Towson High School Newsletter

Dear Towson High School Community,

As we enter this season of thanks and gratitude, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the 5-star Towson High School community.

• Students: Thank you for your curiosity, determination, and the positive energy that you bring to school each day. You inspire us to strive for 5-star excellence.
• Faculty & Staff: I am endlessly grateful for your hard work, dedication, and care for every student. Your commitment to “leveling up” does not go unnoticed.
• Parents & Guardians: Your partnership, support, and trust are invaluable. Together, we can create a community where all members of the THS learning community can thrive.

I am deeply grateful to be part of this community and I wish you all moments of peace, joy, and togetherness with your families and loved ones.

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.

• The Talented Cast & Crew of Into the Woods for their 5-star performance and production!

• Girls Varsity Soccer for being named 3A State Finalists!

• Girls Varsity Cross Country for being named 3A State Finalists!

• Boys Varsity Cross Country for earning 8th place in the 3A State Championship!

• BSU (Black Student Union) for organizing and hosting the BSU Charity Basketball event.

• TAM (Teacher Academy of Maryland) Students for organizing American Education Week activities for students and staff.

• Leaderize for hanging the kindness chains.

• Phoebe Miller for her leadership in making the bathrooms cleaner and well stocked.

• Jack McIntire for demonstrating respect in the cafeteria by cleaning up the tables in the morning.

• Sarina Saki for being selected to serve as a Maryland General Assembly student pages for 2025 legislative session.

• Diego Terol for being accepted into the BCPS High School All-County Band! for two years in a row!

• Ben Kasofsky & Sophie Vijayan for leading the Model Congress Team at the Princeton Model Congress Conference.

• Kam Turnbull for setting clear goals that are meaningful to him and taking action toward them.

• Lindsey Jackson for turning a positive, new page for MP2.

• Weston Justis for advocating for himself.

• Micah Golembiesky for making a smooth transition to Towson High.

• Shawn Weng for his intellectual curiosity.

• Shelby Chason for leading her group on a challenging mission.

• Clara Knaub for standing up for herself in the professional world.

• Mr. Jackson's & Mr. Olin's ensembles for performing during our American Education Week Open House.

• AP Seminar students for successfully meeting the objective of Performance Task 1 and presenting their team solutions!

• Ryan Dunn, an AVID senior, for his hard work and dedication in AP Calculus AB, which earned him a coveted A for MP1! Keep up your great work ethic!

• Liam Garrett, an AVID freshman, for always participating positively in classroom discussions. He consistently answers questions and contributes meaningfully to class.

• Brennan Harris, an AVID freshman, for working hard to complete redo assignments and raising his grade before the end of the marking period.

• Ella Okai, an AVID sophomore, for scoring 100% on Part 1 of the most recent exam, demonstrating her knowledge of two complex biological concepts: photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Her preparation, studying, and organized science notebook clearly paid off. Keep up the great work, Ella!

• Larry Bradley, an AVID junior, for (1) his leadership in Latin 1 and his unrelenting optimism. Gratias ago tibi! (2) his enthusiastic participation in English 11H and for sticking with assignments even when the work is challenging. Way to go, Larry! (3) for his engagement with class content, enthusiasm and passion for animals, and insightful questions in Zoology that push everyone's knowledge further.

• Jackson Lee, an AVID freshman, for being an incredibly hard worker who always puts in 100% effort, no matter the assignment or task.

• Eoghen Ireland, an AVID freshman, for always being willing to participate by answering questions posed to the class or asking for clarification.

• Mr. Worthington & Zarieff for their dedicated production of "Intro the Woods."

• Ms. Bissmeyer for her promotion to World Language Instructional Coach (Department Chair).

• Ms. Richmond for her 22 years of service as the World Language Instructional Coach (Department Chair) at THS.

• Mr. Nash for his nomination for the BCPS Athletic Director of the Year award.

• Mr. Brotman, Ms. Petras, Ms. Raley, and Ms. Yelton for presenting to parents during our American Education Week Open House.

• Mr. Jackson & Mr. Olin for organizing musical performances during our American Education Week Open House.

• Ms. Fluharty, Library Media Specialist, for swift, compassionate technical support.

• Mr. Alford, Ms. McShane, Mr. Olson, Mr. Marx, Ms. Fluharty, Ms. Richmond, Ms. Schutsky, Ms. Krochta, Mr. Blair, Ms. Miller, Ms. Burke and Mr. Buick for sharing their institutional wisdom with new educators!

• Ms. Burke for sharing her AP Grading wisdom with the staff to support content-team calibration!
• Ms. McShane for organizing the TAM students to host several American Education Week Advisory and campus activities.
• Mr. Buick for speaking to the PTSA about the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy.
• Mr. Malloy, Mr. Eastham, & Mr. Nash for assisting with the BSU Charity Basketball event.

• David Ross Orthodontist for bring their Treat Truck to show appreciation for our staff.
• Towson University Interns for joining us during the Fall Semester.
• PTSA for hosting a parent hospitality station and providing faculty & staff with a fall treat during our American Education Week Open House.
• Senior Families for their support during the modular delivery project.
• Ledo Pizza of Towson for their generous donations.

Normal parking will resume on campus starting on Monday November 25. Seniors with a parking pemit will be able to resume parking in the Aigburth Lot on Monday. We are grateful for everyone's patience and flexibility over the last three weeks!

