FCPS Community Bulletin Board

July 11, 2024

Above is a trailer for the Dinosaurs Alive show happening at ESSL on July 16 at 1PM, July 30 at 11AM, and August 6 at 1PM.

The Summer Matinee programming at the FCPS Earth and Space Science Lab (ESSL) will be starting on July 16! ESSL will be open to the public from July 16 - August 8 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:30AM - 2:30PM.

Planetarium Shows will take place at 11AM and 1PM each day. All shows will take place in the Ausherman Planetarium and typically include a "Star Hike." Viewing animals and exhibits are included with your ticket purchase. Tickets must be purchased online ahead of time through the website here (Tickets are only needed for planetarium programming.)

Learn more information about the shows here.

Planetarium Show Schedule

Perfect Little Planet

July 16 at 11AM, July 25 at 11AM & August 6 at 11AM

Dinosaurs Alive!

Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure

Black Holes

Great White Shark

Dynamic Earth

Mysteries of the Unseen World

Accidental Astronaut

Journey to Space

National Parks Adventure

(Photo left to right) Sentinel - Mia McGuffin, Brunswick FFA Chapter; Reporter - Katelyn Bullock, Southern FFA; Treasurer - William Moore, Boonsboro FFA; Secretary - Scarlett Heffner, Hereford FFA; Vice President - Ella Burrier, Catoctin FFA; and President - Abigail Effland, Frederick FFA.

FCPS is pleased to share that three of the six newly elected 2024-2025 Maryland State FFA officers are Frederick County Public School graduates.

The announcement of newly elected officers was made during the 96th Maryland FFA State Convention at the end of June.

“I’m so proud of our three recent FCPS graduates earning such important leadership positions within FFA,” FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson said. “Abigail, Ella, and Mia were student leaders at their high schools, and I know they will serve their peers throughout the state well.”

• Frederick High graduate Abigail Effland will serve as the 2024-25 Maryland State FFA President. Effland served as the Frederick FFA Chapter President. She was also the 2023-24 Frederick County Dairy Princess.
• Catoctin High graduate Ella Burrier will serve as the Maryland State FFA Vice President. She served as the Catoctin FFA Chapter President.
• Brunswick High graduate Mia McGuffin will serve as the Maryland State FFA Reporter. She served as the Brunswick FFA Chapter President.

FFA is a youth organization that prepares members for leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

A Recap of the 2023-2024 School Year

Stuff the Bus will be collecting school supplies from June 17 - July 30!

United Way of Frederick County and Frederick County Public Schools have partnered up again to host the annual Stuff the Bus community collection drive to provide necessary school supplies to thousands of local students. The drive effort began Monday, June 17 and will conclude on Tuesday, July 30.

The public can visit any participating business and drop off new, unused school supplies in collection bins. The public can also contribute virtually. 100% of monetary contributions will be used to support FCPS students. The last day to donate to the virtual drive is July 12.

This year, United Way's Stuff the Bus and Beyond Shelter's Backpacks for Bright Futures programs will distribute school supplies to City of Frederick feeder schools in a new way. Volunteers will now pack backpacks with supplies, which will be given directly to these schools. School staff will distribute these backpacks to students from ALICE households.

This change aims to ensure fairer distribution of supplies and strengthen relationships between students, parents, and school staff. Schools outside the City of Frederick will continue to receive supplies as they have in previous years.

Beginning Monday, June 17, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services served free breakfast and lunch to anyone in the community 18 years old or younger. Those over 18 who are enrolled in an educational program for people with disabilities will also be served meals.

Meals will be served Mondays through Thursdays at the following 3 schools:

• Lincoln Elementary: Entrance point will be the side doors located at the cafeteria.
• Gov. Thomas Johnson High: Entrance point will be located at the front doors of the school.
• Waverley Elementary: Entrance point will be located at the front doors of the school.

FCPS will serve breakfast at Lincoln Elementary and Waverley Elementary from 8:30-9 a.m. and lunch from noon-12:30 p.m.

FCPS will serve breakfast at Gov. Thomas Johnson High from 7:30- 8 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-noon.

Meals will not be served on June 19 and July 4. Children must be present to get a meal and the meal must be consumed at the site where the meals are served. The last day of summer meals service to the community will be Thursday, August 8.

To read the Spanish translation, click here.

If you have questions, please contact FCPS Food and Nutrition Services at 301-644-5061.

The 5-Star Service Award is for community use in recognizing FCPS employees who show excellence in one of the 5 FCPS goals. Community members are welcome to nominate any worthy FCPS employee.

• This award is designed to provide recognition by community members to employees for excellence in one of the 5 FCPS goals.
• Community members are encouraged to nominate any worthy FCPS employee.
• Nominations will be reviewed on the 15th and 30th of each month by staff in the Offices of the Chief of Staff, Human Resources, and Public Affairs.

More information on the selection timeline and next steps can be found on the 5-Star Service Award nomination form.