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February 2010 News Releases

February 25, 2010 (#2010-113)

Board of Education’s Legislative Committee to Meet

The Howard County Board of Education’s Legislative Committee will meet at 3:30pm on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. The meeting will take place in the Lobby Conference Room ML2, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

February 24, 2010 (#2010-112)

5th Annual Howard County Black Saga Competition

The Offices of Elementary and Secondary Social Studies proudly hosted the fifth annual Black Saga countywide competition on Feb. 20, 2010 at Veterans Elementary School. Forty-eight students representing twelve schools came together to prove their knowledge of American history and geography.

At the elementary level, Deep Run and Veterans tied for first place followed by Ilchester in second. Hammond won the middle school division this year. Oakland Mills took second and Patuxent Valley earned third. It was a hotly contested event with both the elementary and middle school competitions lasting nearly two hours and requiring numerous tie-breaker rounds to finalize the placements.

During this year’s opening ceremony Nan Dove, G/T Resource Teacher (Harper’s Choice), and Phil Wright, Technology Education Teacher (Oakland Mills Middle) were honored for five years of service to the Howard County Public School System’s Black Saga Program.

All of these students are now eligible to move on to represent HCPSS at the state level Black Saga Competition in March (see attached list).

February 23, 2010 (#2010-111)

Educator Recognition Award for Contributions to Gifted and Talented Education

The Gifted and Talented Parent Advisory Committee announces the Educator Recognition Award for Contributions to Gifted and Talented Education in Howard County schools. This award recognizes exemplary commitment to the needs of advanced-level learners and contributions to the Howard County Gifted and Talented Education Program. Students, or parents on behalf of their children, may nominate a G/T resource teacher, classroom teacher or administrator.

Each person nominated will characterize excellence in mentoring and/or devotion to student achievement in the Gifted and Talented program.

A G/T resource teacher or classroom teacher must:
• Advocate for the needs of highly able learners
• Engage all students through creative and differentiated instruction
• Create a rigorous and challenging learning environment with opportunities for enrichment and curriculum extension
• Provide opportunities for students to engage with real-world problems and develop authentic solutions/products.

An administrator must:
• Recognize the needs of highly able learners
• Support the full implementation of the G/T Education Program
• Promote a rigorous and challenging learning environment with opportunities for enrichment and extension
• Attend G/T sponsored events and programs within the school and the community
• Allocate resources (time, people, funds) to support the needs of advanced-level learners.

Nominations must include at least one letter of support between 250 and 500 words in length that describes the ways in which the educator has demonstrated his/her commitment to gifted education along with the Educator Recognition Award Nomination Form. Nomination Forms are available at: www.hcpss.org/gt/2010GT_Educator_Nomination.pdf.

Submit a completed nomination letter and form postmarked or via email no later than March 15, 2010 to GTteachrec@aol.com or to:

G/T Parent Advisory Teacher Recognition Award
Faulkner Ridge Center
10598 Marble Faun Court
Columbia, Maryland 21044
Award winners will be recognized in an awards ceremony in late Spring.

February 19, 2010 (#2010-110)

Teacher Professional Days Used to Makeup Lost Instructional Days

Recent historic snowfall in the region resulted in Howard County public schools being closed for eight (8) instructional days so far during the 2009-2010 school year. Last evening, the Board of Education approved the following changes to the calendar to make up the missed instructional days.

The five days designated as inclement weather makeup days on the academic calendar will be used to make up five of the eight days, making June 23 the final instructional day for the 2009-2010 school year.

The Professional Development Day scheduled for Thursday, April 22 and the Professional Work Day for Articulation scheduled for Friday, May 14 will be used as instructional days to make up the sixth and seventh days. The Superintendent will apply for a waiver of the eighth day and any subsequent days that may need to be used for inclement weather during this school year.

