EDUCATIONAL Partnerships 2013-2014 Annual Report HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM SUPERINTENDEnt’S Message We are fortunate in Howard County that community involvement is among our greatest assets. Businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies Powerful Partnerships donate countless hours, immeasurable Amazing Opportunities resources and invaluable expertise to help our students build a mindset of success. Thanks to these community Contents partners, students have many opportunities to discover new interests, practice skills, and Introduction .............................................................. 3 develop their strengths. Preparing for Life, College, and Career .....................4-5 The activities highlighted in this report illustrate many of Learning Linked to Well-Being .................................. 6-7 the ways that our partners add value to the educational Benchmarks and Best Practices .................................... 8 process, helping to secure the future for our community as Professional Growth and Learning ............................... 9 well as for our children. Ready to Learn ........................................................... 10 HCPSS is indebted to all of our community partners for Solving Real-World Problems ..................................... 11 the generous support that fills a critical role in providing Staff and Community Collaboration ........................... 12 a world class educational program. Thank you for joining Importance of Health and Work-Life Balance ............. 13 with us to prepare each Howard County student for lifelong School Partners .....................................................14-17 success. At-Large Partners ..................................................18-19 Sincerely, Student Services ......................................................... 19 Student, Family, and Community Services ................. 20 Career Research and Development ............................ 20 Career and Technology Education .........................21-22 Renee A. Foose, Ed.D. Special Education ....................................................... 23 Gifted and Talented .................................................... 24 Staff Discount Program .............................................. 25 Health and Wellness ................................................... 25 Volunteer Opportunities .......................................26-27 The Educational Partnerships Annual Report reflects partnerships active between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. If there are any errors or omissions, please accept our apologies and inform the Partnerships Office at 410-313-6655 or [email protected]. The BOARD OF EDUCATION of Howard County 2013-2014 Ellen Flynn Giles Ann De Lacy Frank J. Aquino, Sandra H. French Brian J. Meshkin Janet Siddiqui, Cynthia L. Albert B. Corvah Chairman Vice Chairman Esq. M.D. Vaillancourt Student Member EDUCATIONAL Partnerships 2013-2014 Annual Report HCPSS STRENGTHENED Through PARTNERSHIPS A world-class school system benefits from the expertise, enthusiasm and ingenuity of community businesses and organizations. HCPSS is truly strengthened through partnerships as more than 1,000 businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations partnered with HCPSS schools, curricular offices and business departments during the 2013-14 school year. HCPSS leverages the talent and resources of its partners to support all of the strategic goals highlighted in the school system’s five-year strategic plan, Vision 2018: Fulfilling the Promise of Preparation. Preparing for LIFE, COLLEGE, AND CAREER n addition to the “Three Rs,” students alternatives, to participating in an In middle school, students identify today need ingenuity, analytical, and increasing global political environment, steps for effective decision-making Icollaboration skills to be prepared and analyzing a wide array of personal and goal-setting, and how to apply for an increasingly complex life and the finance options. those processes to education, career, global work environment of the 21st and life choices. The Howard County century. Partners provide students with Students from kindergarten to high Library System’s Teen Time and the real-life experiences where they can school benefit as partners expand Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., develop the skills necessary for living learning beyond the classroom. Iota Lambda Omega Chapter are and working in a rapidly changing world. Elementary students become aware of two partnerships for middle school different types of work while they are students focusing on the importance of Community partners help equip introduced to the variety of careers, developing healthy behaviors, conflict students with the knowledge and products, and services present in their resolution skills, and compassion for skills to effectively navigate constantly community. They also begin to learn others. evolving life choices – from evaluating how decisions they make can impact a growing number of health care others and their environment. The HCPSS draws upon the expertise and resources of many partners including community banks, Maryland Council on Economic Education, MakingChange, and others to help prepare students with the skills and knowledge needed to make sound personal financial decisions. Lake Elkhorn Middle School students apply their personal and business finance knowledge by running a simulated town as part of the Junior Achievement of Central Maryland, Inc. BizTown program. During the University of Maryland, Extension, Howard County Master Gardeners’ Our Environment in Our Hands program, fourth grade students apply creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills to explore and analyze how simple choices they make can directly affect the local environment and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. 4 HCPSS EDUcatioNAL Partnerships 2013-2014 Annual Report High school students continue to Baywood Design/ explore career options and then Build Group, Eastern develop an individual school-to-career Stair Builders, Hancock plan. Before graduating, each student & Albanese, J. Vinton creates a resume and participates Schafer & Sons, North in an employment-like interview. Point Builders, and Wilhelm Students may also elect to enroll in one Commercial Builders mentor of several programs that offer more Construction Academy extensive immersion in a career field of students, giving them interest while gaining real-world work hands-on experience and experience. knowledge in preparation for the National Center for Some of these programs give students Construction Education and the opportunity to earn college Research certification exam. credits, achieve nationally recognized certifications, receive technical training, and participate in internships. McDonald’s at Maple Lawn Representatives from business and is one of many businesses higher education organizations such supporting the structured, as Howard County General Hospital, A supervised work program Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine; that HCPSS provides British American Auto Care, Inc.; Data for high school students Networks; and Howard Community with mild to moderate College review the programs to disabilities. Teachers work ensure that the curriculum is aligned closely with both students with established academic, college and employers to ensure and career-readiness, and technical satisfactory performance standards, and that graduates meet on the job as students employers’ and industry expectations. develop the skills, habits, and confidence needed to work independently. Emergent Biosolutions Inc., U.S. Food and Drug Administration, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and USB Products are just a handful of partners helping students in the Biotechnology Career Academy acquire the skills and techniques used in molecular biology. Students in this academy are participating in one of the fastest growing and expanding fields in today’s scientific community and gaining experience in medicine, pharmacology, ecology, forensic science, agriculture science, and the biotechnology industry. HCPSS EDUcatioNAL Partnerships 2013-2014 Annual Report 5 Learning Linked to WELL-BEING ecades of research shows that students’ ability to learn, achieve, and succeed Columbia Association’s D Youth and Teen Center is directly linked to their well-being. While academic rigor continues to be at The Barn (YTC) the foundation of instruction, HCPSS partners with the school understands the importance of also system to provide a focusing on the social, emotional and whole day model for physical needs of students. well-being and wellness by offering youth Through extracurricular activities, and teens year-round the arts, and athletics, students education and recreation. develop essential skills and abilities Students participating including creativity, problem solving, in YTC programs have innovation, teamwork, and effective the opportunity to learn communications. Partners are actively leadership skills, build involved and fully support the school self-esteem, and engage system’s efforts to provide a variety in community service. of opportunities and nurturing See video of the programs environment for all students. available at The Columbia Association Youth and Teen Center @ The Barn: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=LLRMMEYINQY T o ensure that all students have what they need to attend the prom, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Lambda Gamma Zeta Chapter and the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. joined