CHS March Newsletter
A way for families to connect with CHS & The Community
It's Interim Time! Q3 Interims are happening now.
Interims - March 1
Interim grades are available to view in Schoology now which means we are mid way through Quarter 3! Students receiving a ‘D’ or ‘E’ in courses during the marking period are encouraged to meet with their teacher(s) for academic support and speak with their school counselor about other resources that may be available. If a student has 2 E's from Q1 and Q2 they must pass Q3 & Q4, ideally with a D and C minimum.
BCPS encourages families to set up daily or weekly “Parent Digest” notifications from Schoology to monitor your student’s activity in each class. Directions for setting up notifications can be found here.
FOCUS and Schoology are the tools BCPS has for students and parents to stay up to date on student grades, attendance, schedules and allows access to online report cards. It is important for families to not wait for the report cards to check in about grades, you can check daily or weekly. Information about Accessing FOCUS is below.
Please reach out if you need support getting linked to FOCUS: https://forms.gle/SttEsf8QMLijKRCp6
BCPS Climate Survey
Please take a few minutes to fill out the BCPS Climate survey to share your perceptions and experiences with BCPS. Survey open through March 8, 2024. This survey is for all stakeholders: parents/caregivers, students grades 3-12, community members and staff.
Changes to the CCBC Early College Access Program
Tuition Free Program at CCBC
The BCPS Tuition Free Program covers tuition, fees, and books for students in 11th and 12th grades who have met College and Career Readiness Standards, as outlined in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, for up to four credit-bearing courses or four courses leading to industry credentials at CCBC or other local Maryland universities during the spring and fall semesters. While the program previously provided all secondary students with unlimited access to CCBC courses, changes have been made to better align this program with Blueprint requirements and to ensure students are prepared to successfully complete college coursework. These updates to the Tuition Free Program go into effect at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year. Courses taken prior to the 2024-2025 school year will not count towards the four free courses available to students who have met the College and Career Readiness Standards.
Students who have not met College and Career Readiness Standards, as outlined in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, are still eligible to take courses at CCBC at a reduced cost of 50 percent per course. Students will pay for the necessary fees and books.
BCPS will also pay for any fees, other than tuition and books, for eligible students who are taking coursework at CCBC or local Maryland universities. For more information on the Tuition Free Program at CCBC, visit the website.
March 1 - Interims
March 23rd- April 1st - Schools closed for students and staff, Spring Break.
April 2nd - Schools reopen
April 5th - Quarter 3 ends.
Career Program Spotlight
BGE Field Trip
The PLTW Engineer students attended a Program to discover rewarding careers in Energy! They learned about the industry that powers the country, protects our nation’s resources and makes a difference in communities through electric, natural gas, nuclear, and renewable energy.
CHS students competed against each other and Loyola Blakefield to create an energy house. They learned about efficiency, conservation, and economic returns by using various materials to insulate a cardboard house and then test its efficiency. CHS students won this competition across multiple schools public and private!!
Teachers:
Mr. Kwaw -Technology Education
Mrs. Palmer - Magnet Coordinator
CHS Student Abel hard at work!
PLTW Engineering Competition
Teamwork makes the dream work!
Class updates!
All classes collect dues each year to support yearly class events and to prepare for prom and senior year events. Each student is expected to pay $15 per year they attend CHS. This money is going directly to their class fund to reduce costs to students for thing like prom and other CHS events. Links to make payment can be found below.
Senior Class - 2024
Class Dues Payment Link: https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/EI584-VAR19
Class Advisors' emails:
Donald Stepney - dstepney@bcps.org
Courtney Rohde - crohde@bcps.org
Please reach out to advisors with any Class Specific Questions.
All seniors are required to fill out the Graduation Survey linked in their Naviance account. See your counselor with any questions.
Senior Inauguration was held on Feb15th
Shout out to Ms. Rhode, Mr. Stepney and Ms. Furst for a wonderful celebration of our seniors and their families. We loved the performances and time together, pledging to continue working hard toward graduation.
Senior Signature Banner
Student Performances
Student Performances
Order Cap and Gowns NOW!
Financial Aid Support for Seniors
Parent University In The Know: FAFSA Simplification Facts and Tips Podcast
Be in the know as it relates to FAFSA Simplification facts and tips! Join Mark Gay, Director of the Office of the Financial Aid at the Community College of Baltimore County, as he shares updates to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid also known as the FAFSA and offers tips to successfully navigate the financial aid process.
Need Help with your FAFSA?
