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April 2011 News Releases
April 28, 2011 (#2010-151)
HCPSS TV Program Explores How Students Use Social Media
The latest edition of HCPSS TV's Parent Teacher Connection explores the dangers of social media websites frequented by Howard County students, including some local sites that are causing concern among parents and educators. Host Jennifer Johnson talks with a guest panel of school system library media specialists, a high school counselor and high school student regarding issues of cyber bullying, stalking and socially damaging personal attacks as well as positive ways teachers are using some social websites in their instruction.
In a segment on starting kindergarten, the school system's Coordinator of Early Childhood Development Lisa Davis talks with host Bruce Johnson about what parents can expect when their children enter full-day kindergarten in Howard County public schools. The topics include how educators accommodate age differences, classes and activities offered during the instructional day, early focus on improving social interactions and what parents can do to ensure their children are ready for kindergarten.
A system-wide student art exhibit entitled, Art and Social Justice, featuring drawings, sculpture, paintings and video productions is also featured. The segment highlights a video produced by Forest Ridge Elementary School's 4th graders to inform their fellow students how much food they waste every day.
Parent Teacher Connection is broadcast on Wednesdays at 4pm, 7pm and 10pm; Saturdays at 3pm; and Sundays at noon and 5pm on cable channels 95 (Comcast) and channel 42 (Verizon). The program can also be viewed online anytime via the school system's website or at www.hcpsstv.com.
April 26, 2011 (#2010-150)
HC STARS To Perform a Sampling of School Plays on May 28
On Saturday, May 28, 2011, at 6pm at River Hill High School, the Howard County STARS will hold their second annual end-of-the-year celebration. The event brings together over 600 high school theatre students to celebrate a season of outstanding performances. The celebration features excerpts from each of the 12 high school theatrical productions, a performance by the All County Improvisational Acting Troupe (ACI) and a salute to the HC STARS critic teams. An all-county, all-star student orchestra will accompany the evening's entertainment.
The Howard County Student Theater Association of Reviewers (HC STARS) is now in its second year. Through the STARS program, each Howard County high school trains and fields a team of student critics who attend high school theatre arts productions and write reviews. These reviews are then published on the community website HOCOMOJO and the top review is chosen to air on the school system's award-winning cable show Arts A La Carte.
Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased online at http://www.seatyourself.biz/rhhs or at River Hill High School in the Information Center, Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 2:00pm.
April 15, 2011 (#2010-149)
Swansfield Students Invited to White House Easter Egg Roll
Swansfield Elementary School principal Molly Ketterer learned last Wednesday that the school would receive 250 complimentary tickets to the 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll from the U.S. Department of Education.
"This is an unprecedented opportunity for our students, staff and families; an experience of a lifetime," she said.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama announced last month that this year's White House Easter Egg Roll will be held on Monday, April 25, 2011 with the theme of "Get Up and Go!" promoting health and wellness. The event will feature live music, sports courts, cooking stations, storytelling and, of course, Easter egg rolling. All of the activities will encourage children to lead healthy and active lives and follow the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative, a national campaign to combat childhood obesity. The White House will open its South Lawn for children aged 12 years and younger and their families.
School staff began the ticket distribution process on Friday, April 8, with calls to the families of Title I students and students who receive other support services. On Monday, April 11, the school offered the remaining tickets to the general student population. Those tickets will be assigned through a lottery system based on the number of responses. Twenty-five tickets will be reserved for staff members to attend as chaperones. Free bus transportation will be provided for all students for this event.
April 12, 2011 (#2010-148)
Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting
The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4:00pm on Thursday, April 28, 2011, 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 7:30pm, 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.
April 8, 2011 (#2010-147)
$100,000 Grant Funds Chinese Language Summer Camps
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) has received a $100,000 STARTALK grant to teach elementary and middle school students Chinese this summer. STARTALK one of several programs of the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) started by former President George W. Bush in 2006. The initiative seeks to expand and improve the teaching and learning of strategically important world languages that currently are not widely taught in the United States.
