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October 2007 News Releases

October 31, 2007 (#2007-064)

Board Moves Hearing and Work Session to November 29

The Board of Education has moved the public hearing and work session on the Long Range Attendance Area Plan from the November 8 Board meeting to the November 29 Board meeting. Action, if necessary, is scheduled for December 13. Questions may be directed to the Board of Education Office at 410-313-7194.

October 30, 2007 (#2007-063)

Safe Driving to be Goal of New Partnership between McAllister and Company Insurance and Marriotts Ridge High School

A new safe driving club will plan a variety of activities to promote healthy and responsible driving behaviors among students at Marriotts Ridge High School. The club will be the focus of a new partnership between the school and McAllister and Company Insurance, LLC. The partnership agreement will be formalized on Monday, Nov. 5, 2007, with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Hotel.

Under the terms of the partnership, the school will work with the agency to form “Lookin’ Out,” a safe driving club for students, with up to $2,000 in annual sponsorship provided by Erie Insurance. A representative from McAllister will work with students and school staff to plan, organize and promote a variety of club activities throughout the school year. McAllister representatives will also be invited to participate in prom safety programs in the spring.

At 8:30 a.m., Anthony Perillo, agent with McAllister and Company will join Dr. Janet Siddiqui, Howard County Board of Education member, Patrick Saunderson, principal of Marriotts Ridge High School, and Joan Fox of the Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.

McAllister and Company Insurance, LLC (www.macins.com) is a full service insurance agency which emphasizes strong client relationships, customer satisfaction, and active community involvement.

The Howard County Public School System’s Partnerships Office (www.hcpss.org/aboutus/partnership) 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.

October 30, 2007 (#2007-062)

So You Want to be a School Board Member

Current Board of Education members will present a workshop for persons who are considering running for the Board. “What’s It’s Like to be a Board Member” will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at 7 p.m. in the lobby conference room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City. Potential candidates will learn what is required and expected of school board members.

Three of the seven Board of Education seats will be open in 2008. Ms. Ellen Giles and Dr. Janet Siddiqui have announced plans to seek reelection. Current Board chairman Diane Mikulis will not seek a second term.

Persons interested in attending the workshop are asked to pre-register by calling 410-313-7194.

October 26, 2007 (#2007-061)

Board of Education to Meet in Closed Session October 29

The Board of Education will meet in closed session on Monday, Oct. 29, 2007, at 9 a.m., in the Board Room of the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042.

October 23, 2007 (#2007-060)

Elementary Curricular Advisory Committee Seeking New Members

The Elementary Curricular Advisory Committee (ECAC) is seeking additional parents of elementary students to serve on the committee. The purposes of the ECAC are:

• To establish and maintain positive partnerships among families, community and the Howard County Public School System with focus on the Elementary
  Programs and initiatives.
• To establish two-way communication among families, community and the Howard County Public School System related to the Elementary Programs and
  initiatives.
• To advise the Elementary Office by recommending ways to help provide continuous improvement as reflected by achievement and performance data to ensure that all students are on or above grade level in reading and mathematics.

Listed below are the dates and locations for the ECAC meetings for the 2007-2008 school year. All the meetings are scheduled from 4:30 - 6 p.m.

• November 27, 2007
• January 8, 2008
  (Snow date - Tuesday, January 15, 2008)
• March 11, 2008
• April 29, 2008

Contact Nancy Dickson in the Elementary Curricular Programs Office at 410-313-1538.

October 23, 2007 (#2007-059)

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting October 25

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting at 3 p.m., on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

October 23, 2007 (#2007-058)

"PCs4Kids" Partnership Initiative to Place PCs in Students’ Homes

Students at Cradlerock and Atholton High Schools who do not have the advantages of a computer at home, will have an opportunity to bridge that technology gap through an innovative partnership between the schools, Lazarus Foundation, Howard County Library, and the PTA Council of Howard County. The partnership agreement will be formalized with an official signing during the Howard County Library A+ Partners in Education Celebration, to be held at 3:45 pm on Tuesday, October 23, at the Cradlerock School, 6700 Cradlerock Way, in Columbia.

