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April 2008 News Releases

April 29, 2008 (#2007-168)

Lime Kiln Middle School to Host Climb for Hope Family Night; Youth Development Center Raises Funds for Cancer Center

Two Maryland heroes are partnering with Lime Kiln Middle School in Fulton, Maryland, to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer. World mountaineer and Maryland resident Chris Warner will join Johns Hopkins cancer researcher Dr. Leisha Emens on May 1, 2008, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. when the Youth Development Center at Lime Kiln Middle School hosts Climb for Hope Family Night.

Climb for Hope Family Night is being held to raise funds for the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. As part of his efforts to create meaningful real-life lessons for students, climber Chris Warner will provide a first-hand account of his expeditions with participants as he gears up for a June 2008 expedition to Mt. Kilimanjaro, where he will be leading a group of cancer survivors on a climb of this famous peak. Joining him at Climb for Hope will be Dr. Leisha Emens, a Johns Hopkins cancer researcher who is working to create a vaccine to fight breast cancer. Dr. Emens will share information about her important work and what others can do to help advance cancer research. Families who donate to Climb for Hope will have their name affixed to a flag that will be taken to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. All of the evening's proceeds will be donated to Climb for Hope, a non-profit organization that directs its funds to the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.

Climb for Hope is made possible thanks the Lime Kiln Middle School's Youth Development Center. During its first full year of operation, the Youth Development Center has steadily developed innovative partnerships with local, national and international organizations and experts to bring students real-world opportunities for research and service learning.

Join the Lime Kiln Middle School community on May 1 to hear these inspirational speakers while you contribute to future cancer research. There will be mountaineering challenges for youth during the evening.

April 29, 2008 (#2007-167)

Alpha Phi Alpha Partnership Fosters Leadership and Success for African American Boys at Howard County High Schools

A partnership between the Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Howard County Public School System cultivates academic success and leadership qualities and promotes personal responsibility and community service among promising high school males of African American and African heritage.

The partnership agreement will be formalized with an official signing at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2008, at the HCPSS Central Office, Board Room B, at 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Under the terms of the partnership, members of the fraternity collaborate with HCPSS to establish and support Alpha Achievers, an honors program for high school males of color who demonstrate academic achievement. Alpha Achievers was originally established at Oakland Mills High School in 1997; the fraternity now sponsors groups at Wilde Lake, Reservoir, Long Reach, and Howard high schools, with plans to expand into additional schools.

Kappa Phi Lambda representatives at each school assist Alpha Achievers with service projects and other activities. The fraternity also provides one-on-one mentoring to students, and encourages their participation in Advanced Placement exams and advanced research projects through monetary grants.

Kwame Ndzibah, President, and Ernest Jackson, Director of Educational Activities will sign the partnership agreement for Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. HCPSS representatives signing the agreement will include Lawrence Cohen, Sandra French, and Patricia Gordon, Howard County Board of Education Members; Dr. Sydney Cousin, Superintendent; Roger Plunkett, Officer; and Mary Schiller, Partnerships Office Manager.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. develops leaders and promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for its communities, through its more than 700 chapters worldwide. The Kappa Phi Lambda chapter (www.apakpl.org) is involved in many civic and educational activities in Howard County.

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.

The Howard County Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, age national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs.

April 28, 2008 (#2007-166)

Howard County Students Advance to National History Day Competition

Fourteen Howard County students will advance to the National History Day Competition after winning first or second place at the Statewide Maryland History Day Competition on April 26, 2008. These students have already won competitions at the school and county level, and were competing against hundreds of students from school systems across the state. In addition to the students who are moving on to the Nationals, five Howard County students won special awards.

Students presented entries in five categories: exhibit, performance, multimedia documentary, research paper and website. A list of winners in all categories and those winning special prizes are attached. In addition to the students, Susan Pennington, social studies teacher at Wilde Lake High School, won the Howard County History Day Teacher of the Year award. The National History Day Competition will be held at the University of Maryland, College Park from June 15-19, 2008.

