News from Baltimore County Public Schools, Maryland

TOWSON, MD. – A student team from Hereford High School has qualified to compete in the Electric Vehicle Grand Prix national championship, which will be held October 4-6 in Irvine, Calif. By placing in the top three positions of the Washington, D.C., Electric Vehicle Grand Prix, Hereford High qualified to represent the Mid-Atlantic region at the national event. The Hereford High team was the only team from Baltimore County Public Schools competing in the June 8 regional event, which was organized by Global EEE and sponsored by Pepco. For the competition, held at National Harbor, the team constructed a battery-powered vehicle and drove against 10 teams from nine other high schools throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The object of the Grand Prix was to travel the greatest distance in one hour on a closed loop track. Hereford’s team held the first place position for the first 50 minutes but lost ground after experiencing a battery voltage drop. However, the team had established a large enough lap lead to still finish in third place. The team is comprised of captains McKenzie Clark and Chris Patton, drivers Joshua Perry and Nick Pindale and technician Maddie Westwater. Michael Dodd-O, Hereford High’s technology education department chair, advises the team. Fellow students Christian Botts, Jerry Wyatt, Ana Phillips, Scott Issett and Steven Issett provide additional competition support. Generous donations from competition sponsors will cover the costs of students’ flights and hotel stays as well as vehicle shipment across the country to the national event. The national electric vehicle competition (“the electrathon”) will be held during The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, in which 20 international college teams will showcase solar-powered houses they have designed and built. High school participants will be able to interact with and interview the university teams competing in this innovative engineering challenge.

TOWSON, MD. – Governor Martin O’Malley has appointed three new members and reappointed one existing member to the Board of Education for Baltimore County Public Schools. Marisol A. Johnson, Edward J. Gilliss and Jonathan P. Galla are new appointees who will serve on the board beginning this summer. Johnson and Gilliss will serve five-year terms replacing outgoing members Cornelia Bright Gordon and Valerie Roddy, respectively. Galla, the board’s student representative, will serve a one-year term. Johnson will serve the board as a member at large. She is the owner and CEO of The Johnson Insurance and Financial Service Agency and an active member in the Parent Teacher Association at Summit Park Elementary School. She’s also an advisory board member for the Youth Dreamers of Baltimore, a board member for the Druid Heights Community Center and a member of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce. Gilliss will represent Council district five on the board. He is an attorney practicing civil litigation, administrative law and wills and estate administration as a partner with the Royston, Mueller, McLean & Reid firm in Towson. He is the vice chairman of the board for the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center and recently served as chairman of the Baltimore County Planning Board and county attorney for Baltimore County. Galla is a junior at Hereford High School and a member of the National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta (the mathematics honors society) and the Tri-M Honors Society (the music honors society). He plays the violin for a variety of orchestras, including the BCPS All-Honors Orchestra and Side-by-Side with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He is vice president of the Hereford High School Gay-Straight Alliance and treasurer of the school’s Student Council. David Uhlfelder was reappointed to the board for a second five-year term. A member at large, he is a certified public accountant and President of the David Uhlfelder, P.A. accounting and management consulting firm. For more information on the Baltimore County Board of Education, go to http://www.bcps.org/board/.

TOWSON, MD. –The Board of Education of Baltimore County approved a new five-year strategic plan for Baltimore County Public Schools at last night’s meeting. “Our plan, ‘Blueprint 2.0,’ was developed in collaboration with community stakeholders and will provide direction for the school system through 2018,” said Superintendent S. Dallas Dance. “The ambitious plan rests upon a theory of action that calls for us to prepare globally-competitive graduates by creating equitable digital learning environments and providing all students with the opportunity to become proficient in a second or third language.” The plan features four focus areas: academics, safety and security, communication and organizational effectiveness. In each area, strategies, key actions, progress indicators and performance metrics are specified. Among the 93 key actions are the following: Academics

Evaluate and modify magnet and career and technology education programs to ensure more equitable access for all students.
Provide virtual learning opportunities for all courses required for high school graduation.
Develop and implement a plan to expand prekindergarten programs.

