May 2012 News Releases

May 31, 2012 (#2011-207)

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting (immediately following FY13 Operating and Capital Budgets meeting FY2014-18)

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting on Thursday, May 31, 2012, Immediately following The Board of Education Adoption of FY 2013 Operating and Capital Budgets and FY 2014-18 Capital Improvement Programs in the Board Planning Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

May 30, 2012 (#2011-206)

2HB Software Designs Partners with Oakland Mills High to Boost Academic Achievement

A new partnership between 2HB Software Designs, Inc. and Oakland Mills High School will help students excel academically through initiatives designed to build self esteem and the skills needed for lifetime success. The partnership agreement will be formalized with an official signing on Friday, June 1, at the Sheraton Columbia Waterside Restaurant at 10207 Wincopin Circle in Columbia.

Under the terms of the partnership agreement, 2HB Software Designs will sponsor twenty students each year for the company's College Summit Program. 2HB has also agreed to offer annual scholarships for highly motivated, qualified Oakland Mills students planning to pursue higher education in a technology field.

Company representatives will also share information with students about career opportunities in technology fields and business administration.

At 8:30 a.m., David Doggette, president and co-founder of 2HB Software Designs, Inc., will join Ellen Flynn Giles, member of the Howard County Board of Education; Sue Mascaro, chief of staff for the Howard County Public School System; and Frank Eastham, principal of Oakland Mills High School, to sign the formal partnership agreement.

2HB Software Designs, Inc. (www.2hb.com) provides project and earned value management services performed by top secret/SCI cleared and PMI certified professionals in the areas of systems engineering, management consulting, and information security. 2HB has been committed to excellence, innovation and unparalleled customer satisfaction in the intelligence community for more than ten years.

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.

May 30, 2012 (#2011-205)

Board of Education to Meet with County Council

The Howard County Board of Education will hold their quarterly meeting with the County Council at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, June 13, 2012. The meeting will be held in the George Howard Building at 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD.

May 25, 2012 (#2011-204)

Howard County School Celebrates 20th Year Anniversary with Artist-in-Residence and Students' Wall Mural Unveiling

Pointer's Run Elementary School has installed a 15 foot mosaic mural through funding by the Howard County Arts Council and additional teaching by Artist-in-Residence Amanda Pellerin. The 32 foot-long mural will be unveiled at the 20th Anniversary Celebration on June 5, at 6:30 p.m. at Pointer's Run Elementary School.

Howard County Arts Council and the Pointer's Run PTA, PE, and Art Departments provided funds to bring in a specialized mosaic artist, Amanda Pellerin, and supplies for the students to create the wall mural, adjacent to the blacktop. School children, families, teachers and community members will view the work of art at the 20thAnniversary Celebration.

Howard County Arts Council provides school systems with the opportunity to receive funds for Artists-in-Residence to enhance the students' art education. Pointer's Run art teacher Lisa Huriaux was ecstatic to fund the project. "It's an everlasting souvenir to the community, a toast to art education and just the perfect way to celebrate 20 years." Ms. Huriaux has been a teacher at Pointer's Run since the school opened. For further information, contact Lisa Huriaux at 410-313-7142 or Stephanie Goldberg at 410-371-4899.

May 24, 2012 (#2011-203)

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting on Tuesday May 29, 2012 , at 8:30 a.m. in the Board Planning Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

May 22, 2012 (#2011-202)

Board of Education Audit Committee to Meet

The Audit Committee of the Board of Education will meet at 8:00 a.m., on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, in Conference Room ML2 at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

May 22, 2012 (#2011-201)

Howard County Public Schools Receive Green Seal Certification for Green and Healthy Cleaning

Howard is first public school system in the nation to achieve certification for cleaning to protect health and the environment.

The Howard County Board of Education meeting on Thursday, May 22 begins at 4:00 PM with a special presentation recognizing Howard County as the first public school system in the nation to achieve Green Seal GS-42 certification for cleaning to protect health and the environment. Green Seal is an independent, non-profit organization that provides certification and science-based standards for cleaning products and services to promote sustainability and healthy indoor environments. Arthur B. Weissman, PhD, Green Seal President and CEO, will present the certification award to Sydney Cousin, Howard Country Superintendent of Schools, Ken Roey, Executive Director of School Planning and Facilities, and Olivia Claus, Manager, Office of Custodial Services, Howard County Public School System.

