Panther Post
Pikesville High School Newsletter | April 2017
From the Principal's Desk
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Greetings Pikesville Family,
Happy Spring! What an exciting year we continue to have as we work to enhance, redefine, and transform our teaching and learning practices for the betterment of all of our students. Daily, we endeavor to enrich students’ existing reading, writing, critical-thinking, organizational, technological, interpersonal, and speaking skills in classes to better prepare them for current academic demands, as well as post-secondary pursuits.
GRADE REPORTING
It is difficult to believe that the third quarter ended on March 31st. Report cards will be delivered to students on April 20th at the end of the day, so please look out for them. PTSA Teacher-Parent Conferences will be held for seniors only on April 27th and on May 18th for underclassmen. We continue to strongly urge that you regularly access information regarding your child’s school performance via BCPS One. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teachers, counselor, and/or administrator with any appreciations, concerns, or questions.
PRIDE, HONOR, SUCCESS
· Kudos to Mr. Dave Kreller, our School to Career Coordinator and PHS’ Teacher of the Year whose impressive work with students has afforded him the opportunity to now be recognized as one of only five FINALISTS for BCPS’ prestigious TEACHER OF THE YEAR recognition!
· Thank you to the many who came to our Night of Innovation which was a showcase of a portion of our exciting, competitive, and innovative programs.
· We congratulate Mr. Scott Nichols who will now serve as the Technology Education Supervisor for MSDE. We appreciate his service to PHS and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors.
· Abundant appreciation is extended to our esteemed PTSA for orchestrating an informative assembly for our juniors and seniors on Thursday, April 6th to hear a potentially life-saving Shock Trauma presentation on distracted driving.
· Spring sports have begun and we encourage all student athletes to have fun and stay safe as they represent and promote PHS’ sports programs throughout the county this season.
· Compliments to the talented cast and performers of The Return of the Wiz, this year’s spring musical, which was high-energy entertainment for all who were fortunate to attend.
· Felicitations go out to our very own Josie Shaffer '18, whose name will be forwarded to Governor Hogan for approval to serve as the only Student Member of the Board of Education for all of BCPS. In this capacity, Josie will represent the 112,000 students in our county. We are immensely proud and wish her continued success.
· Continued “Cheers” to our DECA Club that was instituted this year at PHS for the first time and has already become on the largest in BCPS, as well as a recognized and award-winning club where students even qualified for national competition. DECA is an international association of high school and college students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service.
· Thank yous are in order to Nurse Merani, our staff, and students who took part in the empowering and inspirational Second Annual Disability Awareness Day. Earlier this month she along with Kory Chase, Social Worker, participated in an instructive substance abuse symposium hosted by our PTSA which provided a myriad of resources and riveting guest speakers.
· We are so proud of the Multiculturally Rising above Differences (MRAD) Club and advisor Ms. Bailey who recently received a Resolution from Dr. Delegate Jalisi. Also present to give encouragement were Delegates Shelly Hettlemen and Dan Morhaim. MRAD was additionally recognized by Senator Bobby Zirkin in Annapolis last week. This honor is a result of MRAD’s quality programs designed to cultivate a continued cohesive environment with the many diverse cultures represented in our school.
· Our music department received impressive scores at recent county-wide assessments.
· Congrats to our entire Model UN delegation who recently represented Pikesville High School. In NY, our student delegates had a memorable experience. Students were engaged in their committee sessions and some helped draft resolutions that were adopted by their committee. Jesse Anderson and Matthew Eisenberg were chosen from their committee to deliver remarks at the closing ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters to all the conference attendees We are very proud of our model students who have broadened their educational experience in these meaningful ways.
We applaud you, our important stakeholders, for playing an active role in supporting the education of your child. Thank you for your ongoing advocacy of PHS- Home of Panther Pride, Honor, and Success. Be reminded that Spring Break begins at the close of April 7th and ends when students return to school on Tuesday, April 18th.