Any senior needing help completing the 24/25 FAFSA should reach out to Ms. Arrowood, our college and career counselor, at earrowood@bcps.org. If you are planning to attend in the state of Maryland, you should also be setting up a MDCAPS account to see if there are additional state scholarships and grants available. Learn more here: https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/osfamdcapslive.aspx
Junior Class - 2025
Class Dues Payment Link: https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/EI584-VAR23
Class Advisors' emails:
Tara Funkhouser - tfunkhouser@bcps.org
Jennifer Dyke - Jdyke@bcps.org
Please reach out to advisors with any Class Specific Questions.
College Readiness scores will be important in identifying students' eligibility for ECAP Classes with CCBC. Student success on Standardized State Tests and the SATs will have a direct impact on their opportunities. Please encourage your students to give their best efforts when participating!
SATs
The SATs will be given, free of charge, to all BCPS juniors on March 19th in the morning. It is imperative that students arrive to school on time and ready to test (with their devices!). Mr. Adcock and Ms. Andrucyk will host SAT prep sessions during lunches leading up to the 19th on A days (except Fridays). Students can "sign-up" to receive lunch passes during the morning on A days outside of the library.
Interested in taking the ACT?
This year, BCPS is providing students with an opportunity to take the ACT in Grade 11 or 12 at no cost. Students will be provided with a pre-paid, one-time voucher that they will use when they register for the ACT. ACT is a national administration given on Saturday at multiple locations (ACT Test Center Locator). Students may request a voucher from Ms. Arrowood the college and career counselor.
SAT Prep Sessions Happening now!
Check in with Mr. Adcock to join other juniors preparing for the SATs! Read the information below to get additional help in school and at home.
Juniors interested in going to Virginia Tech...Check this out!
Must be in the 2025 graduating class & have a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA. Visit https://pamplin.vt.edu/deib/programs/pip.html for more info!
Sophomore Class - 2026
Class Dues Payment Link: https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/EI584-227
Class Advisors' emails:
Jillian Ganley - jganley@bcps.org
Sarah Miller - smiller18@bcps.org
Please reach out to advisors with any Class Specific Questions.
The class of 2026 will be continuing to make CHS spirit and personalized bracelets. Contact Ms. Miller or Ms. Ganley if you would like one.
Our Spring Fundraiser is Discounted Hershey Park Tickets! See the CHS Events section below for more information.
Freshman Class - 2027
Class Dues Payment Link: https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/EI584-228
Class Advisors' emails:
Shaun Downey - sdowney2@bcps.org
Lindsay Withrow - lwithrow@bcps.org
Please reach out to advisors with any Class Specific Questions.
CHS Events
Honor Induction Ceremony - March 7th
We invite families to join us in celebrating all our Honor Roll Inductees on March 7th at 6pm in the CHS Auditorium.
Chesapeake Festival of the Arts - March 14th
We welcome all community members to join us to celebrate the art (and music) of our local elementary, middle and high schools.
College and Career Fair - March 15th
On Friday, March 15th (B-Day) from 8am – 10:30am CHS will be hosting our annual College and Career Fair. This year we have over 50 participants and the diversity of college / career opportunities is the best we’ve ever had. If you are looking for a summer job or just trying to explore options for your future, this is an opportunity you don't want to miss. See the list below for those that are slotted to attend!
Hershey Park Ticket Fundraiser
The Class of 2026 is selling discounted Hershey Park Tickets now through March 18th. You will save $38.80 off gate price if you purchase through CHS! Reach out to Ms. Miller, smiller18@bcps.org or Ms. Ganley, jganley@bcps.org with any questions.
ASVAB Testing April 30th
Any students, grades 10-12, interested in a career in the military should sign up to take the ASVAB, here at CHS, on April 30th at 8am. The ASVAB, short for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, is a multiple choice test, administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. This does not mean you are enlisting but would rather show you opportunities you would qualify for should you decide to.
You must pre-register in order to participate. Make sure you are logged into your BCPS google account to complete the registration form at: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=3cPDSRs_g0GOdLONSDpa_ch30nNPc7xGk3TdbdujGA5UNkNRVUdWMUxBNEE3RjBMWlZGNEZDMlZEOC4u
To prepare, you can also access study materials online at: https://www.asvabpracticetests.com/asvab-free-online-study-guide/
If you have any questions, please see Ms. Withrow in the counseling office.