The district coordinator for Howard County History Day is Dr. Mark Stout, Curriculum Coordinator for Secondary Social Studies, Howard County Public School System. To learn more about Howard County History Day, contact him at 410-313-6622. For more information on National History Day, contact Judy Dobbs at 410-685-4185 or visit the official National History Day web site at www.nationalhistoryday.org.

Maryland History Day 2008 Official Winners from HCPSS

ADVANCERS TO THE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY CONTEST

JUNIOR PAPERS

Student: Rachel Knobel
Topic: The Conflicts and Compromises in the Fight for Women’s Suffrage
School: Wilde Lake Middle School
Teacher: Joanna Tanner

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITS

Student: Sarah Niezelski
Topic: The Persian Gulf War
School: Ellicott Mills Middle School
Teachers: Tonimaria Richardson and Betsy Adelman

JUNIOR GROUP EXHIBITS

Student: Ayushi Aggarwal, Laura Migasiuk
Topic: Conflict and Compromise between Labor and Mine Operators
School: Murray Hill Middle School
Teachers: Pat Browne and Beth Singleton

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTARIES

Student: Ada Schnake
Topic: The Armenian Genocide
School: Mount View Middle School
Teachers: Steve Lewis and Lorraine Quinn

JUNIOR GROUP DOCUMENTARIES

Students: Tim Fisher, Michelle Seu, Alex Wollack
Topic: The Bay of Pigs Invasion and Cuban Missile Crisis
School: Lime Kiln Middle School
Teachers: Angela Johnson and Tracy Spillman

JUNIOR GROUP PERFORMANCES

Students: Julie Connor, Erin Patterson
Topic: We Can Do It: Women Fight for Working Rights in WWII
School: Murray Hill Middle School
Teachers: Pat Browne and Beth Singleton

SENIOR INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITS

Student: Emily Watts
Topic: Bleeding Kansas: The Fight for Freedom
School: Centennial High School
Teachers: William Klingaman

SENIOR GROUP PERFORMANCES

Students: Michael Lazris, Olivia Medoff, Nate Pascale
Topic: Lincoln’s Suspension of Habeas Corpus in Maryland
School: Wilde Lake High School

OFFICIAL MARYLAND HISTORY DAY WINNERS SPECIAL PRIZES 2008

THE BARRY A. LANMAN AWARD FOR ORAL HISTORY, MARTHA ROSS CENTER FOR ORAL HISTORY, UMBC, sponsored by John D. Willard V:

Student: Ada Schnake
Topic: The Armenian Genocide
School: Mount View Middle School
Teachers: Steve Lewis and Lorraine Quinn

SPECIAL PRIZE IN ETHICAL ISSUES IN HISTORY, sponsored by the Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics, University of Baltimore:

Student: Timothy Higgins
Topic: America’s Genocide – The Indian Removal Act
School: River Hill High School
Teachers: Diana Alvarado and Leslie Topus

THE PEG WALLACE MARITIME HISTORY AWARD, sponsored by the Annapolis Maritime Museum:

Student: Ping Teresa Yeh
Topic: A Compromise with Time: Change on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
School: Centennial High School
Teacher: Linda Blakeslee

SPECIAL PRIZE FOR “WE THE PEOPLE” AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities:

Students: Jenna Antoniades, Victoria Edwards
Topic: The Big Picture
School: Reservoir High School
Teacher: Jennifer Worley

April 25, 2008 (#2007-165)

Board of Education to Meet with Operating Budget Review Committee

The Howard County Board of Education will meet with the Operating Budget Review Committee at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, in Board Room A at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

April 25, 2008 (#2007-164)

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting and Public Hearings on Policies

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2008, 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 public hearings on the following policies:

• Policy 9280, Students Charged with Community or Reportable Offenses
• Policy 8020, Grading and Reporting: High School

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.

