Towson High School Newsletter

Dear Towson High School Community,

This year, BCPS high school students enrolled in courses awarding 1.0 credit will now earn 0.5 credit after successfully passing Semester 1 (Marking Periods 1 and 2) and an additional 0.5 credit after passing Semester 2 (Marking Periods 3, 4, and the final exam). Students must earn a full 1.0 credit in graduation-required courses in order to satisfy the associated graduation requirement.

These changes align BCPS with other local education agencies in Maryland and offer multiple benefits. The new system provides built-in opportunities for students to reset their progress midyear. If a course must be repeated, the workload is reduced by half, allowing students to get back on track more quickly. This structure is particularly beneficial for transfer students, who can now earn credits in a timelier manner.

Grading Breakdown:

• For Semester 1: MP1 and MP2 will each contribute 50% to the semester grade.
• For Semester 2: MP3 and MP4 will each contribute 45%, with the final exam accounting for 15%.*
• *Exception: In Living Systems and Government courses, MP3 and MP4 will each contribute 40%, and the final exam will be weighted at 20%, following MSDE guidelines.

The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of how grades are determined by Semester 1 (blue box) and Semester 2 (purple box). School Counselors will be performing credit checks after each Semester and will recommend Credit Recovery options as necessary.

We understand that navigating these changes can be difficult. Please contact your student's School Counselor if you have questions about your student's grades and academic record.

In partnership,

Dr. Kim Culbertson

Students are recognized for being 5-STAR Towson Generals. Staff and Parents are recognized for demonstrating heart-work that helps our THS learning community to thrive.

• Boys Varsity Golf Team for winning the Golf County Championship for the second year in a row.

• Boys and Girls Golf Teams for winning the team tournament championships at the Golf County Championships.

• Boys Varisty Cross Country for winning the Baltimore County Championship.

• Girls Varisty Cross Country for winning the Baltimore County Championship.

• Girls Varsity Soccer for winning the Baltimore County Championship.

• Varsity Field Hockey for winning the Baltimore County Championship.

• Elaina Razon-Fernandez, an AVID junior, for being great at advocating for herself and asking questions in her IPC class. She also has been staying organized and turning in all work. Way to level up, Elaina!

• Olivia Jones, an AVID junior, for taking responsibility for the class playlist and playing a key role in facilitating discussion with her team as they begin performance task 1: Team Project and Presentation during AP Seminar. Keep the facilitating and tunes coming, Olivia!

• Kyla Chikwe, an AVID freshman, for connecting her understanding from LC1, The Big Bang Theory, to ask specific questions about electromagnetic energy and the formation of the solar system in LC2, The Sun and Other Stars, in Earth Systems. You've got out-of-this-world connections forming like new stars during the big bang, Kyla!

• Will Fryer, an AVID sophomore, for being constantly engaged in CCR, leading by example, working hard to improve and set goals, and improved his score on an SAT module by 20% from the beginning of the year. Mr. Worthington adds that Will has been awesome to have in class, and his ability to set a goal and improve based on previous work is impressive! Keep crushing it, Will!

• Kate Hudson, an AVID sophomore, for consistently taking meticulous notes in class and demonstrating an impressive work ethic! Ms. Marks adds that Kate's commitment to learning not only sets a great example but also enhances the classroom environment for everyone. Way to lead by example, Kate!

• Christina Palomo, Kate Hudson, Drew Smith, Conor Hodes, Jackson Lee, Liam Garrett, Brennan Harris, Destiny Wilkins, Will Witherspoon, Chase Simmons, Joe Noto, Eli Minton, and Will Fryer, all AVID students, for taking time out of their day to stay for coach class and work on improving their work and grades. First stop: Coach class, next stop: top of the class!

• Harrison Khan, Jeff Tobian, Hibiki Yamada, and Jack Dobrosielski for their leadership and planning with the Class of 2027.

• Caden Bryan, Nyquan Gaston, Roxana Portillo, and Keisha Townes in Ms. Morris's 1A class for 5-star determination with solving for unknown variables.

• Aubrey Tolman for peer teaching excellence!

• Kamryn Legrant for respecting learning opportunities for herself and her peers in English 11 Honors.

• Elaina Razon-Fernandez for striving and progressing in AP English Language and Composition.

• National English Honor Society members for achieving in their commitment to service for PSAT participants and the THS Library.

• Atticus Hughes for thinking critically in English 11 Honors.

• Students in trailer classrooms for being SAFE during emergency drills.

• Olatobi Adekoya, Skyler Haldens, Leah Harris, Alayah Miller-Gibson, Christine Okutoyi and Jayla Patterson for attending middle school events to present information on THS' Magnet Program.

• All LPP magnet students who assisted with the Magnet Showcase event at Towson on 10/22/24.

• Fatima Cisse for helping Mx. Contreras set up some additional photos for the "Framing Significance" Photo 1 display. Her curiosity for the medium is contagious!

• Photo 1 2A and 3A students for successfully setting up their first photo display. Their pictures are wonderful, and their artist statements are very insightful!
  