Safety and Security

Implement the student-developed Anti-Bullying Program systemwide.
Implement a summer Safe Schools Academy to support administrators in developing effective safety and security plans.
Execute a systematic, equitable facilities modernization plan that provides for updates to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Communication

Assist schools and offices in increasing community engagement through the strategic use of social and electronic media.
Increase opportunities for in-person communications – such as roundtables, advisory groups and town halls – including outreach to area residents without children in BCPS schools.
Implement a Parent University to support parents in guiding the education of their children.

Organizational Effectiveness

Build a pipeline of highly effective district leaders through staffing procedures and leadership development programs.
Develop and implement vendor evaluations to assess the quality and effectiveness of engineering and construction projects.
Establish BCPS technology standards for school buildings, classrooms, media centers, offices and staff technology proficiency.

“’Blueprint 2.0‘ builds on the legacy of the school system’s previous foundational document, the ‘Blueprint for Progress,’” said Superintendent Dance. “Our new strategic plan will guide us into the future and will keep us accountable and on track to meet our goals.” To view the complete plan, please visit www.bcps.org.

TOWSON, MD. – Due to a water main break in the area, Fullerton Elementary School, located at 4400 Fullerton Ave., will close at 12:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, June 12, 2013. All afterschool and evening activities are cancelled.

TOWSON, MD. – The Maryland Green Schools (MDGS) Program, part of the Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education, recognized six schools from Baltimore County Public Schools as Maryland Green Schools, bringing the system’s total count to 51 Maryland Green Schools. The schools that achieved this distinction for the first time in 2013 are Arbutus Middle, Catonsville Elementary, Elmwood Elementary, Halstead Academy, Sparrows Point High and West Towson Elementary schools. The schools that recertified for this distinction in 2013 are Cromwell Valley Elementary Magnet, Glyndon Elementary, Hereford High, Pinewood Elementary, Stoneleigh Elementary, Timonium Elementary, Westowne Elementary and Windsor Mill Middle schools. To apply for Maryland Green School recognition, a school must complete an application consisting of a school profile; an overview of the school’s top five environmental accomplishments; documentation of the inclusion of the environment in celebration, learning and professional development; reflections on Best Management Practices with regard to maintaining health in a variety of environments; and descriptions of community-based environmental partnerships. Schools that receive Maryland Green School status must recertify every four years. Listed with years of certification and, if applicable, years of recertification, BCPS’ Maryland Green Schools are: Arbutus Middle School: 2013 Berkshire Elementary School: 2006, 2010 Catonsville Elementary School: 2013 Cromwell Valley Elementary School: 1999, 2009, 2013 Dulaney High School: 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012 Dundalk Elementary School: 2008, 2012 Dundalk High School: 2006, 2010 Dundalk Middle School: 2006, 2010 Eastwood Elementary Magnet School: 2009 Elmwood Elementary School: 2013 Fort Garrison Elementary School: 2012 Franklin Elementary School: 2011 Franklin Middle School: 2008, 2012 Glyndon Elementary School: 2005, 2009, 2013 Halstead Academy: 2013 Hereford High School: 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013 Hereford Middle School: 2002, 2006, 2009 Hillcrest Elementary School: 2006, 2010 Holabird Middle School: 2012 Jacksonville Elementary School: 2008, 2012 Joppa View Elementary School: 2010 Kingsville Elementary School: 2011 Loch Raven Technical Academy: 2002, 2010 Logan Elementary School: 2010 Lutherville Laboratory: 2004, 2008, 2012 McCormick Elementary School: 2010 Norwood Elementary School: 2008, 2012 Parkville Middle School and Center of Technology: 2010 Perry Hall High School: 2011 Perry Hall Middle School: 2012 Pikesville Middle School: 2012 Pine Grove Middle School: 2006, 2010 Pinewood Elementary School: 2009, 2013 Pot Spring Elementary School: 2008, 2012 Prettyboy Elementary School: 2007, 2011 Reisterstown Elementary School: 2011 Ridgely Middle School: 2011 Rosedale Center: 2008 Seventh District Elementary School: 2009 Sparks Elementary School: 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012 Sparrows Point High School: 2013 Stoneleigh Elementary School: 2009, 2013 Sudbrook Magnet Middle School: 2012 Sussex Elementary School: 2009 Timonium Elementary School: 2009, 2013 Towson High School: 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012 West Towson Elementary School: 2013 Westchester Elementary School: 2010 Western School of Technology and Environmental Science: 1999, 2004, 2008, 2012 Westowne Elementary School: 2009, 2013 Windsor Mill Middle School: 2009, 2013 Open to all Maryland schools preK-12, public and private, the MDGS Program collaborates with the Maryland State Department of Education to promote environmental literacy among students through classroom lessons and outdoor activities. Since 1977, MDGS has named 454 schools as Maryland Green Schools.