April 24, 2008 (#2007-163)

Board Honors Four County Volunteers as Friends of Education

The Howard County Board of Education will recognize the volunteer contributions of four Howard County community members with Friends of Education Awards at the Board of Education meeting today. Following a reception at 3:30 p.m., the Board will present the awards to Jean Evansmore, Council of Elders volunteer at Marriotts Ridge High School; Colleen Terpos, parent volunteer at Northfield Elementary School; and Don Bard and the Lazarus Foundation. The Friends of Education Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded posthumously to education advocate Natalie Woodson. (See below for information on each recipient).

The Friends of Education Award was established by the Board to recognize and show appreciation to those who have made exemplary volunteer contributions in support of the school system's mission of excellence in teaching and learning. The award also serves to increase awareness of how community involvement enhances student achievement. Any member of the Howard County community or any group, organization, or business located in or serving Howard County may be nominated for the award.

Jean Evansmore

“Magic” is the word used by one person to describe Jean Evansmore, a member of the Council of Elders and volunteer at Marriotts Ridge High School. Ms. Evansmore has shared her magic with Marriotts Ridge since the school opened in 2005, by helping to bring together students from seven different schools as well as diverse economic and cultural backgrounds.

As a member of the Council of Elders, Ms. Evansmore agrees to volunteer in a school one day a week and work to improve the achievement of African American students.

As a retired educator, Ms. Evansmore never passes up an opportunity to mentor any student with whom she comes in contact. With notepad in hand, she can be heard asking a student how he is doing academically and personally, if things have improved since they last spoke, and what supports he needs to do better.

Working with the school’s administration, Ms. Evansmore has organized a field trip to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. She is now working to help students over 18 register to vote.

Marriotts Ridge Principal Pat Saunderson writes:

“Through it all, Ms. Evansmore has been a constant presence -- walking, talking, smiling, prodding, cajoling, clapping, cheering, dancing, advising, tutoring and doing whatever she can for anyone... Ms Jean Evansmore has become a cherished member of our community; she is a trusted member of our staff and a valuable part of all that we do.”

Colleen Terpos

In her role as a volunteer at Northfield Elementary School, Mrs. Colleen Terpos has supported children in meeting rigorous mathematics standards through the Strategies at Work Math Program. Three days each week for 20 minutes before classes begin, 30 children who are struggling to learn basic math facts are given one-on-one tutoring by a fifth grade mentor or a trained parent volunteer.

Coordinating a program of this nature would be work enough, but Mrs. Terpos has spent hours refining and rewriting the original Strategies at Work curriculum to target the needs of the Northfield students. The original program was developed as part of the Howard County curriculum by Mathematics Resource Teacher Bette Kundert for use with mathematics class.

Mrs. Terpos, who is a professor of mathematics at the University of Maryland, single-handedly rewrote over 40 lessons so they could be used in the one-on-one and small group setting within the 20-minute timeframe. Student progress is assessed on an on-going basis and lessons are matched to the individual needs of each student. Graduates of the program are encouraged to return as mentors and to assist with the program.

Mrs. Terpos also trains the parent volunteers who work with the children. Parent volunteers praise the program and report that they are learning tricks to help with their math retrieval and creative ways to work with their own children at home.

Over the past five years, the program has benefited over 100 students. Some have moved from below-grade-level to on-grade-level after participating. One student even moved from below-grade-level to above-grade-level in one year.

Students report that they enter their math classes with much more confidence and parents indicate that math homework is much easier for their children now that the basics are in place. Test scores at Northfield have shown dramatic improvement.

In support of her nomination, one parent wrote:

“My son is a graduate of the Math Strategies Program. He experienced the wonderful ability of Mrs. Terpos to engage students in a nurturing, caring manner while making math facts understandable and fun... The administration of such a large and encompassing program is a huge contribution to Northfield Elementary School.”

It is a privilege to award Colleen Terpos, the 2008 Friends of Education Award.

