201516

CALENDAR

Family information

Gregory E. Thornton, Ed.D.

Chief Executive Officer
Baltimore City Public Schools

Sincerely,

On behalf of all of us at City Schools, I wish you a great school year.

Please visit City Schools website at www.baltimorecityschools.org for updates,

and make sure your childs school has your contact information so teachers and
staff can contact you about calendar changes or special events.

The calendar also includes information about district programs, important phone
numbers and website addresses, and tips for making sure your child is on track for
college and a career. Its never too early to plan for life after high school even for
the families of our youngest learners. With each year along the path to graduation,
your child has opportunities to take the next steps toward a successful future.

learning that will happen in classrooms across the city this year. This
calendar will help you keep track of important dates and milestones throughout
the year, including the days schools are closed, dates for parent-teacher
conferences and other meetings, windows for report cards, and dates for
important tests.

elcome to the 201516 school year! Im excited about all the teaching and

Dear City Schools Families,

 The district office: To reach any district office or contact someone at

City Schools by phone, call 443-984-2000.

Live stream: Meetings of the Baltimore City Board of School

Commissioners and other important district events are broadcast live
online through www.baltimorecityschools.org.

Channel 77: If you have Comcast cable TV, you can watch the districts own
station, Education Channel 77. Check it out for stories about what kids are
doing in the classroom or get helpful tips about supporting students at home.

Social media: Follow the district on Twitter (@BaltCitySchools) and like

us on Facebook (Facebook.com/baltcityschools) for up-to-the-minute
news and announcements about everything from weather-related delays
or closings to school events, and check out the district Vimeo channel at
www.vimeo.com/cityschools for videos by and about students.

Websites: News, announcements, contact information, and more are

available at your schools website and the district website,
www.baltimorecityschools.org.

Phone calls and text messages: City Schools automated phone

system lets schools and the district office send voice and text messages
with important news and reminders. Make sure your school has your
current phone number on file!

School newsletters: Most schools and many classrooms distribute

newsletters in print or online, or send home a weekly folder. Ask teachers
about how information from your school is shared, and watch for material
coming home with students.

Parent Portal: This easy-to-use online tool lets you check your childs
grades, attendance, and disciplinary issues, and see homework assignments
that teachers may post. Ask at your school for your password and how to log in.

City Schools wants to make sure you have the information you need to
support students all year long. Check out these resources.

Keeping You Informed

august 2015

24

31

23

30

MONDAY

Start of 1st quarter

Schools open
for students

17

16

SUNDAY

26

19

WEDNESDAY

27

Parent and Community

Advisory Board
(PCAB) meeting

20

THURSDAY

28

21

Notes

FRIDAY

29

22

Saturday

City Schools is committed to preparing students for success after high school.
On the City Schools website at www.baltimorecityschools.org/college, you can
find checklists to use at every stage of your City Schools career to make sure
youre on the right track to be college bound. You can also find information about
finding the right college, applying to college, paying for college, and much more.

It's never too early to think about the next steps in education whether its time
to enroll a child in pre-k, decide between a charter or neighborhood elementary
school, choose a middle or high school, or decide on a Career and Technology
Education or other academic or career pathway.

College? Career? Aim High for the Future!

New: This year, all students can eat

breakfast and lunch for free; kids get
nutritious meals, and families save money!
School lunch menus are available in the
cafeteria and are posted on the district
website at www.baltimorecityschools.org/menu.

Teachers and staff

return to schools

25

18

TUESDAY

SECAC: Special Education Citizens' Advisory Committee works to enable the Board
of School Commissioners and district office staff to collaborate with others on special
education issues and to facilitate positive changes in the delivery of special education
services. Meetings are generally held on the second Monday of each month, from
6:00 to 8:00 p.m., in the first floor Board room at 200 E. North Avenue. More
information is available at www.baltimorecityschools.org/SECAC.

Talk to your school about challenges (like health concerns) that may
make it difficult for your child to get to school every day, and ask
about resources to help.

Make the most of school by finding out and taking advantage of

opportunities for before- and after-school activities, like sports, music
and arts programs, tutoring, and academic clubs.

Make absolutely sure your school has your current address and phone
number so you can be contacted if your child is absent, and remember
to update this information if you move.

Check attendance records by looking at report cards and Parent Portal

or asking at your school.

Have a back-up plan like a friend or neighbor you can call if

something unexpected happens and you cant help your child get to
school one morning.

Encourage your child to prepare for school the night before for
example, by laying out clothes and packing up book bags to help make
things go quickly in the morning.

