Release Date: 5/18/2012 Contact: Charles Herndon, 410-887-6111 Phyllis T. Reese, 410-887-5908

New episode of BCPS News airs on BCPS-TV

Summer School programs, culinary experts are among episode’s features

TOWSON, MD. – A new episode of BCPS News, which highlights Baltimore County Public Schools’ achievements and progress, will be on the air from Monday, May 21, through Sunday, June 3. The show is hosted by Mary Beth Marsden, a local Emmy Award®-winning broadcaster. Produced bi-monthly during the school year by BCPS-TV, BCPS News airs daily at 5:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 10:00 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 73 and Verizon FiOS Channel 34 in Baltimore County. In addition, the program is available for in-school viewing on Safari Montage, the BCPS video-on-demand system, and on the web at www.bcps.org/news/ed_channel and at http://www.youtube.com/BaltCoPS.

The latest 15-minute episode includes stories about:

  • Super volunteer Jackie Brewster, who has logged up to 1,500 hours of volunteer service annually at Charlesmont Elementary School for the past 15 years.
  • The hands-on outdoor science investigations experienced by BCPS middle and high school students through the Environmental Science Stream Study at Oregon Ridge Nature Center.
  • The student teamwork and creativity that goes into bringing the "Seussical Junior" musical to the stage at Vincent Farm Elementary School. 

In addition, an interview segment will spotlight summer school programs offered by Baltimore County Public Schools. Michael Kulansky, supervisor of the BCPS summer programs, and Deer Park Middle School library media specialist Thomas Miley will be the guests.
A segment called "What's Trending" highlights recent achievements around the county, including national honors for culinary students at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, who recently took second place at the 11th annual National Prostart Invitational competition. Other "What's Trending" segments include a story about environmental efforts at Pot Spring Elementary School to achieve recertification as a Maryland Green School and a profile of Marsye Kaplan of the BCPS Office of Special Education, who was recently named the 2012 Outstanding Technology Leader in Education.

Since 1983, the school system's television station has produced original interactive instructional programming, interactive DVDs, commercial satellite downlinks, and live telecasts to serve the instructional and informational needs of students, parents, educators, and citizens of Baltimore County.  BCPS-TV also provides opportunities for BCPS students, staff, and stakeholders to learn about and gain experience in television and video production. Student interns for BCPS News this school year are Jessica Dortch of New Town High School and Melissa Nawojski of Hereford High School.

Other original programs airing on BCPS-TV include High School Sports Scene, Math Homework Helpers, SAT Review, Student Art Break, Student Production Showcase, Up Beat, The Chalkboard, and two new shows, Brain Gain and Kid Conversation.  
The newest BCPS-TV series, So Easy a Kid Can Do It, debuted in December and features Baltimore County Public Schools' students offering home improvement tips. It airs immediately following BCPS News at 5:45 a.m., 8:45 p.m., and 10:15 p.m. daily.

BCPS-TV also records and airs public meetings of the Baltimore County Board of Education, systemwide music events, and other special activities.

A viewing schedule for BCPS-TV is available at www.bcps.org/apps/edchannel_schedule/.

Visit the BCPS News Center and BCPS News Archive to explore more BCPS news!