Don Bard and the Lazarus Foundation

Don Bard and the Lazarus Foundation have been champions for student achievement in Howard County for over a decade. According to those who nominated him for this award, Don Bard is an amazing combination of visionary, educator, community servant, technology advocate and equity champion. He is a creative thinker who is willing to put in the time and hard work required to see his vision through to implementation.

Mr. Bard and the Lazarus Foundation have had a home at Atholton High School for many years and the Atholton community has benefited in countless ways; but Mr. Bard has always focused on helping all Howard County students and families. He never limits any great idea or good deed to a select few; he cares about and supports all Howard County students.

Mr. Bard launched PCs4Kids to provide free computers, peripherals, software and training to elementary and middle school students in need. Each receiving student is paired with a high school mentor who spends a full day teaching the student how to effectively and safely operate the computer and provides on-going technology and educational support. In return the receiving student agrees to complete 15 hours of community service at his or her school. The project is supported by students in Atholton High School’s Information Technology Academy.

Mr. Bard has been an enthusiastic and tireless supporter of the Information Technology Academy and served on the founding ITA Advisory Board. He has been serving in that capacity since the program was restructured in the 2005-2006 school year. His extensive experience, professional perspective, community and business contacts make him an invaluable advisor.

The Lazarus Foundation joined with Atholton High School in a partnership with the Harriet Tubman Head Start Program in 2004 and provided the program with five computers loaded with state of the art preschool software. Atholton’s Future Educators then tutored the Head Start students in math and letter recognition. Last summer the Future Educators worked with the Foundation to install a complete computer lab at Head Start.

Mr. Bard also established the PC Olympics, an annual contest that tests students on their knowledge of computer technology, including computer history, cyber ethics, programming and hardware assembly. He developed and teaches a lesson called Hardware 101 as part of Atholton’s Software Applications course. He gives presentations on cyber ethics and safety and helped the Information Technology Academy students prepare a presentation on Internet safety, which was presented to parents and students.

“Don Bard has been a champion for the often overlooked,” says Mary Brzezinski, Atholton High’s Transition Specialist and Advisor for Atholton’s Future Educators. “He understands these populations must be technologically literate to be successful in the future. Many people talk about improving the world; Don Bard works hard every day to make it happen.”

Natalie Woodson

On Jan. 1, 2008, Howard County lost one of its most devoted education advocates. For decades the name Natalie Woodson was synonymous with high expectations and accountability. As an educator herself, Mrs. Woodson strongly believed that every child could meet rigorous academic standards if given the right instruction, appropriate support and positive reinforcement.

Mrs. Woodson was well known for her work as the Education Chairman for the Howard County chapter of the NAACP. In that role, she supported the school system in the establishment of the Black Student Achievement Program and was a founding member of the Council of Elders, a group of retired community members who serve as mentors for African American students. She spent her summer’s assisting the Black Student Achievement Program with its Summer Bridges Program.

She believed that academic achievement should be a source of individual and community pride – something to be recognized and celebrated. To ensure that happened, she organized the Evenings of Excellence to honor African American students for their performance on the Maryland School Assessments.

In recent years, Mrs. Woodson prepared the NAACP’s extensive annual report card on the academic and social performance of African American students in the Howard County Public School System. She analyzed school system data, shared the results with school officials, and rewarded schools that lowered suspension rates and increased attendance and academic performance.

She also served as a trusted advisor to parents, helping them navigate the system and effectively communicate the needs of their children. Whether she was facilitating a parent conference, serving as a committee member, or organizing an awards program, Mrs. Woodson was an advocate for children and a true friend of education.

Mrs. Woodson will be remembered not only for these numerous accomplishments, but also for the manner in which she accomplished them. She possessed a gentle strength. She was steadfast and held our feet to the fire, but in doing so she was always civil, always collaborative, and always ready to assume a share of the responsibility.

