News from Baltimore County Public Schools, Maryland

TOWSON, MD. – Students from Fort Garrison and Summit Park elementary schools took grand prize honors at the 10th annual BCPS Elementary STEM Fair, which featured more than 600 students displaying science projects from across the school system. The day-long STEM Fair (for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) at Parkville High School on May 18 featured entrants from 104 Baltimore County elementary schools. It showcased 200 of the best science displays from the system’s fourth- and fifth-graders. Another 385 Grade 3 students competed in the Safe Racer Challenge, which involves designing and racing a vehicle safe enough to protect an egg from impacts, shocks and crashes. “The Elementary STEM Fair is to science what the Super Bowl was to the Ravens,” said Eric Cromwell, BCPS coordinator of elementary science. “Elementary students are natural scientists and engineers. This event capitalizes on their innate curiosity to comprehend the universe and honors their efforts to understand it.” The Grade 4 grand prize went to Nathan Fuss of Fort Garrison Elementary School for his project,“Keeping You in Suspens(ion).” Noam Borgnia of Summit Park Elementary School won the Grade 5 grand prize for his project titled, “It’s a Fluid, It’s a Solid, It’s a Non-Newtonian!” Each student earned a microscope provided by long-time sponsor Alpha & Omega Service, Inc. During the event’s awards ceremony, students also won medals for honorable mention, fourth, third, second and first place projects, as well as a series of content-specific project awards. A complete list of participants and award winners may be viewed at http://www.bcps.org/offices/science/science_fairs.html.

What: Shannon Martello of Hereford High School and Edgar Walker of Kenwood High School will be presented the 26th Annual Mildred Murray All-Academic Scholar-Athlete Awards and Scholarships during a special ceremony hosted by Superintendent Dr. S. Dallas Dance and former athletics coordinator Mildred Murray. The $2,000 scholarships are given annually to a female and male senior student-athlete who have maintained a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA for each quarter and have participated in at least two varsity sports. Martello participated in field hockey, indoor track and outdoor track, while Walker participated in soccer, indoor track and baseball.When:Thursday, May 30, 2013, at 3 p.m. Where: Baltimore County Public Schools Headquarters Educational Support Services Building, Room 114 6901 Charles Street Towson, Maryland 21204

TOWSON, MD. – Baltimore County Public Schools students who will be graduating in 2014 are encouraged to register now with their school counselors for a free Senior College Application Boot Camp. Coordinated by the BCPS Office of School Counseling, the free “boot camp,” open to all BCPS rising seniors, will review a range of topics including the common application, essay preparation, NCAA eligibility, selective admissions, applications to military academies, state scholarships and other financial aid. Guest speakers will include representatives of Georgetown and Tufts universities. The boot camp will be held Monday, June 24, through Wednesday, June 26, 2013, at Loch Raven High School, 1212 Cowpens Avenue in Towson. On Monday and Tuesday, boot camp hours will be 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. On Wednesday, when the focus will be on scholarships and financial aid, parents will be invited to join their sons and daughters at the boot camp, and the hours that day will be from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Rising seniors who plan to attend the free boot camp should register, before the last day of school, with their school counselors.

TOWSON, MD. – For Catonsville Middle School seventh grader Teddy Plisko, a good knowledge of history is “something you can learn from as you go through life.” This weekend, he’ll learn if his knowledge of the past is enough to place him among the best student historians in the nation. Teddy, 13, will compete June 1 in Atlanta as one of approximately 400 elementary and middle school students in the National History Bee. Sponsored by The History Channel, the national bee tests students’ expertise in a wide range of historical topics – “anything from recorded human history,” Teddy says. Teddy is among about 20 regional champions representing Maryland, Washington, Virginia and West Virginia. He qualified for the national competition during a regional contest on April 28 in Bethesda. “Honestly, I wasn’t convinced I would be here,” he says. “I tried (the bee) out on the school level just to see if I could do it.” In fact, getting to Atlanta was a lesson in perseverance for Teddy. First, he had to compete in an intramural bee after school. The top four finishers there progressed to an online qualifying exam. Top scorers on the online test were invited to compete in the regional bee on April 23, with top scorers completing in the national bee. For Teddy, the son of Marc and Joan Plisko of Catonsville, interest in history started young and evolved organically. “My father is into history, and that kind of rubbed off on me,” he says. “I have always been interested in it, and I just used all my collective knowledge to answer questions.” In the bee, competitors must answer questions quickly by pressing buzzers. Teddy says he prepared for the Atlanta competition by reviewing history study guides and surfing the internet. “History is important to know because, for world leaders who don’t study history, they end up making the same mistakes and getting overthrown,” Teddy says. “It’s just really cool to know what it was like a long time ago.”