Diversity Day - April 30th
Join us in a celebration of all cultures that represent the student body of CHS. If you would like to help educate others on your culture and heritage, please fill out this form to participate: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmpC9n8uqwviJgSM4uxCTyGfMDTPaQWfIO4nFPvuZ6SbxmEA/viewform
See Sr. Jay with any questions or email him at jjay@bcps.org
Descendants The Musical - May 16 & 18
Support The Descendants Musical
Thank you to those of you that have already sent in supplies/donations in support of the Musical! Your contributions are directly helping students and helping us put all the pieces together. We are adding items to our Wish List daily and appreciate any support you are willing to give.
Amazon Wishlist - https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/27N7C9V51G0N2?ref_=wl_share
Field Trip Fun
CHS Care Closet
Chesapeake High School opened the Care Closet this year to support CHS students.
The following items are available:
- Food (non perishable items from MD food bank)
- School Supplies
- Clothing
- Hygiene Products
To schedule an appointment please contact:
Ms Roberts, our School Social Worker, at 443-809-0315 or via email,mroberts10@bcps.org or Mr. Reece, our School Community Facilitator, at 443-809-6509 or via email, preece@bcps.org
Congrats to our Winter Athletes on a Successful Season!
Check out the recap video from our Winter Sports Awards Banquet held on February 29th in the CHS Commons.
Spring Sports are HERE!
Spring Sport Options and coaches:
Please reach out to coaches with specific information about tryouts, practices and needs for equipment.
Softball:
Coach Tata (mtata@bcps.org) and Coach Timpone (ktimpone@bcps.org)
Baseball:
Coach Day (mattday760@gmail.com) and Coach Bull (mbull@bcps.org)
Girls Lax:
Coach Sasser (msasser@bcps.org) and Coach Fuller (kfuller3@bcps.org)
Boys Lax:
Coach Erskine (jerskine@bcps.org) and Coach Gunny (dstepney@bcps.org)
Track:
Coach Blue (mblue2@bcps.org) and Coach Walker (tarif0423@gmail.com)
Allied Softball:
Coach Wrightson (twrightson@bcps.org) and Coach Sanza (csanza@bcps.org)
Schedules Available on DigitalSports.com
We would love for you to join us for a game Sports Schedules can be found on the Digital Sports website: https://chsbayhawks.digitalsports.com/ and home games are listed on the Student Engagement Calendar.
All tickets for sporting events must be purchased via Ticket Spicket. No cash can be accepted at the door for tickets. Students that would like to attend a game at CHS, cannot have more than one E on their schoology report. Our Athletic Director, Mr. Downey, will be checking student grades once a week on Wednesdays at all lunch shifts. Students should check the list at the school store. If a student meets the academic criteria, they will be given a code to purchase a ticket. If a ticket is purchased fraudulently, refunds will not be given.
Any questions regarding athletics, eligibility or tickets can be directed to our Athletic Director, Shaun Downey at sdowney2@bcps.org
Spring Allergy Season is here!
Students can get medical care at The CHS Wellness Center
All students can visit our Nurse Practitioner onsite, here at CHS, on Wednesdays (8:30 am - 2:45 pm) and Thursdays mornings (8:00 to 11:30 am) as long as they have filled out paperwork for the Wellness Program. The Baltimore County Department of Health has placed wellness centers throughout the county at various schools to provide extended health care to their community of students. The Nurse Practitioner can provide sports physicals, wellness physicals, treats acute illnesses (such as flu, strep, ear infections, skin issues, and more) as well as prescribe necessary prescription medications, administer immunizations, help co-manage chronic health problems (such as asthma, diabetes and other health conditions) with your child’s doctor if needed. The Nurse Practitioner can see your student during the school day (Wednesday/Thursdays), saving you transportation time and money.
Parental consent is required for your student to receive health care from the Wellness Center, and when needed, an appointment will be scheduled during the school day. Please complete and return the wellness application packet on the forms page and return to any staff member in the Nurse’s Health Suite if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity.
If you have any questions about the wellness program or any medical concerns in general please contact Nurse Kisser at akisser@bcps.org
Community Events & Opportunities
CCBC College Fair - March 12th & 13th
March 12 - Catonsville Campus
March 13 - Essex Campus
Both 6-8pm
CIAA FAN FEST - FREE EVENT! March 1st & 2nd
More than 150,000 people will descend on Baltimore for five action-packed days of basketball, entertainment, and networking when the nation’s oldest African American athletic conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, hosts its CIAA Championship Basketball Tournament. The CIAA extends the celebration beyond the courts with a two-day FREE Fan Fest. A popular site to meet and get in the spirit, Fan Fest offers music, food, dance, and socializing.
