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Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, at 7 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Operating Budget Review Committee to Meet

The Operating Budget Review Committee, which is advisory to the Board of Education, will meet at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Board of Education Audit Committee to Hold Quarterly Meeting

The Audit Committee of the Board of Education will hold its quarterly meeting at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006. The meeting will take place in Board Room A at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Newly Elected Board of Education Members to Take Oath of Office

Newly elected Board of Education members Frank Aquino, Larry Cohen, Sandra French, Ellen Giles and Patricia Gordon will take the oath of office at a swearing-in ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, 2006, in the James Rouse Theater at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road in Columbia.

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting and Public Hearing on 2007-2008 Proposed School Calendar

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Both the afternoon and the evening session, which convenes at 7:30 p.m., will begin with a “Public Forum,” when members of the public may address the Board on any topic other than those for which a formal public hearing process exists. Advanced sign up is preferred.

During the evening session, the Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed school calendar for 2007-2008.

Individuals who wish to testify at the hearing are asked to limit their presentation to three minutes and to provide 15 written copies of their testimony at the time of the hearing.

To sign up to testify at the hearing or to speak at Public Forum, contact the Executive Assistant to the Board at 410-313-7194.

Individuals who would like to request a sign language interpreter for any meeting of the Board of Education may contact Colleen Rice, Interpreter Scheduler, at 410-313-7046. A two week advanced notice is preferred.

Summit Builds Leadership Skills in Middle School Students

Approximately 70 students from three Howard County middle schools will attend the county’s first Leadership Summit for middle school students on November 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Wilde Lake Village Interfaith Center in Columbia. The summit is sponsored by the school system’s Office of School Counseling and is the brainchild of middle school counselors, who designed the event to build leadership skills and empower students to make a positive difference, big or small, in their schools and their communities.

The theme for the summit is safe schools and the students will spend part of the day working on a plan to take back to their schools to implement. Activities will be led by Tom Saunders, Principal of Elkridge Landing Middle School, and the counselors from the attending schools: Clarksville Middle, Elkridge Landing Middle, and Murray Hill Middle. Roger Plunkett, the school system’s business, community and government officer, will give the keynote address.

Tuesday’s event is the first HCPSS leadership event for middle school students. The school system has held an annual leadership conference at the elementary level for several years.

Fifth graders at Pointers Run are SLAMMIN’

On Thursday, December 7, from 2-3:30 p.m., fifth graders at Pointers Run Elementary School in Clarksville will be performing their SLAM poems in the school cafeteria. The event will culminate a nine-day residency of SLAM poet Gayle Danely.

SLAM poetry is a style of poetry that incorporates a performance aspect. The poet chooses an important experience in their life and writes about it, much like a personal narrative. Emphasis is placed on sharing of authentic feelings, thoughts, and relationships. Students are encouraged to include body language, gesture, and facial expression in order to convey the emotion of their poem.

The result is powerful, according to Pointers Run teachers. Many students are able to express feelings and thoughts about events that they never would have otherwise shared. The students derive incredible enjoyment and satisfaction from the writing and performance of their poems. It is a powerful experience for all who participate and for those who observe.

This is the sixth year that Gayle Danely has been the artist in residence with the Pointers Run fifth grade through the school’s cultural arts program. Danely kicks off her residency today with a performance for students.

Matt Fein and The Fein Properties Team to Partner with Oakland Mills High School

A new school-business partnership promises to give students an insider’s look at the “real world” of real estate. Local realtor Matt Fein has agreed to form a partnership between his company, The Fein Properties Team, and Oakland Mills High School.

The official signing took place at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Hotel. Matt Fein joined Oakland Mills High School Principal Frank V. Eastham, School Board Vice Chairman Diane Mikulis, and Educational Partnerships Manager Mary Schiller to sign the formal partnership agreement.

Under the terms of the partnership, Matt Fein and The Fein Properties Team will help students gain an understanding of real estate matters, from buying or selling a home to career opportunities, through class presentations and at other venues when appropriate. The firm has also agreed to donate $1,000 to sponsor free throw competitions at OMHS home varsity basketball games and will assist in purchasing new uniforms for the boys’ basketball team. Additional partnership opportunities will be identified throughout the year.

Matt Fein and The Fein Properties Team (www.feinproperties.com) believe in great customer service and in building each client’s trust. A Columbia native, Fein is strongly committed to supporting his community.

The Howard County Public School System’s Partnerships office unites businesses and community organizations with schools to enhance the educational experience. Partnerships benefit schools, businesses, and the entire community by leveraging the resources of all participants. Partners may commit human or financial resources or other support. For more information, contact Mary Schiller at 410-313-6655 or partnerships@hcpss.org.

