| Release Date: 11/13/2009 |
Contact: Charles Herndon 410-887-6111 |
Activities, Events, and News from Baltimore County Public Schools
Loch Raven High School presents "Anne Frank and Me" on stage
Loch Raven High School students will present the comedy/drama production of "Anne Frank and Me" by Cherie Bennett with Jeff Gottesfeld at 7:00 p.m. and in a matinee show at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 15. The national award-winning new American production, which was a hit in New York theaters, concerns the awakening of a modern teen Holocaust denier. The play not only explores the period of the Holocaust but also challenges play-goers to look at the world today. As part of their preparation for the play, the cast and crew took a field trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington and visited with a Holocaust survivor. Director Lisa Coyne has coordinated play preparation with the Baltimore County Public Schools social studies office as well. Tickets are $5.00, and the play will be performed at the school, which is located at 1212 Cowpens Avenue in Towson.
Contact: Lisa Coyne, Ed Kitlowski, or Bonnie Lambert, Loch Raven High School, 410.887.3525
Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts presents its first holiday dance concert
Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts invites its school community to the school's first holiday dance concert. The Royal Performing Arts Center, under the direction of Denise Ebert, will collaborate with students in the school's dance magnet program to celebrate the beauty of the season with a variety of master work dances, student works, and excerpts from the Nutcracker. Admission to the 7:00 p.m. performance is $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. The school is located at 8100 Wise Avenue in Dundalk.
Contact: Liberty Grayek or Ryan Imbriale, Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, 410.887.7060
American Education Week kicks off in Baltimore County Public Schools
Schools across Baltimore County will celebrate American Education Week 2009 with a variety of activities designed to showcase for parents and the community the teaching and learning going on each day in every classroom. Nearly every school in the county will offer open houses, classroom visitations, and other activities to encourage parents, grandparents, and community members to visit schools. During American Education Week, most schools set aside specific times for parents to visit their children's classrooms. In addition, many schools also host special events, including book fairs, reading nights, book swaps, music lessons, and more. Nationally, American Education Week, sponsored by the National Education Association, has been celebrated for 88 years. The theme for American Education Week is "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility." Please contact individual schools for specific events, times, and details.
Contact: Charles Herndon, Office of Communications, 410.887.6111
Baltimore County Public Schools High School Honors Concert presents a gala celebration of the BCPS music program
The annual Baltimore County Public Schools High School Honors Concert will be held at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore City at 7:30 p.m. The annual gala performance will highlight the talents of more than 270 high school students selected from an audition process to perform in countywide honors ensembles, such as the High School Honors Band, Chorus, and Orchestra. Conductors will include Joseph Young, a League of American Orchestras Conducting Fellow, of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Sun Min Lee, assistant professor of the Westminster Choir College of Rider University; and Dr. Michael Votta, associate professor at the University of the Maryland College Park. Admission to the concert is free, but tickets are required due to limited seating.
Contact: Angela Tanner or Karl Stewart, Office of Music, 410.887.4024
Randallstown Elementary School is "Raving About Reading!"
Randallstown Elementary School will celebrate reading with "Raving About Reading," a family activity in which children will be encouraged to dress as their favorite book characters and bring their favorite stories. Families will meet in the cafeteria at 6:30 p.m. to watch a short skit highlighting the 100 Book Challenge. Students who met program goals will also be recognized and given medals for reading success. Families then will break into grade levels to engage in family reading and short book clubs, share the children's favorite stories, and learn ways to encourage and support reading fluency and comprehension at home. The school is located at 9013 Liberty Road in Randallstown.
Contact: Betsy Book or Lois Stokes, Randallstown Elementary School, 410.887.0746
Eastwood Elementary Magnet School students perform "Stone Soup: A Rock Opera"
Eastwood Elementary Magnet School students in kindergarten through grade 2 will present "Stone Soup: ‘A Rock Opera'" at 11:00 a.m. at the school at 428 Westham Way, Dundalk. The play, which is based on the classic folk tale "Stone Soup," imparts lessons on sharing as it tells an entertaining story.
