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>> Hello, and welcome to
this edition of "BCPS News."
I'm Mary Beth Marsden.
Fall is here, and BCPS is on
the move with lots of great
information to share with you.
On today's show, we'll check out
a camp that's building
new leaders,
a conference focused on
strategies for student success,
and striving for excellence --
one student's story.
All this and more, but first,
let's check out what's trending.
Fort Garrison Elementary
students recently spent the day
outside, learning about
the environment.
The first annual
"Earth Day, Every Day" event
gave students hands-on learning
activities that focused on
the effects of trash
in the Chesapeake, animals in
the environment, and creative
ways recycled items can be used.
Each class also got the
opportunity to plant bulbs at
various locations around
the school.
Dozens of educational computer
games created by BCPS students
and teachers are now available
online.
The fun and interactive learning
experiences cover a wide range
of topics, including chemistry,
calculus, basic math, biology,
and many other subjects.
The games were created through
BCPS's Learning in Virtual
Environments initiative,
or Project L.i.V.E., through the
Office of Technology.
Most of the games resulted from
teachers engaging in
Project L.i.V.E. professional
development workshops to learn
how to incorporate gaming
concepts into their classrooms.
Patapsco High School and
Center for the Arts recently
hosted the United States
Air Force Rhythm in Blue
Jazz Ensemble.
The Ensemble formed music
clinics to work with
instrumental students to help
them refine their skills.
The highly entertaining and
versatile 13-piece group also
performed American musical art
forms of jazz, blues and funk in
a concert for the student body
while at Patapsco.
Orpheus Collar, a 2005 graduate
from the Carver Center for Arts
and Technology, has adapted
the best-selling fantasy
adventure book
"The Red Pyramid" to a 192-page
graphic novel.
As a major in illustration,
Collar got his start working
as a colorist assistant on
comic book titles such as
Amazing Spider-Man and Conan,
which later led him to do work
for Disney-Hyperion books.
His recent book-signing and talk
at Carver allowed students to
experience the success of one
of their own.
Stay with us.
There's more to come.
>> If you could see anything
in the world, what would it be?
>> WOMAN: I'd love to see Paris!
>> CHILD: I'd like to see
cupcakes falling from the sky!
>> To save your vision in
the years ahead, call your
eye doctor for a comprehensive
eye exam today.
Then call...
or log on to
SeeABetterTomorrow.org
to learn about glaucoma
and macular degeneration.
>> MAN: I just want to see more
of the things I love.
>> Welcome back.
Keeping our students in a
productive and safe environment
has always been a top priority.
Let's look at some of the
strategies that make that
happen.
>> REPORTER: Strategies for
Success: Connection,
Collaboration, and Continuity.
That was the focus for
the recently held 17th annual
BCPS Safe Schools Conference,
attended by principals, school
counselors, and other
school-based personnel.
>> We have young people in our
classrooms and our buildings now
who are experiencing more
turmoil than we ever could
have imagined.
And when we deal with student
safety, or school safety, we
don't just deal with, "How do we
prevent acts of violence?"
We also deal with, "How do we
make sure that students'
emotional and social needs
are met?"
Because if those two areas
are not met, no learning will
occur in our classrooms
every single day.
>> REPORTER: Joining forces with
the Baltimore County Police
Department, the mission is
clear --
safety is a top priority
on all levels.
>> We must follow the child into
the community, into their homes,
to address the pathology of what
is causing this problem, and
that's the difficult task, and
it's not just a school task,
it's a community-government task
to do that.
>> REPORTER: And, to help
reinforce the need of everyone's
participation, a variety of
workshops were available, along
with keynote speaker
Larry Thompson, who focused on
positive strategies to improve
student behavior through
responsibility-centered
discipline programs.
>> WOMAN: The workshops center
around students in need.
The workshops include
information about students who
may be ADHD, students who have
special needs, students who are
emotionally or mentally
challenged -- how to work with
those kids to make sure that
they, too, succeed in school.
As well as information about
gangs, what to look for if our
students are involved in gangs.
How to provide the supports and
interventions to prevent
students from being involved
in that.
And then just equipping teachers
with strategies on how to work
well with the administrators
in helping children.
We also include the PTA and
parents because parents need to
understand that we want to
partner with them in education.
>> REPORTER: By addressing these
issues in positive ways, BCPS is
poised in assuring that every
student is learning in a safe
environment.
>> What a great conference.
More than 800 school-based
personnel attended.
You know, now that fall is here,
that means leadership season
is in the air.
Baltimore County student
councils went on their annual
leadership retreat
to Camp Ramblewood.
Let's check out the highlights
of this year's gathering.
>> At Camp Ramblewood, student
leaders from around the county
gather together for one singular
goal -- to improve
their leadership skills.
>> I was a camper here for two
years, and I learned the skills.
And as a staff member for
the past three years, I've had
the chance to put those skills
into action.
>> VOLOU: one of the main events
the campers really look forward
to is the motivational speaker.
>> I'm here to talk to
the students about, letting them
know they can do, that they
have the ability to make
an incredible difference in
the lives of other people,
not just in their home but in
their schools and their
community.
>> VOLOU: Schools share positive
information with each other
through engaging workshops where
students talk about branching
out as leaders to improve
their schools.
Camp Ramblewood isn't just
for the kids.
The student advisors also gain
valuable information.
>> It's just such a great time.
It's such a good time for
everybody to come together and
share with each other their
successes and things that
they've tried and maybe haven't
worked out that well.
And I think that the idea
sharing is probably one of
the biggest benefits of
the program.
>> VOLOU: Educational leaders
support the camp wholeheartedly.
>> This is a great opportunity
for me as president of the board
to have a little interaction
with some of the kids.
We have 107,000 kids.