It is with sincere gratitude and a genuine sense of loss that the Board of Education honors Mrs. Natalie Woodson with the Friends of Education Lifetime Achievement Award.

April 22, 2008 (#2007-162)

Maryland Comptroller Visits Clarksville Middle School

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is interested in seeing first hand what state construction dollars fund and don't fund when it comes to school renovations and additions in Howard County. Franchot has scheduled a visit to Howard County on Friday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m., when he will tour Clarksville Middle School, 6535 South Trotter Road in Clarksville.

Clarksville Principal JoAnn Hutchens, Chief Operating Officer Ray Brown and Executive Director of Facilities Ken Roey will show the comptroller areas of the building such as the media center, the cafeteria and several classrooms that were renovated in the first phase of a two-year modernization project. Franchot will also tour areas of the school scheduled for renovation this summer. The Clarksville Middle School renovation was completely funded with local capital funds. The project recently qualified to receive state funds, but to date has received none.

"We appreciate Mr. Franchot's interest and welcome the opportunity to discuss our needs related to school modernization," says Superintendent Sydney Cousin. "We have been extremely fortunate that Howard County has forward funded school construction projects over the years. That support has allowed us to move forward with improvements to facilities as they are needed and seek state reimbursement during or after construction."

April 21, 2008 (#2007-161)

Two New Partners Offer Support to Thunder Hill Elementary Students, Staff

Students, teachers, and staff at Thunder Hill Elementary School will enjoy extra support and recognition for their hard work and achievements through new partnerships with Edible Arrangements, Catonsville and Unique Creations. The partnerships will be formalized with an official signing at the school on Friday, April 25, 2008.

Under the terms of the partnership agreement, representatives from both companies will offer incentive gifts for students who achieve academic or behavioral goals, and refreshments for teachers and staff for special events. In addition, the new partners will participate in school events such as career days, enrichment fairs, guest reader days and other activities.

At 8:45 a.m., Cathy Schneider, Owner, Edible Arrangements, and Noelle Schiffer, Owner, Unique Creations, will join Ellen Flynn Giles, Vice Chairman, Howard County Board of Education, John Birus, Principal, and Brianne Frisk, Reading Specialist, Thunder Hill Elementary School, and Joan Fox of the Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.

Edible Arrangements (www.ediblearrangements.com) creates delicious fruit designs with fresh, all natural ingredients that are perfect for any occasion.

Unique Creations (www.uniquecreations4u.com) creates personalized gift items that are customized for each customer and special occasion.

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.

April 21, 2008 (#2007-160)

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Board of Education will meet in closed session at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2008, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

April 17, 2008 (#2007-159)

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

Fifth graders from 29 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 13, 2008, and will continue until June 6, 2008.

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. Another student who participated in last year’s event said, "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.”

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.

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

• 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Judges’ training
• 9:30 - 10 a.m. Opening ceremony -- keynote speaker and overview of the day’s events.
• 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Students testify in simulated congressional hearings
• 1 - 2 p.m. Lunch and Round Table Discussions
• 2 - 2:30 p.m. Closing ceremony/awards

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

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 Loisel at 410-313-5678 (Kimberly_pearre@hcpss.org) , or Social Studies Coordinator, Corinne Gorzo at 410-313-6642 (cgorzo@hcpss.org).

April 14, 2008 (#2007-158)

High School Tech Teams to Compete at “PC Olympics 2008” on April 19

Teams of talented computer “techies” from ten local high schools will face off in a competition for prizes and recognition in the 3rd annual PC Olympics, to be held Saturday, April 19, 2008 at Atholton High School, 6520 Freetown Road in Columbia. The event starts at 9 a.m. and continues throughout the day, with winners announced and prizes awarded during and at the conclusion of the event.

