56 BCPS schools head for statewide Black Saga finals
Rodgers Forge Elementary and Cockeysville Middle win countywide competition - 2/7/08

Students and their advisors from Johnnycake Elementary School stand before their Black Saga poster entry.

For students at more than a third of Baltimore County schools, February is more than a time to learn more about African American history; it is also a time to demonstrate all that they have learned about the subject through months of after-school and weekend study and practices.

More than 300 students, representing 41 Baltimore County Public Schools elementary and 15 BCPS middle schools, participated in the annual countywide Black Saga Competition, held on February 2 at Randallstown High School. Initiated by Dr. Charles Christian, author of Black Saga: The African American Experience, the Black Saga competition challenges students to answer more than 800 questions about the African American experience. The Black Saga competition begins each fall when students start competing first against teams within their schools and counties before moving up to the statewide finals.

Winners display their ribbons and medals as they pose with Black Saga founder Dr. Charles Christian.

Before audiences swelling to more than 1,000 individuals, teams from Rodgers Forge Elementary School and Cockeysville Middle School emerged as elementary and middle school champions of the 2008 Baltimore County Public Schools Black Saga Competition.

The winning team from Rodgers Forge Elementary included fourth–grade students Wolfgang D., Vaughn P., and Nicholas S.  Cockeysville Middle’s first place team was comprised of sixth-grade students Aaron S., Shirley S., and Calik W.

Qualifying teams fill the stage during the elementary level final round.

Aaron was a member of the Warren Elementary School team that won the countywide elementary school Black Saga championship last year. The other members of that 2007 Warren Elementary team – Tionne B. and Regina L. – formed another team from Cockeysville Middle and placed second in the 2008 countywide competition. The other participating team from Rodgers Forge also placed well – earning third place for the elementary division.

Dr. Christian served as moderator as two three-member teams represented each of the participating schools. Throughout the half-day event, the school overflowed with enthusiastic parents, school staff, family, and friends who listened intently as students answered questions and stood to cheer all participants for their effort.

Each year, since the county level competition began in 2004, the number of county schools participating has risen. “This high level of involvement demonstrates our students’ commitment to learning, even after school and on weekends, and the commitment of our staff and families to supporting students in their development as scholars and leaders,” said Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston. “In addition to offering students valuable insights into American history, Black Saga promotes overall academic rigor in our schools, helps students develop enduring study skills, and engages the community in celebrating academic achievement.”

The following teams ranked within the top 10 at Saturday’s competition:

Elementary Division

1st Place	Rogers Forge, Team B
2nd Place	Warren Elementary, Team A
3rd Place	Rodgers Forge, Team A
4th Place	Pinewood Elementary, Team A
5th Place (3-way tie)	Church Lane, Team A
	Westowne, Team A
	Westowne, Team B
6th Place (2-way tie)	Carney Elementary, Team A
	Westchester, Team A
7th Place	Deer Park, Team B

Middle School Division

1st Place	Cockeysville Middle, Team B
2nd Place	Cockeysville Middle, Team A
3rd Place	Sudbrook Middle, Team A
4th Place	Franklin Middle, Team A
5th Place	Ridgley Middle, Team A
6th Place	Deer Park Middle, Team A
7th Place	Dundalk Middle, Team A
8th Place	Loch Raven, Team A
9th Place (2-way tie)	Franklin Middle, Team B
	Southwest Academy, Team A

All schools that participated in the countywide finals are eligible to send up to two teams each to the Maryland State Black Saga Competition, which will be held on March 15 at Towson University.  This list of schools includes:

Elementary Schools

Bedford	Milbrook
Carney	New Town
Cedarmere	Oakleigh
Chapel Hill	Padonia International
Church Lane	Pinewood
Colgate	Pleasant Plains
Cromwell Valley	Powhatan
Deep Creek	Randallstown
Deer Park	Red House Run
Dogwood	Rodgers Forge
Eastwood Center	Scotts Branch
Edmondson Heights	Seneca
Halstead	Sussex
Harford Hills	Warren
Hawthorne	Wellwood International
Hebbville	Westchester
Hernwood	Westowne
Hillcrest	Winfield
Johnnycake	Woodholme
Kingsville	Woodmoor
Logan

Middle Schools

Arbutus	Loch Raven Academy
Cockeysville	Middle River
Deep Creek	Ridgely
Deer Park Magnet	Southwest Academy
Dundalk	Sudbrook Magnet
Franklin	Windsor Mill
Golden Ring	Woodlawn
Lansdowne

A view from the stage: Students concentrate on stage before a filled auditorium during the elementary level final round.

For the past three years, Baltimore County Public Schools has fielded more teams than any other school district in Maryland. The school system was also the first in the state to host its own countywide competitions prior to the state finals. Howard and Prince George’s counties now also host countywide events.

Teams from Baltimore County swept the statewide Black Saga competition in 2007, 2006, and 2005.

Last year, teams from Baltimore County elementary schools led the statewide Black Saga competition by winning six of the top 10 rankings. A team from Rodgers Forge Elementary School in Towson came in first, followed in second place by a team from Warren Elementary in Cockeysville, third place by a team from Westchester Elementary in Catonsville, and fourth place by a team from Cromwell Valley Elementary in Towson. In addition, a team from Deer Park Elementary in Owings Mills placed seventh, and a team from Wellwood International in Pikesville placed ninth. In the middle school division, a team from Sudbrook Magnet Middle School in Pikesville placed third, and a team from Franklin Middle in Reisterstown placed fourth.

A team from Church Lane Elementary School holds up an answer.

In 2006, all five of the Baltimore County Public Schools that qualified for the final round in the elementary division placed within the top nine. A team from Church Lane Elementary Technology School came in first, followed in second place by a team from Cromwell Valley Elementary Regional Magnet School of Technology. A team from Battle Grove Elementary came in third. In addition, a team from Westchester Elementary School placed fifth, and a second team from Cromwell Valley placed ninth. In the middle school division, teams from Loch Raven Academy and Franklin Middle School, made it to the final round; one of them, from Loch Raven Technical Academy, placed fifth.

Black Saga Team Poster Contest

Since 2005, the BCPS Black Saga competition has included a team poster display and contest. Ribbons are awarded to the top three displays in the elementary and middle school divisions. For 2008, the elementary school winners were: First Place – Kingsville Elementary School Second Place – Pinewood Elementary School Third Place – Seneca Elementary School For 2008, the middle school winners were: First Place – Windsor Mill Middle School Second Place – Loch Raven Technical Academy Third Place – Southwest Academy

In 2005, teams from Deep Creek, Cromwell Valley, and Battle Grove placed first, second, and third, respectively, at the elementary level. Another team from Cromwell Valley placed fifth and a team from Church Lane placed ninth. Loch Raven Technical Academy and Franklin placed in the top 10 in the middle school division.

 

 

 

Story by Diana L. Spencer, communications officer. Photos by Pat Robeson of the Maryland Geographic Alliance, a Black Saga volunteer.

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