City Schools’ Mentoring and Adult Relationships team is seeking stories from students, teachers and staff who have participated in formal or informal mentoring relationships during the current school year.

Student mentoring is one of the few prevention and intervention strategies that can effectively address multiple risk and protective factors simultaneously.

Your powerful story can spark an entire community to grow in their understanding of the value of mentoring in enhancing City Schools' students' well-being and future. Your inspiring accounts will be highlighted to show the community how mentoring helps foster student success.

Don't miss this opportunity to inspire others by shedding light on how mentoring relationships has transformed your life or the life of another!

Calling all enthusiastic volunteers! Are you ready to help make an unforgettable memory for our graduates? The event is Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at E. Cromwell Street and W. Peninsula Drive, located near the Baltimore Peninsula development, just south of I-95 and the Inner Harbor.

Join us in creating an electrifying atmosphere as we celebrate the achievements of our graduates at the drive-through 2024 High School Grad Rally! As the 2024 school year comes to a close, City Schools wants to celebrate our graduating scholars. The Office of Communications and partners will distribute special car magnets for graduating seniors and/or their families to place on their cars with pride. The car magnets will be a visible sign of their achievement, with the message "Baltimore City Public Schools 2024 Grad."

Let’s come together to cheer on our seniors, and send them off with love and support as they embark on their next chapter! We hope to see you there!

Spread the word - City Schools is calling all talented individuals ready to embark on an exciting career journey. City Schools is hosting two recruitment events, where candidates will have the opportunity to meet the Human Capital team, get screened and connect, and learn more about City Schools' exciting career opportunities. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, there's a place for you here. 

Date: Friday, May 31

Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: Professional Development Center, 2500 E Northern Parkway, 21214

Date: Thursday, June 20

Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: Professional Development Center, 2500 E Northern Parkway, 21214

All 6-12th grade students have an opportunity to cast their vote for Baltimore City’s Student Commissioner and their ASCBC Officers this week!

The Associated Student Congress of Baltimore City (ASCBC) is Baltimore’s elected student government, and the Student Commissioner is the student who sits on the School Board.

This is your students’ chance to pick which youth will represent their voice. Students can vote early May 20-22 or vote on the district-wide election day May 23 through 11:59 p.m. Students can vote at https://eballot.app/bcps using their student ID and birthdate as credentials. 

Before voting, students can learn about the candidates by watching candidates’ campaign videos, reading the voter guide, and watching a Townhall on the ASCBC’s website.

Election results will be announced May 28 on the City Schools website.

As part of the Administrative Modernization Project (AMP), City Schools will use a new, more modern electronic evaluation platform to complete steps in the evaluation process for all team members… And you helped us to name it!

CHARM will be more engaging and accessible. Thank you to Michael Turlik, our naming contest winner!

To ensure staff have the information that they need to be excited and ready for the new platform, some key take-aways are:

All employee evaluations forms will be available to complete in CHARM for SY 2024-25

We will continue to complete this year’s annual evaluations in the current system (OPMS – Employee Self Service)

Support will be available as City Schools team members learn to navigate CHARM

Click here to read some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) information.

City Schools is excited to introduce a new role within the Schools and Academics offices: School Success Liaisons (SSLs). These positions are designed to enhance support for the schools and students' success through targeted interventions and guidance. 

City Schools' approach is anchored in school and student success, embracing a customer service mindset where schools are our customers. By fostering shared learning across SSL roles, we ensure coherence and alignment in our efforts. Additionally, cross-office input and guidance will provide the necessary support and direction for these roles. 

The deadline to apply for these positions is June 2, 2024.

To learn more, join the Information Session (hosted via Teams). This session will cover key information regarding the new positions. 

Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024

Time: 2 p.m. 

Information Session: A New Approach for Aligning District Support to Schools 

We look forward to your participation and are excited about the positive impact this new role will have on our schools and students' success. 

As the school year is coming to an end, the Office of Academics is inviting all School-Based Mentors (SBMs) and Early Career Teachers (ECTs) (teachers in years 1-3 in City Schools) to share their current experiences and professional growth needs.

To express interest in participating, please click here. The deadline to express interest is Thursday, May 23 by 5 p.m. 

SBMs and ECTs will share this feedback by completing EOY Surveys and participating in after-school virtual Focus Groups. Stipends for participation are available, but participation is on a first-come-first-serve basis. Links will be emailed to the selected participants. Each survey will take about 10 mins to complete. Surveys will close on June 7th.

The data collected via the surveys and Focus Groups will be used to create professional learning supports for SBMs and ECTS for SY24-25. This study is conducted in partnership with the Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC).

Group: School-based Mentor Focus Group #1

Date: May 29, 2024

Time: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Group: School-based Mentor Focus Group #2

Date: May 30, 2024

Time: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

School-based Mentor Survey: https://forms.gle/Ka1eConMRB9mrbLD8

Group: Early Career Teacher Focus Group #1

Date: June 4, 2024

Time: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Group: Early Career Teacher Focus Group #2

Date: June 5, 2024

Time: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Early Career Teacher Survey: https://forms.gle/HcnD63oQXeb2FNTaA

For questions regarding this study, please reach out to Dr. Katya Denisova, Director of Professional Learning, EDDenisova@bcps.k12.md.us.

We are thrilled to celebrate our May recognitions and staff members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation, and care for our students, families, and staff in their roles.  

Mental Health Month 

Teacher Appreciation Week  

School Principals Day 

National Physical Education and Sport Week  

National Children’s Book Week  

School Lunch Hero Day 

School Nurse Day  

Speech Pathologist Day   

City Schools thanks you for your continued dedication and hard work! Please join us in celebrating our team members for their contributions. Share tributes with us here.

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed?

In recognition of Mental Health Month, City Schools is committed to fostering an environment where the mental well-being of every staff member is prioritized every day.

Before getting to the point of stress and overwhelm, try to remember to utilize your wellness tools! Whether it's taking a few minutes to meditate with your favorite app, tracking your physical activity with a fitness device, or jotting down your thoughts in a journaling app, these tools are here to support your well-being.

Prioritize self-care and make use of these resources to nurture your mind, body, and spirit. Free counseling sessions, discounts on gym memberships, wellness discounts on travel, health and wellness tech and products, webinars for financial literacy and promoting a better work life balance, and more are available to staff through City Schools.

If you'd like to explore the resources that City Schools offers staff, please click HERE.

As spring kicks off, the Be Well Team is launching Spring into Motion, a wellness challenge designed to help City Schools employees move more and discover Spring Things — from vibrant blossoms to worldwide festivals and gardening tips. Whether you’re a beginner or fitness enthusiast, Spring into Motion will help boost energy and improve your health as you enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle — in this season of renewal and beyond. 

It's a fun and supportive way to work towards your wellness goals with a group of like-minded colleagues and get inspired to go into the rest of the year with a winning mindset.  

Are you up for the challenge? If so, click here for more information and to register. 

The challenge will be going on through May 29. We hope to see you achieving your goals!