"We considered all the options available to us. With this option, we make up the most instructional time in a way that is least disruptive to school and family schedules," said Superintendent Sydney Cousin. "This has been an historic winter and we are interested in getting students back into the rhythm of the school year and maintaining our schedule with as little change as possible."

Formal Parent Teacher Conferences, originally scheduled for February 10, 11, and 12, will not be rescheduled. Parents who have concerns about their child's progress are asked to contact the individual teacher to make arrangements to discuss their concerns. Teachers are asked to provide opportunities for parents to discuss concerns through phone calls and individual meetings.

The third quarter marking period has been extended from April 1 to April 23, with Interim reports issued on March 19 instead of March 5, and report cards issued on May 5. The Board voted to change April 1 from an early dismissal day to a full instructional day. The fourth quarter marking period will now begin on April 26, with interim reports issued on May 26. Summer school begins on June 28.

February 19, 2010 (#2010-109)

Registration for New Students and Students Entering Kindergarten

Registration for new students or students entering public school kindergarten in August 2010, will be held in all Howard County public elementary schools Monday through Friday, March 1 – 5, 2010, between
9:00am and 3:30pm and other times as determined by individual schools.

Kindergarten is mandatory in Maryland. State law requires that children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2010 must be
5 years of age on or before September 1, 2010. Children entering first grade in the fall of 2010 must be six (6) years old on or before September 1, 2010. Parents or legal guardians are to register students at the school currently serving the address at which the child’s parent or guardian resides. Parents of children born outside of the US, and/or for whom English is not the primary language spoken in the home, should contact the International Student Registration Center at 410-313-1525 (English/Korean) or 410-313-7102 (English/Spanish) for registration. Parents may call the Public Information Office at 410-313-6682, or they may check the “School Locator” via the school system website, www.hcpss.org for more information on which school serves their residence.

The parent or guardian must present the following information at the time of registration:

• the child’s proof of birth (birth certificate, baptismal certificate, hospital
certificate, passport)
• an authorized record of immunizations
• proof of residency in the form of a lease, a deed, or house contract and a
utility bill
• photo ID of the parent/guardian
• proof of custody - custodial parent or guardian must submit
divorce settlement papers, court papers (if applicable)

Driver’s licenses and voter registration cards will not be accepted as proof of residence. State law prohibits a child from attending school for even one day unless proof of immunization has been provided. Immunization and health forms will be available at each elementary school at the time of registration.

February 19, 2010 (#2010-108)

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4pm on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City. 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 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.

February 16, 2010 (#2010-107)

Board of Education to Hold Public Work Sessions on Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2011 Operating Budget and Hold Regularly Scheduled Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold Public Work Sessions II and III on the Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2011 Operating Budget today. Work Session II (rescheduled from Feb. 9, 2010) will take place from 1:00 – 5:00pm. Work Session III will take place as originally scheduled, at 7:00pm. The work sessions will take place in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

At the same location on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, at 1:00pm, the Board will hold Public Work Session IV on the Operating Budget. At 4:00pm, the Board will hold a regularly scheduled meeting (rescheduled from Feb. 9, 2010). 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 Board’s office at 410-313-7194.

February 16, 2010 (#2010-106)

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session at 5:00pm, on Tuesday, February 16, 2010, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

February 5, 2010 (#2010-105)

School System’s School Counseling Office to Sponsor Military Information Night

The Howard County Public School System’s Office of School Counseling will sponsor a Military Information Night on Wednesday, March 24, 2010, from 7–9 p.m. at River Hill High School, 12101 Route 108 in Clarksville.

The following will be in attendance to offer information about their programs:

• Representatives from the five military academies.
• Representatives from the offices of Senator Ben Cardin and
  Barbara Mikulski and Congressman Elijah Cummings to
  review the Academic Nomination Process for Academy
  Appointments.
• Representatives from colleges with military programs.
• ROTC officers.
• JROTC program officers and students from the Atholton,
  Howard and Oakland Mills JROTC programs.
• Enlistment recruiters.

