Congratulations to the 2024-2025 BCPS Champions for Children | |
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Stephanie Gerhold, an English for Speakers of Other Languages teacher at Woodlawn Middle School, was named the 2024-2025 BCPS Teacher of the Year during a gala celebration held last Thursday at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. Also announced were the 2024-2025 BCPS Principal of the Year, Melissa Lingenfelder of Sandalwood Elementary School, and 2024-2025 Assistant Principal of the Year, Dorian Barnes of Deer Park Magnet Middle School.
BCPS also celebrated eight new “Champions for Children” at the event who were selected by administrators and staff, employee union representatives, and other members of the BCPS community. Honored at Thursday’s gala were:
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Rising Star Teacher of the Year – Meaghan Doyle, PreKindergarten teacher, Glenmar Elementary School
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Supervisory Leader of the Year – MiVida Parham, technical programs supervisor, Office of Career and Technical Education
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Supporting Services Employee of the Year – Ceaira Isaac, paraeducator, Meadowood Education Center
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Community School Facilitator of the Year – Courtney Warlick, Battle Grove Elementary School
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Transportation Champion – Terrilyn Millen, bus driver, Rosedale Bus Lot
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AFSCME Employee of the Year – Thelma Thomas, custodial trainer, Department of Facilities Management and Strategic Planning
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Volunteer Champion – Karen Nelson, Milbrook Elementary School
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Business Partner Champion – Eric Church, CEO, First Financial Federal Credit Union
More information can be found in a recent news release. A video of the event can be seen on the BCPS YouTube page.
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BCPS 2024-2025
Teacher of the Year
Stephanie Gerhold Woodlawn Middle School
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BCPS 2024-2025
Principal of the Year
Melissa Lingenfelder
Sandalwood Elementary School
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BCPS 2024-2025
Assistant Principal
of the Year
Dorian Barnes
Deer Park Middle Magnet School
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Pictures inspire words
Thoughtful students craft haiku
Three winners chosen
BCPS students were challenged to write haiku in response to a piece of student artwork selected from among 10 pieces. Nearly 1,800 entries were received from 111 schools, centers, and programs – including the Virtual Learning Program.
A panel of student and staff judges selected the following contest winners:
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Elementary School Winner
Swirling and twirling
Undersea ballerinas
Moving gracefully
Rowan Chipkin
Grade 4
Pinewood Elem. School
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Middle School Winner
my bear sits alone
I watch as he wisps away
grayer than a storm
Lilly Crittenden
Grade 6
Arbutus Middle School
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High School Winner
Sitting clearly boxed,
flowers appear lifeless yet,
their lives are shown off.
Jasmine Marquardt
Grade 12
Lansdowne High School
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Art prompt #3 by SaLaura Chamberlain, Grade 5, Baltimore Highlands Elementary School | |
Art prompt #4 by Jaylynne Grinage, Grade 8, Stemmers Run Middle School | |
Art prompt #10 by Aine Cooke, Grade 8, Cockeysville Middle School | |
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Community invited to annual Baltimore Music Educators Wind Symphony benefit performance
Saturday, April 27, at 5 p.m.
George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
938 York Road, Towson 21204
This year marks the Baltimore Music Educators Wind Symphony’s 21st benefit performance for Kids Helping Hopkins. The ensemble consists of current and retired BCPS educators alongside community members and is conducted by Dr. Shane Jensen, BCPS music education specialist, and Dr. Brian Schneckenburger, BCPS music education supervisor. The concert is free to the public, and any donations collected will directly benefit Kids Helping Hopkins.
The performance will feature works by Ticheli, Standridge, Barnett, Sousa, and others, including two composers with strong BCPS ties. The ensemble will perform “Contraption” by Catonsville High School graduate and published composer Adrian Sims. Additionally, the ensemble will premiere a new work for band by Woodlawn High School student Sean Marshall.
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Information session will introduce high school students and their families to new BCPS college and career exploration online platform
Say hello to Xello!
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Xello is the new BCPS college and career exploration online platform that will help students build the skills, knowledge, and plans to be future ready. The program uses an investigative, discovery-based learning process to support students in better understanding themselves, their future career options, and the 21st century skills they’ll need to succeed.
All BCPS high school students will have access beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.
To learn more about Xello, please join us for the:
Virtual “Introduction to Xello for BCPS Students and Families” session
Monday, April 29, from 6-7 p.m.
Additional Family Resources
For more information, contact MaatenRe Ramin at mramin@bcps.org.
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Families can apply now to participate in BCPS Online Learning Program during 2024-2025 school year | |
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The BCPS Online Learning Program provides a full-time educational environment for students in Grades 4-12. The program offers a full day of synchronous instruction taught by certified BCPS teachers and fulfills school system requirements for promotion and graduation.
The application for the 2024-2025 BCPS Online Learning Program is available on the Department of Academic Programs and Options (DAPO) website. Applications must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Friday, May 3. Students must be entering Grades 4-12 in the 2024-2025 school year. Current Virtual Learning Program students do NOT need to re-apply.
All applicants are selected for placement through a centralized random lottery process. More information, including a brochure, can be found on online.
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Celebrating the Class of 2024 with graduating senior profiles | |
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In honor of the Class of 2024, BCPS is profiling one senior from each high school. A new profile will be featured on the website and social media each school day until Friday, May 24, the last day for seniors. These profiles highlight the strengths of our seniors and their diversity. Last week, the series continued with a focus on these five students.
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Kevin Ramos Perez, Sparrows Point High School
This future engineer will be a first-generation college student. In 10 years, he envisions himself returning to El Salvador to give back. He credits the AVID program as a huge contributing factor in his success.