Under the terms of the partnership, “PCs4Kids” will be established as a pilot program at Cradlerock and Atholton High Schools. Lazarus Foundation will provide computers, peripherals, software, and training; qualified Atholton High students will serve as “mentors,” providing training and support for computer recipients; Howard County Library will provide Internet access, help desk support, and a PCs4Kids website; and the PTA Council will assist with the evaluation of the pilot program.

Cradlerock and Atholton High School students whose families meet the eligibility requirements will be invited to apply for the program. Participants will be selected by lottery, and will agree to perform ten hours of community service for their school and/or library.

The partnership agreement will be signed by Donald Bard, President, Lazarus Foundation; Valerie Gross, Director, Howard County Library; Mary Jane Grauso, President, PTA Council of Howard County; Ellen Flynn Giles, Member, Board of Education of Howard County; Dr. Sydney L. Cousin, Superintendent, Howard County Public School System; Jason McCoy, Principal, Cradlerock School; Marcia Leonard, Principal, Atholton High School; and Mary Schiller, Manager, HCPSS Partnerships Office.

The Lazarus Foundation (www.lazarus.org) is a community-based non-profit computer recycling organization located in Columbia. The Foundation accepts donations of computer equipment, which are tested and restored to working condition and offered to other charitable organizations and educational institutions.

October 23, 2007 (#2007-057)

Board of Education to Hold Public Hearings on Policies

The Howard County Board of Education will hold public hearings on the proposal to rescind Policy 9040, High School Grievance Committee, and on the proposal to incorporate Policy 9220, Corporal Punishment into Policy 9200, Discipline.

The hearings will take place at 7:30 p.m., during the evening session of the previously announced regular Board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Individuals who wish to testify at a 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. Pre-registration will take place during business hours during the three weeks prior to the hearings, up to the close of business on the last working day before the hearings.

To sign up to testify at a hearing or to speak at Public Forum, contact the Board’s office 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.

October 22, 2007 (#2007-056)

Daniels Photography Studio to Partner with Wilde Lake High School

Wilde Lake High School students interested in a career in photography may be able to gain real world experience in the field, and all WLHS students will earn additional rewards for demonstrating positive behaviors, through a new partnership between the school and Daniels Photography Studio. The partnership agreement will be formalized on Wednesday, October 24, with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Hotel.

Under the terms of the partnership, Daniels Photography Studio will offer a volunteer opportunity at the studio to one interested, qualified student each year, and will provide pictures and other support for the school yearbook. The company will also provide support to the school’s Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, which uses incentives and rewards to motivate students to make healthy, positive choices.

At 8:30 a.m, Arvil A. Daniels, Owner, Daniels Photography Studio will join Ellen Flynn Giles, Howard County Board of Education Member, Restia Whitaker, Principal, Wilde Lake High School, and Mary Schiller, Manager, Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.

Daniels Photography Studio (www.danielsphotostudio.com) has been creating premium-quality individual and family portraits in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere since 1967. Its Ellicott City studio, located in a restored 19th century church building and surrounded by lush greenery and historic structures, offers a unique, picturesque setting for capturing photographs that become lasting treasures.

The Howard County Public School System’s Partnerships Office (www.hcpss.org/aboutus/partnership) 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.

October 22, 2007 (#2007-055)

New Partnership to Foster Leadership and Success for African American Girls at Wilde Lake High School

A new partnership between Wilde Lake High School and the Eta Zeta Sigma Graduate Chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. promises to cultivate academic success and leadership qualities, and offer opportunities for community service, for promising African American girls. The partnership agreement will be formalized on Wednesday, October 24, with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Hotel.

Under the terms of the partnership, members of Eta Zeta Sigma, the local chapter of the national Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, will offer mentoring and opportunities for community service to qualified Wilde Lake High School girls. The partners will also plan events at the school that will highlight the value and talents of girls.