Yours in Education,
Sandra G. Reid
Josie Shaffer '18
Model UN
MRAD
Important Dates to Remember
April 5 SAT and STEM Day
April 6 AVID celebrations 6:30-8:30pm
April 20 Report Card Distribution | PTSA meeting at 7pm
April 22 Junior Prom 7-10:30pm
April 25 National Honor Society 6:30-9pm
April 27 STEM Fair, Nigh of Innovation 6-8pm
April 28 AVID Signing 8-9:30pm
May 19 Senior Award program 8am
May 23 Senior Picnic 10:30am-12:30pm
May 25 Senior Prom
May 30 Graduation 2:30pm
PHS Places 3rd at Chemathon
On Saturday, February 25, 2017, Pikesville High placed third overall and won first in the poster event at the Chemathon hosted by Dulaney HS.
Teacher of the Year
Principal of the Year
SCHOOL COUNSELING
Seniors: please be sure to look for scholarships in Naviance, and complete your local scholarship (including bringing a resume to the school counseling office) by March 27. If you have not completed your FAFSA yet, please get it done. Even though you have missed the deadline for state aid, the federal deadline (which affects loans) is June 30. Please don’t wait until you see your tuition bill to file your FAFSA. Call 800-4-FED-AID if you need assistance.
Juniors: Ms. LaVaute has been diligently meeting with students – individually, in small groups, and with parents – to identify post-secondary goals and discuss individually appropriate steps to achieving those goals. Please reach out to Ms. LaVaute if you have questions about the process. Save June 22-23 for the BCPS College Application Boot Camp. More information will be available in May.
Sophomores and Freshmen: time is of the essence to get your grades where you want them to be, so you don’t have much catching-up to do in 11th grade to make your GPA within range of your goals. Remember: while a D is the minimum to earn credits in classes, most scholarships go to students who have earned As and Bs throughout their high school careers. Your time is better spent studying and reading than instagramming, snapchatting, or talking about your peers. You are the only one that you’re responsible for. You only get one chance at high school. Make it count!
Jeremy Goldman, NCC
School Counseling Department Chair
Pikesville High School
410-887-1219
http://www.BaltCoSchoolCounselors.org
Twitter: @PHSCouns
We are bringing back Purple Friday! Please show your PHS pride and wear purple on Fridays.
Important Dates for the Class of 2017
AP Exams – May 1, 2017 thru May 12, 2017
Senior Awards Program, May 19, 2017 at 8:00AM
Senior Exams – May 15th thru May 18th
Senior Exams Make-Up Day is May 19th in the afternoon
Ticket/Cap and Gown distribution – May 18th from 10:45AM – 11:45AM
Graduation Rehearsal (required) May 23rd from 9:30AM – 11:00 AM in the Gym
Senior Picnic May 23rd from 11:30 – 1:30 in the stadium
Senior Prom – May 25, 2017 from 8:00pm to midnight
Last Day for Seniors – May 26, 2017
Commencement – Tuesday, May 30th at 2:30pm at Towson University
News from the English Department
The English Department is working hard to prepare for a successful conclusion to the third quarter! The English 10 team has been preparing students for the PARCC exam in May while the English 11 team is continuing to prepare students for the SAT exam on April 5. We hope that you were able to join us for The Return of the Wiz. Mr. Kotula and the Pikesville Players worked hard to prepare for this event and several English department members were featured.
Social Studies
The Social Studies Department is helping students in preparation of the Baltimore County Bar Association Law Day Essay contest.
In Mr. Goodman’s class, the students have been working on 21st century skills by using their devices to create cartoons and blogs as assessment products.
In Mr. Babcock’s AP World History class, students were given a project that requires them to research and create a collage of images and written responses dealing with the “Age of Anxiety” the time period between World War I and World War Two. Topics include: Artistic changes (example Picasso); Scientific Paradigms (example Quantum Mechanics); Emergent Epidemic Disease (example 1918 Flu Epidemic); Style of Architecture (example Art Deco); Popular Culture (example Movies/Jazz); and Economics (Example The New Deal).