TOWSON, MD. – Students from Hereford and Kenwood high schools are recipients of this year’s Mildred Murray All-Academic Scholar Athlete Awards and Scholarships, which were presented May 30 by Mildred Murray and Superintendent Dr. Dallas Dance. The scholarships were given to Shannon Martello, a three-sport varsity athlete who maintains a 4.0 unweighted grade point average (GPA) and ranks first in her class of 368 at Hereford High School, and Edgar Walker, a three-sport varsity athlete who has a 3.96 unweighted GPA and ranks third in his class of 427 at Kenwood High School. Both students were honored during a special ceremony at the Greenwood administrative campus of Baltimore County Public Schools. The scholarships are given annually to a female and male senior scholar-athlete who have maintained a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA and have participated in at least two varsity sports. Murray is a former BCPS coordinator of athletics and physical education who devoted her 43-year career in county schools to promoting excellence in athletics and academics. She has sponsored the scholarship for the past 26 years. It was through her endeavors that the system has a strong foundation for the continued success of athletic programs in the county and state. While at Hereford, Martello participated in field hockey, indoor track and outdoor track. An all-star either on county or state levels for each of her athletic endeavors, she is an AP Scholar with Distinction, member of numerous academic honor societies and avid volunteer in the Hereford community. She will attend Johns Hopkins University in the fall. “Scholar athletes will make the decision that is right of the team and the people around them and their own future, consistently,” Martello wrote in her scholarship application. “A scholar athlete will accomplish what they never thought they would be able to and continue to teach others through their determination and perseverance.” Walker played soccer, indoor track and baseball for Kenwood. A 12-time All-Academic award winner throughout his high school career, he has been involved in 31 different community service projects and founded MDHoops.net, which merged with DMVelite.com to showcase basketball players from across Maryland and Washington. He will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall. “Being a high school athlete is a privilege. Being a student is a responsibility. There is no use leaving everything out on the field if the same is not done in the classroom,” Walker wrote in his application. “I have approached my schoolwork the same way I approach a sport, with the idea that practice is essential, authority should be respected, and everything should be done with maximum effort.”

Saturday, June 1

“Let’s Go Global!” Ethnic Festival slated for Southwest Academy

What: Southwest Academy will sponsor its first ever “Let’s Go Global!” International Ethnic Festival, which is open to the school community and is free of charge as a result of a "Sharing the Dream" grant and funding from MetLife. The festival will include ethnic food and bazaar vendors, student and teacher performances, local community organizations, the BCPS ParentMobile and the Scholastic Book Fair. When: 10 a.m – 1 p.m., Saturday, June 1 Where: Southwest Academy, 6200 Johnnycake Rd., WoodlawnContact: Jessica Kreichauf or Karen Barnes, 410.887.0825

Monday, June 3

Chadwick Elementary School celebrates its Blue Ribbon status

What: Chadwick Elementary School will be honored by state and local education officials for achieving Maryland Blue Ribbon School status. A school-wide assembly will honor the teachers and students as part of a “Tour of Excellence” by State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lillian Lowery. When: 10 - 11:30 a.m., Monday, June 3Where: Chadwick Elementary School, 1918 Winder Rd., Woodlawn Contact: Bill Reinhard, 410.767.0486

Talented teachers at Glyndon Elementary School celebrate behavior success

What: Glyndon Elementary School will host a Teacher Talent Show to honor students who exhibited consistently positive behavior through the school’s “RACE” program during the school year. Teachers and staff will present a variety of acts, including singing, dancing, Zumba demonstrations and more. When: 1:45 p.m., Monday, June 3Where: Glyndon Elementary School, 445 Glyndon Dr., GlyndonContact: Sherri Bell, 410.887.1130

Wednesday, June 5

Charlesmont Elementary School celebrates its Blue Ribbon status

What: Charlesmont Elementary School will be honored by state and local education officials for achieving Maryland Blue Ribbon School status. The event is part of the “Tour of Excellence” of State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lillian Lowery. When: 1 - 3:15 p.m., Wednesday, June 5Where: Charlesmont Elementary School, 7800 W. Collingham Dr., Dundalk Contact: Bill Reinhard, 410.767.0486

Three days of celebration begin at Milbrook Elementary School

What: Milbrook Elementary School will host three events on three days this week as the school year winds down, including a volunteer thank you breakfast on June 5, a reading program reward picnic to celebrate great readers at the school on June 6 and the school’s annual Play Day celebration on the school grounds on June 7. When: June 5 breakfast: 9:15 a.m.; June 6 picnic: 2 p.m.; June 7 Play Day: all dayWhere: Milbrook Elementary School, 4300 Crest Heights Rd., PikesvilleContact: Laurie Rosenberg or Eric Nowicki, 410.887.1225

Friday, June 7

BCPS Title I My Books summer reading program kicks off at McCormick Elementary School

