Saturday, February 22
High School Physics Olympics and Chemathon events provide focus on science
What: The BCPS Physics Olympics provides the opportunity for students and teachers to showcase science and mathematics skills at the high school level. Teams of six students each from 22 BCPS high schools will use their knowledge of physics in competitive fun, vying for ribbons, medals, and trophies in each event. During the Chemathon, 11 teams of six students each will apply their chemistry knowledge to compete in six events ranging from Jeopardy-style quizzes, to identifying unknown chemicals in a wet lab, to creating the highest bouncing ball. Medals will be awarded to the top three teams, and the first place team will receive a personalized trophy for its school. When: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, February 22
Where: Dulaney High School, 255 Padonia Rd., Timonium 21093Contact: Office of Science, PreK-12, 410.887.4251Middle School STEM Challenge features problem-solving for teams from 22 middle schools
What: Twenty-two BCPS middle schools will send teams to compete in the annual BCPS Middle School STEM Fair Challenge. Each five-student team will rotate through three STEM-type challenges with the event’s focus on student collaboration and problem solving, as well as the development of engineering and design practices. Medals will be awarded to all teams who master the challenge, and an additional award is given for each event to the team whose approach to the challenge is exceptional or unique.When: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, February 22
Where: Cockeysville Middle School, 10401 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville 21093Contact: Office of Science, PreK-12, 410.887.4251Black Saga countywide competition scheduled
What: Scores of teams of knowledgeable students from across Baltimore County Public Schools will meet in the countywide Black Saga competition championship. For several weeks at schools across the system, teams of elementary and middle school students have engaged in school-wide and regional Black Saga competitions to determine who will participate in the morning-long county tournament. Black Saga tests students’ knowledge and awareness of African American history and culture.
When: 8:30 a.m., Saturday, February 22Where: New Town High School, 4931 New Town Blvd., Owings Mills 21117Contact: Timothy Rualo, 410.887.2172Parkville High School Knight Players stages “She Kills Monsters”
What: The Parkville High School Knight Players will perform "She Kills Monsters," a play that focuses on the secret life of a young woman entranced with role-playing. When her sister dies, Agnes finds her Dungeons and Dragons notebook and learns of her sister's alternative lifestyle. A zany comedy, “She Kills Monsters” is a farcical look into teenage life replete with monsters, zombies, and fun. Tickets are $5 at the door.
When: 8 p.m., Saturday, February 22Where: Parkville High School, 2600 Putty Hill Ave., Parkville 21234Contact: Lisa Moose, Steve Devorah, or Lexa Newman, 410.887.5257Owings Mills High School performs “Rent”
What: Owings Mills High School will present the school version of the acclaimed Broadway musical “Rent.” Tickets are $7 for students, $10 for adults and are sold at the door.
When: 7 p.m., Saturday, February 22Where: Owings Mills High School, 124 Tollgate Rd., Owings Mills 21117Contact: Abbey Campbell, 410.887.1700BCPS Student Achiever Night with The Baltimore Blast
What: BCPS students who have been recognized by their schools for being “Student Achievers” in academics, attendance, or character and who are in attendance at the Baltimore Blast game versus Syracuse will be honored on the field during opening ceremonies. The recognition is sponsored by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools.
When: 6:05 p.m., Saturday, February 22Where: Baltimore Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore 21201Contact: Deborah Phelps, 410.887.8962Tuesday, February 25
BCPS and Maryland Teacher of the Year Sean McComb to be recognized by State Board of Education as National Teacher of the Year finalist
What: Sean McComb, a teacher at Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts and the 2013-14 BCPS and Maryland Teacher of the Year, will be honored by the Maryland State Board of Education for being named one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year honors. When: 2 p.m., Tuesday, February 25Where: Maryland State Department of Education, 200 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore 21201Contact: Charles Herndon, 410.887.5908Wednesday, February 26
Superintendent Dallas Dance to be featured speaker at international Future@Now 2014 event
What: BCPS Superintendent Dr. Dallas Dance will be a featured speaker at the second annual Future@Now conference in Washington, D.C. The conference, which will also be streamed live to educators and policy makers across the globe, will focus on public education’s transition from traditional to digital classrooms, and Dr. Dance will discuss Baltimore County Public Schools’ initiative. Additional speakers include U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, U.S. Rep. George Miller, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
When: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 26
Where: 1 Discovery Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910Contact: Mychael Dickerson, 410.887.5908Windsor Mill Middle School to host College Savings Plans parent information night
What: Windsor Mill Middle School will host a parent information meeting presented by the College Savings Plans of Maryland. These plans allow parents to save for college through a variety of affordable and flexible programs. When: 7 p.m., Wednesday, February 26 Where: Windsor Mill Middle School, 8300 Windsor Mill Rd., Randallstown 21244Contact: Francesca Nelson, 443.769.1034 or www.collegesavingsmd.orgBoard of Education to host public hearings on Mays Chapel, Hereford boundary changes
What: The Board of Education will hold public hearings regarding changes to attendance boundary lines proposed for two areas of central Baltimore County. The public is welcome to address a proposed change to the Hereford High School boundary that aligns with the Hereford Middle School boundary and makes Hereford Middle a 100 percent feeder school to Hereford High School. The public is also welcome to address new boundary lines proposed for several elementary schools in the Lutherville-Mays Chapel area. Those proposed boundary line changes will create an attendance zone for the new Mays Chapel Elementary School and help to reduce overcrowding in schools along the York Road corridor. The Board is scheduled to take action on the proposed boundary line changes on Tuesday, March 11. When: 6 p.m., Wednesday, February 26, for the Hereford High School boundary hearing
7 p.m., Wednesday, February 26, for the Mays Chapel/Central Area boundaries hearing
(Snow date: Thursday, February 27, 2014)Where: Loch Raven High School, 1212 Cowpens Ave., Towson 21286
(Snow date location: George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Rd., Towson 21204) Contact: Mychael Dickerson, 410.887.5908Thursday, February 27
Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts presents “The Wizard of Oz” musical
What: Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts presents a classic American story in “The Wizard of Oz.” In the musical, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin man, the Cowardly Lion and Toto will embark on a magical adventure where dreams really do come true and where Dorothy realizes there really is no place like home. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for students and seniors.