While procuring green cleaning products for public schools was mandated in 2009 under Maryland House Bill 1363, the Howard County Public School System recognized that simply using green products was not enough. School facility managers and supervisors completed a 24-hour training program from the Building Wellness Institute, and implemented system-wide changes in the daily cleaning processes and procedures designed to improve indoor air quality. School facilities underwent a detailed audit of its cleaning processes, procedures and business practices as part of the GS-42 certification process.

"We've raised the bar by protecting the health of our students and faculty, and by providing our custodial staff with the knowledge and hands-on skills they need to become leaders in environmental wellness," says Ms. Claus. She noted in particular the efforts of the staff in the Office of Custodial Services and the entire team at Northfield Elementary School that served as the audit site for the certification: Day Supervisor James Wilson, Night Supervisor John Jackson, Custodians Yaw Wiafe, and Marguerite Jackson; Principal Becky Straw; and Assistant Principal Fran Fico.

The Howard County Public School System has demonstrated its commitment to a green future by increasing recycling and energy conservation efforts, using environmentally friendly cleaning products, and incorporating energy efficient and environmentally sound design standards into building projects.

Over the past several years, 39 Howard schools have earned Green School Certification through the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education. The certification recognizes a two-year, school-wide effort to meet criteria in curriculum and instruction, best management practices and community involvement in environmental education.

In April 2012, one of Howard County's schools, Dunloggin Middle School, became one of the first schools in the nation to receive a National Green School Award from the U.S. Department of Education. The award to recognizes schools that save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness, and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement.

The presentation can be viewed on demand beginning on May 23 at www.hcpsstv.org, as part of the May 22 Board of Education Meeting.

About Green Seal Inc.
Green Seal, a non‐profit based in Washington D.C., has been identifying products and services that protect the environment and human health since 1989. The Green Seal mark appears on over 3600 environmentally responsible products and services, and Green Seal is accredited by the American National Standards Institute. The independent organization focuses on certification to its leadership standards, avoiding any conflict of interest that may arise from recommending products or consulting with applicants. For more information and a list of all Green Seal‐certified products and services, visit www.GreenSeal.org.

About The Building Wellness Institute
The Building Wellness Institute helps facility managers, building owners, building service contractors, and environmental services staff protect the health and comfort of their building occupants through comprehensive training, consulting and assessment programs. Our training programs and services, delivered by seasoned professionals with cross-discipline expertise in occupational and environmental medicine, public health, industrial hygiene, toxicology, and chemical engineering, are designed to facilitate GS-42 certification, gain points toward LEED certification, and support a wide range of environmental wellness goals. www.buildingwellness.com

May 22, 2012 (#2011-200)

Board of Education to Hold Retreat

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a Retreat at 3:30 p.m. Monday June 4, 2012, in the Board Room, at The Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

May 21, 2012 (#2011-199)

HCPSS Commencements Begin This Week

Approximately 4,000 students will graduate in Howard County's Class of 2012. Commencement ceremonies for Howard County's 12 high schools begin at noon on May 23. All ceremonies will take place at Merriweather Post Pavilion on the following schedule:

Recordings of the commencement ceremonies will be available for viewing on demand at hcpsstv.com within hours of each ceremony. All 12 high school graduation ceremonies will be broadcast four times on HCPSS TV Channel 95 (Comcast) and Channel 42 (Verizon) in Howard County according to the following schedule:

May 18, 2012 (#2011-198)

Board of Education Adoption of FY13 Operating & Capital Budgets & FY 2014-18 Capital Improvement Program (TIME CHANGE)

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a meeting on the adoption of the FY13 Operating and Capital Budget and FY 2014-18 Capital Improvement Program on Thursday May 31, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. in the Board Room, at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike 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.

May 16, 2012 (#2011-197)

Board of Education Adoption of FY13 Operating & Capital Budgets & FY 2014-18 Capital Improvement Program

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a meeting on the adoption of the FY13 Operating and Capital Budget and FY 2014-18 Capital Improvement Program on Thursday May 31, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Room, at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike 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.

May 11, 2012 (#2011-196)

Board of Education to Hold Work Session on FY13 Operating & Capital Budgets

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a Work Session on the FY13 Operating and Capital Budget at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, 2012, in the Board Room, at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike 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.

May 10, 2012 (#2011-195)

Howard County Teacher of the Year; Educational Staff Award Winners Honored

The Howard County Public School System has announced its new Teacher of the Year, as well as the winners of several other awards for educational staff. The winners were honored at the annual HCPSS "In Honor of Excellence" celebration on May 2.

Lisa Young, a gifted and talented resource teacher at Atholton Elementary School, is the county winner of the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher award, sponsored by The Washington Post, and has been named Howard County Teacher of the Year for 2012-13. This award exemplifies the highest standards in teaching and educational leadership. Young will represent the HCPSS in the Maryland Teacher of the Year competition, sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education.