Contact: Tina Pedrick, Joan Brauner, or Cyndy Wachob, Eastwood Elementary Magnet School, 410.887.7034
Perry Hall Elementary School walks for technology
Perry Hall Elementary School, 9021 Belair Road in Perry Hall, will hold its first Technology Walk throughout American Education Week. During the week, each school grade and class will participate in a walk around a 1/3-mile course for an allotted time, both as a healthy physical education activity and as an effort to supplement school funding for educational technology such as projectors, multimedia carts, computers/laptops, and printers. Family and friends attending visitation days throughout the week also will be invited to participate in the activity. Please call the school for specific times and details.
Contact: Stephanie Hendrix Birnbaum or Donna Bergin, Perry Hall Elementary School, 410.887.5105
Family Art Night at Pinewood Elementary School
What makes a Van Gogh? Find out at Family Art Night from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Pinewood Elementary School, 200 Rickswood Road in Timonium. Students and their families will explore the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh through a slide presentation, with opportunities to learn about art history and explore art media and techniques. The presentation will take place in the school gym.
Contact: Sheldon Lebowitz or Kathryn Arnold, Pinewood Elementary School, 410.887.7663
Open House at Cromwell Valley Elementary Regional Magnet School of Technology
Parents of prospective Cromwell Valley Elementary School students are invited to attend the school's annual Open House from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Students, staff, and parents will be available to share information about the CVE Magnet school program, admissions, and application deadlines. Cromwell Valley Elementary is a regional magnet school primarily serving the school communities of Hampton, Halstead Academy, Stoneleigh, Rodgers Forge, Oakleigh, Villa Cresta, and Pleasant Plains. The school is located at 825 Providence Road in Towson.
Contact: Darlene Morrison or Christian Gromek, Cromwell Valley
Elementary School, 410.887.4888
Berkshire Elementary School hosts a Turkey Trot
Berkshire Elementary School, 7431 Poplar Avenue in Dundalk, will host its second annual turkey trot for the school's grade 4 and 5 students. The Turkey Trot is a 1-mile race set on the grounds of Berkshire Elementary School. Students will use strategies and techniques learned during their cross-country unit to run the race. All participants will receive a medal for participation and top male/female finishers will win a gift card for a turkey.
Contact: Vicky Ciulla or Chuck Yanney, Berkshire Elementary School, 410.887.7008
Fullerton Elementary School to host Ice Cream Social and theater production
In observance of American Education Week, Fullerton Elementary School will once again celebrate learning and parent partnerships by joining with the school's PTA to host an Ice Cream Social. For that event, families are invited to enjoy both ice cream and a performance of the Children's Theater Association production of "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." The school's annual Book Fair also will be held that evening for parents and students. More than 400 visitors are expected to attend the social, which begins at 6:30 p.m. and will continue until 9:00 p.m. at the school, located at 4400 Fullerton Avenue in Fullerton.
Contact: Homeretta Ayala or Susan Biscoe, Fullerton Elementary School, 410.887.5234
Martin Boulevard Elementary School invites students to make a book
Martin Boulevard Elementary School will invite students and their families to a school activity during which students have the opportunity to create and construct their own books. The event will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the school, located at 210 Riverton Road in Middle River. Students and families also will have the opportunity to purchase books.
Contact: Jacqueline Heckman or Karan Donoho, Martin Boulevard Elementary School, 410.887.0158
Overlea High, Golden Ring Middle school artists to be honored for Greenwood display
Student artists from Overlea High School and Golden Ring Middle School will be honored at an open house celebrating the exhibition of their work in the Administration Building on the Greenwood campus of Baltimore County Public Schools, 6901 Charles Street, Towson. The art show and reception will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and works of art will be on display through the month of November in the Greenwood mansion. Overlea High students have 84 pieces on display, and Golden Ring artists are represented in 24 works. All artists, their families and friends, and members of the community are invited to attend the November 17 opening.
