Saturday, Dec. 10
Come hear the finest middle school musicians in BCPS
What: More than 240 of Baltimore County's finest student musicians will perform at the annual Baltimore County Public Schools Middle School Honors Concert. Conductors for the concert are Holly Pasquale, music teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools, directing the Honor Orchestra; Kevin Allen, music teacher in Prince Georges County Public Schools, directing the Honors Chorus; and Lori Schwartz Reichl, music teacher in Howard County Public Schools, directing the Honors Band.
When: Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Where: Owings Mills High School, 124 Tollgate Rd., 21117
Contact: The Office of Music and Dance, 443.809.4024
It’s BCPS Employee and Student Achiever Night with the Baltimore Blast
What: The Blast will celebrate education as the indoor soccer team hosts Baltimore County Public Schools’ Employee and Student Achiever Night. Every BCPS employee can receive one free ticket with the purchase of a full-price ticket. Student achievers will be awarded one free ticket by their school administration/ teacher and can attend the Baltimore Blast game with the purchase of one or more discounted adult tickets. For every ticket purchased, the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools receives $2 from the Blast organization. All proceeds support school-based 21st Century Instructional Initiative Grants and post-secondary scholarship opportunities. On this night, the Blast will compete against the Florida Tropics.
When: Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:35 p.m.
Where: Royal Farms Arena, 201 W Baltimore St., 21201
Contact: Deborah Phelps, 443.809.8962
A holiday shopping experience comes to Randallstown High
What: At the Randallstown High School Holiday Bazaar, more than 50 vendors will sell baked goods, jewelry, T-shirts, crafts, and much more. The event, which is the PTSA’s largest fundraiser of the year, is free and open to the public. The bazaar will feature a free Kids Wood Workshop sponsored by Home Depot, and Santa will even make an appearance. Participants can have cookies with Santa and take a picture with him at 10:30 a.m.
When: Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: Randallstown High School, 4000 Offutt Rd., 21133
Contact: Aubrey Brown, 410.887.0748, or Kristina Boxley,
kboxley@bcps.org or 410.887. 0750
Author Jennifer Keats Curtis to spend week at Westowne Elementary
What: Maryland-based author Jennifer Keats Curtis will spend a week at Westowne Elementary School, visiting each class to talk about the process of writing a book. Curtis is well-known for her books focusing on animals found in the Mid-Atlantic region.
When: Monday, Dec. 12, through Friday, Dec. 16 (contact school for exact times)
Where: Westowne Elementary School, 401 Harlem Ln., 21228
Contact: John Palmer or Randi Singer, 443.809.0854
Tuesday, Dec. 13
Sounds of the season at Patapsco High School
What: The public is invited to enjoy an evening of music with the band and orchestra ensembles of Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts. All guests are asked to bring unwrapped gifts suitable for a woman or child. All gifts will be donated to a local charity by the school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.
Where: Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts, 8100 Wise Ave., 21222
Contact: Craig Reed, 410.887.7060
Visit the BCPS Parentmobile at Reisterstown Elementary
What: Visitors board the Parentmobile to learn about BCPS' curriculum, at-home learning resources, the BCPS website, community resources, and resources to support families of students with special needs or limited English proficiency. Parents and guardians are invited to visit. No registration is required.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 6 – 8 p.m.
Where: Reisterstown Elementary School, 223 Walgrove Rd., 21136
Contact: Lynne Palmer, 410.887.1133
Students at Seventh District Elementary celebrate the season with music
What: Led by vocal music teacher Lauren Moiles and instrumental music teacher Kimberley Kiper, Grade 5 students at Seventh District Elementary School will present their annual Winter Concert. The program is free and open to the community.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.
Where: Seventh District Elementary School Cafetorium, 20300 York Rd., 21120
Contacts: Heather Denmyer or Glenda Carman, 410.887.1902
Area foundations, businesses to Maiden Choice School
What: Dee’s Vision, HOF City Sports Marketing, Under Armour, Pet Smart, Target, and Walmart are contributing to Maiden Choice School this year. Dee’s Vision and HOF City Sports Marketing foundations will visit the school to offer music and fun-filled educational activities for all students. Activities will include story time, craft activities, multi-sensory activities, and a toy station (where students will be able to select a toy).