At 8:30 a.m, Cynthera McNeill, Youth Services Coordinator for the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Eta Zeta Sigma Graduate Chapter will join Ellen Flynn Giles, Howard County Board of Education Member, Restia Whitaker, Principal, Wilde Lake High School, and Mary Schiller, Manager, Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., (www.sgrho1922.org) was established in 1922 and today has active chapters throughout the country. Its mission is to offer leadership, service, and resources that remove barriers and inequalities for all Americans.

The Howard County Public School System’s Partnerships Office (www.hcpss.org/aboutus/partnership) 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.

Although the program is targeted at minority students, non-minority students may also participate.

October 19, 2007 (#2007-054)

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting October 24

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting at 1 p.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

October 18, 2007 (#2007-053)

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting, Public Hearing and Work Session on Long-Range Attendance Area Plan

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, November 8, 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.

During the evening session, the Board will hold a public hearing and a public work session on the Long-Range Attendance Area Plan. 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. Pre-registration will take place during business hours during the three weeks prior to the hearing, up to the close of business on the last working day before the hearing.

To sign up to testify at the hearing or to speak at Public Forum, contact the Board’s office 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.

October 17, 2007 (#2007-052)

Gordon Named President-Elect of Maryland Association of Boards of Education

Howard County school board member Patricia Gordon was elected President-Elect of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) for 2007-2008 at the business meeting held during the association’s annual conference. Officers and members of the Board of Directors are elected by the MABE membership to serve one-year terms.

Mrs. Gordon was elected to the Howard County Board of Education in 2000 to a six-year term and was reelected in 2006 to serve a four-year term. She was born in New York City where she received all of her education. She counts among her experience two terms on the Westbury (NY) Board of Education. She holds a BA degree from Hunter College and an MS degree in Education from Queens College. She also studied at Fordham University under a Ford Foundation Fellowship, where she received a Professional Certificate in School Administration.

Mrs. Gordon was an elementary teacher and reading specialist in Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn for six years and a guidance counselor in a school in Queens for three and a half years. She served for over 16 years as principal of Public School 123 in Queens. Following her “retirement” from public education, she served as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Education of York College, a branch of City University, where she taught methods of teaching, language arts, introduction to classroom management, teaching in the inner city school, and supervised student teachers.

Mrs. Gordon moved to Howard County 13 years ago and involved herself in community and school affairs. For several years, she volunteered at Centennial Lane Elementary School as a reading tutor. The County Executive recently re-appointed Mrs. Gordon to serve on the Howard County Martin Luther King Commission. She also serves on the Board of the Sexual Trauma Treatment and Advocacy Center. She has been a long-time member of the League of Women Voters and has worked as a Literacy Volunteer in Westbury, New York, and Howard County.

October 17, 2007 (#2007-051)

Program Aims to Protect Athletes from Concussions

The Howard County Public School System’s Athletics Office has partnered with a number of agencies and regional medical facilities to establish new protocol for dealing with concussion in high school athletes. Beginning this year, student athletes will participate in an enhanced sports concussion program, including the use of a computer-based testing program that assesses key function that can be affected by a concussion. The ImPACT program allows school personnel to collect baseline data on athletes, better assess whether a student has suffered a concussion, and determine when the athlete has fully recovered and can safely return to practice and games.

Mike Williams, Coordinator of Athletics for Howard schools, says concussions are often referred to as the “hidden epidemic” of competitive athletics at every level. According to Williams, researchers estimate that nearly half of all concussions in student athletes go undetected. Research also shows that a concussion can potentially affect the student athlete’s learning and behavior. It is now recommended that students not participate in practices or game until fully recovered from concussions. Williams notes that before the ImPACT program there was no way to verify with any accuracy whether or not a student was fully recovered.

Working with the Howard County Health Department, Williams secured a $4000 grant in the summer of 2006. Last November, the Health Department and the school system co-sponsored a seminar on brain injury for coaches in high contact sports, Athletics and Activities Managers, and Athletic Trainers.

