Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Chesapeake High School educator reflects on his final quarter as a full-time teacher

Coach Tully Sullivan says teaching is the best job he's ever had

In a new blog post, Tully Sullivan, a business education teacher and coach at Chesapeake High School, reflects on his final quarter as a full-time teacher.

Sullivan, who became an educator at age 50 after multiple other careers, says that teaching is the best job he's ever had.

In the blog post, he focuses on the diversity and strengths of his coworkers.

Principal Amy Tyler, Coach Tully, special education teacher Christiana Odetola, and world languages teacher Jesse Jay

Physical education teacher Chris Acab and Coach Tully

Business education teacher Denise Bissoon, Coach Tully, and world languages teacher Carmen Ensenat

Coach Tully and media teacher Leonard Foust

Coach Tully and library media specialist Lashon Smiley-Mosley

Officer Stanley, Coach Tully, and technology education teacher Gregory Sarris

Space available in BCPS summer music and dance camps

Registration continues for Baltimore County Public Schools’ Summer Dance Intensive and Summer Music Camp.

The registration deadline for both camps is Friday, May 12, and each camp is $125 per student (which includes a camp T-shirt). Both camps are open to BCPS students currently enrolled in Grades 5-12. Payment is due in full by the registration deadline. Transportation to and from each camp location will be provided at no additional charge. BCPS students and children of BCPS employees will receive enrollment priority. Additional requests may be considered if space allows.

The Summer Dance Intensive will be held from Monday, June 26, to Friday, June 30, from 9 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. daily, at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology and Perry Hall High School.

The Summer Music Camp will be held at Perry Hall High School on weekdays from Thursday, June 22, to Thursday, June 29, from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. daily.

Students invited to poetry events at county library branches

"A Night of Poetry"

Baltimore County Public Library invites middle and high school students to "A Night of Poetry," a writing and music night hosted in two library branches around the county. Local poet Ashley Elizabeth Evans will read a selection of her poetry and invite others to the mic to showcase their talents during National Poetry Month.

Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m. – Randallstown Branch, 8604 Liberty Rd., Randallstown 21133

Friday, April 21, at 6 p.m. – Towson Branch, 320 York Rd., Towson 21204

An Afternoon of Poetry and Cartoneras

Students ages 6-13 are invited to participate in an afternoon of poetry, writing, and creativity in the White Marsh branch's open mic café. Local poet Ashley Elizabeth Evans will read a selection of her poetry and help attendees to write their own poetry. During the second half of the program, participants will learn about cartonera, a publishing movement originating in Latin America, and will create their own cartonera poetry books using cardboard and recycled materials. (Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.)

Saturday, April 15, from 2-4 p.m. – White Marsh Branch, 8133 Sandpiper Cir., Baltimore 21236

Parents/caregivers encouraged to take Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey

BCPS parents or guardians of children receiving special education and related services are asked to complete the online Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey by Friday, May 19. The information you provide will help guide the state's efforts in improving special education.

Virtual Learning Program and Parkville High School students win BCPS Film Expo Poster Contest

poster by Mercy Nwachukwu

poster by Stella Sanft

Mercy Nwachukwu, a Grade 12 student at Parkville High School, and Stella Sanft, a Grade 7 student in the Virtual Learning Program, have been named the winners of the 2023 Baltimore County Public Schools Film Expo Poster Contest.

Printed versions of their posters will be displayed in middle schools and high schools around the county.

The deadline for student film submissions to the Film Expo is Friday, April 14. All middle school and high school students are welcome to enter. More information can be found on the BCPS Film Expo Schoology Group (Access Code: 7CC62-C8M8K) or the Film Expo website.

Films selected as finalists will be shown at the Senator Theatre on Tuesday, May 16, from 7-9 p.m. Doors will open at 6 p.m. The public is invited to this free annual Film Expo event.