Make sure your child knows that you think school is important.

Its pretty simple: Missing school means missing out! Students are more
successful at school if they have good attendance. Heres what you can
do to help students be in school every day, ready to learn.

Every Day Counts

September 2015

PCAB: The Parent and Community Advisory Board serves to advise the CEO
and Board of School Commissioners about how parents, families, the community,
and educators can collaborate to help our youth succeed. Meetings are generally
held the first and third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m., in the first floor
Board room at 200 E. North Avenue. More information is available at
www.baltimorecityschools.org/PCAB.

MONDAY

Labor Day

21

28

27

29

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

22

30

23

16

WEDNESDAY

TerraNova for 5th and 8th grade assessment

Special Education
Citizens Advisory
Committee
(SECAC) meeting

14
15

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

Schools and
offices closed

TUESDAY

20

13

Have you returned all of your

back-to-school forms?

SUNDAY

24

Notes

PCAB meeting

17

10

PCAB meeting

THURSDAY

25

18

11

FRIDAY

26

19

12

Saturday

So, nows the time to start thinking about

choosing a school thats right for you!

Making good choices about middle and high school will position you
better for the choices you make when you graduate and put you
on a path toward a successful future. For more information about
getting ready for and choose the right college for you, visit
www.baltimorecityschools.org/college.

Information about middle and high school choice is sent home with
5th- and 8th-grade students throughout the fall. Take the time to
review it as a family, and visit www.baltimorecityschools.org/choice
for additional details.

Information about charter schools is available online at www.baltimorecity

schools.org/charter. Applications for the 201516 school year will be due
early in 2016.

Most City Schools students in the elementary grades go to neighborhood

schools but, for all students, charter schools are an option. These schools,
which often have specific themes or types of instruction, hold lotteries to
accept students from anywhere in the city. Middle school students may go to
a neighborhood school or choose from more than 25 other school options,
with both charter and other types of schools available. And all students
choose the high schools they are most interested in attending.

City Schools offers lots of options: Schools that focus on arts or science,
serve just boys or just girls, have advanced academic programs, emphasize
career training, or help students get back on track if theyve fallen behind.
Some schools combine elementary and middle school, others combine
middle and high school; some are big, with more than 1,000 students, others
are much smaller.

All students are different, with different interests and needs and
different paths to follow to reach success in college, career, and life. So it
only makes sense that schools should be different, too.

School Choice

october 2015

TUESDAY

19

26

25

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

SECAC meeting

18

NACAC College Fair

NACAC College Fair

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

27

20

WEDNESDAY

PSAT for 10th and

11th grade

14

28

21

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Schools closed for

students

Schools closed for

students

29

22

30

23

Teacher
professional day

Teacher
professional day

PCAB meeting

16

15

TerraNova for 5th and 8th grade assessment

PCAB meeting

High School Assessments (HSAs)

1st-quarter progress reports

High School Assessments (HSAs)

13

12

11

MONDAY

Want to be the first to know about snow days or delayed

openings due to bad weather? Follow @BaltCitySchools
on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or sign up at your school
to receive text messages. Decisions about schedule
changes are made by 5:00 a.m. and shared as soon as
possible after that.

SUNDAY

31

24

17

10

District-sponsored
SAT for seniors

Saturday

 Computer programmer
Cisco-certified
programmer

Plumber

Electrician

Office assistant

Oracle-certified associate

Automotive technician

For more information, visit

www.baltimorecityschools.org/CTE.

Emergency medical
technician

Nurse

Chef or pastry chef

Cosmetologist

Engineer

Child care provider

Mason

Welder

Dental assistant

Graphic or web designer

More than 20 City Schools offer CTE programs to pave the way to
becoming a

One step students can take to prepare for college and career is to
follow a Career and Technology Education (CTE) pathway. Whether
you want to become an accountant, a chef, a video game developer,
or an engineer, City Schools offers dozens of certifications. In a CTE
pathway, students take rigorous academic courses and participate in
work-based learning opportunities, including job shadowing, mentoring
with industry professionals, or internships. After successful completion
of a CTE program, students can graduate from high school with
industry certification or college credit and have a leg up toward an
in-demand, well paid career.

November Is College Awareness Month!

november 2015

16

23

30

15

22

29

18

PCAB meeting

19

Distribution window for 1st-quarter report cards

24

Notes

Schools and
offices closed

Thanksgiving
holiday

Thanksgiving
Schools and
offices closed

27

20

13

28

21

14

District-sponsored
SAT for seniors

Teacher
professional day
and
parent-teacher
conferences
Schools closed for
students

Saturday

FRIDAY

26

Naviance is an online college and career planning

tool available at no cost to City Schools students,
families, and educators. Ask your school counselor
or college advisor for more information!

