September 2023

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year

A message from Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough) and Board of Education Vice Chair Robin Harvey

Governor Moore's visit to Western Tech highlights career and technical education and apprenticeship programs

Maryland Governor Wes Moore visited Western School of Technology & Environmental Science on September 13, accompanied by Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu, Maryland Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough), Maryland Senator Charles Sydnor, Board Chair Jane Lichter, Board Vice Chair Robin Harvey, and other state and local leaders.

The governor’s visit focused on career and technical education programs and apprenticeship programs. After greetings, the governor toured Allied Health, culinary arts, and cosmetology classrooms. Next the governor and other leaders held a roundtable discussion with students and employers who are participating in the Apprenticeship Maryland program. The roundtable included apprenticeship students from both Western Tech and Lansdowne High School.

Governor Moore ended his visit by addressing questions from the media. He gave kudos to Principal Jewell Ralph for having "one of the finest schools in the state" and called the visit "the high point of my week."

Later in the evening during a televised town hall on education, he spoke again about Western Tech and some of the students he met. More details about the day can be found in a blog post.

12 recent BCPS graduates receive scholarships from Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival

An annual highlight of the Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival, held each September, is the presentation of scholarships to recent BCPS graduates.

This year, scholarships were awarded to the following BCPS graduates, listed with the names of the high schools they graduated from and the colleges and universities they now attend:

• Gamaliel Adejo, Western School of Technology and Environmental Science – CCBC
• Kendall Allen, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology – Bowie State University
• Kayden Battle, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology – University of Maryland Eastern Shore 
• Ikye-Azubogu Chiagozie, Franklin High School – University of Maryland College Park   
• Hailey Morgan Fennoy-Adams, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology – North Carolina A&T University 
• Stephanie George, Milford Mill Academy – Cornell University 
• Mysta Groom, Woodlawn High School – North Carolina A&T University 
• Chinenye Ofor, Western School of Technology and Environmental Science – Towson University 
• Inioluwa Olaleye, Randallstown High School – University of Maryland Baltimore County 
• Oluwaseye Onasanya, Milford Mill Academy – Towson University 
• Kelsey Parker, Pikesville High School – Florida A&M University 
• Christopher White, Pikesville High School – Morgan State University, School of Engineering 

County Executive Olszewski and Superintendent Rogers (Yarbrough) shake hands with a scholarship recipient

Superintendent Rogers (Yarbrough) (third from right) poses with scholarship recipients and their family members

Franklin Square Hospital nurses help Hawthorne Elementary students start the school year ready to learn

Every year since 2017, nurses at Medstar Franklin Square Hospital have donated backpacks filled with school supplies to students at a different BCPS school. This year, thanks to their generosity, every student at Hawthorne Elementary School was able to start the school year with all the supplies they needed.

Career and technical education programs seek partners and professionals

Across the county, schools at every level are looking for businesses and professionals to support their career and technical education programs. They are looking for career day speakers, competition judges, robotics volunteers, internship mentors, mock interviewers, and more.

A list of what individual schools seek can be found online. To participate, please contact the person listed or contact Alicia Fales, career and technical education supervisor at afales@bcps.org or 443-809-8921.

Community school facilitators acknowledge key roles of partners in the community school strategy

The BCPS blog recently featured a post celebrating the work of its 56 community school facilitators.

Melissa Forster, BCPS community schools coordinator, credits community school facilitators as the unsung heroes of the initiative. “Our facilitators are focused on addressing the barriers that are impacting academic success, some of which we haven’t been able to address before,” Forster said. “They are essential to making community schools work. They identify needed resources and programs and have expertise in building partnerships and working with all stakeholders. In addition to their expertise, they have a strong set of soft skills, the ability to listen, be compassionate and patient.”

The post profiles three community school facilitators, all of whom spoke about what their partners contribute and of their school communities' appreciation for the additional support.

Scotts Branch Elementary School staff and students hold signs thanking some of the school's many partners.

Partnerships enhance career and technical education camps at Woodlawn High School

Woodlawn High School offered eight career and technical education (CTE) camps this past summer, in addition to a wide array of other camps. Partnerships enhanced the instruction offered in several of the CTE camps. For example, students in the Skilled Trades Camp, held July 10-14, learned more about apprenticeship opportunities and visited Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Baltimore, IEC Chesapeake (an electrical and renewable energy contractor association in Laurel), Becton and Dickinson (a medical technology company in Hunt Valley), and the Community College of Baltimore County.

A blog post describes all of Woodlawn High's CTE camps and the ways partners were involved.

More than two dozen community partners participate in BCPSfest, the school system's annual back-to-school festival

A few thousand community members gathered for the annual BCPS back-to-school festival, BCPSfest on August 19. This year's event, held at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, was bigger and better than ever with information, resources, and family-friendly learning activities from one end to the other.

The following partners participated as vendors at the event, sharing information and resources:

Baltimore County Public Library offered weekly summer book recommendations

Staff in the Baltimore County Public Library Collection Department encouraged summer reading by BCPS students by writing weekly blog posts about recommended books. Their book recommendations were also shared with the BCPS community via the BCPS newsletter and social media.

Annual Partnership Fair continues to grow

At the end of July, schoolhouse leaders and current and prospective partners exchanged information and ideas at the second annual BCPS Partnership Fair. Attendance topped 300! School administrators and civic and business leaders all reported finding value in the time together and excitement about new and renewed partnerships.

A few quotes from Partnership Fair participants:

CHAI’s "Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts" fuel bodies and souls

CHAI (Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.) organized Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts at the public schools in Pikesville at the end of the 2022-23 school year. Made possible by a generous grant from The Gordon Trust, the breakfasts recognized teachers for their hard work and dedication throughout the academic year. After the breakfast, several principals and teachers sent notes to CHAI expressing their gratitude.

To ensure inclusive participation, CHAI made kosher meals available. A Woodholme Elementary teacher said, "This was the first time I was able to partake in a sponsored meal at school. It meant a lot to me that a kosher option was provided. It was a real pick-me-up!"

A message from Dr. Rogers (Yarbrough)

Dear Reader:

The 2023-2024 school year has had a very successful start -- thanks in part to the school system's wonderful partners. BCPS depends on its many partners to serve as mentors and volunteers and to provide enrichment opportunities for students and families.

As the new school year begins, I welcome continued and expanded involvement from existing partners, and I encourage businesses and organizations considering partnership to take the next step and complete a community partnership form.

Partnerships deeply benefit our students and school communities, but we also hear from our partners that they benefit, too. Being engaged with our students and schools is inspirational, fulfilling, and fun, as well as an opportunity to help nurture the next generation of citizens, workers, and leaders.

In partnership,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent

PTA Council of Baltimore County

Opportunities to Partner