What: The My Books summer reading program will provide every student in grades pre-k through 8 in all Baltimore County Title I schools with a variety of activities and summer reading materials, a backpack full of items and five self-selected fiction and non-fiction books. When: 7:30 – 8:30 a.m., Friday, June 7 Where: McCormick Elementary School, 5101 Hazelwood Avenue, OverleaContact: Michelle Stansbury, 410.887.3487

Pleasant Plains Elementary School hosts breakfast to thank volunteers

What: Pleasant Plains Elementary School will host a volunteer breakfast to thank and recognize volunteers who have given their time and talents during the course of the school year. During breakfast, there will be a choral music presentation. When: 8:45 – 9:45 a.m., Friday, June 7 Where: Pleasant Plains Elementary School, 8300 Pleasant Plains Rd., TowsonContact: Maureen Partilla or Tracy Barr, 410.887.3549

Second annual “Reading on the Lawn” kicks off summer at Wellwood International School

What: Wellwood International School will hold its 2nd Annual “Reading on the Lawn” event to kick off the school’s summer reading season. All students and staff will be out on the school’s lawn and reading books during this event, and students from Pikeville High School will join students to emphasize the importance of reading at all grade and age levels. When: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., June 7Where: Wellwood International School, 2901 Smith Ave., PikesvilleContact: Donna Anderson, 410.887.1212

Featherbed Lane Elementary School to host “I Love STEM” Day

What: Featherbed Lane Elementary School will host an “I Love STEM” Day at the school featuring activities relating to science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as an appearance by the BCPS Parentmobile, a rolling, retrofitted school bus that provides a wealth of information about BCPS and other educational resources to parents and visitors. When: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Friday, June 7 Where: Featherbed Lane Elementary School, 6700 Richardson Rd., WoodlawnContact: Tiffany Livingstone, 410.887.1302

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Baltimore County Public Schools, the nation’s 26th largest school district, educates more than 107,000 students each year. The school system has earned a national reputation for academic rigor and student achievement for all and attracts recognition for its emphasis on college-readiness and the excellence of its high schools and fine arts instruction.

What: Before there was a popular “eat local” movement and before restaurants promoted themselves as “farm to table,” Baltimore County Public Schools took the lead in educating its students about the science of agriculture and its impact on the environment. Through a unique Mobile Agriculture Science Laboratory – the only one of its kind in Maryland and the first of its kind in the nation – BCPS reaches students at approximately 17 middle schools each year. The final stop for the program this school year is Ridgely Middle School where the lab will be stationed throughout the remainder of this week. When: Through Friday, June 7, 2013 Please call for specific hours.Where: Ridgely Middle School 121 Ridgely Road Lutherville, MD 21093Background: The first BCPS Mobile Agriculture Science Lab was created in 1998 and the program was re-launched in 2008 as a partnership among BCPS, the Baltimore County Farm Bureau and the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service. The 42’ long mobile lab is staffed by teacher Amy Gladfelter and can accommodate 20-30 students at a time at its 11 customized hands-on learning stations. At each school visited, the lab stays for eight to 10 days working with the school’s science teachers to incorporate agriculture science lessons into the science curriculum. The students visit the lab to extend their learning experiences by participating in hands-on agriscience activities such as studying agriculture and green industry careers; creating landscape models and observing the effects of precipitation on pollutants; making plastic from corn products to understand the importance of biodegradable resources; using chemistry skills to make glue from milk; and studying the byproducts produced by Maryland agriculture.

What: A student team from Hereford High School will be the only team from Baltimore County Public Schools competing in the 2013 Washington, D.C., Electric Vehicle Grand Prix, organized by Global EEE and sponsored by Pepco. The team constructed a battery-powered vehicle and will drive against 10 teams from nine other high schools throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The team that wins will be the one that travels the greatest distance in one hour on a closed loop track. The competition is designed to allow students to apply their knowledge of engineering, science and mathematics principles; better understand renewable energy; and practice project management and teamwork.

When: Saturday, June 8, 2013 Technical qualification begins at 9 a.m. Race kickoff at 12 noonWhere: National Harbor, Maryland 20745 (the lot adjacent to the new Carousel and McLoone’s Pier House) Background: Hereford High School’s involvement in the Electric Vehicle Grand Prix has been supported by the school as well as the BCPS Office of Career and Technology Education. Students involved in the project are: Current students McKenzie Clark Chris Heckert Karl Passapae Chris Paton Joshua Perry Nick Pindale Tyler Principio Stephanie Reynolds Maddie Westwater2013 graduates Margaret Aske Taylor Blevins Matt Brady Jesse Dubel Matt Lambert Steven Nawrocki Brian Palmer Michael Riley The advisor is Hereford High’s technology education department chair Michael Dodd-O. The electric vehicles in the competition are all designed to hold a single person and meet specific design and safety rules. They are powered by deep cycle lead acid battery packs weighing 73 pounds or less. To reduce risk, an official kit comprised of the necessary components was developed by NuGen Mobility for all participating teams. As the team members from Hereford High prepared for the event, they were visited last month by Dr. Nabih E. Bedewi, the managing director of Global EEE, and Eric Takamura, president/CEO of NuGen Mobility. Bill Aske, a retired engineer, mentored students during the initial phase of project development. For more information about the 2013 Washington, D.C., Electric Vehicle Grand Prix, visit http://globaleee.org/DCEVGP.html.