In Mr. Parsons’ World History class, students will be learning about World War II and in American Government students will begin Unit 6- Public Issues and Policies.
This is a reminder that if your child is a 9th grader or will need to retake the Government H.S.A. exam, it is right around the corner and will be here in no time. Please see Mr. Parsons or email him at sparsons@bcps.org for access to H.S.A. review materials and put in the subject line “HSA Government Review.” Thank you!
Changes in Required Science Courses
Changes to the Science Course Sequence and Graduation Requirements
Some very big changes are coming to the science courses offered in Baltimore County and the graduation requirements. Incoming freshman (class of 2021) will be the first graduating class under the new MSDE Science graduation requirements. The new courses are aligned with the new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), http://www.nextgenscience.org/. For more about NGSS and MSDE click on the following link: http://mdk12.msde.maryland.gov/instruction/curriculum/science/.
Here is a summary of the changes of the course graduation requirements for science:
Current Graduation Course Requirements
(for students in classes of 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020)
Biology
2 other science courses
New Graduation Course Requirements
(for students in the class of 2021 and beyond)
Earth Systems
Living Systems
Integrated Physics and Chemistry (1 class) OR Chemistry AND Physics (2 classes)
At Pikesville, and across the county, all incoming freshman in the 2017-18 school year will be enrolled in Earth Systems. Students have their remaining three years of high school to pass Living Systems and Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) OR Living Systems, Chemistry AND Physics. We will continue to offer our current selection of science electives and Advanced Placement classes as long as there is sufficient enrollment in the classes.
Course descriptions of the new science courses being offered as a part of the shift to the Next Generation Science Standards are available online in the 2017-2018 Student Registration Handbook published by BCPS:
Earth Systems
Earth Systems is a complex, problem based course designed to investigate processes that operate on Earth and also address its place in the universe. Earth consists of a set of systems - atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere - that are intricately interconnected. Students will explore how small changes, including human impact, in one part of one system can have large and sudden consequences in parts of other systems or have no effect at all.
Living Systems
Living Systems is a problem based course designed to investigate the relationships between organisms. The study of life ranges from single molecules, through organisms and ecosystems, to the entire biosphere and its history that is all life on Earth. Students in this course explore the interconnected and interacting components of life.
Integrated Physics and Chemistry
Integrated Physics and Chemistry is a complex, problem based course designed to investigate how systems or processes depend on physical and chemical sub processes. To understand the physical and chemical basis of a system, one must consider the structure of matter at the atomic and subatomic scale and discover how it influences the system's larger scale structures, properties, and function. The goal is to help students evaluate the mechanisms of cause and effect in all systems.
The Medical Explorers Club (MEC)
- Meets on Wednesdays in Room 104 (Ms. Byrd’s classroom) from 2:10-3:15pm
- New members are always welcome.
- If you have any questions, please contact Morgan Suchin on the Medical Explorers Club Facebook Page.
The Medical Explorers Club was started a year ago to educate Pikesville High students about the boundless and exciting opportunities in the health care field. This is the second year Pikesville High School is sponsoring a club promoting future careers and personal stories in health care. MEC will be broadening the pool of speakers this year to allow students the opportunity to not only explore traditional medicine, but homeopathic medicine, integrative alternatives such a herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, biofeedback, yoga, and stress reduction techniques, animal and music therapy, and non-profit health organizations, as well as personal stories that can educate the members regarding their health. This year, we have exciting presentations on nutrition, cancer survivors, doctors, nurses, physician assistants, OT, PT, medical researchers, dentists, veterinarians, dermatology, plastic surgery, and so much more. MEC will also be dissecting pigs in March and will have a simulation day with medical students and residents. There will be different scenarios, such as CPR or an allergic reaction and we will practice what to do. MEC will also be working in the community with a food donation day. The Medical Explorers Club welcomes anyone interested in health care, or wants to learn more about various organizations, researchers, and field specialties.
Congratulations to It's Academic!