• November 27 - Schools & Offices Close 3-Hours Early
• November 28-29 - Schools & Offices Closed
• December 6 - MP2 Interim Grades Available on Schoology
• December 13 - Next THS Newsletter Available
• December 20 - Schools & Offices Close 3-Hours Early
• December 23-January 1 - Schools & Offices Closed
• January 2 - Schools & Offices Reopen

This September, each student who expressed interest in attending Towson High School dances, submitted a signed Dance Contract. The dance contract outlines specific attendance, grade, and behavioral expectations to attend each dance hosted by THS this school year. Regarding attendance, we understand that there are several challenges a student may face throughout the school year which prevents them from being able to attend school as expected. If you are concerned about how legitimate, excused absences will impact dance eligibility, please contact Ms. Smith at lsmith21@bcps.org.

Here are a few attendance reminders:

• Students are expected to maintain satisfactory attendance at the state standard of 94%.
• Students who miss 10% or more school days within one academic year for any reason are considered “chronically absent.”
• Students who miss 7-9% of school days within one academic year for any reason are considered “approaching chronically absent.”
• Student attendance is a major component of the school’s Maryland State Report Card Rating (star rating).

Here are a few reminders about absent notes:

• The day a student returns from an excused absence, a note should be submitted to the labeled bin outside of the Main Office. Parents can also upload absence notes to FOCUS.
• Absence notes will not be accepted beyond 5 days from the student returning to school.
• Vacations do not excuse absences.
• Teachers are not obligated to provide make-up work for unexcused absences.

Starting on November 25, Grade 9, 10, and 11 students will begin the registration process for their courses for the 2025-2026 school year. Next week, students will participate in pre-registration lessons in Advisory. Throughout December in ELA classes, students will meet with a counselor to select their 2025-2026 courses. More information will be shared in December!

Generals, if you see that a restroom needs supply refills, please inform the Main Office staff, an Administrator, a Student Safety Assistant, or a Building Service Worker as soon as you can. They are here to support your needs!

In a new initiative from BCPS, freshmen students will receive new devices and chargers during their social studies classes in November-December. It is critical that students bring their devices and chargers to school with them every day until they swap them for new ones. BCPS will be charging families for any missing or damaged equipment.

Volunteers and partners donate, pack, and distribute all the fixings for a feast for five — including the turkey and stuffing. In 2023, more than 2,800 of our neighbors in need enjoyed this Thanksgiving bounty.

Need special holiday food for your family?

• What: All the fixings for your family’s holiday meal

• When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, November 25 and 26

• Where: Trinity Episcopal Church (120 Allegheny Avenue,) across from the ACTC building

• How: By car, enter from W. Joppa Road. Food bags will be put into your back seat or trunk. If you are walking, come up the driveway from Allegheny Avenue. Food will be brought to you outside.

Want to donate or volunteer?

• Check out the ACTC Thanksgiving Website for more information about donating and volunteering.

The Towson High School Performing Arts program is proudly presenting Into the Woods from Thursday, November 21st through Sunday, November 24th in the THS Auditorium. The Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances are at 7pm while the Sunday performance is at 2pm. Tickets for this production will go on sale on Saturday, November 9th at 9am. Anyone interested in purchasing their tickets for this event can visit: www.towson.booktix.com

🌲✨ Step into a world where wishes come true... but at a price! Join us for Into the Woods, the enchanting musical where your favorite fairy tale characters, like Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, and Jack and the Beanstalk, cross paths on a journey of dreams, danger, and discovery. Prepare for love, laughter, suspense, and a touch of magic! Don't miss out on this spellbinding adventure that will have you thinking twice about what you wish for.🎭

Please reach out to Mr. Worthington at aworthington@bcps.org with any questions.

Join the FREE Talkspace Live Webinar, Managing Holiday Stress & Anxiety, designed to help you support children through the holiday season's unique challenges on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 12:00 pm. The webinar will cover strategies for coping with holiday expectations, managing disappointment, and recognizing signs of sensory overload. Learn how to maintain routines, balance screen time, and create meaningful family interactions.

Discover ways to promote emotional well-being through gratitude, mindfulness, and open communication, fostering resilience in kids. Plus, explore intentional activities that build stronger family connections and deepen bonds during holiday gatherings. Please Register here.

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.

A virtual information session about the program will take place on Tuesday, November 12, from 6-7 p.m. Participants are asked to register in advance.

• Next Fundraiser for PTSA Senior Celebrations: Shop at Karma Boutique on December 8th to support the Class of 2025 PTSA Senior Celebration!
• Class Activities: Please review the Class of 2025 timeline for important events and deadlines.
• Prom & After-Prom Info
• Prom: May 17 at M&T Bank Stadium
• After-Prom: FREE After-Prom Party, 11:00 pm - 1:00 am, Bowlero Timonium
• Graduation: May 29, 2025 at 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).

Just in time for the holidays, the Class of 2027 will be holding a Spiritwear fundraiser. Orders will be accepted between November 11th to November 24th with delivery in mid December. All orders will be given directly to the THS student unless alternate arrangements are made. You can order using the link below: https://towsonclassof27.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Class Rings are now available to order!!!! Below you will find a video presentation all about class rings from our Josten's representative. Information about class rings was distributed during your child's English class. You can also view information about class rings using the QR code on the flier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpYUBMTmMds

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".

Questions? Please contact Ms. Cerenzo, Class Advisor, at kcerenzo@bcps.org

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.

November 27 - Schools & Offices Close 3-Hours Early

November 28 & 29 - Schools & Offices Closed

December 11 - PTSA Meeting 7pm, Library

December 10 - Orchestra Winter Concert 7pm, Auditorium

December 12 - Band Winter Concert 7pm, Auditorium

December 17 - Chorus Winter Concert 7pm, Auditorium

December 20 - Schools & Offices Close 3-Hours Early

December 23 - January 1 - Schools & Offices Closed

January 2 - Schools & Offices Reopen