BCPS News 2-27-12

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>> Hi, and welcome to this
edition of "BCPS News."
I'm Mary Beth Marsden.
On today's show, we'll check out
students getting physical,
a design for printing,
and a civics initiative.
All this and more, but first,
let's check out what's trending.
The Technology and Engineering
Educators Association of
Maryland recently honored
Deep Creek Middle School with
its Program of Excellence award.
The project Lead the Way
Gateway to Technology program
was introduced in 2007, which is
a national initiative that uses
a project-based curriculum to
engage middle school students in
technology and engineering
by reinforcing problem-solving
skills, teamwork, and
innovation.
The program at Deep Creek serves
more than 300 7th- and 8th-grade
students.
In addition, administrators and
faculty have helped the program
grow in other Maryland schools.
Recently, strong scores at a
regional competition held at
Dudalk High School allowed
161 BCPS students representing
19 high school to qualify to
compete at the statewide Future
Business Leaders of America
conference.
At the competition, students
participated in online events
that included accounting, a
virtual business challenge,
cyber-security, and emerging
business issues.
Students who qualify at the
state level of the FBLA
competition in April will then
move on to the national
conference in San Antonio,
Texas.
Kingsville Elementary School is
among 26 BCPS schools to
participate in the 5th-grade
Ballroom Stars dance program.
Since last year, the interest in
the program has doubled, sparked
by such television shows,
of course, like,
"So You Think You Can Dance" and
"Dancing with the Stars."
During this week-long event,
students learn the merengue,
tango, swing, and cha-cha from
professional dance instructors.
As part of the physical
education curriculum, students
are also gaining multiple
lessons about respect,
self-esteem, and
skills-building.
Stay with us.
There's more to come.
>> Whatcha doin', Dad?
>> My favorite thing.
>> Really, Dad, what are you
doing?
>> Paying bills.
Every month, a stack of 'em
come, just as regular as rain.
>> What's this one?
>> That's a special one, son.
I pay it first.
>> How come?
>> It's money for my retirement
account.
I put some money aside each
month, just like I was
paying a bill.
>> Wouldn't you rather buy
something?
>> I don't want to work forever,
and I don't want you to have to
support me in my old age.
In a way, I'm buying
peace of mind.
I'm on the installment plan.
>> Welcome back.
As everyone knows, getting in
the best physical condition is a
goal for people of all ages.
One BCPS high school seems to
know the secret.
Let's take a look.
>> REPORTER: The weight room at
Dulaney High School is the
source of great pride at the
school, and even more so after
Dulaney was recognized
as the National High School of
the Year for 2011 by
Bigger Faster Stronger.
>> I think it's a huge tribute
to the commitment that the kids
have put in and, you know, the
commitment that the other
coaches have put in,
to, you know, fully dedicate
themselves to this program.
>> REPORTER: Bigger Faster
Stronger is a weight-training
and conditioning program in use
in all 24 high schools in
Baltimore County.
The program certifies teachers
and coaches in proper weight
training techniques, ensuring
consistent instruction
throughout the county.
>> WOMAN: It's very consistent
for the students.
They know what the expectations
are, and when they come in,
whether they're in there for
physical education or they're
there for athletics, they have
established those expectations,
so the benefit is, everyone is
doing the same approach.
At Dulaney, those proper
techniques are taught to
students in physical education
classes, members of Lions
sports teams,
and in the BFS club.
>> The BFS program focuses on
breaking records every week, so
you're really able to build up a
lot of strength over the years.
>> REPORTER: In the program,
students establish a baseline
of fitness and then track their
progress as they get stronger
and faster, setting new personal
records, but the
improvements do not stop there.
>> I'd say it's made me work a
lot harder in the class,
because I come in here,
I see how hard everyone's
working, so that makes me want
to work hard in here, and I
carry that over
into the classroom.
>> I think it's beneficial to
maybe make your overall
well-being better and to make
you more confident in yourself.
>> REPORTER: That commitment to
the benefits of BSF from
teachers, coaches, and
the students is what made
Dulaney stand out.
>> I believe the work ethic of
coaches and teachers that are
willing to come together and try
and implement a program that
allows for all students to
benefit, both in PE and
athletics, and they've really
taken the time and effort to do
that as a staff, so they're a
very good example of a unified
program.
>> Keep up the good work.
For more information, visit
biggerfasterstronger.com.
Now, in honor of Black History
Month, students at Mars Estates
Elementary School are taking
part in a program called
"Freedom's Feast."
>> REPORTER: Freedom's Feast
helps families discover new ways
to celebrate major American
holidays.
>> WOMAN: Freedom's Feast is
a civics initiative that helps
children and their families and
educators visit the essential
purpose of each of these
holidays, so that we can do a
better job of raising the next
generation of citizens.
>> REPORTER: For the students of
Mars Estates, Freedom's Feast
helped them take a closer look
at Martin Luther King Jr. Day
and how ordinary citizens
changed the course of history.