TOWSON, MD. – Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent S. Dallas Dance has selected longtime BCPS employee Stephen J. Coco to serve as principal of the new elementary school in Mays Chapel. “I’m confident that Steve is the best person to bring our vision for Mays Chapel to reality,” Dance said. “He’s served on a team that successfully opened a new elementary school and is prepared to work with community and parent stakeholders to establish a framework for making the school great.” The Board of Education approved Coco as principal last month. A 17-year BCPS educator, he is currently the principal of Cedarmere Elementary School in Reisterstown. Previously, he held assistant principal positions at Hernwood and Bedford elementary schools, served as a Grade 4 classroom teacher and worked as a mentor helping to support teachers with curriculum improvement. He will assume the new role July 1, 2013. “I couldn’t be more excited to have this tremendous opportunity,” Coco said. “Nothing is more important to a strong community than its children, and I look forward to working closely with parents, students and the surrounding community to build partnerships that will create a world-class learning environment for our students.” The 700-seat elementary school in Mays Chapel is slated to open for the 2014-2015 school year in order to help alleviate overcrowding at schools along the York Road corridor. Construction on the school was initially approved in March 2012; a groundbreaking ceremony was held this April. Coco will have an office at West Towson Elementary School during the Mays Chapel

Saturday, June 15

Baltimore County STEM Alliance, MSDE host second annual STEM TREK

What: Partnering with the Maryland State Department of Education, the Baltimore County STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Alliance will hold its second annual STEM TREK: Preparing Our Students To Boldly Go Into STEM Careers conference. During the conference, BCPS educators and STEM professionals will discuss how to promote student interest in STEM career options. When: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, June 15 Where: Towson University, 8000 York Rd., TowsonContact: Darcy Thatcher, 410.887.4671

Monday, June 17

BCPS art teachers paint en plein air at Hampton Mansion

What: BCPS art teachers of all grade levels will hone their skills in landscape painting through a two-day workshop at the Hampton Mansion. Coordinated by the BCPS Office of Visual Arts, the workshop will provide participants with knowledge of history and traditions of landscape painting for application in classroom instruction.When: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday, June 17, and Tuesday, June 18 Where: Hampton Mansion, 535 Hampton Ln., TowsonContact: Mary Boegner, 410.887.4030

Wednesday, June 19

The 27th Annual Summer Instrument Music Camp begins

What: The 27th Annual BCPS Summer Instrumental Music Camp begins. A week-long day camp for students in Grades 5-12 who are enrolled in their schools’ instrumental music programs, the experience provides opportunities to receive instruction on instrumental performance skills and techniques, participate in music enrichment classes and rehearse in band and orchestra ensembles. At the conclusion of the camp, students will perform in musical ensembles for a public evening concert in the outdoor amphitheater at Oregon Ridge Park. When: 9 a.m. – 1:50 p.m., Wednesday, June 19 – Thursday, June 27 Where: Cockeysville Middle School, 10401 Greenside Dr., CockeysvilleContact: Stephen Miles, 410.887.4024

Friday, June 21

Late registration for summer high school ends

What: While registration for summer high school at students’ home schools will close on Tuesday, June 18, in-person late registration will remain open for an additional three days. Summer school centers for this year are Dulaney High (central area), Perry Hall High (northeast area), New Town High (northwest area), Sparrows Point High (southeast area) and Catonsville High (southwest area) schools. Summer high school courses will begin on Monday, July 8. When: 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Friday, June 21 Where: ESS Building, 6901 Charles St., TowsonContact: Judy Bisasky, Mike Kulansky, Cindy Massey, 410.887.2270 Coming up!