When: Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Maiden Choice School, 4901 Shelbourne Rd., 21227
Contact: Dr. Nancy Briganti, 410.887.1431
Wednesday, Dec. 14
Expo and bazaar showcases CTE student projects at Milford Mill
What: Milford Mill Academy is hosting a Career and Technology Education Winter Expo and Bazaar. The Expo will highlight unique CTE student projects in business, automotive, construction, cosmetology, and family and consumer sciences. At the Bazaar, community and school organizations will showcase their arts and crafts and services.
When: Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 9:35 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Where: Milford Mill Academy, 3800 Washington Ave., 21244
Contact: Kyria Joseph, 410.887.0660
Catonsville High students share their music at Hillcrest Elementary
What: As part of the Vocal Music Winter Schedule 2016 at Catonsville High School, the chorale & madrigal singers will perform at Hillcrest Elementary School.
When: Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 9:45 a.m.
Where: Hillcrest Elementary School, 1500 Frederick Road, 21228
Contact: Matthew Ames or James Walker (
jwalker4@bcsp.org), 410-887-0808
Visit the BCPS Parentmobile at Edgemere Elementary
What: Visitors board the Parentmobile to learn about BCPS' curriculum, at-home learning resources, the BCPS website, community resources, and resources to support families of students with special needs or limited English proficiency. Parents and guardians are invited to visit. No registration is required.
When: Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 5:30 – 8 p.m.
Where: Edgemere Elementary School, 7201 North Point Rd., 21219
Contact: Jennifer Lynch, 410.887.7507
Central Area advisory group to meet, discuss grading
What: The Central Area Education Advisory Council meets monthly to discuss topics related to BCPS. This month’s meeting will focus on the grading policy. The meeting is open to the public and no registration is required.
When: Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m.
Where: Greenwood, 6901 N. Charles St., Building E, 21204
Dulaney engineering students developing design for Chandler’s Chariot
What: Engineering (Project Lead the Way) students at Dulaney High School will be developing their preliminary design for a custom bike for a V-LINC client. V-LINC is a Baltimore-based nonprofit organization that develops custom devices for people with disabilities. Volunteer engineers team up with student engineers and medical professionals, to design one-of-a-kind devices to enhance independence and to help others enjoy life more fully. Chandler is a 9-year old boy with cerebral palsy who is unable to ride a regular bike. The bike-like vehicle the Dulaney students are designing is known as "Chandler's Chariot."
When: Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 8 – 9 a.m.
Where: Dulaney High School, 255 Padonia Rd., 21093
Contact: Sam Wynkoop, 410.887.7633, or Angela Tyler, 410.554.9168
Thursday, Dec. 15
Voices of the season at Patapsco High
What: The public is invited to enjoy a second evening of music with the vocal ensembles of Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts. All guests are asked to bring unwrapped gifts suitable for a woman or child. All gifts will be donated to a local charity by the school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society.
When: Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.
Where: Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts, 8100 Wise Ave., 21222
Contact: Craig Reed, 410.887.7060
Pikesville High students to be guest readers at Wellwood International Elementary
What: AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students as well as student future educators from Pikesville High School will visit Wellwood International Elementary School to read to Grade 1 students.
When: Thursday, Dec. 15, from 1:30 – 3 p.m. (Snow day: Dec. 22)
Where: Wellwood International Elementary School, 2901 Smith Ave., 21208
Contact: Sandra Reid or Jennifer Meltzer, 410.887.1217
Youngest Edgemere students to showcase their voices
What: Edgemere Elementary School students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 will perform in a free winter concert. In addition to the concert, Grade 5 students have created a “selfie station.” Concertgoers are invited to take pictures at the station for a nominal fee. Funds raised will be used to purchase water seers (devices that purify water) for communities in need.
When: Thursday, Dec. 15, from 6:30 p.m.