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, at 3 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Board of Education Closed Meeting Canceled

The previously announced closed meeting of the Board of Education, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006, has been canceled.

Wilde Lake Sociology Students Discuss Columbia Vision with Urban Planning Professor

Students in Dr. Herb West’s sociology class at Wilde Lake High School, 6450 Trumpeter Road in Columbia, have been discussing the proposed plans to develop downtown Columbia. On Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, at 11:30 a.m. they’ll share their opinions on the future of their community with Ann Forsyth, professor and director of the Metropolitan Design Center University of Minnesota.

West expects a lively discussion. “This is a wonderful opportunity for these young men and women to lend their perspectives to the dialogue,” says West, “and they will benefit greatly from Ms. Forsyth’s knowledge and expertise.”

Ms. Forsyth has published three books on the social aspects of urban planning, design and development, including her 2005 release, Reforming Suburbia: The Planned Communities of Irvine, Columbia, and The Woodlands. She will be giving a lecture to the community Thursday night at Smith Theatre on the campus of Howard Community College, as the second speaker in the Voices of Vision series.

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Both the afternoon and the evening session, which convenes at 7:30 p.m., will begin with a “Public Forum,” when members of the public may address the Board on any topic other than those for which a formal public hearing process exists. Advanced sign up is preferred.

During the evening session, the Board will approve the attendance area adjustments for the 2007-2008 school year.

To sign up to speak at Public Forum, contact the Executive Assistant to the Board at 410-313-7194.

Individuals who would like to request a sign language interpreter for any meeting of the Board of Education may contact Colleen Rice, Interpreter Scheduler, at 410-313-7046. A two week advanced notice is preferred.

Clemens Crossing Elementary School and Howard Bank Form Partnership

Locally-based Howard Bank has agreed to form a partnership with Clemens Crossing Elementary School to teach students the importance of personal financial planning while helping them gain an appreciation for how mathematics is used in daily life. The official partnership signing took place at the Hickory Ridge Branch on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006.

As part of the partnership agreement, the bank’s Hickory Ridge Branch will create a school-based, deposit-only bank for Clemens Crossing students and staff. Bank representatives will train fifth grade students as tellers and will assist with a weekly banking day. Students will also tour the bank branch to learn how a real bank operates.

Howard Bank will also help classroom teachers explain math skills related to money, decimals and fractions. Additional partnership opportunities, such as family financial literacy seminars, will be identified throughout the year.

Howard Bank representatives Laura Cowan, vice president, and Marc Lee, assistant vice president, Clemens Crossing Elementary School representatives Peggy Dumler, principal, Shaena Foot, GT resource teacher, and Jill Scott, PTA president, School Board Member Mary Kay Sigaty, and Educational Partnerships Manager Mary Schiller will sign the official partnership agreement.

With headquarters in Ellicott City, Howard Bank (www.howardbank.com) is dedicated to serving the people and businesses of Howard County. Every Howard Bank executive serves on the board of a local nonprofit organization.

The Howard County Public School System’s Educational Partnerships office unites businesses and other community organizations with schools to enhance the educational experience. By leveraging the resources of all participants, partnerships benefit schools, businesses and the community at large. Partners may commit human or financial resources or other support.

Board of Education to Hold Two Public Work Sessions on Proposed Attendance Area Adjustments

The Howard County Board of Education will hold two public work sessions on the proposed attendance area adjustments for the 2007-2008 school year. The work sessions will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14, and Thursday, Nov. 16, in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City. The public is encouraged to attend and will have an opportunity to leave written comments.

Individuals who would like to request a sign language interpreter for any meeting of the Board of Education may contact Colleen Rice, Interpreter Scheduler, at 410-313-7046. A two week advanced notice is preferred.

Board of Education to Meet in Closed Session on November 14

The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Board of Education to Meet in Closed Session on November 9

The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Office of Special Education to Hold Transition Planning Evening

The Office of Special Education of the Howard County Public School System will hold a Transition Planning Evening on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006, from 6 - 9 p.m. at Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road in Columbia.

The purpose of the evening is to provide information, to parents and guardians of students receiving special education services, regarding options that may be available for students when they leave school. Parents of students age 14 or older who may be receiving a certificate upon graduation from high school, are particularly encouraged to attend. Some of the topics to be covered are: funding; postsecondary schooling; vocational programs; day and residential programs; recreation and transportation.

The primary audience is those students who will transition to adult service providers. Representatives from Community College of Baltimore County, Division of Rehabilitation Services, Howard Community College and Project Access will be available to discuss options for students receiving diplomas.

Although the program is largely geared to high school students, families of students in middle school will have an opportunity to become familiar with transition planning and vocational options as they prepare for high school.

Glenelg High School and Identity Promotions to Form Partnership