Band competitions, cheer competitions, step shows, and concerts on both days are among the activities to be found at the Baltimore Convention Center. Held in conjunction with the CIAA men's and women's basketball tournament (Feb. 26th - March 3rd), Fan Fest appeals to a diverse demographic of alumni from the CIAA’s 12 member institutions, alumni from the nation’s HBCU’s and fans of all ages.
Click on any of the flyers below to register. Need help with accessing your tickets after registering? Click here for instructions.
Mental Health Matters Workshop - March 9th
This event is at George Washington Carver Center High school and is open to all students and families.
Shamrock 5k! March 16th
Get outside and get moving at the Family Fun Run & Walk at Gun Powderfalls State Park.
FREE Haircuts for students! - March 23rd
St. Stephens A.M.E Church
1601 Old Eastern Ave Essex, MD 21221
Summer Job Opportunity!
Paid Summer Internship in Horticulture
Open to students in the class of 2025 and class of 2026. Must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Application is below.
Looking for a summer job?
Any student looking for summer work, please consider registering for opportunities with the Baltimore County Youth Summer Work Program. Click the flyer for more information.
Parenting Education Classes
Weekend option begins March 16 for teenagers, April 13th for ages 5-12.
Contact rgross@baltimorecountymd.gov
Community Resources
Use your BCPS Student Account with the Baltimore County Public Library
The benefits of a BCPL Library card are priceless! You can borrow print, audio and online materials as well as access SAT and ACT prep materials through their website. Now BCPS and BCPL have a partnership to make things even easier!
BALTIMORE COUNTY RELEASES NEW FOOD PANTRY LOCATOR
Baltimore County today released a new web tool displaying community partner food distribution sites across the County.
Developed by Baltimore County’s BCSTAT team, the Food Pantry Locator web tool includes detailed information about community food access locations. Residents should enter an address or select "Use my location" and adjust the distance slider to view food pantries near them; selecting a pantry's entry in the list will reveal contact information, hours of operation, and special instructions.
Please read through this article for more information about the program and other food assistance resources: Baltimore County Releases New Food Pantry Locator (baltimorecountymd.gov)
CCBC LEAP Program 2024 Trainings
The CCBC Leap program is open to anyone aged 18-24 residing in Baltimore County with a High School Diploma or GED. They are currently enrolling for their Winter/Spring trainings in Phlebotomy, Apartment Maintenance, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA/GNA), Medical Administrative Assistant, and Pharmacy tech! Reach out to jmoon@ccbdmd.edu or call 443-840-9335 for more information.
Community Choice Pantry
Community Assistance Network’s Community Choice Pantry provides a one-week supplement of healthy food to low- income-eligible, Baltimore County residents based on USDA food pyramid guidelines. Food is distributed to our neighbors based on household size. Larger families can expect to receive a supplement that adequately addresses the needs of their family.
Learn more about the program and verification steps here: https://www.canconnects.org/food-pantry
Affordability Connectivity Program
As a result of Baltimore County's participation in the CEP Program, which provides free breakfast and lunch to students, all families are eligible to receive a discount of $30 per month off your internet bill. Please visit GetInternet.Gov to apply and/or ask questions.
Baltimore County Public Schools Mobile ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Welcome Center
The Baltimore County Public Schools Mobile ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Welcome Center provides English language proficiency assessment and enrollment services to new BCPS multilingual learners. To bring its services closer to students and families across the county, the Mobile ESOL Welcome Center will be stationed at schools across the county, every Tuesday.
• First Tuesday of every month – Halstead Academy, 1111 Halstead Rd., Baltimore 21234
• Second Tuesday of every month – Cockeysville Middle School, 10401 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville 21030
• Third Tuesday of every month – Holabird STEM Middle School, 1701 Delvale Ave., Dundalk 21222
• Fourth Tuesday of every month – Reisterstown Elementary School, 223 Walgrove Rd., Reisterstown 21136
Newly arrived families can make appointments to be seen at the Mobile ESOL Welcome Center by calling 443-809-6752.
English classes for Spanish Speakers - Clases de inglés para hispanohablantes
Clases de inglés gratuitas para nuestros socios comunitarios. Estas clases se imparten todos los sábados de 9 a 11 a.m. También ofrecemos opciones virtuales. Escanee para registrarse y obtener más información, comuníquese con awashington3@bcps.org.
English language classes free to our community partners. These classes occur every Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. We also provide virtual options. Scan to register for more information contact awashington3@bcps.org.