>> WOMAN: The purpose, I think,
was for the students to kind of
make connections to the
civil rights movement, to really
kind of relate to the experience
that students their own age may
have gone through, what it would
be like to live in a different
era, and how far we've come and
what our school looks like
today.
>> REPORTER: Many of the program
lessons are called "ceremonies,"
drawing attention to the fact
that these special days mean so
much more than a day off from
school.
These holidays are important to
our nation's history.
>> GIRL: Segregation was
a part of our history.
And that segregation wasn't
the right thing to do.
People were just courageous
enough to do things
for their rights.
>> REPORTER: The MLK ceremonies
are often accompanied by
activities like "Create a
Keepsake" that further enhance
their learning experience and to
inspire civic responsibility.
For the students,
Freedom's Feast is a powerful
learning experience.
>> BOY: I feel that's fair
and equal rights, because
there's equal amount of blacks,
whites, and Spanish in the
school.
And they're all friends.
Everyone's together.
Yeah.
>> Young people can change
the world.
And that's who started it,
was people not much older
than -- not much older than you.
>> REPORTER: For "BCPS News,"
I'm Brionne Richburg.
>> And for more information on
this valuable program, go to
freedomsfeast.us.
So, buckle your seatbelts, and
let's take a trip 100 years
into the future to see how some
kindergartners are celebrating
their 100th day in school,
as we go around the county.
>> REPORTER: On the 100th day of
the school year at Pot Spring
Elementary School, 100-year-old
kindergartners
invaded the classrooms.
>> Today, we've gotten the
children together as a group of
kindergartners to celebrate
our 100th day.
So we've all dressed as though
we're 100 years old to see what
we're going to look like when
we're 100, and we're doing
activities collectively in the
cafeteria to celebrate
our 100th day.
>> REPORTER: And in each
activity, 100 was
the key number.
>> It's important for the
children to develop their number
sense.
It's a perfect opportunity for
them to work together in groups
and move through stations and
work on their tens, counting by
tens, counting by ones,
counting, doing activities,
manipulating different things
that collectively equal 100.
>> REPORTER: For the kids, this
was not a typical school day.
>> The kids are having a ball.
They are just so spirited.
They come to school full of
excitement and ready.
They are so excited to be
together with their other
kindergarten classmates,
as well.
>> REPORTER: Good job,
kindergartners,
on the 100th day
of school, and counting.
>> Although texting, tweeting,
and other electronic gadgets
have changed our way of
communicating, print design is
still an important business.
Let's find out how one BCPS
school is trying to get their
students ready for college and
the working world, as we get
in focus.
>> MAN: You guys are going to
start by creating a senior
sticker.
I want a Class of 2012 sticker.
>> REPORTER: Students at
Kenwood High School are getting
an invaluable opportunity.
>> I want to use -- we did it a
couple of years ago.
We'll use it as a fundraiser.
We can be able to sell it
around the school to the
seniors.
>> REPORTER: They are afforded
the opportunity to gain
real-world experience right in
the classroom.
>> MAN: It shows employers that
they have a basic foundation of
skills they need to enter the
printing industry.
Also, it prepares the kids
to go into four-year
or two-year colleges.
We have an articulation
agreement with CCBC which allows
the kids to earn up to six
credits.
>> REPORTER: This nationally
accredited program allows these
students to create a variety of
print materials for the school
and for other local
organizations.
>> I want to be an interior
designer, so if I'm going to be
able to create stuff,
I have to have some type
of artistic abilities.
>> REPORTER: It may be
challenging at times, but these
students are focused
on the task at hand.
>> Well, at first, it is
difficult just to learn the
programs, the software, but in
the end, it all pays off,
because once you know how, and
the way Mr. Roeder teaches,
it's very beneficial to learn
what you need to learn to get
where you need to go.
>> ROEDER: We've had a lot of
success stories from our
program, especially in the last
six or seven years.
We've had several students get
scholarships.
We had one student get a full
scholarship to Towson
University.
We've had several students go
through CCBC and successfully
articulate credits and then
transfer into other institutions
in the state, and we've had some
students go as far as down to
Florida to Full Sail University,
which is specific to media
and design.
>> REPORTER: This program allows
these students to work on
valuable skills that industry
wants them to have.
>> That does it for this edition
of "BCPS News."
If you have any story ideas,
comments, or suggestions,
contact us at
edchannel@bcps.org.
And follow BCPS
on Facebook and Twitter.
As we leave you today, let's
take another look at some
future dancing stars.
Until next time,
I'm Mary Beth Marsden.
Thanks for watching.
[ Tango plays ]
[ Swing plays ]
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Glaucoma is the leading cause of
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And what about my kids?
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Not to mention my risk factor.
I'm really concerned, and I need
some answers.
>> Call...
or go to AHAF.org for answers,
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