For many, the first day of school is a time of unspeakable excitement. For others, it’s a day of mixed emotions. And some are overwhelmed with anxiety that gradually subsides within the first few weeks.
On the morning of Aug. 26, Baltimore County Public Schools opened its doors to more than 111,000 students to officially mark the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year.
As opening bells rang throughout the county, students, educators, counselors and support staff flooded the hallways of 176 schools, centers and programs that comprise the district’s school system.
BCPS Superintendent Myriam Rogers welcomed students Monday morning as they arrived at Essex’s Eastern Technical High School. Later, she joined fellow BCPS officials and county leaders at one of the county’s newest and most elaborate educational facilities in Nottingham Middle School in Rosedale.
“New school years are always filled with excitement and promise and my team and I — including all our educators and support staff throughout Baltimore County’s public schools — have spent a productive summer preparing for today,” Rogers said.
“As a school system, we are ready, refreshed, and eager to offer instruction and opportunities designed to build academic achievement and student success.”
To kick off the school year, the county school system has hired 825 teachers, 29 office professionals, 10 bus drivers, three bus attendants, 49 paraeducators, 32 assistant principals and 13 principals — including Kenwood High School Principal Kate Smith — according to a BCPS statement.
BCPS officials said the school system is more than 99 percent staffed with fewer than 100 teacher vacancies and more than 100 schools having no vacancies.
“We are excited to begin this school year focused on building upon the foundations we established last year,” BCPS Board of Education Chair Tiara Booker-Dwyer said. “We will work closely with the superintendent and her team to fast forward student and school progress on many levels.”
A new compressed salary scale with an increased teacher starting salary that includes standardized step increases and increased career earnings was one of the district’s “strategic and aggressive” series of initiatives fashioned to attract a qualified workforce.
BCPS has also implemented new — or enhanced existing — student and community-focused initiatives aimed at strengthening and advancing the system’s four priority areas: (1) academic achievement, (2) infrastructure, (3) safety and climate and (4) highly effective teachers, leaders, and staff.
These initiatives include:
Addressing daily attendance through the “Here for It” campaign.Curriculum enhancement: BCPS plans to expand its English Language Development curriculum this year for multilingual learners, whose families are encouraged to use the new Talking Points app.Meet “Xello”: BCPS high school students will have access to Xello, to a new college and career readiness online platform that helps students build the skills, knowledge and plans to be prepared for what the future holds.Increased mental health supports that include an expanded Talkspace program for high school students ages 13 and older. Middle school students at selected schools will be serviced through the free and confidential Cigna School Support Line.Cell phone awareness: This year, BCPS will pilot a new program in 16 middle and high schools that uses pouches to restrict cell phone use as a way to reduce distractions and disruptions in the classroom, district officials said.Expanded safety and security measures: This year, zone safety leaders will be added to the county’s safety assistant program. Firearm detection system Omnilert will continue to monitor BCPS schools. Rogers joined County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough on Tuesday to announce the launch of a new school bus camera safety program.The use of BusWhere, a parent transportation app that allows users to see bus locations in real time on a mobile phone or computer. New middle school transportation zones have been introduced in the app.
BCPS officials announced the district will host a series of “curriculum nights” as opportunities for families to learn more about BCPS curriculum and efforts to improve instruction in English language arts, mathematics, early childhood education and more.
The first BCPS Curriculum Night is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Chesapeake High School.
Nottingham Middle School opened its doors for the first time, welcoming more than 1,200 students. With 1,410 seats, the $116.7 million school was built to alleviate overcrowding and is the first new middle school constructed in the county in nearly 20 years.
On the morning of Aug. 26, District 6 Councilman Mike Ertel, whose jurisdiction includes Rosedale, joined Nottingham Middle School students, staff and administrators to extend his regards.
“The school was buzzing with excitement as the sixth, seventh and eighth graders entered to begin the new school year,” Ertel said. “We wish them great success as they embark on this incredible journey and strive for greatness.”
Likewise, Baltimore County Board of Education member Juile Henn visited several schools around the county, including Nottingham Middle and Eastern Tech. She said she enjoyed connecting with the BCPS community on the first day of school.
“My colleagues and I were as enthralled as students in music, culinary, physics and allied health classes, to name a few,” said Henn, a District 5 representative.
“A favorite part of the day was getting to meet some of our amazing staff — facilities services, food services, safety assistants, and more. Thank you to all who worked tirelessly to prepare for the 2024-2025 school year.”
“Don’t let your scary thoughts of what all the changes might mean deter you from making this your best year yet,” says a Kenwood Eye of the Bluebird report written by Sanai Bailey and adviser Angela Glenn.
“Whether facing a new school, new teachers or staff, new friends or classmates, new courses or programs of interest, go into it with hope that maybe you’ll meet your best friend, your best teacher mentor yet, or maybe you’ll meet your best you.”
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