Pikesville High - Panther Post
December, 2019, Volume 2
https://pikesvillehs.bcps.org/
General Phone Numbers:
Main 443-809-1217
Fax (Main) 443-809-3009
Cafeteria 443-809-1223
Guidance 443-809-1219
Library 443-809-1231
Principal's Message
Sandra G. Reid
Greetings Pikesville Family,
Our expressed mission is to be the heartbeat of this culturally-diverse community. Here at PHS, we continue to have PRIDE in our work and HONOR for ourselves and others which combine to ensure SUCCESS in cultivating our globally-competitive students. Already at the half-way mark of the second quarter, our committed teaching staff, coupled with our involved parents and families, has afforded us a veritable educational environment of which to be proud. Our School of Excellence continues to thrive with new and successfully-entrenched initiatives, programs, and opportunities designed for our fortunate students.
Thus far, it has been an action-packed year of abundant endeavors and accolades that have been bestowed upon our school. Our school calendar continues to showcase the MANY exciting events!!! THANK YOU for your support of these functions to enrich our school. Your attendance to Fall Sports Awards Ceremony, American Education Week, the fall production of Harvey, monthly PTSA meetings, POPs music concert, as well as our various sporting activities, highlights your regard for our multi-faceted and comprehensive school programs.
As a further update, several of our students will be involved in a Leadership Summit for Young Women and still others will take part in the upcoming BCPS Town Hall meeting. Our students have been exposed to wide array of field trips to supplement their coursework and enrich their studies.
This year, our school has served as an exemplar in our capacity as an AVID Demonstration School. We continue to implement the highly-effective AVID framework as part of our rigorous 21st Century instructional programming that exposes students to essential skills that will serve them well in high school, and beyond. We continue to focus on literacy-based pedagogy that seamlessly infuses technology to engage students and accelerate their skills.
Our students have begun the registration process for next year and are utilizing their devices to obtain information that increases their awareness of the diverse PHS offerings. By so doing, students are better informed and able to create their own educational pathway that enhances their high school experience while advantaging them in their quest on being competitive in obtain post-secondary opportunities. We continue to have "vertical articulation" with our feeder middle and elementary schools to establish educational continuity and celebrate our Pikesville learning community.
PHS ALTRUISM ON DISPLAY
Students continue to show great support of the variety of charitable undertakings we have that involve assisting underprivileged children and their families in our local community. PHS' Medical Explorer's Club, in conjunction with our Pikesville Pantry, is providing assistance to our underprivileged families. Our "Giving Tree" will be located in the Front Office and we are accepting hats/scarves/gloves for those who need them as the weather gets colder. Finally, our COIN WARS has been as a healthy competition between the four grade levels to collect the most money towards holiday meals for local families. We appreciate the thoughtfulness behind aiding others enjoy a happier holiday.
Our future educators, Educators Rising, recently read to first graders at Wellwood Elementary during American Education Week.
GRADE REPORTING
Again, hearty congratulations to the many Panthers who made the first-quarter Honor Roll!! We hope our awardees enjoyed their certificates and token of our appreciation from Chick Fil-A, our business partner, for diligence in being present daily and contributing positively to their academic growth. Our Straight A’s Breakfast, for those students achieving this high honor and their parents, will be held on Tuesday, December 10th at 8:15 a.m. in the school cafeteria.
Second-quarter interims will be distributed on Thursday, December 18th. We look forward to seeing you on from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. that same day for our PTSA Parent-Teacher Conference Night. There, you will have the opportunity to hear from and share with teachers how to sustain and/or promote your child’s academic progress. Please join us for this informative evening that will afford you one-on-one access with your child’s teachers, as we plan and prepare for even better performance results in the upcoming quarters. In between that time, be certain to track your child’s progress regularly via BCPS One where teachers are updating grades and you are actively able to monitor your child's attendance- a major focus of school this year. We want you to feel comfortable speaking with teachers, counselors, our school Social Worker, and administrators about questions and concerns you may have so that we can properly service your child’s specific needs.