Contact: Debbie Kiblin or Elizabeth Parker, Overlea High School, 410.887.5241
Baltimore Ravens to visit and inspire students at New Town High School
Keeping an annual tradition, members of the Baltimore Ravens NFL football team will visit students at New Town High School to speak and to take questions from students. With the theme of "Turn It Around," the program will bring three to four Ravens players to the school, located at 4931 New Town Boulevard in Owings Mills, during second period for grades 9 and 10 (9:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.). The players will focus their remarks on helping students realize that they can make a difference in school, at home, and in the community by making good decisions.
Contact: Kathy Ziese or Barbara Cheswick, New Town High School, 410.887.1614
Ronald McDonald to appear at Johnnycake Elementary School to discuss friendship
Johnnycake Elementary School, 5910 Craigmont Road in Woodlawn, will welcome Ronald McDonald from McDonald's restaurants to an assembly from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. The popular restaurant mascot will speak to children about what it takes to be a good friend, lessons in cooperation, and the importance of outdoor activity and fun.
Contact: Amy Daniller or Mary Maddox, Johnnycake Elementary School, 410.887.0823
Seventh District Elementary School to celebrate school's National Blue Ribbon status
Seventh District Elementary School, 20300 York Road in Parkton, will celebrate the school's recent designation as a National Blue Ribbon School with a special ceremony beginning at 2:00 p.m. The State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick, County Executive Jim Smith, and the BCPS Superintendent's Chief of Staff Rita Fromm will honor the school's students, staff, and parents for this national accomplishment.
Contact: Glenda Carman or Leslie Brooks, Seventh District Elementary School, 410.887.1902
Parent Empowerment Night on tap at Pine Grove Middle School
Parents and students are invited to attend Pine Grove Middle School's Second Annual Parent Empowerment Night at 5:30 p.m. Parents and students will have an opportunity to participate in three sessions covering topics including academic support in middle school and alcohol and drug abuse prevention. Internet safety also will be discussed. The event is being sponsored by Pine Grove Middle School's Counseling Department. The school is located at 9200 Old Harford Road in Carney.
Contact: LaNae Nelson or Sandra Reid, Pine Grove Middle School, 410.887.5270
The Southwest Area Educational Advisory Council to sponsor a discussion of AIM
The Southwest Area Educational Advisory Council (SWAEAC) will sponsor a discussion of AIM - the Articulated Instruction Module - beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Winfield Elementary School, 8300 Carlson Lane, Randallstown. AIM is an online tool that describes what is being taught and what students are expected to learn for each course offered in BCPS. Students, parents, teachers, and community members are invited to the meeting to learn more about AIM and hear from a guest panel that includes Dr. Barbara Dezmon, Assistant to the Superintendent for Equity and Assurance, Woodlawn High School Assistant Principal James Sargent, and parent Veronica Magwood.
Contact: Brian Bailey, SWAEAC, 443.618.5405, or Beverly Lindsey, 443.840.4166
A special Powhatan Elementary School "thank you" event for parents
Powhatan Elementary School will host its first Parent Appreciation Night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Instrumental music teacher Ken Patterson will provide a night of jazz for parents, while the school's teachers and staff will serve dinner and provide babysitting services for guests as a way to show appreciation for the parental support that they receive from parents. The school is located at 3300 Kelox Road in Woodlawn.
Contact: Yasmin Stokes, Powhatan Elementary School, 410.887.1330
"Doughnuts for Dad" event to be held at Edmondson Heights Elementary School
Edmondson Heights Elementary School, 1600 Langford Road in Woodlawn, will hold its annual "Doughnuts for Dad" event on from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The event is a chance for all the school's dedicated fathers to come into the school with their children, enjoy doughnuts, and meet some of the teachers and staff.