Deep Creek Middle Food Pantry: Every 3rd Thursday
Additional Mental Health Resources
Talkspace is now Available!
By offering Talkspace’s digital modalities, like unlimited messaging therapy, we can extend support that students can access beyond school hours, year-round, at their convenience. Eligible students interested in therapy can sign up, take a brief assessment specific for teens, and get matched with a dedicated, licensed therapist. Once matched, therapy sessions take place on Talkspace’s secure and encrypted platform, accessible from the teens’ smartphones, tablets or computers. Teens can communicate with their therapists at any time with an unlimited number of private messages at no cost.
To be eligible for this program, teens must be enrolled in a BCPS high school and be over the age of 13 at the time of signup. Eligible teens can sign up for unlimited messaging therapy and gain access to Talkspace Go, a comprehensive teen mental health self-guided program.
Students can access this service by registering at talkspace.com/bcps and use the keyword: bcps
Are you (or your student) looking for help with your mental health?
Check out these BCPS approved providers:
Key Point Health Services - Dundalk
Changing Lives at Home, Mental Health, INC.
GIFTS, Children's Guild and Thrive all meet with students within the CHS building weekly. You can reach out to your student's counselor for help with a referral if you are interested.
Students are assigned an administrator and counselor based on their last names:
Principal, Amy Tyler
Assistant Principal, Mrs. Kern - Last Names A-F
Assistant Principal, Ms. Furst - Last Names G-O
Assistant Principal, Mr. Belinda - Last Names P-Z
Ms. Withrow - Last Names A-D
Ms. Ganley - Last Names E-L
Ms. Miller - Last Names M-R
Ms. Bell - Last Names S-Z
Ms. Arrowood - College and Career Counselor (all grades)
Follow us on Instagram to keep up with all things CHS! @bayhawkpepsquad & @chesapeakehs_bcps
Helpful tools
Join Groups in Schoology to stay up to date on CHS events!
Schoology groups are created to share information outside of courses for specific groupings. AP Students, Graduation Cohorts, CHS Hub (School wide) , and various clubs all have different groups where they share info. To join groups once you have logged into Schoology, click Groups at the top, and then click the My Groups link on the top right corner, on the next page click join group on the right and enter the join code.
The CHS Hub is where all the School wide news, events, and information is posted. To join the CHS HUB on Schoology, use join code WMTMX-CXF6X.
Each Graduating Class also has their own group to discuss class events and class dues and fundraisers, The join codes for those are listed below in bold:
Seniors - Class of 2024: ZR5T-RT7V-JRM37
Juniors - Class of 2025: DX56-SDWD-6KQZB
Sophomores - Class of 2026: S4HF-SS5W-QF24W
Freshman - Class of 2027: MWBM-K6TF-HHGZ8
A Day/ B Day Calendar
Student schedules rotate on an A day/B day schedule. If there is a snow day and we do not have school you just move to the next assigned day. Review the A/B calendar here: AB Day Calendar SY 2023-24.pdf (sharpschool.com)
BCPS Year Long Calendar
All important dates, days off, report card distribution is listed here: 2023-24.pdf (sharpschool.com)
Need help tracking where your student's bus is?
The Office of Transportation announced county-wide implementation of BusWhere, a location tracking software that allows subscribers to see bus locations in real time on a mobile phone or computer. Via the BusWhere app, subscribers may opt to receive notifications as the bus is approaching a designated bus stop or if there is a significant issue causing a delay.
On or about October 2, 2023, parents/guardians of record in FOCUS should have received an email invitation directly from BusWhere to create an account! If you didn't get that email or have questions or concerns, parents and school-based staff are encouraged to utilize BusWhere Assistance Request Form.
As shared during registration, all BPCS students must meet the same graduation requirements including a completer pathway. A list of graduation requirements is below and this month we are highlighting our School to Career Work-based Learning completer option.
Are you having device issues? Contact the Help Desk!
Parents should work with their child to enter a Technology Support Request form. You will need your students ID number, Username and Password. Those can be found in FOCUS.
Contact information:
Phone: 443-809-4672
Available Monday - Friday 7:00am - 4:15pm
https://www.bcps.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=2828&pageId=66765365
The CHS website is a great resource for families. Informational Links about bus stops, the bell schedule, the handbook, monthly engagements calendars, and much more can all be found right on the main page of the website. There is also a tab for department contacts that have email contacts for all teachers and staff.
Check out the Website today: https://chesapeakehs.bcps.org/