Monday, June 24

BCPS launches inaugural College Application Boot Camp

What: Sponsored by the BCPS Office of School Counseling, the inaugural College Application Boot Camp is designed to prepare rising seniors for the admissions process. Representatives from highly-selective colleges, English teachers, college counselors and a national trainer will be in attendance to offer information regarding the admissions process, college essays, college financing and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).When: 9 a.m. – 12 noon on both Monday, June 24, and Tuesday, June 25; 12 noon – 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26 Where: Loch Raven High School, 1212 Cowpens Ave., BaltimoreContact: Timothy Hayden, 410.887.0291

Monday, July 8

The Summer Visual Arts Enrichment Program 2013 begins

What: The Summer Visual Arts Enrichment Program 2013, an annual offering from the BCPS Office of Visual Arts, begins. The program provides students in Grades 3-12 with an opportunity to develop and refine personal art skills through five-hour studio sessions and art-related field trips. At the conclusion of the program, students will exhibit works completed over the two-week period during an open house / reception.When: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday, July 8 – Friday, July 19 Where: Perry Hall High School, 4601 Ebenezer Rd., BaltimoreContact: Mary Boegner, 410.887.4030

TOWSON, MD. – Due to a water main break in the area, Bear Creek Elementary School, located at 1601 Melbourne Road, will close at 12:15 p.m. today, Friday, June 14, 2013. All afterschool and evening activities are cancelled.

TOWSON, MD — Thirteen Baltimore County Public Schools libraries will hold off-season hours to encourage reading over the summer months. On select days during the summer, students may visit their schools’ library to borrow books through Destiny, BCPS’s online catalog and circulation system; participate in special reading-related activities; and register for Baltimore County Public Library’s “Dig into Reading” Summer Reading Club. Additionally, students may use library computers to browse e-books and interactive digital content at http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/feebased/index.html. To access this online material, students should consult the password handouts that they received during the 2012-2013 school year or contact the Office of Library Information Services at 410-887-4035 for another copy. The school libraries with summer hours are: Chadwick Elementary School 1918 Winder Road, 21244 Lynn Hale, 410-887-6866 Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 9 through August 1, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.Chase Elementary School 11701 Eastern Avenue, 21220 Allison Cook, 410-887-2903 July 2 and 23 and August 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. Chatsworth School 222 New Avenue, 21136 Nancy Braverman, 410-887-1103 July 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 23 from 12 noon to 4 p.m., August 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Colgate Elementary School 401 51st Street, 21224 Charlene Stine, 410-887-7139 Fridays from July 12 through August 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.Glenmar Elementary School 9700 Community Drive, 21220 Jamie McCarron, 410-887-0354 Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 25 through August 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. on WednesdaysHalstead Academy 1111 Halstead Road, 21234 Diane Fontinell, 410-887-2964 July 8 through August 2, from 12 noon to 3 p.m.Hawthorne Elementary School 125 Kingston Road, 21220 Melissa DeRuchie, 410-887-0138 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from July 9 through August 1, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and from 3 to 7 p.m. on ThursdaysMartin Boulevard Elementary School 210 Riverton Road, 21220 Karen Pavelka, 410-887-0158 June 25; July 2, 9, 23 and 30; and August 6 and 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.McCormick Elementary School 5101 Hazelwood Avenue, 21206 Nicole Marcellino, 410-887-0522 Wednesdays from June 26 through August 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Oliver Beach Elementary School 12912 Cuninghill Cove Road, 21220 Barbara Cosgrove, 410-887-2876 July 2 and August 6, from 10 a.m. to 12 noonPadonia International Elementary School 9834 Greenside Drive, 21030 Maureen Cecil, 410-887-7813 Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 9 through August 1, from 10 a.m. to 12 noonReisterstown Elementary School 223 Walgrove Road, 21136 Elyse Singer, 410-887-6925 Tuesdays, June 18 and July 2, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon; Tuesdays, July 16 and 23, from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Riverview Elementary School 3298 Kessler Road, 21227 MaryBeth Brennan, 410-887-1482 July 9, 16, 23 and 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information on a school’s summer library hours, contact the school’s library media specialist listed above. BCPS has offered summer access to its school libraries for eight years; however, some schools, such as Martin Boulevard Elementary, have offered this opportunity for as many as 10 years. For more information on summer reading at BCPS, visit the BCPS summer reading page at http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/summerread/summerread2013.html.