PHS HONORS ABOUND
PHS was just recognized by NEWSWEEK Magazine as one of the top 5,000 STEM Schools in the NATION!!
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CONGRATS are extended to Will Knipscher, our STEM DC, for applying for and receiving a notable BGE Teacher Grant to support our STEM-related education.
Several of our esteemed educators were honored this month for their exemplary service. Those recognized included Molly LaBricciosa for being selected to be an AVID National Staff Developer, and Ms. Higgins for receiving the Simon McNeely SHAPE award for excellence in health education.
Congratulations to Doug Kotula, founder of Pikesville Players, as we celebrate 15 years of high-caliber theatrical performances at PHS.
We recognized our own school psychologist, Dr. Karl Fleischer, for his dedicated service to our students, staff, and school.
Our boys’ Cross Country team placed third in the state meet- THE BEST finish in our school’s history.
Our visual arts department showcased the works of our talented Panther artists at Greenwood Mansion.
Our very own Coach Dukes was recognized as “Coaches to Watch” in the November Press box Basketball Preview!!
PARENT SUPPORT
We are humbled by your outpouring of warm and encouraging feedback to our faculty and staff. We work diligently to ensure that we are providing every student a quality education so that they can prosper and achieve. Research continues to validate that family and school are the strongest influences on a child. We strive to be more dedicated in cultivating a solidified home-school connection, as well as facilitating literacy and sound decision making in our adolescents. Know that remaining involved with your child and his/her schooling is a tremendous investment that will reap great dividends. During these dynamic high school years, with the associated dramatic changes that take place, connectedness is of vital importance in realizing school success, building positive character traits, and channeling behaviors in ways that enhance their lives.
On behalf of the entire PHS faculty/staff, enjoy a safe, festive, and fun-filled Thanksgiving. Never doubt that we are grateful and cognizant of the greatness of our esteemed learning community as we work in unison to propel students to their academic success. We duly recognize your dedication to keep our school Panther “PAWsitiveJ,” productive, purposeful, and pupil-centered!!!!
Yours in Education,
Sandra G. Reid
Principal
Pikesville High School
A few of our November Celebrations!
Congratulations to our STELLAR STEM School! We are ranked by Newsweek as one of the top 5,000 schools for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the country. If we consider that there are approximately 26, 407 secondary schools in the nation, this puts us squarely at the top 16% STEM school in the USA!!!!!!!!!! PHS is on the list of top 25 engineering source schools for the A. James Clark School of Engineering at Maryland.
Eastern Tech, Towson High named among Newsweek’s Top 500 STEM High Schools for 2020
TOWSON, MD. – Eastern Technical High School and Towson High School have been named among the nation’s 500 best high schools for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) by Newsweek magazine and STEM.org.
Eastern Tech was ranked 240, and Towson High was ranked 310.
Six other BCPS high schools appeared on Newsweek’s longer Top 5000 STEM High Schools list. Those schools are: Dulaney (1309), Hereford (1717), Western Tech (2559), George Washington Carver Center (2649), Catonsville (3112), and Pikesville (4243).
The rankings were based on qualitative and quantitative data collected from 2015 – 2019 along with additional considerations such as median household income.
CONGRATULATIONS SCHOLARS
J
Malaysia
Owen
CONGRATULATIONS Mrs. Higgins on winning the Simon A. McNeely Award!!!!
Four BCPS teachers awarded Simon A. McNeely Awards
Four Baltimore County Public Schools teachers will be honored with Simon A. McNeely awards from the Maryland Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE). The awards will be presented at the SHAPE Maryland Awards Banquet on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel in Ocean City.
The BCPS honorees are:
- Brian Bandurchin, physical education teacher, Dundalk Middle
- John Bruns, physical education teacher, Lutherville Laboratory
- Christal Higgins, health teacher, Pikesville High
- Ryan Scarfile, physical education teacher, Timonium Elementary
Please join me in congratulating Ms. Labricciosa on her perennial recognition of being named a NATIONAL staff developer for AVID. We are fortunate to have her skills and talents shared with our AVID Panthers in their quest for post- secondary college and career achievement!!!!