I can't get out there and meet
them all, I guess, but these are
great kids.
>> VOLOU: Students find this
experience memorable and
life-changing.
>> You get to meet so many
different people, so many new
friends, and you have such
a great support system
that you don't feel like
embarrassed when you answer
questions, and you don't feel
ashamed because of who you are.
Like you can be who you want
to be and who you are
as yourself.
>> For "BCPS News,"
I'm Khalida Volou.
>> Today's BCPS students,
tomorrow's leaders.
Now let's make a turn and go
around the county where
the students interact with
a hip motivational speaker, and
some kindergartners check out
their local fire station.
But first, the annual
Pinwheels for Peace celebration
makes for a colorful event.
>> REPORTER: Students at
Randallstown Elementary School
celebrated International
Peace Day along with schools
from across the county.
The children made hand-crafted
pinwheels as part of
the Pinwheels for Peace project,
started by teachers to inform
students about the importance
of peace.
>> We talk about words of peace
and what does tolerance mean,
what does harmony mean?
What does it look like when
people are getting along
with one another?
>> REPORTER: Students were given
the opportunity to freely
express their creativity and
define peace in their own way.
>> I colored my pinwheel and I
made some hearts on each side.
I made some pinwheel
smiley faces.
>> REPORTER: However, peace
means more to these kids than
just hearts and peace signs.
>> Peace to me is when everybody
in the world comes together
and respects everybody.
>> REPORTER: As for
Ms. Perlin, she's glad that she
could positively affect
the community.
>> I think everybody wants
peace and that this is a way
that we can make a small
difference in our school
community for peace.
>> For "Around the County,"
I'm Abby Kousouris.
>> REPORTER: Josh Shipp,
a motivational speaker who was
named a CNN "young person
who rocks" and listed on the
Inc. magazine's 30 Under 30
list, recently visited
Kenwood High School, bringing
the power of laughter to inspire
the students and offer healthy
advice that he calls
"in your face but on
your side."
>> He was fantastic.
He connected very well with
the students, and it's hard that
you have someone who can not
only connect to the students but
also make them laugh
and make everyone have
a good time.
>> A few years ago after
college, I decided to form
a secret society.
"Why?" you ask.
Because I have no life.
>> REPORTER: He found what it
takes to turn a mess
into a message.
Shipp uses his experiences
gained through his difficult
childhood to help make
a difference in students' lives.
>> Yeah, you know, I think we
all need these reminders
in life.
We all need to be challenged.
We all need to be putting good
stuff into our mind, so it
reminds us of who we can be.
And, really, my message to
the students was that, you don't
have to be the best, but you
should challenge yourself to be
your best.
Everyone is capable of that,
regardless of their background,
situation, circumstances.
But it's a choice, and so you've
got to choose it and you've got
to choose it every day.
>> For "Around the County,"
I'm Erin Tyszko.
>> REPORTER: Every year, as part
of Fire Prevention Week, very
enthusiastic kindergartners of
Baltimore Highlands Elementary
School have the unique
opportunity to visit with
the English Consul
Fire Department,
to see firsthand what goes on
inside the fire station.
>> Well, my goal with the kids
is to try to teach them how to
get out of a fire and save
their life.
>> REPORTER: The kids spend
the afternoon learning about
fire safety through
demonstrations, watching
informative videos, and talking
with experienced firemen.
>> If we can get the children
when they're young to learn fire
safety, it's very important.
If we save one life, it's well
worth the effort that we put
forth in this program.
>> REPORTER: Public safety
education for the kids is very
important to the community.
>> I think the community right
now is very supportive of our
effort in public safety.
>> REPORTER: Baltimore Highlands
Elementary School no doubt will
continue to benefit from
the program.
For "Around the County,"
I'm Abby Kousouris.
>> Leading by example and doing
what she likes is the
combination that makes one
New Town High School student
driven for success.
Let's take a look.
>> I want to major in biomedical
engineering and I want to become
a doctor.
[ Bell chimes ]
>> MAN: You have an optional
test score submission
if your GPA is 3.5 or higher.
>> REPORTER: Well,
Ebby Inegbenebor won't have
to worry about that,
because she is ranked number one
in her class,
with a GPA of 3.88
and weighted GPA of 5.33.
[ Bell chimes ]
>> What motivates me is that,
in the end, I'm doing what I
like to do while learning, and I
know that I'm bettering myself
and other people around me.
>> I've been in Baltimore County
Public Schools since 1995,
and I can say without a doubt
that she is one of the most
driven students that
I've ever met.
>> She is a student who innately
leads by example.
She actively seeks out ways
to help students
improve their grades,
improve their lives, and simply
empower themselves.
>> REPORTER: Her school work
doesn't end in the classroom.
From Robotics Club, president of
the National Honor Society,
to Maryland State Board
of Education member.
And that's just three of her
many more extracurricular
activities.
How does she do it?
>> INEGBENEBOR: Because time
management has become
my best friend.
[ Bell chimes ]
>> REPORTER: Ebby is a focused
and driven student.
While many seniors may have
a lighter schedule, there's
nothing light about Ebby's.
>> My definition of a great
senior year is doing as much as
I can, while having fun and
doing what I like to do
at the same time.
>> REPORTER: And who will be
fortunate enough to get this
college-bound gem?
JHU or IUP?
Her decision yet to be made,
but we know she will be
successful.
For "BCPS News,"
I'm Khalida Volou.
>> Ebby is definitely on the
right track for a successful
future.
Well, that does it for this
edition of "BCPS News."
If you have any story ideas,
comments, or suggestions,
contact us at...
and follow BCPS on Facebook
and Twitter.
And, as we leave you today,
let's take another look at
the events from Fort Garrison.
Until next time,
I'm Mary Beth Marsden.
Thanks for watching!