What: To encourage summer reading, Baltimore County Public Schools and partner Scholastic will kick off a new program to provide book packs and reading support for 23,000 pre-kindergarten through Grade-8 students at the county’s 49 Title I schools. The “My Books Summer Reading Program” will launch with a celebration at McCormick Elementary School. When: Wednesday, June 5, 2013, from 7:45 - 8:45 a.m.Where: McCormick Elementary School 5101 Hazelwood Ave. Overlea, Maryland 21206Background: The My Books program will provide five self-selected and age-appropriate fiction and non-fiction books provided by Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company. In addition, the program will provide a summer reading journal, activity worksheets for each book, access to online resources and materials, a parent information letter, a drawstring knapsack as a take-home reading bag, and a letter from BCPS Superintendent Dr. Dallas Dance.

What: Students, faculty and staff at Charlesmont Elementary School will welcome State Superintendent of Schools Lillian Lowery, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Dallas Dance and state and local dignitaries at a special assembly to celebrate Charlesmont being named a 2013 Maryland Blue Ribbon School. The event will include student performances and a tour of the school. When: Wednesday, June 5, 2013, from 1 – 2:30 p.m. Where: Charlesmont Elementary School 7800 W. Collingham Drive Dundalk, Maryland 21222Background: The celebration is part of Dr. Lowery’s “Tour of Excellence” to Blue Ribbon Schools across Maryland. Along with Chadwick Elementary School, which celebrated its Blue Ribbon designation on June 3, Charlesmont was one of two Baltimore County schools selected by the state as 2013 Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools. Six schools in the state received the 2013 distinction, and Baltimore County is the only county to boast two schools with the award. Each year, the Maryland State Department of Education selects Blue Ribbon schools based on a variety of criteria, including leadership, teaching environment, curriculum and instruction and indicators of success such as student and school performance assessments. Nineteen Baltimore County Public Schools have been named Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools since 1994, of which 14 were later designated national Blue Ribbon Schools.

TOWSON, MD. – A special “Summer Edition” episode of “BCPS News,” which spotlights Baltimore County Public Schools’ achievements and progress, is on the air through Sunday, July 1. The show is hosted by Mary Beth Marsden, a local Emmy Award®-winning broadcaster. Produced twice monthly during the school year by BCPS-TV, "BCPS News" airs daily at 12:30 a.m., 5:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 73 and Verizon FiOS Channel 34 in Baltimore County. Additionally, the program is available online at www.bcps.org/news/ed_channel and http://www.youtube.com/user/BaltCoPS. This special 15-minute episode includes stories about:

The BCPS School Resource Officer program, which was established in partnership with Baltimore County Police as a way of informing students about law enforcement as well as a way to help keep students and schools safe.
School counselor Betty Edwards, who retires this year after spending a half century educating and supporting students – all at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts.
The diversity of the school system’s student body, which reflects Baltimore County’s increasingly diverse communities and enriches the educational experience.
The graphic talents of student Noah Cutwright, a Lansdowne High School artist with a knack for creative cartooning.

A segment called “What’s Trending” provides a retrospective of news highlights from the past school year, including the arrival of Superintendent Dr. Dallas Dance, the opening of the new building for George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology and major renovation projects at Parkville High School and Milford Mill Academy. Since 1983, the school system’s television station has produced original and instructional programming, interactive DVDs, commercial satellite downlinks and live telecasts to serve the informational needs of students, parents, educators and citizens of Baltimore County. BCPS-TV also provides opportunities for BCPS students, staff and stakeholders to learn about and gain experience in television and video production. BCPS-TV student interns for the 2013-2014 school year were seniors Abby Kousouris of Hereford High School, Khalida Volou of Chesapeake High School and Erin Tyszko of Perry Hall High School. Other original programs airing on BCPS-TV include “High School Sports Scene,” “Math Homework Helpers,” “SAT Review,” “Student Art Break,” “Student Production Showcase,” “Up Beat” and “The Chalkboard.” The Education Channel also records and airs system-wide music and recognition events, as well as recorded and live-stream broadcasts of the public meetings of the Baltimore County Board of Education. A viewing schedule for BCPS-TV is available at www.bcps.org/apps/edchannel_schedule/.

