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November 2009 News Releases
November 17, 2009 (#2009-059)
Magnificent Men Make a Difference in the Lives of Children
Cradlerock School and the Judy Center Partnership in Columbia will host the 6th Annual Meals with Magnificent Men on Friday, November 20, from 10:15am to 11:45am at Cradlerock School. The event is an opportunity for fathers, grandfathers, uncles, big brothers and other significant males in the lives of five year olds to share a Thanksgiving lunch and spend some time interacting with the children. Meals with Magnificent Men is part of the Judy Center's outreach to parents and is one of numerous ways the CenterÕs staff encourages parent and community involvement.
According to Director Anne Yenchko, some parents need support to become active participants in their child's school life. Having Thanksgiving lunch with their child at school gives them the opportunity to begin to make those connections. Speakers for the event include Larry Walker, Howard County parent and the Comcast Parent of the Year for 2008, and Cradlerock School Principal Jason McCoy.
November 13, 2009 (#2009-058)
Board of Education to Meet in Closed Session and Hold Regular Meeting
The Board of Education will meet in closed session at 2 p.m., on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.
At 4 p.m., the Board will hold their regularly scheduled meeting in the Board Room at the same location. 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.
The 2010 School Year Attendance Area Adjustments will be approved 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.
November 13, 2009 (#2009-057)
Board of Education to Hold Public Work Session III on 2010 School Year Attendance Area Adjustments
The Howard County Board of Education will hold Public Work Session III on the 2010 School Year Attendance Area Adjustments at 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. The work session 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.
November 12, 2009 (#2009-056)
Poetry Comes Alive in Multiple Languages
Students of World Languages from each of Howard County's 12 high schools recited poems in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, and Spanish at this year's Poetry Alive event held on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at Howard High School. A number of students who participate in the English for Speakers of Other Languages Program (ESOL) performed poems in English or their native languages. Professors from local colleges and universities, teachers and supervisors from neighboring districts, and Howard County Public School System staff served as judges and moderators. During intermission, attendees enjoyed a "World Language Fair" where World Language Clubs, student exchange and travel programs, and other related organizations offered displays. Attendees were also able to experience "A Taste of Languages" thanks to Howard High School students, who taught their native languages to participants. At the closing ceremony, the winners of both the poetry recitation and writing competitions were announced. This year marked the third year of the Poetry Writing event.
COUNTYWIDE WINNERS
Poetry Recitation
Chinese
Chinese 2 - Keyanna Miles, Oakland Mills
Chinese 3 - Kevin Hutt, Long Reach
Chinese Native Speaker - Hanjia Guo, Wilde Lake
Chinese Native Speaker - Lanbo Ya, Centennial
ESOL
ESOL Advanced - Hoa Tiem Vo, Hammond
French
French 2 - Sammantha Francois, Howard
French 3 - Tahsin Khan, Atholton
French 4 - Stephanie He, River Hill
French Advanced - Genevieve Lyons, Howard
French Native Speaker - M'ballou Dabo, Long Reach
German
German 2 - Dania Sutton, Long Reach
German 3 - Leslie McAdoo, Howard
German Advanced - Nicholas Calvitt, Howard
Italian
Italian 2 - Nimisha Singh, Hammond
Italian 3 - Zachary Dang, Wilde Lake
Italian Advanced - Chrissy Casazza, Wilde Lake
Latin
Latin 2 - Tracy Sebastian, Mt. Hebron
Latin 3 - Joshua Hengel, Atholton
Spanish
Spanish 2 - Erin Smedley, River Hill
Spanish 3 - Christophe Harris, Mt. Hebron
Spanish 4 - Sea Shin, Centennial
Spanish Advanced - Jack Neumeier, Glenelg
Spanish Native Speaker - Katerina Carro-Garcia, River Hill
COUNTYWIDE WINNERS
Poetry Writing
Chinese Native Speaker - Fa-gang Jack Hung, River Hill
ESOL 2 - Young Chae Lee, Howard
ESOL Advanced - Fa-gang Jack Hung, River Hill
French 2 - Mark LaPointe, River Hill
French 3 - Priyanka Prasad, Mt. Hebron
French 4 - Natalie DiProspero, Mt. Hebron
French Advanced - Anita Chandrasekaran, Atholton
Italian 2 - Brooks Owens, Hammond
Italian 3 - Brittany Scible, Hammond
Italian Advanced - Molly Bradtke, Hammond
Spanish 2 - Jenny Wegman, Hammond
Spanish 3 - Leanne Hoppers, Mt. Hebron
Spanish 4 - Gabrielle Le, River Hill
Spanish Advanced - Jonathon Blonchek, Glenelg
Spanish Native Speaker - Aaron Moreno, Glenelg
November 12, 2009 (#2009-055)
Program Offers Tips for Productive Parent-Teacher Conferences
It's Parent-Teacher Conference time and this month's Parent Teacher Connection offers suggestions for preparing for and scheduling conferences at your child's school. HCPSS Coordinator of School Counseling Services Lisa Boarman talks with parent host Jennifer Johnson about how parents can get the most from the limited time they have with teachers during conferences. Then e-Learning Coordinator Jennifer Elam and Technology Training Specialist Sue Cockey team up to demonstrate how to schedule parent teacher conference appointments from home using the pickAtime program, a web-based application available this year for all schools and grade levels.
On a related topic, parent host Deb Wessner talks with Project Manager Bonnie Woods about the Aspen student data management system currently being piloted in seven Howard County schools. This powerful Internet-based program is used to track student records, grades and schedules and will provide parents with easy access to information about their child's academic progress.
