Thursday, April 18, 2013
The policy ends the ban of some social media sites in Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
The Anne Arundel County Board of Education unanimously passed a new social media policy for students and employees Wednesday night. While the policy ends the ban of some social media sites in classrooms, it also provides conduct guidelines—something Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) have not had in the past. The board passed both the employee and student policy with little debate. Under the new policy, "AACPS may provide access to designated social media sites deemed appropriate for students, solely for bona fide instructional purposes, on AACPS computers, tablets, or other mobile devices." The board policy defines social media sites as: “Any online or Internet based platform that allows interactive communication between persons …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Two area private school educators were also named finalists for the 2013 Private School
Teacher of the Year award.
Five area educators were named finalists for the 2013 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year award. Educators from three high schools, one middle school, and one elementary school make up the field of five finalists announced on Monday, according to a release. The public school finalists, selected from a field of 17 semifinalists, are: In addition to the five public school teachers, two area private school educators were also named finalists for the 2013 Private School Teacher of the Year award. Those teachers include: The seven finalists will be among the 52 teachers honored at the 27th annual Excellence in Education banquet at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum on April 29. The public school finalists will be interviewed by a…
Monday, February 11, 2013
The winner of the county's 25th annual competition will compete in the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.
Thirty-two area students will prepare to show off their spelling skills at the 25th annual Anne Arundel County Spelling Bee on Feb. 23. Eighteen public school students, 13 private school students, and one home-schooled student will vie to become the county champion, according to a press release. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete in the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee from May 28-30. There will be prizes for other top spellers as well, including monetary awards from the 21st Century Education Foundation, Encyclopaedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster reference books, gift certificates, plaques, and a trophy for the winner’s school. More than 1,500 students competed in their school’s spelling …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The school board will review proposed guidelines for usage of social media by Anne Arundel County Public School students and employees.
The Anne Arundel County Board of Education got a first look on Wednesday at proposals that would end the ban of some social media sites in schools and offer guidelines for appropriate conduct when using social media. The proposed policies attempt to define the limitations and use of social media for both Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) employees and students on and off school grounds. Board member Deborah Ritchie pointed out that the phrase "social media" doesn’t just encompass one or two websites. “People are concerned when they hear 'social media' but this is about the use of social media," Ritchie said. "It is so much more than Facebook and Twitter." In the draft regulation, AACPS defines a social media site as: "Any online …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Anne Arundel County Public Schools currently do not have a social media policy.
The Anne Arundel County school board will discuss a new social media policy at its upcoming meeting on Wednesday morning. The board will give a first read to a new policy that could end the ban of some social media sites in the classroom. Currently, Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) spokesman Bob Mosier said the school system does not have a social media policy. Mosier said every new policy or regulation goes before the board three times. Wednesday is the first time the members will see this policy. The board will only give it a first read and there will not be a vote until the third reading. “These policies and regulations are designed to be able to take advantage of opportunities as it relates to instructional purposes,” Mosier …
Friday, February 1, 2013
A group of 52 Anne Arundel County teachers will be honored at the 27th annual Excellence in Education banquet in April.
Seventeen Anne Arundel County public educators and four private school teachers have been named semifinalists for the 2013 Anne Arundel County Teacher of the Year award. Of the educators nominated, five are elementary school teachers, six teach at the middle school level, five teach at the high school level, and one teaches at a special school. Furthermore, ten of the county’s 12 high school clusters are represented by semifinalists. The 17 public school finalists are: The four private school finalists are: A group of 52 Anne Arundel County teachers will be honored at the 27th annual Excellence in Education banquet at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum on April 29. Five finalists for the 2012 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The 21st annual luncheon recognizes students who are successful academic achievers and community contributors.
"A Tribute to Women of Color" (ATWOC) will recognize 29 Anne Arundel County students at its 21st annual luncheon. ATWOC honors students who contribute to the community and are successful academically. According to a release, more than 140 students applied for the this year’s Future Leader Awards, which are designed to encourage and inspire high school students with minority backgrounds to continue their roles as student leaders. ATWOC will honor 16 girls and 13 boys at the luncheon on March 2 held at La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie. “Our students are talented and work extremely hard to be well-rounded young people. They deserve to be recognized,” schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell said in a press release. “We count on organizations like…
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The next session will be held on Jan. 23 at Woods Memorial Church in Severna Park.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) along with The Arc of Central Chesapeake Region are teaming up to help students with developmental disabilities and their families. The two organizations are conducting workshops for students with developmental disabilities to assist in the process of transitioning from school to adult services, according to a release from AACPS. Each session will focus on a specific topic of importance in preparing to enter adult life. The next workshop is scheduled for Jan. 23 at Woods Memorial Church in Severna Park. The workshop will focus on financial and estate planning and Dave Rosenthal of Ameriprise Financial Service will be the presenter. All workshops are free and will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The certification is the highest teaching credential given to educators in the country.
Forty-five educators at Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) recently attained the prestigious National Board Certification—the highest teaching credential given to educators in the country. More than 6,200 teachers nationwide earned the honor, and Anne Arundel County’s 45-member class put it seventh in the nation among school systems with certification recipients, according to an AACPS release. Approximately five percent of all AACPS educators earn the certification, and with the 45 new additions, the county’s grand total reached 355 for 2012, according to the release. Additionally, four members of the 2012 class of recipients earned the certification for their second time—renewing the original honor after 10 years. “I continue to …
Monday, January 7, 2013
Anne Arundel County Public Schools has tentatively secured $18 million from the state for school facility improvements at 15 different county schools.
After Gov. Martin O’Malley announced plans Monday to spend $336 million on school construction projects throughout the state, an Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) official expressed optimism about receiving necessary funding to finance local facility improvements. For the 2014 fiscal year starting in July of this year, AACPS asked the state to finance certain school construction projects—ranging from the revitalization of Annapolis Elementary to kindergarten additions throughout the county. Superintendent Kevin Maxwell’s proposed $239 million capital budget for fiscal year 2014 asks the state to provide about $47.2 for facility upgrades. As of December, the school system had tentatively secured about $18 million of the requested $…
Mom3SP
5:42 pm on Saturday, April 20, 2013
Hurrah!! If you have a teen with smart phone, YOUR family has been affected by the Wild West of social media. YOUR teen has either participated, been mentioned in, or read derisive comments. If your teen has public social media, they have likely posted identifying information, including cell phone number, other social media, high school, and home info. Any creep, local or worldwide, can trace … more ›