TOWSON, MD — Applications are available for students enrolled in Grades 5-8 for the 2013-2014 school year interested in participating in summer robotics camps hosted at Hereford High and Ridgely Middle schools. Over the course of five days, students participating in the camps will receive the opportunity to explore driving, lifting and sensor-guided robots; program robots to operate autonomously and with remote control; and compete in an end-of-camp tournament. Hereford High’s camp, sponsored by the Hereford Robotic Zone, begins on Monday, July 15, 2013, and concludes on Friday, July 19, 2013, while Ridgely Middle’s camp begins on Monday, August 12, 2013, and concludes on Friday, August 16, 2013. Both camps start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 12 noon on all five days. The costs for participation in the Hereford High and Ridgely Middle robotics camps are $250.00 and $160.00, respectively. The Hereford High camp, although divided into beginner and intermediate levels, is no longer accepting applications from students enrolled in Grades 7-11 for the 2013-2014 school year. The applications for the Hereford High and Ridgely Middle camps are available at http://putnam4herefordms.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/62659799/Hereford_robotCampREGbeginner.docx and http://www.ltrc.org/LTRC.ORG/Summer%20Camps/2013/RoboticsCamp2013.pdf, respectively. For more information on the HZR Summer Robotics Camp, contact Chris Putnam (cputnam@bcps.org). For more information on the RMS Robotics Camp, contact Greg Kallaur (gkallaur@bcps.org).

TOWSON, MD. – Six Baltimore County schools have been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for 2013-2014. The selected schools are Baltimore Highlands, Colgate, Deep Creek, Halstead Academy, Riverview and Sandalwood elementary schools. Through the program, samples of a new fresh fruit or vegetable are delivered up to twice each week to all of the participating schools’ classes so that students can try them. In addition to the individually portioned samples, schools often deliver one whole version of the fruit or vegetable to each classroom so that students can see what the fruit or vegetable looks like in its natural state. A program of nutrition education comes along with the fruit and vegetable samples. Students in the program try more commonplace fruits and vegetables – like pineapples, blueberries, sugar snap peas and green and red peppers – as well as some they might not be so familiar with – like jicamas, papayas and pluots (plum and apricot). “Students love trying foods they have never eaten before,” said Karen Levenstein, director, Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Food and Nutrition Services. “And our principals welcome the program in our schools. We know that students with healthier eating habits will be students who learn more.” While the Centers for Disease Control encourages everyone to eat more fruits and vegetables as a way to gain essential nutrients and fiber and prevent many chronic diseases, studies show that children in the United States do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. According to a 2009 study conducted by Ohio State University, children are not meeting federal guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption. For children ages 6 to 11, only 11 percent consume enough fruit and vegetables. Even worse, the study says, 46 percent of the vegetables consumed by children are fried potatoes. “The idea of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is to encourage students to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and parents report that it works,” said Cathy Haymaker, operations supervisor for the BCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services. A national study by Abt Associates confirms parents’ observations: student participating in the program do eat more fruits and vegetables. Each school finds unique ways to support the program. For example, schools have included interesting facts about the featured fruit or vegetable in the morning announcements and awarded prizes to students who maintain logs of the fruits and vegetables they eat.

What: Parents and guardians of Baltimore County Public Schools students entering Grades 6 and 9 (transitioning from elementary to middle school and from middle to high school) must verify their children’s residency in order to enroll them for the 2013-2014 school year. By Friday, August 2, parents must provide their children’s new school with the following residency verification documents:

Photo identification
Lease or deed
Three pieces of mail sent to the home address within the last 60 days

All documents must reflect the same residency. This procedure does not apply to shared domicile, homeless or nonresident students, whose residency is verified annually.When: Documentation must be provided as soon as possible but no later than Friday, August 2.Background: This verification procedure supports school efforts to maintain up-to-date residency records for all incoming students. Parents may review the list of accepted residency verification documents by reviewing BCPS Policy and Rule 5150, which are available on the Web at http://www.bcps.org/system/policies_rules/rules/5000Series/RULE5150.PDF.

Ongoing!

School libraries hold off-season hours to encourage reading

What: Thirteen BCPS libraries hold off-season hours to encourage reading over the summer months. On select days during the summer, students may visit their schools’ library to borrow books, participate in special reading-related activities and register for Baltimore County Public Library’s “Dig into Reading” Summer Reading Club. For a complete list of participating schools and their summer hours, visit http://www.bcps.org/news/articles/article4293.html. When: Varying by locationWhere: Select BCPS librariesContact: Fran Glick, 410.887.4036 Coming up!