Five BCPS educators to serve as national staff developers for 2020 AVID Summer Institutes
TOWSON, MD – Five Baltimore County Public Schools staff members have been selected to serve as national staff developers for 2020 AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Summer Institutes.
As national staff developers, the following BCPS educators will facilitate professional learning strands across the country:
- Michael Barberesi, Supervisor, College and Career Readiness; AVID District Director
- Lesley Beavers, AVID Title I Resource Teacher, College and Career Readiness
- Jessica Cuozzo, AVID Coordinator, Dundalk Middle School
- Molly LaBricciosa, AVID Coordinator, Pikesville High School
- Dr. Heather Wooldridge, Coordinator, College and Career Readiness; AVID Co-District Director
This will be the third year for LaBricciosa, and the first year for Cuozzo and Wooldridge.
AVID National Staff Developers are master practitioners of the AVID College Readiness System, facilitators of adult learning, and ambassadors of year-round AVID.
AVID is a nonprofit organization that changes lives by helping schools shift to a more equitable, student-centered approach. AVID trains 80,000 educators annually to close the opportunity gap, so they can prepare all students for college, careers, and life. More than 7,000 schools rely on AVID to transform the lives of more than 2 million students each year.
Earlier this fall, Pikesville High Principal Sandra Reid was invited to serve on the AVID Principals Network. Earlier this year, New Town and Pikesville high schools were validated as the only two AVID National Demonstration High Schools in Maryland.
Congratulations to our SOM and TOM for December!
Jahbre Crudup, Student of the month!
Tiffani Kenney, Teacher of the Month!
Congratulations on an outstanding performance!
Cast and Crew of Harvey
Congratulations Panther Athletes!
Shout out to all our Fall Athletes who made the all-academic team. Also, did you know, 53% of our students on the honor roll were fall athletes!!
Panther Athletics
Season passes have been adjusted for the winter and spring. You can purchase yours through our online ticket vendor, Ticket Spicket. We offer family passes, individual adult passes, and individual student passes. If you are interested please go to https://events.ticketspicket.com and enter Pikesville.
You can find the schedule for all our teams http://pikesvilleathletics.digitalsports.com. Make sure you sign up for alerts, so you are notified with any changes that are made.
December 2019
12/5 Pikesville Middle School Winter Dance Concert, 7:00 pm, PHS Auditorium
12/7 VPA fundraiser pick up, rooms 163 & 164, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
SAT testing
12/9 Senior Portraits, 2:30 – 9:00 pm, PHS Auditorium lobby
12/10 Straight “A” Breakfast Celebration, 8:15 – 9:10 am, PHS cafeteria
12/12 Panther Showcase
Senior Portraits, 2:30 – 9:00 pm, PHS Auditorium lobby
12/11 Winter Music Festival, 7:00 – 10:00 pm, PHS Auditorium
12/12 PTSA meeting, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Learning Commons
12/13 Winter Pep Rally – PHS staff vs Senator Zirkin’s staff basketball game, 12:40 – 2:00, PHS gym
12/14 ACT Testing
12/16 Winter Music Festival, 7:00 – 10:00 pm, PHS Auditorium
12/19 2nd quarter interims distributed
Parent conferences, 2:30 – 5:00 pm
12/20 Winter Break begins at 2:10 pm
1/2 School reopens
PANTHER SHOWCASE
On December 12th, Pikesville High School will be hosting a Panther Showcase Day for 8th graders at Pikesville Middle. We’ll be sharing a number of our incredible programs like our AP courses, Business, IMP, PLTW, and more! The 8th graders will be given custom tours by and sit in on student panels, run by our very own students! See Mr. Zerfas for more information!
