March 2019, Volume 10, Number 8
It's Youth Art Month Spring Heralds All-County Show, Plays and More
The free FCPS All-County Student Art Show is at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center this month and well worth a visit for an infusion of color and creativity. See the news release
Show your work ID to get in free to this spring's high school performing arts offerings:
The Addams Family, Middletown HS, March 29-31 Sister Act, Gov. TJ HS, April 4-6 Grease, Oakdale HS, April 4-6 Into the Woods, Walkersville HS, April 4-7 The Pajama Game, Catoctin HS, April 5-6 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Urbana HS, April 4-6 Aida, the Musical, Tuscarora HS, April 11-13 Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the Musical, Linganore HS, April 11-14 Thoroughly Modern Millie, Brunswick HS, April 11-13 Once Upon a Mattress, Frederick HS, May 2-4
See show times and more
Download a high school arts events page that includes music and dance! See middle school events and more: Secondary Visual and Performing Arts (SVPA) calendar Elementary events are online, too: VPA calendar. It includes the All-County Elementary Honors Band & Orchestra Concert on Wednesday, March 27.
When you like what you see, thank a colleague whose work supports arts education. Many work long hours to make these events exceptional for students and families.
The following students created the above artwork (clockwise from the upper left): Monocacy MS 6th grader Kylynn Septer, Brunswick MS 8th graders Elizabeth Lashley, Zosia Milauskas and Rileigh Tissue; Walkersville HS 11th grader Nevaeh Cooper-Camp, and Moncacy MS 7th grader Bianca Yanes.
FCPS All-Star
Carol Chucoski collaborates daily with students, parents, and FCPS Virtual School mentors at 10 high schools. As the Virtual School's digital learning social studies teacher, she brings rigor, consistency and high expectations to the students with whom she works in Government, American Studies 2 and Modern World History courses. In return, they have gained confidence to work through challenging academic scenarios with newfound levels of independence.
Ms. Chucoski strives to ensure that her students throughout the county are empowered learners. She takes time to understand their needs and strengths. The standards to which she holds them encourage students to excel.
Nominate a colleague for FCPS All-Star recognition.
Accolades
LEADERSHIP The BOE has reappointed Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban for her third 4-year term, July 1, 2019-June 30, 2023! Read about her leadership, goals for FCPS and more.
CHAMPIONS Brunswick HS won this year's Academic Tournament. Kudos to the team's coaches: Louis Eskuchen Jr. and James Kelly. Walkersville HS coach Darrin Drum earned the Chuck Thomas Award for significant contributions to the tournament's success. See the news release.
1ST STATEWIDE FCPS students earned 5 of 8 first-place statewide Young Authors Contest awards in poetry and short story categories. Their teachers: Stephanie Goldman, Michelle Malone and Julia Showalter (Ms. Showalter's students earned three 1st place awards).
1ST PLACE Our Career & Technology Center instructors do great work. The following teach students who placed 1st in regional (Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties) SkillsUSA--in Architectural Drafting, Phil Arnold; in Automotive Service Technology, Tracey Hicks and Gary Wilfong; in Basic Health Care, Jenny Maher; in Carpentry, Mitchell DeLashmutt and Jim Thurman; in Cosmetology, Omega Phillips; in Crime Scene Investigation, Don Duman* and Andy Zucco*; and in Plumbing, Charles Crum. *These teachers' Homeland Security/Criminal Justice Students Excelled in a Statewide Seat Belt Challenge.
BEST IN STATE The following staff coached teams and/or individuals to state championships in winter sports: Chris Babb, 3A Girls 300M Dash; Ashley Bush, Frederick HS 3A Girls Basketball (3rd consecutive championship), Rob Dixon, 3A Girls 55M Dash; CJ Ecalono, Urbana HS 4A Girls Indoor Track & Field, Girls 500M and Pole Vault; Bill Eckard, Linganore HS 3A Boys Indoor Track & Field (2nd consecutive win), Boys 55M Dash, 3200M, High Jump and Pole Vault; Dave Lillard, Oakdale HS 2A Boys Indoor Track & Field, Boys 800M, 1600M and Pole Vault; Anne Zumbach, 1A Girls 4x800 Relay; and Lee Zumbach, 1A Boys Pole Vault.
CREATIVE Of 23 FCPS teams competing in regional Destination Imagination, 13 qualified to move on to state-level competition. The following team managers are employees: Hazel Campos-Braus, Susan Hartz, Renee Heeley, Diana Sung and Dianne Thompson.See the news release.
YEAR'S BEST Toby Heusser (left in the photo), coached the Urbana HS hockey team and was named Maryland State Hockey Coach of the Year. Mr. Heusser is a teacher specialist in the FCPS Accelerating Achievement and Equity Department.
TURNING 60 Wolfsville ES celebrates the school's 60th anniversary this month. Go Wildcats!
EXPERTISE Congratulations to Frederick HS Principal Dr. David Franceschina! He completed his Doctorate of Education degree from Frostburg State University, with a dissertation titled Identifying Factors That Shape Intention of English Learners to Drop Out of School.
News to Use
NOMINATE Support Employee of the Year and Substitute of the Year nominations close Thursday, March 28. Nominations close for the Tressler Distinguished Teacher Award Friday, March 22.
$$$ It's easy to make your education funding priorities count. Please complete the Frederick County Government's brief budget survey today. It closes Sunday, March 31. Share the link with Frederick County residents to let officials know that funding education matters.
WELLNESS FCPS has a new employee assistance provider, INOVA. See the FCPS Wellness Newsletter from Human Resources for details.
RETIRING? FCPS offers $200 to staff who provide written notice by April 1 of intent to retire as of July 1. See details.
SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND SOCIAL STUDIES Countywide fairs are Saturday, March 30 at Tuscarora HS. See times and more.
OFF THE CUFF Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban has blogged about the following topics since our last issue:
See them here.
NEWS RELEASES SINCE FEBRUARY FCPS to Celebrate Brain Awareness Week BOE Reappoints Superintendent Alban Redistricting Rooted in Caring and Respect BOE Opens Survey for School Calendar FCPS Earns Flu Fighter Award Students Win Maryland Young Authors Contest Teams Qualify for State-Level Destination Imagination Challenges All-County Elementary Honors Band & Orchestra Concert VIDEOS Released since our February Issue: FCPS In a Minute - February 22 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 Tweet of the Week - Middletown HS Art Teacher Donna Lehman Facilities Planning Supervisor Beth Pasierb: Redistricting Teacher Specialist Korbin Shoemaker: Technology Fair Communication Services Director Michael Doerrer: Teacher of the Year Program
FCPS Proud February
BOE Meetings - Watch any meeting or select a portion by topic here
FCPS Fast Fact
FCPS has used 6 snow days. as of March 21. If we don't use any more, the last student day will be Wednesday, June 19. The last day for teachers will be Thursday, June 20.
Certificated staff are asked to share your opinions about next year's parent-teacher conferences by Thursday, March 28: https://goo.gl/forms/t5uV3eFEI95IqSOl1
Everyone is invited to rank your school calendar priorities by Wednesday, March 27: http://www.fcps.org/about/calendar-survey
The FCPS Insider is published monthly August-May by FCPS Communication Services, 191 S. East St., Frederick, MD 21701. It features employee news and accolades.
Brief information, subject to edits, and captioned photos for possible inclusion are due to Dian.Nelson@fcps.org by the 15th of the month. For more information: 301-696-6911.