Winner:
Emily Pahilanga
(photographed with her English language arts teacher Elizabeth Cummings)
Grade 8, Pine Grove Middle School
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Grades 9-12 Winner:
Kaja Swan
(photographed with her English language arts teacher Jessica Beyer)
Grade 12, Woodlawn High School
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Angela Glenn, journalism and English language arts teacher, Kenwood High School
Dedicated to helping students find their voices and sharing student stories
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In her 20-year career with BCPS, Angela Glenn has overseen the development of six yearbooks at three high schools. At Kenwood High, where she teaches journalism, yearbook, and Grade 12 English, she has served as advisor for the school newspaper for seven years and co-advised the school's literary magazine for the past six years.
"Telling student stories and public education stories and helping students find their voice through writing has definitely been my passion project in my educational career," Glenn says.
A new Close-Up blog post traces Glenn's development as a writer and teacher and the lasting impact Kenwood's Eye of the Bluebird news site has on its student writers.
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Former BCPS student's civil rights story part of BCPS social studies curriculum | |
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On the same day as the iconic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, a young Sharon Langley (who later attended Woodmoor Elementary School) became the first Black child to integrate Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore County. The park was desegregated following eight years of demonstrations and protests.
In 2020, the story of her family’s visit to the park on the first day it was open to all became the subject of a book, “A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story." The book, which Langley cowrote, is featured in the BCPS social studies curriculum for Grade 3 students.
A new blog post includes a Q&A with Langley as well as an update on the carousel itself which was purchased by the Smithsonian Institution in 1972.
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Langley and her father on August 28, 1963 | |
Langley, a veteran educator | |
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Hebbville Elementary receives book donation from MSEA on Read Across America Day
On March 3, Read Across America Day, representatives of the Maryland State Education Association visited Hebbville Elementary School to donate 20 books in honor of library media specialist Capathia Campbell.
More photos from the event can be found on Flickr.
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American Dairy Association North East visits Essex Elementary School to celebrate National School Breakfast Week | |
In celebration of National School Breakfast Week (March 3–7), Essex Elementary School hosted an event with the American Dairy Association North East to showcase the school's “grab and go breakfast” kiosks. The Washington Wizards Dancers helped distribute breakfast to students. Special guests included Maryland dairy farmer Kalli Ehrhardt. More photos from the event can be found on Flickr. | |
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Hereford High School earns first place in annual BCPS Physics Olympics
More than 100 students from 10 schools participated
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Teams from Hereford High School, Eastern Technical High School, and George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology earned first, second, and third places respectively at the 2025 BCPS Physics Olympics.
Twenty teams competed, comprised of more than 100 students from 10 schools. The participating schools were Dulaney, Eastern Tech, Franklin, Hereford, Loch Raven
Overlea, Pikesville, Towson, and Western Tech high schools and George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology.
The event was held in memory of Matthew Jochmans, a beloved physics teacher from Towson High School, who passed away at the beginning of this school year.
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Franklin High School emerges as Third Judicial Circuit Mock Trial Champion
Historic championship the first to pit two BCPS schools against each other
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Franklin High School won the Third Judicial Circuit Mock Trial championship. They were up against Towson High School, and it was the first time that the championship involved two BCPS schools. Franklin's team will now square off against the other circuit champions at the regional competition on Wednesday, March 12, at the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings.