Congratulations to the It's Academic Team, for their fantastic win, which aired on March 25 at 10:00am on WJZ TV. If you missed it, take a look at the video below.
The following participants, as well as other members of the club, worked diligently to prepare. TV Team: Matt E., Zach L., Myshko C.. Alternates: Ori R. and Eddie F.
Pikesville Players
We hope you got a chance to ease on down the road with the Pikesville Player's as they went somewhere over the rainbow in The Wiz! Our performers did a superb job.
Meltzer's Media Minutes
There has been much excitement in the library media center thus far in this amazing school year. Our circulation rates continue to increase from previous years and students are not wasting any time with our new books, which have just been added for this school year. Students can browse our latest additions by clicking on the following link: https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/1215/ and then logging in.
Our library “regulars” had an incredible time unpacking this year’s additions which included 106 books in the first delivery. We expect 58 more titles to arrive shortly and we have also added 35 eBooks to our digital collection. Some of the most popular titles include Andy Weir's The Martian and Jenny Nordberg's Girls of Kabul.
In April we look forward to School Library Appreciation Month. During April, students will be able to participate in several engaging activities in the library during lunch shifts, online through social media and after school. A calendar of the events will be available in the next couple weeks and will be shared during homeroom.
You are encouraged to follow the Pikesville High School library on Twitter at @PHS_Library.
AVID
You're Invited!
April 6 Avid End of Year Celebration 6:30pm | View invitation
April 28 Avid Senior Signing at 8am | View invitation
Take our AVID QUIZ for incoming 9th Graders QUIZ!Sandra Reid thought she was going to a meeting...
Our latest Deliberate Excellence blog post shares more details about these wonderful honors for Team BCPS staff.
The Health Suite
Reminder: All medicines that a student carries with them, either OTC or prescription, must have a doctor's order. Nurse Merani has plenty of OTC medicine should your child need it throughout the day, and students are welcome to stop in.
SMOKING CESSATION GROUP
Nurse Merani, in conjunction with the Caron Group, is interested in starting an 8-week smoking cessation group. The dynamics of the group include games, strategies and much more on peer pressure and triggers associated with smoking (or any addictive type substance).
Please email Nurse Merani with questions or interest. The group will start in Mid February.
If you would like your BMI glucose and cholesterol checked for free, Nurse Merani will set you up for a free biometrical screening!
Yearbook News
Time is running out if you haven’t ordered your 2017 yearbook yet. Go to www.jostensyearbooks.com or click on the yearbook icon on the pikesvillehs.bcps.org website’s home page.
Parents of Seniors
There is still time to recognize your graduating senior in a personalized recognition ad. Download the form HERE
Community News
For more information, click on the links below
Students select Pikesville High junior for student member of the Board of Education
Congratulations to Josie Shaffer, '18, who was nominated as the finalist for the Board of Education slot, waiting on governor confirmation.
Pikesville Rec Council Spring Schedules
Everything from ballet, lacrosse, and chess, to Hebrew and Spanish immersion classes.
4front is Baltimore’s new open channel to high-school-age Jewish teens. We connect, collaborate, influence, and enact positive change and innovation.
Pikesville High School Vision
Pikesville High, the heartbeat of our culturally-diverse community, is where pride in our work, and honor for ourselves and others, combine to ensure success in cultivating our globally-competitive students.
About Us
Assistant Principals
Grade 12: Ms. Alison Becker abecker2@bcps.org
Grade 11: Mr. Adam Carney acarney@bcps.org
Grade 10: Ms. Alice Burke aburke@bcps.org
Other Important Numbers:
Main Number: 410-887-1217
Guidance: 410-887-1219
Nurse: 410-484-4795
Athletic Director: 410-887-1257
Email: pmichalski@bcps.org
Website: http://pikesvillehs.bcps.org/
Location: 7621 Labyrinth Road, Pikesville, MD 21208, United States
Phone: 410-887-1217
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pikesvillehighschool/
Twitter: @PikesvilleHS