25

American Education Weeka great time to find out whats happening at school!

17

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

SECAC meeting

Start of 2nd quarter

End of 1st quarter

THURSDAY

12

10

11

WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY

PCAB meeting

MONDAY

Priority college
application
submission
deadline

SUNDAY

In Maryland, every student must complete 75 hours of service

learning in order to graduate from high school. Community service
is also considered by many colleges, universities, public and private
scholarships and grant providers in their decision-making process.
Because service projects are tied to what students are learning in school,
they can take place during class time. At City Schools, service learning
projects are now part of the middle school curriculum in science and
social studies, and students earn 25 service learning hours when they
pass each grade. Additional service learning projects are part of the
health curriculum, so it is possible for a student to finish middle school
with extra service learning hours.

Beginning in the middle grades, City Schools students earn service

learning hours through projects and activities that combine meaningful
service to the community with learning that supports classroom work.
For example, a school may partner with a neighborhood senior center
to start a book club. Students get a chance to practice reading skills
and talk about books, and the seniors benefit from regular visits and
a chance to get to know new people in a new way. Or students might
learn about how oysters contribute to cleaning the Chesapeake Bay,
and then visit the bay to help environmental scientists replenish the
oyster population.

Learning through Serving

december 2015

14

13

MONDAY

Winter holiday
Schools closed

Winter holiday
Schools closed

Winter holiday
Schools closed

Schools closed

31
30

29

26

19

12

Saturday

Make perfect attendance

for the rest of the school year
your New Years resolution.

Schools and
offices closed

Schools and
offices closed

Winter holiday

Winter holiday

Winter holiday

28

25

18

11

FRIDAY

24

17

10

PCAB meeting

THURSDAY

27

23

2nd-quarter progress reports

16

WEDNESDAY

21

22

15

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

TUESDAY

20

SECAC meeting

Notes

SUNDAY

More information about paying

for college can be found at
www.baltimorecityschools.org/college.

Work study: A program that lets you

do a job, usually on campus, to earn
money that does not have to be repaid.

Loans: Money you can borrow but

that usually must be repaid, with interest

Grants: Money that in most cases

doesnt have to be paid back

For families of high school seniors, your first step to financial aid is
to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA,
fafsa.ed.gov), available each year on January 1. Maryland students
must complete their FAFSA by March 1 to be eligible for Maryland
state grants and scholarships. FAFSA helps students and families
access federal student aid and qualify for need-based aid from
colleges and universities themselves. Federal Aid includes

The College Savings Plan of Maryland, a 529 plan, allows families

to set aside money in special investment accounts, well in advance
of their children enrolling in college. More information is available
at www.collegesavingsmd.org.

Dont let college costs change your college plans! There are
options to help you pay for college, including putting something
aside starting when children are young and looking for additional
opportunities as they get older and closer to high school
graduation. Scholarships and grants are available to students for a
range of talents and skills, including academics, arts, and athletics.

Paying for College

January 2016

TUESDAY

31

24

Schools closed
for students

Start of 3rd quarter

13

Notes

WEDNESDAY

14

2nd-quarter report cards

28

29

End of 2nd quarter

High School Assessments (HSAs)

22
PCAB meeting

15

FAFSA available

Schools and
offices closed

Winter holiday

FRIDAY

21

Evening parent-teacher conferences

27

20

THURSDAY

PCAB meeting

High School Assessments (HSAs)

Board of
Commissioners meeting

26

Teacher
Professional Day

19

25

Schools and
offices closed

Martin Luther King,

Jr., Day

18

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

SECAC meeting

17

12

11

10

Thinking ahead to summer YouthWorks

matches Baltimore youth between the ages
of 14 and 21 with paid jobs in the summer.
Jobs last for six weeks, from the end of June
to August 1. Visit youthworks.oedworks.com
to preregister between January and March.

MONDAY

SUNDAY

30

23

16

Saturday

 Ask a CTE teacher about summer

positions connected with your pathway.

Ask staff at your school if they know

about any openings.

Talk to friends and family to see if they

know places that are hiring.

Apply for a summer job with the citys

YouthWorks program.

Draft and update your rsum in Naviance.