The seminar featured Williams, along with Dr. Gerry Gioia, Director of the Neuropsychology Program at the Children’s National Medical Center and Director of Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery and Education (SCORE); Diane Triplett, Director of the Brain Association of Maryland; Susan Fitzpatrick of the Howard County Health Department; and Fred Talentino, lead athletic trainer and HCPSS physical education teacher.

The 2007-2008 school year will serve as a trial period for the initiative at a cost of $750 dollars per school for the ImPACT program. School staff has been trained to oversee the collection of student baseline data. An education component has been developed for students, parents, and physicians to increase their awareness of the injury and training program.

Clinician consultants from the SCORE concussion program at the Children’s National Medical Center will work with each school’s certified Athletic Trainers and the student athlete’s physician to determine when Howard County student athletes are ready to return to practices and games after sustaining a concussion.

“Our goal of providing a safe, nurturing environment extends to our gymnasiums and playing fields,” says Williams. “We want to do everything we can to ensure our student athletes remain safe and healthy.”

October 15, 2007 (#2007-050)

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting October 25

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25, 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 Board’s office at 410-313-7194.

Long-range attendance area plans will be presented at 7:30 p.m.

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.

October 10, 2007 (#2007-049)

Eighth Graders Have a Blast on Rocket Day

On Oct. 15, 2007, the entire eighth grade at Patuxent Valley Middle School, 9151 Vollmerhausen Road in Jessup, will take to the fields behind their school to launch the Super Six rockets they built as part of their study of forces and motion in science. Billed as the school’s third annual Rocket Day, the event gives students a hands-on experience that reinforces the work they have done in class. The launches will take place between 12 and 2:15 p.m. The rain date for the event will be October 16.

The students will also view the movie October Sky, the true story of Homer Hickum and his “Rocket Boys” who defied the odds in their West Virginia town and won a national science competition with their rocket experiments. Hickum later went on to work for NASA.

Visitors are asked to check in at the main office for a visitor badge before proceeding to the field behind the school.

October 9, 2007 (#2007-048)

School Board Seeks Members for Ethics Panel

The Board of Education of Howard County is seeking individuals to serve on the Howard County Public School System Ethics Panel. Two vacancies will be filled by Board appointment. Members serve 5-year terms. Members of the panel must be residents of Howard County.

The purpose of the Ethics Panel is to oversee the Ethics Regulations, advise the Board of Education on matters related to conflict of interest and financial disclosure, and provide advisory opinions to employees on the applicability of the Ethics Regulations to specific situations. A complete copy of the Ethics Regulations can be obtained from the school system’s website www.hcpss.org.

Persons interested in serving on the Ethics Panel are asked to send a letter of interest and resume to Mr. Mark Blom, General Counsel, Howard County Public School System, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City, Maryland, 21042, no later than Oct. 31, 2007.

October 9, 2007 (#2007-047)

Superintendent, Board of Education, Local Dignitaries to Attend Annual Educational Partnership Celebration

The 21st annual Howard County Public School System Partnership Celebration will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, starting at 5:45 pm.

Over 300 Howard County business, organizational, government, and educational leaders are expected to attend the event, including the superintendent, Board of Education members, and elected county officials. Turf Valley Resort is sponsoring the event. A highlight of the program will be the release of the new HCPSS Partnerships Annual Report, published by Patuxent Publishing Company, a valued school system partner.

Artwork created by students in kindergarten through grade 12 will be on display at the event.

“For more than twenty years, the Howard County Public School System has enjoyed the support of many businesses and community organizations,” according to Mary Schiller, manager of the HCPSS Partnerships Office. “Partners represent all types of industries -- high tech, manufacturing, government, health care, financial, social service, and faith organizations. By working together, we can all ensure that Howard County students get the best education possible.”

The Howard County Public School System’s Partnerships Office (www.hcpss.org/aboutus/partnership) 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.

