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June 2009 News Releases
June 25, 2009 (#2008-209)
Board of Education to Meet in Closed Session and Hold Regular Meeting
The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2009. The meeting will take place at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.
The Board will also hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. in the Board Room at the same location. There will not be an evening session.
The meeting 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.
June 23, 2009 (#2008-208)
First Year Debaters Shine at State Tournament
Fourteen first year Howard County Public School System debaters finished in the top 20 statewide in the inaugural Maryland Novice State Championship Debate Tournament in May. The tournament, sponsored by Capitol Debate, attracted sixty competitors from schools across the state.
Agree Ahmed of Mt. Hebron High School was awarded first place in individual competition. Other top finishers included Nidhi Muppalla of Burleigh Manor Middle School, finishing in third place, and Cody Knipfer of Mt. Hebron High School, who finished fourth.
Nidhi Muppalla joined Harsha Neerchal of Centennial High School for the team competition. The duo finished second in a very close final round against a Baltimore City College High School team. Six other HCPSS teams finished in the top ten.
Much credit for the outstanding recent performances by many HCPSS debaters in both regional and national tournaments is due to coaching and other assistance provided by Capitol Debate, a local non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and sustaining academic debate programs. Capitol Debate has been an HCPSS partner since 2007. Ron Bratt, its founder and CEO, is a 25-year veteran in the world of competitive debate.
June 22, 2009 (#2008-207)
School System Wins Communication Awards
Four publications produced by the Public Information Office of the Howard County Public School System have been recognized with awards from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). The school system received Awards of Excellence for its Accountability: 2008 Bridge to Excellence Annual Report, which shared academic achievement and financial data with parents and the broader community; and Welcome Home to Howard County, the school system's primary recruitment publication.
The system's e-mail newsletter to parents, Home from School, received an Award of Merit; and its e-communication for staff, entitled Upd@te, received an Honorable Mention.
"We are really pleased to have our work recognized by NSPRA," says the school system's Director of Public Relations Patti Caplan. "We are very committed to providing all our stakeholders with accurate, timely information about our schools and the system. It is extremely affirming to get a vote of confidence like this."
According to NSPRA, winning publications were selected from a pool of 698 submissions. Of those, only 78 received Awards of Excellence, 168 received Awards of Merit, and 226 received honorable mentions.
June 18, 2009 (#2008-206)
Partnership Helps Students “Prepare for Success” in School
Howard County is one of the richest communities in the nation; thus many residents are unaware that a large number of county citizens live in very challenging circumstances. Nearly 13% Howard County Public School System families rely on the Free & Reduced Meal program, and more than 300 county students are homeless. Prepare for Success, a program sponsored by the Community Action Council of Howard County, responds to the needs of growing numbers of HCPSS families who – barely able to keep up with high food, fuel and shelter costs – find it difficult or impossible to provide essential school supplies for their children.
Through a partnership with the Howard County Public School System and many community organizations, Prepare for Success provides backpacks filled with necessary school supplies to thousands of elementary, middle, and high school students at the start of each school year. Prepare for Success raises funds to purchase backpacks, and collects donations of school supplies from points around the county. The backpacks are filled by students at the Cedar Lane School, which offers special educational curricula for children and teens with developmental and other disabilities. Last year, a record 2,670 backpacks were assembled and distributed to schools throughout the county. The number of eligible students is expected to increase by more than 500 for the upcoming school year.
Donors will be able to drop off pencils, paper, scissors, rulers, crayons, notebooks, and other school supplies from July 20 through August 28 at boxes throughout the county, including the Columbia Village Centers, all Howard County Library branches, Columbia Association gyms, George Howard Building, and the Columbia Gateway building. Supplies or financial donations may also be contributed online at www.kitsforkidz.org/prepareforsuccess.
Prepare for Success (www.prepareforsuccess.org) has equipped more than 16,000 HCPSS students with backpacks filled with essential school supplies since 2000, when the project was founded by the Christ Church Link. Prepare for Success is sponsored by the Community Action Council of Howard County, Maryland Inc., a non-profit organization that provides programs and services to address the needs of low-income county residents.
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.
June 16, 2009 (#2008-205)
The Arc – Centennial High Partnership to Serve Special Needs
A new partnership between The Arc of Howard County and Centennial High School seeks to help students develop empathy for and a broader understanding of individuals with special needs. The partnership will be formalized with an official signing at the school on Thursday, June 18.
