Dear Towson High School Community,
As we find ourselves at the midpoint of the academic year, it is essential to reflect on the progress our students have made and set intentions for the remainder of the school year. Your partnership in supporting your student’s education is crucial, and I encourage you to engage in open conversations with them regarding their attendance, academic, and social goals.
Attendance Matters: Regular attendance is the cornerstone of academic success. Students are expected to maintain a minimum attendance rate of 94%, missing fewer than 10% of school days. Consistent attendance helps students stay on-track with their academics and fosters a positive learning environment. (See attendance resources below)
Academic Achievement: To pass full-year courses, students must earn at least 3 Ds from their quarter grades and/or the final exam. Regular communication with teachers and monitoring your student’s progress can contribute significantly to achievement. (See grade calculation, and coach class and peer tutoring resources below)
Social Engagement: Encourage your student to participate in at least one club, team, or organization this semester. Extracurricular activities play a vital role in personal development, building social skills, and creating a sense of belonging within our school community. (See club list and spring sports information below)
I am grateful for your ongoing commitment to your child's education and well-being. By working together, we can create an environment where every student in our learning community can thrive. Wishing you and your family continued success in the second half of the school year.
In partnership,
Dr. Kim Culbertson
Throughout the month of February, THS and BCPS students and staff will celebrate Black History Month in order to honor the contributions African Americans have made, and continue to make, to American history and culture. “Black history is integral to American history, and I encourage all students and families to spend time this month learning more about Black history and the diversity and strength of Black culture,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers.
THS Activities: Theme - “Renaissance: The Evolution of Black Arts”
- Paint Night - February 16
- Game Night - February 23
- Spirit Week - February February 26-29
- Showcase assembly on February 29 during 1A - see poster below. Students that are interested in attending should register for the event using the QR code on the poster.
- Morning Announcement Spotlights
- Writing Contest
BCPS Activities:
Alumni Spotlights - Throughout February, BCPS will honor graduates from around the county on social media. Follow along with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter. New this year, the Team BCPS community is invited to nominate BCPS alumni for this recognition!
Black Excellence Event - During the systemwide celebration on February 24 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Perry Hall High School cafeteria, students will display presentations they developed in response to the research prompt or the books they read. Community members, families, and other students will have the opportunity to ask students about their presentations.
Black History Month Writing Contest - The Office of English Language Arts and the Office of Social Studies are co-sponsoring a writing contest for all students in Grades K-12. A winner will be selected in each of the following grade level bands: Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12. Prizes for winners are generously provided by The Education Foundation of BCPS. The contest is accepting up to three entries per school, and the deadline for entries is Friday, February 9.
“Sankofa: Celebration of African Americans’ Achievements” - The “Sankofa: Celebration of African Americans’ Achievements” event will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, February 23, at Winfield Elementary School Recreation Center, 8300 Carlson Ln., Windsor Mill 21244. Sponsored by the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks, this event will feature speakers, community resource tables, vendors, and a living history program to celebrate Black legacy and progress. Admission is free, and refreshments will be provided. Please register to attend.
Trivia Tuesdays - At 3 p.m. every Tuesday in February, BCPS will post Black History Month trivia questions on Instagram Stories (@teambcps). Stories will be live for 24 hours and will be archived in BCPS Instagram highlights.
Final Grade Calculation
BCPS has updated the calculation for final course grades to the following:
- For full year courses with a final exam, each marking period and the final exam will be calculated as 20% of the final grade.
- For full year courses without a final exam, each marking period will be calculated as 25% of the final grade.
- For half-year courses with a final exam, each marking period will be calculated as 40% of the final grade and the final exam will be calculated as 20% of the final grade.
- For half-year courses without a final exam, each marking period will be calculated as 50% of the final grade.
To compute the final course grade (students will review this in Advisory on February 5):
- Convert each letter grade earned for each marking period and the final exam to their numerical equivalents: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, E=0.
- Find the average of the marking period and final exam grades.
- Convert the average to a letter grade equivalent using the chart above.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.
We have two candidates from Towson High School for the Presidential Scholars Program! Congratulations to Oluwatoyosi Dada and Rose Deguet Delury!
The THS Teacher Academy of Maryland has had many noteable accomplishments so far this year:
- TAM Junior, Ava Johnson placed 1st in our Maryland Educators Rising State Conference T-Shirt design competition!
- In the latest round of TAM/Educators Rising competitions for the state, THS placed 3rd and 4th place in the Exploring Non-Core Subject Matter Teaching Careers competition! This competition offered students the opportunity to shadow and learn from highly skilled educators whose work takes place outside the core subjects. Will Gentle shadowed Mr. Rhen, music teacher extraordinaire, and took 3rd place; and Olivia shadowed Mrs. Nash, TAM coordinator, and took 4th place.
Research has shown that attendance is a leading predictor of academic achievement and adult success. Students who find attending school important are more likely to attain goals like attending trade school, college, or getting a job. By showing up to school every day, students develop a positive work ethic and prepare for future success by developing healthy and productive habits.
Our attendance goals this year are for students to maintain at least a 94% attendance rate and to reduce chronic absenteeism. A student that misses 10% or more of school days in chronically absent. By missing just 2 days a month, a student will be chronically absent. Use the "Attendance Tracker" and "Parent Tips" below to support your student in maintaining satisfactory attendance. Additionally, we will send parents/guardians a "Weekly Attendance Report" each Friday afternoon so you can track your student's daily and period attendance.
