Nancy Wolfe Debby Friedman Jill Caporale
Shelley Block Michele Patrick Elizabeth Olson
Katy Harvey Carole Brande Dade Patrick
Sean Bulson Linna Barnes Cindy Gray
Derek Yodegraff Hill Slowinski Pam Feinstein
Robin Law Gerald Tanyi Pat Oxley Young
Robert San George Nancy Sachs Bob Loesche
Michele Parsonnet Janet Clifton Linda Kaufer
Sadigh Mostawft Harry Jaffe
Mariam Zarrabi Ellen Gerecht
Alan Joice San-Dee Ostrach
Introduction to B-CC for new parents – Katy Harvey
B-CC has students from over 80 countries this year with a total number of 1510. Our I.B. classes help students from abroad to have an internationally accepted certificate when they graduate.
Katy described B-CC’s handbook/assignment book and all the information it contains about school policies, rules, procedures, etc. She urged parents to purchase their own copies. She discussed how to email teachers, noting that parents may also call teachers or counselors by phone. If there is a big issue, a meeting can be arranged with all your child’s teachers.
Progress reports are issued at 4 ½ weeks into each quarter. Current semester reports are due out on Dec. 11 or 12. Meanwhile, students may get printouts from their teachers showing each assignment and its grade and their numerical grade at that date.
Students receive information on a variety of school topics on a daily basis : during morning announcements, which are also posted on the wall outside the main office, notices sent home, plus pre-printed calendars.
There are 25 clubs at B-CC to choose from. For academic help, TAP is an afternoon math tutoring program offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school. In addition, teachers should be available for ½ hour after school is out, on Thursdays from 2:15 – 3:15 or at lunch time. To see Katy, she prefers you to make an appointment, unless there is an emergency. Her secretary is Joan Davis. Assistant Principal Sean Bulson is in charge of class schedules. Because B-CC has as many course offerings as the bigger schools, adjustments and compromises sometimes must be made to make your child’s schedule work out. For example, if a student is taking band for 4 years, that must be taken into consideration and worked around. Students need to choose their priorities.
Every student is asked to fill out yellow emergency cards which were sent home early in the school year. If you have not returned them, please do so, as they are very important. Students may turn them into their 1st period teacher or to the office.
Regarding attendance, B-CC adheres to the Maryland State policy, which is a strict one. ( See the pink section of the assignment book). For example, family vacations may not be considered as excused absences. Katy explained the difference between excused and unexcused absences under this policy. It is important to know that 5 unexcused absences in a semester equal a loss of credit the class or classes where that occurs. Teachers send warning notices to parents after 3 unexcused absences. See Mrs. O’dell in the Attendance Office for attendance questions.
For problems with a child’s classwork or other classroom problems, parents should begin their inquiries with the individual teacher, then see the Resource teacher (head of the department) and if still not satisfied, the grade level administrator. These are listed in the assignment book.
Special Needs student – A 12th grade student, whose father recently passed away, is in need of help with her senior expenses. Any contributions would be most welcome.
Code Blue – We are trying to organize parents to staff the doors during these days; volunteers are needed. The school will be sending out a flyer to parents reminding them of the necessity of having alternative plans with their children, as the office cannot handle volumes of messages to students.
Help Needed – In the Attendance Office to call the parents of students who do not come to school.
Computers needed - B-CC would like to have your used computers to donate to needy students.
PTSA Needs – Special Needs liaison is needed to coordinate with the MPTA and report back to B-CC. Also needed is a Curriculum Liaison to attend County meetings and report to the PTSA on curriculum issues.
NAACP – Alan Joice reported that the NAACP will hold a fair the weekend of Oct. 19 from 9:00am to 1:00pm at Springbrook Elementary school. The Parent Council invites interested people to attend. The topic is student success, honors programs for minorities, and more. MCPS representatives will be present.
Giant and Safeway Bonus Cards – Lucy urged everyone to register their bonus cards at these stores which give a percentage to the school for each purchase made. No expense is required on your part.
Wake-Up (A county group working for later High School start times). What should their role be in the PTSA? The PTSA Executive Committee did not want to take a position on this, since Wake-Up is an advocacy group; rather it prefers to encourage them to make announcements at PTSA meetings and place ads in the Banter to keep us informed.
The minutes from the previous PTSA meeting (Sept. 17) were approved.