The Franklin High team is coached by social studies teacher Catherine Snodderly. The team members are:
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Hannah Davis
Suhani Desai
Shawn Do
Gabriel Downey
Josef Ehrman
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Polina Markelova
Kayla Martin
Bianca Morales
Anita Ogbeide
Hannah Olawepo
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Grace Olawepo
Angie Perez-Lemus
Briana Sarfo
Brity Ullah
Gabrielle Unger
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Towson High School's Mock Trial team | |
Young Women Leaders host Women Empowering Women Conference on March 1 | |
The 2025-26 cohort of Towson University's Outstanding Young Women's Leadership program hosted a women’s empowerment conference featuring a panel of local women professionals and leaders and honoring outstanding BCPS female athletes. The event, held on March 1 at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, attracted more than 150 attendees. Photos from the event can be found on Flickr. Participants in the Outstanding Young Women's Leadership Program are high school juniors from across the county. | |
Nominate an outstanding teacher for the Baltimore Ravens and M&T Bank Touchdown for Teachers honor | |
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The Baltimore Ravens and M&T Bank invite community members to submit nominations for the 12th annual Touchdown for Teachers program, which recognizes local teachers who provide outstanding service for their schools and communities. Nominations are due by Friday, April. 4.
The grand prize winner will receive $5,000, payable to his/her school or district, and a classroom visit by a Ravens coach or player, accompanied by mascot Poe. Two remaining finalists will each receive $1,000 in grant funds, payable to their school or district.
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This week! Join us for 2025 BCPS Job Fairs
Join our team!
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Register for this week's BCPS CCBC College Fair | |
for parents
from BCPS Parent University
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New campaign encourages parents to talk to their teens about cannabis use | |
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The Maryland Cannabis Administration has launched a campaign to encourage parents and caregivers to talk to their teens about the many reasons they should avoid cannabis use. These reasons include:
- Brain development isn’t fully complete until the mid-20s. Using cannabis while the brain is still developing can change how it builds connections that are important for attention, memory, and learning.
- Regular cannabis use prior to age 18 has also been linked with problematic use, including addiction.
- Like alcohol, cannabis affects judgment and motor skills, which is especially risky for new and inexperienced drivers.
An online guide is available to support parents/caregivers in starting conversations with their children. Additional information in English and Spanish can be found on a "Cannabis: What Parents and Educators Need to Know" fact sheet.
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for your viewing pleasure | |
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mission moment
from The Education Foundation of BCPS
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Yoga for Social Emotional Learning grantees will offer workshops at the Mind Over Matters Conference
Eleven BCPS staff members who received training in Yoga for Social Emotional Learning through grants from The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools Inc. will share their new learning at the upcoming 2025 Mind Over Matters Conference. The grantees, who have received 200- or 300-hour training from the Breathe for Change organization, will offer "Mindfulness for Social Emotional Success" and "Breathe for Change Yoga" workshops.
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March 10, 2025
Dear Reader:
On February 27, I held my monthly media availability to share updates and information with the community. Here are a few highlights from the session.
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The $2.98 billion Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget request was approved by the Board of Education on February 25 and will now be sent to County Executive Klausmeier and the County Council for consideration and approval. Team BCPS stakeholders are encouraged to stay engaged in the budget process.
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Recently released data from the Maryland State Department of Education shows that the county’s investment is paying off. BCPS’ graduation rate rose—for the second year in a row—to 85.84 percent. The four-year graduation rate improved for nearly all student groups, broken down by race/ethnicity.
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Families and stakeholders are invited to the Community Conversation on Special Education on March 13. The event will be held at Nottingham Middle School from 6 to 7 p.m., and participants will learn more about BCPS’ special education services and ongoing efforts to ensure students have a range of comprehensive supports and resources for growth and achievement.
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Our annual systemwide job fairs will be held on Tuesday, March 11, at Dundalk High School, Wednesday, March 12, at Catonsville High School, and Thursday, March 13, at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. We invite all interested candidates to attend and learn more about joining Team BCPS.
The full press conference can be viewed online and a staff and community update is available in English and Spanish.
Regards,
Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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Upcoming Board and community advisory group meetings
All are welcome to attend
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Southwest Area Education Advisory Council meeting
Monday, March 10, at 7 p.m.
Virtual meeting details
Topic: Risk management and facilities management
Board of Education meeting
Tuesday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m.
BCPS headquarters/Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, Towson 21204
Central Area Education Advisory Council meeting
Monday, March 17, at 7 p.m.
Virtual meeting details
Topic: Student wellness – nutrition and mental health
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