Start searching online early. Begin thinking about summer jobs well
before the end of the school year. Research the type of job you want
(e.g. an internship; a job in retail, an office, or restaurant; an outdoor
job, maybe in construction or other physical activity).

A summer job is a great way to boost a rsum while learning new skills
and having fun. Here are a few tips to help land one.

Tips for finding a summer job

Throughout the summer, City Schools offers a range of programs

that keep learning happening after the school year ends and are
a lot of fun. Organizations around the city offer additional opportunities
from camps to drop-in activities to summer meal programs. There are
lots of options close to home and at no or low cost for your child. Be sure
to check the district website, www.baltimorecityschools.org/summer,
in the coming months for information.

Summer learning

This winter, start thinking about summer!

february 2016

22

29

28

Schools and
offices closed

Presidents Day

24

17

10

WEDNESDAY

25

PCAB meeting

18

11

PCAB meeting

THURSDAY

Get a jump on college credits while youre still

in high school. Talk with your schools guidance
counselor about Advanced Placement (AP),
dual enrollment, and Career and Technology
Education (CTE) possibilities at your school.

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

23

16

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

15

TUESDAY

SECAC meeting

MONDAY

21

14

SUNDAY

Notes

Schools closed
for students

Teacher
professional day

26

19

12

FRIDAY

27

20

13

Saturday

Pre-k and kindergarten registration opens early

in the spring. Watch City Schools website,
www.baltimorecityschools.org, for information and
applications, or visit your school to find out more.

Do you or your friends, neighbors, or other family

members have a preschooler at home? City Schools
offers free, all-day pre-kindergarten (pre-k) to children
who will turn four by September 1. Children who meet
eligibility requirements based on low family income
are immediately enrolled, while other children are
admitted on a space-available basis. For five-year-olds,
kindergarten is available for all families.

High-quality early learning programs help children

develop important skills like recognizing letters and
words and starting to work with numbers and equally
important social and emotional skills.

Welcoming the Youngest Learners

MArch 2016

MONDAY

14

13

10

PCAB meeting

17

31
Spring break
Schools closed

30
Spring break
Schools closed

29
Spring break
Schools and
offices closed

28

Spring break

Schools and
offices closed

27

24
End of 3rd quarter

Maryland State Assessment (MSA) in 5th and 8th grade science

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

23

Maryland State Assessment (MSA) in 5th and 8th grade science

16

FRIDAY

26

19

12

District-sponsored
SAT for juniors

Saturday

Have you moved or

gotten a new phone since
the start of the year?
Make sure to update
your contact information
at your school!

Schools and
offices closed

Spring break

25

18

11

Maryland State Assessment (MSA) in 5th and 8th grade science

21

22

15

3
PCAB meeting

THURSDAY

Maryland State Assessment (MSA) in 5th and 8th grade science

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

3rd-quarter progress reports

WEDNESDAY

Evening parent-teacher conferences

Maryland FAFSA deadline

TUESDAY

20

SECAC meeting

Beginning March 2016,

students who take the
SAT will be given a
redesigned test. More
information is available
at www.baltimorecity
schools.org/college.

SUNDAY

*SAT and PSAT are sponsored by City Schools, making this

cost free to students.

Other standardized tests, including SAT*, ACT, AP,

Accuplacer, IB, ASVAB, and TOEFL, are part of
most college applications. Additional information
about what goes into a college application can be
found at www.baltimorecityschools.org/college.

To measure students skills and knowledge in math and

English language arts, PARCC assessments are used. They
are administered to students in grades 3 to 11, while some
HSAs and the 5th- and 8th-grade MSA in science remain.
The PARCC tests are administered online once in the spring.
Please check www.baltimorecityschools.org/PARCC
for more information about the testing window for
the 201516 school year.

Part of the districts assessment strategy includes tests that are

given each year to large groups of students. Results on these
standardized tests not only show where individual students
have strengths or need extra support, but they also allow
comparisons to be made across schools, districts, and states.

Tests All Students Take

Giving quizzes, tests, and exams

Giving and grading assignments

Listening to students discussions and watching their

presentations

Asking questions and listening to students answers and

explanations

To make sure that every child is understanding new

information and concepts and learning new skills, teachers
check in on progress in different ways, including

Measuring Progress, Step by Step

April 2016

Primary
election day

Schools closed
for students

26

25

Teacher
professional day
and parent-teacher
conferences

24

Schools closed
Board of
Commissioners
meeting

19

18

17

12

11

Start of 4th-quarter

Notes

TUESDAY

10

MONDAY

Did you know that

vegetables grown at
City Schools farm, Great
Kids Farm, are delivered
regularly to school
cafeterias around the city?