Monday, July 8

The Summer Visual Arts Enrichment Program 2013 begins

Summer school classes begin

What: BCPS summer school classes begin and will operate through Tuesday, August 2. Elementary and middle school summer centers for this year are Ridgely (central area), Perry Hall (northeast), Old Court (northwest), Sparrows Point (southeast) and Catonsville (southwest) middle schools. High school summer centers for this year are Dulaney (central area), Perry Hall (northeast), New Town (northwest), Sparrows Point (southeast) and Catonsville (southwest) high schools.When: 9 a.m. – 12 noon for elementary and middle school, 7:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. for high school, Friday, July 8 – Tuesday, August 2 Where: Designated summer school sitesContact: Judy Bisasky, Mike Kulansky, Cindy Massey, 410.887.2270

TOWSON, MD. - The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education of Baltimore County will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and will be held at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson. The Building and Contracts Committee of the Board will meet at approximately 5 p.m. The full Board will meet in open session at approximately 5:30 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 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 public is welcome to attend all open sessions of the Board. George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology is located at 938 York Road in Towson, but the York Road entrance to the school is currently closed due to construction. To access the school, visitors must enter from Kenilworth Drive. From York Road, take Bosley Avenue south to Kenilworth Drive. Turn right onto Kenilworth and follow about a third of a mile to the school entrance on the right.

TOWSON, MD — Baltimore County Public Schools encourages parents to check their child’s immunization records with his/her doctor, the Baltimore County Department of Health (BCDH) and/or the Maryland Department of Health and Hygiene (DHMH) before the new school year begins on Monday, August 26. Although there are no new changes to state immunization requirements, parents should be aware that, while students enrolled in Kindergarten require a second MMR and Varicella vaccine, these shots are not required for students registered for Pre-Kindergarten programs. Students may be eligible for free immunizations if they do not have health insurance or health insurance for vaccines; if they have Medical Assistance and/or Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program (M-CHIP) insurance; or if they are of Alaskan or American Indian descent. Throughout the summer, the Woodlawn Health Center, the Eastern Family Resource Center and several Baltimore County walk-in clinics will host free, back-to-school immunization events for eligible students. For a complete list of participating centers and clinics and their hours of operation, contact the Baltimore County Department of Health at 410-887-2705. The DHMH provides information regarding immunization requirements for school enrollment at http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/IMMUN/SitePages/back-to-school-immunization-requirements.aspx. These requirements, in addition to information on immunization clinics and a link to the BCDH Web site, also are accessible from the BCPS Office of Health Services page, http://www.bcps.org/offices/sss/health/, on the BCPS Web site under the Immunization Information section.

Monday, July 8

The Summer Visual Arts Enrichment Program 2013 begins

Summer school classes begin

What: BCPS summer school classes begin and will operate through Tuesday, August 2. Elementary and middle school summer centers for this year are Ridgely (central area), Perry Hall (northeast), Old Court (northwest), Sparrows Point (southeast) and Catonsville (southwest) middle schools. High school summer centers for this year are Dulaney (central area), Perry Hall (northeast), New Town (northwest), Sparrows Point (southeast) and Catonsville (southwest) high schools.When: 9 a.m. – 12 noon for elementary and middle school, 7:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. for high school, Monday, July 8 – Friday, August 2 Where: Designated summer school sitesContact: Judy Bisasky, Mike Kulansky, Cindy Massey, 410.887.2270

BCPS exchange students, teachers return home from 2-month trip to China

What: Thirty-one BCPS students and teachers end their two-month visit to Xi’an, China, by returning home to family and friends following a 13-hour nonstop flight and bus trip home to Baltimore County. Their full-immersion experience in Chinese language and culture is part of the BCPS preparation for students to compete globally and gain fluency in Mandarin Chinese. When: Students and chaperones will arrive from Dulles Airport at about 10 p.m. on Monday, July 8Where: ESS parking lot, Greenwood campus, 6901 N. Charles St., TowsonContact: Debbie Wilson-Matusky, 410.887.6756

Ongoing!

