Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Free telehealth therapy available to BCPS high school students through new partnership with Talkspace

BCPS has announced a new partnership with Talkspace, a leading online behavioral health care company, to provide free, unlimited telehealth therapy for all BCPS high school students ages 13 and above. More than 32,000 students now have access to high-quality, messaging therapy and evidenced-based mental health resources.   

This districtwide program, which began in late December 2023, offers support at a critical time, given that teenagers across the nation are facing rapidly rising rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

Eligible students interested in therapy can sign up, take a brief assessment specific for teens, and get matched with a dedicated, licensed therapist. Once matched, therapy sessions take place on Talkspace’s secure and encrypted platform, accessible from the teens’ smartphones, tablets, or computers. Teens can communicate with their therapists at any time with an unlimited number of private messages at no cost.

The efficacy of Talkspace’s message-based therapy has been validated by 20+ published studies conducted in partnership with major research institutions, including Columbia University and New York University.

More information on the program, including registration and parental/legal guardian consent, is available online. 

Team BCPS Day is coming! Prepare to wear blue on Thursday, January 11

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 the hashtag #BCPSblue. Prizes will be awarded for the best photos.

Faculty, staff, and retirees invited to submit artwork for BCPS Makes Art! exhibition

The BCPS Makes Art! exhibition gives employees of the school system an opportunity and space to display their unique art skills. The art submission form for BCPS Makes Art! is open through Friday, January 12, for all BCPS faculty and staff, including retirees. Further details are provided in the art submission form. 

This year, the BCPS Makes Art! exhibition and reception will be held at the Towson University StarTUp (307 Washington Avenue, Towson 21204). All artwork submitted will be included in the BCPS Makes Art! virtual exhibition. Only selected artwork will be displayed at the Towson University StarTUp. Space is limited, and there will be a random selection process. The art office will notify staff members of selected artworks.

"Out to Pasture " photograph by Darryl Pilate, dance resource teacher, from the 2023 "BCPS Makes Art!" faculty and staff exhibition

Community invited to say "farewell" to Summit Park Elementary School's old building

Watch talented BCPS students perform in All-County Concerts

Some of the county's most talented musicians were selected to perform in the 2023 All-County concerts, which took place on December 2 at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. Videos of the concerts are now available for online viewing.

Middle School All-County Band Concert 

Guest Conductor: Erren Lee, dean of students, Kenwood High School

High School All-County Band Concert 

Guest Conductor: Dr. Andrea Brown, associate director of bands, University of Maryland, College Park

Middle School All-County Orchestra Concert 

Guest Conductor: Lily Wang, orchestra teacher, Ridgely Middle School

High School All-County Orchestra Concert 

Guest Conductor: Dr. Anna Binneweg, orchestra director, Anne Arundel Community College, and music director, Londontowne Symphony Orchestra

Middle School All-County Chorus Concert 

Guest Conductor: Thomas Dickerson, vocal music teacher, Catonsville Middle School

High School All-County Chorus Concert 

Guest Conductor: Dr. Kyle Weary, assistant professor of music education and choral director, Gettysburg College

Annual Shop with a Cop event builds relationships, brightens holidays

More than 100 Baltimore County Public Schools students and Baltimore County police officers participated in this year's annual Shop with a Cop event on December 16. The Optimist Club of Baltimore County provides a $125 gift card to each student, which they are able to spend buying gifts for family members and friends as well as for themselves. (Video shared courtesy of Baltimore County Police Department)

Deadline for Student Member of the Board applications is Monday, January 8

The deadline to submit the Student Member of the Board application for 2024-2025 is Monday, January 8, 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.

Assistance is available for securing internet access

Here are three options for families that need assistance with paying for or obtaining internet access at home.

The Maryland Emergency Broadband Benefit service

This service provides eligible families access to free or reduced-cost internet access for their homes. The Maryland Emergency Broadband Benefit can be accessed online by going to a Baltimore County Public Library branch and using the available internet access. 

Baltimore County Public Library

Baltimore County Public Library has a ‘Long-Term Device Lending Program’ that allows library patrons to sign out a Chromebook and/or a cellular hotspot for up to six months.

The Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program

Families can contact the Affordable Connectivity Program directly by calling 877-384-2575. Services are available in multiple languages. Families must qualify for the service. A family can also contact a participating internet access/broadband provider directly to find out more about the application process. 

Save the date for upcoming information sessions on federal student aid for college

BCPS is partnering with the Community College of Baltimore County to offer four opportunities for families to receive information and support about 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:

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.

"Growing Garden" by Tahreem Yaseen, Grade 11, Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts. Work featured in The 2023 Winter Art Exhibition at THE AVENUE at White Marsh.

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

This New Year's, resolve to support The Education Foundation of BCPS

As its own New Year's resolutions, The Education Foundation of BCPS has resolved to increase grant funds awarded to teachers and schools for innovative programs; increase the number of scholarships available to graduating seniors; and introduce new fundraising events to support its educator resource centers.

A new Mission Moment blog post suggest 12 New Year's resolutions BCPS stakeholders can make to benefit Team BCPS students and educators.

A word from Dr. Rogers (Yarbrough)

January 2, 2024

Dear Reader:

Here we are again at the beginning of a new year! I extend to every Team BCPS stakeholder best wishes for positive growth and continued learning.

BCPS ended 2023 by announcing a wonderful new partnership to supplement the amazing work of our school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers. Now our high school students, ages 13 and over, can access unlimited telehealth therapy at any time via Talkspace, a leading online behavioral health care company – at no cost to the students or their families.

We were also happy to announce, as part of our ongoing efforts to expand full-day PreKindergarten, that this month two new full-day classes will begin at Dogwood Elementary School and one at Lyons Mill Elementary School.

In addition, students at Red House Run and Summit Park elementary schools returned to state-of-the-art new school buildings post-winter break.

Let's keep up the amazing momentum and make 2024 the best year ever for BCPS!

In partnership,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Upcoming advisory group and boundary study meetings

All are welcome to attend

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

The Superintendent's FY 2025 Budget Proposal presentation

Monday, January 8, at 9 a.m.

George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Rd., Towson 21204. The presentation will be live-streamed on the BCPS YouTube channel.

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: "Advanced Placement 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”