Pikesville’s Interactive Multimedia Program is now accepting applications from 9th graders! Applications were distributed throughout English 9 classes and are due by December 20th. See Mr. Wilson or Mr. Zerfas in room 128 for more information.
Student Parking Regulations 2019 - 2020
A Pikesville High parking sticker is a privilege. Students who purchase permits do so with the understanding that the attached regulations must be followed. Failure to do so may result in the revocation of parking privileges without reimbursement.
Because of extremely limited space, parking permits are available for seniors and juniors.
Students may pick up applications for a parking permit in the main office. A parking space is not guaranteed to a permit holder. Spaces are filled on a first-come-first-served basis. Therefore, students who are driving vehicles are encouraged to arrive early enough to secure a space. Permits are available at the cost of $28.00. Once they are sold, no more will be available.
Only one vehicle per student may be registered. In the event a vehicle other than the one registered is brought on campus, permission must be secured by the administration and/or by the School Resource Officer. Permit’s holder or parent of permit must NOT lend the parking permit to another student.
It is highly recommended that students take care in locking their vehicles and securing any valuable items. PHS cannot be responsible for lost items.
When registering vehicles the following information is needed:
Name of student
Make, model and year of vehicle
License (tag) number
Copy of registration card
Copy of insurance card
· Students may only park in the back 2 sections of the parking lot (furthest from the school). Illegal/unauthorized parking can be ticketed by Baltimore County Police.
· There is no student parking in the bus lane, the faculty parking lot and other assigned spaces or behind the building at any time.
· Student vehicles are subject to regulations set forth in the Student Behavior Handbook.
· All vehicles must be in compliance with all Maryland traffic and vehicle laws.
· Students must be licensed drivers at time of application.
· Students may not transfer, sell, or give away permits which are issued to their vehicle.
· PHS reserves the right to revoke your parking permit, if any of the guidelines have been violated.
Student parking payments can now be made online via OSP.
Parents can visit the PHS website- parent section- payment portal (or use the direct link below).
Wellness Corner - Maureen McGuire (School Social Worker)
As we look towards the holiday season, I am once again stuck by how early “Christmas” decorations come out and how Diversity and Inclusive are expressed or not expressed all around us. Here at Pikesville, we have an ornate tapestry of youth and teachers coming from different experiences of race, religion or not, LGBTQ+ status, abilities and more. Learning to live and work together can take some effort and as I like to say, nurturing. We all have biases whether we are aware or not and it is important to continuously work to understanding one another. We must do so to be successful and raise healthy teens who can navigate the wide range of people they will come across in life. Pikesville has immeasurable opportunities to understand “another”, here is a brief article for family reflection. Enjoy Winter Break Everyone!
T'is the Season
Look what MARD and NHS are doing!
Casey Cares/Kami's Jammies
MRAD, in conjunction with NHS, is sponsoring a pajama drive for Casey Cares/Kami’s Jammies again this year. Bring in a pair/some pairs of new pajamas and you will receive a coupon from Chic Fil A and an invitation to an after-school appreciation party featuring food from Chic Fil A at the end of the year. We collected 25 pairs last year, and we expect to at least double that this year.
Snug as a bug in a rug
Inspired in memory of a Casey Cares child, The Kami's Jammies program provides children with some extra comfort. Kamryn was a frequent, overnight hospital patient who bravely battled leukemia. She felt special when she wore a new pair of pajamas in place of hospital gowns. For Kami, who had a flair for fashion, passing this symbol of joy and normalcy onto other critically ill children is her legacy.
2020-2021 BCPS School Calendar
Earlier this month, the Board of Education of Baltimore County adopted the calendar for the 2020-2021 school year.
- For the 2020-2021 school year, teachers will report back to work on Monday, August 31, 2020.
- The first day for students will be Tuesday, September 8, 2020.
- Spring Break will be from Monday, March 29, 2021, through Monday, April 5, 2021.
- If no emergency closure days occur, the school year will end for students on Friday, June 18, 2021.