Several partnership activities will allow Centennial students to enhance leadership and life skills while learning to work as a team and to serve the community. The Arc will share information with students about the opportunities and challenges of working with individuals with special needs. Members of the school’s Horizon Club, a student service organization, will be invited to tour The Arc facility and to volunteer at the center. The club will also explore fundraising opportunities with The Arc to support individuals with disabilities. Qualified, interested students may also obtain internship opportunities with the organization.
At 11:15 am, Kari Ebeling, Director of Resource Development, and Linda Congedo, Volunteer Coordinator, The Arc of Howard County will join Sandra French, Member, Howard County Board of Education; Carl Perkins, Principal, Pamela West, Assistant Principal, and Julia Southern, School Counselor, Centennial High School; and Mary Schiller, Manager of the HCPSS Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.
The Arc of Howard County, Inc. (www.archoward.org) is dedicated to “achieving full community life for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities – one person at a time." Its programs and services assist clients with employment needs, family and individual support, residential and respite care, and supported retirement.
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.
June 15, 2009 (#2008-204)
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, June 25, 2009, 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.
The Feasibility Study will be presented during the evening session.
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.
June 15, 2009 (#2008-203)
Western Howard County Soccer Partnership Supports Athletic Field Maintenance
Soccer fields near two western Howard County schools will receive extra care from members of Western Howard County Soccer, Inc. (WHCS). A new partnership between the organization and the Howard County Public School System will be formalized with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Hotel on Tuesday, June 16.
The partners have agreed to collaborate on maintaining the athletic fields at Folly Quarter Middle and Triadelphia Ridge Elementary Schools. WHCS will provide a licensed, insured contractor to analyze soil, apply nutrients, and prepare and seed the fields. HCPSS Grounds Services will work with the organization to establish annual maintenance plans, and will ensure that all maintenance complies with state and school system regulations.
At 8:30 a.m., Steve Rohner, S.T. Balimtas, and Jim Haller of the Board of Directors for Western Howard County Soccer, Inc. will join Ellen Flynn Giles, Vice Chairman, Howard County Board of Education; Rick Wilson, Principal Folly Quarter Middle School; Greg Connor, Assistant Manager, HCPSS Grounds Services; and Mary Schiller, Manager of the Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.
Western Howard County Soccer, Inc. (www.whcsoccer.org) provides a recreation environment that enables children to develop skills in soccer and use these skills with others in their age group. WHCS promotes positive, team oriented athletics with an emphasis on fun, skills and team play.
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.
June 11, 2009 (#2008-202)
CHAI Partnership Builds Connections, Understanding with South Asian/Indian Community
A partnership with Counselors Helping (South) Asians/Indians, Inc. (CHAI) will build understanding and appreciation for South Asian cultures among the Howard County Public School community, while enhancing the ability of school system staff to effectively address the needs and concerns of students and families of South Asian heritage. The partnership will be formalized with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Hotel on Friday, June 12.
Under the terms of the partnership, CHAI has agreed to serve as a resource for the school system for information about and issues affecting the South Asian community. CHAI representatives will provide workshops and presentations for HCPSS counselors and other staff to help them better understand and respond to the needs of South Asian students and families. The organization will identify interpreters to fill school system needs, and will provide speakers for several HCPSS events including international student leadership programs and parent education seminars. Selected HCPSS students will be invited to serve on CHAI’s Board of Directors.
At 8:30 a.m., Swaran Dhawan, Board Chair, and Razai Kosi, Executive Director, Counselors Helping (South) Asians/Indians, Inc., will join Ellen Flynn Giles, Vice Chairman, Howard County Board of Education; Karen Kawahara, HCPSS Resource Counselor; Min Kim, Equity Assurance Coordinator; and Mary Schiller, Manager of the Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.
CHAI (www.chaicounselors.org) provides outreach, referral and educational services to the South Asian community on issues related to mental health and wellness in the Baltimore / Washington metropolitan area. The nonprofit organization also works with mental health professionals and social services agencies to increase their cultural proficiency when working with the South Asian community.
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.
June 10, 2009 (#2008-201)
Howard County School Board Earns Master Board Certification
The Howard County Board of Education will be recognized for attaining Master Board status at its June 11 Board of Education meeting by Carl Smith, Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education. Smith will present the Board and individual Board members with plaques acknowledging the accomplishment.
