BCPS News Tips – May 18 - 25, 2013: Activities, events and news from Baltimore County Public Schools

What: Thirty-one BCPS students and teachers begin the capstone experience to the school system’s Chinese language students as they depart Baltimore County for a two-month visit to Xi’an, China. The full-immersion experience in Chinese language and culture is part of the BCPS preparation for our students to compete globally and to gain fluency in Mandarin Chinese. When: Students and chaperones meet at 7:15 a.m.; the group departs for Dulles Airport at 7:45 a.m.Where: ESS parking lot, Greenwood campus, 6901 N. Charles St., TowsonContact: Peggy Johnson or Debbie Wilson-Matusky, 410.887.6756What: Baltimore County Public Schools elementary students from across the school district will present their science projects during the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fair When: Judging of projects begins at 10 a.m., followed by a day of activities, demonstrations and presentations through the day. An awards ceremony begins at about 4 p.m.Where: Parkville High School, 2600 Putty Hill Rd., ParkvilleContact: George Newberry, 410.887.4251What: The BCPS music office will sponsor a teachers’ concert to benefit the Kids Helping Hopkins program. The concert will feature the Baltimore County Music Educators Wind Symphony, a 44-piece concert band, who will perform a variety of compositions by British composer Philip Spark, American composer Richard Saucedo, a tango by Ryan George and a selection with an Egyptian flavor by John Mackey called “Strange Humors,” among others. The suggestion donation is $5 for adults, $3 for students. When: 4 p.m., Sunday, May 19 Where: Owings Mills High School, 124 Tollgate Road, Owings MillsContact: Stephen Miles, 410.887.4024What: Mars Estates Elementary School will celebrate Diversity Day with a visit from the Ravens’ Basketball team, a competitive recreational wheelchair squad for physically impaired adults and youth. The event also will feature stories and art, and the event will end with an awards ceremony. When: Please contact the school for specific event times on Monday, May 20 Where: Mars Estates Elementary School, 1500 E. Homberg Avenue, EssexContact: Sharon Cochran, 410.887.0154What: Baltimore Highlands Elementary School will say "Thank You" to all of its school volunteers with a Volunteer Tea led by Principal Brian Williams.When: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 21 Where: Baltimore Highlands Elementary School, 4200 Annapolis Rd., LansdowneContact: Bridget Bradham, 410.887.0919What: Each Tuesday, senior visual arts students at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology exhibit their work in special exhibitions that are similar to graduation ceremonies. This final exhibition of the year will feature student works, refreshments provided by the artist families, and sales of art on display. When: 6 – 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 21; artwork on display until Friday, May 24 Where: George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Rd., TowsonContact: Karen Steele, 410.887.2775What: Pinewood Elementary School will host a Volunteer Breakfast to thank those volunteers who have given their time and talents during the course of the year. In support of the school’s “green” initiatives, there will be a PowerPoint presentation of creative “thank you” slides playing continuously during breakfast. Gifts of two books have been bought and donated to the school library in honor of the 2012-13 volunteers. When: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 21 Where: Pinewood Elementary School, 200 Rickswood Rd., TimoniumContact: Helen Stuart or Franchesca Brown, 410.887.7663What: BCPS Office of Athletics staff will present the first Brittney Reese Allied Sports Scholarship to Quincy Jennings of Randallstown High School at a ceremony. The scholarship will be given annually to a senior student-athlete in the Allied Sports Program who has participated in at least two allied sports and has demonstrated outstanding character, sportsmanship and the values of the Allied Sports Program. Brittney Reese, current Olympic Gold Medalist in the women’s long jump, and former Woodlawn High School track coach Mark Pryor co-created the scholarship. When: 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 21 Where: Randallstown High School, 4000 Offutt Rd., RandallstownContact: Michael Sye, Lynette Mitzel or Brad Kressman, 410.887.2328What: Seventh District Elementary School students and staff