Young is a passionate educator and learner whose creativity, enthusiasm and excitement in the classroom inspire her students. She takes a leadership role in writing, environmental and gifted education programs, and is currently preparing math curriculum to align with the Common Core standards. She began her career in Alaska, becoming a leading advocate for use of the "Six+1 Writing Traits" model, then helped to pioneer its use in elementary and middle schools throughout Howard County.

Marcy Leonard, principal of Hammond High School, is the Howard County recipient of the Distinguished Educational Leadership Award, sponsored by The Washington Post. Her nomination portfolio describes Leonard as a principal who "leads with confidence and humility while inspiring those around her to be their best," and representing" what the ideal principal should be."

John Perfetto, an English and math special education teacher at Reservoir High School, won the First Year Educator Award. The award recognizes new teachers who demonstrate exceptional skill in instruction, communication, and interaction with students. Perfetto was praised by his nominators for his patience, compassion, ingenuity and "a natural ability to teach and manage a classroom."

Myla Korn, a science instructional assistant and "Hammond High School' sown superhero," was named the winner of the annual Distinguished Assistant Award. This award recognizes outstanding educational assistants who serve a critical role in students' success.

Robert Jackson, Jr., day chief custodian at Mayfield Woods Middle School and "a true professional in every sense of the word," is the winner of this year's Excellence Award for Building Operations. This award recognizes an employee who demonstrates outstanding performance, professionalism, and resourcefulness while helping to ensure a well-managed, smoothly running infrastructure.

Marian Boring, a data clerk at Reservoir High School who "performs every job at the mastery level with excellence," is the Office Professional Recognition Award winner for 2012. This award recognizes the important contributions of administrative assistants and other office staff in creating a positive educational environment.

May 10, 2012 (#2011-194)

MESA Students Excel in State MESA/STEM Competitions

Howard County students in the Maryland Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement Program (MESA) performed extraordinarily well in the State Finals of MESA Day competitions held at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. These science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competitions involved a variety of challenges for elementary, middle and high school students.

Students competed in cyber security and computer program competitions, which required them to debug programs they designed that were infected with a virus Hopkins scientists. Other students built bridges out of bass and balsa wood under strict guidelines that evaluated the structural integrity of the bridges. Creative and innovative abilities of students were evaluated in events such as effective communications and the storybook theme park ride. Energy conservation has been a hot button topic for several years and the MESA competition encourages students to develop innovative ways to look at sources of energy that have not been fully utilized. The Wind Energy Contest requires making windmills that are practical and demonstrate efficiency.

Participating from Howard County was St. Johns Lane Elementary, which won first place in the Storybook Theme Park Ride; Murray Hill, which was the overall winner at the middle school level; and Atholton, the overall winner at the high school level. Atholton High School also won the Wind Energy Contest at their level. In addition Lake Elkhorn Middle School won first place in the Wind Energy Contest at the middle school level and will represent Maryland at the national competitions. In winning again, Lake Elkhorn competes for the third time in a national STEM competition. Last year Lake Elkhorn won second place in the national competitions.

MESA is the oldest continuous extracurricular STEM program in Maryland and keeps as one of its major goals to help fill America's requirement for STEM professionals with bright minds to protect and secure our future.

May 9, 2012 (#2011-193)

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike 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.

May 9, 2012 (#2011-192)

Board of Education Policy Committee to Meet

The Policy Committee of the Board of Education will meet from 2- 4 :00 p.m. on Monday, May 21, 2012, in Conference Room ML2 at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

May 3, 2012 (#2011-191)

Student-Designed Deck Ready for Marketplace (Date Revised)

Student designers, construction managers and marketers have combined forces to develop a 7-piece modular deck with optional stairs for the real world marketplace. The"Domination Decking Project" will be on display from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesday May 8th, 2012 at the Applications and Research Laboratory (ARL), 10920 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

High school students in the Howard County Public School System's Career Academies took on the cross-curricular, multi-disciplinary project as a fundraiser for the centralized school and to gain real world experience in their fields. The deck was designed, constructed, and marketed by students from the Architectural Design, Advanced Animation, Construction Management, Finance, and Visual Communications academies, with support from the ARL Greenhouse Program and local construction and building companies.