Contact: Todd Queen, Edmondson Heights Elementary School PTA, 410.869.4720
Vince Tola or David Parker, Edmondson Heights Elementary School, 410.887.0818
Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts to present fall play
Thespians at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts will present the school's fall play, "Iphigenia at Aurlis in Orem," beginning Thursday, November 19, and continuing through Sunday, November 22. The play is composed of two tragic tales woven together by themes of sacrifice and honor. Euripides' "Iphigenia at Aulis" tells the story of Greek king and leader Agamemnon as he loses his daughter for the sake of his country, while Neil Laute's adaptation, "Iphigenia in Orem," explores the same themes in contemporary society as a businessman confesses to a strikingly similar and chilling crime. Tickets for the drama, which is appropriate for children ages 13 and older, are $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for students and seniors. Refreshments will be available for purchase during intermission, and all shows from November 19 through 21 begin at 7:00 p.m. The Sunday, November 22, show begins at 2:30 p.m. The school is located at 8100 Wise Avenue in Dundalk.
Contact: Liberty Grayek or Ryan Imbriale, Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, 410.887.7060
Charlesmont Elementary School hosts a Family Literacy Night
Parents, students, and teachers of Charlesmont Elementary School are invited to a Family Literacy Night at the school, which is located at 7800 West Collingham Drive in Dundalk. Participants will be treated to dinner, followed by a presentation by author and musician Barry Louis Polisar. The event, which will run from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., also will include break-out sessions on topics including the 100 Book Challenge, reading research labs, and effective reading strategies. Families are encouraged to bring one or two books to donate to a book swap, and every family will be able to choose books to add to their home libraries.
Contact: Marsha Ayres or Jane Losinger, Charlesmont Elementary 410.887.7004
"Art is In" at Sudbrook Magnet Middle School
Sudbrook Magnet Middle School will host its fall arts show, "Art Is In," at 6:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. In the show, visitors will hear students discuss their thinking processes and explain the techniques used to complete their work as it is displayed on the auditorium's big screen. After the presentation, guests may tour the first- and second-floor display areas and enjoy light refreshments in the Gifted and Talented exhibit areas. Admission is $2.00 per person or $4.00 per family. Funds will be used to support and enhance the visual arts programs at Sudbrook.
Contact: Cecilia Terlizzi or Sharon Robbins, Sudbrook Magnet Middle School, 410-887-6720
Randallstown High School classes participate in competition on the Constitution and Bill of Rights
Students from Randallstown High School will both compete and host the Congressional district level hearings of the "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" competition. "We the People" teaches students the principles and values reflected in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Students address topics such as the history and philosophical ideas underlying the Constitution, the development and expansion of the Bill of Rights, and the roles of citizens in American democracy. The program asks students to analyze constitutional principles and apply them to day-to-day life. Administered by the Center for Civic Education, the program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Including noncompetitive elementary and middle school levels, more than 26.5 million students have participated in the program since its inception in 1986. Randallstown High School is located at 4000 Offutt Road in Randallstown. Please call the school for specific times and details.
Contact: Donna Olszewski, "We the People" competition, 410.767.0317 or Gerry Oehler, Randallstown High School, 410.887.0748
Seven Oaks Elementary School students to participate in school's annual Turkey Trot
The Seven Oaks Elementary School's annual Turkey Trot cross country race will take place after school from 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Boys and girls in grades 4 and 5 are eligible to participate in the yearly trot, which takes place at the school at 9220 Seven Courts Drive in Perry Hall.
Contact: Carol Wingard, Seven Oaks Elementary School, 410.887.6257
Riverview Elementary School PTA hosts a holiday "make and take" event
The Riverview Elementary School PTA welcomes parents to a "Parent and Child Holiday Make & Take" event to be held from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the school's cafeteria, located at 3298 Kessler Road in Lansdowne. At the event, parents and children will learn how to make several crafts and additional material will be sent home to allow families to make more crafts together. Refreshments will be provided, and prizes will be awarded. Interested Riverview parents should register by calling Anna Smith at 410.536.7265.