When: 7 p.m., Thursday, February 27, through Saturday, March 1, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 2Where: Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts, 8100 Wise Ave., Dundalk 21222Contact: Liberty Grayek, 410.887.7060“Think Like a Seuss” at Powhatan Elementary School’s Dr. Seuss Night
What: Powhatan Elementary School will celebrate the birth of Dr. Seuss on Sunday, March 2, with dancing, art, and guest readers.When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, February 27Where: Powhatan Elementary, 3300 Kelox Road, Woodlawn 21207Contact: Tracy Rogers, 410.887.1330Six BCPS educators to receive state awards for Gifted and Talented teaching
What: Six BCPS educators will be honored at the Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education (EGATE) School Awards reception sponsored by the Maryland Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education. When: 6 – 8 p.m., Thursday, February 27
Where: North County High School, 10 E. 1st Ave., Glen Burnie, MD 21061Contact: gtadvisorycouncil@gmail.com or 410.767.0363Friday, February 28
Superintendent Dance to tour BCPS Lighthouse Schools
What: BCPS Superintendent Dallas Dance will tour each of Baltimore County’s 10 Lighthouse Schools to present the program’s banner and celebrate the school’s selection as the first county schools to adopt the transition from traditional to digital classroom instruction.
When: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Friday, February 28
Where: Contact the Office of Communications for itineraryContact: Mychael Dickerson, 410.887.5908Fit Friday at Mars Estates Elementary School ensures a healthy start to the school day
What: Students at Mars Estates Elementary School who arrive early for school will engage in a running exercise as part of an ongoing Fit Friday program. The students, all in grades 3, 4, or 5, are running to complete a 5-kilometer distance at the school’s pep rally later in the school year. Participating students also complete a variety of exercises at recess or at home.
When: 8 a.m., Friday, February 28Where: Mars Estates Elementary School, 1500 Homberg Ave., Essex 21221Contact: Julie Hendricks or Sharon Whitlock, 410.887.0154Powhatan Elementary School celebrates Black History Month with an assembly of class performances
What: Powhatan Elementary School students will celebrate Black History Month through interpretation and performance of important events and people.When: 1:30 p.m., Friday, February 28 Where: Powhatan Elementary, 3300 Kelox Rd., Woodlawn 21207Contact: Donna Patterson, 410.887.1330“I Love STEM Day” rallies students at Featherbed Lane Elementary School
What: Featherbed Lane Elementary School will celebrate its third annual “I Love STEM Day” with a variety of student presentations, guest speakers discussing how they use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in their jobs, and a robotics team demonstration. The day’s theme -- “STEMulate Your Mind!”
When: 9:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Friday, February 28
Where: Featherbed Lane Elementary School, 6700 Richardson Ave., Woodlawn 21207Contact: Wanda Meekins, Charles Downs, or Renee Johnson, 410.887.1302Ongoing!
Schools across BCPS celebrate Black History Month with variety of lessons
What: Schools across Baltimore County will be celebrating Black History Month with a variety of interesting and unique lessons – here are examples at two schools. In chemistry classes at Catonsville High School, students are learning about Vivien Thomas, a surgical assistant at Johns Hopkins Hospital who developed operative techniques, designed and fabricated surgical equipment, and was part of the team that devised a groundbreaking surgery to correct a congenital heart defect known as “Blue Baby” syndrome. Meanwhile, Catonsville High English students will conduct a rhetorical analysis of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” including a comparison to Henry David Thoreau’s “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.” And at Pikesville Middle School, students will share stories and knowledge about notable black Americans each morning.
When: Please call each school for specific times during February.Where: Catonsville High School, 421 Bloomsbury Ave., Catonsville 21228
Pikesville Middle School, 7701 Seven Mile La., Pikesville 21208Contact: Catonsville High -- Christine Amihere or Melanie Coates, 410.887.0808
Pikesville Middle -- Amanda Doran, 410.887.1207BCPS encourages participation from all stakeholders in online survey
What: All BCPS stakeholders – teachers, parents, staff, community members and students in Grades 4-12 are invited to rate the school system and their schools through the 2014 Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey, which is available on the BCPS website through Friday, February 28. The confidential survey is concise but addresses a variety of topics, including academic rigor, school culture, safety and technology.
When: The survey is available at all times through Friday, March 7.Where: The survey can be accessed from the We Are Team BCPS box on the www.bcps.org or by clicking http://bit.ly/1bNk9Nkk. Contact: Diana Spencer, 410.887.4243