SGA Report – Jake Treback, President, and David Hoagland, Vice President, spoke about the SGA plans for the year. These include bringing more personality to the school, possibly returning the historic murals, and students’ rights. They have found several issues in the handbook that they feel are in violation of these rights and are looking into them. Jake also announced “muffin Mondays” drawings where 20 students can win free muffins. The idea is to help increase student attendance on Mondays.
Treasurers’ Report – Bob Loesche reported that the treasury is doing well; membership is growing. The Giant cards make the budget show a deficit but ultimately they make money. The school directories cost more than expected, but are worth it.
Principal’s Report – Katy remarked that she was not aware of any student rights that are being violated.
She reported that students have done well with Code Blue and even seem happy during school hours. Lunch time is more of a problem with so many students in the school. But overall, she feels the students are bearing up well during this crisis; many more parents are driving students to school, and teens, unlike their younger counterparts, are not acting as fearful of the sniper. The faculty is united, and everyone pitches in to help serve lunch. She asked parents to speak to their children, however, about not hanging around the front of the school after school hours, which merely defeats the purpose of Code Blue. The school has moved to 2 lunch periods, which is not popular but it works; the periods are switched so that the same people are not always second and suffering from hunger. The courtyard is also being used.
This schedule has an impact on clubs that meet at lunch time, but instruction is still going on, there is little discussion of the situation in class and the staff makes students feel safe.
Athletics has been notably affected, since there have been no outdoor games played. The future of the season at this time is uncertain. We will only know sports schedules on a day-to-day basis.
Katy noted that the PSAT tests were given today and went smoothly. Teachers reported that students were focused and serious. These tests can qualify Jr.s who do exceptionally well to become National Merit Scholars. The schools uses the 10th grade scores in curriculum analyses.
In answer to a question, Katy said that non-native English speakers can take the verbal portion of the SAT’s under the auspices of TOFEL ; students should check with the Career Center. SAT 11’s are achievement tests on individual subjects; all colleges do not require them. Keep in touch with the Guidance and Career Center Bulletin for scedules for these tests.
Membership – Katie Rosenberg reported that she is still signing up PTSA members and that 439 families have joined so far.
Giant Gift Cards – Pam Feinstein said that the school receives 5% return when these are used. These may be purchased in a variety of denominations at no extra cost to the purchaser. The goal this year is to raise $15,000.
Science Fair – Nancy Zeller is the Science Fair representative. Fifteen students have signed up so far. Others are participating the Westinghouse science fair.
MCCPTA – Ellen Gerecht reported that the current big issue being discussed is that of school facility improvement and how much private money may be used for what items. This is an equity and clarity issue. In schools where there are wealthier parents, PTA’s, foundations, and solicited outside funds have been used to make some purchases. The county is attempting to clarify and delineate this practice. One example in our cluster is Somerset Elementary school which would like to have a new gymnasium, which is not going to be supplied by the county.
Human Relations – Nancy Leopold said that the group had it’s first meeting on Sept. 1 and that 38 people attended, including 8 teachers. The committee was very pleased with this outcome. The Human Relations Committee is dedicated to strengthening bonds among racial, national origin, gender, etc. groups within the school. Last year the focus was on trying to get more minorities to take higher level classes; some minority students reported feeling uncomfortable in these classes and several steps were taken to help encourage more students to enroll.
Teacher Appreciation – Joanie Edwards announced that Nov. 4 will be the 2nd Teacher Appreciation Day, and that refreshments will be served to teachers at their afternoon staff meeting. Volunteers are needed to donate food and to help serve.
Guidance Advisory Committee
Shelley Block spoke about the committee’s activities which include:
--Setting up the Princeton Review SAT prep program with a $150 discount. This program also allowed for scholarships for 5 students.
--Alumni Breakfast – last year the alums spoke to the students
--College Night – where representatives of a variety of colleges come to B-CC to speak to students and parents.
--Career Exploration Day – Students learn about the various jobs people do.
-- Practice SAT exam.
-- New Alumni visit – the most recent grads talk to juniors about the college applications process.
--College Mentor program – Helps students who lack parental involvement to make their way through the college applications process.
--Guidance Dept. referral service – Needs to be updated.
-- Members of the committee can be an additional resource for information on career and college searches.
The meeting was adjourned.
A short video , “ Safe Driving for Teens” was shown to those who wanted to stay and see it.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Wolfe