The Maryland Association of Boards of Education's Master Board Program is designed to hone the skills of school boards in areas of team building, communication, problem solving, and decision-making. Board Master courses are based on the eight Action Areas in the Key Work of School Boards as identified by the National School Board Association. The Key Work of School Boards is a framework of eight interrelated action areas to focus and guide school boards in their work. The Key Work components are Vision, Standards, Assessment, Accountability, Alignment, Climate, Collaboration and Community Engagement and Continuous Improvement.
Master Board status is awarded after a board completes the following requirements:
1. Commitment of the entire board to participate in the program.
2. Completion of four 3-4 hour course sessions held in the local school system, in conjunction with a board
work session, dinner meeting or retreat. Courses use a variety of tools ranging from surveys, to discussions, simulations, and case studies that align with current issues the board faces. The content is tailored to the
needs and expectations of each board.
3. Completion of either one Boardsmanship Academy session or a Summer Leadership Conference by each
individual board member.
4. Completion of a pre and post assessment as a board and the development of a set of board goals.
The Howard County Board of Education earned Master Board status before former Board member Diane Mikulis left the Board in December 2008.
June 10, 2009 (#2008-200)
Local Students Attend National Association of Student Councils’ National Conference in Denver, Colorado
Aliana Akhtar, Su Cho, Yoonjin Min and Samira Nourbakhsh, are four of 1,500 student council leaders attending the 73rd Annual National Association of Student Councils (NASC) National Conference, June 27-30 at Highlands Ranch High School, in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Tony Miceli, Student Council Advisor at Burleigh Manor Middle School and Ms. Kristin Schonemann, SGA Advisor at River Hill High School will also attend the conference.
NASC, a program of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), offers leadership training at its conferences, focusing on turning student leaders into lifelong leaders.
“The dedicated students attending the NASC Conference learn how they can become more effective leaders in their schools and communities,” said Dr. Gerald N. Tirozzi, NASSP Executive Director. “I commend these enthusiastic young people on their eagerness to take on leadership roles and make a difference.”
The student council leaders will receive training in basic and advanced leadership, communication skills, service, and diversity. They will also participate in discussions on issues relevant to today’s youth and have opportunities to network with student leaders from across the country.
Delegates will take part in the Recycling X Games, hands-on activities and events modeled after the X Games held in Aspen, Colorado earlier this year. Colorado University will host this summer’s Recycling X Games featuring such games as The Dumpster Dive; Phone Book Shot Put; Get It In The Bin Obstacle Course; Recycle Pong; and even a Recycled Art Competition.
"Student leadership is the catalyst that enables students to be actively engaged in their own academic and civic education. In that sense, student leaders truly represent the future of our country,” said NASSP Senior Director for Student Programs, Dr. Rosa Aronson. “This conference will help prepare them for their important roles as active citizens, advocates, and volunteers in their schools, communities and beyond. We applaud Mrs. Claire Hafets, Dr. Carl Perkins, and Mr. William Ryan, principals of Burleigh Manor Middle School, Centennial High School, and River Hill High School for offering this valuable opportunity. We also thank Mr. Tony Miceli and Ms. Kristin Schonemann for attending the conference and ensuring a successful experience for all.”
June 9, 2009 (#2008-199)
U.S. Army Field Band Partnership to Drum Up Enthusiasm, Support for Student Music Programs
A new partnership with the United States Army Field Band will enhance participation, achievement and retention in countywide band programs while building a stronger future audience of patrons, supporters and advocates of music. The partnership will be formalized with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Hotel on Thursday, June 11.
Under the terms of the partnership agreement, United States Army Field Band musicians will demonstrate instruments to prospective band students, and will offer tips to student band members on performance, musical interpretation, and technical development. Members of the Field Band will be invited to perform during school music conferences, high school band concerts, and jazz festivals. The Field Band will also provide educational resources such as instructional videos, reference recordings, and lesson plans to support music education.
At 8:30 a.m., Colonel Thomas H. Palmatier, Commander and Conductor, and Sergeant First Class Jason L. Stephens, Educational Activities Coordinator, The United States Army Field Band will join Howard County Board of Education members Ellen Flynn Giles and Sandra French; Jennifer Cherry, Band Director, Clarksville and Worthington Elementary Schools; and Mary Schiller, Manager of the Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.
As the “Musical Ambassadors of the Army,” the United States Army Field Band (www.armyfieldband.com) has been thrilling audiences of all ages for more than half a century. As the premier touring musical representative for the United States Army, the internationally acclaimed organization travels thousands of miles each year presenting a variety of music to audiences throughout the nation and abroad.