SUNDAY

PCAB meeting

22

15

28

29

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)

27

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)

21

20

14

Schools closed

Spring break

FRIDAY

3rd-quarter report cards

PCAB meeting

THURSDAY

Window opens
for Partnership
for Assessment of
Readiness for College
and Careers (PARCC)

13

WEDNESDAY

30

23

16

Saturday

Find out more about promotion and graduation

requirements in your Family Handbook.

In addition, high school students must earn the

minimum scores on required statewide assessments
and complete 75 hours of service learning.

The State of Maryland outlines a number of

requirements for high school graduation. Students
must have a minimum of 21 credits, including four in
English; four in mathematics (three for students who
entered 9th grade in 2010 or earlier); three each in
science and social studies; one each in technology
education and fine arts; one-half in physical
education and in health; and four in other courses
and electives (five for students who entered 9th
grade in 2010 or earlier).

Earning a High School Diploma

may 2016

30

29

Schools and
offices closed

Memorial Day

23

22

4th-quarter progress reports

PCAB meeting

THURSDAY

12

18

PCAB meeting

19

25

26

31

PARCC

HSAs

Notes

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)

High School Assessments (HSAs)

Board of
Commissioners meeting

24

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)

17

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)

Advanced Placement (AP) exams

11

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)

Board of
Commissioners meeting

16

WEDNESDAY

Advanced Placement (AP) exams

10

TUESDAY

SECAC meeting

MONDAY

15

National College
Decision Day

SUNDAY

27

20

13

FRIDAY

28

21

14

District-sponsored
SAT for juniors

Saturday

The Enoch Pratt Free Library offers summer

reading programs for all ages. Students can win
great prizes for reading throughout the summer,
so visit your local library for more information.

The summer is a great time for students

and adults, too! to pick up a book. Reading
every day is linked to so many good things for
students bigger vocabularies, creative and
critical thinking, writing skills, and better grades
on tests and assignments. It also gives kids the
chance to learn about new topics, explore new
places, and go on adventures.

What is the best thing to

do this summer to keep
skills sharp? Read!

june 2016

TUESDAY

26

19

27

Half-day of school
for students

Last day of school

(if five snow days
are used)

20

Half-day of school
for students

28

2
PCAB meeting

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

29

22

15

16

30

23

PCAB meeting

24

17

10

High School Assessments (HSAs)

25

18

11

Saturday

Have a great summer!

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)

WEDNESDAY

High School Assessments (HSAs)

4th-quarter report cards

21

Board of
Commissioners
meeting

SECAC meeting

Last day of school

(if NO snow days
are used)

14

13

12

The last day of school is June 20, if five snow

days are used earlier in the year. If fewer snow
days are used, the last day will be earlier. Visit
www.baltimorecityschools.org in the spring
for confirmation of the date of the last day.

MONDAY

SUNDAY

THURSDAY

18

25

17

24

31

11

10

Schools and
offices closed

No summer programs

Independence Day

26

19

12

27

20

13

28

21

14

29

22

15

WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY

july 2016

MONDAY

SUNDAY

FRIDAY

30

23

16

Saturday

Tammy Turner, Chief Legal Counsel

Kenneth Thompson, Chief Technology Officer

Keith Scroggins, Chief Operations Officer

Karl Perry, Sr., Chief School Supports Officer

Donald Kennedy, Sr., Chief Financial Officer

Theresa Jones, Chief Achievement and Accountability Officer

Lisa Grillo, Chief Human Capital Officer

Linda Chen, Chief Academic Officer

Naomi Gubernick, Chief of Staff

Gregory E. Thornton, Chief Executive Officer

Baltimore City Public Schools Executive Officers

Jonathan Townes, Student Commissioner

David Stone

Peter Kannam

Martha James-Hassan

Linda Chinnia

Cheryl Casciani

Lisa Akchin

Tina Hike-Hubbard, Vice-Chair

Marnell A. Cooper, Chair

Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners

The district office is located at 200 E. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202.

To contact the district office, call 443-984-2000.

For the most up-to-date information including announcements of school closings

and delays, telephone numbers, and website addresses for individual schools
visit the City Schools website at www.baltimorecityschools.org.

District Office Directory

Gregory E. Thornton, Ed.D.

CEO, Baltimore City Public Schools
Marnell A. Cooper
Chair, Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners

200 E. North Avenue | Baltimore, MD 21202 | www.baltimorecityschools.org | 443-984-2000