Also this month, host Bruce Johnson introduces viewers to the new school system Internet site where they can view live Board of Education meetings and other locally produced programs online. Deborah Wessner also provides a status report on the Health Department's school-based H1N1 flu vaccination clinics.
Parent Teacher Connection is broadcast on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. and 10 p.m., Saturday at 3:00.p.m. and Sunday at noon and 5:00 p.m. on Channel 95 (Comcast) and Channel 42 (Verizon).a
November 10, 2009 (#2009-054)
New Vision Martial Arts Partnership to Develop “Inner Strength” for Jeffers Hill Elementary Students and Staff
AA new partnership between Jeffers Hill Elementary School and New Vision Martial Arts will promote the principles of respect for self and others, integrity, perseverance, and self-control. The partnership will be formalized with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel on Wednesday, November 11.
Under the terms of the partnership, New Vision Martial Arts will collaborate with school staff on workshops to build students’ skills in concentration, effective communication, and nonviolent conflict resolution while improving physical fitness. The organization has agreed to provide incentives to support the school’s PAWSitive program, which rewards positive behavior, and to provide guest speakers for cultural awareness events. New Vision will also offer biannual self defense workshops for Jeffers Hill staff.
At 8:30 a.m., Shelly Walrath, Owner of New Vision Martial Arts will join Larry Cohen, Member of the Howard County Board of Education; Pamela Butler, Principal, and Cathleen Lopez, Assistant Principal, Jeffers Hill Elementary School; and Mary Schiller of the HCPSS Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.
New Vision Martial Arts (www.newvisionmartialarts.com) offers martial arts and fitness programs for ages 4 through adult. The center aims to “build kids from the inside out,” using the martial arts as a vehicle to bolster time-honored principles of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, indomitable spirit, and self-control.
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.
November 6, 2009 (#2009-053)
Kaur Foundation Partnership Builds Connections, Understanding with Sikh Community
A new partnership with the Kaur Foundation will build understanding and appreciation for Sikh culture, customs, and perspectives in Howard County Public School classrooms and communities. The partnership will be formalized with an official signing at the Waterside Restaurant in the Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel on Monday, November 9.
Under the terms of the partnership, the Kaur Foundation and the Howard County Public School System will exchange resources and opportunities to spread awareness of the cultural heritage shared by Sikhs in the classroom, community, and world. The Kaur Foundation has donated a copy of Cultural Safari, an engaging introduction to Sikh culture in DVD format, to each school media center. The organization will provide additional educational resources depicting Sikh customs, religion, geography, and history, which teachers may use to augment social studies lessons, and will serve as a resource for staff regarding the needs and concerns of students and families of Sikh heritage.
At 8:30 a.m., Mirin Phool, President of the Kaur Foundation will join Ellen Flynn Giles, Vice Chairman, Howard County Board of Education; John Krownapple, Coordinator of Cultural Proficiency for the HCPSS; and Joan Fox of the HCPSS Partnerships Office to sign the formal partnership agreement.
The Kaur Foundation (www.kaurfoundation.org) builds understanding between the Sikh American community and society at large. While projecting a positive Sikh identity, the organization builds community partnerships to promote understanding and acceptance of diversity.
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.
November 4, 2009 (#2009-052)
Authors Mario Livio and Debbie Dadey Headline Books Alive! in November
This month, host Barb Langridge welcomes Dr. Mario Livio to Books Alive! to discuss his popular books on mathematics and science. Livio, an internationally renowned astrophysicist and head of public outreach for the Space Telescope Science Institute, is also a popular author. He is perhaps best known for his book on the irrational number phi: The Golden Ratio: The Story of Phi, the World's Most Astonishing Number. The book won the Peano Prize and the International Pythagoras Prize for popular books on mathematics. Dr. Livio's newest book, entitled Is God A Mathematician?, was released in January 2009. It discusses the uncanny ability of mathematics to describe and predict accurately the physical world. Livio also attempts to answer a question with which mathematicians and philosophers have struggled for centuries: Is mathematics ultimately invented or discovered?
Also this month, Langridge interviews Debbie Dadey, the author and co-author of more than 125 books. Her work includes the Publishers Weekly bestselling The Adventure of the Bailey School Kids series, as well as The Worst Name in Third Grade, The Ghostville Elementary series, and The Swamp Monster in Third Grade series. She also teamed up with her son Nathan Dadey to write The Slime Wars. Her individual titles include Cherokee Sister, which recently made Bank Street College's list of Best Children's Books of the year.
Books Alive! is broadcast on HCPSS TV (Comcast 95 and Verizon 42) on Sundays at 6:00 pm, Tuesdays at
11:00 am, 2:00, 7:00, and 10:00 pm, and Saturdays at 10:00 pm.
November 4, 2009 (#2009-051)
Board of Education to Hold Public Work Session II on 2010 School Year Attendance Area Adjustments
The Howard County Board of Education will hold Public Work Session II on the 2010 School Year Attendance Area Adjustments at 7:30 p.m., on Thursday, November 12, 2009. The work session 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.
November 3, 2009 (#2009-050)
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, November 11, 2009. The meeting will take place in the Lobby Conference Room ML2, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.
November 3, 2009 (#2009-049)
Board of Education to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed 2010 School Year Attendance Area Adjustments
The Howard County Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2010 School Year Attendance Area Adjustments at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. The hearing will take place in the Board Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.
Individuals who wish to testify at the 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 up to the close of business on the last working day before the hearing.
To sign up to testify at the hearing, 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.
November 3, 2009 (#2009-048)
Board of Education Audit Committee to Hold Quarterly Meeting
The Audit Committee of the Board of Education will hold its quarterly meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. The meeting will take place in Board Room B at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.
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