• Tylia Smith for writing 5-Star Bullying prevention acrostic poems on kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and unity.

• Hanna Schiffman, Caroline Deffaa, and Maurine Dalsimer for their willingness to help Mr. Bill prepare the Scriptorium for Marking Period 2. Gratissimas ago vobis!

• Mr. Bannon, Ms. Brotzman, Ms. Hne, Ms. Karsos, Ms. C. McCusker, Ms. Miller, Ms. Morris, Mr. Muneses, Ms. Needer, and Mr. Worthington for working on the National Board Certification.
• Mr. Filosa for his 5-Star data analysis.
• Mr. Tormey, Mr. Dashiell, Dr. Hobbs, & Ms. Williams for their efforts in planning the PSAT.
• Mr. Olson for fostering collaboration among his department members.
• Mr. Blair, Mr. Cooke, and Ms. Redd for participating in an instructional learning walk with the Math Office.
• Ms. Prevette for her service to Towson High School.
• Mr. Aglietti, Ms. Biancolli, Ms. Falatko, Mrs. Kromsky, Mr. Lyons, Ms. Needer, Mr. Olson, Mr. Sonneborn and Ms. Valian for their roles at the Magnet Showcase Event.
• Ms. Kromsky for organizing and facilitating the Magnet Showcase Event.

• Alumni Association for granting Department's 24-25 Wish Lists. Your generosity and support is much appreciated.
• Anonymous Gardner who refreshes the potted plants located at the Cedar Ave entrance. Thank you for beautifying our space!
• Ms. Monacelli for developing Bullying Awareness & Prevention Advisory lessons.

• October 1-November 1 - AP Exam Registration
• October 28 - PSAT for 10th & 11th Graders in Accommodation Groups (see below for more info)
  
• October 29 - PSAT Day for All 10th & 11th Graders (see below for more info)
• October 29 - National Honor Society (NHS) Induction Ceremony, 6 pm (new date!)
• October 31 - Senior Activities Day, End of MP1, Schools Close 3-Hours Early for Students
• November 1 - Schools Closed for Students
• November 5 - Schools & Offices Closed

All Sophomores will take the PSAT on Tuesday October 29. Sophomores cannot opt-out of the test.

All Juniors will take the PSAT on Tuesday October 29 unless they opted-out by completing the form by October 17.

• All PSAT test takers will take the PSAT on Tuesday October 29. This is an update to previous communication which stated that College Board approved accommodations groups would test on October 28. By having all PSAT test takers test on the same day we will be able to reduce disruptions to students' normal instructional program.
• The PSAT is an online test. Students must have a charged BCPS chromebook on test day to take the test.
  
• Students will need a College Board account in order to receive scores in a timely manner. If you do not have a College Board account, you can create an account here: www.collegeboard.org If you need assistance, please call the College Board at 1-866-630-9305.
• To learn more about the PSAT, click here.
• Please speak with your school counselor if you have any questions.

• Students must bring a charged BCPS chromebook on test day. Additional devices and chargers will not be available. If a student does not have a charged BCPS chromebook, they will not be able to test. If a student has an issue with their chromebook, they should see Ms. Fluharty in the Library on Monday 10/28.
• Students must arrive to school by 7:35 am. All students will report to their 1B classrooms for their testing passes.
• All students must be in their assigned testing locations by 8:00 am. If a student is not in their assigned testing location by 8:00 am, they will not be able to test.
• Students can bring their own College Board approved calculator to use on the test, but a calculator is provided to all students through the Bluebook app that students will be using to access the test.
• Students will be dismissed from the test at the end of 2B unless they are in a College Board approved extended time group.

Marking Period 1 ends on Thursday October 31. Please continue to check your students’ MP1 grades on Schoology. Click the following links for directions to access grades, the Coach Class schedule and list of teacher emails, and the Peer Tutoring schedule.

Report cards will be available on FOCUS on November 14 at 4:00 pm.

For all students enrolled in an AP class this year:

• AP Exam registration and payment will begin online on October 1, 2024
• AP Exam registration and payment materials can be found on each AP teacher’s Schoology page
• The deadline for AP Exam registration and payment is November 1, 2024

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Jackson (djackson6@bcps.org)

The delivery of our new modular buildings has been delayed. We will inform you of updates when they are available. As a reminder, during the modular delivery window, students will not be able to park on campus. We anticipate that the modular delivery window will span 4 school days due to the volume of modular parts that need to be delivered. Normal student parking will resume after the modular building parts are delivered. For more information about the Renovation/Addition project, click here.

BCPS high school seniors interested in attending the Eighth Annual Baltimore County Public Schools Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College Fair can register now through StriveScan. The college fair will be held during the school day on Wednesday, October 30, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., at New Town High School, and bus transportation will be provided for students who register for the fair. At the fair, students will meet college admissions representatives from HBCUs. Nearly 20 HBCUs have confirmed their participation. In addition to completing fair registration, students should see their college and career counselors to receive permission slips. Participants are also strongly encouraged to complete the Common Black College Application prior to the event, with help from their school counselors or college counselors if needed. Bus transportation to the event will be provided.