Howard County is the only Maryland public school system to receive a STARTALK grant this year. Howard Community College has received a STARTALK grant for a number of years and will host the program again this summer for high school students to learn Arabic, Chinese, Hindi or Persian.
The HCPSS Office of World Languages, in collaboration with the Black Student Achievement Program Summer Camps, will offer two Chinese language camps: Starfish and MoreUnder the Sea for grades 3-5 and Saving Our Bays and Oceans for grades 6-8. Through these camps, students will explore marine topics, such as sea life, sea habitats, tides, waves and conservation efforts as they learn Chinese.
The camps will be held at Swansfield Elementary School in Columbia, June 27 through July 22, 2011 from 9:00am until 3:00pm. The elementary program is full and no longer accepting applications, but names are being taken for a wait list. The middle school program still has openings. Registration is in-person only at the Homewood Center (behind the Department of Education building on Route 108) on:
- April 13, 4:30 - 7:00pm
- May 11, 4:30 - 7:00pm
- June 8, 4:30 - 7:00pm
April 4, 2011 (#2010-146)
Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting
The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session at 2:30pm, on Thursday,
April 14, 2011, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.
April 4, 2011 (#2010-145)
Board of Education Audit Committee to Hold Meeting
The Audit Committee of the Board of Education will hold a meeting at 8:30am, on Tuesday,
April 12, 2011. The meeting will take place in the Board Planning Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.
April 4, 2011 (#2010-144)
Office of School Planning Seeks Howard County Citizens to Participate in Attendance Area Adjustment Committee
The Howard County Public School System is seeking members for a potential Attendance Area Adjustment Committee to the Superintendent. Redistricting may be under consideration for the 2012-2013 school year. Prospective plans must be reviewed by a committee comprised of 10-12 Howard County residents and may include one student.
Members are appointed by the Superintendent to advise and comment during the planning phase regarding Capital Budget and redistricting recommendations being developed by staff. Committee members are asked to volunteer their time by attending approximately 12-15 evening meetings. If redistricting is deferred, the pool of citizens who have expressed interest will be retained for the following year.
All letters of interest and resumes must be received by Monday, May 2, 2011, at the following address:
Howard County Public School System
Office of School Planning
10910 Route 108
Ellicott City, MD 21042
For more information, call 410-313-1554 or send an email to jennifer_bubenko@hcpss.org.
April 1, 2011 (#2010-143)
Howard County Students Receive Maryland Society for Educational Technology (MSET) Student Contest Awards
The Maryland Society for Educational Technology (MSET) Student Contest recognizes K-12 Maryland students each year who integrate technology into the learning process and create desktop publishing, graphic arts, and multimedia products.
The work submitted this year demonstrated Howard County student's success in integrating technology. The following students received first place and honorable mention awards:
First Place Winners
Desktop Publishing
- Grades K-2, Crab by Shane Collins, Teacher Sponsors: Joan Cabiness and Heidi Shorter, St. John's Lane Elementary School, Grade 1
Graphic Arts
- Grades K-2, Home Sweet Home by Emily Lim, Teacher Sponsor: Lorraine Quinn, Bellows Spring Elementary School, Grade 2
- Grades 3-5, Moonlight Song by Arden Perry, Teacher Sponsor: Lori Jones, Dayton Oaks Elementary School, Grade 4
- Grades 9-12, Observational Illustration by Chelsea Allen, Teacher Sponsor: Ray Lee, Applications and Research Lab, Grade 12
Honorable Mention Awards
Desktop Publishing
- Grades 3-5, Who is Sophie Shen by Sophie Shen, Teacher Sponsor: Stacie Walker-Ortiz, Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School, Grade 5
Graphic Arts
- Grades 9-12, Illustration by Lyndsey Yencha, Teacher Sponsor: Ray Lee, Applications and Research Lab, Grade 12
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