October 10, 2014 School Holidays and Dates to Remember October 13-17 National School Lunch Week Monday, October 13 Continuing Education Fair (6-8 p.m.) Ag Center Shipley Arena Career and Technology Center Open House (6-8 p.m.) Thursday, October 16 Friday, October 17 October 20-24 Schools Closed for Students and 10-Month Staff Professional Meeting Day National School Bus Safety Week Tuesday, October 21 Bus Drivers and Assistants Recognition Day Wednesday, October 29 Marking Period Ends Two Hour and Forty-Five Minute Early Dismissal System-wide Teachers Work on End of Marking Period Items Schools Closed for Pre-Kindergarten Students Schools/Offices Closed – General Election Day Tuesday, November 4 Education Week Amy Knight, a kindergarten teacher at Parr’s Ridge Elementary School, and Jan Bubnash, assistant principal at Parr’s Ridge, are featured in an article on the new kindergarten readiness assessment in this week’s issue of Education Week. The article describes how teachers observe children as they work and play in the classroom to assess their needs as they begin the school year and how that information is used to improve learning. Contact: Amy Knight or Jan Bubnash, Parr’s Ridge Elementary School, 410-751-3559 Continuing Education Fair The 37th Annual Carroll County Continuing Education Fair will be held on Monday, October 13, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Carroll County Agriculture Center Arena located at 706 Agriculture Center in Westminster, Maryland. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from more than 100 colleges and training programs. In addition, counselors from each high school counseling office will be available to answer questions about post-secondary planning. Representatives from the Admissions and Financial Aid Offices of Carroll Community College will also be available to talk with students and parents. Contact: Bonnie Finch, Student Services, 410-751-3117 Food Pantry – Francis Scott Key High School The Francis Scott Key High School Food Pantry will be opening on Tuesday, October 14. The hours are Tuesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. The pantry is located in Room 805. Please park in the lower parking lot and wait for the buses to depart before entering the school building. If you wish to make a donation of canned or boxed goods or health and hygiene, paper or baby products, or money, please bring them to the main office at FSK. Contact: Kimberly Toston, [email protected] Little Women – Century High School Century High School’s award winning Opening Knights Drama Club proudly presents the family-friendly musical Little Women as part of its 2014 fall season. Louisa May Alcott's classic tale comes to life with music by Jason Howland, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and book by Allan Knee. Performances will take place at Century High School on October 16, 17 and 18 in the auditorium. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. This musical version of Alcott's timeless coming-of-age story premiered on Broadway in 2005, offering a fresh glimpse into the lives of the four young March sisters in Civil War-era America. At its heart is the tomboyish Jo; fueled by a vibrant imagination and unabashed enthusiasm, she challenges social conventions of the time with her aspirations of becoming a professional writer. As years pass, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy come to cherish the importance of family, friendship and faith in oneself. For additional information, please visit www.centurydrama.com or contact Lucas Hewitt, director, at [email protected] or 410-386-4400, ext. 2326. FFA Alumni Bull & Oyster Roast – Francis Scott Key High School FFA alumni from Francis Scott Key High School will host a bull and oyster roast on Saturday, October 18, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Harney Volunteer Fire Company, located at 5130 Harney Road, Taneytown. The all you can eat menu will include pit beef and ham, raw oysters, fried oysters, fried chicken, oyster stew, Italian sausages, assorted side dishes, beer, wine, sodas, water, and iced tea. There also will be a live auction, silent auction, 50/50, and assorted raffles. This event is being held to support the current members of the Francis Scott Key FFA. To order tickets, please contact Matt Parrish, [email protected], 410-596-1396; Kate Dudley, [email protected], 443-5368759; or Joe Linthicum, [email protected]. Contact: Joe Linthicum, Francis Scott Key High School, [email protected] Author Visit – Manchester Elementary School Students in kindergarten through fifth grade at Manchester Elementary School will have the opportunity to learn from nonfiction children’s author Jennifer Keats Curtis when she visits the school on Tuesday, October 21. Sessions will be held from 10:15 to 11:10 a.m. (grades 3-5) and 11:20 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (grades K-2). Ms. Keats will share her “behind the book” research to help students understand how to gather and learn scientific information. Her books highlight wildlife and the environment. She also will be bringing a live terrapin for students to see while she discusses her “Turtles” books. Contact: Terry Pittinger, Teacher; Dodi Ritz, Instructional Assistant; Martin Tierney, Principal, Manchester Elementary School, 410-751-3410 National Guard Assembly – Manchester Valley High School On Friday, October 