will host a breakfast to celebrate the school’s volunteers. The breakfast will be followed by student performances, including songs, poems and instrumental music. To conclude the program, a drawing will be held to distribute gift cards donated by the staff. When: Please contact the school for specific times on Wednesday, May 22 Where: Seventh District Elementary School, 20300 York Rd., ParktonContact: Glenda Carman or Leslie Brooks, 410.887.1902What: The final “Guys in Ties, Girls in Pearls” Day at Kingsville Elementary School will see parents of Amy DeNike’s Grade 3 class dress in their finest clothes to join their children for lunch. Once a month, all Kingsville Elementary School students have been encouraged to dress in their finest clothes and demonstrate good manners and kindness. When: 12:20 – 12:50 p.m., Wednesday, May 22 Where: Kingsville Elementary School, 7300 Sunshine Ave., KingsvilleContact: Amy DeNike or Susan Felts, 410.887.5949What: With the donation of a new or gently used children’s book, students and parents can share a light breakfast and a showcase of Lutherville Lab’s student musicians at the school’s annual “Books and Breakfast” event. All books will be donated to the Baltimore Reads program. After breakfast, participants will see performances from kindergarten students, the Grade 3 chorus, Grade 3 recorders, a Readers’ Theater featuring students in Grades 4 and 5, and the school’s steel drum band. When: 7:45 a.m., Thursday, May 23 Where: Lutherville Laboratory Magnet School, 1700 N. York Rd., LuthervilleContact: Judy Henderson or Steve Buettner, 410.887.7800What: Milbrook Elementary School will host its spring concert. The Grade 5 band and orchestra will each play three selections, including "Let's Go Band" by Albert Ahronheim and "Fiddlin' Tune" by Linda Bange. The Grade 3 and Grade 4 choruses will sing a patriotic song, a song from "Annie," a jazz piece, and a folk song in Spanish. A school concert will precede the public concert later in the day. When: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Thursday, May 23 Where: Milbrook Elementary School, 4300 Crest Heights Rd., PikesvilleContact: Elizabeth Curtiss or Jacyln Bryant, 410.887.1225What: Pine Grove Middle School will host its third annual Career Fair featuring professionals from dozens of careers and businesses. Each student is assigned with gathering information from at least seven of the careers represented at the fair. Visitors will include a police officer, registered nurse, attorney, chemistry professor, fisheries biologist, social worker, mechanical engineer and accountant, to name a few. When: 7:30 – 11 a.m., Thursday, May 23 Where: Pine Grove Middle School, 9200 Old Harford Rd., ParkvilleContact: Dorienne Plait or Sandra Reid, 410.887.5270What: Guests to Pinewood Elementary School will be able to enjoy two spring concerts and an art show during an evening of fine arts on display. One concert will feature Grade 4 chorus and recorder performances, while the second concert features the Grade 5 band, orchestra and chorus performing everything from Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and Mussorgsky’s “Great Gate at Kiev” to Goyte’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.” At the same time, art work will be on display from the majority of students in grades K-5, including a large ceramic sculpture display in the front lobby and paintings, drawings and printmaking work throughout the hallways. When: Concerts begin at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., while the art show runs from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., all on Thursday, May 23. Where: Pinewood Elementary School, 200 Rickswood Rd., TimoniumContact: Helen Stuart or Franchesca Brown, 410.887.7663What: Western School of Technology’s annual career fair provides the magnet school’s juniors and seniors an opportunity to interview with potential employers, college and university representatives and U.S. Armed Forces representatives. When: 9 a.m. – 12 noon, Friday, May 24 Where: Western School of Technology and Environmental Science, 100 Kenwood Ave., CatonsvilleContact: Sheila H. Bragg, 410.887.0840What: Victory Villa Elementary School will celebrate its 70th anniversary with festivities including a variety of guest speakers, fun events and activities, the opening of a time capsule from 1988, and the placing of a new time capsule. When: 1 p.m., Friday, May 24Where: Victory Villa Elementary School, 500 Compass Rd., Middle River Contact: Marge Roberts, 410-887-0184