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.
June 8, 2009 (#2008-198)
PTC Guests Discuss Successful PBIS Program
Join parent host Deborah Wessner as she explores the successful Positive Behaviors and Intervention Support (PBIS) Program now being used in 48 Howard County public schools on this month's Parent Teacher Connection. Guests include Talbott Springs Elementary School Principal Nancy Thompson, Instructional Assistant for Alternative Education at Murray Hill Middle School Dennis Williams, Howard High School junior Quinn Porter and Special Education Behavior Specialist Karyn Renneberg. Wessner and her guests discuss how the PBIS model improves morale, discipline and academic achievement.
Other segments include a discussion with Pam Blackwell, Director of Student Services, about the school system's new policy on bullying, intimidation and harassment; a focus on the award-winning teachers and staff, including this year's Howard County Teacher of the Year; and a salute to schools that received Healthy Schools Innovation Awards for 2008-09.
Parent Teacher Connection is broadcast on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m. on Comcast cable channel 95 and Verizon cable channel 42.
June 5, 2009 (#2008-197)
Time Change for Board of Education’s Audit Committee Quarterly Meeting
The time for the previously announced Board of Education’s Audit Committee quarterly meeting on Monday, June 8, 2009 has been changed from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in Conference Room ML2 at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.
June 3, 2009 (#2008-196)
Chinese Language School Partnership Forges Inter-Cultural Connections
A new partnership with the Chinese Language School of Columbia (CLSC) will offer opportunities to develop mutual understanding and greater collaboration between CLSC and the Howard County Public School System. The partnership will be formalized with an official signing during the Closing Ceremony for the CLSC school year on Sunday, June 7 at Howard High School.
Under the terms of the partnership, CLSC and HCPSS teachers and staff will work together to promote diversity, cultural proficiency and the preservation of heritage language skills in Howard County. CLSC will communicate HCPSS information with Chinese speaking families and share the concerns and needs of the Howard County Chinese community with HCPSS. Other partnership goals include collaborating to meet the increasing need for Chinese language programs and teaching students and staff about Chinese culture.
At 2:30 p.m., Allen Chu, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, and Emily Lee, Principal, Chinese Language School of Columbia will join Howard County Board of Education members Ellen Flynn Giles, Allen Dyer, Patricia Gordon, and Janet Siddiqui; and Clarissa Evans, Executive Director, Secondary Curricular Programs for HCPSS to sign the formal partnership agreement.
The Chinese Language School of Columbia (CLSC) (www.clscweb.org) provides Chinese language and culture instruction to students in pre-Kindergarten through high school. CLSC offers Chinese Mandarin and Cantonese language classes and Chinese preparatory classes for non-Chinese speaking families.
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.
June 2, 2009 (#2008-195)
New Partnership Starts Students on the Golf Course
A new partnership with The First Tee of Howard County will expand participation in golf for students with disabilities, help promote interscholastic girls’ golf, and introduce all students to an activity which promotes character development and life-enhancing values while fostering lifetime fitness and enjoyment. The partnership will be formalized with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Hotel on Thursday, June 4.
Under the terms of the partnership agreement, The First Tee of Howard County will provide biweekly practice time, weekly 9-hole match days, and range balls at the Fairway Hills Golf Club during the fall 2009 season for students participating in the Allied golf program for students with disabilities. Representatives of The First Tee will also offer introductory golf workshops for middle and high school physical education teachers and students.
“We’re excited about the partnership because it expands opportunities for athletic participation to a broader spectrum of students,” according to Mike Williams, Coordinator of Athletics for the school system. “The partnership activities will help us meet the mandates of Maryland’s Fitness and Equity Act, which opens opportunities in interscholastic athletics to students with disabilities. And girls’ golf has been a high school team sport for about a year; this program will introduce more students to golf and encourage them to get involved.”
At 8:30 a.m., Don Van Deusen, Executive Director, and Bill Herdrich, Board President, The First Tee of Howard County will join Ellen Flynn Giles, Vice Chairman, Howard County Board of Education; Michael Williams, Coordinator of Athletics; and Mary Schiller, Manager of the Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.
The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org), an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, provides learning facilities and educational programs in order to promote character-development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. The organization provides young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to learn and enjoy a game that can be played for a lifetime while developing confidence, perseverance and judgment.
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.
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