24, at 9:00 a.m., Manchester Valley High School will showcase the popular ‘Bring Your A Game to School’ assembly presented by the National Guard. With high flying performances by professional BMX performers, the National Guard will promote what it means to bring your 'A Game’. Topics often include Anti-bullying, personal Achievement, maximizing your Ability, staying Active, being Authentic, having the right Attitude and more! The National Guard will also teach their core values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. Contact: Todd Hicks, [email protected] Mystery, Music, & Masterpieces – Manchester Valley High School Come join the Fine Arts Department of Manchester Valley High School as students showcase their artistic talents on Thursday, October 30, from 7 to 8 p.m. The evening begins in the auditorium with one act plays and short skits, followed by musical performances and a display of student artwork with a silent auction. Light refreshments will be served in the cafeteria. Admission is $5 and all proceeds support the school’s fine arts program. Don’t miss out on this night of art and fun! Contact: Stacey Saltzgiver, [email protected] Trick or Treat for UNICEF – Manchester Valley High School Members of the Manchester Valley High School Key Club will be trick or treating on Halloween, Friday, October 31, not for candy, but for any small donation members of the Hampstead and Manchester communities are willing to give to help support UNICEF. This is a great way to give back and help those less fortunate. If you see a boy or girl walking around with a treat box, please ask about UNICEF and, if you can, make a donation. Contact: Stacy Mann, [email protected] Footloose – Liberty High School Join Liberty High School’s Drama Club as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of Footloose, the live musical version of the 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon, featuring songs that reached the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100. Show times are November 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and November 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. at Liberty High School’s Schnorr Auditorium. Come hear the soundtrack album that reached number one on the Billboard charts and sold over 15 million copies, as well dynamic new songs written for the stage musical in Schnorr Auditorium, which recently underwent a complete sound system upgrade. Footloose will have you singing and dancing along as it celebrates the hope and determination of young people to make their dreams a reality. The show is being directed by Trisha Deen. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and $15 for advanced seating (which includes your show ticket in the price). Advanced seating tickets are recommended for anyone who would like to choose their seat from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. prior to general admission ticket holders being admitted to the auditorium. There are a limited number of advanced seating tickets. Tickets may be purchased now online at http://www.lhsdramaclub.com/box-office.html or in the lobby of Liberty High School beginning October 27th from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on school days. More Information can be found at www.LHSDRAMACLUB.com. Contact: Trisha Deen, Director, [email protected], 410-751-3560 Cindy DeBandi, Publicity, Liberty Drama Boosters, [email protected] Community Night – South Carroll High School South Carroll High School will hold Community Night on Thursday, November 13, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. This night will feature information sessions, student work and performances, a college information session, food, and much more. All schools in the South Carroll High School district will participate in some fashion. Featured presentations will include Dr. Tom Zirpoli – “Parental Wimp Syndrome: Being a Strong Parent for your Adolescent”; Carroll County Health Department – “Parents Speak Out—Heroin, Prescription Drugs and More…”; and Jim Rodriguez – “Concussions in Sports.” In addition, the Carroll County Health Department will be available to provide skin cancer and blood pressure screenings. Club representatives from K-12 will present their service activities. There also will be a session on Pre-K programs and Kindergarten preparation and information on PARCC testing and graduation requirements. Attendees also can visit the Cavalier Cupboard Food Pantry and learn about the food distribution programs in Carroll County Public Schools. Contact: Lois Tiffany, Academic Facilitator, South Carroll High School, 410-751-3575, [email protected] Summer Reading Challenge Celebration – Freedom Elementary School On Wednesday, October 9, Freedom Elementary School celebrated the reading accomplishments of students who met the goals for the Summer Reading Challenge. Each grade level participant completed forty-five days of literacy activities and read a combination of informational and literary text in order to qualify for the celebration. Those students who participated in the Carroll County Public Library program also were acknowledged at the celebration. The school mascot “Hoffy” greeted the students and administrators congratulated them with certificates. Participants enjoyed popsicles with the principal and selected prize books and bookmarks for their accomplishments. Contact: Ann