BCPS student leaders to host 5K walk and community fair in honor of former staff advisor

Community invited to participate, support

Baltimore County Student Councils and Baltimore County Junior Councils are co-hosting the Nora Murray Memorial Walk, a 5K walk and community fair to support FINISH Sarcoma. (Sarcoma is a rare cancer.) The event is being held in memory of Catherine “Nora” Murray, the former coordinator of BCPS student leadership programs and a co-founder of FINISH Sarcoma. The community is invited to participate. All proceeds will benefit FINISH Sarcoma to support sarcoma patients and their families, sarcoma research funding, and promoting sarcoma awareness.

for parents

from BCPS Parent University

Multilingual students at northwest area middle schools and their families invited to a Welcoming Event & Family Resource Fair

Wednesday, April 19, from 6-7:30 p.m.

Deer Park Middle Magnet School

9830 Winands Rd., Randallstown 21133

The Baltimore County Council PTA is presenting a welcoming event for English language learners, multilingual students, families, and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) participants. The program includes a meet and greet, school and community resource exhibits, and food basket distribution. The event is hosted by Deer Park Middle Magnet School, Sudbrook Magnet ESOL Center, and Franklin Middle School. The event is also sponsored by the Baltimore County Executive's Office of Immigrant Outreach Services, in partnership with the Northwest Area Education Advisory Committee.

For more information, contact Ramona Basilio at familyschool@bcptacouncil.org or 443.851.5211 or Gevene Alarcón de Harden at gharden@bcps.org or 443.809.1250. Interpreters will be available for Spanish, Russian, Uzbek, Urdu, and French speakers. For an interpreter for another language, please contact Angela Dregier at adregier@bcps.org.

Looking for more ideas and information? Please sign up for the Parent University newsletter! It is designed specifically for parents and caregivers and offers ideas, information, resources, and opportunities.

Take a musical odyssey with BCPS All-County Honors concert videos

The BCPS Office of Performing Arts hosted the 2023 All-County Band, Orchestra, and Chorus Concerts on March 11, at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology.

The concerts featured approximately 600 talented middle and high school musicians led by guest conductors.

One special guest conductor, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams, takes the stage at 20:45 during the All-County High School Chorus Concert.

Videos of five concerts* are available for online viewing.

*Note: Unfortunately, the files for the Middle School Band Concert are not available. We apologize for the inconvenience.

for your viewing pleasure

by Leslie Fletcher, Grade 8, Middle River Middle School, from the "Art is for Everyone" exhibition.

To see more artwork by BCPS students, teachers, and other members of the BCPS community, please visit the Office of Visual Arts gallery webpage.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

State of the Schools 2023:

A celebration filled with gratitude

The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., was proud to present State of the Schools 2023. The event, held at Dundalk High School and Sollers Point Technical High School on March 22, was a tribute to the talented students and staff who make up the 22nd largest school system in the nation.

Mick Rayburn, president of The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc., brought greetings and reminded our guests of the foundation's “why” for hosting the event.

“Hosting the State of the Schools provides us with an opportunity to showcase the incredible talents of the diverse students and educators in BCPS,” said Rayburn. “It has been, and will continue to be, one of the highlights of our school year. We welcome the opportunity to provide the platform for our superintendent and leader of Team BCPS, Dr. Darryl L. Williams, to deliver the State of the Schools address.”

The latest Mission Moment blog post details the events and offers appreciation to those who made the event possible.

A Word from Dr. Williams, Superintendent

April 11, 2023

Dear Team BCPS,

Here we are, back from spring break and headed into the final stretch of the school year – a period filled with testing, senior celebrations, award ceremonies, and ultimately graduations.

Next week, the Champions for Children event will be held at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, 938 York Road, in Towson on Wednesday, April 19, at 4:45 p.m. At the event, BCPS teacher, principal, and assistant principal of the year will be announced. In addition, the gala will also celebrate a variety of other all-star school supporters, including a “Rising Star” Teacher of the Year, Supervisory Leader of the Year, Supporting Services Employee of the Year, Transportation Champion, AFSCME Employee of the Year, Volunteer Champion, and Business Partner Champion.

We welcome opportunities like this to celebrate the amazing strengths of Team BCPS.

But while we pause to celebrate, we also remain focused on teaching and learning until the last day of the school year. There is still time for students to master skills and demonstrate their knowledge. Let's work together to support our students in finishing the school year on a high note.

Sincerely,

Darryl L. Williams, Ed.D.

Superintendent

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