School libraries hold off-season hours to encourage reading

What: Thirteen BCPS libraries hold off-season hours to encourage reading over the summer months. On select days during the summer, students may visit their schools' library to borrow books, participate in special reading-related activities and register for Baltimore County Public Library's "Dig into Reading" Summer Reading Club. For a complete list of participating schools and their summer hours, visit http://www.bcps.org/news/articles/article4293.html.When: Varying by locationWhere: Select BCPS librariesContact: Fran Glick, 410.887.4036

Parents encouraged to register children now

What: Parents and guardians who must register children for the 2013-14 school year should do so as soon as possible. Early registration also allows schools time to plan for each child and adjust staffing. Parents or guardians should contact their local schools to schedule appointments. For more information about who must register their children, parents or guardians may call their local schools or visit www.bcps.org/system/policies_rules on the Web to view policy and rule 5150.When: Business hours, Monday through FridayWhere: All BCPS schoolsContact: Office of Pupil Personnel Services, 410.887.0404

TOWSON, MD. – The Board of Education of Baltimore County re-elected Lawrence E. Schmidt as its president and chose David Uhlfelder as its new vice president during its yearly election of officers on Tuesday, July 9. After the vote, Schmidt thanked his fellow board members for their “trust and confidence,” and Uhlfelder noted that the board has transformed itself over the past five years. “This is a very talented board, a very diverse board,” Uhlfelder said. “But what we all share is that we all believe that every child should have an excellent education.” A board member since July 2009, Schmidt has served as board president since 2011. He is a partner at Smith, Gildea & Schmidt, LLC, a law firm specializing in land-use matters, including zoning, development, historic preservation, environmental issues and related litigation. He has served on the Baltimore County Zoning Commission and the Baltimore County Board of Appeals. Schmidt also has served as president of the Greater Towson Committee and on the board of the Home Builders Association of Maryland. He has volunteered for the regional Mock Trial program in association with the Maryland State Department of Education and Baltimore County Public Schools. Schmidt is a Timonium resident. Uhlfelder is a Pikesville resident who was recently reappointed to the board for a second five-year term. He is a certified public accountant who attended the University of Maryland College Park and earned his degree in business and public administration. Uhlfelder is a life member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the board of directors for the Pikesville Chamber of Commerce. He is also a board member and treasurer of the Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital. Board officers serve a 1-year term beginning with the July meeting of the board each year.

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, August 4. Mary Beth Marsden, a local Emmy Award®-winning broadcaster, hosts the show. This special 15-minute episode includes stories about:

Evan Michael, a student at Parkville High School and a country singer who is on his way to stardom.
Holabird Middle, a school that joined “My Healthy World,” an innovative, digital education program, which features a series of mobile apps for health and wellness education for elementary and middle schools.
Western School of Technology students’ celebration of cultural diversity through their “Cultural Coalescence,” a festival during which the students gathered to share stories, foods, and dances representing their heritage.
BCPS “mathletes” who competed in rounds of the 24 Game, a game designed to improve skills in mental computation, pattern recognition and deductive reasoning, during the annual M&T Bank Math Challenge.

A segment called “What’s Trending” provides a retrospective of news highlights from the past school year, including Vincent Farm Elementary School’s victory in BGE’s Wires Down Video Challenge, the unveiling of the Marine Corps JROTC class museum and Catonsville High School’s participation in the annual Empty Bowls Project charity event. 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. 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 this episode were 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,” “Kid Conversation,” “Brain Gain,” “Student Art Break,” “Student Production Showcase,” “Up Beat” and “The Chalkboard.” The Education Channel also records and airs systemwide 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/.

TOWSON, MD — The Baltimore County Public Schools Web site, www.bcps.org, and other systems will be down on Saturday, July 13, 2013, as a result of maintenance on the school system's connection to the Internet. The outage is expected to begin in the early morning hours and last most of the day. Unlike the outages in March and June 2013, which affected only certain BCPS systems, this outage will affect all internal and external BCPS systems, including email. BCPS Now, the mobile application available for free for iOS and Android devices at www.bcps.org/mobile, will not receive content updates for the duration of the outage, and links from within the app to the Web site will also cease to function. However, individual school sites will remain functional during the outage. The outage is due to the relocation of the BCPS data center from Timonium to Towson.