Marie Byrd, Reading Specialist, Freedom Elementary School, 410-751-3525 Healthy Kids Grant – Parr’s Ridge Elementary School Parr’s Ridge Elementary School has received a $1,500 grant through Action for Healthy Kids. This organization partners with several corporations to award approximately 1,000 schools with funds to support school breakfast and physical activity programs. Funded schools also receive expertise and support to help implement a successful project that leads to sustainable change. Parr’s Ridge is using the funds to purchase a school-wide subscription to GoNoodle Plus, a website which helps teachers channel classroom energy with short interactive brain breaks. Desk-side activities help students achieve more by keeping them engaged and motivated throughout the day. Using exercise science and cutting-edge research, all of GoNoodle’s brain breaks have been designed to be healthy for the body, engaging for the attention, and beneficial to the brain in specific ways. Contact: Karen Covino, Principal, Parr’s Ridge Elementary School, 410-751-3559 Athletic Leadership Council – Francis Scott Key High School Francis Scott Key High School has created a new chapter called the Athletic Leadership Council (ALC). The purpose of this organization will be to unify teams across the school, encourage respect for coaches and offer them assistance whenever possible, and generally create an atmosphere in which everyone respects themselves and members of the community, both on and off the field. Contact: Stephen Speck, Athletic Director, [email protected] Athletic Hall of Fame – South Carroll High School South Carroll High School is once again seeking nominations for its Athletic Hall of Fame. Nominations from last year are still valid, but new nominations will be accepted until November 1, 2014. Forms can be obtained at the school website, http://www.carrollk12.org/sch/ or by contacting Athletic Director Jim Horn at 410-751-3575 or at [email protected]. The new class induction will take place on Friday, February 13, 2015. Contact: Jim Horn, Athletic Director, South Carroll High School, [email protected], 410-751-3575 Professional Development Day – Manchester Valley High School As part of the October 6th Professional Development Day for teachers, Manchester Valley High School staff members visited area businesses to work on their Academy school goal that teachers, administrators, education support personnel, and other school employees will collaborate to remove barriers to student learning by increasing relevance in the classroom. Teachers learned about externship, purpose, and the benefits of keeping fresh information coming into the classroom. Some of the businesses included Intellitech, Incorporated in Westminster and Mount Carmel Animal Hospital located in Monkton. This was a great opportunity for teachers to better themselves and their students. Contact: Kirstie Troutman, [email protected] Volunteer Training Schedule DATE SCHOOL TIME + precedes a school event/activity * follows a school event/activity # part of a school event/activity October 14 October 14 October 15 October 15 October 15 October 16 October 22 October 22 October 23 Mechanicsville Elementary Elmer Wolfe Elementary Piney Ridge Elementary Parr’s Ridge Elementary Piney Ridge Elementary Northwest Middle Francis Scott Key High + Sandymount Elementary # Runnymede Elementary CONTACT Please call the number provided to confirm the scheduled training session. 10:45 AM 8:00 PM 9:30 AM 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:00 PM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 5:15 PM 410-751-3510 410-751-3307 410-751-3535 410-751-3559 410-751-3535 410-751-3270 410-751-3320 410-751-3215 410-751-3203 The Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) is firmly committed to creating equal employment and educational opportunities for all persons with regard to its employment practices and in the provision of services, programs, and activities. The CCPS does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, ancestry or national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. The CCPS provides non-discriminatory access to school facilities in accordance with its policies and regulations regarding the community use of schools (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts). The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Gregory J. Bricca, Director of Research and Accountability, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410) 751-3068. The Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or the provision of services, programs or activities. Persons needing auxiliary aids and services for communication should contact the Office of Community and Media Relations at 410-751-3020 or [email protected], or write to Carroll County Public Schools, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, may use Relay or 7-1-1. Please contact the school system at least one (1) week in advance of the date the special accommodation is needed. Information concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act is available from the Director of Facilities or the Supervisor of Community and Media Relations: Raymond Prokop, Director of Facilities, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410) 751-3177, or Carey Gaddis, Supervisor of Community and Media Relations, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410) 751-3020.