October 9, 2007 (#2007-046)

Counselors Sponsor Annual College Fair

Parents and students will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from 125 colleges and universities from 22 states at the county’s Annual College Fair. The event, which is sponsored by the Howard County school counselors, is being held at Atholton High School on Sunday, October 14, from 1-4 p.m. Admission is free and all are welcome.

• List of Participating Colleges (pdf)

October 9, 2007 (#2007-045)

Board of Education to Meet with Student Leaders, PTA Presidents and Community Advisory Council

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a luncheon meeting with student leaders at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

At 7:30 p.m., the Board will meet with PTA Presidents and the Community Advisory Council (CAC) at the same location. 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.

October 5, 2007 (#2007-044)

High School Theater Production Schedule Now Online

Howard Countians who enjoy a good musical, drama or comedy can now find the entire high school theater production schedule on the school system’s website at www.hcpss.org, under calendars and schedules. Visitors to the site will also find links to more information about each play, as well as directions to each school.

“Our high school theater productions are of great interest to the community because they are so professionally done. Our students win awards, year after year, for their outstanding work. By posting the information on our website we hope to draw even larger audiences,” says Patti Caplan, the system’s Director of Public Relations.

Among the productions scheduled this year are The Diary of Anne Frank, Godspell, Peter Pan, Death of a Salesman, Romeo and Juliet, Once Upon a Mattress and West Side Story.

October 4, 2007 (#2007-043)

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting at 2:45 p.m., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

October 3, 2007 (#2007-042)

New Partnership to Prepare Preschoolers for School Success

A new partnership with Ready At Five, a Maryland organization committed to early school readiness, will help Howard County preschool-aged children and kindergartners build a sound foundation of the academic and social skills they need for success in school and life. The partnership agreement will be formalized on Monday, October 8, with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Hotel.

Under the terms of the partnership, Ready At Five will work with the school system to offer learning experiences for preschool-aged and kindergarten children and their parents, teachers, and child care providers. Programs planned include “learning parties” to introduce parents to their child’s future school and teachers and provide them with books and other resources to use with their child at home, and Saturday sessions to train child care providers in early childhood teaching techniques. The programs are targeted toward children who will be attending schools supported by Title I federal funding.

At 8:30 a.m, Louise Corwin, executive director of Ready At Five, will join Ellen Flynn Giles, Howard County Board of Education member, Marie DeAngelis, director of Elementary Curricular Programs, and Joan Fox of the Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.

Ready At Five (www.readyatfive.org) is committed to ensuring that all Maryland children enter school ready to succeed. Since 1992, the organization has acted as an advocate for improvement in the care and education of young children, working with community partners, educators, and parents to explore and promote innovative practices, tools, and other resources to improve school readiness and make the early years matter.

The Howard County Public School System’s Partnerships Office (www.hcpss.org/aboutus/partnership) 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.

October 1, 2007 (#2007-041)

Atholton High Poms Take the Field after 10-Year Hiatus

For ten years, Atholton has been the only high school in Howard County without a Poms Team. That’s all about to change thanks to the efforts of Atholton junior Erica Davis.

Nearly a year ago, Davis had several meetings with Principal Marcia Leonard to discuss the possibility of reviving the Poms. “Ms. Leonard was very supportive of the idea, and guided me through the proper channels to forming a new club at Atholton, including getting a sponsor and filling out the appropriate paper work,” says Davis.

“Since freshman year I’ve really thought that there was a need for a Poms team. We offer cheerleading as a sport for those who do gymnastics and we have a great dance department as part of the curriculum, but we never had the opportunity to dance for our school as an extracurricular activity and compete with other area Poms teams,” according to Davis.

The new Poms team is made up of twenty students -- from freshman to seniors -- and is one of over 50 clubs available at Atholton. English teacher Nancy Griffith, who has a dance background, volunteered to serve as sponsor for the team. The Poms will perform at home varsity football and basketball games and enter area competitions.