Where: Edgemere Elementary School, 7201 North Point Rd., 21219
Contact: Jennifer Lynch, 410.887.7507
Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce demonstrates its caring for BCPS students
What: The Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce is continuing its annual tradition of providing holiday gifts and other needed support to the students of the 17 BCPS schools that are chamber members. This project is organized by the chamber’s workforce development committee. At the center of this effort is a Secret Santa, who along with his friends and family members, aims this year to provide gifts for 85 students. These students are identified by their school counselors and lists are developed to ensure that students receive gifts they want and need. A large bag of wrapped gifts for each student is delivered to chamber offices. School counselors come to pick up the gifts and sometimes deliver them to the students’ homes while the students are in school. In addition, the Community College of Baltimore County gives gift cards to middle and high school students, and Breakthrough Beverage provides assistance as needed to families.
When: Thursday, Dec. 15
Gifts will be dropped off by donors: 11 – 11:30 a.m.
School counselors will pick up gifts for their students: 12:45 - 3:30 p.m.
Where: Chesapeake Gateway Chamber, 405 Williams Ct., Suite 108, 21220
Contact: Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce, 443.317.8763
Friday, Dec. 16
Singers and steel drums highlighted at Catonsville High event
What: Catonsville High School will enjoy its annual musical assembly featuring the choir, chorale, and madrigals, along with the Catonsville High School Steel Band.
When: Friday, Dec. 16, at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Catonsville High School, Wharton Hall (auditorium), 421 Bloomsbury Ave., 21228
Contact: Matthew Ames or Chris Gnagey (
cgnagey@bcps.org), 410.887.0808
Student leaders to gather for BCSC General Assembly
What: A total of 236 student leaders from 20 high schools and 14 middle schools will attend a Baltimore County Student Councils General Assembly.
When: Friday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: Goucher College, Athenaeum, 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd., 21204
Contact: Nora Murray, 443.809.4329
ONGOING!
Blueprint 2.0 student photo contest expanded, extended
What:A newly expanded and extended Baltimore County Public Schools contest challenges students of all ages to take photographs that capture essential elements of the school system. The contest was initially open to high school students only. As part of the ongoing We Are Team BCPS campaign, the student photography contest is focused on the four goal areas of
Blueprint 2.0, the school system’s strategic plan. Those goal areas are: academics, safety, communications, and organizational effectiveness. The four winning photos – one representing each goal area – will be reproduced on posters distributed to all schools. All appropriate entries will be showcased on the
BCPS Flickr page. Students are asked to submit all photos electronically to
communications@bcps.org and to submit no more than one photo in each of the four categories. The photos will be reviewed by a panel of visual arts educators and communications staff, and winning photos will be announced by mid-January 2017. For more information, please see
http://www.bcps.org/news/articles/article9374.html.
Deadline: Thursday, Dec. 22, by 4:45 p.m.
Contact: Department of Communications and Community Outreach, 443.809.5908
Glenmar Elementary is looking out for animals this holiday season
What: Glenmar Elementary School is collecting pet toys, food, treats, blankets, beds, collars/leashes, and more for its Paws for a Cause
initiative! Donations are being stored in a dog house display in the main lobby of the school. All donations will be given to the Defenders of Animal Rights Shelter, a no-kill shelter in Phoenix, MD.
When: Through Thursday, Dec. 22
Where: Glenmar Elementary School, 9700 Community Dr., 21220
Contact: Dr. Delores Tedeschi-Butler (
dbutler2@bcps.org) or Jessica Platt (
jplatt@bcps.org), 410.887.0127
Book that brings BCPS history to life – available for purchase
What: The book, Building the Future, takes readers on a 276-page journey showcasing the history of Baltimore County Public Schools in a way that has never been done before. Through a compilation of stories, photos, and testimonials, the full-color commemorative book describes the school system’s growth—and occasional growing pains—and how Baltimore County Public Schools ultimately rose from humble beginnings in 1732, to a school system renowned for both its stability and innovation. Proceeds from the book benefit The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools. For information about purchasing the book, please contact Deborah Phelps at
dphelps@bcps.org or Bonnie Derda at
bderda@bcps.org. Both can be reached at 443.809.8962.
