Students, staff ready for class as BCPS schools open smoothly for 2005-2006 school year

Using computers as a learning tool is a big part of curriculum throughout Baltimore County Public Schools, and here Dr. Hairston watches as Sandalwood Elementary School students work on computer-based lessons.

It didn’t take long for Baltimore County’s 8,000 teachers and 108,000 returning students to get right down to the business of teaching and learning when school doors opened for the 2005-2006 academic year on August 29.

“They’re ready to get to work, and they’re excited to be here,” said James Wolgamott, principal of Sandalwood Elementary School in Essex as he surveyed a class of busy youngsters and teachers soon after classes began on the first day. His assessment applied equally to both groups.

That scene was replayed throughout Baltimore County’s 163 schools on the first day as students and teachers lost no time in getting right to the year’s lessons. Their focus impressed both BCPS Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston and Board of Education President Thomas Grzymski, both of whom spent much of the first day visiting classrooms across the county school system to see firsthand the year’s smooth opening.

Their visits took them to Woodlawn High School, Cedarmere Elementary School, Rodgers Forge Elementary School, Perry Hall High School, Sandalwood Elementary School, and Riverview Elementary School. They were joined at several stops by Board Vice President Dr. Warren Hayman and Board Member John Hayden, Esq., as well as county elected representatives and County Executive James Smith’s education liaison, Erin O’Connor.

Distinguished opening day visitors take in the scene at Rodgers Forge Elementary School. From left: Board of Education Vice President Dr. Warren Hayman, Central Area Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kim Whitehead, Board of Education President Tom Grzymzki, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston, and Rodgers Forge Principal Sue Deise

“There certainly is no loss of teaching time in Baltimore County, is there?” Mr. Grzymski remarked during his tour. “Everyone seems on task and happy to be back.”

The first day was marked by warm, partly cloudy weather and plenty of excitement. At Cedarmere Elementary School in Owings Mills, a festive atmosphere welcomed students back to classes, including a parents’ assembly and greetings by local elected representatives.

At Perry Hall High School, students quickly learned how to navigate new improvements to interior hallways. The construction, completed during the summer, was designed to ease the flow of students from one part of the building to another.

Dr. Hairston listens as students discuss calendar issues during a lunch period at Perry Hall High School.

At Riverview Elementary School, students were already behind the cameras and control panels of the schools in-house television studio, taping greetings and news segments for fellow students.

And at Riderwood Elementary School, an arch of green and white balloons welcomed parents and students back to school, setting a festive tone as teachers and students streamed into classrooms. “All in all it was a great morning and a fun start to the 2005 – 2006 school year,” said second-grade teacher Lynn Detter.

The official assessment of the first week of school also portrayed a school system that opened prepared and ready to teach and learn.

Dr. Hairston talks with Riverview Elementary School Principal Mick Small (right) and a Riverview teacher during a first-day visit.

In a report prepared for the Sept. 7 Board of Education of Baltimore County, school system Chief of Staff Rita Fromm noted the hard work that went into preparing the county’s school buildings, staffs, and curriculum for the arrival of children.

This year’s first day was a busy one. The school system opened the new Woodholme Elementary School, expanded full-day kindergarten to 10 more elementary schools, and put small learning communities into place at 10 high schools.

The Sept. 7 report describes a school system poised for progress. The school system opened with 95 percent of its projected enrollment of 108,140, a figure that had jumped to 98 percent within a week.

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston speaks with staff at Cedermere Elementary School on a busy and exciting opening day.

To prepare for students on Aug. 29, the school system had worked hard to attract and hire the very best teachers and support personnel. By September 7, the school system had hired about 750 teachers, leaving just 5.5 positions to be filled.

The school system also had prepared its teachers and professional staff, offering scores of workshops and a three-day New Teacher Induction program for nearly all new educators. It opened the new school year with all 799 bus routes operating as planned and 50,000 meals served as expected.

Children at Sandalwood enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the Superintendent during his visit to the school on the first day of classes.

There were many other improvements as well. In addition to 65 capital construction projects in progress throughout the county school system this summer, BCPS opened all 163 schools on time, clean, and ready to receive teachers and students.

Nearly 3,000 new computers also were installed in schools during August, and 23 high schools received laptop computers and carts for electronic data acquisition, virtual labs, and other instructional enhancements.

Story by Charles Herndon, Communications Specialist, and Lynn Detter, Riderwood Elementary School. Photos by Charles Herndon.