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Desiree Miranda Dardon, Franklin High School
While interested in a career in nursing, this senior is equally interested in exploring and personal growth. A stage manager at Franklin, she is also involved with a variety of extracurricular and community activities.
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Christopher Kelly, Hereford High School
This future physician hopes to also launch a freelance photography business just for fun. He studied the Japanese language independently and was able to travel to Japan and converse with those he met.
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Samuel Thornton, Kenwood High School
This Cadet Master Sergeant in Kenwood's AFJROTC program, looks forward to a military career and to becoming both an attorney and a judge. A frequent volunteer, Samuel works to address hunger in the community.
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Shribani Singh, Perry Hall High School
An aspiring physician, this senior has already gained experience as a volunteer for area nursing homes and hospitals. In addition, Shribani is having a research paper published, "Bilingualism and the Intellectual Advantage."
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Community invited to 2024 BCPS-TV Apprentice Film Showcase
Monday, April 29, from 5-7 p.m.
George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, theater
938 York Rd., Towson 21204
A compilation of work created by high school apprentices at BCPS-TV will be showcased in a film festival-style celebration. The apprentices are seniors from Chesapeake, Franklin, Hereford, and Towson high schools. For more information or to RSVP, contact bcps-tv@bcps.org.
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BCPS students, families invited to Girls on the Run Spring 5K on April 27 | |
Join the Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake Spring 5K, presented by MedStar Health, on Saturday, April 27. Celebrate the achievements of more than 1,300 girls – including 250 BCPS students from 12 schools – who took part in the youth development afterschool program this spring. The 5K will take place at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore. BCPS students and families are invited to participate in the 5K walk/run or cheer on the participants. Those interested in completing the walk/run can register online. | |
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This summer, the BCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services will once again offer free breakfasts and lunches to Baltimore County children through the Summer Food Service Program.
BCPS is seeking athletic programs, academic groups, music groups, church programs, summer camps, and more interested in registering as Summer Food Service Program sites. There is no cost for participation. BCPS is also seeking public sites where meals can be served.
The program serves free meals from June 20 - August 16 to children from 2-18 years of age. Please register programs and sites online. For more information, please visit the BCPS Summer Food Service Program website or contact BCPS at SFSP@bcps.org or 443-809-7855.
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The best time to register for PreSchool-3, PreKindergarten, and Kindergarten? Right now!
The "Registration and Enrollment" page of the BCPS website provides helpful instructions. In addition, all BCPS elementary schools will host "round-up" events to provide additional support for parents. For more information, please contact the elementary school your child is zoned to attend.
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Discover more about what students are learning
Join us for the next BCPS Curriculum Night
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Spanish interpretation will be provided at all sessions. Interpreting services for other languages are also available upon request at no cost to participants. Please contact 443-809-1250 as early as possible to request. | |
for parents
from BCPS Parent University
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Families with young children invited to a public library event | |
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Parents, guardians of students receiving special education services encouraged to complete annual state survey
The Maryland State Department of Education conducts an annual survey aimed at gathering feedback from parents about their children's school and the level of involvement they have in their education. The survey is open to all parents and is intended to help improve the quality of special education services. Surveys were mailed to families on February 12 and can be submitted either online or via mail. The deadline for submitting the survey is Friday, May 24.
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for your viewing pleasure | |
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mission moment
from The Education Foundation of BCPS
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Soles4Souls donation supports 1,500 BCPS children experiencing homelessness | |
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This spring, Soles4Souls partnered with BCPS to deliver 1,500 pairs of new athletic shoes and 1,500 pairs of new Bomba socks to children who are experiencing homelessness.
BCPS pupil personnel workers and community school facilitators were invited to visit the BCPS Office of Logistics warehouse on April 12 to select brand new shoes and socks for their students experiencing homelessness.
“Our school system also connected with local shelters and homeless outreach organizations to deliver shoes to children experiencing homelessness in our community," said Melissa Forster, coordinator of the Community Schools Office of Title I, Homeless Programs, and Community Schools. "Sometimes it is the little things that matter most. We strive to lock arms with our families and support the total needs of students attending BCPS. Thank you, Soles4Souls and Bombas, for this meaningful partnership.”
A new Mission Moment blog post tells more of the story and more photos can be found on Flickr.
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April 22, 2024
Dear Reader:
We are just a little more than one month away from the end of the school year for our high school seniors.
To celebrate the Class of 2024, we asked each principal to select a graduating senior we could highlight. The result is our annual graduating senior profiles, which are being posted on our blog and on social media and our website. This series will continue until the last day of school for seniors, Friday, May 24.
While still in high school, the featured seniors have amassed an impressive array of accomplishments, such as completing associate degrees, being awarded full-ride scholarships, having research papers published, launching online businesses, earning professional certifications, founding clubs, and more.
Asked where they viewed themselves in 10 years, in addition to citing professional goals, the seniors also expressed the value they see in travel, taking care of family and friends, learning new skills, personal growth, and assisting underserved communities.
The featured seniors reflect the amazing diversity and outstanding accomplishments of the Class of 2024. I encourage Team BCPS members to enjoy these profiles. Our seniors impress us every day with their intellectual curiosity and their dedication to their interests and their communities. We are so proud of what they have accomplished and eager to see which paths they will take and contributions they will make.
Regards,
Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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Upcoming Board and advisory group meetings
All are welcome to attend
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Community meeting about Towson High School capital improvement project
Wednesday, April 24, at 7 p.m.
Towson High School, auditorium, 69 Cedar Ave., Towson 21286
The design team working on the Towson High School capital improvement project will provide updates on the project design and overall schedule. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity for Q&A.
PTA General Meeting, Council Elections
Thursday, April 25
Meeting details
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