Hosted by our educational partner, the Lazarus Foundation and Howard County Public School System, PC Olympics consists of four activities that test high school students skills in software applications, Java programming, hardware assembly and troubleshooting, and general knowledge of the computer industry. Teams of six students and a coach were selected by the principals of each participating school, which include Atholton, Centennial, Howard, Glenelg, Mount Hebron, Marriotts Ridge, Oakland Mills, Reservoir, and River Hill high schools in Howard County and Meade Senior High School in Anne Arundel County.

Representatives from the Lazarus Foundation, Howard County Public School System, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and the community will judge the competition.

The top three teams will be awarded prizes including Microsoft software. In addition all participants will receive a gift and have the opportunity to win software and gift cards. Microsoft Corporation and Northrop Grumman head the list of event sponsors, which also include Chick-Fil-A, the Business Software Alliance, Howard Bank, the Howard County Department of Citizen Services, Ascend One Corporation, and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

Doug Norton, Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems Sector, will be the keynote speaker. A robotics demonstration by members of the Atholton High School robotics club is also on the agenda.

“The PC Olympics was developed as a way to excite students about technology,” according to event organizer Don Bard, President of the Lazarus Foundation. “It’s a fun event where kids have an opportunity to demonstrate and show off their technology skills.”

“Different students have different strengths; the wide variety of challenges gives them a chance to share their knowledge, while learning to work well as a team and perform in a high pressure situation,” explains Reg Hahne, instructional team leader for career and technology education at Marriotts Ridge High School, who adds “It’s exciting to see students working in teams to do eclectic things in technology.”

The Lazarus Foundation (www.lazarus.org), a community-based non-profit computer recycling organization, accepts donations of used computer equipment to be refurbished, upgraded, and then donated to educational institutions and charitable organizations. The Foundation is also developing an educational program on cyber ethics and computer safety.

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.

April 8, 2008 (#2007-157)

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 24, 2008, 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.

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.

April 7, 2008 (#2007-156)

High School Students Earn Credits Toward Teaching Degrees

Officials from the Howard County Public School System and Towson University will sign an articulation agreement that will offer Howard County high school students who successfully complete the Teacher Academy of Maryland the opportunity to earn college credit toward an undergraduate degree. Towson University is the first baccalaureate granting institution to offer TAM graduates articulated credit. The signing will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 17, in the Board Room at the Howard County Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

The Teacher Academy of Maryland is a state approved Career and Technology Education Program. The Academy's mission is to encourage a diverse group of students to enter the teaching profession highly qualified, with a passion for teaching and learning and a rigorous foundation in the knowledge and skills necessary for success as teachers. TAM prepares students for college by providing the essentials of teacher education through rigorous academic core courses; curriculum focused on children, teaching and learning; performance based experiential learning; and postsecondary credit opportunities.

Ten of Howard County's 12 high schools offer the Teacher Academy and nearly 300 high school students are enrolled in one or more of the required TAM courses. Teacher Academy students are serving their senior year internships in elementary, middle and high schools throughout the county. Academy students get a head start on their future as educators by conducting formal observations of children, developing and delivering lesson plans in a K-12 setting, and developing a portfolio to showcase their interest in and commitment to the profession.

For the past two years Howard County high school students who completed the four required courses in the Teacher Academy with grades of B or higher were eligible to receive college credit through an articulation agreement with Howard Community College. These credits could then be transferred to a baccalaureate degree in education from the public and many private universities and colleges throughout the state of Maryland.

April 7, 2008 (#2007-155)

Date and Location Change for Meeting of Community Advisory Council

The meeting of the Community Advisory Council (CAC) to the Board of Education, originally scheduled to take place at the Department of Education at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2008, has been rescheduled. The meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2008, in the Chesapeake Room at the Faulkner Ridge Center, 10598 Marble Faun Court in Columbia.

The previously announced CAC meeting with the Board of Education at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2008, in the Board Room at the Department of Education, will take place as scheduled.

April 2, 2008 (#2007-154)

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 26, 2008, from 9:30 - 11 a.m.
Media Center at Murray Hill Middle School
9989 Winter Sun Road in Laurel