The BCPS Online Learning Program offers a fulltime online educational environment for students in Grades 4-12. The program offers a full day of synchronous (real time) instruction taught by certified BCPS teachers. The program offers courses that fulfill BCPS requirements for promotion and graduation. Any student who is eligible to attend a BCPS school may apply. The application window for the 2025-2026 school year opens at 1 p.m. on Friday, November 8, and closes at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 13. The application will be available online.

Gently-used men's, women's, and children's clothing will be available on Saturday November 16 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Central Presbyterian Church (7308 York Rd, Towson MD). Free breakfast will be available.

American Education Week is a nationwide event that honors the dedication and hard work of educators and education support professionals. It emphasizes the value of a quality education and the need for collaboration among teachers, parents and the community to ensure student success. This year, American Education Week will be celebrated November 18-22, 2024. Towson High School will have an Open House parent visitation day on Wednesay, November 20, 2024. Please make plans to visit the school and your child's classroom during this day.

The Towson High School VEX Team 934Z participated in their first competition of the season and won the Judges Award! In a VEX Robotics competition, the "Judges Award" is given to a team that, in the judges' opinion, demonstrates exceptional attributes, exemplary effort, or perseverance that might not be fully captured by other awards. Essentially, it recognizes a team that stands out for qualities beyond just their robot's performance in matches. This could include strong teamwork, exceptional engineering notebook documentation, impressive problem-solving skills, or a positive attitude throughout the competition. Congratulations to THS VEX Team 934Z!

• Class Activities: Please review the Class of 2025 timeline for important events and deadlines.
• October 31 - Senior Assembly - Inauguration Assembly, Fundraising Info, Wall Signing, Jostens & Class Photo. More details will be shared soon.
• May 17 - Senior Prom & M&T Bank Stadium
• May 29 - Graduation, 6:00 pm at TU Arena
• Senior Portrait FAQ & Senior Portrait Costs
  
• Class Dues: Class dues are $40 per senior and are payable via the Online School Payment system (OSP).
  
• Senior Graduation Cap and Gown & Other Keepsakes: Access Josten’s website to purchase your senior’s Cap & Gown and other graduation keepsakes.
  
• College Application & Xello Support:

• Starting October 7th, Ms. Valian will be in the Library in the morning before 7:35 am for college and Xello support.
  

• Ms. Valian is available every Tuesday from 2:00-2:35 pm on Google Meet for Xello drop-in support for Seniors who have Release Time.

• Class Advisors: Ms. Hancock (ehancock@bcps.org) and Ms. Kromsky (jkromsky@bcps.org).

The first fundraiser for the Class of 2027 will be ice cream from Taharka which is made right here in Baltimore. Place your order between October 23 to October 30 using the code TOWSONHIGH.

Click here to order. Delivery to your home will take place on November 1st between 3:30 to 8:30pm. This is a great way to support the Class of 2027 and have some delicious ice cream.

The Sophomore Ring Dance will take place on March 7th. To attend the Ring Dance, your child must have paid their class dues. Class dues are $20 and can be paid via BCPS Online School Payment system. The link for this can be found on Towson High Schools webpage under "quick links".

Students can receive extra support afterschool via Coach Class and Peer Tutoring. Coach Class is offered by each teacher, each week. Free Peer Tutoring is offered throughout the week by students and advisors of our national honor societies. All supports begin next week unless otherwise noted. BCPS also offers all high school students with free teen therapy through Talkspace.

We encourage all students to be actively involved in clubs and organizations throughout the year. Please check out the club list below. Students that are interested in starting a new club should contact Ms. Smith at lsmith21@bcps.org.

For the latest updates on the Towson High School Renovation/Addition Project, please click here. We are currently in Phase 0 - Temporary Modular Classrooms.

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.

Absent notes must be turned in within 5 days from the student returning to school. Please review the Towson High School 2024-2025 Operating Procedures document ("Attendance" section) for information on Absent notes, including how to submit them on FOCUS. Teachers are not required to provide makeup work for unexcused absences.

Exciting news- You can now use digital payments at concessions! The Towson High School Sports Boosters meetings are the 1st Tuesday of the month. Please consider joining to support our student athletes!

If you are not receiving text messages from the school and would like to, please text “Y” or "Yes" to 67587.

October 29 - PSAT Day for All 10th & 11th Graders

October 29 - National Honor Society Induction, 6:00 pm, Auditorium

October 31 - Marking Period 1 Ends, Schools Close 3-Hours Early for Students, Senior Activities Day

November 1 - Schools Closed for Students

November 5 - Schools & Offices Closed

November 14 - MP1 Report Cards Available on FOCUS at 4:00 pm

November 18-22 - American Education Week (November 20 - THS Parent Visitation Day)

November 27 - Schools & Offices Close 3-Hours Early

November 28 & 29 - Schools & Offices Closed