Students describe the product as a seven-piece Azek© Redland Rose modular deck with a very appealing octagonal design that can be reconstructed with ease. With a footprint of 19 x15 feet, and incorporating a 12-foot octagon, it best fits a house with a ground level to door level height of 24-36 inches. The stain-resistant PVC decking is durable, long lasting and impervious to moisture and insects. The framing is built from 2 x 6 inch pieces of pressure-treated wood that is split, mold- and mildew- resistant. All framing is reinforced with metal joist hangers and fasteners. This beautifully designed deck has a maintenance-free durable white vinyl railing that contains aluminum tubing reinforcement on the top and bottom rail.

For pricing and additional information, contact Dr. Maddy Halbach at 410-313-6998 or maddy_halbach@hcpss.org.

May 3, 2012 (#2011-190)

Proposed Instructional Materials on Display

Instructional materials recommended for use in the Howard County Public School System for the first time will be on display in the lobby of the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042 and the Howard County Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044.

The materials will be displayed April 27 through May 17, 2012. The display is available at the Board of Education lobby Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and during business hours at the Howard County Central Library.

All citizens may review displayed materials. Forms will be available to use for comments or requests for reevaluation of any of the proposed instructional materials. Contact 410-313-5634 with questions or for further information.

May 3, 2012 (#2011-189)

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting on Thursday May 10, 2012 , at 1:30 p.m. in the Board Planning Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

May 3, 2012 (#2011-188)

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2012 in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike 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.

May 2, 2012 (#2011-187)

Student-Designed Deck Ready for Marketplace

Student designers, construction managers and marketers have combined forces to develop a 7-piece modular deck with optional stairs for the real world marketplace. The"Domination Decking Project" will be on display from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 at the Applications and Research Laboratory (ARL), 10920 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

High school students in the Howard County Public School System's Career Academies took on the cross-curricular, multi-disciplinary project as a fundraiser for the centralized school and to gain real world experience in their fields. The deck was designed, constructed, and marketed by students from the Architectural Design, Advanced Animation, Construction Management, Finance, and Visual Communications academies, with support from the ARL Greenhouse Program and local construction and building companies.

Students describe the product as a seven-piece Azek© Redland Rose modular deck with a very appealing octagonal design that can be reconstructed with ease. With a footprint of 19 x15 feet, and incorporating a 12-foot octagon, it best fits a house with a ground level to door level height of 24-36 inches. The stain-resistant PVC decking is durable, long lasting and impervious to moisture and insects. The framing is built from 2 x 6 inch pieces of pressure-treated wood that is split, mold- and mildew- resistant. All framing is reinforced with metal joist hangers and fasteners. This beautifully designed deck has a maintenance-free durable white vinyl railing that contains aluminum tubing reinforcement on the top and bottom rail.

For pricing and additional information, contact Dr. Maddy Halbach at 410-313-6998 or maddy_halbach@hcpss.org.

May 2, 2012 (#2011-186)

Howard County Students Win, Maryland History Day, Advance to National Competition

Nineteen Howard County Public School System students will advance to the National History Day Competition after winning first or second place at the statewide Maryland History Day Competition on April 28, 2012. These students already won competitions at the school and county levels, and competed against hundreds of students from school systems across the state. In addition to the students who are moving onto the Nationals, three Howard County students won special awards, and James McVey, social studies teacher at Mayfield Woods Middle School, was honored as Howard County's History Day Teacher of the Year.

Students presented entries in five categories: exhibit, performance, multimedia documentary, research paper and website. A list of category winners and special awards is attached . The National History Day Competition will be held at the University of Maryland, College Park from June 10-14, 2012.

The district coordinator for Howard County History Day is Dr. Mark Stout, Curriculum Coordinator for Advanced Programs and 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.

May 2, 2012 (#2011-185)

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, May 5, 2012 at 9:30 -11 a.m.
Dayton Oaks Elementary School
4691 Ten Oaks Road, Dayton, MD. 21036

May 2, 2012 (#2011-184)

Board of Education to Hold Community Meeting with Bright Minds Foundation

On Thursday, May 3, 2012, the Board of Education will hold a community meeting from 8-9 p.m. with Bright Minds, a foundation that supports equity, innovation, and lifelong learning in Howard County public schools. The meeting will be held in the Board Room at The Department of Education 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

May 2, 2012 (#2011-183)

Board of Education to Hold Community Meeting with Conexiones

On Thursday, May 3, 2012, the Board of Education will hold a community meeting with Conexiones, an advocate group for Hispanic students, from 7-8 p.m. in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

May 2, 2012 (#2011-182)

Board of Education to Hold Retreat

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a Retreat from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday May 3, 2012, in the Board Planning Room, at The Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.

May 2, 2012 (#2011-181)

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting on Thursday May 3, at 3:00 p.m. in the Board Planning Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.