Parents and students of all ages are welcome to attend.

February 1, 2010 (#2010-104)

Terrapin Day at Wilde Lake Middle School

On Friday, February 5, sixth and seventh grade students at Wilde Lake Middle School in Columbia will participate in a variety of activities designed to increase their knowledge of turtles. Information sessions will share how the reptiles live and the challenges they face to survive here in Maryland. Other sessions will be conducted by visiting students from the University of Maryland, who will talk to students about college and career opportunities available after high school.

Eighth graders will travel to College Park on Friday morning to visit the University of Maryland campus and meet the Dean of the College of Education, a number of professors, and some student-athletes.

According to Wilde Lake Principal Tom Saunders, the purpose of the day is to spotlight the school's partnerships with the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the University of Maryland in College Park and to celebrate the importance of turtles on many levels.

Saunders notes that the National Aquarium selected Wilde Lake Middle School, along with 29 other schools statewide, to raise a Diamondback Terrapin hatchling and conduct research on when this particular turtle develops its sexual identity. It takes turtles 9-12 months after being hatched to develop into a male or female. Wilde Lake students have been tracking the development of the turtle that they have named Skittles. The students are sharing their research with Dr. Roosenberg, a professor at the University of Ohio, who is collecting data on Diamondback Turtles in Maryland. Skittles will be released in May on Poplar Island.

The activities will culminate with a social and a special guest appearance by the Maryland Mascot, Testudo.

February 1, 2010 (#2010-103)

Catch Poetry Out Loud on HCPSS TV

Tune to HCPSS TV in February to catch Howard County high school students take part in the Poetry Out Loud recitation competition. Watch students from Centennial, Glenelg, Oakland Mills and Wilde Lake high schools compete to advance to regional and national competitions.

Poetry Out Loud is a partnership initiative of the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. The competition encourages students to memorize and perform great works from poets such as Robert Frost, T.S. Eliot, Elizabeth Bishop, Walt Whitman and many others.

Broadcast times on HCPSS TV, cable channel 95 (Comcast) and cable channel 42 (Verizon), are as follows:
Sunday, February 7 and 21 at 1:00 & 8:00pm
Monday, February 8 at 7:00 pm.
Friday, February 12 & 26 at 8:00am, 4:00, 8:00, & 11:00pm

The program can also be viewed online anytime via the school system's website.

February 1, 2010 (#2010-102)

Parent Teacher Connection Features Info on Career Academies

The HCPSS Career Technology Education Program, which now boasts 22 career academies, is now a popular option for high school students. Host Deborah Wessner talks with Coordinator of the Career Technology Education program Richard Weisenhoff about the growth of the career academies and plans for future expansion on this month's Parent Teacher Connection.

On the program's What Parents Are Asking segment, Coordinator of School Counseling Lisa Boarman discusses the challenge middle schoolers and their parents face planning for high school with host Jennifer Johnson. The segment focuses on how to use the Catalog of Approved High School Courses to plan ahead.

February's Parent Teacher Connection television program also includes segments on the school system's proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 and the winners of the first Poetry Out Loud competition.

Parent Teacher Connection is broadcast on HCPSS TV on Wednesdays at 4:00pm, 7:00pm and 10:00pm; Saturdays at 3:00pm; and Sundays at noon and 5:00pm on cable channel 95 (Comcast) and cable channel 42 (Verizon). The program can also be viewed online anytime via the school system's website.

February 1, 2010 (#2010-101)

Board of Education Meets to Adopt Budgets

The Howard County Board of Education will meet at 9:00am on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, to adopt the FY 2011 Operating and Capital Budgets and the FY 2012 – 2016 Capital Improvement Program. The meeting will take place in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

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.

February 1, 2010 (#2010-100)

Board of Education’s Legislative Committee to Meet

The Howard County Board of Education’s Legislative Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. The meeting will take place in the Lobby Conference Room ML2, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.