Monday, July 15

HZR Summer Robotics Camp boots up

What: The HZR Summer Robotics Camp, an activity of the Hereford Zone Robotics club of Hereford Middle School, starts its weeklong program of designing, building and understanding sensor-guided, remote-controlled robots. The program is aimed at introducing students in Grades 5-11 to the world of robotics as well as preparing them to participate and compete in robotics competitions. When: 9 a.m. – 12 noon, Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 19 Where: Hereford High School, 17301 York Rd., ParktonContact: Christopher Putnam or Michael Dodd-O, 410.887.1905

The Summer Visual Arts Enrichment Program 2013 continues

What: The Summer Visual Arts Enrichment Program 2013, an annual offering from the BCPS Office of Visual Arts, continues into its second and final week. The program provides students in Grades 3-12 with an opportunity to develop and refine personal art skills through five-hour studio sessions and art-related field trips. At the conclusion of the program, students will exhibit works completed over the two-week period during an open house / reception.When: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 19 Where: Perry Hall High School, 4601 Ebenezer Road, Perry HallContact: Linda Popp, 410.887.4030

Summer school classes continue

What: BCPS summer school classes begin and will operate through Tuesday, August 2. Elementary and middle school summer centers for this year are Ridgely (central area), Perry Hall (northeast), Old Court (northwest), Sparrows Point (southeast) and Catonsville (southwest) middle schools. High school summer centers for this year are Dulaney (central area), Perry Hall (northeast), New Town (northwest), Sparrows Point (southeast) and Catonsville (southwest) high schools.When: 9 a.m. – 12 noon for elementary and middle school, 7:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. for high school, Monday, July 15 – Friday, August 2 Where: Designated summer school sitesContact: Judy Bisasky or Cindy Massey, 410.887.2270

Ongoing!

School libraries hold off-season hours to encourage reading

What: Thirteen BCPS libraries hold off-season hours to encourage reading over the summer months. On select days during the summer, students may visit their schools’ library to borrow books, participate in special reading-related activities and register for Baltimore County Public Library’s “Dig into Reading” Summer Reading Club. For a complete list of participating schools and their summer hours, visit visit http://www.bcps.org/news/articles/article4293.html. When: Varying by locationWhere: Select BCPS librariesContact: Fran Glick, 410.887.4036

Parents encouraged to register children now

What: Parents and guardians who must register children for the 2013-14 school year should do so as soon as possible. Early registration allows schools time to plan for each child and adjust staffing. Parents or guardians should contact their local schools to schedule appointments. For more information about who must register their children, parents or guardians may call their local schools or visit www.bcps.org/system/policies_rules on the Web to view policy and rule 5150.When: Business hours, Monday through FridayWhere: All BCPS schoolsContact: Office of Pupil Personnel Services, 410.887.0404

Hereford High team qualifies for National Electric Vehicle Grand Prix: Team placed third at regional competition

New members appointed to Baltimore County Board of Education

Baltimore County Public Schools presents its new five-year strategic plan, “Blueprint 2.0”: Plan approved by the school board yesterday evening

Fullerton Elementary School closing at 12:30 p.m. today

MDGS Program recognizes six BCPS schools as Maryland Green Schools: BCPS now claims 51 Maryland Green Schools

Principal named for new Mays Chapel school: Board of Education approves longtime BCPS employee Steve Coco

BCPS News Tips – June 15 – 22, 2013: Activities, events and news from Baltimore County Public Schools

Bear Creek Elementary School closing at 12:15 p.m. today

BCPS libraries to hold summer hours: School libraries lend books to students to encourage summer reading

Applications available for summer robotics camps hosted at Hereford High, Ridgely Middle schools

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to be in six Baltimore County schools in the fall

Parents of students entering Grades 6, 9 must verify residency for new school year

BCPS News Tips – June 29 – July 6, 2013: Activities, events and news from Baltimore County Public Schools

Board of Education of Baltimore County to Meet on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology

Parents should check child’s immunization record before new school year begins: Record must comply with state requirements

BCPS News Tips – July 6–13, 2013: Activities, events and news from Baltimore County Public Schools

Schmidt, Uhlfelder elected officers of Board of Education of Baltimore County: Schmidt to serve third term as president

New “Summer Edition” episode of “BCPS News” airing on BCPS-TV

BCPS Web site to be down for maintenance: Maintenance will affect www.bcps.org, BCPS Now and other systems

BCPS News Tips – July 13–20, 2013: Activities, events and news from Baltimore County Public Schools