Contact: Anna Smith or Cheryl Jones, Riverview Elementary School, 410.536.7265
Baltimore County Student Councils to hold annual Middle School Leadership Conference
The Baltimore County Student Councils will hold its annual Middle School Leadership Conference at the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex campus, 7201 Rossville Boulevard in Essex, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Leadership Conference is designed to provide an opportunity for middle school students around the county to share ideas and develop empowerment skills to enhance their leadership knowledge in the areas of team building, communication, parliamentary procedure, and community service. Trained student leaders will facilitate the day's workshop sessions. A mock general assembly will be held in the afternoon to put the middle schoolers' newly cultivated skills to practice.
Contact: Barbara Fuller, Office of Communications, 410.887.4218
Victory Villa Elementary School students to race in annual Turkey Trot on Tuesday, November 24
The 11th annual Victory Villa Turkey Trot will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, for students in grades 3, 4, and 5 at the school, 500 Compass Road in Middle River. The Turkey Trot supplements the cross country curriculum in physical education and has become a fall tradition at the school.
Contact: Marta Cover or Kathleen East, Victory Villa Elementary School, 410.887.0184
Children's author Jennifer Curtis to visit Berkshire Elementary School
Maryland "Green Author" Jennifer Keats Curtis will visit classes at Berkshire Elementary School, at 7431 Poplar Avenue in Dundalk, on Tuesday, December 1. She will read her illustrated children's books and talk with students about children's roles in helping wild animals. Curtis will share her award-winning story "Oshus and Shelly Save the Bay," as well as "Turtles In My Sandbox" and her brand-new release, "Baby Owl's Rescue," at two assemblies, one for primary grades and another for intermediate students. During the remainder of the day, Curtis will visit some of the classrooms to work with the students on their writing skills. Please call the school for specific times and details.
Contact: Andrea Naft or Vicky Ciulla, Berkshire Elementary School, 410.887.7008
November "BCPS News" episode on the air at The Education Channel
The November episode of the award-winning "BCPS News" show, which highlights Baltimore County Public Schools' achievements and progress, is on the air. Produced monthly during the school year by The Education Channel of Baltimore County Public Schools, "BCPS News" airs daily at 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 6:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 73 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35 in Baltimore County. The program is also available for viewing online at the BCPS Web site (www.bcps.org) and for in-school viewing on Safari Montage, the BCPS video-on-demand system. The 30-minute episode for November includes stories about:
Student reporters and anchors for "BCPS News" this school year are: Janel Johnson of Randallstown High School; Rachel Martinez and Cheyenne Tandon of Chesapeake High School; and Alexandria Benford, Vivian Ellis, Michelle Hayward, Elise Myers, and Da'Shan Utley, all from George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology.
Contact: Charles Herndon, Communications Office, 410.887.6111
Books and Bagels returning to Seventh District Elementary School
Seventh District Elementary, 20300 York Road in Parkton, again will offer the popular Books and Bagels reading club - this year offered to all first-grade students. Starting Thursday, November 12, first-grade teacher Lauren Murray will meet once a week with students from one of the school's three first-grade reading groups from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. During that time, students will enjoy a breakfast snack and drink while discussing an assigned book. The book club is optional. It is designed strictly to develop the joy of reading, and students will not receive a grade.
Contact: Lauren Murray or Glenda Carman, Seventh District Elementary School, 410.887.1902
Two after-school clubs gearing up for competition at Eastwood Elementary Magnet School
Two after-school clubs at Eastwood Elementary Magnet School, 428 Westham Way in Dundalk, are busy preparing students for competitions in 2010. The MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) Science Club meets each week to prepare for MESA regional competition in March and April of 2010. Students participating in MESA explore science and math concepts and participate in activities designed to engage students in observation, recording data, problem solving, and teamwork. Meanwhile, the school's Black Saga Club students challenge each other with facts and information about African-American history each week as they prepare for the countywide competition in February.
Contact: Rick Wright, Cyndy Wachob, or Joan Brauner, Eastwood Elementary Magnet School, 410.887.1408
Visit the BCPS News Archive to explore more BCPS news!