What: Movies produced by five Baltimore County Public Schools students will premiere at the Second Annual Baltimore High School Film Festival. Selected for their cinematography, content, continuity, editing and script, the films will screen in a lineup with 15 other submissions. The featured movies by BCPS students are:

“Self Addressed” by Lizz Astor, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
“To Choose” by Georgia Beatty, Carver Center
“Ugly and Diseased” by Aiden Callahan, Carver Center
“Tennis Ball” by Austin Fleck, Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts
“Smoothie” by Leo Johnson, Carver Center

When: Thursday, June 6, 2013, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.Where: The Charles Theater 1711 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201Background: Founded by Beatriz Bufrahi, the Baltimore High School Film Festival offers students the opportunity to submit works 12 minutes or less in length and share their interest in cinematography with a community of aspiring filmmakers. This year entries were judged by Eric Dyer (animation), Lee Gardner (the mix), Christopher Reed (documentary), Marc Steiner (advocacy/social justice) and Patrick Wright (narrative short).

TOWSON, MD. - The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education of Baltimore County will be held on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. The Building and Contracts Committee of the Board will meet at approximately 3:30 p.m. The full Board will meet in open session at approximately 4:45 p.m. to discuss upcoming school board association events, school system and community meetings and items of interest to Board members. The Board will then move immediately into closed session. The Board will resume its open session at approximately 7:00 p.m. The school system is committed to accessible communication with its stakeholders. To that end, the Board of Education meetings are live-streamed and can be viewed on the BCPS Web site (www.bcps.org). The meeting(s) will be at ESS Building, Room 114, on the Greenwood Campus, 6901 Charles Street, in Towson. The public is welcome to attend all open sessions of the Board.

TOWSON, MD. – Baltimore County Public Schools has attained the second-highest graduation rate among the nation’s 50 largest school districts, according to a report released today by Education Week. The BCPS graduation rate was 84 percent for the Class of 2010, according to the Diplomas Count 2013 report titled “Second Chances: Turning Dropouts Into Graduates.” Previous reports ranked the school system in fourth place nationally, based on graduation rates of 77.8 percent in 2011 and 81.2 percent in 2012. “A lot of hard work in our schools and classrooms has gone into making sure our students graduate on time and are well prepared for their post-secondary educational or work careers,” said Superintendent Dr. S. Dallas Dance. “This graduation rate is an achievement we can be proud of, but it’s not one we can settle for. With the resources we already have in place – dropout prevention efforts at every high school, our credit recovery initiative and our e-learning program, among others – we anticipate our graduation rate will continue to increase. As our Blueprint 2.0 plan comes online this summer, we can and will do better.” The 2010 BCPS graduation rate equals the graduation rate for Montgomery County Public Schools and is surpassed only by the 85 percent graduation rate in another Washington, D.C., suburban school district -- Fairfax County, Va. But the BCPS rate exceeds that of Maryland (78.6 percent; up from 77.9 percent in 2009) and is significantly higher than the rate for the nation (74.7 percent, up from 73.4 percent in 2009). The BCPS rate also mirrors a positive trend in graduation rates among three-quarters of the nation’s large districts, where Education Week said rates were higher than expected considering the districts’ size, poverty levels and other characteristics. Since 2006 when Education Week first published its annual Diplomas Count report, BCPS has consistently ranked near the top among the nation’s 50 largest school systems having the highest overall graduation rate. The report is based on the U.S. Department of Education’s Common Core of Data and uses the Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) method of determining graduation rates. The Diplomas Count 2013 report may be found at http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2013/06/06/index.html?intc=EW-DC13-LNAV and the list of graduation rates for the nation’s 50 largest districts may be found at http://www.edweek.org/media/dc-large-school-exceeds-expectations-p14-c1.pdf.

TOWSON, MD— Twenty-three Baltimore County Public Schools students received awards during a closing reception for works displayed in the 27th Annual High School Art Exhibit on Monday, June 3, 2013. Hosted in Goucher College’s Rosenberg Gallery from Wednesday, May 29, 2013, to Monday, June 3, 2013, the exhibition showcased artwork submitted by 86 students from BCPS high schools. Among the featured works were drawings, paintings and photographs. Eight judges individually scored each submission before a tally of all scores determined the award recipients. Winners of the awards are: Best in Show Amber Triplett, Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, digital mediaFirst Place Kimberly Londer, Sparrows Point High School, other media Erika Rivera, Parkville High School, paintingSecond Place Evangeline Gallagher, Catonsville High School, mixed mediaThird Place Justin Robey, Hereford High School, other mediaBest Drawing Krysta Hoover, Patapsco High School and Center for the ArtsBest Painting Safiya Brown, Patapsco High School and Center for the ArtsBest Photograph Miranda Szabelski, Loch Raven High SchoolBest Three-Dimensional Alex Wanless, Patapsco High School and Center for the ArtsHonorable Mentions Rowan Bathurst, Towson High School, painting Dylan Beatty, Towson High School, digital photography Shane Duhaney, Owings Mills High School, drawing Juliet Meiying Ercolano, Towson High School, digital photography Kayleigh Harper, Parkville High School, photography Brooke Herold, Perry Hall High School, drawing Kim Jenkins, Randallstown High School, digital photography Mandi LeSavage, Hereford High School, painting Margaux Williams, Towson High School, painting Megan Weeren, Hereford High School, photography Representatives of the law firm of Azreal, Franz, Schwab and Lipowitz also presented independent awards during the closing reception. Winners of the independent awards are: First Place Raychael Norton, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, three-dimensionalSecond Place Evangeline Gallagher, Catonsville High School, mixed mediaThird Place Kimberly Londer, Sparrows Point High School, other mediaHonorable Mentions Lizz Astor, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, other media Elizabeth Grap, Catonsville High School, three-dimensional Erika Rivera, Parkville High School, painting Samuel Thuman, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, painting

TOWSON, MD. – Next week, students, faculty and staff will say goodbye to 34 educators who have each dedicated more than 35 years of service to students in Baltimore County Public Schools. Among the educators retiring at the end of the school year is Betty Edwards, who’s spent 50 consecutive years at Patapsco High School and Center for Arts, first as a physical education teacher and now as a guidance counselor; Deborah Bittner, the principal of Catonsville High School who will retire after nearly 42 years in county schools; two husband and wife couples retiring with combined service of 73 and 70 years; and three Towson High School teachers each retiring with more than 40 years of service. Educators retiring with 35 or more years of service to BCPS include:

Betty Edwards of Middle River, retiring from Patapsco High School and Center for Arts with 50 years of service
Ray Settle of Arnold, retiring from Western School of Technology with 47 years of service
Leonard Bostian of Jarrettsville, retiring from Towson High School with 45 years of service
Alfred Olsen of Delta, Pa., retiring from Towson High School with 45 years of service
Alicia Ruppersberger of Lutherville, retiring from Golden Ring Middle School with 44 years of service
John Lange of Cockeysville, retiring from Hereford High School with 44 years of service
Deborah Bittner of Halethorpe, retiring from Catonsville High School with 42 years of service
Patricia Pinzuti of Parkville, retiring from Timber Grove Elementary School with 41 years of service
Jennifer Traynham of Catonsville, retiring from Relay Elementary School with 41 years of service
Kathie McLaughlin of Windsor Mill, retiring from Baltimore Highlands Elementary School with 40 years of service
Michael Gladden of Red Lion, Pa., retiring from Towson High School with 40 years of service
John Sheehe of Baltimore, retiring from Sollers Point Technical High School with 40 years of service
Pamela Nevel of Owings Mills, retiring from Milford Mill Academy with 39 years of service
Wanda Carter of Baltimore, retiring from Kenwood High School with 39 years of service
Karen Burns of Lutherville, retiring from Ridge Ruxton School with 39 years of service
Frances Holstein of Parkville, retiring from Parkville Middle School with 38 years of service
Paul Leroy of Bel Air, retiring from Dulaney High School with 38 years of service
Patricia Murphy of Baltimore, retiring from Riderwood Elementary School with 38 years of service
Bernadine Zienkiewicz of Catonsville, retiring from Patapsco High School & Center for Arts with 38 years of service
Connie Clarke of Finksburg, retiring from Fort Garrison Elementary School with 38 years of service
Sharon Shifflett of Forest Hill, retiring from Perry Hall Elementary School with 37 years of service
Raymond Pluemer of Parkville, retiring from Milford Mill Academy with 37 years of service
Marilyn White of Bel Air, retiring from Perry Hall Middle School with 37 years of service
Randi Heilman of Street, retiring from Pine Grove Elementary School with 37 years of service
Cecilia Terlizzi of Hampstead, retiring from Sudbrook Magnet Middle School with 37 years of service
Mary Ellen Pluemer of Parkville, retiring from Pine Grove Middle School with 36 years of service
Walter Isham of Westminster, retiring from Hereford Middle School with 36 years of service
Joanna Ambridge of Bel Air, retiring from Pine Grove Elementary School with 36 years of service
Barbara Yolken of Owings Mills, retiring from Fort Garrison Elementary School with 36 years of service
Edith Howard of Columbia, retiring from Woodmoor Elementary School with 36 years of service
Richard Zentz of Lutherville, retiring from Parkville High School with 35 years of service
Bonnie Zentz of Lutherville, retiring from Battle Monument School with 35 years of service
Angelina Simpson of Baltimore, retiring from Pine Grove Middle School with 35 years of service
Bernard Hynson of Halethorpe, retiring from Arbutus Middle School with 35 years of service

Monday, June 10

Ridge Ruxton School hosts annual awards assembly

What: The school will host its annual awards assembly for students. When: 10 a.m. for elementary/middle students; 1:15 p.m. for middle/high students, Monday, June 10Where: Ridge Ruxton School, 6916 Charles St., TowsonContact: Ed Bennett, 410.887.3594

Tuesday, June 11

“Giving back” activity part of year end lessons at Stemmers Run Middle School

What: As part of a year-end activity they called “Making a Change with Change,” students in several classes at Stemmers Run Middle School researched and selected a charity for which to collect pocket change and raise awareness among classmates. To culminate the project, the students will present a check for more than $500 to the SPCA for the care and treatment of animals. When: 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 11Where: Stemmers Run Middle School, 201 Stemmers Run Road, Middle RiverContact: Gordon Webb, 410.887.0177

Mural to be dedicated at Villa Cresta Elementary School

What: Villa Cresta Elementary School’s Grade 5 class will dedicate a mural inspired by the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, which was created by students with assistance from the school’s Maryland State Arts Council visiting artist, David Cunningham. Using matrials donated from the Home Depot store of Parkville, the mural on a front wall of the school consists of five panels specially designed for durability in the environment. When: 10:30 – 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 11 Where: Front lawn of Villa Cresta Elementary School, 2600 Rader Ave., ParkvilleContact: Sally March or Leslie Dunn, 410.887.5275

Super Summer Learning Fair slated for Sussex Elementary School

What: Sussex Elementary School will host a Super Summer Learning Fair for parents and students to discover a variety of resources available to them to continue learning during summer break, including representatives from the Baltimore County Library, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, and other vendors. The BCPS Parentmobile, a rolling, retrofitted school bus offering educational resources for parents and visitors, also will be on hand during this event. When: 9 – 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 11 Where: Sussex Elementary School, 515 S. Woodward Dr., EssexContact: Tom Bowser, 410.887.0182

Wednesday, June 12

Stoneleigh Elementary School prepares to end its “180-day field trip”

What: At the start of their “180-day field trip” in 2012, Stoneleigh Elementary School staff and students were led by characters from “The Wizard of Oz” in a symbolic parade marking the transition from the Stoneleigh school, which has undergone a major renovation, to their temporary school in the old Carver Center school in Towson. To mark the transition back to their home school in August, students and staff will end the school’s annual awards ceremony by clicking their heels three times, saying “There’s no place like home,” and marching through their temporary school one last time, again escorted by Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch, the Tin Woodsman, and others. When: 1 -3 p.m., Wednesday, June 12Where: Stoneleigh Elementary School at Carver Center, 938 York RoadContact: Christine Warner, 410.887.3600

Wellwood International School art goes on display at the Pikesville Library

What: Artwork created by students from Wellwood International School will go on display at the Pikesville Library during the summer. At the opening night reception, students from the school’s string orchestra will perform. The art from students in grades K-5 support the theme “Digging Into Reading.” When: 6 – 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 12 Where: Pikesville Library, 1301 Reisterstown Rd., PikesvilleContact: Tricia Rueter, 410.887.1212

Friday, June 14

Students get grand farewell for the summer at Battle Monument School

What: Staff at Battle Monument School resume a decades-old tradition of wishing their students well by giving them a boisterous and often emotional parade in their honor to end the school year. As students board buses, the school’s staff parade around the bus loop several times blowing horns, playing music, dancing and applauding and cheering students before they depart for summer vacation. When: 3 p.m., Friday, June 14Where: Battle Monument School, 7801 E. Collingham Dr., DundalkContact: Jerry Easterly, 410.887.7000

TOWSON, MD. – Newly-minted Perry Hall High School graduate Nathaniel Lebedda has received one last graduation accolade – he has been named Baltimore County recipient of a $10,000 Engineering Scholars Awards scholarship from the Northrop Grumman Corp. Lebedda, who received his diploma May 31, is one of 24 Maryland graduating seniors – one from each of the state’s school systems -- to earn the prestigious award. The scholarship, which is payable over four years, is given to students preparing to study an engineering-related field, such as computer science, physics or math. Recipients will be honored at the company’s 11th annual Engineering Scholars Awards Dinner at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel on June 24. Lebedda plans to attend the University of Maryland Baltimore County in the fall and study for a future career in computer or electrical engineering. At Perry Hall, he ranked eighth in his class of 561 and is both a student and a teacher of tae kwon do outside of school. “We are so proud of Nate on his earning a Northrop Grumman Scholarship for his college studies,” said Perry Hall High School Principal George Roberts. “Nate exemplifies the best of Perry Hall High School, and we hope his example will inspire more students to strive for careers in STEM-related fields.” Scholarship recipients must plan to attend an accredited college or university school of engineering as full-time students in an approved engineering program. The funds can be used for tuition, books, room and board, and lab fees. To be eligible, each scholarship applicant had to be a resident of Maryland and a graduating senior this spring from a public or accredited private high school in the state. Applicants also had to have a minimum composite SAT score of 1,700 or ACT score of 27 and a minimum GPA of 3.5. “Northrop Grumman is honored to sponsor this scholarship competition that supports the pursuit of an engineering education by some of the state’s best-qualified math and science students,” said Gloria A. Flach, corporate vice president and president of the company’s Baltimore-based Electronic Systems sector. “These talented students represent the future of our country’s technology and innovation capability.” Northrop Grumman has long been a supporter of education in Baltimore County. The company was involved with the development of Chesapeake High School into the county’s first schoolwide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Academy. The corporation also has worked on several other school system initiatives, including the Virtual Learning Center at Chesapeake High School, a robotics partnership with Deep Creek Middle School, and support for BCPS educators through the Teachers and Engineers for Academic Achievement Program, which links educators with mentor engineers to enhance or implement instruction. Further information about the Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholars program is available at http://www.northropgrumman.com/CorporateResponsibility/Community/Pages/EngScholars.aspx.

What: Stoneleigh Elementary School students and staff are saying goodbye to their current classrooms as they prepare to return to their newly renovated school for the 2013-2014 school year. As school renovations occurred over the past year, Stoneleigh’s classes were held at the old Carver Center in what Principal Christine Warner called a “180 day field trip” for the school. Now, Warner and her colleagues will lead students on a “Wizard of Oz”-themed goodbye tour of the school. Students will click their heels three times while repeating, “There’s no place like home,” then say goodbye to their homerooms while singing Stoneleigh’s version of “We’re Off to See the Wizard”- “We’re Heading Back to Stoneleigh.” The school’s steel drum band will lead the procession. When: Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at 2:30 p.m.Where: Stoneleigh Elementary School at the old Carver Center 938 York Road Towson, MD 21204Background: When complete, the renovations to Stoneleigh Elementary School will include 20,000 square feet of new space, including classroom space for 200 additional seats to accommodate the school’s enrollment. The project also includes the renovation of existing classrooms, library, gym and administrative and health suites; replacement and upgrade to the mechanical, electrical and data systems; expansion of the parking area; and other site improvements. Construction on the project began in June 2012 and will be complete in time for the 2013-2014 school year.

TOWSON, MD. – Austin Fleck, a junior in the art magnet at Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts, won the first place award for animation at the 2013 Baltimore High School Film Festival. Fleck received his $200 award for "The Tennis Ball," which he created in Patapsco High teacher Beth Wagner's multimedia production class. The film can be seen at http://bit.ly/15Rd6RU. The award was presented at the June 6 film festival held at The Charles Theater in Baltimore. Founded by Beatriz Bufrahi, the Baltimore High School Film Festival offers students the opportunity to submit works 12 minutes or less in length and share their interest in cinematography with a community of aspiring filmmakers. Films are judged in five categories: animation, the mix, documentary, advocacy/social justice and narrative short. The judge for the animation category was Eric Dyer, an artist and filmmaker who teaches animation at UMBC. His award-winning films and installations have been exhibited in more than 30 countries, and he has been honored as a Fulbright Fellow and Sundance Film Festival New Frontier Artist, Guggenheim Fellow, and Creative Capital Artist.

Budding scientists featured at 10th BCPS STEM Fair: Fort Garrison, Summit Park students take home top awards

BCPS scholar-athletes to be awarded annual Mildred Murray Award and Scholarship

BCPS students graduating in 2014 invited to free College Application Boot Camp: Students asked to register now for assistance with applications, essays and financial aid

Catonsville Middle School student to compete in National History Bee this weekend: Teddy Plisko will face off against 400 peers

Student-athletes from Hereford, Kenwood high schools win Mildred Murray scholarships

BCPS News Tips – June 1 – 8, 2013: Activities, events and news from Baltimore County Public Schools

BCPS mobile agriculture lab concluding its school visits for the year: Unique program educates middle school students about the science of agriculture

Student team from Hereford High to compete in Electric Vehicle Grand Prix: Students constructed and will drive battery-powered car

To encourage summer reading, BCPS to provide summer book packs for 23,000 students

Charlesmont Elementary School to celebrate Maryland Blue Ribbon School status

New “Summer Edition” episode of “BCPS News” now airing on BCPS-TV: SROs, 50-year educator are among features

BCPS students to show movies at Baltimore High School Film Festival

Board of Education of Baltimore County to meet on Tuesday, June 11

Education Week ranks BCPS graduation rate 2nd highest in nation among large school systems

23 BCPS students receive awards at 27th Annual High School Art Exhibit

34 BCPS educators retiring after 35+ years of service

BCPS News Tips – June 8 – 15, 2013: Activities, events and news from Baltimore County Public Schools

Perry Hall High senior Nathaniel Lebedda honored with engineering scholarship : Northrop Grumman recognizes future engineers

Stoneleigh celebrates end of “180 day field trip”: Students and staff celebrate as they prepare to return to renovated school this fall

Patapsco High student wins award at Baltimore High School Film Festival