BCPS offers college, career readiness exams at no cost to students -- This Week in BCPS

Monday, September 25, 2023

BCPS offers career and college readiness exams at no cost to students

A Community Message, posted last week, provides details on the career and college readiness exams BCPS will offer this school year at no cost to students. These include the:

PSAT/NMSQT, administered to all Grade 10 students between October 16 and October 27.
SAT, administered to all Grade 11 students during a school day in the spring.
ACT, in Grade 11 or 12. ACT administration dates this school year are October 28, December 9, February 10, April 13, June 8, and July 13.
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

These important examinations provide students with greater access to information about pathways to success, including career exploration, military, trade careers, colleges, scholarships, financial aid, and apprenticeships. For more information, students and parents can contact their school counselors or college and career counselors.

Anjelica Tynes,

School to Career teacher, Parkville High School

Anjelica Tynes became a School to Career teacher at Parkville High School to help her students prepare for successful careers. Then she realized that perhaps the best way to prepare them was to learn more about the work world herself.

This past summer, Tynes secured an externship, sponsored by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, that allowed her to spend four weeks with Local 24 of the Baltimore Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee.

Early next year, as a Fulbright Scholarship recipient, she will travel to Taiwan to study how that nation prepares its students for work and careers -- beginning in middle school.

A new blog post details more of her story.

The final 2023 Summer Story: Catonsville High science teacher Gina Palermo works as trainer for elite athletes

Catonsville High School science teacher Gina Palermo spent part of her summer working as an athletic trainer for elite athletes – as she has done before. In the last Summer Stories blog post for 2023, she answers a few questions about her work this year as an athletic trainer at the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics held in Eugene, Oregon, and also at the Thorpe Cup in Marburg, Germany.

BCPS-TV video: Western Tech senior travels to Israel

Western Tech senior Ameerah Austin describes what it was like to travel to Israel as a Youth Ambassador for the Elijah Cummings Youth Program.

12 BCPS graduates receive scholarships from the Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival

A highlight of the Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival, held each September, is the presentation of scholarships to recent BCPS graduates.

This year, scholarships were awarded to the following BCPS graduates, listed with the names of the high schools they graduated from and the colleges and universities they now attend:

Gamaliel Adejo, Western School of Technology and Environmental Science – CCBC
Kendall Allen, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology – Bowie State University
Kayden Battle, Carver Center – University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Ikye-Azubogu Chiagozie, Franklin High School – University of Maryland College Park
Hailey Morgan Fennoy-Adams, Carver Center – North Carolina A&T University
Stephanie George, Milford Mill Academy – Cornell University
Mysta Groom, Woodlawn High School – North Carolina A&T University
Chinenye Ofor, Western Tech – Towson University
Inioluwa Olaleye, Randallstown High School – University of Maryland Baltimore County
Oluwaseye Onasanya, Milford Mill Academy – Towson University
Kelsey Parker, Pikesville High School – Florida A&M University
Christopher White, Pikesville High School – Morgan State University, School of Engineering

County Executive Olszewski and Superintendent Rogers (Yarbrough) shake hands with a scholarship recipient.

Superintendent Rogers (Yarbrough) (third from right) poses with scholarship recipients and their family members.

Share traditions to honor Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through October 15, BCPS invites Hispanic and Latino students, staff, and families to share some of their favorite traditions on social media using #BCPSHerencia.

Please join us for the always popular Magnet EXPO! Come to meet representatives of the 32 BCPS schools with magnet programs. Come to see career and technical education exhibits and demonstrations. In addition, meet representatives from the BCPS offices of special education and English for speakers of other languages.

Learn more about BCPS magnet programs and the application process online. Applications for the 2024-2025 school year are available through November 3, 2023.

Also coming up...

Magnet Application Information Meeting

Wednesday, September 27,

from 6 - 7 p.m.

Kenwood High School

501 Stemmers Run Rd.

Baltimore 21221

Magnet Showcase Events

Throughout October, schools with magnet programs host showcase events for students and families interested in applying to the programs for the 2024-2025 school year.

The 7th Annual BCPS Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College Fair is fast approaching!

The college fair will be held on Saturday, October 14, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at New Town High School, 4931 New Town Blvd., Owings Mills 21117.

Registration through StriveScan is open to all BCPS high school students and their families. Participants are also strongly encouraged to complete the Common Black College Application prior to the event. School counselors and college counselors are available to help with registration and application. (Those who register who need assistance in traveling to the event are asked to complete a transportation request survey.)

At the fair, students can meet college admissions representatives from more than 25 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and participate in workshops related to the college selection process, college admissions, financial aid, and college life. Drop-in support for college application essay writing will be offered throughout the day.

for parents

from BCPS Parent University

Helping children develop healthy friendships

Going to school is about learning, but it is also an important opportunity for children to develop social skills and friendships. A Washington Post article asked several experts to share strategies that parents/caregivers can use to help their children with friendship issues.

Make sure your child understands that true friendships are mutual and positive.
Suggest that your child observe a potential friend before jumping into a relationship.
Encourage your child to consider other people's points of view.
Ask your children what they are looking for from friendships, what their goals are.
Remind children that it is natural for many friendships to end.
Encourage children to cultivate more than one circle of friends.

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

"Patterned Landscape" by Beatrix Freedman Scholan, Grade 1, Cedarmere Elementary School. Work featured in the 2023 Art is for Everyone! 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

The Education Foundation awarded $80,000 Baltimore Community Foundation grant to support literacy and celebrate diversity

The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., has been awarded an $80,000 grant from the Baltimore Community Foundation to enhance the climate at four Title 1 Community Schools – Berkshire, Johnnycake, Logan, and Riverview elementary schools.

The project, to be implemented during the 2023-2024 school year, focuses on celebrating the diversity of the cultures represented by the schools’ students and families through a literacy program with six signature components:

A kickoff literacy event.
Parents coming into schools and reading to students from books in their native languages and books that represent their cultures.
A student-produced literary magazine highlighting storytelling in diverse voices.
Tutoring services offered to students based on their test data.
A Little Free Library for each school to expand access to high-quality and diverse books and to build home libraries.
Related field trips.

More information can be found in the most recent Mission Moment blog post.

Berkshire Elementary students at the beginning of the second week of school

Johnnycake Elementary students arriving for the first day of school

Logan Elementary students in an assembly

Riverview Elementary students at a summer camp made possible through a partnership with The Hippodrome Foundation

A word from Dr. Rogers (Yarbrough)

September 25, 2023

Dear Reader:

I began my tenure as superintendent by traveling across the county and listening to you – teachers, students, parents/caregivers, partners, community leaders, and BCPS administrators and staff.

I did this because I know that our school system can only succeed with full engagement, and that full engagement relies on open, two-way communication.

One of the messages we have heard from the community is a desire for greater understanding of and involvement in the process of developing the school system's operating budget. In response to public interest, a recent community message (shared in English and Spanish) outlined the process of developing the school system’s operating budget and invited Team BCPS stakeholders to provide input on budget priorities through an operating budget survey, community forums, and Board of Education public hearings. Additional information will be shared very soon.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas as we develop an operating budget that yields maximum benefits for our students, schools, and staff.

In partnership,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent