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Board of Education to Hold Public Work Session

On Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at 8 p.m., the Howard County Board of Education will hold a public work session as a follow up to their retreat, which took place on Jan. 12, 2007. The work session will take place in the cafeteria at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

County Officials Help Fifth Graders Learn about the Constitution in Simulated Hearings

Fifth graders from 25 Howard County elementary schools will put their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to the test in the second annual We the People Simulated Congressional Hearings, scheduled to begin on May 15, 2007, and will continue until June 8, 2007.

The Simulated Congressional Hearings have been received with resounding praise. One parent stated, “This is what public schooling should be all about.”

One student, who participated in the Simulated Hearings last year, found the event very educational. "First I didn't know all our rights as citizens and about the Constitution. Now I know more about our rights and more about the Constitution than most people," he said.

Participating fifth grade classes are divided into five groups and each group delivers four minutes of prepared testimony and then fields questions. Topics include:

• The founders’ basic ideas of government.
• How the Constitution was written.
• The three branches of government.
• The responsibilities of citizens.
• How the Constitution protects our basic rights, including such topics as freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

Five simulated congressional committees -- comprised of public officials, lawyers, community representatives, constitutional scholars, and curriculum representatives from the Howard County Public School System and Maryland State Department of Education -- will judge the student performances. Also participating are public officials representing the US Congress, the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland judiciary, the County Executive, the County Council and the Board of Education.

"It was cool to have real government experts there asking questions that really made us think hard. We had a fun and educational time learning. After this I feel strongly about participating in government, maybe even for my profession,” said another student who participated in last year’s event.

All events will take place at the 25 elementary schools participating. The approximate schedule for the events is as follows:

Schools are participating in Simulated Congressional Hearings according to the following schedule:

May 15 -- Forest Ridge Elementary
May 16 -- Atholton Elementary and Centennial Lane Elementary
May 17 -- Clarksville Elementary and Fulton Elementary
May 22 -- Bollman Bridge Elementary and Triadelphia Ridge Elementary
May 23 -- Bushy Park Elementary and Laurel Woods Elementary
May 24 -- Thunder Hill Elementary and Waterloo Elementary
May 30 -- Clemens Crossing Elementary and Rockburn Elementary
May 31 -- Hollifield Station Elementary, Lisbon Elementary
               and West Friendship Elementary
June 1 -- Phelps Luck Elementary and  Elkridge Elementary
June 5 -- Pointers Run Elementary and 5 St. Johns Lane Elementary
June 6 -- Ilchester Elementary and 6 Northfield Elementary
June 7 -- Bryant Woods Elementary and Waverly Elementary
June 8 -- Dayton Oaks Elementary

The events culminate the fifth grade social studies curriculum in which students study historical, political, and constitutional issues. The simulated hearings are adapted from a similar activity included in the We the People textbook used in fifth grade Social Studies.

The We the People program is administered by the Center for Civic Education and funded by the US Department of Education. It is the most extensive education program in the country, developed to teach young people about the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the principals and values they embody. Research studies indicate that students exposed to the program are more interested in politics, feel more politically effective, and perceive fewer limits on their own political freedom than most other students and adult Americans.

For more information about the program, contact HCPSS Social Studies Resource Teacher, Kim Pearre at 410-313-5678 (kpearre@hcpss.org), or Social Studies Coordinator, Corinne Gorzo at 410-313-6642 (cgorzo@hcpss.org).

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting, Public Hearing and Work Session on FY 2008 Operating and Capital Budgets and FY 2009 - 2013 Capital Improvement Program

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2007, 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 start 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 and work session on the FY 2008 Operating and Capital budgets and the FY 2009 – 2013 Capital Improvement Program.

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 speak at “Public Forum” or to testify at the hearing, contact the Executive Assistant to the Board at 410-313-7194. The Board encourages the participation of the public.

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.

New Partnership to Add Performance Opportunities for Music Students

Music students at Bryant Woods Elementary School will enjoy additional opportunities to develop their performance skills while sharing music with the community through a new partnership with The Suzuki Music School Touring Ensemble, Inc. (TSMTSE).

The partnership agreement will be formalized on Monday, April 30, with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Hotel.

Under the terms of the agreement, qualified Bryant Woods orchestra, band, and choral students will join members of TSMTSE for joint performances in retirement homes, hospitals, and other community locations. Students will initially rehearse at the school, then join TSMSTE for dress rehearsals and performances.

At 8:30 a.m, Joan Spicknall, TSMTSE director, will join Bryant Woods Elementary School Principal Sean Martin, Band/Strings Teacher Karen Carter, and Partnerships Specialist Joan Fox to sign the formal partnership agreement.

The Suzuki Music School Touring Ensemble, Inc. (TSMSTE) is a non-profit organization which offers a select number of gifted and dedicated students enrolled in The Suzuki Music School of Maryland, Inc. (www.suzukimusicschool.com) opportunities to tour throughout the state to perform and share music with others.

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.

Long Reach Team Qualifies As National Finalist at World’s Largest Rocket Contest

Six students from Long Reach High School qualified to compete in the finals of the prestigious Team America Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest model rocket contest. Nearly 7,000 students in 690 teams attempted to meet the contest’s rigorous requirements of the contest, but only the top scoring 100 high school teams qualified to compete in the National Finals.

Student team members include: Team Leader Stephanie Spring, Lindsey Zettel, Matt McKenna, Tommy Trinh and Jake Esposito. Lindsey Zettel said he is looking forward to the team’s trip to Great Meadow, in The Plains, Virginia, for the May 19 national fly-off and expects his team will place among the top ten teams. The most difficult problem to overcome, he said, was our Rockets catching on fire. Stephanie Spring added, “ We solved that by making a ‘whip clip’ out of a paper clip, which allowed our cluster of 3 motors to properly ignite at the same time."

"The best part about this year," said Spring, "is achieving success - going to the National Finals."

The contest requires that students design, build and test a model rocket that can fly for as close to 45 seconds total flight duration and 850 feet maximum flight altitude as possible with a payload of one raw egg, and successfully parachute the eggs back to the ground unbroken. The top ten teams will share a prize pool of $60,000 in savings bonds and cash.

Team supervisor Dr. Bob Hawthorne, Long Reach High School Project Lead The Way teacher, said the contest is an excellent opportunity for students to learn hands-on lessons in aerodynamics in a non-classroom setting.

"These kids have spent over 100 hours designing, building, flying, failing and going through the design process with remarkable persistence to succeed," he said.

Participants design their rockets and simulate their flight before flying. They then can compare their models with real data and see the results immediately, according to Hawthorne.

“We had great senior leadership this year. Two members were from last year, so they have put in over 200 hours over two years to get to the National Finals," Hawthorne said.

“The project had the teams building rockets in a manner not too far off from professionals. The contest promotes teamwork, delegation of tasks and group decisions”, Hawthorne said. The ambitious undertaking has costs, and the team has been fortunate to have Honeywell TSI of Columbia as team sponsor and have named themselves TEAM HONEYWELL.

Ilchester Elementary Students Sell More Than 700 Tickets for Orioles/Red Sox Game; Special Thanks Given to Two Families

Ilchester Elementary School has just concluded another successful fundraiser selling tickets to a Baltimore Orioles vs. Boston Red Sox baseball 7:05 p.m. game on April 26. More than 700 game tickets were sold this year at $13.00 each with $5.00 from each ticket donated to the school. All monies will be used to purchase additional computer software for the entire student body.

Two families in particular went above and beyond the call. Madison Worrell, a fourth grade student in Ms. Carol Sagi’s class, and her mother, Dr. Yvette Rooks, have generously donated a significant number of tickets. The tickets they have purchased for donation will go to children of Dr. Rook’s family practice who could not otherwise afford to go to a baseball game. Dr. Rooks is an Assistant Professor and the Residency and Fellowship Director at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine. She is a team physician at the University of Maryland College Park and a practicing physician in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.

Ron and Kristin Jeanneault and their daughter Abigail, who is a kindergarten student in Mrs. Robin Brooks class, were the top ticket sellers. They have purchased a number of tickets that will be donated back to the school for families that would like to attend the game, but could not afford to go. Additionally, they have purchased an even more significant number of tickets to be used by the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where Kristin Jeanneault is an Assistant Administrator. Abigail will be going to work with her Mother early next week to distribute tickets to children and their family members. The family will also get a special limousine ride to the game and back and a pre-game acknowledgement on the field in recognition of their top selling ticket effort.

And finally, “The Bird” will be visiting Ilchester Elementary in the morning on game day, April 26, to get the O's fans ready for the game.

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting - Rescheduled

The closed meeting of the Board of Education, scheduled for April 24, 2007, at 6 p.m., has been cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday, April 26, 2007, immediately following the afternoon session (estimated time of 5 p.m.). The meeting will be held in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City.

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

School System Seeking Community Input for Special Education Staffing Plan 2007-08

The Howard County Public School System is seeking community input for the Special Education Staffing Plan for 2007-08. A copy of the plan for 2006-07 may be obtained by calling Denise McClurkin, Department of Special Education, 410-313-6659, or by downloading it from the school system website at www.hcpss.org/special/. Comments and suggestions may be sent to Ms. Denise McClurkin at 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City, 21042 or emailed to denise_mcclurkin@hcpss.org by May 15, 2007.

Institute for First Teachers Holds Celebration for 45 Graduates

The Institute for First Teachers will hold a celebration for its first class of 45 graduates at Phelps Luck Elementary School on Monday, April 23, between 6:45 and 8 p.m. The graduates represent Maryland’s first class of Early Childhood Institute Fellows.

The Institute for First Teachers is a collaborative project that involves family, center, and Head Start early childhood educators who provide care in school communities of Bollman Bridge, Deep Run, Phelps Luck, the Cradlerock Judy Center and staff from the four elementary schools. The goal of the project is to enhance the knowledge of early educators on the components of school readiness so more young children enter school with the skills that support success in the early grades. Evaluations submitted by participants indicated that they wanted more professional development opportunities of this type.

The Institute’s workshops were taught by the elementary school staff and local experts in the topic areas and provided participants with information, skills-based training, mentoring, site visits and networking opportunities. Participants who complete the three-part Institute receive 12 credits for Core of Knowledge Training.

In October, early educators and family daycare providers visited elementary schools where they toured the facilities and met with prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers.

In January 2006, Ready At Five hosted an event for early educators and parents. Participants in the full-day workshop were provided with hands-on techniques for working with young children and curriculum ideas that were aligned with the Maryland Model for School Readiness and the seven Domains of Learning.

The Howard County Child Care Resource Center presented a session in March in which early educators and parents participated in a full-day learning experience focused on language and literacy.

The Freddie Mac Foundation provides support for the Howard County Learning Laboratory. Ready At Five’s partners provide in-kind and staff resources.
 

Dedication of Found-Object Mosaic Mural at Jeffers Hill Elementary School Rescheduled

The previously announced April 23, 2007, dedication of the mosaic mural at Jeffers Hill Elementary School has been rescheduled due to recent weather conditions. The dedication will take place at 4:40 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16, 2007.

School Board Offers Coffee and Conversation to Community

The Board of Education of Howard County regularly holds “Coffee & Conversation” sessions at schools throughout the county. These meetings provide citizens with an opportunity to share a cup of coffee and chat informally with Board members. The meetings are held in various regions of the county but interested persons from throughout the county are invited to attend any or all of the meetings. The next “Coffee & Conversation” session with the Board of Education will be held:

Saturday, April 28, 2007
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Media Center at Thunder Hill Elementary School
9357 Mellenbrook Road in Columbia

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, 2007, 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.

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.

Board of Education to Meet with County Council

The Board of Education will hold their quarterly meeting with the County Council at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in the Tyson Room at the George Howard Building, 3430 Courthouse Drive in Ellicott City.

School System Asks for Parent Opinions

Beginning on Monday, April 23, 2007, parents will have an opportunity to share their opinions about the learning environment at their child’s school with Howard County school officials. Parents should watch for an email from the school system on April 23 directing them to the 35-question online survey.

Parents will have three weeks to complete the questionnaire. The deadline for completing the survey is May 11, 2007. The survey will provide school administrators with information to support school improvement efforts related to the school system’s strategic goal #2, which states that each school will provide a safe and nurturing school environment that values diversity and commonality.

Parents of Howard County public school students who are not subscribers to eSchoolnewsletter can subscribe at www.eschoolnewsletter.com or get information about other options for accessing the survey by contacting Leilani Lucca at 410-313-7475.

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Board of Education to Meet with PTA Presidents and Citizens Advisory Committee

The Board of Education will meet with PTA presidents and the Citizens Advisory Committee at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2007, in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City. The meeting is an opportunity for members of the PTA and the CAC to discuss issues and concerns with Board members in an informal setting.

Howard County High Schools and Local Businesses Promote Prom Season Safety

After-prom celebrations have taken a safer twist in recent years as parents and local businesses have teamed with county high schools to sponsor alcohol-and drug-free celebrations. The after-prom event, initiated by high school Parent Teacher Student Associations (PTSAs) in concert with the school and community, provides a safe place for teens to spend time with friends, participate in fun entertainment, or just hang out following the prom.

To help ensure county teens have an enjoyable, safe prom night, Liberty Mutual Group and the Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine are donating cash and prizes to each of the county’s 12 high school’s after-prom committees. Businesses throughout the county have donated prizes and food in support of their neighborhood school’s after-prom events.

In addition, Liberty Mutual is providing each county high school with a crashed vehicle as a visual reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving. Atholton and Centennial High Schools will also receive a “Jaws of Life Demonstration” from the Howard County Fire and Rescue with the Maryland State Police MedEvac participating. Centennial’s demo will take place on April 27 at 8:30 a.m. and Atholton’s demo will be held on May 11 at 8:30 a.m.

“Motor vehicle crashes are the number-one killer of teens in America, and in 2005 took the lives of 44 young drivers and 25 occupants of young drivers’ vehicles in Maryland” said Mark Mangus, Liberty Mutual’s sales manager in Columbia, citing statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “This car reminds everyone that drinking and driving is unacceptable, and that one poor decision can instantly make a happy prom a tragic one.”

“We applaud our students’ commitment to safety and to the well-being of their friends and classmates,” said Scott Pfeifer, principal of Centennial High School. “We aim for an accident-free prom season, and contributions from local businesses to support after-prom parties, plus Liberty Mutual’s demonstration, will keep that goal within our sights.”

About Liberty Mutual

Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is a diversified global insurer and sixth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2005 direct written premium. The
Company also ranks 102nd on the Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2005 revenue. As of Dec. 31, 2006, Liberty Mutual Group had $85.5 billion in consolidated assets, $74.6 billion in consolidated liabilities, and $23.5 billion in annual consolidated revenue.

About Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine

Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine since 1998 is a 208-bed, not-for-profit, health care provider located in Columbia, Maryland. Serving the community since 1973, the hospital, with a professional staff of more than 800 physicians and allied health professionals, representing 67 specialties and subspecialties, and a workforce of nearly 1,700, has grown into a comprehensive, acute-care medical center that treats a full range of conditions from neonatal care to oncology and outpatient care to critical care.

Jeffers Hill Elementary to Dedicate Found-Object Mosaic Mural

On Monday, April 23, between 4 and 6 p.m., the Jeffers Hill Elementary School community will dedicate a 100 square foot mosaic mural created by 4th and 5th grade art students using only recycled materials and found objects. The work reflects a theme selected by the students -- the goodness of the garden and the earth. The ceremony will be held in front of the school where the mural wraps a prominent corner of the main entrance.

The mural was created as part of an ambitious Artist-In-Residence program during the month of January. Art teacher Mark Luce and his students worked with artist-in-resident Tara Holl, who has collaborated with many public schools around the state to create wonderful art installations.

Holl kicked off the residency with an assembly for the entire student body to explain the project, the nature of mosaics as an art form, and her work as a professional artist and educator. Students were challenged to bring in recycled materials to be used in the project, such as pieces of broken tiles, dishes, cups, shells, marbles, and other found or discarded objects of durable material. Two local tile companies Capitol Tile & Marble Company and Columbia Tile and Marble donated their tile discards to the cause. Parent volunteers provided guidance and supervision in the art classrooms.

If it rains, the dedication ceremony will be held in the cafetorium. A mural is being installed in that space also. The dedication ceremony is one of many educational and school beautification activities scheduled by the school during Earth Week 2007. The project was funded through the PTA and a matching grant from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) Arts-in-Education Program.

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2007, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Howard County Students Take Top Honors at Baltimore Science Fair

The Howard County Public School System Secondary Science Department is proud to announce the following award winners at the Baltimore Science Fair held March 24 and 25, 2007:

Baltimore Science Fair Grand Prize Biological Science
Student: Wendy Zhang
School: Marriotts Ridge High School
Teacher: Bernadette Allman
Title of Project: The Effect of Worm Proteins on the Growth of Human Cells

Baltimore Science Fair 1st Prize Biological Science Team Project
Students: Nitin Raghu and Niket Payesh Jhaveri
School: Wilde Lake High School
Teacher: Susheela Varma
Title of Project: Color Vision

All three students will attend the ISEF International Science Fair the week of May 15-19, 2007.

• List of all Howard County Winners (pdf)